Imagine Me

Imagine me...
No longer trapped on the block
Standin' on the corner with my nine and my glock
Taking the road less traveled which for sure is harder to climb
But the view's so much clearer along the way to the top.

Imagine me...
Movin' from street Thug to Man of Valor
Not goin' toe to toe with knuckleheads over little things that don't matter
Like who stepped on my shoe and who's been lookin' too hard at my grill... I just chill
No longer chasin' paper that don't satisfy
Just like a new ride, crib, and nights of sex.

Imagine me...
No longer gettin' wet in a sea of sin
But drownin' in a ragin' river of livin' water- Man...imagine that.
Picture me swellin' with purpose off tha charts!
And walking in purpose? That brings flava to my heart
'Cause purpose ain't confined to the four blocks I've known my whole life.
Imagine me overcomin' internal strife, which is greater than any external foe or casualty
Imagine me free- and not just gettin' my GED
But finishin' college- even graduate school
Storing up tools to travel outside my comfort zone and see the world that truly lies before me...
Don't ignore me, but dream of things that can be.
Imagine me no longer needing to cop a plea, nor desiring to run the streets
Even though it's been the home that nurtured me.

Imagine me waling in the light of destiny
And the light breaks through the darkness of broken lives.
Breaking through all the stereotypes that say "we ain't nothin but problems!"
Who can solve them?

Imagine you and me
No longer wasting our lives away in defeat but making a difference where we are...
Yeah. Imagine me giving in to that heavenly star which signified the birth of my Savior
Jesus Christ: Imagine that price he paid- his life-giving sacrifice
Because of my thuggin' and druggin', disrespect and late night rendezvous
He had to choose- save himself or save me...
Talk about taking the rap for someone elses' crime-
Now I'm free- salvation received all because Christ loved me and I believed
This is serious.
God's dream for me became my imagination and now I can...
Imagine me.

--Allen Paul Weaver III

My Eyes Have Seen Holy

Am I unfit for You
Remember me, the one who turned from You
I come in rags tattered by the Fall
And all the earth, a witness to my crime

Mercy, weep over me
Let Your tears wash me clean
Majesty, be merciful with me
For my eyes have seen Holy

Hear my prayer at night
Let the morning find me alive
For I am tired and weakened by the Fall
Let all the earth bear witness to my cry

Let the Amen sound from Heaven as You lift my soul
Let the Amen sound from Heaven as You lift my soul
Let the Angels sound from Heaven, Holy is the Lord

--Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

Paul on Living and Walking by the Spirit

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."

...

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."

--Galatians 5:13-18; 5:25-6:2

Pieces lyrics

I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I'll see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your eye

Then I'll see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!

I tried so hard! So hard!
I tried so hard!

Then I'll see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole

--RED

Breathe Into Me lyrics

And this is how it feels when I ignore the words you spoke to me
And this is where I lose myself when I keep running away from you
And this is who I am when, when I don't know myself anymore
And this is what I choose when it's all left up to me

Breathe your life into me
I can feel you
I'm falling, falling faster
Breathe your life into me
I still need you
I'm falling, falling
Breathe into me
Breathe into me

And this is how it looks when I am standing on the edge
And this is how I break apart when I finally hit the ground
And this is how it hurts when I pretend I don't feel any pain
And this is how I disappear when I throw myself away

Breathe your life into me
I can feel you
I'm falling, falling faster
Breathe your life into me
I still need you
I'm falling, falling
Breathe into me
Breathe into me
Breathe into me
Breathe into me

Breathe your life into me
I can feel you
I'm falling, falling faster
Breathe your life into me
I still need you
I'm falling, falling
Breathe into me

Breathe your life into me!
I'm falling, falling faster
Breathe your life into me!
falling, falling, falling
Breathe into me
Breathe into me
Breathe into me
Breathe into me

--Red

Against Hermogenes

"Thus with matter excluded because the cause for it[s introduction] has been excluded, it remains that God undoubtedly made all things out of nothing.We shall see whether He also made evil things, when it will be clear what things are evil and whether those things are evil which for the present you regard as such. For it is more worthy of God that He produced these things of His own will by producing them too out of nothing than that He did so on the initiative of another, supposing that He produced them out of matter. Liberty, not necessity, is appropriate to God. I would rather have it that He wanted to create evil things out of Himself than that He was unable to prevent their creation."
--"Ancient Christian Writers: The Treatise Against Hermogenes" Tertullian p48

Ignatius (Epistle to the Romans)

I write to the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless ye hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may be no trouble to any one. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Entreat Christ for me, that by these instruments22 I may be found a sacrifice [to God]. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free,23 while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freedman of Jesus, and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.

From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts,24 both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits,25 show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; “yet am I not thereby justified.” (1Co_4:4) May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this]: I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy26 me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings,27 breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful28 torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.

--Ignatius (Epistle to the Romans ch. IV-V)