1. |
the best of me
03:09
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"the best of me" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Cotton mouthed
I can’t quite form the words
mumbling and struggling
longing to be heard
water cooler topics
maybe some “blah blah blah”
It’s plain to see
what’s going on
I would like to share the best of me
I long for sincerity
and though I do the best I can
I am just a common man
average height
far from athletic
audacious passion
far from pathetic
socially awkward
and at times a hot mess
as I embrace acceptance
I can confidently confess (that)
I could wait forever and never get a chance
to follow my dreams and stumble across romance
I need to overcome my fear to be
vulnerable with sincerity and to cultivate my inmost desires
I could jettison my dreams, accepting status-quo
it would be such a pity to only reach an early plateau
transcend conformity, wisdom evident
prolific and witty, I’d rather be confident
that I could share my best until the day I die!
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2. |
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“bringing zion down to earth” by Joseph Stone, 2014
wars and rumors of wars
starvation and famines
poverty and greed
hunger and thirst
these are the days of opportunity
there sure is a lot that needs to be done
rise up human
and become Love’s hands and feet
go and do likewise, restoration
proclaims the name above all names
disasters, injustice, oppression
let’s seek to alleviate
righteous anger
immeasurable passion
great depressions
let’s learn from our mistakes
Oh, Love will find a way…
go and do likewise, restoration
proclaims the name above all names
one day, one day
I wish it would be this day
Today, bringing Zion down to Earth
we’re heading to Zion’s shores
let’s keep this course
steady, steady as we go
[1 Peter 2:6]
we find in zion a stone
a chosen and priceless cornerstone
and whoever trusts in him
will never be put to shame
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3. |
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"live bravely" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Live bravely, we’ll live lives well spent
With our beloved and friends
We’ll sing along to our sentimental songs
It’s alright, it’s alright (to)
C’mon the way that
lights up our paths is paved in love
C’mon, what’s there to lose?
Open wide, There’s room to let others inside
C’mon the world cries
out for renewal and positive impact
C’mon there’s still time
Open wide, and make some allies
C’mon, Don’t let
opinions stand in the way of embracing cold, hard facts
C’mon, use solid reason
Open wide, it’s time that we try to
In the face of bigotry, Let’s stand up for the oppressed
And give them a voice, So they too can express
And live better lives, Embracing all that’s empowering
So that together they too may sing (as we live bravely...)
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4. |
made to thrive
04:09
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"Made to thrive" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Gone, today becomes the past
What is just doesn’t last
What you thought you knew has changed
What once was unshakeable
has come unhinged
But still, I know you’ve got the will
For resiliency, you can adapt
Just take a chance and
You’ll find that you’re still
Full of life
I know you were skillfully made to thrive
You feel stuck, as if asleep behind the helm
You sail into the deep, feeling overwhelmed
While struggling to keep a straight face
You’re screaming inside,
searching for somewhere to hide
Hold on hope for tomorrow
Through sorrow, though it change your life
It will make a world’s difference
Though you might not see it immediately…
Through tear stained eyes.
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5. |
the bittersweet
04:01
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"the bittersweet" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Am I making any sense
as I repent for sins
I did not commit
is it too late to come alive
making home in this world
when I feel so alone
regret imprisons me
I try to drown it out
but I’m the one drowning
oh how I’ve backslidden
into a personal hell
that I do not belong in
It feels like two steps back
and one step forward
where do I belong?
Consider my pride
it holds me back from
reaching out and I
suffocate under my distress
and I digress
into my own mess
because these lies, they tell me
that I am unacceptable, unable
to be liberated from this personal hell
I taste the bittersweet
cannot escape my memories
numb to my own dignity
is this some sick tragedy
is my life one epic joke
try to step up only to choke
these tears behind my eyes
well up until I can’t deny
that no, I’m not alright
stand and face myself
the self that I despise
sad, complacent, suffering
kneel at the cross of a Christ
who proclaims me beloved
and worthy of a
love beyond all measure
oh, how sweet it is
to know that I am treasured
buried in the tomb are my burdens
defeated by holy wounds
and I stand triumphant
oh, Divine Love that liberates
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6. |
prayer of st. francis
04:11
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“Prayer Of St. Francis”
music by Chad Hyatt, arrangement by Joseph (Josey) Stone
Response: LORD, make me a channel of your peace,
make me a channel of your peace.
where there is hatred,
I may bring love;
where there is wrong,
I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
where there is discord,
I may bring harmony;
where there is error,
I may bring truth; R: LORD…
where there is doubt,
I may bring faith;
where there is despair,
I may bring hope;
where there are shadows,
I may bring light;
where there is sadness,
I may bring joy. R:LORD…
LORD, grant that I
may seek rather
to comfort than
to be comforted;
to understand than
to be understood;
to love than
to be loved; R: LORD…
for it is by forgetting self
that one finds;
it is by forgiving that
one is forgiven;
it is by dying that
one awakens to eternal life. AMEN
R: LORD… (x2)
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7. |
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"nothing wasted (not even the wounds)" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Open my heart
to the grace I long for
a treasured place
that I can call home again
these arms reach out
as far as I possibly can
stretching toward
future uncertain
In silence I wait
for the Ineffable
amid worries of late,
almost imperceptible
is a still, small voice
against deafening silence
a welcomed noise
through timeless patience
dissonant melody springs
set to the rhythm
of a heart beating
bearing wounds riven
(as I) take in slow, deep breaths
memories come alive
whispered requests
screaming internalized
face to face
resentment revealed
a past of disgrace
when do I get to be healed?
facing Eternity
sigh inaudibly,
“Eli Eli
lema sabachthani?”
Love holds me
but never answers
incoming tsunami
baptismal waters
mournful waves
dark undertow of loss
my heart flooded
once regarded as
nothing more than
merely dross
nothing wasted
not even the wounds
the past I’ve hated
has become my tomb
promised resurrection
I fear short lived
intimate regeneration
a subtle shift
remembering my purpose
dismantle lies
the hard work is worth it
if just to see sky
though uncertain of strength
in the midst of affliction
standing bravely on two feet
feel the wind brushing across my skin…
nothing wasted
not even the wounds…
open my heart
to the grace I long for
a treasured place that
I can call home again
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8. |
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"lessons learned and bridges burned (fire and brimstone)" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Lessons learned and bridges burned
Thresholds crossed and pages turned
I feel like we’re on the verge
These tests of life spring forth new words (c’mon!)
We’re hardened, we’re stubborn, and slow to change
Like a kick from a mule, we can often estrange
Our sisters, our brothers, and significant others
It’s as if we’ve forgotten our baptismal waters
With a call to change, we start to recognize
That within our hearts, human souls reside
C’mon! We’ve got some bridges to mend
C’mon! Our very lives depend on it
Confusing faith as make-believe
Makes us blind to the deeper reality
Forgetting to ask the difficult questions
Thinking we’re right when we’re heading in the wrong direction (c’mon!)
One foot in the frying pan
And the other in the lion’s den
Waiting, waiting is so condescending
To prescribe to someone suffering, suffering
Consequences unintended
What’s been ripped can be mended
What’s been hurt can be healed
What’s been broken can be rebuilt.
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9. |
daylight today
04:34
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“daylight today” by Joseph Stone, 2014
The city calls out to me
with promises of illuminated dreams
and I’m falling all over myself
for a taste of the good life
sometimes I wish there was a way to buy
the happiness that I long for
as I stretch out to grasp in vain
for a taste of the good life
as I’m getting older
I begin to recognize
that wisdom does not
automatically come with age
I’ve gotta grow up and stop kidding myself
because I’m the one who’s gonna have to pay
for making public indiscretions
and financial mistakes
too many years have I tried
to carry the weight of my burdens
this is not my cross to bear
it’s time to let go and fly
years have passed and the past still haunts me
as I try to raise my head above the waves
of infinite sadness and lonely abandonment
oh, I have my good and bad days
I’m getting closer
to the moment that I’ve always dreamed of
to accept the love that has always been there
and to reject the hateful lies and spiteful accusations
that I’ve placed upon myself
as I pray of daylight
I”m getting closer now, I pray
for daylight today
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10. |
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"(we, the) beehive champions" by Joseph Stone, 2014
As strangers we meet
as friends we speak
speechless we greet each other
in meekness we leave
We share our meager lives
our treasures stored
in fragile heart containers
we are soon to discover
that together our lives are not so meager
You have torn down my last defense
I feel like there is nothing left to protect
and so I lay here waiting for the final death blow
only to find that I’m at home
Let’s do this again
because after all we are beehive champions
we’ve got the war wounds to prove it
we can keep on going as long as we don’t quit
With clenched fists, how can we expect love?
With open palms, we can gracefully express love
with outstretched arms, we can faithfully protect love
with open hearts, we can finally accept love
(la la la... )
The longer we go
the father we seek
to trek past our fears
and find the strength that runs deep
We share our meager lives
our treasures stored
in fragile heart containers
we are soon to discover
that together our lives are not so meager
You have worn down my last excuse
to become anything less than my very best
and so I sit here feeling rather obtuse
because you choose to see past my messiness
Let’s do this again
because after all we are beehive champions
we’ve got the war wounds to prove it
we can keep on going as long as we don’t quit
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11. |
victory song
04:04
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"victory song" by Joseph Stone, 2014
Underestimated and sometimes counted out
Eyes looking ever onward
even as things are heading south
Still I will sing this profession from my mouth
No matter the burden, the cost,
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt
I will not be defeated
I will not lay down and die
This is my victory song
In the midst of the lions jaws
With love as my banner and cry
Moving forward, I proclaim with a call
I will not be defeated
I will not lay down and die
Look at who I am
No longer a broken person
Listen and I will sing you a secret
If you choose hope over despair
you’re likely to develop
some mighty wisdom
(you better) recognize, recognize
Who you are
Recognize what your capable of
Don’t lay down and die
Recognize that you are
wonderfully made to be loved
Don’t D.I.E.
Choose hope and be free
To redefine your life
As you see fit
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12. |
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"may my life be my love song" by Joseph Stone 2014
the truth I find
is rather hard
that this life I live
is not my own
and though I give
with selflessness
I still walk
these streets alone
and these are the days
I need you
when all I can do
has already been done
the mountains seem
to climb higher and higher
these burdens
weigh a ton
and you cast them into the sea
as far away from me
you cast them into the sea...
may my life be my love song
composed of melodies of loving action
the chorus written on my heart
full of life, full of love, full of passion
the great fear I face
is rather tough
that the care I show
is not enough
to warrant
fidelity's embrace
though I live
with a new found grace
and here are the words,
"Where are you?"
when I'm caught in
loneliness's cold grasp
these depths just seem
to have no end
all I ask is for
the strength to outlast
with courage I stand
speaking words for reinforcement
with courage I stand….
through faith I stand
Your words of great encouragement,
with courage I stand…
may my life be my love song
composed of melodies of loving action
the chorus written on my heart
full of life, full of love, full of passion
you promised you'd never leave
nor forsake me
you promised you'd never leave…
with gaze toward eternity
in faith I live more fully
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beehive champions Atlanta, Georgia
Sometimes in life there are things one just has to do in order to be a better person... for me, it's creating music.
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