by Ernest Liu
about the author

  • Random Snippets
    • This Christmas
      The challenge you have been invited to, however, requires you to think beyond the obvious, to step into a ring of higher commitment.
    • The Malignancy of Sin
      Hell makes a lot more sense when you get past the elementary understanding of “eternal fire.” The thing that really burns in Hell is often misunderstood.
    • Marriage Isn’t that Great
      What kind of chapter title is that? "Marriage Isn't that Great?" I guess that's the type of thing you'd expect from a radical Christian author.
    • ♫ Lament
    25
    Mar
    2011

    Yesterday I came home and found a little package waiting for me. I couldn’t remember what I had bought, so I tore open the envelope to find Tim Be Told’s latest album. After wrestling with the plastic wrapper for a moment, I took out the disc and slid it into my Mac. I followed the lyrics on the insert as the music played.

    I reached the sixth track and hit loop. The song was Lament, written by Tim as a tribute to his friend.

    He doesn’t sing about God’s great power or burst out in love. Nor does he mindlessly claim to take up his own cross and give it all. Instead, his words are deathly honest. Desolation leaks from his heart, revealing the anguish within.

    It reminds me of the various authors in Psalms who do the same. They literally cry out in despair, wondering why God lets horrible things happen to them and to those they love. In the end, they circle back to the core of their faith, depending on Him for everything good.

    We need more honest music, and we need to stop singing songs that don’t resonate with our hearts. I need to stop singing songs that don’t resonate with my heart.

    Here is Lament, available in their newly released album, Humanity.

    Show lyrics for Lament

    You say you are jealous, You say you are kind.
    But the jealous part seems to win all the time.
    If you’re so mighty why do you break
    The weak and the weary and steal what they make?

    You say you’re forgiving, that you’ll not forsake.
    But you punched me out when I made a mistake.
    I try to find beauty in the mess that you made
    But you just stayed angry and never forgave.

    Yes, we know you are great,
    But is a bad God better than none?
    How much more will it take to undo the damage that you have done?
    ‘Cause the wicked and wayward continue to thrive,
    And the modest continue giving their lives,
    Oh the faithful never survive.
    Oh the faithful never survive.

    You’re the Almighty, so I am afraid.
    You crushed me to pieces and stole what I made.
    A hopeless delusion
    is a righteous man’s faith.
    I don’t know how much more I can take.

    God are you listening?
    Please hear my cry!
    I don’t really believe
    You’re more cruel than you’re kind.
    But I’m getting tired of repeating this line
    That the faithful never survive.

    Yes, we know you are great,
    That you’re a good God, and you are love.
    How much more will it take
    To undo the damage that I have done!
    Please conquer these demons
    And the darkness inside–
    Shine your light
    On this cold heart of mine.
    Maybe my faith will survive.

    Song posted with permission from Tim Be Told’s manager, Mark Sprenkle.

    Click here to see the previously featured song, Wounded & Healed!