I thought it was the best gift ever given on earth

Then I got older and saw the swords of the other kids

So I decided that I would always keep my machete hid

I tried to trade it for other swords with which to fight

But some were too heavy and others were too light

I finally found a sword that was just the right weight

So I traded it in for the machete I learned to hate

Other fighters I joined to rescue the enslaved and jailed

But just as the mission started it had already failed

For to begin this so highly important quest

A machete was needed to cut through the forest

The iron bars and a drunk cell mate

She was raped more times than not

Choked it down with a whiskey shot

Lost his innocence to his older twin

Escaped fears in crime now and again

Aborted children more than can count

She turned to drugs to drown it out

He was raging and she was high

They hooked up just to get by

Bottomed out in a one room shack

Desperate to get their innocence back

People of worth said their too far gone

Decided wrist slits would move them on

As they try to find some razor blades

A beggar told them of One who forgave

They met Jesus on that back alley

And now they live totally free

The way is lost and the energy all spent

I step on the snake of Eden as I stumble and fall

He blends in so well that I don’t see him at all

The monkeys of shame are climbing my back

The voice of the reaper keeps calling me back

One…Two…Three…Four

I can’t shut that painful door

The wildcats of confusion are waiting to spring

Of the tragic ones I will soon be the king

I now live a nightmare that once was my dream

So I try to run faster and faster it seems

Radios, books, music, TV

I try to run with others I see

The tighter I grip the mores stars that I lose

Is it predestined for I have no strength to choose?

Are the wounds on my back self inflicted or not?

They have been there so long, the flesh starts to rot

What is today because they all are the same?

My once deranged mind is now more insane

The vines of this jungle entangle my feet

They choke out more life in this sweltering heat

So I jump in the river for it must be a way out

But it is not one of life but one of more doubt

Manipulation, lies, deceit

The way of life, I just want to cheat

Slides, swings, jump ropes

Such fading hopes

I climb out of the river and stumble ahead

There is a cliff but I shun it in dread

This cliff represents my single greatest fear

But something inside keeps drawing me near

Over the edge is hope, love, and peace

But it contradicts all that my eyes can see

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

The debate rages in my mind and soul

A leap of faith must be taken over the side

I debate it for days and finally decide

I get a running start to take the plunge ahead

But I waited too long and a rhino tramples me dead.

I know You separated darkness from light

I know You made the sun, moon, and stars

I know You created Saturn and Mars

I know You made the songs the birds’ sing

I know You spoke and created all things

I know You called me to follow Your will

I know I fail but that You love me still

I know You bled and hung on a tree

I know You did this all just for me

I know I live because You chose to die

But what I still do not understand, is why

Made a dish of confusion stew

The Hardy Boys can’t find a clue

She appeared in a dress and boots

He stood there in a tattered suit

Trying to escape their history

But cannot solve this mystery

Stopwatch at a Mary Kay party

Going nowhere but trying to flee

Chewing gum and being carefree

She appeared in a dress and boots

He stood there in a tattered suit

Trying to escape their history

But cannot solve this mystery

Talk the days and run the nights

Robbed the bank of loneliness plight

Had a vision but lost all sight

She appeared in a dress and boots

He stood there in a tattered suit

Trying to escape their history

But cannot solve this mystery

Forgot to tip the cabana boy

Buried the carcass of a childhood ploy

In the mundane there is great joy

She appeared in a dress and boots

He stood there in a tattered suit

Finally escaping their history

But cannot solve this mystery

Arrogance is walking in who we think we are

Misery is not walking at all

Wisdom is finding the right path to walk in

Foolishness is not caring in which path we walk

I practice my swordsmanship

In spite of the busyness of life

I polish and shine my shield

Some think I am crazy while others just ignore

But over the noise I soon hear a sound

It is far off in the distance but still there it is

Not many can hear it but I know what I hear

It is a quiet thud but I faintly hear it

It is a monotonous and dull sound

But it has a certain beat and rhythm to it

It is the sound of marching

Not like the sound of a marching band

And not even the sound of a company soldiers

But this is the sound of a mighty army marching

The marching slowly grows louder and louder

And now no one can deny that they hear it

It keeps getting closer and closer with every moment

Soon it drowns out all the chaos and noise

Many are afraid and some are confused

But my hope rises up and my faith is stirred

For I am ready with sword and shield in hand

For this is the day I have lived my entire life for

The day of the great army marching to battle

Many stay behind and they try to discourage others

But I am not deterred nor is does my resolve waiver

I was born for this moment…I was created for this

To join the army for the Battle of the Ages

You become the hunted

Psychotic, deranged, crazy, insane
poke me with a stick I’m locked up in this tiny cage
You have me I’m yours treat me how you will
with hate and fear until emotion I don’t feel
You bellow and laugh and turn your head away
and with the snap of the chains now you become the prey
The shifting of your eyes, shadows my disguise
stumbling while you run, but you can never hide
The terror begins, the hunt is on
the tables seem to turn, I hear the scary song
Or is it just a score of this movie gone astray
you’ve had my soul on layaway and now you’re gonna pay

You become the hunted

Darkness and evil surrounds me as the hunt begins
good vs. evil me and you round one of armageadon
I’m coming your way so hurry, releasing God’s fury
One judge no jury your demise you’ll meet don’t worry
my sworn enemy by any means I’m gonna bring you pain
representing heaven in this life or death game
maintain my cool though my heart’s pumpin like an engine
You’ve had your turn, now it’s time for mine
revenge and rage controls my body, your tears are running down
now it is only fitting that you’re the hunted now
So I hunt you down with the wrath of God within me
not here to take your life, but you can give it up freely
Hear me in the night as I makes you go insane
and my nonstop chantin’ starts to seep into your brain

Dear God I beg for mercy on the souls that tortured me
I ask that they be shown the grace that you’ve shown me

The end is upon you I release my anger on you
I’ll destroy you and you will know that I am the LORD

For decades and decades, you’ve hunted us down
body count rising or descending to the ground
The concrete jungle closes the silence surrounds
The only thing heard is your heart as it pounds
Sweat pours from your skull, afraid to turn around
Looking over your shoulder what was that sound
Sick of it all no more you can take
The running’s slowed down, your spines about to break
My sights lined up, you don’t have a clue
Should I make my move, what should I do?
The chase is almost done, the oppression forgot
I’ve escaped with my life by the grace of God

You become the hunted

But I am scared to show it

I am scared of what others may think 

I am worried about the response of those around me

I love you

But I am scared what you may think

I am scared of your response to me

I do not want to hurt you

I love you

But I am scared you will not love me back

I am walking towards a cliff and love will push me over

And I am scared you will not catch me when I fall

I love you

But will you receive it when I show it

Or will you think it is all for show

Will you think it is to manipulate or make me look good

I love you

But does it get old if I tell you all the time

Does it still mean something to you if you hear it everyday

Do you believe it if I say it to you but not to others

I love you

But what do you think when I say it

Even though I do not express it adequately

Do you still believe when I say it but not always show it

I love you

But I do not have the words to describe it

I become so frustrated trying to convey the message of my heart

It frustrates me so much that I want to scream

I love you

But sometimes I abuse your response to my love

I can see the hurt that this selfish abuse causes

And it destroys everything in me when I see the hurt

I love you

But your love for me is so much greater

It makes me try and pursue love even harder

So that my love could try to equal yours

I love you

But I want to bring a gift as the symbol of my love

But all the gifts of the world would not be enough

So there is nothing that I offer that would be worthy

I love you

But that love should never mean having to apologize for hurt caused

But my flesh it fails my love which causes you pain

So hopefully my love is enough to allow me to say I am sorry

I love you

But what is your response to that

I wait in the great turmoil of anticipation

And then you answer and that is when I know that….

                                    you love me

So you try a park and that is better but not quite right

You try the library but that definitely does not work

So you go to church but that is not good enough

And so all this time,  just the right place is somewhere special