I finished reading the book on Tozer today.
I don't have words that can express how I feel after reading this book.
I finished it on one of my breaks at work, and afterwards I wanted to just crawl under my desk and cry and pray and ask God that I might know Him even more.
A. W. Tozer had a passion for many things when it came to ministry. He had a passion to preach, to teach, to mentor, and to see souls saved. All of this was born out of his greatest passion, and that was to know God more and more, never being satisfied with where he was at, but always striving for a deeper knowing of God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit.
This biography of this man of God made me re-evaluate my relationship with my Lord and Savior. I realized I have spent much time knowing about God, knowing of God and precious little time knowing God.
My ramblings on this blog cannot do justice to what the book did for me as I read it. I learned of a man who spent time pursuing his relationship with God in a manner that I don't know of anyone else doing.
The book does not paint a "candy-coated" picture of Tozer. His faults are there, in black and white, and they stand out even more so in contrast to the picture of his heart and devotion to God.
Here are a couple of random quotes from the book:
"...he(Tozer) had come to see that most people (including Christians) had such a low view of God that they felt little desire to pursue Him."
"The need today is for leaders identified so fully with the cross-carrying Jesus that they have no life apart from Him, no ambition except to make Him appear glorious in the sight of men. Such as these will seek no place, no reputation. Christ Himself will be their glory and their all."
I think of so many today, who say they are called to preach the gospel, but are more concerned with building a ministry. Tozer believed that if we would pursue the depth of our ministry through our relationship with God, that God would take care of the breadth of our ministry.
I cannot help but wonder what would happen if we had a hundred men like Tozer today.
I encourage every beleiver to read this book about this amazing man of God. I believe you will not be the same when you finish.
I am going back to reading his book, "The Pursuit Of God" again...and I plan on diving into the Word of God more often, for longer periods of time, along with as much time on my knees as I can.
I would like to close with a quote from the introduction to his book, "The Pursuit Of God" that Tozer himself wrote.
"...if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at it's flame."
I pray for a passion for God as Tozer had, to be set ablaze with the love of Christ, and that others might catch fire with me.
In pursuit of God,
Pastor Dave
Thoughts on Scripture and life, from a small church pastor. Exploring what it means, that everyone needs the Good Shepherd.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A Passion For God
I've been reading a few books by A.W. Tozer lately.
And conviction seems to follow soon after I finish a book.
Tozer died in 1963, and so his books are written in a style that is a bit different than today, and they take a little work to get through, but they are worth it. He pulls no punches and I have found myself on my knees both in my heart, and physically on the ground, after reading his books.
I desired to know more about this man who wholly surrendered his life to God, and had briefly mentioned something to my wife. Being the observant wife that she is, she noticed that I had been reading books by Tozer, and this along with a couple of brief comments about how they impacted my life, led to me opening a gift from my beautiful wife of 23 years on Christmas morning. That gift was the book, "A Passion For God: The Spiritual Journey Of A.W. Tozer" by Lyle Dorsett.
One of the amazing things I learned is that Tozer did not grow up in a Christian home, and had no Christian influence in his life. He was led to the Lord after hearing two different street preachers preach the gospel, and so alone in his bedroom, he prayed to the Lord for salvation. He was the only beleiver in his family for many years.
Now, I am only on page 68 in this book (which only has 189 pages, so I hope to finish it by tomorrow), and so I cannot give a complete review, but at this point I am deeply moved by the story of Tozer's conversion and commitment to the Lord. I want to just leave you with a portion of the prayer that Tozer prayed and wrote after he was ordained as a minister of the gospel.
If there are any preachers reading this blog, take note of this prayer. The heart of this prayer should be the heart of any man who feels called of God to preach the gospel.
"O Lord i have heard Thy voice adn was afraid. Thou has called me to an awesome task...Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Annoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Frobid that I should become a religous scribe....Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitiation, of professionalixm. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering....Save me from the bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier for Jesus Christ....if in thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.....I concecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt....I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and tht will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and i choose it above all things on earth or in heaven....let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the reace of men. I pray Thee therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries I may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness....Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlsting. Amen."
All I can say is, "Wow!"
Even now, after already having read this prayer by Tozer once today, I am moved all over again. This prayer took place on August 18, 1920. I beleive that the heart of this man of God in this prayer is needed even more today in the heart of every preacher of the gospel.
I encourage you to pick up some books by Tozer, and devour them.
Some of the books he wrote are:
The Pursuit Of God
God's Pursuit Of Man
The Radical Cross
The Attributes Of God (2 volumes, with study guide)
That should keep you busy for awhile.
And now, I'm off to spend some time in prayer, as I imitate my brother Aiden W. Tozer, as he imitated Paul, and as Paul imitated Christ.
Pastor Dave
And conviction seems to follow soon after I finish a book.
Tozer died in 1963, and so his books are written in a style that is a bit different than today, and they take a little work to get through, but they are worth it. He pulls no punches and I have found myself on my knees both in my heart, and physically on the ground, after reading his books.
I desired to know more about this man who wholly surrendered his life to God, and had briefly mentioned something to my wife. Being the observant wife that she is, she noticed that I had been reading books by Tozer, and this along with a couple of brief comments about how they impacted my life, led to me opening a gift from my beautiful wife of 23 years on Christmas morning. That gift was the book, "A Passion For God: The Spiritual Journey Of A.W. Tozer" by Lyle Dorsett.
One of the amazing things I learned is that Tozer did not grow up in a Christian home, and had no Christian influence in his life. He was led to the Lord after hearing two different street preachers preach the gospel, and so alone in his bedroom, he prayed to the Lord for salvation. He was the only beleiver in his family for many years.
Now, I am only on page 68 in this book (which only has 189 pages, so I hope to finish it by tomorrow), and so I cannot give a complete review, but at this point I am deeply moved by the story of Tozer's conversion and commitment to the Lord. I want to just leave you with a portion of the prayer that Tozer prayed and wrote after he was ordained as a minister of the gospel.
If there are any preachers reading this blog, take note of this prayer. The heart of this prayer should be the heart of any man who feels called of God to preach the gospel.
"O Lord i have heard Thy voice adn was afraid. Thou has called me to an awesome task...Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Annoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Frobid that I should become a religous scribe....Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitiation, of professionalixm. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering....Save me from the bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier for Jesus Christ....if in thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.....I concecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt....I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and tht will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and i choose it above all things on earth or in heaven....let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the reace of men. I pray Thee therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries I may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness....Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlsting. Amen."
All I can say is, "Wow!"
Even now, after already having read this prayer by Tozer once today, I am moved all over again. This prayer took place on August 18, 1920. I beleive that the heart of this man of God in this prayer is needed even more today in the heart of every preacher of the gospel.
I encourage you to pick up some books by Tozer, and devour them.
Some of the books he wrote are:
The Pursuit Of God
God's Pursuit Of Man
The Radical Cross
The Attributes Of God (2 volumes, with study guide)
That should keep you busy for awhile.
And now, I'm off to spend some time in prayer, as I imitate my brother Aiden W. Tozer, as he imitated Paul, and as Paul imitated Christ.
Pastor Dave
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Songs For The Shepherd
Although there have been several Keith Green albums released since his death, "Songs For The Shepherd" was the last recording released in his lifetime.
I remember I was living in South Lake Tahoe at the time the record was released. I went to the only place you could buy christian music in Tahoe (at least back then), the local Calvary Chapel church, which had a tiny bookstore. Of course, like his previous album, I could have written Keith and gotten it for free, but I could afford to pay for it, and so I did.
I got home, put it on the stereo and was a bit disapointed. Nothing seemed to reach out and grab me as his music had before. I put the album up and did not listen to it for many, many years later.
I don't know exactly why, but over the years it has grown on me to where I consider it to be my favorite of all of Keiths' albums. Maybe it took some time in the pigpen of the world before I could appreciate it. Maybe it was that when it was released, albums of praise and worship type music were not very big. Whatever the case, I am absolutely in love with this album today.
Three of the songs are adaptations of scripture from the book of Psalms. One is a cover of the old hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy". It also contains what I feel is the best song that his wife Melody has ever written, "There Is A Redeemer".
Here are some of the lyrics to this album:
"Draw Me"
Draw me, oh, draw me, please draw me, my Jesus.
Into your presence, where I cannot lie.
My soul is so thirsty, I cannot endure it.
And if I can't get closer, I surely will die.
Take me, oh take me, please take me, my Jesus.
Quickly, before I forget that I'm lost.
For so many times, my mind has deceived me,
That I really don't have to carry the cross.
I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes i have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.
Help me, oh help me, please help me my Jesus.
Save me from sins that I thought were all gone.
Kill me with kindness, and break through my blindness.
I know till i'm dead, I can never live on.
I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes i have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.
Draw me, oh draw me, please draw me my Jesus.
"There Is A Redeemer"
There is a redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One,
Jesus my redeemer, Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,Oh, for sinners slain.
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
When I stand in Glory, I will see His face,
And there I'll serve my King forever, In that Holy Place.
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
There is a redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One,
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Till the work on Earth is done.
"Until That Final Day"
My flesh is tired of seeking God,
But on my knees I'll stay.
I want to be a pleasing child,
Until that final day.
My mind is full of many thoughts
That clutter and confuse.
But standing firm, I will prevail,
In faith that I'll be used.
Amen! I'm asking once again.
Won't you help me my friend, Lord Jesus.
Holy Lord Spirit, set us free,
From chains we cannot see,
Come release us.
I wrestle not with flesh and blood,
My fight is with the one,
Who lost the keys of hell and death,
To God's most precious son.
One sleepless night of anguished prayer,
I triumphed over sin.
One battle in the Holy war,
God's promised me to win.
Amen! I'm asking once again.
Won't you help me my friend, Lord Jesus.
Holy, Lord Spirit, set us free,
From chains we cannot see,
Come release us.
My flesh is tired of seeking God,
But on my knees I'll stay.
I want to be a pleasing child,
Until that final day.
Keith Green died in July, 1982, and while some might say I'm being over-dramatic here, I feel as if a large part of the integrity of christian music died with him. I know of very few like him today, and the christian music industry has turned into a monster of frankenstien proportions.
I would reccomend you pick up the latest Keith Green albums, especially if you don't have any of his music. There is a new Greatest Hits cd:
And a live cd, called "The Live Experience",
that also comes in a deluxe edition with a dvd, which in my opinion is worth far more than the few extra dollars it will cost over the cd only edition.
In closing, if you like the music of Keith Green, I would reccomend you check out the music of Steve Camp, Rich Mullins and Todd Agnew. All three of these artists seem to have a little bit of Keith in their music.
Until the day when I can hear Keith sing at the foot of Jesus myself, I will continue to listen to his music and enjoy it as it convicts me, inspires me, moves me and energizes me to serve my Lord and my God with all that I am.
Because of Him,
Pastor Dave
I remember I was living in South Lake Tahoe at the time the record was released. I went to the only place you could buy christian music in Tahoe (at least back then), the local Calvary Chapel church, which had a tiny bookstore. Of course, like his previous album, I could have written Keith and gotten it for free, but I could afford to pay for it, and so I did.
I got home, put it on the stereo and was a bit disapointed. Nothing seemed to reach out and grab me as his music had before. I put the album up and did not listen to it for many, many years later.
I don't know exactly why, but over the years it has grown on me to where I consider it to be my favorite of all of Keiths' albums. Maybe it took some time in the pigpen of the world before I could appreciate it. Maybe it was that when it was released, albums of praise and worship type music were not very big. Whatever the case, I am absolutely in love with this album today.
Three of the songs are adaptations of scripture from the book of Psalms. One is a cover of the old hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy". It also contains what I feel is the best song that his wife Melody has ever written, "There Is A Redeemer".
Here are some of the lyrics to this album:
"Draw Me"
Draw me, oh, draw me, please draw me, my Jesus.
Into your presence, where I cannot lie.
My soul is so thirsty, I cannot endure it.
And if I can't get closer, I surely will die.
Take me, oh take me, please take me, my Jesus.
Quickly, before I forget that I'm lost.
For so many times, my mind has deceived me,
That I really don't have to carry the cross.
I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes i have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.
Help me, oh help me, please help me my Jesus.
Save me from sins that I thought were all gone.
Kill me with kindness, and break through my blindness.
I know till i'm dead, I can never live on.
I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes i have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.
Draw me, oh draw me, please draw me my Jesus.
"There Is A Redeemer"
There is a redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One,
Jesus my redeemer, Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,Oh, for sinners slain.
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
When I stand in Glory, I will see His face,
And there I'll serve my King forever, In that Holy Place.
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
There is a redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One,
Thank you oh my father, For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Till the work on Earth is done.
"Until That Final Day"
My flesh is tired of seeking God,
But on my knees I'll stay.
I want to be a pleasing child,
Until that final day.
My mind is full of many thoughts
That clutter and confuse.
But standing firm, I will prevail,
In faith that I'll be used.
Amen! I'm asking once again.
Won't you help me my friend, Lord Jesus.
Holy Lord Spirit, set us free,
From chains we cannot see,
Come release us.
I wrestle not with flesh and blood,
My fight is with the one,
Who lost the keys of hell and death,
To God's most precious son.
One sleepless night of anguished prayer,
I triumphed over sin.
One battle in the Holy war,
God's promised me to win.
Amen! I'm asking once again.
Won't you help me my friend, Lord Jesus.
Holy, Lord Spirit, set us free,
From chains we cannot see,
Come release us.
My flesh is tired of seeking God,
But on my knees I'll stay.
I want to be a pleasing child,
Until that final day.
Keith Green died in July, 1982, and while some might say I'm being over-dramatic here, I feel as if a large part of the integrity of christian music died with him. I know of very few like him today, and the christian music industry has turned into a monster of frankenstien proportions.
I would reccomend you pick up the latest Keith Green albums, especially if you don't have any of his music. There is a new Greatest Hits cd:
And a live cd, called "The Live Experience",
that also comes in a deluxe edition with a dvd, which in my opinion is worth far more than the few extra dollars it will cost over the cd only edition.
In closing, if you like the music of Keith Green, I would reccomend you check out the music of Steve Camp, Rich Mullins and Todd Agnew. All three of these artists seem to have a little bit of Keith in their music.
Until the day when I can hear Keith sing at the foot of Jesus myself, I will continue to listen to his music and enjoy it as it convicts me, inspires me, moves me and energizes me to serve my Lord and my God with all that I am.
Because of Him,
Pastor Dave
Monday, December 8, 2008
So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt
Ok, it has taken a few days, but here we go in the continuing series of posts about Keith Green and his music.
I have just finished the newest edition of the biography of Keith written by his wife Melody. This is an expanded and updated edition, and it is excellent. Even though this is the fourth time I have read this book, and I knew how it was going to end, it still moves me emotionally every time I read it. This is a book that needs to be read by every believer who wants to fully commit themselves to their Lord and Savior.
Ok, now on to the music.
The third album that Keith recorded was called, "So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt".
The most unique thing about this album was this: Keith gave it to you for whatever you could afford. Even if you couldn't afford anything, he would send it to you for free. At his concerts he would let you have it for whatever you could afford, even if it was nothing. You couldn't find it in the bookstores at first. All they would have is an order blank, you filled out the order blank, sent it in with whatever you could afford (even if it was nothing) and Keith would send you the album and send the bookstore a dollar for having the order forms available. Even if you could not afford to pay Keith anything for the album, he still sent the bookstore a dollar for carrying the order forms. Eventually he let the bookstores carry the album, but only with a sticker that said, "If you cannot afford to pay the full price for this record, write to the address below and send whatever you can afford to pay, even if it is nothing and we will mail you an album." When interviewed by a christian magazine who gave Keith a hard time for giving the album away, he was confronted with a statement along the lines of, "Well, if they can't afford to buy the album, they probably don't have anything to listen to it on anyway, what will you do about that?" Keith's response was that while he would not buy anyone a fancy sound system, he would send someone a protable cassette player and a tape (for whatever they could afford....even if it was nothing) in order for them to be ministered to by the music. Is that a radical idea or what? Does anybody do this in music ministry today? While pastors are paid a salary (hopefully), the salary is paid out of the offerings the church collects, which is strictly on a voluntary basis. While that is considered the norm for pastors, Keith is the only christian musician I have ever known who did this with his music.
As for the songs on the album, they reflected the growth and maturity that comes with walking with the Lord. Keith was still very outspoken, but he was starting to understand the grace of God and how that works in our lives as beleivers. This was reflected in many of the songs, and yet he still confronted lukewarm and apathetic beleivers.
This quickly became my favorite Keith Green album of all, and stayed that way until just recently (more about that, hopefully, tomorrow). Just a little bit of trivia about this album, it featured a rock legend, who said that he loved to listen to Keith's albums. He played harmonica on at least one song, and maybe more. His name is Robert Zimmerman, but you probably know him better as Bob Dylan.
Anyway, here are some lyrics to some of the songs on this album.
"So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt"
"So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it's warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it's getting so hard
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard
Eating leaks and onions by the Nile
Ooh what breath for dining out in style
Ooh, my life's on the skids
Building the pyramids
Well there's nothing do but travel
And we sure travel a lot
'Cause it's hard to keep your feet from moving
When the sand gets so hot
And in the morning it's manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle
Well we once complained for something new to munch
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch
Ooh, such fire and smoke
Can't God even take a joke? Huh? NO!
So you wanna to back to Egypt
Where your friends wait for you
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang
Of what they said was all true
And this Moses acts like a big shot
Who does he think he is?
Well it's true that God works lots of miracles
But Moses thinks they're all his
Oh we're having so much trouble even now
Why'd he get so mad about that c-c-c-cow (that golded calf)
Moses seems rather idle
He just sits aound, he just sits around and writes the Bible!
Oh, Moses, put down your pen!
What? Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles....
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna-cotti?
BaManna bread!"
"You Love The World (And You're Avoiding Me)"
"I want you here with me.
But you've been keeping other company.
You can't sit still, it's plain to see.
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
My word sits there upon your desk.
But you love your books and magazines the best.
Prefer the light of your TV.
You love the world, and you're avoiding me.
You used to pray, you were so brave.
Now you can't keep even one appointment we've made.
Oh I gave my blood, to save you life.
Tell me, tell me is it right?
Will you leave me here along again tonight?
Well I love you, still more and more.
But you're fighting everything I'm working for.
You're acting like my enemy.
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
These other loves, they're hurting you.
If you end up losing me, then what will you do?
Oh, I gave my blood, to save your life.
Tell me, tell me is it right?
Will you leave me here alone again tonight?
Well, I want you, here with me.
But you've been keeping other company.
Prefer the light, of your TV.
You love the world, and you're avoiding me.
You love the world, you love the world,
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
Oh, you love the world.
You love the world and you're avoiding me."
"I Want To Be More Like Jesus"
"As each day passes by,
I feel my love run dry.
I get so weary, worn,
And tossed around in the storm.
Well I'm blind to all his needs,
And I'm tired of planting seeds.
I seem to have a wealth,
Of so many thoughts about myself.
I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.
Our father's will was done,
By giving us his son,
Who paid the highest cost,
To point us to the cross.
And when I think of him,
Taking on the whole world's sin,
I take one look at me,
Compared to what I'm called to be.
I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.
Remember, there's no greater love,
Then to lay down your life for a friend.
The end of all my prayers,
Is to care like my lord cares.
My one and only goal,
His image in my soul.
Yes my weakness is revealed,
When by his stripes I'm healed.
He's faithful and he's true,
To complete the work he begins in you."
"Lies"
"When I was young I used to believe everything that I heard, just what I heard.
But now the only thing that I can believe is god's word, his holy word.
But even now my doubts will open up for me a world that I just despise.
And then the shades come down, the light turn off,
And I'm left alone with my helpless cries.
When I hear all his lies. all of the devil's wicked lies.
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you be a fool, don't you even open up,
Or expose yourself to just one of his wicked lies.
I want to go around the world and prove jesus lives, you know he lives.
And we're not only friends, we're family, we're relatives, relatives.
But when I'm far from home and so alone, and my imagined fears get so oversized.
That's when I listen to the one no one should listen to, and get fooled by his disguise.
Feeling weak from his lies, all of his bad wicked lies,
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you get fooled, don't you even open up,
Or expose yourself to just one of his wicked lies.
If you're well read, you probably know how the story goes.
That wolf can look so good especially dressed in the right clothes, the wooly clothes.
And as he starts to knit the counterfeit he'll totally make you feel like you're paralyzed.
He'll keep you spun around and looking down,
Just when you should be looking straight to the skies.
Pleading help from his lies, all of the devil's wicked lies.
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you be a fool, don't you even open up, or expose yourself,
To one of his wicked lies, to one of his wicked lies."
"Romans VII"
"The very things I hate, I end up doing,
The things I want to do, I just don't do.
Lord it seems do sad, why am I so bad?
When in my heart I only want to be like you.
The very ones I love I end up hurting,
The ones I want to help I pass right by.
Now I want to be, finally set free
The grace you've shown, the love I've known,
Please let it shine through me.
I want to love them, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you
Lord how I know your tender heart must be broken,
By all those unkept promises I've made,
The question still prevails, please take away the doubt,
About how you forgive, and still you live inside when I fail
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
I want to be like you - Jesus I do
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you."
And lastly, here is my all time favorite Keith Green song. I have posted the lyrics on another blog here back in April 2007. I'll share the story behind why this song is so important to me at a future date. But the bottom line is this, without the grace of God, we are all hopeless. Our salvation is one huge, enormous, gigantic, unfathomable act of grace.
"Grace By Which I Stand"
"Lord, the feelings are not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,
And I bet, I could deny you too.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved."
If things go well, tomorrow I will post about the last album that was released before Keith was taken home to be with Jesus. "Songs For The Shepherd" was released April 12, 1982 and Keith along with two of his children and several others would die in a plane crash just a few months later on July 28, 1982.
Pastor Dave
I have just finished the newest edition of the biography of Keith written by his wife Melody. This is an expanded and updated edition, and it is excellent. Even though this is the fourth time I have read this book, and I knew how it was going to end, it still moves me emotionally every time I read it. This is a book that needs to be read by every believer who wants to fully commit themselves to their Lord and Savior.
Ok, now on to the music.
The third album that Keith recorded was called, "So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt".
The most unique thing about this album was this: Keith gave it to you for whatever you could afford. Even if you couldn't afford anything, he would send it to you for free. At his concerts he would let you have it for whatever you could afford, even if it was nothing. You couldn't find it in the bookstores at first. All they would have is an order blank, you filled out the order blank, sent it in with whatever you could afford (even if it was nothing) and Keith would send you the album and send the bookstore a dollar for having the order forms available. Even if you could not afford to pay Keith anything for the album, he still sent the bookstore a dollar for carrying the order forms. Eventually he let the bookstores carry the album, but only with a sticker that said, "If you cannot afford to pay the full price for this record, write to the address below and send whatever you can afford to pay, even if it is nothing and we will mail you an album." When interviewed by a christian magazine who gave Keith a hard time for giving the album away, he was confronted with a statement along the lines of, "Well, if they can't afford to buy the album, they probably don't have anything to listen to it on anyway, what will you do about that?" Keith's response was that while he would not buy anyone a fancy sound system, he would send someone a protable cassette player and a tape (for whatever they could afford....even if it was nothing) in order for them to be ministered to by the music. Is that a radical idea or what? Does anybody do this in music ministry today? While pastors are paid a salary (hopefully), the salary is paid out of the offerings the church collects, which is strictly on a voluntary basis. While that is considered the norm for pastors, Keith is the only christian musician I have ever known who did this with his music.
As for the songs on the album, they reflected the growth and maturity that comes with walking with the Lord. Keith was still very outspoken, but he was starting to understand the grace of God and how that works in our lives as beleivers. This was reflected in many of the songs, and yet he still confronted lukewarm and apathetic beleivers.
This quickly became my favorite Keith Green album of all, and stayed that way until just recently (more about that, hopefully, tomorrow). Just a little bit of trivia about this album, it featured a rock legend, who said that he loved to listen to Keith's albums. He played harmonica on at least one song, and maybe more. His name is Robert Zimmerman, but you probably know him better as Bob Dylan.
Anyway, here are some lyrics to some of the songs on this album.
"So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt"
"So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it's warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it's getting so hard
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard
Eating leaks and onions by the Nile
Ooh what breath for dining out in style
Ooh, my life's on the skids
Building the pyramids
Well there's nothing do but travel
And we sure travel a lot
'Cause it's hard to keep your feet from moving
When the sand gets so hot
And in the morning it's manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle
Well we once complained for something new to munch
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch
Ooh, such fire and smoke
Can't God even take a joke? Huh? NO!
So you wanna to back to Egypt
Where your friends wait for you
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang
Of what they said was all true
And this Moses acts like a big shot
Who does he think he is?
Well it's true that God works lots of miracles
But Moses thinks they're all his
Oh we're having so much trouble even now
Why'd he get so mad about that c-c-c-cow (that golded calf)
Moses seems rather idle
He just sits aound, he just sits around and writes the Bible!
Oh, Moses, put down your pen!
What? Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles....
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna-cotti?
BaManna bread!"
"You Love The World (And You're Avoiding Me)"
"I want you here with me.
But you've been keeping other company.
You can't sit still, it's plain to see.
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
My word sits there upon your desk.
But you love your books and magazines the best.
Prefer the light of your TV.
You love the world, and you're avoiding me.
You used to pray, you were so brave.
Now you can't keep even one appointment we've made.
Oh I gave my blood, to save you life.
Tell me, tell me is it right?
Will you leave me here along again tonight?
Well I love you, still more and more.
But you're fighting everything I'm working for.
You're acting like my enemy.
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
These other loves, they're hurting you.
If you end up losing me, then what will you do?
Oh, I gave my blood, to save your life.
Tell me, tell me is it right?
Will you leave me here alone again tonight?
Well, I want you, here with me.
But you've been keeping other company.
Prefer the light, of your TV.
You love the world, and you're avoiding me.
You love the world, you love the world,
You love the world and you're avoiding me.
Oh, you love the world.
You love the world and you're avoiding me."
"I Want To Be More Like Jesus"
"As each day passes by,
I feel my love run dry.
I get so weary, worn,
And tossed around in the storm.
Well I'm blind to all his needs,
And I'm tired of planting seeds.
I seem to have a wealth,
Of so many thoughts about myself.
I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.
Our father's will was done,
By giving us his son,
Who paid the highest cost,
To point us to the cross.
And when I think of him,
Taking on the whole world's sin,
I take one look at me,
Compared to what I'm called to be.
I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.
Remember, there's no greater love,
Then to lay down your life for a friend.
The end of all my prayers,
Is to care like my lord cares.
My one and only goal,
His image in my soul.
Yes my weakness is revealed,
When by his stripes I'm healed.
He's faithful and he's true,
To complete the work he begins in you."
"Lies"
"When I was young I used to believe everything that I heard, just what I heard.
But now the only thing that I can believe is god's word, his holy word.
But even now my doubts will open up for me a world that I just despise.
And then the shades come down, the light turn off,
And I'm left alone with my helpless cries.
When I hear all his lies. all of the devil's wicked lies.
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you be a fool, don't you even open up,
Or expose yourself to just one of his wicked lies.
I want to go around the world and prove jesus lives, you know he lives.
And we're not only friends, we're family, we're relatives, relatives.
But when I'm far from home and so alone, and my imagined fears get so oversized.
That's when I listen to the one no one should listen to, and get fooled by his disguise.
Feeling weak from his lies, all of his bad wicked lies,
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you get fooled, don't you even open up,
Or expose yourself to just one of his wicked lies.
If you're well read, you probably know how the story goes.
That wolf can look so good especially dressed in the right clothes, the wooly clothes.
And as he starts to knit the counterfeit he'll totally make you feel like you're paralyzed.
He'll keep you spun around and looking down,
Just when you should be looking straight to the skies.
Pleading help from his lies, all of the devil's wicked lies.
If you believe and your faith just dies.
Don't you be a fool, don't you even open up, or expose yourself,
To one of his wicked lies, to one of his wicked lies."
"Romans VII"
"The very things I hate, I end up doing,
The things I want to do, I just don't do.
Lord it seems do sad, why am I so bad?
When in my heart I only want to be like you.
The very ones I love I end up hurting,
The ones I want to help I pass right by.
Now I want to be, finally set free
The grace you've shown, the love I've known,
Please let it shine through me.
I want to love them, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you
Lord how I know your tender heart must be broken,
By all those unkept promises I've made,
The question still prevails, please take away the doubt,
About how you forgive, and still you live inside when I fail
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
I want to be like you - Jesus I do
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you."
And lastly, here is my all time favorite Keith Green song. I have posted the lyrics on another blog here back in April 2007. I'll share the story behind why this song is so important to me at a future date. But the bottom line is this, without the grace of God, we are all hopeless. Our salvation is one huge, enormous, gigantic, unfathomable act of grace.
"Grace By Which I Stand"
"Lord, the feelings are not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,
And I bet, I could deny you too.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved."
If things go well, tomorrow I will post about the last album that was released before Keith was taken home to be with Jesus. "Songs For The Shepherd" was released April 12, 1982 and Keith along with two of his children and several others would die in a plane crash just a few months later on July 28, 1982.
Pastor Dave
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