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A lot of my songs are written to the church. I’m a youth pastor; it’s just what I do. This song comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.” It’s just that verse and reminding people that the promise is there. There’s no rocket science. It’s almost written out of frustration in myself. I know the answers, why don’t I just do this?

2 Chronicles 7:14

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let satan have one more

What if the church, for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed
And all who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face
And Turn from their own way

And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do

He said that they would hear
His promise has been made
He’ll answer loud and clear
If only we would pray

If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) /
BMI. All rights reserved.
Used by permission.

The beginnings of this song came from the first song I ever wrote, called “Fear.” Growing up with dyslexia and some learning challenges, Satan used that in my life to keep me very small and very afraid to ever try anything, to ever leap out of my boat and do something that I knew I couldn’t do. I’m learning that God often puts us in the position to do the unthinkable knowing we’re not able to. God’s not intimidated by what intimidates me and if I can just understand that all He wants me to do is obey him and that the things that scare me, don’t scare Him. This was the first song Steven and I wrote on together, and he pulled out that chorus of ‘voice of truth.’

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 / 1 Corinthians 1:20-2:4

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) /
BMI / Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs
(admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) /
BMI. All rights reserved.
Used by permission.

This song was written from every student I’ve ever ministered to, to their dads. It’s everything they could never say. It’s the story of a dad who provided financially, but was never there physically or emotionally. Luckily for me, God blessed me in that it’s not a biographical song, and I wish every teenager could have grown up with my dad. Our church puts on a big NASCAR event with 2000-3000 men and families there. The event was on a Thursday, and we started writing the song on that Tuesday because we realized we needed to take that opportunity to say something to them.

Mark 8:34-37 / Ephesians 5:25-33

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he’s moving on full steam
He’s chasing the American dream
And he’s gonna give his family the finer things

Not this time son I’ve no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we’ll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better;
Better in time

‘Cause he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin’ crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

His American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
“Daddy, can you come to my game?”
“Oh Baby, please don’t work late.”
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

‘Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It’ll just take a little more time

He used to say, “Who ever dies with the most toys wins”
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I’ll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand
Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It’s not getting any better
Looks like he’s running out of time
‘Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) /
BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I like to call this one “My Lawnmower Song,” because I wrote it while riding on a lawnmower. I only write music while I’m driving, but this time I was on a mower and this happy little praise song popped into my head. It’s about rejoicing over being pulled out of a pit and having a new life. It’s just a fun, jumping up and down, shouting, have-a-good-time-with-what-God-is-doing-in-your-life song. I always tell my students that God can totally handle your enthusiasm as long as it’s real.

Psalm 30:11-12 / Psalm 149:3

I will sing to the Lord
And I will lift my voice
For You have heard my cry

I will sing to the Lord
And I will lift my hands
For You have brought me out of the pit
For You have brought me out of the pit

And I’ll sing glory, hallelujah
I lift Your name on high
And I’ll sing holy, ‘cause You’re worthy
I’ll praise You with the dance

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) /
BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

This song comes from an idea of ‘life worship,’ not just ‘song worship.’ It’s great to sing, it’s great to clap your hands, it’s great to do all of those things of worship, but if it’s not backed up by a life that honors Him through the day, it’s not worth much. God is worthy of so much more than my empty hands up in the air. You’re worthy of a life that worships you.

Ephesians 5:1-2 / Colossians 3:15-17

I will love You, Lord always
Not just for the things You've done for me
And I will praise You all my days
Not just for the change You've made in me
I'll praise you for You are holy, Lord
And I'll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more

For You are awesome, God of the Nations, Lion of Judah,
Rock of the Ages, Alpha, Omega
You're worthy of all praise
More that these hands I'll raise
I'll live a life of praise

I will serve You Lord, always for You are my strength
When I am weak
I will never be afraid for You are my rock and You protect me
But I'll praise You for You are holy, Lord
And I'll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) /
BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Used by permission.