editor’s blues
13 March 2014
he reads ev’ry word,
examines ev’ry line,
checks not once, but twice
then at least one more time.
He looks for things I mistype,
things that I misspell,
then looks at punctuation,
and usually gives me Hell.
He makes me blue,
so blue, it’s true,
Oh Lord, I’m telling you.
He makes me blue,
oh yes he do,
sometimes I wonder who’s working for who.
He questions ev’ry word choice,
dissects each metaphor,
expects me to explain
everything and more.
He makes me blue,
so blue, it’s true,
Oh Lord, I’m telling you.
He makes me blue,
oh yes he do,
sometimes I wonder who’s working for who.
He sees what I miss,
and likes to suggest
he knows what I meant
and wins most arguments,
he makes me look good,
like perfectionism should,
but one of these days I’ll fire him
like I always said I would.
He makes me blue,
so blue, it’s true,
Oh Lord, I’m telling you.
He makes me blue
oh yes he do,
sometimes I wonder who’s working for who.
On again off again
10 January 2007
on again off again
I’ve walked this desert so many times before
I’ve tasted manna but always wanted more
You’ve guided me but I keep looking back
At where I used to be, at what I think I lack.
I’m tired of this on again off again ordeal
I need to find a faith that doesn’t hinge on how I feel
I’m tired of the sand I need the solid ground
If Truth is absolute then it has to be found
I’m tired of this on again off again ordeal
I want so to believe, to know by faith that You are real
I’m giving You my heart, You need to change my mind
By grace increase my faith to make it stick this time.
And when the times are good, my faith seems strong
But circumstances change and things go wrong
It’s much harder to trust, so easy to blame
When the darkness falls and I can’t see Your flame.
He gets a shower
21 February 2004
He gets a shower, puts on his Sunday best
Stands by the mirror, practice saying “God bless”
Makes sure he has some money to put into the plate
Grabs his 40 pound Bible, doesn’t want to be late
He always sits there in the very front row
Where all can see, so everyone will know.
I’m ready for anything
I’m ready for anything
I’m ready for anything
through the strength of the one
who lives in me
To see the hungry fed
to bring life to the dead
I am ready
To welcome the stranger in
to see Jesus come again
I am ready
I’m ready for anything
I’m ready for anything
I’m ready for anything with you
Does it make any sense
Does it make any sense
Does it make any sense
to be a Christian?
Does it really matter
how I live my life?
Does it make any sense
to live for Jesus?
Increase my faith
17 April 1984
Increase my faith
Well if I had faith I could move a mountain
If I had faith I could heal the blind
If I had faith I could serve you fully Lord
And not just in my mind
Well if I had faith I could love my brother
If I had faith I could help another
Come to see that it’s Jesus who can set them free.
Lord increase my faith
There’s nothing I can do without you
My life has no meaning without you
So Lord increase my faith
As simple as that
13 December 1998
As simple as that
Endless questions and endless debates
This means this and that means that
All this talk just separates
You love me
I know that you love me
It’s as simple as that
What’s it to you?
09 December 1998
What’s it to you?
I guess I’ve always been a trail blazer
I’d be the first one to leave the beaten path
Maybe I’m a rebel, maybe too independent
But I don’t want to build where someone’s building at
What’s it to you?
You must follow me
I want to follow but I still struggle
To hear your voice and make it my first choice
Maybe I’m radical, maybe just a Pharisee
One willing heart
One willing heart
It takes one willing heart
to make a difference
in the world for Jesus
One willing heart
willing to stand up and be
what God wants them to be
Could you imagine what God would do
If we would just obey?
Lord don’t let my heart stand in your way
Purple's Platitudes 