There's a Prize(the song formerly known as RUN FOR THE PRIZE)

Most of the song lyrics I have penned over the years have not involved a lot of commitment as far as planning or actual time grappling with words. Generally, I get the idea and am done with the majority of the song in an hour or two. However, the following song is way outside the norm, seeing that the early stages of its conception took place over 20 years ago...

It all began during the 1985-86 school year, when our basketball coach, Jim Stephens, would motivate us before an off-season conditioning run by reading the passage from the Bible where Paul writes about Running for the Prize(I Corinthians 9:24). I can't say that that verse became my favorite verse, nor that it really motivated to run better, but it stuck in my heart apparently.
Fast forward to the summer of 1991. I was working at Camp Lone Star, and while jogging, with guitar in hand, to a site where I was supposed to lead an evening devotion, I "composed" the song Run For the Prize, which included a portion of the lyrics seen below. The message of the devotion went well. However, the song wasn't fully composed and I butchered it pretty mightily. Matt Chambers, who was part of the audience during that devotion, still gives me grief about that episode.
Fast forward to Summer 2007. I was trying to write some song lyrics for some kids who went to Camp Lone Star from our church. For some reason, RUN FOR THE PRIZE popped in my head, and I was able to expand on and improve the original lyrics. If nothing else, I figured the song would give Matt Chambers a good laugh. He is still at Camp Lone Star and would be certain to see these lyrics and remember the debacle of 1991.
Anyway, I have finally put together a melody for these lyrics and am planning to debut it Wednesday, March 5 for the confirmation class at church. Hopefully, I'll present the song a little more smoothly then I did 17 years ago.

There’s a Prize(The song formerly known as RUN FOR THE PRIZE)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

Left foot, right foot, left foot on

Run until your strength is gone

Left foot, right foot, left foot too

Run until your race is through(2x)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

Run for the prize as fast as you can

Run though at times you may not understand

With your eyes fixed firmly on

The King of kings press on(2x)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race.

Song for Mr. Bird Tree Man(aka the other Man in Black)

I am a fan of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Sr. You may not think this odd seeing as how I grew up in Texas and was singing Kenny Rogers' LUCILLE around the house at an early age. If I remember right, I spent a day home sick from school listening to a local country station. However, the Cash/Williams, Sr. admiration is a different story entirely.

When I was teaching English in Japan('93-'95), one of my students was a Buddhist priest, who loved country music. I think he was a student for just one or two terms(at most six months). During that time, our conversational English included discussions about the above mentioned crooners. I distinctly remember one lesson where we used the lyrics of A Boy Named Sue(sung by Cash, lyrics by Shel Silverstein(sp?) to learn a little bit of English. He also was interested in the old Hank Williams, Sr. song about Living Water. I ended up playing another song for him I had written in the early 90s about Living Water(based on the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well). Anyhow, as a gift Mr. Bird Tree Man(this is a rough translation of his name's meaning) gave me a tape recording of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Sr. albums that he owned. Thus, the following appears on this blog some 15 years later...

Song for Mr. Bird Tree Man(aka another man in black)

It’s been a long time, Mr. Bird Tree Man

Since I have seen your face

With your flowing robes and your shaved head

And your slowly moving pace

My penchant for Hank, Sr.’s from a tape I got from you

I wouldn’t believe this story ‘cept for I know that it’s true

Oh, man in black,

I crossed my path with you for just a while

And thinking back on you

Causes my heart to smile

Oh, man in black

If you are thirsty, I pray that you will

Drink of the living water,

Drink it ‘til you’ve had your fill

Of course there’s Johnny Cash as well,

You introduced me to

I never will forget when we discussed A Boy Named Sue

It is indeed a mystery that brought you through my path

And thinking of you Bird Tree Man,

I have to stop and laugh.

Oh, man in black,

I crossed my path with you for just a while

And thinking back on you

Causes my heart to smile

Oh, man in black

If you are thirsty, I pray that you will

Drink of the living water,

Drink it ‘til you’ve had your fill

Be My Bread

The following lyrics are based on the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness.

Be My Bread

Be my bread, Lord

Be the words on which I feed

From your mouth comes

All the good things I could need

When it seems that all the cupboards or my life are bare

Let your wisdom find a way to make its dwelling there.

Be my shelter,

Catch me when I take a fall

Keep me safe what

Ever comes to call

Lord, guard every

Hair that is upon my head

From the morning until I go back to bed

Be my treasure

On which I can keep my eyes

For your love is

greater than the greatest prize

Let your kingdom

Be the reason that I am

Bowing only

To the mercy of the lamb.