‘wrote a song about it…’

Bigger Than Us
Bray, Bronsink & Russell
(c) Jan 2007

Stretch the branches
Let ’em taste the fruit
It heals the nations
Nurtures what’s true
Neighbors make
your nest in here
No more enemies,
no more fears—mmmm!

Embrace as friends
Those we once shunned
Get behind
Good being done
Dare to dream
Of ways to live just
That are worthy
of our God

It’s bigger than us… Deep calls to deeper
It’s more than us right here… Calling out believers
It’s bigger than us… Deep calls to deeper
It’s more than us right here… Are you a believer?

Taste and see
The future’s near
No more reason for guns
No more fears
Former things
Are dead and gone
Won’t ignore,
But right the wrongs

Wage a peace
That won’t abide war
Cultivate
The strength to endure
Grant the space
For those once oppressed
To for themselves
Judge what’s best

It’s bigger than us (open your eyes to see)… Deep calls to deeper
It’s more than us right here (the kingdom is at hand)… Calling out believers
It’s bigger than us (open your eyes to see)… Deep calls to deeper
It’s more than us right here (the kingdom is at hand)… Are you a believer?

Love Full Term
Bray, Bronsink & Russell
(c) Jan 2007

Something’s kickin’
‘gainst the rim of my soul
Not yet tired,
but it sho’ gets old
(…sho’ gets old …sho’ gets old)

Feel like tastin’ what I’m cravin’
Feel like holdin’ what I waitin’ for

When hope finds daylight
Wrongs are made right
When the love in you and me’s full term
All creation will learn… the new livin’

Perhaps we are
what we long to see
The fruit of Hope’s womb,
Spirit’s progeny
(…together you and me …someone else’s dream)
Are we (what) Creation’s cravin’
Could we be what it’s waitin’ for

When hope finds daylight
Justice swallows night
When the love in you and me’s full term
All creation will learn… to live in hope!

Can You See God Today?
Bray
(c) Jun 2006

Did you see that mother struggling
To cross the street in time
With her stroller and her diaper bag
And two older ones by her side?

Did you see that old man stumbling
To find a piece of shade?
When he caught your eye,
did you think inside,
“He must have had a drink today?”

Or did you see God?
Did you see God, today?
Oh, did you see God?
Did you see God, today?

When you walked past that old park
Where children used to play,
Did it strike you as worth the cost
For the low prices you now pay?

When your heart saw that women
With burka to her toes,
Did you think of faith, or curse her mate
As tyrant, terrorist or both?

Did you see God?
Did you see God, today?
Oh, did you see God?
Did you see God, today?

[bridge]

When your children start their questioning
of what you believe
Do you…

Or can you see God?
Can you see God, today?
Oh, Can you see God?
Can you see God, today?

It Wasn’t Long Ago
Bray
(c) Oct 1992

It wasn’t long ago
When I looked into your eyes
And saw love begin to bloom
Life had begun
Cause then I knew that this was how
My life was meant to be
With one to share my dreams
And conquer any fears
Life was so beautiful
That first time I looked into your eyes

It wasn’t long ago
When I glanced inside my heart
Forgotten hopes and broken dreams
Began to mend and it seemed
Life had begun
And all of the days before
Were mere reflections of all that life had in store
All things are changing
Since that first time I glanced inside my heart

The years had past
And there’d been some romance
But love had played no part
My heart held you dear
When God’s love brought you near
And that love captured my heart
Now I can see that how e’er life may be
I need you with me
Please say you won’t ever leave
And I’ll always love you
Way beyond the death of time

It wasn’t long ago…