Have I mentioned that I used to be a song writer? Not officially of course, except for a few months back in my early college years when I was in a band called Lazy Sunday, but unofficially for years, and then I mainly stopped. Lately though I have been feeling a bit of a tug to do two things, a) I want to release my creativity a little bit more & b) I feel the need to share the songs that I once dreamed I would share with the world. So this is going to be Step B, and maybe a little bit of Step A also from time to time.
Every so often I'm going to share 5 songs at a time, just the lyrics as most of the melodies are just stuck in my head, hence the title. These songs were mainly written between 1994 and 2008, a time that covers between my sophomore year of High School through the first few years of marriage.
That was, obviously a time of great change in my life, my views, my beliefs, my language and to that end, a disclaimer: some of these songs may have language in them you don't like, they may talk about things you don't like, they may say and talk about things I don't much like either, but I'm going to share them anyway...if they speak to you great, if they don't great.
Some of them I will tell you the stories behind, some I won't, just depends on how much I remember and how much I want to share on the subject.
One last thing, they will be shared in the order I wrote them out in my songbooks, which is not the order they were actually written in, at least not always.
Anyways, on to the songs if you want to read them.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Whatever My Name Is - Winter 2000
If I knew
the words to say
to make
you want to stay
I would say them
yes, I would say them
Sometimes I wish
I could turn back time
but all I do
is sit here and whine
I wish I could turn back those hands
but time is done and time is gone
Chorus:
The time from whence
our love came is gone
but I'll find a way to go on
or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
I could probably
say I'm sorry
but the words
would come out sloppy
I'm sorry my feelings have changed
but change has come and change is here
sometimes I
remember the pain
sometimes it
hurts me so bad
but I can't take it away
but pain was here and pain has faded away
Chorus:
Bridge: x 2
the time has passed
the pain is gone
the change has come
the words move on
Chorus:
Or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
Charlie - Winter 2000
So, I went to college at Anderson University and on the second floor of Hartung Hall there was a Bearded Dragon in a large fish tank named Charlie. I would walk past him 3 times a week on my way to and from class and occasionally on other days when I needed to talk to someone who wouldn't talk back.
Charlie
why do you sit there
doing nothing but staring back at me?
Charlie
why do you eat that bug
that is crawling on the ground?
Charlie
your life is so simple sometimes
sometimes I envy you
Charlie
why do you sit there
wagging your tail back and forth?
Charlie
why do you stare at me
with those eyes buggin out at me?
Charlie
in the scheme of things sometimes
I wish I could be you
Charlie
do you ever think about me
and the way that my world works?
Charlie
do you ever wonder
why we all walk back and forth?
Charlie
do you understand
the awe you inspire in us
Cause I can see clearly now
with you sitting there
I can see clearly now
with the light bearing down on you
I can see clearly now
can you see clearly too?
Sad Face - January 2000
Why are you there with that sad look upon your face?
why are you crying, what's wrong, can I ask?
It seems so long ago
and so far away
but you were mine (were you mine)
just the other day (just the other day)
I don't know what's happened to us
and I don't see how we came to this place
you seem so far away
emotionally & physically
and I can't cry (no I can't)
as the pain ebbs away (as the pain ebbs away)
don't leave me now (this I pray)
don't leave me now (this I scream)
please, please don't leave me now
It's Been a Long Time - Winter 2000
Chorus:
It's been a long time
since I felt so out of place
(and) it's been a long time
since I couldn't place your face
(and) it's been a long time
since I lost my way
You look so great to me
you feel so good to me
your kisses invade my soul
your beauty has captured my whole
but you went away
left me here alone
and it's been a long time
since I felt this way
Chorus:
I see you as you walk away
I lose you with every step you take
those kisses are blowing in the wind
that beauty is drifting away
Now I am here alone
since you went away
and it's been a long time
since I felt this pain
Chorus:
I was Crying - Winter 2000
I don't know what you do to me
but it sends a shot up my spine
I just can't comprehend
but it feels so good...in my dreams
Chorus:
I was crying
just the other day
I was trying
to find my way
B:
Every time I see you it happens
there's just some kind of attraction
I don't even know your name
but I swear I see your face...in my dreams
Chorus:
Every time I see you it happens
babe, I just want to be near you
can I introduce myself?
can we connect somehow?...in reality
B:
Chorus: x2
...to you
p.s. Have you made it this far? If so, congrats. Also, you have noticed that I used to be somewhere on the scale of lovesick college guy, liking a fair few girls and being a complete coward in regards to voicing my interests...this is a theme that will repeat over and over and over again...just so you know.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Road Trippin' with the Doctor - Part 2: The Statement's Mission (Luke 4:14-30)
It's been a minute, hasn't it? Since I've been using a road trip as my metaphor for this conglomeration of blogs I will say that the past few months have been a whirlwind of car issues: a blown tire, a dead battery, a clogged intake valve. But after way too long in the shop or on the way home from the shop or on the way back tot he shop the car is finally out and road worthy, so let's back to this journey.
The second thing [following Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil] that I come across in Luke 4 is Jesus's first recorded time in the synagogue in Nazareth. We find Jesus entering the synagogue, as was his custom, and standing up to read. To Jesus was handed a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. We do not know how much of Isaiah was contained in the scroll, perhaps the whole book, perhaps just a part of it, but however much it contained Jesus turned to what we know as Isaiah 61:1, 2, or at least most of it, which we will get to in a little bit.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Then Jesus sits down, everyone looks at him and he states that in this moment this scripture has come true. At first the crowd is amazed and speaks well of him, until the troll speaks up and says, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then Jesus suggests that the crowd will want miracles, like he did in Capernaum, and tells them that they won't see them, and shares two stories, from their own history.
A) he speaks of Elijah and how there were many widows in his time, but he was sent to a widow from Sidon.
B) he speaks of Elisha and how there were many people who had leprosy in his time, but that he was sent to a man from Syria.
This enrages the people and they decide to drive Jesus out to a nearby cliff and toss him off it. Luckily, as you will see from time to time within the gospels, Jesus is a very stealthy kind of guy and he just walks through the angry mob and "went on his way"
There is your Luke 4:14-30 walkthrough, now let's unpack a few things, if you don't mind...
1) As I said Jesus picked these particular verses on purpose, this is no mere chance Bible page flip. Not only that but Jesus edited the Isaiah passage a little bit, and that also is no accident.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God
Do you notice the big thing missing from Jesus's reading? Isaiah talks of the one that is to come to both proclaim the year of the Lord's favor as well as the day of God's vengeance, whereas Jesus speaks of proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and leaves out any mention of God's vengeance. I believe that this is because Jesus's mission had nothing to do with bringing God's vengeance to us, nor stopping God's vengeance upon us, but rather about making us all aware of the existence of God's favor upon us. God favor's us, in our brokenness, in our blindness, in our captivity, in our banality, in our sinfulness...in all those states and more, God favors us.
2) Why those stories, and why the rage that they caused within the people? First off a little difference between Nazareth and Capernaum: Nazareth was a very Israelite area and Capernaum was not. A question arises as to Jesus's origin, in other words, how can this man says things like this, he's just the local carpenter's kid, how can this man claim what he claims, it's the one who threw mud on the teacher, or kissed your daughter, or son, or cussed, or drank, or did whatever rates in your eyes as to make him/her lesser. Many of us has been Jesus in this instance, attempting to move beyond where and who we have come from while others are trying to remind us of our limitations.
So, as my Church History Professor, Dr. Froese would say, Jesus pricked them. He told them two short stories about how two prophets, men chosen by God to speak for God, had been sent not tot the hurting and needy in Israel but were rather sent to gentiles and God's power and grace shown upon them. In the same way Jesus is telling the people that God's power and grace has been shown among the gentiles in Capernaum but would be hard pressed to shine among those in Israel. I think that the main reason that Jesus could and did do miracles in certain places and couldn't and didn't do miracles in other places has to do with the expectations of those in his midst.
The people who couldn't let go of the past, couldn't let go of the origins, couldn't let go of the limitations missed out on the wonders that were available. The people who did not grow up in the traditions and stories and legends, who didn't expect anything from God, nor expect God to do anything particularly for them were shown things far and above what they thought even possible.
The takeaway:
From this friends I would ask you to do two things, first remember that God favors you no matter your situation, be it ideal or far from ideal; secondly allow God to be God, to do what God will or will not do, and let go of all those things that can hinder God, your past, your expectations, your requirements.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
The second thing [following Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil] that I come across in Luke 4 is Jesus's first recorded time in the synagogue in Nazareth. We find Jesus entering the synagogue, as was his custom, and standing up to read. To Jesus was handed a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. We do not know how much of Isaiah was contained in the scroll, perhaps the whole book, perhaps just a part of it, but however much it contained Jesus turned to what we know as Isaiah 61:1, 2, or at least most of it, which we will get to in a little bit.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Then Jesus sits down, everyone looks at him and he states that in this moment this scripture has come true. At first the crowd is amazed and speaks well of him, until the troll speaks up and says, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then Jesus suggests that the crowd will want miracles, like he did in Capernaum, and tells them that they won't see them, and shares two stories, from their own history.
A) he speaks of Elijah and how there were many widows in his time, but he was sent to a widow from Sidon.
B) he speaks of Elisha and how there were many people who had leprosy in his time, but that he was sent to a man from Syria.
This enrages the people and they decide to drive Jesus out to a nearby cliff and toss him off it. Luckily, as you will see from time to time within the gospels, Jesus is a very stealthy kind of guy and he just walks through the angry mob and "went on his way"
There is your Luke 4:14-30 walkthrough, now let's unpack a few things, if you don't mind...
1) As I said Jesus picked these particular verses on purpose, this is no mere chance Bible page flip. Not only that but Jesus edited the Isaiah passage a little bit, and that also is no accident.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God
Do you notice the big thing missing from Jesus's reading? Isaiah talks of the one that is to come to both proclaim the year of the Lord's favor as well as the day of God's vengeance, whereas Jesus speaks of proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and leaves out any mention of God's vengeance. I believe that this is because Jesus's mission had nothing to do with bringing God's vengeance to us, nor stopping God's vengeance upon us, but rather about making us all aware of the existence of God's favor upon us. God favor's us, in our brokenness, in our blindness, in our captivity, in our banality, in our sinfulness...in all those states and more, God favors us.
2) Why those stories, and why the rage that they caused within the people? First off a little difference between Nazareth and Capernaum: Nazareth was a very Israelite area and Capernaum was not. A question arises as to Jesus's origin, in other words, how can this man says things like this, he's just the local carpenter's kid, how can this man claim what he claims, it's the one who threw mud on the teacher, or kissed your daughter, or son, or cussed, or drank, or did whatever rates in your eyes as to make him/her lesser. Many of us has been Jesus in this instance, attempting to move beyond where and who we have come from while others are trying to remind us of our limitations.
So, as my Church History Professor, Dr. Froese would say, Jesus pricked them. He told them two short stories about how two prophets, men chosen by God to speak for God, had been sent not tot the hurting and needy in Israel but were rather sent to gentiles and God's power and grace shown upon them. In the same way Jesus is telling the people that God's power and grace has been shown among the gentiles in Capernaum but would be hard pressed to shine among those in Israel. I think that the main reason that Jesus could and did do miracles in certain places and couldn't and didn't do miracles in other places has to do with the expectations of those in his midst.
The people who couldn't let go of the past, couldn't let go of the origins, couldn't let go of the limitations missed out on the wonders that were available. The people who did not grow up in the traditions and stories and legends, who didn't expect anything from God, nor expect God to do anything particularly for them were shown things far and above what they thought even possible.
The takeaway:
From this friends I would ask you to do two things, first remember that God favors you no matter your situation, be it ideal or far from ideal; secondly allow God to be God, to do what God will or will not do, and let go of all those things that can hinder God, your past, your expectations, your requirements.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
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