The Stone of Beth El (2011)

All Lyrics Copyright 2011 Thomas Wilson except where otherwise noted.

Keep It Simple
I like to join the children as they laugh and run around just for the sake of running
just to see what I can learn
Little children, do you realize that when you laugh the world belongs to you
everything that is worth living for

Keep it simple, like the laughter of the children
Keep in simple: Travel light

I like to get up early just to watch the sunrise go walking down the mountain
painting up the sky and warming up the country
waking up the songbirds as it sends the deer and elk to bed
feeding slow across the meadows

Keep it simple, like the sunrise on the mountain
Keep it simple: Travel light

Can you let it go and throw your cares upon the One who's big enough to hold them
I don't suppose the birds get ulcers
and I wonder if they know just who it is that's taking care of them
Do you think he'll do the same for you?

Keep it simple, like the love of our great Father
Keep it simple: Travel light.

The Wren

Lord, I want to thank you for what you've made of me
but lately I've been thinking I don't like what I see
I know I've come a good long way from where I was before
but when I stop and look around I think there must be more

I don't feel like I'm very big; I've never won a race
A lot of years have come and gone; I still don't know my place
I don't have this man's confidence, or that man's ability
and I need to be reminded: What am I supposed to be

There's a bird out in the garden waking up the dawn
He doesn't know who's listening and he only knows one song
He isn't big or beautiful; his colors, they aren't bright
but he's doing what God made him for, and he's chasing off the night.

Lord help me not to worry if others hear my song:
as long as I can walk with you I'm right where I belong.
And help me to remember this morning's wake-up call
You sing your best and loudest songs through creatures that are small.

It's Harder to Believe than Not To
By Steve Taylor; copyright 1987 Soylent Tunes

Nothing is colder than the winds of change
where the chill numbs the dreamer til the shadow remains
Among the ruins lies your tortured soul
was it lost there, or did your will surrender control?

Chorus:
Shivering with doubts that were left unattended
Do you toss away the cloak that you should have mended?
Don't you know by now why the chosen are few:
it's harder to believe than not to.

There was a confidence that got you by
when you knew you believed it but you didn't know why
No one imagines it will come to this
but it gets so hard when people don't want to listen

Chorus

Some stay paralyzed until the succumb
others do what they feel, but their senses are numb
Some get trampled by the pious throng
as the limp along

Are you sturdy enough to move to the front?
Is it nods of approval or the truth that you want?
And if they call it a crutch, can you walk with pride?
Your accusers will say you're just afraid to go outside

chorus

Scars

Just when I thought I'd escaped that day
Don't make sense what the others say
Can't believe that all my friends would lie
Fact remains that I saw him die

Truest words that I ever heard
Tied to claims that just seem absurd
The highest life that I ever knew
Tied to something that just can't be true

Chorus:
I need to see the scars:
Punctured hands and the spear wound in the side
The living man with the marks of death
to prove that he was there
The only way this could make any sense to me

So many voices, so many ways
Can't seem to find my way through this maze
What if I'm the one who's been deceived?
Could I be wrong about what I believed?

Willing heart; conflicted mind
Good messiahs are so hard to find
Is there any way that I can see
Was he really who he claimed to be

Chorus

Old Thomas got what he was looking for
Found his evidence and something more
'Cause it was more than perforated skin
convinced him God came and walked with men

Words that no one else could ever say
a life that showed a new and living way
Transcendent goodness personified
in the one who lived even though he died and

Now I have seen the scars:
The nails and spear still have their say for me
The marks he left on history when he walked out of the tomb
Showed the world he was what he claimed to be

The Miracle

Chorus:
I believe he walked on water, caused the blind to see
That is not the thing about him that most amazes me
The way he lived, the things he said, the lives he chose to touch
That's the greatest miracle of all

Though all the power of God himself was there at his command
he made himself a servant just the way his father planned
He lived with human weaknesses, but could not be constrained
completely focused on his mission to give himself away

Raging in the temple courts, giving hugs to kids
touching whores and lepers while exposing hypocrites
Compassion for the sad and broken, good news for the poor
Rejecting rules and ritual, demanding so much more

Chorus

He came to build a kingdom but refused and earthly crown
Built up his disciples knowing they would let him down
Anger at the proud and willful, calmness in the storm
Accepting all who came to him; refusing to perform

Completely in control without a hint of selfish pride
A life of pure integrity without a thing to hide
Humility that washed the feet of those he came to save
Courage that would not back down from taking on the grave

Some say he's just a work of fiction--that does not explain
the way his life fills out my joy, gives meaning to my pain
and when I trust him I become what I could never be
and I am remade in God's image as his life works in me

I believe he walked on water, caused the blind to see
None of that seem quite as crazy as what he's making me
'Cause he reached out and touched this leper from the inside out
That's the greatest miracle of all

chorus

Sometimes By Step
By David "Beaker" Strasser and Rich Mullins; Copyright 1992 Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing.

Sometimes the night is beautiful
Sometimes the stars seem so far away
Sometimes they seem to stoop so close
you could touch 'em but your heart would break
Sometimes the morning comes to soon
Sometimes the day can be so hot
There is so much work left to do
but so much we've already done

Chorus
Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you
And I will seek you in the morning,
and I will learn to walk in your ways
And step by step you lead me
and I will follow you all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham
how one start he saw was lit for me
He was a stranger in his land
and I am that, no less than he
And on this road to righteousness
Sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps
but never beyond your reach

chorus


Holy War

Just an ordinary morning, 'til the awful news came round
Plowshares turned to mighty swords to bring two towers down
A day of loss and horror while they gave their God the praise
The Infidels cut down to size for all their sinful ways

Draw the sword and beat the drum, and make the sinners pay
They're not worthy of this world: They don't see things our way

Show up for the funeral to spread our message well
Tell them God hates folks like you and you're all bound for hell
Then march around the graveyard with cards and signs in hand
With any luck the TV crews will show to all the land

As we draw the sword and beat the drum, and prove the sinners wrong
They'll tremble in their fear and shame, and that will make us strong

Little children, gather round and listen what I say
Jesus came to show this world that there's a better way
Do good to those who hurt you, and teach those who do wrong
Stand up for the helpless, and help the weak be strong

The war that is before us is not against a man
Hatred only serves our foe. It's time we understand
Not with sword's loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums
With deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes

Emmanuel's Land
By Anne Cousin (public domain)

The sands of time are sinking. The dawn of heaven breaks
The summer morn I've sighed for--The fair sweet morn awakes.
Dark, dark hath been the midnight but dayspring is at hand
And glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's Land.

Oh Christ, he is the fountain, the deep sweet well of love
The springs on earth I've tasted. More deep I'll drink above.
There to an ocean fullness his mercy doth expand
And glory, glory dwelleth In Emmanuel's Land

With mercy and with judgement my web of time he wove
And aye the dews of sorrow were brightened by his love.
I'll bless the hand that guided; I'll bless the heart that planned
when throned where glory dwelleth In Emmanuel's Land

I've struggled on toward Heaven 'gainst snow and wind and tide
Now like a weary traveler who leans upon his guide
amid the shades of evening, I grasp his strong, sure hand
and hail the glory dawning in Emmanuel's Land

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace
Not at the crown he giveth, but on his pierced' hand
The Lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's Land

The Place I Call Home

I woke up this morning and looked out the door
Peaks being touched by the sun
It set me to thinking about what is in store
when the work here is ended and all of the races are run

I'm in love with this land but it just can't compare
with the things God has laid up to come
so I'll shoulder my pack and move on through the morning
toward the mountains and meadows of the place I call home

And I'm on my way; soon I will be there
Soon these tired feet will no longer roam
So I'll shoulder my pack and move on through the morning
Toward the mountains and meadows of the place I call home

Across the divide there's a place just for me
I'll swim in the river and eat from the tree
Leave behind all of the worry and pain
when the old things are ended and all things are made new again

When I hit the last trail don't you shed tears for me
I'll be headed right where I belong
Where things are what they are the music flows freely
in the mountains and meadows of the place I call home

And I'm on my way; soon I will be there
soon these tired feet will no longer roam
Where things are what they are the music flows freely
in the mountains and meadows of the place I call home

And I'll hear the great story of justice and love
mercy for sinners like me
And I'll look in they eyes of my God and creator
in the mountains and meadows of the place I call home

And I'm on my way; soon I will be there
Soon these tired feet will no longer roam
And I'll look in the eyes of my God and creator...

The Heather and the Sagebrush (2007)

Fish Story
by Thomas Wilson. Copyright 2007

Come all ye bold cut throats and hear what I say
for I've had the weirdest, most unlikely day
and if you will listen I'll sing you a song
about a meal that went suddenly, horribly wrong
Now I'm not real picky about what I eat
Mayflies and hoppers are both quite a treat
the little fat gray ones-the kind I like best
and hellgrammites, minnows, and all of the rest

Well I was a-lyin' in the hole by the waterfall
just up the stream from the big fallen tree
mindin' my business, enjoying the sunshine
about as content as a cutthroat can be

but I felt kinda hungry so thought I would try
the edge of the riffles where good things float by
before long, a morsel washed over the fall:
a little fat gray one, my favorite of all

I figured to make that there critter my lunch
but it didn't taste right and it didn't go crunch
I spit it back out for it tasted so bland
but what happened next I just don't understand

For the little gray bug grabbed a hold of my jaw
yanked me right out of my hole by the fall
I fought for deep water but to no avail
that tiny gray critter was kickin' my tail

We fought up and down for five minutes or more
til my lip scraped a boulder up close to the shore
the bug let me go then and I can't figure why
but I swear I heard cussin' from up in the sky

Exactly what happened I'm too stumped to say
a bug that strong don't come along every day
It's all so confusing, but one thing's for shore
I don't think I like them fat little gray bugs anymore.

Snow in May
by Thomas Wilson; copyright 2007

There's nothing like spring in the Popo Agie valley
the grass greening up as the rivers run high
My heart gets as light as the song of the meadowlarks
waking me up at the morning's first light

Sometimes Old Man Winter don't give up that easy
the temperature drops as the wind starts to blow
and before dawn can come all the green joy of springtime
is buried in the dead white of winter's worst snow

Chorus:
Nothing stays the same
The sun shines, the wind blows, the night turns to day
Snow that falls in May
Leaves the grass greener when it melts away

Just when I think things are going my way
Happy and healthy, playing my part
Sharing what wisdom the good Lord has given me
singing the songs that are loud in my heart

Like a storm off the mountain the hard times come down
showing the world just how little I know
It's hard to admit I've got so much to learn
when all my fine wisdom gets lost in the snow

chorus

Keep your head high when you hit those hard times
'Cause those bring endurance, and prove who you are
and the proof gives you hope, which does not come up empty
if the love of our God is poured out in your hearts

chorus

Song for Widlin
by Thomas Wilson; copyright 2007

They say his folks abandoned him 'cause they couldn't keep him fed
and by the time he came to us he was more than halfway dead
Spindley legs and fearful eyes in the cruel Haitian heat
We fed him sips of sugar milk 'cause he was too starved to eat

Every time I go down there I see the golden rule
in parents who go hungry so their kids can go to school
That little boy was lucky: he pulled through, but many don't, you see.
and it's a short, hard life for those that do

Back at home I go to work and I hear the kids complain
They make us go to class on time--it's a wonder we're still sane
We really hate this place a bunch 'cause we can't go to Taco Bell for lunch
and you just can't eat this cafeteria food

Money's tight, the job's a mess, and the house is way too small
Gasoline's outrageous and this check out line is a crawl
I can't afford that new TV--I can barely make the payment on my SUV
Oh what's a poor working man like me to do?

The greatest country in this world is the good old USA
but sometimes I think we've forgotten how we got that way
Freedom still takes sacrifice, prosperity still has a price
and nobody's going to hand it all to you.

The good Lord gives us each one life, but it's up to you to live
You can whine about what you ain't got, or you can find a way to give
Just try to look past your own nose--there's a world out there!
Do you suppose perhaps it isn't all about you?