I want a New Church

(sung to the melody of "I want a new drug" by Huey Lewis)

I want a new church,
One that won't make me sick,
One that won't make me work the nursery,
Or make me feel like throwing a brick.

I want a new church,
One that won't hurt my kids
One that won't say the truth's a lie,
Or select leaders by bids.

One that won't make me guilty
Forgetting who I am
One that makes me feel like I am who I'm in you
Cause life is only in you

I want a new church
One where I can talk
One that don't charge too much
or stop when He says Walk.

I want a new church
One that sings loud
One that will let us wear our cloaks
And not teach heaven's a cloud

One that won't make me guilty
Forgetting who I am
One that makes me feel like I am who I'm in you
Cause life is only in You
Only in you, Jesus, yeah

I want a new church
One that does what it should
One that won't make me pray to Satan
"You're not welcome in this 'hood"

I want a new church
One that can handle my doubt
Handle me talking too much
and not cast me out

One that won't make me guilty
Forgetting who I am
One that makes me feel like I am who I'm in you
Cause life is only in you
Only in you, Jesus, yeah

(just a little response to our latest attempt at attending church...)

The Last Beautiful Day

Today is the last beautiful day. Today, the sun will cast golden light on fiery leaves, and we'll stomp them into crackly oblivion under our feet. Tomorrow, it will rain and blow and they will be soggy and dead and the chance will be gone for another year. But today is the last day to squeeze delight from worn out summertime. We'll laugh loud, and run, and not think of tomorrow's rain. We'll climb a tree and eat an apple and pitch to core to splatter on the post. We'll sit together, and huddle tight in chilling air and watch the last pale blue green sunset.

Today is the last beautiful day. There is much to prepare: the gutters will overrun if they are full of leaves, and must be cleaned today or our walls may rot. It should have been done last week. The rain is coming soon, and there is firewood that will be wet if we do not haul it today, we have too little and will be cold for winter if there is no dry wood. The several cords we have may not last the season. The rain is coming, and it will cut us off from playing outside with friends and neighbors. We need to bring in the outdoor furniture so that it doesn't spoil this winter. We've been too lax, we must dig in and use this last chance to brace for winter.

She Must and Shall Go Free

By Derek Webb:

Lyrics:
Mercy speaks by Jesus’ blood
Hear and sing, ye sons of God
Justice satisfied indeed
Christ has full atonement made

Jesus’ blood speaks loud and sweet
Here all Deity can meet
And, without a jarring voice
Welcome Zion to rejoice

"All her debts were cast on me,
And she must and shall go free"

Peace of conscience, peace with God
We obtain through Jesus’ blood
Jesus’ blood speaks solid rest
We believe, and we are blest

Should the law against her roar
Jesus’ blood still speaks with power
"All her debts were cast on me,
and she must and shall go free"

There's More

Faith says “There’s More.”

Sometimes I’m tempted to close my hand and withhold what is asked because my resources are limited. “I can’t give you this, it’s all I have!”

But Faith says, “There’s more!” and freely gives out of the wealth of the Father.

Sometimes, I close my eyes in fear, and resist what is or might be. “This horrible thing is all there will ever be!”

But Faith says, “There’s more!” and extends the vision of eternal peace and life on a restored Earth, sharing in the glory of the Son.

Sometimes, I am sure I am all alone. “No one is beside me, no one understands!”

But Faith says, “There’s more!” and reveals a host of brothers and sisters that share in One Faith, One baptism, and pursue the same God and Father of all.

Sometimes, I smugly declare that I’ve understood it all. “I have grasped the mind of God.”

And Faith, smiling, says, “There’s more!” and reveals treasures to the horizon, untasted.

The Author's Answer

Said Faithless Heart to its master,
Am I safe?
Am I loved?
Are all these ugly things covered over?
Shall I be kept?
And will you name me?

Said master's lips, “But of course,”
But his heart spoke louder still:
You are not okay,
Undeserving of protection,
How can what's ugly be called lovely?
You are naked and unworthy,
I have no name to speak for you.

Then Faithless Heart's eyes were downcast,
Heart reverberating with the words: they are true.
Who can unmake this?
Who can call what is not as though it were?

Came the Faithful One, saying to the Heart,
“Now hear the Truth:
I AM your husband,
I AM your fortress,
By My love and not your merit, I love you,
I cover you and present you clothed,
You shall be ever kept,
And He spoke a secret name, with Holy Breath.

Faithless Heart no more you'll be,
Accept my answer and cease to ask.
But if ever you do, I, your True Lord, will answer again the same:
I AM your rock and you are mine,
You shall see what I will do."

And so she took her name and asked no more.


Psalms 131
My heart is not proud, O LORD,my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.