I went looking for some music to get “Fall for You” by Secondhand Serenade out of my head when I noticed that Chris Tomlin had a new album out. I’ve gotta say, it sounds good so far! I will add the music video to this post when it becomes available, but in the meantime, here’s a video of Chris talking about “I Will Rise” (lyrics are below the video).
I Will Rise
Chris Tomlin
There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say, it is well
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise
When he calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagle’s wings
Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise
When he calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagle’s wings
Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
And I hear the voice
of many angels sing
Worthy is the lamb
And I hear the cry
of every longing heart
Worthy is the lamb
And I hear the voice
of many angels sing
Worthy is the lamb
And I hear the cry
of every longing heart
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
I will rise when he calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagle’s wings
Before my God, fall on my knees
I went looking for new music and found this new one from O.A.R. off their new album, “All Sides.” I’m loving it!
Shattered
O.A.R.
In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Another time, another town
Another everything
But it’s always back to you
Stumble out, in the night
From the pouring rain
Made the block, sat and thought
There’s more I need
It’s always back to you
But I’m good without ya
Yeah, I’m good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I’m shattered
I always turn the car around
I had no idea that the night
Would take so damn long
Took it out, on the street
While the rain still falls
Push me back to you
But I’m good without ya
Yeah, I’m good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I’m shattered
I always turn the car around
Give it up, give it up, baby
Give it up, give it up, now
Now
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I’m faking
Taking my time but it’s time that I’m wasting
Always turn the car around
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
Don’t wanna turn that car around
I gotta turn this thing around
Those of you who know me know of my desire to be a road chaplain for a police department. Yet for many of you, I haven’t explained why I have a passion for it. For me, I feel called to this position for many reasons.
One of the toughest parts of the job, as any officer will tell you, is doing death notifications. To have someone arrive at your doorstep and tell you that your loved one is dead is a bit of news that nobody wants to hear. The care that the chaplain extends to that family differs depending on the chaplain. Some might make the notification and leave. Others may stay and calm the family while calling a family friend or pastor to take care of them.
My hope is that I can be a chaplain who helps restore shalom. One definition for shalom is, “peace. Nothing missing, nothing broken, wellbeing, and complete.” For a family whose life has been torn apart by tragedy, I would hope that I can do what I can to help them get the resources they need to deal with the grief they are experiencing. And to an extent, that trajedy will always be a part of them… shaping who they are. The difference has to be the resources available to help put that person in a direction that will bring them to restoration.
If I were to have a mission statement for my chaplaincy, it would be this quote by Jonathan Edwards:
“The strength of a good soldier of Jesus Christ appears in nothing more than in steadfastly maintaining the holy calm, meekness, sweetness and benevolence of his mind, amidst all the storms, injuries, strange behavior and surprising acts and events of this evil and unreasonable world.”
Or to look at scripture it says this, “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)
In essence, hopefully I can be a light in their darkest hour or I can surround them with people who will help them through the trouble times.
One of my favorite music videos is by Simple Plan. The song is “Untitled” and as you watch it, you will see the depth and emotion that goes on when a family experiences something tragic. Their world is shaken dramatically. So as you watch this video, remember that amidst all that darkness, chaplains can be a light.
Untitled
Simple Plan
I open my eyes
I try to see but I’m blinded by the white light
I can’t remember how
I can’t remember why
I’m lyin’ here tonight
And I can’t stand the pain
And I can’t make it go away
No I can’t stand the pain
Chorus:
How could this happen to me?
I’ve made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
as I’m fadin’ away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me?
Everybody’s screamin’
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I’m slippin’ off the edge
I’m hangin’ by a thread
I wanna start this over again
So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can’t explain what happened
And I can’t erase the things that I’ve done
No I can’t
How could this happen to me?
I’ve made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
As I’m fadin’ away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me?
I’ve made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
as I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me?
I had heard this song before, but then Chris used it in worship one week… he mixed it in with another song. I never thought of the profound message behind the song and how powerful it was. Typically in my blog I like to post music videos and lyrics of songs that I really like or that are with me at the moment. When looking for a music video for this on YouTube, I found that a video called “Lifehouse’s Everything Skit” was the most viewed video, so I checked it out.
At first I thought it was going to be interpretive dance, but it actually turned into a very meaningful video for me that illustrates how we often get separated (in some ways) from God through our own selfish actions and the actions of others. For me, I could see both sides of the coin. It was incredible how much she tried to be free from the things that was keeping her weighted down. I also realized as I watched it that perhaps we can sometimes get in the way of people connecting with Jesus.
It’s a powerful song and a powerful video. I hope you enjoy it.
Everything
Lifehouse
Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That’s leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose…you’re everything.
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won’t let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Cause you’re all I want, You’re all I need
You’re everything,everything
You’re all I want your all I need
You’re everything, everything.
You’re all I want you’re all I need.
You’re everything, everything
You’re all I want you’re all I need, you’re everything, everything.
And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
I stumbled across Alex Lloyd one day during one of my Pandora mixes. When I’m having a bad day, the lyrics speak to me and really help… I hope you enjoy!
Brand New Day
Alex Lloyd
When you feel as though you’re falling
Every fear you can confide
When the night time is your dawning
Hard to see through troubled eyes
What you wanted so
Had to let it go
A brand new day is coming ’round the bend
Trouble’s reaching for the end
If you stray from the path my friend
I will pick you up again
Hard to wake up in the morning
Hard to see through so much light
With every dream you’ve had gone calling
Makes it harder to believe
What you wanted so
Had to let it go
A brand new day is coming round the bend
Trouble’s reaching for the end
If you stray from the path my friend
I will pick you up again
I will pick you up again
Trouble’s reaching for the end
Everything that starts must end
Reaching for a new beginning
Everything that starts must end
Reaching for a new beginning
Brand new day is coming ’round the bend
Trouble’s reaching for the end
If you stray from the path my friend
I will pick you up again
I will pick you up again
Troubles reaching for the end
Said I’m lonely won’t you let me in
I’m longing for the day…