Going Public


Real Good Thing
Shine
Spirit Thing
Let It Rain
Going Public
Truth and Consequences
Lights Out
Be Still
When You Called My Name
Elle G.


Real Good Thing

when we don't get what we deserve
that's a real good thing
when we get what we
don't deserve
that's a real good thing

born to sin
and then get caught
all our good deeds
don't mean squat

sell the Volvo
shred the Visa
send the cash to Ma Teresa
great idea
the only catch is
you don't get saved
on merit badges

when we don't get what we deserve...

doctor's coming
looking grim
"Do you have a favorite hymn?"

check your balance through the years
all accounts are in arrears
guilt is bitter
grace is sweet
park it here
on the mercy seat

when we don't get what we deserve...

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Shine

dull as dirt
you can't assert the kind of light
that might persuade
a strict dictator to retire
fire the army
teach the poor origami
the truth is in
the proof is when
you hear your heart
start asking, "What's my motivation?"

and try as you may, there isn't a way
to explain the kind of change
that would make an Eskimo renounce fur
that would make a vegetarian
      barbecue hamster
unless you can trace this about-face
to a certain sign...

shine
make 'em wonder what you've got
make 'em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let 'em see good works, and then
let 'em glorify the Lord

out of the shaker and onto the plate
it isn't Karma
it sure ain't fate
that would make a Deadhead sell his van
that would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
and science seeks a rationale
that shall excuse
this strange behavior

when you let it shine
you will inspire
the kind of entire turnaround
that would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren't... happy)
but out of the glare
with nowhere to turn
you ain't gonna learn it on "What's My Line?"

shine...

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Spirit Thing

it's not a family trait
it's nothing that I ate
and it didn't come from skating
with holy rollers

it's an early warning sign
it keeps my life in line
but it's so hard to define
never mind

it's just a spirit thing
it's just a holy nudge
it's like a circuit judge in
      the brain
it's just a spirit thing
it's here to guard my heart
it's just a little hard to explain
it pushes when I quit

it smells of counterfeit
sometimes it works a bit
like a teleprompter

when it's teleprompting you
I pray you'll let it through
and I'll help you with the how
but for now

it's a spirit thing...

I took the pulpit
then backed down again
some things in heaven
cannot be explained

I took the soapbox
then backed down again
some things in heaven
cannot be explained

I took the airwaves
then backed down again
some things in heaven
cannot be explained

it's just a spirit thing...

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Let It Rain

a fisher of men remembers...

and I have watched in wonder
as with a word You calmed a raging sea
I have seen You make the wine from water
mud and water made a blind man see
water still reminds me
of the seaside where out eyes first met

let it rain
Lord, we're watiing for Your rain to fall
let it rain
bringing back the wonder of it all
and I can see Your face again
when You let it rain

and I've been bathed in mercy
by every gesture, every word You've said
once I spoke of power and high position
You took a towel and washed my feet instead
water, like a promise
heave opens, but I'm not there yet

let it rain...

I've been foolish
thought I knew it all
there times I denied Your name
Your forgiveness, like a waterfall
washes away my shame

a new dawn is breaking
another hour, and then I leave
      this place
I am ready, Lord, to give my life up
I am ready, Lord, to see Your face
water, like a promise
and in this final hour, I think my final prayer shall be
would You let it rain?
let Your Spirit fall afresh on me
let it rain...

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Going Public

she's been dazed and induced
wants a part-time God
for her private use
but she won't take a stand
'cause she might get tagged
as a closet Jesus fan

sign on
the time is drawing near
this is surely a banner year
to be a public witness
sign on
the lines are drawn and clear
there's no straddling fences here
we're going public with this

he's displaced and unglued
scared that faith in God
could be misconstrued
but the corss makes him wish
that his spine was more
than a school of jellyfish

sign on...

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Truth and Consequences

poster child for the Christian single
dumped on more than a birdhouse single
tired of the same old crowd, she starts to
mingle where she don't belong
all God's bachelors hanging in a bunch
wolves in Wool-lite beat 'em to the punch
score another knockout, barely bought her lunch
what went wrong?

let's talk about real life
truth and consequences
and coming to our senses
and lies we'd best unlearn

let's talk about real love
truth and propaganda
are you really gonna stand for
love that waits it's turn?

I am the voice of the male agenda
sensitive, strong or shy, I tend to
act anyway that would possibly send you
somewhere we can be alone

you're so sure I'm a would be Christian
sucker by the "Untamed Heart" condition
love that feminine intuition
seen that movie, too

let's talk about real life...

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Lights Out

last one turns the lights out, and
makes sure every curtain's drawn
nail the shutters shut, he's sure
we are not of this world for long
who do you think you are?
did you figure out the date?
what do you hope to do
while you sit around and wait, wait, wait?

last one turns the lights out, and
disconnects the answer-phone
stuffs all sense of msision, says
"I just can't turn the tide alone"
who do you think you are?
did youfigure out the time?
what do you hope to do
while you hide out and whine, whine, whine...

don't go shuttin' down
'til the trumpet sounds
and the battle is won
don't go punchin' out
'til the final shout
and the father says, "well done"

last one turns the light out, and
just keeps playing dumb
these were his instructions, he's
not sure where he got 'em from
why do you wanna hide
in a separate class?
why do you buy the lie
of a faith under glass, glass glass...

don't go shuttin' down...

last one shoots the lights out, and
climbs up to the top of the roof
he's sitting there 'til the Second Coming
says he's got mathematical proof
who do you think you are?
did you figure out the date?
what do you hope to do
while you sit around and wait
wait, wait...

don't go shuttin' down...

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Be Still

be still and know He
know He is holy
be still and know He is God

we have filled our lives with inventions
that have hurried us nowhere fast
now we need to turn our attentions
to what will last

be still and know He
know He is holy
be still and know He is God
love Him more dearly
see Him more clearly
be still and know He is God

we've been running without a direction
we're afraid to get there late
what we need is strength just to kneel down
and wait

be still...

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When You Called My Name

I want to preach the Word
they want massages
I check chapter and verse
they check their watches
I spy another yawn
I might as well be gone
let's stand and say "Amen"

some days, I must admit
I still don't get this
could be it's time to quit
when days get like this
I slip into the night
then stumble towards the light
wake up and try again

when You called my name
I didn't know how far the calling went
when You called my name
I didn't know what the word really meant
when I recall Your call
I feel
so small

could be I'm losing touch
could be they don't care
Lord knows I don't know much
Lord knows I've been there
I trip toward my retreat
I fall down at Your feet
get up and try again

when You called my name
I didn't know how far the
calling went
when You called my name
I didn't know what the word really meant
when I recall Your call I feel
so small
Lord, what did you see
when you called out for me?

I start losing heart
and then
it comes again
lifted from despair
by the prayers of someone
lifted from despair
by the prayers of someone

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Elle G.

thumbs out on a desert road I am told
leads to nowhere
any shade is as good as the next
if your shadow doesn't go there

week seven: did you really assume
I'd find some solace from the letter in your room?
next life, could you kindly refrain
from throwing yourself at the mercy of a train?

silence all, nobody breathe
how in the world could you just leave?
you promised you would
silence that evil with good

hear me out, I have the floor
I'll give you my tears, I'll listen more
you pormised you would
overcome evil with good

maybe this world is a barren place for a soul
prone to get lost
but heaven still hounds from the smallest sounds
to the cries of the storm-tossed
week nine: I am writing in the sand
and little clue that could help me understand
every whispered secret, every muffled sigh
every half-truth that was added to a lie

silence all, nobody move
I've got to know now what you hoped to prove
you promised you would
silence that evil with good

shame feeds guilt, guilt needs release
you took it to God
you made your peace
and swore that you would
overcome evil with good

every old demon playing back the crime
if they needed blood, I'd have gladly given mine
a Child of the Knigdom still an invalid
forgive her, please Father
she don't know what she did

silence all, now go to sleep
the water's free, the well is deep
how can we return
that which we never could earn?

God, I long to see her face
we haven't a hope
beyond Your grace
I know that You will
overcome evil
for good

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