Song for the Irreverent Songbook 7

On a forum recently, a woman told about how she'd been removed from music ministry and youth ministry in her church because it turned out she held beliefs different from those of the pastor. One of her differing beliefs was that a woman didn't have to be under authority, and if you disagree with an authority figure over the concept of authority, it's pretty much Game Over.

While I understand that a church wants its leaders to adhere to certain important truths, I had to laugh at the thought that she couldn't lead the music team anymore. Because what was she going to do? Write her own song to teach her aberrant beliefs?

Haha! Guess what I did!

Equality
(to the tune of "Majesty")

Equality!
We have equality!
Under Jesus, a woman’s as good as a man!

Even if she’s
not under authority
She knows she can
Pursue great plans
Just like a man!

So wake up,
Realize you’re not
Under Victoria!
Women can think
Not just emote
(Which men also do!)

Equality!
God does not hide from her
She goes to His Throne
Completely alone
Not through a man!

-- SJ (who approves of this line of thinking)

Daphne's Praise Song

Daphne sat down at the piano and "made a song by playing three notes in beautiful patterns to make a tune." Then she put praise words to her music, which I took from dictation. In my opinion, the first line should be cast in gold:


Oh, Lord
How are you doing in Heaven?

Oh, Lord,
How I love how you take care of me.

Oh,
All the days, I look up, and pray

So loving!
I’m so loving to You!

Oh, Lord
How can You be my Shepherd?

Oh, Lord
You are my Father in Heaven!

-- DMJ

Song for the Irreverent Songbook 6

Daphne has learned all three verses to "Away in a Manger," so we've heard it many, many times since Christmas. And after you've heard it for the fifty-seventh time, you just can't suppress the ideas that come to you.

Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed!
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky
Look down where he lay.
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the...

HEY!

The cattle are lowing
The poor baby wakes.
Lucky for them, though,
No crying he makes.
Hey, shepherds, you're noisy
Could you keep it down?
Or little Lord Jesus
Will wake up the town.

-- SJ

Song for the Irreverent Songbook 5

It Is Well

(to the tune of "It Is Well With my Soul")

When Pip, like a whirlwind, wreaks havoc all the day

When he spills goldfish where’er he goes!

When he stops up the sink, then he writes on the wall –

Then I say, it is well he’s so cute!

(Chorus)

It is well (it is well)

He’s so cute (he’s so cute)

It is well (it is well)

He's so cute.

And Lord haste the day

When Phillip isn't found

Spooling paper into the toilet bowl!

But his eyes are so blue

And his dimples so sweet --

We can't help but admit he's so cute!

(Chorus)

-- SJ

Selection from the Irreverent Songbook 4

I'm Put Down
the Pip Jones Version
(sung to "We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin)

I'm put down
On the ground
At the feet of Daddy.

The absence of
Mercy and love
At the feet of Daddy.

And I cry, "Hold me, Hold me, Hold me!"
"Hold me, Hold me, Hold me!"
"Hold me, Hold me, Hold me
In your arms!"

-- SJ

Customized Praise Songs

Trying to choose music for Sunday's service, Darren wasn't feeling very inspired. The Old Testament passage, for instance, was all about Ezra and Nehemiah gathering the people for a public reading of the Law. And there just aren't many praise songs talking about the joy inherent in hearing the Law read aloud.

It does have the interesting tidbit in it that the people wept and mourned when they heard God's Law and how they'd transgressed; and Ezra told the people that it was a holy day and they shouldn't mourn. Go feast! Go celebrate! Don't mourn! One of God's best counterintuitive moments.

In an attempt to be a good helpmeet, but mostly because I drank coffee yesterday, I emailed the following suggestions to Darren:

I know you're having trouble coming up with a relevant song set. Why not customize our songs?

"Blessed Be Your Law"
(to the tune of Blessed Be Your Name chorus begins at :44)

Chorus:
"Every verse that you read out I'll
Say back by phrase!
I know that it's really Your word
when it's in King James

Blessed be the words of Your law
Blessed be the words..."

***
"Shout to the Crowd"
(to the tune of Shout to the Lord chorus starts 1:06)

Chorus:
Shout to the crowd
Really loud so they'll hear
The words of the law
So the Lord they will fear!
Those in the back
Can't quite hear what you say
So if you could raise your voi-oice?

We're pretty shattered to hear all these words
But we'll have a feast like you said God prefers!
Nothing compares to a brand-new holiday!

-- SJ

Note: I should mention that I like both of these songs. Blessed Be Your Name, in particular, acknowledges the fact that sometimes we have to worship God during dark times. Which still isn't as hard as Gaad worship, so be grateful.

Selection from the Irreverent Song Book 3

This praise song is not one I like, and it sticks in my head and annoys me:

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
And He
Shall lift
You up
Higher and higher!

And He
Shall lift
You up.

It really isn't my fault, then, that the following suggested itself after a few times of loading the kids in the van, when I always announce, "In you go! Buckle yourself!" Darren helped me develop the theme.

Buckle yourself in the seat of the Ford.
Buckle yourself in the seat of the Ford.
For we
Shall soon
Speed up
Faster and faster!

For we
Shall soon
Speed up.

-- SJ