Friday, March 14, 2008

Come, Sing, Fall, Cry, Dance, Fly

Happy Friday to you all. I know this blog tends to be light-hearted and pointless most of the time (it's my gift to humanity), but today I'm going to share something with a little more meat. It's also about my faith. I hope you'll read on, anyway.

This Sunday at church I'm singing a Chris Rice tune called "Untitled Hymn." It's a very simple song in both words and melody. But what I love about it is that it tracks the lifespan of just about anyone that has put their faith in Christ:

  • You trust in Him for what you cannot do.
  • You realize that a load has been lifted from you.
  • You start to walk with Him and stumble from time to time (or stumble a lot--that's the case with most of us).
  • You still struggle with loneliness and pain, but discover that you have someone to cry to...someone who really understands you.
  • From time to time you experience great joy.
  • Finally, you go to be with Him forever.
It doesn't paint an unrealistic picture of a pain-free life. It's very real and that appeals to me.

Here are the words:

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)

by Chris Rice

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

8 comments:

scott said...

Well now I'd like to hear the song. If not the Chris Rice version, maybe you can hook us up with some YouTube action of you singing it...

Unknown said...

Beautiful song! Love Chris Rice's songs. Are you singing a solo? I absolutely adore singing in my church choir but try as I might I still sing "solo" that people around me say they can't hear me! LOL

Thanks for putting the words out there to that song - beautiful song!

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

Yep. It will be a solo. I don't think I'll YouTube it. Sorry.

Randy Spradlin said...

Mr. Shumway,

I never knew you were a singer. I find out something new everyday. I do like those words:

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then Cry to Jesus!

I hope it goes well.

Be well my friend,

Randy

Toni said...

Oh, how I love this song. Assuming we're well enough to attend, I'll look forward to hearing you sing.
Blessings,
~Toni~
p.s. Big Doofus has a really good singing voice, for those who aren't in the know on that.

Rebekah said...

Klove playes that song quite often. I never paid attention to the words, but I will now.

Mr. E said...

I love this song. I have been trying to get my church song leader to sing it for the past year or so. I would like this song played at my funeral.

Didn't know you were a singer!

I responded to your comment on Chocoholicfest...on my blog in case you wanted to read it.

Hunny Bee said...

I'm a big Chris Rice fan. Simple words, simple melody, my kind of song. I will have to give this song a listen. Sounds beautiful. Hope it went well.