1. |
Strands In The Web
03:15
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"Strands In The Web"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" & "J-Walking" albums.
Strands In The Web
Praise the Creator for the sun in the sky
Gift to all peoples and nations
Praise for the cycles and seasons of life
Brother and sister creation
Praise for the trees and the sap and the seeds
Praise for the good food we eat
(Chorus)
And the Mother will always provide
For a people who treat her with care
Every being and thing will survive
When we're strands in the web of all life
Praise for the waters which fill up our wells
Praise for the balance of nature
Praise for the person who loves more than self
Praise for the gift of a neighbor
Praise for the elders who teach us to share
Praise for the will to be fair
(Chorus)
Praise for the truth which can set captives free
From prisons of misunderstanding
Praise for the people now able to see
The embers of hate they were fanning
Praise for the rights of all peoples on earth
Praise for respect they deserve
(Chorus)
(Tag)
The gift of creation will flourish and thrive
When we're strands in the web of all life
Credits:
Music & Lyrics by Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990, all rights reserved
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2. |
Nobody For Jesus
03:28
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"Nobody For Jesus"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
People say you've got to be tough if you're gonna get somewhere
Show 'em they can't take you for a fool
Gotta learn to push and to shove if you're gonna get your share
Make 'em think about it before they mess with you
But Jesus as I look at you I see a different way
And it feels so good for me to lift my voice and say
(Chorus)
Because of you
I can let my guard down
Because of you
I've got no games to play and nothing to prove
So help me be
More the way you are
Strong enough to be gentle as a dove
People say you've got to be cold in a world of you or me
But I do believe there's a better way
There's a man who lived out a love even death could not defeat
And he taught a new way of understanding strength (Matthew 20:25-27)
And Jesus I am praying for the grace to live your way
Gentle as a dove and strong enough to face the pain
(Chorus)
(Bridge) Jesus you embodied God's own strength (Col. 1:15-16)
Strong enough to give your life away (John 10:15-18)
Strong enough to live for others' sake (Phil. 2:1-11)
Strong enough to cry (John 11:35) (Luke 19:41-42)
Strong enough to die (Luke 9:22;51)
(Chorus Twice)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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3. |
Slow Me Down
03:08
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"Slow Me Down"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
When I wake up in the morning
And already I'm behind
When I set aside my praying
'cause I'm worried about time
When the coffee burns my lips
I'm too rushed to let it cool
When my mind is just too scattered
To read my list of things to do
(Chorus)
Slow me down
Too many irons in the fire
I'm always pushin' to the wire
'Til there's nothing left of me
Slow me down
Separate wheat from chaff in me
Jesus that's what I really need
Slow me down
When my kids wake in the morning
And I'm miles on the road
When they hear me say sweet dreams
From some distant telephone
When my wife seems more like someone
I might say I used to know
When I tell a friend I'll call you
But we both know that I won't
(Chorus)
(Bridge) When the work I want to see as an opportunity
Feels just like an expectation placed on me
When I'm doing all these things but with less than half of me
Jesus slow me down before I burn this candle out
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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4. |
Wise As Serpents
02:27
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"Wise As Serpents"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album
See the man on the T.V. screen
Telling us his hands are clean
Truth's a wartime casualty
Say's the lie can make us free (John 8:32)
(Chorus)
Spirit open up our eyes
Help us see through the disguise
When the wrong's dressed up like right (2 Cor. 11:12 - 15)
Lord we've got to be wise
Wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16)
Hear the "new right" preacher preach
Build the bombs and pray for peace
On the cross there's a flag that's draped
Gospel of the nation state
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
And the serpent's a master at twisting words around (Genesis 3:1 - 5)
And the serpent just loves the truth
As long as it's well watered down
Take a look inside myself (Matthew 7:1 - 5)
Serpent gets to me as well (1 John 1:8)
Spirit says stand up, speak out (Luke 12:8 - 9)
Serpent says now aren't you proud?
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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5. |
Yesterday I Saw Jesus
03:31
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"Yesterday I Saw Jesus"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" & "J-Walking" albums.
Yesterday I saw Jesus
And he was living in San Salvador
I saw the one who frees us
And he was homeless and landless and poor
I almost did not recognize him
You'd never know he was King of Kings
His wife and his children beside him
And he was begging for bread of all things
Yesterday I saw Jesus
And he was living in a shanty town
I saw the one who frees us
And in the streets they were shooting him down
The government sent in the soldiers
Declared a state of emergency
They ripped through the town with their dozers
And the press was forbidden to speak
(Chorus)
When did we take you in Lord?
When did we give you a drink?
When did we see you naked?
When did we watch you bleed?
When did we see you in prison?
When did we give you something to eat?
Well whatever you did to the least of these
You did it unto me
Yesterday I saw Jesus
And she had nowhere she could lay her head (Matthew 8:20)
I saw the one who frees us
And she had fallen through the safety net
The father of her children had left her
The monthly check she received was too thin
She knocked on the door of the shelter
But there was no room left in the inn (Luke 2:7)
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Yesterday I saw Jesus Christ
Child of war running for his life
God of love give us hands to reach
Out to Jesus Christ the refugee
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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6. |
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"No Success Worth Failing You"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
Tucked him in just an hour ago
Said our prayers, good night
Sighed that sigh every parent knows
Another day gone by
Picked up his toys
Back on the shelf
Upstairs a boy softly sings to himself
That little toddler's got this daddy beat
A comfortable chair
Have a seat
For a while I let time just slip by
No one's needs to meet
Then I smile as this thought comes to mind
Think I'll watch him sleep
Creep up the stairs
Don't make a peep
He's lying there like an angle asleep
I stand and stare as my eyes fill with tears
Whispering words I know only God hears
(Chorus)
Nothing of mine
No dream of success
Means more to me than just being with you
And I've got my call
And my work to do
But my child there's no success worth failing you
Sometimes Jesus I feel torn apart
I've got my own dreams
Help me keep first things first in my heart
Give me eyes to see
That there's no work
No ministry
Worth more to you than my own family
And all of the good that I do makes no sense
If it is done at my children's expense
(Chorus twice)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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7. |
Gentle As A Dove
03:25
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"Gentle As A Dove"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
People say you've got to be tough if you're gonna get somewhere
Show 'em they can't take you for a fool
Gotta learn to push and to shove if you're gonna get your share
Make 'em think about it before they mess with you
But Jesus as I look at you I see a different way
And it feels so good for me to lift my voice and say
(Chorus) Because of you I can let my guard down
Because of you I've got no games to play and nothin to prove
So help me be more the way you are
Strong enought to be gentle as a dove
People say you've got to be cold in a world of you or me
But I do believe there's a better way
There's a man who lived out a love even death could not defeat
And he taught a new way of understanding strength
So Jesus I am praying for the grace to live your way
Gentle as a dove but strong enough to risk the pain
Chorus
Bridge: Jesus you embodied God's own strength
Strong enough to give your life away
Strong enough to live for others' sake
Strong enough to cry, strong enough to die
Chorus
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8. |
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"Have You Prayed About It Yet?"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
He stopped by
Told me that I'd
Been on his mind
How's your life?
Are things alright?
I said I'm fine
I thought all my pain was hidden well
Until my friend said
(Chorus)
Have you prayed about it yet?
Have you taken it to the Lord?
I don't mean to pry my friend
But don't let Jesus be your last resort
I'm not saying that prayer will take the pain away
But somehow when we pray Jesus shares the weight
All I'm asking you (my) friend, is
Have you prayed about it yet?
At first I
Kept trying to hide
I said I'm fine
Then like ice
Melting inside
Tears filled my eyes
My friend saw me trying to fight the tears
He said don't hold back, and
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
So many times when I'm hurt inside
I slug it out on my own
O God I don't know why I struggle alone
When my coming to you
Could be the first thing I do
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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9. |
A Miracle I Need
03:09
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"A Miracle I Need"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
Lord I know forgiving is your way to be
But I can't seem to find the love this time
The anger and the hurt that's locked away in me
Feels like all that's really mine sometimes
And I know getting even never solves a thing (Matthew 5:38-48)
But sometimes I'd like to make somebody pay
(Chorus)
Lord I'm not as holy as you are
There's anger like a cancer in this heart
This time I just can't find the love in me
And forgiveness is a miracle I need
Lately I've been looking at the cross a lot
Thinking of the love you've given me (Romans 5:6-11)
Thinking of the wrong done to the son of God
That everybody's slate could be wiped clean (John 3:16; 1 John 1:7)
And I know that you've taken all my debts away
And I've no right to make another pay (Matthew 18:21-35)
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
A miracle I need
Take this bitterness from me
Fill my heart Lord with your love
I know your grace is enough (2Cor. 12:9; Phil. 4:13)
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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10. |
Press On
02:54
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"Press On"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
You did what you did
You said what you said
Now you're feeling crippled in your guilt and regret
Advice and consolation can come across cheap
You're hard on yourself when your faith falls asleep
Do what you can to get it right
But once you have then put it out of sight
(Chorus)
Forget what's behind and press on, press on
The Lord's on y;our side, press on, press on
Forget what's behind and press on, press on, press on
You tried to do right
But something went wrong
Now you've got to face what you have known all along
You're not all the together, you're no "supersaint"
You stumble and fall and you procrastinate
Learn What you can from your mistakes
But then remember the free gift off grace (Rom. 3:21-24)
(Chorus)
(Bridge) Whatever you've done, whatever you do
Jesus keeps on loving you
No matter how far you've drifted away
Jesus wants you back today (Luke 15:11-32)
(Chorus)
(Tag) Forget what's behind and press on, press on
To the mark of your calling in Jesus
(Repeat)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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11. |
Perfect Pastor
03:31
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"Perfect Pastor"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" & "Live! In Concert" albums.
O Lord we're gathered here tonight
To find a pastor for our church
We pray that you will guide
his here committee as we search
And if its all the same to you
We've written down a thought or two
About the kind of pastor we'd appreciate from you
(Chorus)
O Lord we're only asking for a perfect pastor
We know for you no order is too tall
If you can make the universe in less than a week
You can make a perfect pastor in no time at all
O Lord we're only asking for a perfect pastor
A little less than an angel will be fine
But we'll settle for no less than a perfect pastor
We're tired of the plain old human kind
Now Lord we're open minded here
We'll take a woman or a man
'cause gender never does affect our choice
Yes we'll look at any she
Who's got the qualities
Of being at least six foot tall
With a deep down preacher voice
And Lord we'd like an older man
Someone polished and mature
But young enough to still be looking great
We'd like someone to wow us
With administrative prowess
How 'bout forty years experience
At age thirty eight?
(Chorus)
(Bridge) And the perfect pastor visits all the needy
And he's in his office every single day
And when it comes to salary he's not greedy
He'll take just what you give him
And then give it all away
O we don't' believe that we
Are hard to satisfy
But after all our standards should be high
So when you find the time
Simply zap on down a guy
Who's mastered being everything to everyone all the time
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990
All Rights Reserved.
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12. |
Straight And Narrow Road
02:30
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"Straight And Narrow Road"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
Got a call on the telephone
From a woman I used to know
She said you know I think of you so much
She said she never should've married
When the one she wanted was me
She said sometimes I dream about your touch
And she said she's tired of trying to live up
to what somebody tells her is right
Her husband's gone on business and she'd like
to see me tonight
And I said...
(Chorus)
You see I'm driving down this straight and narrow road
And I really don't want to turn to the left or the right
Someone gets hurt every time I take an exit sign
I'll be keepin' my eyes on this straight and narrow road
Got a friend on Wall Street
He said hey listen to me
I've heard some news that's got but you've gotta move quick
So don't be asking your questions
All you need to know is this
An inside friend of mine gave me a gift
This is your chance to make it all now and then you're free
the rest of your life
Are you thinking what you'll do for the kids
come college time?
And I said...
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Sometimes I'm tempted by that free way
It's always just an easy turn away
And it's nice to feel those curves
Until you crash and burn
And find that that free way's got tolls to pay (Rom. 6:21-23)
I say...
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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13. |
Things The Lord Requires
02:52
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"Things The Lord Requires"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" & "J-Walking" albums.
Wake up in the morning
See what the anchorwoman's got to say
A coup d'etat down south somewhere
And bundle up it's cold outside today
And there's meltdowns and machine guns
Right in my living room
These satellites have shrunk the world
What am I supposed to do?
(Chorus)
I'll try to be a doer of justice
I'll try to be a person who's kind
I'll try to be somebody whose humble
'Cause these are the things the Lord requires
I'm trying to change my coffee brand
Some companies exploit the third world poor
But I feel like I should laugh of cry
I've tried to change so many things before
But I gave up legalism
'Cause it only left me judged
I'll do the best that I can do
Though it never seems enough
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Justice, kindness, humbleness
Let these be my desire
Justice, kindness, humbleness
Show that the Spirit's alive
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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14. |
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"Staring At My Overflowing Plate"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove," "J-Walking," & "Live in Concert" albums.
It's so easy not to see you
Close you out like a shade in the window
Your condition seems so foreign
Are you lazy? Why are you poor?
someone said you and I are connected
That your hunger is linked to my fatness
But how can that be--I never met you
I don't know your name
I've go problems of my own
I'm so busy -- I do good things
And I don't know if I can make room
In my life for your misery
Someone said that the whole world is changing
For you no longer will stand to be used
But talk like that--it makes me frightened
Scared what I might lose
(Chorus)
Jesus is that you in the window
With your nose pressed against the pane
Staring at my overflowing plate?
I've got question of my own
I'm not sure who to trust or believe
Politicians seem so sure you
Pose a threat to my liberty
I go to church and I listen to my pastor
Speak of justice beyond charity
Says the gospel is good news to poor folks (Luke 4:18-19)
But where does that leave me?
(Chorus)
...help me not to pull the window shade
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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15. |
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"If My Soul Should Be Required Tonight"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove," "J-Walking," & "Live! in Concert" albums.
Once there was a farmer
Whose land produced so well
his barns could not contain the excess grain
He built the barns up larger
And then said to himself
I've all I need for years now laid away
But God said to him,
Fool! This night your soul shall be required
And all this wealth of yours
Whose will it be?
(Chorus)
And if my soul should be required tonight
What would Jesus say to me?
If my soul should be required tonight
Would my treasure stay with me?
Would he find me rich in things
Or find me rich in Christ
If my soul should be required tonight
There is always someone
Who's urging me to buy
Who's making luxury look like a need
Investments in convenience
In comfort and in style
With all my satisfaction guaranteed
And its bigger, better, newer, faster
Buy now pay tomorrow
Seduced with credit cards and toll free lines
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
And its so easy to justify
The way I live, and all these things I buy
But this world's so hungry, Lord I've seen the need
Can I truly love, and keep the piles for me? (1 John 3:17-18; James 2:15-17)
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Muisc, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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16. |
Don't Be Surprised
03:26
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"Don't Be Surprised"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
I ran into a friend
Hadn't seen him in a while
But in his eyes I saw some wear and tear
I said how have you been?
As he tried to force a smile
He said I guess I've had my cross to bear (Mark 8:34-35)
And I said man what do you mean?
He said I lost my job last week
I wouldn't lie to make the boss look good
And I took my friend aside
And we prayed until we cried
And as he walked away this thought ran through my mind
(Chorus)
Don't be surprised when your life's not easy
Don't be surprised when you pay a price
Because no servant is above the master (John 15:20) (Matthew 10:22)
And the master said we should not be surprised
I heard a preacher say
Just give your life to Jesus Christ
And he will take your troubles all away
Well I don't know it all
But I do know my own life
And I know I still feel my share of pain
And maybe it don't sound as nice
To preach the cost of knowing Christ (Luke 14:25-33)
Its not a truth which makes attendance swell
But the Lord Himself once said
On the night before he bled
If they hated me this world will hate you too (John 15:18-19)
(Chorus Twice)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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17. |
Born Of Blood And Love
04:34
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"Born Of Blood And Love"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
A man once dared to touch the idols of this world
He said, soldier, you don't have to shoot your gun
And as he preached the Word, the doors flung open wide
And the guns he tried to silence took his life
And blood inside the cup was running on the ground
Life had been proclaimed and life had been shot down
Once there were four nuns who went to Salvador
To find the face of Jesus in the poor
But death squads on the right took those sacred lives
And the government was duly horrified
And blood inside the cup was running on the ground
Life had been proclaimed, and life had been shot down
(Chorus)
But death can never stop what's been born of
Blood and Love
Give glory to the Son!
And guns can never drop what's been born of
Blood and Love
Proclaim it ''''til he comes! (1 Cor. 11:26)
The grave can never stop the rising up
Born of Blood and Love
Six more holy men, and tens of thousands more
Have drunk the Savior's cup in Salvador (Matthew 20:22)
To boldly speak the truth, and then to pay the price (John 15:18ff)
The way of those who follow Jesus Christ
And blood inside the cup is running on the ground
Life has been proclaimed, and life has been shot down
(Chorus)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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18. |
You Are The Christ
04:18
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"You Are The Christ"
from "Wise As Serpents...Gentle As A Dove" album.
Jesus and the twelve were walking down the road one day
He asked them who do people say I am?
They told him the things they'd heard in towns along the way
And how his name had spread throughout the land
He listened to their answers
But as he did he knew
That the greater truth about him had been missed
And when they'd stopped their talking
Jesus asked them, how 'bout you?
That's when Simon Peter said something like this
(Chorus)
Jesus we (I) believe you are the Christ
Everything has changed since you came into our (my) lives (life)
And we (I) don't care what people say
We're (I'm) gonna follow in your way
Jesus we (I) believe you are the Christ
I still hear his question, who do people say I am?
I've listened to the answers people give
Some say Jesus was no more than a charismatic man
And others have their doubts he even lived
Some say he was a teacher
Of some sound philosophy
Who's enjoyed a trumped up place in history
And some say he was a dreamer
Who was dangerously naive
But there's only one response that speaks for me
(Repeat Chorus using singular form)
Credits:
Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio
Crosswind Music, 1990.
All Rights Reserved.
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