Latinus Dismissus(A song of Simeon)

The Sunday School class I attend regularly just began looking at the book of Luke. One of the studies touched on Luke 2, which includes the account of Jesus' being presented at the temple shortly after his birth and the reaction of Simeon(verses 29-32). Simeon's words are at times have been part of the Lutheran liturgy in the form song called the NUNC DIMMITUS(Latin for dismissal). One of the discussions that came up during our study was that some folks miss singing the NUNC DIMITTUS in worship. A few days later, I was messing around with the words of Simeon and came up with the song posted below. We are planning to include in our IGNITE! worship service in December, since it will be falling during the week after Christmas. It may end up being included in the service on a regular basis if all goes well.
My original title for it was Latinus Dismissus, but I think A SONG OF SIMEON will be more fitting to use in a worship setting.

Latinus Dismissus(A SONG OF SIMEON)

Lord, precious Lord, let your humble servant
Lord, let your servant depart in peace
Lord, precious Lord, let your humble servant
Lord, let your servant go in peace

I have seen the truth today
Your promise fills my eyes
I have seen your saving grace
Your love rains from the skies

I have seen the way today
Your promise fills my heart
I have seen new life begin
Jesus is its start.

777 song based on Psalm 13

The idea for this song came from a high school student who requested a song based on Psalm 13...

777 song based on Psalm 13

7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year
The numbers, they look promising
But the day?
Seems not so clear

Trees falling down
Broken on the ground
Streetlights are out
My heart filled with doubt

7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year

Friends turned away
They have nothing left to say
Sadness in the air
My heart touched by despair

7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year
The numbers, they look promising
But the day?
Seems not so clear

Yet in the darkness, I will trust in You
Your never ending love for me is ever true
I will sing with the hope that my eyes can't see
I will sing to you, my Lord, for You've been good to me

7th day of the month of the 7th year
The numbers they look promising
But they day?
Seems not so clear

I will sing with the hope that my eyes can't see
I will sing with the hope that my eyes can't see

On the 7th day, of the 7th month of the 7th year

Comes the Son

The following set of lyrics was inspired by the Halloween season. Last Halloween, I had an email interchange with someone in Japan who was overwhelmed by all the Halloween decorations. In the interchange they referenced Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may remain for a night but joy comes in the morning". By the time the interchange ended Halloween had passed, so I filed the thoughts away. The thoughts were accessed again a few weeks ago, when I saw a car that already had a KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS bumper magnet on their car. Anyway, the product of all this was the following:

COMES THE SON

I've seen the tombstones on my street
I have heard the goblins scream
I hear a sound cut through the night
"Keep Christ in Halloween"

There is darkness, Mr. Bones
There is death all around our homes
There's darkness in a grotesque face
It seems that death is every place

Yet, in the morning there is light
In His morning, there's new life
Yes, in the morning comes the son
When darkness days are surely done.

There is darkness, evil dwells
There is death, things don't look well
There is darkness here on earth
There is death for every birth

Yet, in the morning there is light
In His morning, there's new life
Yes, in the morning comes the son
When darkness days are surely done.

Get away darkness, He's the truth
Shining on the lie that's you
Get away death, He is the way
Crossing off your final day(2X)

Yes, in the morning there is light
In His morning, there's new life
Yes, in the morning comes the Son.

What Kind of Sheep Am I?

In my last post I mentioned that I was asking some confirmation students for song ideas. The following song is the first product of those ideas:

What Kind of Sheep am I?

What Kind of sheep am I?
Am I walking in the light?
Are my words and actions pointing
To the One who made things right?
Do I love my neighbor from the sunrise
Until late at night?
What kind of sheep am I?

What kind of Lamb is He?
In the darkness, He is the light
A Lamb who fed the hungry,
And a Lamb who gave the blind their sight.
To the last He loved His neighbors
Far beyond what this world's eyes can see
What kind of Lamb is He?

What kind of sheep am I?
Am I listening to His word?
Am I daily taking up my cross?
Believing what I've heard?
Am I faithful from the sunrise
Until deep into the night?
What kind of sheep am I?

What kind of Lamb is He?
One who listened to His call
A Lamb who saw my greatest need
And then who gave for me His all
He was faithful through the darkness that
Descended on the tree
What kind of Lamb is He?

A Lamb who saw my greatest need
And then who gave His all for me
What kind of Lamb is He?

23rd Psalm-Circa 1991

The main reason I started writing a song every month two years ago was to share my song writing ability with the kids in a confirmation class where I lead songs. Starting this school year, I am going to give the students a chance to give me ideas for the songs. As an example, I am going to tell them about some of the songs I have written over the years as a result of someone saying, "Why don't you write a song about...". One example happened when I was living in Milwaukee back in 1991, shortly after graduating from Marquette University. A an junior high boy at the church where I was a temporary youth director asked me to write a song sometime. "What should I write it about?" "The 23rd Psalm". The following is what came as a result of that request.

23rd Psalm-Circa 1991

Lead me into the pasture, sweet Jesus

Make me lie down in fields of green

Restore my soul, side the quiet waters

With your rod and staff, come comfort me

The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His flock

The gate the Good Shepherd will unlock

In a Good Shepherd, the sheep will trust

For their life, it is a must

Though my heart is surrounded by darkness

You are with me… I will not fear

Guide me into your holy ways, Lord

Stay forever to me near

REFRAIN

Before me you’ve set an abundant feast, Lord

Covered my head with your love

Following me will be an overflowing

Of your glorious gifts from above

REFRAIN

Lord, Bless America

The topic of patriotic songs came up recently. A suggestion was made to sing God Bless America at last Wednesday's IGNITE worship. The topic got me thinking about how I would pray to God about the country where I live. The following is the product of that thinking:

Lord, Bless America

I come before you now with a nation on my heart
And I lift my voice to pray
Lord, Bless America
I am looking to the sky
Long before the fireworks start
And I cannot help but cry
Lord bless America

Please stand beside her,
Lord, please guide her
This nation I call home
From the west coast
To the east coast
And wherever I may roam

From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
May Christ's death set men free

43rd Street Melody(The Three Day Weekend)

I am coordinating the music for a contemporary at church this summer. We have had four services and have used HERE I AM TO WORSHIP as the opening song each time. Wednesday night after worship, one of the planners of the worship brought up the idea of possibly using a different song to open next week's session. About three minutes into my six minute drive home, the following song started being written(I was driving on 43rd Street at the time). I finished the lyrics while singing my daughter to bed and then tweaked it a bit while setting guitar chords to it this morning. Hopefully, we will be able to get it ready for Wednesday, July 2.
A quick note on the refrain... That is actually where the song started. A friend who I previously worked with at Camp Lone Star told me a story about a sermon he heard one time. Basically, the preacher got in the pulpit and Said, "On Friday, Jesus died on the cross... On Sunday, he rose again!" He continue repeating this phrase over and over again with dramatic effect added as the Spirit moved. I don't know how long the sermon went on, but it was quite lengthy. I don't have the dramatic wherewithal to give a spoken message like that, but I am surprised I was able to fit it into this song. I am looking forward to teaching it to the band on Sunday and then using it in worship on Wednesday!
The subtitle THE THREE DAY WEEKEND was suggested by the friend who told me about the sermon.

43rd Street Melody(The Three Day Weekend)

On Friday, Precious Friday... Jesus died on the cross
On Friday, Precious Friday...Jesus died for our sins
On Sunday, that Third Day... Our Savior rose again
1...2...3

Now is the time to rest in His grace
Now is the time to listen
Now is the time for all weary hearts
Now is the time to worship

Now is the time to sing praise to Him
Lift up our voice in thanksgiving
Now is the time to make joyful noise
Now is the time to worship

On Friday, Precious Friday... Jesus died on the cross
On Friday, Precious Friday...Jesus died for our sins
On Sunday, that Third Day... Our Savior rose again
1...2...3

Now is the time to gather as one
And fix our eyes upon Him
Now is the time for old and for young
Now is the time to worship

Now is the time to sing "Hallelujah"
The time to sing "Christ is Lord"
Now is the time to sing praises to you
Now is the time to worship
Now is the time to worship

On Friday, Precious Friday... Jesus died on the cross
On Friday, Precious Friday...Jesus died for our sins
On Sunday, that Third Day... Our Savior rose again

He Has Brought me Near

June marks the end of school usually and the start of summer camp. I have mentioned that I pitched in with some of the summer Bible Studies at Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas. The theme for the summer is BROUGHT NEAR. The following lyrics are for a song I wrote based on that theme.

He has brought me near

Come near to me now

So you can hear my voice, child

Come near to me now

So I can wipe your tears away

Come near to me now

So your heart can feel my smile

Come near to me now

I want you close to me each day.

He has brought me near

His hands reached out to hold me

He has brought me near

Because…He wanted to

He has brought me near

He sought me, in my hiding

He has brought me near

And He’s building something new

Come near to me now

And follow in my footsteps

Come near to me now

When you are tired I’ll be your rest

Come near to me now

Though the walk will not be easy

Come near to me now

I want to give you what is best

Refrain

What Do You Do?

The Sunday School class I attend just started a study on VOCATION. The first session had some references to the oft-asked question, "What Do You Do?" and how that sometimes defines who we are. If anyone has seen the musical version of EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN there's a funny song included in that production.
The study reminded me of a song I wrote in 1994 for a retreat of volunteer missionaries in Japan, of which I was one. We were all ESL teachers and the lyrics depicted a classroom where students are learning the question WHAT DO YOU DO? The line about a student stating that he is "a waste management guy" is based on reality. One of my students was a garbage man, so that eventually led to him being a waste management guy. The rest of the story, a few years after I left Japan that WASTE MANAGEMENT GUY was baptized.

Here's the lyrics:

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I asked a student, "What do you do?"
He told me, "I am a farmer," it's true.
And to the next I said, "Where do you work?"
She told me, "I am a bank teller clerk."

(Chorus)
Then they said, "Teacher, what do you do?"
I told them, "I am a teacher," it's true.
Buth there is one more thing that I am,
By Jesus' call I'm a fisher of men.
Yes, by Jesus' call, we are fishers of men.

I asked a student, "Are you employed?"
He said, "Yes, I am a maker of toys."
Then to his classmate I said, "How 'bout you?"
She said quite softly, "A teacher, grade two."
(Chorus)

I asked a pupil if he could explain the work that he did
come sun, wind, or rain.
And then to my and my students' surprise,
He told me, "I am a waste management guy."
(Chorus)

There's all sorts of students in classes of ours...
Some of them drive bicycles, some of them cars.
And while we are blessed to be teachers and friends,
We're blessed most of all that we're fishers of men.
We're blessed most of all that we're fishers of men.

I asked a student, "What do you do?"

AND

Roller Rink Rock and Roll

In case you are wondering, there is a story behind the title of this song. Here it is:
I came home to Houston during Christmas Break of one of my years at Marquette University(I believe it was my junior year-1989) and volunteered to DJ a Christian music night and the local roller rink. I was majoring in broadcasting and had even produced and hosted a contemporary Christian music show on the campus station(WMUR), so I figured this was right up my alley.
I showed up at the rink with my feeble collection of music including Petra, Michael W. Smith, and if I remember correctly Stryper as well as a few more groups. I settled into the DJ booth, while the skaters started lacing up. The first song I played was THIS MEANS WAR by Petra, a Christian band with a hard rock sound. For many years their lead singer was John Schlitt who had been in a rock band called Head East. Before the end of the song's first stanza, a gentleman came in to the booth quite irate, asking why I was playing this rock music, etc. I wish I could say that I had a great strategy of listening to this man's complaint in an attempt to reach some understanding, but the truth is I was so stunned by his attack onthe TYPE OF MUSIC that Iwas playing that had been special to me that I couldn't formulate any response for several minutes. Eventually, several skaters offered to get some music from their cars that was a bit more "acceptable", so I did my best to play a mix of the two. If memory serves, the gentleman, who as best I could tell was a pastor/minister stayed by my side for at least 90 minutes. As I listened to him and got to explain a little bit of the positive ways God had used this rock and roll in my life, I was able to understand the crux of his argument. He even quoted that famous Scripture to me to defend it, it is from Paul's letter to the Classical Musicians, chapter 4, verse 1:"Thine beat shalt not override thine melody." (OK, OK that's not really a verse, it is April 1 after all). However, that was the main part of his argument, "the beat overrides the melody, therefore, the music is not of God."

Some events I have recently been aparty to have made me think again of that night at the roller rink. While the roller rink memory is a bit humorous with the emotions of the moment far in the past, the recollection is also a bit disconcerting to me. Even if I met that man today, I don't think I'd have much more to reply to his complaints and his attacks on me. Furthermore, there are times when my shortcomings and sins make it so no one's words can get through to me, and I know there are some people who perceive me as THAT GUY attacking them.

I say all this to portray some of the jumble in my mind as I composed the following lyrics. I know the writing of these lyrics reminded me that God's grace is sufficient to overcome(speaking of Paul) my failures. I hope they serve the same purpose to those who read them and hear the story behind them.

ROLLER RINK ROCK AND ROLL

Let your grace, Amazing Grace, override my melody
Let your mercy override the smallest corners of my song
Let your peace that passes understanding override my restless heart
Let your love, your hope and love, override me all day long.

The Golden Sombrero Wearer(the Strikeout King)

I am quite a baseball fanatic and baseball season starts in about a week. Therefore, that my latest poem is built around an occurrence at a baseball game is not surprising. However, as I prepare to give this story away as an Easter gift this spring, I realize that some of those who read it may not be versed in the language/culture of baseball. So for increased reading enjoyment, I have put together a brief glossary of information that is pertinent to understanding the baseball of this tale.

Christ Is Risen,

Mike

THE GOLDEN SOMBRERO is a baseball term, which is used to describe a player who strikes out four times in a single game. For the record, the term for striking out five times in a game, which has never happened in a nine inning game, but has happened a handful of times in extra innings is the PLATINUM SOMBRERO.

DUKES was the name of the baseball team in Albuquerque. That team’s name was changed a few years ago to the Isotopes.

WALK-OFF BASE ON BALLS refers to an occurrence where a batter walks with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, thus winning the game.

DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: The plot of the following story involves a dropped third strike. If the catcher fails to field the third strike cleanly(he drops it) with two outs, the batter(even though he struck out) and all other runners can run and are subject to being put out as if it were a batted ball.

PITCHER COVERING HOME: When the catcher misses the ball, the pitcher has the responsibility of running to home plate to catch any throw there from the catcher.

The Golden Sombrero Wearer(The Strikeout King)

The bottom of the ninth, two down

A Duke on every base

A 3-nothing deficit stared the batter in the face.

The pitcher, clad in orange and black showed menace in his eyes

His job? To save this final game and claim the season’s prize.

The starter had been strong, through more than eight, no hits did show

In the heat his arm ran out of gas and walked three in a row

So, this fireman was called upon to quench the final spark

Leaving the Duke faithful to stagger in the dark.

To the plate, there strode a Duke who had been royal all year long

When the team was at its weakest, it seemed he became most strong.

Concerning ways to win a game, it seemed he’d done it all

Home runs, stolen bases, and a walk-off base on balls.

He carried them to wins at least a time or three each week.

And while he was a hero, his demeanor remained meek.

Yet, this day his bat was feeble, three straight times he had struck out

As he approached the plate this trip, some fans began to doubt.

He got into the box, his wood was his team’s final chance

The pitcher toed the rubber with his scowling menace glance.

The first pitch was a heater, 102 the radar blinked

The swing was no where even close, more fans felt their hearts sink.

The 0 and 1, no different, soon exploded in the mitt

The swing did not come closer than a half-a-mile of it.

Was this the way it would go down? This new old Casey’s end?

Was his bat to betray him?

It had been his closest friend.

The home crowd had turned silent, some of them just turned away

They couldn’t bear to see the season ended in this way.

So while some eyes averted, strike three hurtled to the plate

The grimace of the swinger was profound, for he was late.

A cry went up in anguish from the bleachers all around

Yet that sign of resignation muffled out another sound

It may have been the strain of catching balls at 1-0-1

It may have been the heat and playing in the summer sun

It may have been a miracle,

That’s still what some folks say

The details of the story are debated e’en today

Still, it seems in every version, the ball went to the backstop

And the catcher’s mitt was rent in two like a worn out old flip-flop.

By the time the catcher realized and discerned the passed ball’s place

The final strikeout victim was already at first base.

There he called out to his teammate who was standing still, quite stunned

“Come on, I’ll take you home! Come on, now with me run!”

Then at second base, he called again, “Come on wake up, run with me!”

With the catcher halfway to the ball, they were heading to base three.

Then the three of them, were rounding third and heading into home

When the Third Base runner realized that he was not alone.

So the four Dukes, they sped quickly, “To the plate! On to the plate!”

They churned their legs and hoped that they would not get home too late.

And the crowd by now, at least a part, had seen the running men

And stood back up and cheered and felt their hope come back again.

Then the catcher got the ball and whirled, yet his throw found only air

The pitcher? Shocked beyond belief, simply put, he wasn’t there.

He seemed stuck on the pitcher’s mound, anchored by some heavy weight.

And he only fell down on his knees as the fourth man crossed the plate.

The Dukes poured from the dugout, seeing this was not a dream

Then the Gold Sombrero wearer was raised up by all his team

The scoreboard told the story, brightly shining, all could see

From the clutches of defeat, the Dukes had claimed a win 4-3.

When all the dust had settled, the call-in shows began

The strikeout was discussed at length throughout the varied land

Most Duke fans were ecstatic

Recounting where they’d been

When the four men hurried to the plate

Securing the great win

Yet, some were not impressed they said, “That is not victory!

To have a season end that way, is just a travesty.”

The fans behind the losers were outraged, appalled, and more

A few signed a petition to protest the final score

The writers wrote, the talkers talked, the poets penned their rhyme

And some folks thought of baseball and the Dukes for the first time

My pencil is exhausted

Its work complete, no doubt

For it’s told of the day

The mighty strikeout king struck out.

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.

Feet, So Beautiful

"How beautiful are the feet that bring Good News" ... When I heard that verse(Romans 10:15), I almost always thought of the feet of Christians carrying the Good News of Jesus. I'm not sure exactly what was said or what I heard, but during a worship service a few weeks ago, something sparked the thought in my mind that there were some really beautiful that came before all other beautiful feet.

Feet, So Beautiful

Feet so Beautiful

Joy-filled from heel to toe

Step by step they bring Good News

For every one to know.

Sandal-clad, these feet walked many miles some years ago

From town to town, they trod

In time, their following did grow

Their road led to Jerusalem, they were raised up for our sin

These feet were buried in a tomb

Yet soon, they walked again!

Just look around and you’ll see feet with beauty shining through

Some barefoot ones, and others in

A multitude of shoes

These broken feet are filled with life, as they walk with THE TWO

The stink of them comes pouring out

In everything they do.

In spite of all the flaws, Lord, Let me walk with lovely feet

So my toes are a blessing to

The other TENS they meet

When they are walking, running and when they are fast asleep

Let my ankles, arches

Overflow with beauty deep

Sweet Piece of Cake

I am in the process of generating lyrics for the summer camp program at Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas. The theme for the summer is BROUGHT NEAR based on Ephesians 2. Day 2 of the camp week is focusing on how God destroyed the barrier that separates us. Paul is the focus, specifically his conversion on the road to Damascus. Here is my imagining of Paul's comments on his own ministry and some of the treatment he received as a result of it.

Sweet Piece of Cake

I have been in danger from rivers
From thieves, from my countrymen
In danger form everybody
Time and time again

But I’d do it again in a minute
It’s been a piece of cake so sweet
If I boast, I will boast of my struggles
For they’ve been at Jesus’ feet.

In danger in the cities and countries
Many times I haven’t slept
I have been cold and hungry
For ya’ll I have wept..

Refrain

I have been in prison so often
Been naked and left for dead
I’ve been beaten and lashed 40 times minus one
I’m black and blue from toe to head.

Refrain