Song of the Centurion

Just another day, another cross, that’s what I supposed

I heard my soldiers laughing as they gambled for His robe

They were reckless with redemption

As they joked and rolled the dice

But to God it was no game

It was His greatest sacrifice

cho…

When I felt the earth shake

When I saw the ground break

When someone said the graves have opened wide

And the dead came back to life

When I saw the skies turn dark and gray

When I saw Him look my way

And say, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they do!”

I knew, it’s true, this was the Son of God

Well I knew the risk I had to take to say it out loud

I was the leader of those soldiers it was an angry crowd

Oh, but never such compassion

Had I seen in someone’s eyes

He spoke words of love to me

Even as I watched Him die

cho…

Br….

I didn’t care what the cost for my words would be

Cause I knew He shed His blood for even me

Oh what love

cho…

(tag: I had to say it, this was the Son of God

I just had to say it, this was the Son of God

Just another day, another cross, that’s what I supposed…

Steve Chapman/Jeff Pearles/Times & Seasons Music/Jefed Music/BMI/ 2013

We Wanna Go Back to Church 

We Wanna Go Back To Church

It’s been too long since we’ve been 
With our sisters and our brothers 
Standin’ side by side singing Amazing Grace 
And it’s been too long since we prayed 
Kneelin’ next to one another 
We long to see our family face to face 

So open the doors 
Turn on the lights 
Strike up the band 
Let the hallelujahs rise 
And let the Spirit heal every heart that hurts 
Let the preacher 
Break the Bread 
We’re hungry for truth 
We wanna be fed 
It’s been too long, we wanna go back to church 

Oh, we know well 
The church is not a building made of wood and stone 
But we were made to congregate 
Not to walk that road alone 

S Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/4-19-20

We Have a City

Some people wonder

How can we smile 

As we journey through these dark and troubled days

There’s a reason for our joy

As we walk these weary miles 

We are headed to a far and better place  

Cho…

We have a city we are going to

Where our burdens will be gone we believe it’s true

With eyes of faith we see the gates that someday we’ll walk through

We have a city we are going to

And we have loved ones 

We’ll see again

Who are waiting just beyond our final step

Best of all we’ll meet our Savior there

Who washed away our sins

He’s the hope that keeps us looking up ahead

Cho…

Walls of jasper, streets of gold

Forever young, never old

Crystal waters, gates of pearl

Nothing like it in this world

No sorrow there, no one at war

Only peace forever more

With angels we will sing along

When we arrive at our home

(S Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/2020)

My Dad went home to heaven in late 2015. Knowing that he’s in a place of total peace right now is a comforting thought. And, the fact that he’s not affected by all the chaos in the world is not only a great blessing it’s also the inspiration behind the song, “He’s Not Here To See It.” Maybe you feel the same way about a loved one who is with the Lord.

 He’s Not Here To See It 

When I said goodbye to Dad

It was hard to see him go

He sure is missed ’round here

But I wonder if he knows

There are times I hear ’bout things

And I just don’t wanna believe it

I think of him and say to myself 

I’m glad he wasn’t here to see it

Like that old farm where he grew up

And his home place on the hill

State came through and took it all

Poured concrete in the fields

And that church down the road where he went all his life

Learned God’s Word and how to live it

Preacher went crazy and burned it to the ground

I’m glad he wasn’t here to see it

Sometimes I look to the sky

And whisper in my heart

O Dad, how glad I am

You are where you are

Seems like this old world

Is gettin’ darker by the minute

With all the madness goin’ on, he’s blessed to be gone

Cause he’s not here to see it

He had Ol’ Glory painted on his skin

Back when he served his country on the seas

Now it would kill his soul to watch someone

Hear that anthem and take a knee

And his sister tried givin’ up the wine

But she just couldn’t leave it

Oh how she cried when they took her from her home 

I’m glad he wasn’t here to see it

And I think about Mom, she can’t remember his name

It’s by the grace of God that he was spared that pain

Sometimes I look to the sky

And whisper in my heart

O Dad, how glad I am

You are where you are

Seems like this old world

Is gettin’ darker by the minute

With all the madness goin’ on, he’s blessed to be gone

He’s not here to see it

(Steve Chapman/Times & Seasons Music, Inc/2019)

Here’s “Whispers From Heaven,” a song written as though a message from my late Dad to Mom on what would’ve been his 92nd birthday. He went to heaven just a couple of weeks before their 69th anniversary but note in the video she says they were married 72 years. That’s how she sees it because she still feels very close to him. Oh what a deep love they shared.  (At this time this song is available only as a listen with this video).