There was freedom in youth at the top of the hill Neither man nor fowl could hold us still If there was a place that we could trespass Someone in the group would be sure to find it Now all we have are stories 'bout adventures we've had All the birds were flightless And the words were righteous If there's a yawn worth yelling, I'll scream it out loud Hear better promises of sailing south Dante de San Jose and a somber sombrero The bittersweet loss of troubadour Their words were sung by the fawn Though he followed House Call The mellow tones of the Junco Grey Fyr spread down to my toes This is the place where we grew up The boulders that towered were our friends And the days we shot our guns out there Were the days that I wished would never end Lifetimes of wonders clear to see I could never get my fill The night that we defeated fear Was the time that we stayed on Emu Hill I digress back to the fawn I mentioned Snake Catcher and stellar fisher If you wait long enough he will surely meet you The fawn oh he lives up there The view from the rocks is stunning for sure When you get there please just rest a while Going to the hill you’ll never resent You'll soon be glad that you went This is the place where we grew up The boulders that towered were our friends And the days we shot our guns out there Were the days that I wished would never end Lifetimes of wonders clear to see I could never get my fill The night that we defeated fear Was the time that we stayed on Emu Hill

Oh brothers lets go down, lets go down, come on down Oh brothers, lets go down, down to the river to pray Sometimes we say that becoming a Christian is easy That when we accept Him, suddenly life's just sunny and breezy But I'm here to tell you your life doesn't transform with the first prayer you say It's a slow process metamorphosis, not something that happens in a day When your heart is changed by Christ and I mean totally converted And when your life begins to echo all that He asserted You might take a lot of flak, don't be surprised if you're persecuted Just for following everything that Jesus instituted It takes dedication and faith beyond human potential To be loyal to a God who's one hundred percent essential That doesn't mean salvation's work based, I'm not saying that at all I'm saying to get through this life you need Him to be your all To maintain a steady relationship with God or human You gotta keep up and maintain a steady conversation Cling to what's above for He alone can save us Cling to the messiah, the Christ we know as Jesus Anyone who claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did Are you ready to go all in and quit throwing empty bids Are ready for a cross, are you prepared to die Is God the love of your life or just a pretty cool guy? You will be called to some things others wouldn't even consider And face giants that the thoughts of which would make the bravest men shiver It's not an easy task but, you don't have take it all alone He'll be with all the way if you make Him your cornerstone Sometimes we don't hear God clearly so we try to do it ourselves If you want to hear Him speak just take your bible off the shelf He's given us His word as a connection like a phone As you're picking up your pieces, He’s waiting for a dial tone And when you read don't pass up verses that challenge you Listen to those scriptures, and let the Holy Spirit manage you Don't read your bible to validate your words Use your words by putting into action what you've heard Oh brothers lets go down, lets go down, come on down Oh brothers, lets go down, down to the river to pray Adelphoi of mine, someday all of us will give an account Of everything that we've done, and I'm serious when I say that I don't wanna be spat out From the presence of God for just humming the song Are you living the life or just singing along I don't wanna just look spirit filled I want total indwelling I'm not just browsing the shop, I wanna be buying what He's selling I don't wanna just understand who God is, I want to know Him as a friend Because nothing else even matters when it comes down to it in the end You and I were made for more than this Not made for living this individualistic seeking of bliss Even the stones we will be buried under will someday pass away We're living on this earth, but we were not meant to stay God has so much more for us, so run as to finish the race Live with the understand that we’re destined for a better place Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith So follow in His footsteps, His life is what He gave We’ve fallen into this standard of being lukewarm That’s what the devil wants for us, he uses comfort as his charm He offers a carefree life style so we often fail to resist If these next lines resemble you, then you may have failed this test You’re so committed to your job and all that you acquire The things that 1 Cor 3:13 say will be tested by fire You religiously do everything but relation to The Lord You daily read the paper, but rarely read The Word This isn’t what God wants for you, in fact He warns us not to get comfortable Not just physically, but spiritually, we shouldn’t be fine with what we know about the bible We should be moving in our faith, and not just sitting in our seat It’s time we move on from the milk and start chewing on the meat So stand up on your feet, and march on Christian soldiers It’s time to step out of the darkness and open up the blinders When you see the kingdom of God, and all of His glory You won’t be able to stand back, you’ll wanna be part of His story Oh brothers lets go down, lets go down, come on down Oh brothers, lets go down, down to the river to pray

Your face was raw from wiping the tears from your eyes You looked away as you tried not to cry Because you knew it would only make him worse From all that yelling your father's voice was horse You screamed for help only one time And his hand returned to the top of your spine He grabbed your neck, and his grip was all but loose Pressure applied and you received another bruise You always think that you will leave some day You've lived with this since your mother passed away So you toughen up to his drunken swings And the dark red marks that he makes with his rings You come to the point of breaking down And your father finally turns around You don't wonder if he'll do this again The only question you have is when You looked for relief in so many ways You tell yourself that this is just another phase He yelled at you, he broke a chair He punched a wall, he pulled your hair His anger burned, and though you cried He was never satisfied You finally did it, you ran away from home You’re 17 and you’re living on your own At first the freedom was encouraging And then your life came quickly crumbling Traded your time with your dad for someone else And the result only brings pain on yourself The newest guy you know you don't really know And the black eye is starting to show His bouts of rage are all too terrifying And the beer bottle that he sent flying Broke and shattered glass all across the floor He looks away as he's headed for the door He slams it shut leaving you alone in the room And as you weep, his voice begins to boom He will be back, and again you stick around And again you consider leaving town You looked for relief in so many ways You tell yourself that this is just another phase He yelled at you, he broke a chair He punched a wall, he pulled your hair His anger burned, and though you cried He was never satisfied Now your actually alone out on the street You no longer get brutally beat And though your body's far away from it Your mind dwells in that empty, darkened pit You've gotten sick of living out your life You've got the will and you're holding the knife You think that this is the only way You want it to end today But suddenly you met another man And He gently took you by the hand He said daughter, I'm with you, here I AM I’m the Shepard and you’re my little lamb He asked you to stand up and you did Tears of joy fell from your eyelids He embraced you, and held your head He said “I'm with you to the end” And when you made your be in the depths I was there And when you come up to heaven I'll be there When you think that light becomes dark around you I see the night as day, clear and blue I have searched you, and I know you I perceive your heart through and through You are fearfully and wonderfully made I remember when your foundation I laid I created your inmost being I gave you life and set your lungs breathing I knit you together in your mothers womb Using elegant yarn from the heavenly loom I created you for a purpose I don't make things to be useless For I know the plans I have for you Plans to prosper and not to harm you He asked you to be His child You looked at Him and then you smiled You had looked for relief in so many ways This time He was there to stay He loves you more, than you could know He fully paid, the debt you owe When He went to, the cross and died The wrath of God, was satisfied He conquered death, so you and I Could live with Him, in paradise Now He lives, inside your heart Since He gave, you a new start And some day, when we pass on We will see, a glorious dawn The Son of God, will meet you there And take you in, to His care And though we don't, deserve his love He forgave your sins, by God above His faith is strong, He'll never fail He will always, be there

Are we looking at the northern lights and the Starry sky in awe of the creator Or are we restraining it with science discussing how far we have come since 1939 Are we looking for a way to explain Every thing with human understanding As we begin to reach for a larger mind than ours we Hardly touch the surface of his pool of thought Looking at the world through our humanistic glasses Is like trying to do a puzzle without any pieces And trying to grasp creation without knowing the creator Is like trying to see your features in a foggy mirror And we've got a long way to go Oh we have got a long way to go Are we breaking new ground, or just discovering new Assemblies of what we were given at the start and we're Marring our view of God's great wisdom, as we're Scarring ourselves by thinking we're worth more than we are Are these tools we make really constructs of a mind Far beyond what we could come up with by ourselves And are we just looking to put windmills out of use Charting all our maps and claiming where we choose "It's all about you" is the mood of this “great” nation "This is just what we do" is the theme of this generation And our culture's distorting all our morals from the core Morals we were taught as youth are all but no more And we've stopped searching for something bigger than ourselves Though we are looking in the places that he dwells We say that we are superior to all other walks of life And our sweet sweet America, is the only one that’s right But we have gotten it all wrong Oh we have gotten it all wrong

We live in an era of never ending belligerence Where people belittle one another just to have a feeling of acceptance Animosity as our friend, And sarcasm as our ally “Just kidding” as a robber, and “I'm joking” as a spy That creeps in un-noticed, delivering invisible injections That might not hurt at first, but are lethal in the end Lies disguised as funnies are appreciated and enjoyed By all but the defender who's defeated and destroyed As long as someone's laughing it's ok for some odd reason But a JK or an lol isn't a real justification Or as long as they aren't listening, nothing you say will hurt their feelings I'm sure your words won't ever make it back to send them reeling The devil feeds us words and we accept them plain and simple We're comforted by the idea that our words aren't actually hurting people “What they don't know can't hurt them” is the biggest fib I've heard in a while now And hearing that just makes me wonder what they talk about when I'm not around We have this image of God that’s ok with sin we commit He's kinda like you and me, accept his bigger and complete He doesn't really care about exactly what we say God’s supposed to be loving, not controlling in that way He's got a sense of humor, I bet He'd laugh, my jokes are funny I mean they're at the expense of others, but man they're clever and they're cunning As long as we live pretty good, and keep most of the commandments As long as we go to church we know this God will bless and save us That's not the God I know in any way shape or form That's not the God who has the power to calm the storm The God I know has a plan for every one of your decisions If you're about to make a choice, God has more than just an opinion Even the words that we speak is something the bible addresses repeatedly We've gotta stand up to the pressure and stop speaking so defeatedly The term "what would Jesus do" has become cliché, I know it's true But do you honestly believe that He would say half the things that we do? There's a verse that's just sorta been callin me out It says don't let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth I know you've heard that before but have you read the next line? There’s a little bit more depth to Ephesians 4:29 "Don't let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth But only what is helpful for building others up According to their needs that it may benefit those who listen" Is that how we treat each other, I think there's something that we're missin’ What's that mean to build others up, does it mean laughing when they're down? Does it mean making jokes about them as they hit the ground? It's our slightly sadistic behavior, We feel better when they don't Why not helping them back up, it's a better antidote Give a hand to those who need it, when they've fumbled let it go Just drop it, it's a mistake, it doesn't help to stow Don't let the culture get to you, it's not biblical or right To hurt someone for any reason, weather words or in a fight Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble Whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things Speak your words out lovingly, as godly, holy beings Instead of sneaking insults in with every deadly blow Your words are much more powerful than you could ever know So grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him be the glory both now and forever, amen

When I was young I'd stand on my head and watch as the ceiling became the floor And I stepped over the rim of the wall that stood just a little above the door I'd spend my time just wandering the lands that were inside my brain I would hike the hills of mine for miles and miles with little strain Had I kept my thoughts inside, I could have been spared a couple laughs Had I always held my tongue, my punishment would have been cut in half And I gladly would have taken any label they would destine me But that would take away the fun, it’s kinda like a mystery Oh, Oh, to be young Oh, Oh, to be young The Lord was patient with the young, for He could see their heart’s desire They followed him without reserve, for they were filled with holy fire To have a faith that’s childlike is something that is hard to find It’s something that’s essential but as we grow up is left behind When I was young my mind was pure and clean it was distraction-less And I could only praise the savior as I laid my head to rest My villains grew in strength and size as I had grown beyond my youth I've been told the more you know the more you don't, and that's the truth Oh, Oh, to be young Oh, Oh, to be young Linger, a little longer, Linger, a little longer, Tell me now how do you feel about it Sing a little louder, Sing a little louder, Every time you sing unto The Lord Grow a little taller, grow a little taller, the inches add, and soon you’ll be a man Walk a little farther, walk a little farther, you well know, that you are far from home To be young! Oh, Oh, to be young Oh, Oh, to be young

My eyes are breaking guard and the pieces keep on falling I see a man I dare draw near my eyes were surely playing I wait for you as you seek me how could you leave me behind As I can clearly see It'll pass another chime 'for the yellow pave nothing gets to make a sound Not even my words to self no matter how I scream aloud I'm losing track of time I think it's been a month or two It's plain that I am losing size it's been a week since I've had food It's getting harder now to breath this inconsistency It makes makes want to leave something I've done repeatedly All that I have left is my dissipating hope Now dwindles from a string of what used to be a rope Run trembling fingers through my hair is that all this is left Would have said there was more before the fire rift Zero maze orange haze no looks from the ground It's not a question that I like to raise An inquisitive glance would be more than enough To bring a touch of faith of my only friend This corner of the hole is the only shade in sight There are no people here I know this isn't right I find a pool of green A shimmering little sea My reflection in the glass there's no way that is me What will be the words they put upon my grave The last things that I say or where I rest I will stay When the people return Now I see the son His hand outstretched to me He takes me by his side And welcomes me in

Oh god I cry out to you as I say Yahweh, I scream out your name I desperately plead to you when I pray That I could change the brutal repetitions of the day Every morning I wake up and I swear That I won't fall and that I can bear The weight but that's not how it goes I've denied you 3 times when the rooster crowed Pass about half way through the day And things aren't going quite my way So I start to shove aside my sin Saying "that's not where I'm going that's where I been" I convince myself that' I'm ok That It's really not that bad any way I live in constant self-deception I live in consistent deprivation every dawn I start out fresh and new And every night I return naked and abused And no matter what I say to you I can't seem to change these things I do Oh son I see what you're trying to do Let me shed a little light, a little truth That fight comes from inside of you That fight Satan’s demons have been starting to use Let me tell you the story of a man Who couldn't take the weight, he couldn't stand Every day he lost his personal bet To the tempting taunts of his next cigarette He would debate whether or not he would walk To that gas station around the block He'd open the door and he would say I'll turn back before I make it all the way But before he stepped out of his room He'd given in to his sinful gloom "I'll take a pack" are the words that he spoke And a single pack that man did smoke You see he'd lost the battle in his mind It was done long before walked outside Don't even toy with the idea of giving in If you do that, you'll never win Oh father I know your word is true I could recite your law right back to you But my acts have turned to habits while en route And then this life of chaos did ensue I repent of my sin daily And I been drive myself crazy And though I try to escape I fall deeper into this state I try to forget and move on I try to say that it's really not all that wrong As I descend lower into this I trick myself that ignorance is bliss My once in a while off to the side little problem Has made me into a child of Sodom I try to fix my eyes on you But my eyes are broken and confused Father, my choices are starting to be Another habit or tendency Something I did as a weekly suffix Has become my hourly practice Keep me on the forefront of your mind Tattoo it in your heart that you are mine For you are week but I am strong Live in me and I will keep you from all wrong Every morning when you wake up say a prayer And remind yourself that I'm always there And before you've talked to anyone else Make sure you've talked to me all by yourself When you're about to give up hope Take a step back from that slippery slope Of letting your heart get away from you And tell Satan this is the day he'll rue Every night before you lay down your head Just remember all that I have said And give thanks to the one who created you Then go to sleep, the day is through

When God created you He saw every decision you've made And will make, and are making, He heard every little thing you would say He made you knowing all the things you would do So that his power would be even more apparent through you Divinely, He decidedly defined you He dedicatedly determined and designed you And discerned your destiny and desire to be by you He deeply loves you deliberately and not because of what you do But because of the overwhelming grace that He distributes to us We don't deserve anything but eternal judgment more furious Than anything we can imagine, so to The Lord we should laud For we were made with the purpose to express glory to God But we so wrongly think that because He loves us so dearly That He needs us, and of this we should be leery God doesn't need us He's the creator, and we’re the created God's the only one who deserves honor that's something He clearly stated What is God without us, He is God still the same What is God without us, He's still worthy of all fame But what are we without God, we’re nothing, we don't exist So about this next point there's something that I must insist Contrary to what most believe, we can't give God any glory He alone has greatness, whether we accept it is the story God is wholly deserving of all loving praise and worship And deserves us totally accepting our surrender to his holy lordship When He comes back He'll be coming with a sword When He comes back He'll proclaim that He is lord Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess That Jesus is the King and that all of us are less Sing hallelujah, sing praises to his name He's the only one who has the power to heal the lame He's the only being who can give you salvation Father, son, and Holy Spirit, He's God three in one Glory laud an honor To the redeemer king To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring Thou art the king of Israel, thou David's royal son Who in The Lord's name comest, the king and blessed one The company of angels, are praising thee on high And mortal men an all things, created make reply The people of the Hebrews, with palms before thee went Our prayer and praise and anthems, before thee we present To thee before thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise To thee now high exalted, our melody we raise Thou didst accept their praises Accept the prayers we bring Who in all good delightest Thou good and gracious King

As people try to tell us how to live our lives Tell us how to make more money, how a family thrives Nothing is sacred, nothing is clean The innocence of a child's been murdered by TV Are we the people that we want us to be Or just a mass-produced product of partying and livin' free Instantaneous, abundant and meaningless wealth Is this what we were born for, is this for our health There's really so much more than just the fleeting weekend bashes And waking up next morning with cranial rashes The consumerism in America’s like a goiter on our nation Protruding from our neckline but invites no buyer hesitation Some sliding cards in restaurants and every single store While there's dozens of Oliver Twists out there saying “hey, can I have some more” The expensive ties we wear are what tie us down like ropes And keep us from a relationship that we could have with the God of hope So I'll cherish that old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down Oh I'll cling to that old rugged cross And exchange it someday for a crown A thousand dollars spent, a thousand dollars worse Looks like I'm gonna have to spend another thousand hours at work The American dream it fills me with distress It's a superficial plan, that won't ever give you happiness Striving for money disguised as striving for greatness As people in our church, it seems we're striving for fakeness If we really lived up to all the ideals we confess Imagine how the world would see us It's increasingly apparent things aren't what they seem A false sense of power a false sense of need Our apartments are filled with application-less apparatuses We’re proving to the public we accept our given statuses Spending our lives making goals for prospects Falling flat leading vocational paths with roadwork externalities The reality of this the loss of friends I can't bear But worse than that is leaving them to this materialistic world's care So I'll cherish that old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down Oh I'll cling to that old rugged cross And exchange it someday for a crown What's wrong with this world, what's wrong with all us people Acting like cowards as we hide beneath our steeple How can they call on the name of the one they have yet to believe in? And how can they believe on the name of the one they have not heard? Oh yeah, how can someone hear unless there's someone there to preach it? And how can anyone preach unless they’ve first been sent? We've heard it time and time and time and time and time again Yet we haven't figured it out ‘cause it's not stayin in our heads Jesus said, that's a commandment not a suggestion That we were to go and make disciples of every tongue and nation How bout starting with ours? How bout going to your neighbors? How bout sayin "no one's life is perfect, but Jesus, gave His up for yours" But the problem isn't necessarily the unbelievers It's the apathetic, lukewarm, half and half life, maybe believers What people call "radical faith" is what Christ expects from all of us And what you say you could never do might be what The Lord is calling you to do So I'll cherish that old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down Oh I'll cling to that old rugged cross And exchange it someday for a crown Rise up America, we were a country built on God But if things keep going how they're going, we'll be six feet under sod Come on church, quit being acceptant of evil Come on people start loving other people If we had half as much faith as we said that we did The church wouldn't be judging for ourselves exactly who should go to heaven For whoever exalts themselves will be humbled And those who humble themselves with be exalted let's put away our shackles and love how God intended