Archive for February, 2010

52 Weeks-Episode 15: Pray for Grace

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

A song about struggle. A song about overcoming by God’s gift of grace the lie that we need to be good enough on our own before we can be forgiven.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! -Romans 7:18-25a

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  -Ephesians 2:8-9

Download the mp3 here.

Pray for Grace
You know what I say
You know what I’m really like
I’ve been in a bad way
Stayed there way too long

I battle my mind
I battle my secret life
My spirit is abhorred
My flesh is way too strong

Please hear what I say
I know you’re the only right
But I’m stuck in these bad ways
And all I write is wrong

Please shatter my mind
‘Cause I am worldly wise
Please teach me to love
‘Cause I’m just a clanging gong

I’m tired of trying
I can do no good on my own
Teach me of love; teach me of grace
And please save my soul!

Save my soul!

Once guilty as sin
Now free from its deadly price
My serpentine exploits
all start to come undone

I know you as mine
And I am finally yours
Resplendent redemption
I’m free and death is gone!

I’m tired of trying
I can do no good on my own
Teach me of love; teach me of grace
And please save my soul!

Save my soul!

Don’t know how long I’d spent just scratching at the surface of love
Failing at trying to impress the world to get to my goal
Your grace and mercy taught me that you’d take me with all my flaws
You choose to love my worst disgusting when you save my soul!

Save my soul!

Ethan Dean and Seth Dean

This song is part of an exercise we’re calling 52 Weeks. Check in next Friday for yet another song. Listen and let us know what you think, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes We need you! If like one of these songs, please comment. Your opinions will help us decide what’s on the next album. Copyright 2009-2010 Stereoreel Music, LLC.

52 Weeks-Episode 14: Nothing

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. -Jesus, quoted in Luke 14:33

A few lines of a Tolkien poem + the words of Jesus + a dark, distorted piano + a 100-year blizzard + Caleb, Seth and Ethan + a heartfelt desire = Nothing. It’s this week’s song.

Download the mp3, Nothing, here.

Nothing
All that’s gold does not glitter
All who wander aren’t lost
And saints before me endeavored
Even though it cost them

Everything, everything
Though it cost them everything they owned

When I find a true treasure
Worth a significant price
I don’t have much to offer you
So I’m willing giving

Everything, everything
I will give You everything I am
Everything, everything
I will give You everything I am

Crowning thorns may be glorious
A splendor worth every pain
Jesus, you’ve been victorious
Trusting You I will gain

Everything, everything
Surely I’ll gain everything I need
Everything, everything
I know that I’ll gain everything I need
Everything, everything
Jesus you are everything I need

There is nothing I shouldn’t give

Caleb Nei and Seth Dean

This song is part of an exercise we’re calling 52 Weeks. Check in next Friday for yet another song. Listen and let us know what you think, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes We need you! If like one of these songs, please comment. Your opinions will help us decide what’s on the next album. Copyright 2009-2010 Stereoreel Music, LLC.