Back in twenty eighteen In a small town church I felt that holy fire like A brand in the dirt Said Lord You got the wrong man I’m rough around the seams I’ve worn a badge seen shadows Carried things that never leave I told my pastor plain I can speak your Word Don’t need some piece of paper Just to tell what I have heard He looked me in the eye said Son that may be true But if you’re gonna preach this pulpit There’s a road for you I ran from the calling Ran hard and fast Tried to bury tomorrow Underneath my past But the Lord keeps knocking When a man shuts down Keeps calling his name Through the hard dark ground He said Son finish what you started Become what I called you to be So I’m walking through the fire With a Bible in my hand Just the drummer Still learning how to stand I wrestled with that word Till it wore my soul thin Asked the Lord for a sign Asked Him over again Then my red haired angel said I just don’t see it there And I took that as an exit Took it straight into despair Put the whole thing on a shelf Told myself I’d let it die Figured maybe I had heard My own voice in the night Then nineteen brought the doctor And a word that cut like steel Cancer in my wife’s body More fear than I could feel I ran from the calling Ran hard and fast Used the pain of the moment To outrun the past But the Lord stays faithful When a man turns cold He can find a frightened heart Behind a locked-up soul He said Son finish what you started Become what I called you to be So I’m walking through the fire With a Bible in my hand Just the drummer Still learning how to stand I prayed beside her bed When the night was long With a faith half broken But a hope still strong Watched her fight through poison Watched mercy make a way Watched the hand of Jesus Hold us day by day And when the storm had passed I could still hear Him near Not a shout from the mountain More a whisper through the fear I knew He hadn’t left me Knew the purpose wasn’t gone But I still kept dragging my boots Still putting Him off Then twenty twenty five Came rolling through And the Lord spoke clear Like He always knew Son you’ve grieved enough You’ve hidden long I did not call you to silence I called you to song Finish what you started Quit living afraid I built a pulpit out of Every scar you’ve made You don’t have to be perfect You don’t have to pretend Just preach My mercy son And let the healing begin Then my strong red haired woman Looked me in the eye With tears and truth Meeting under heaven’s light She said Jim that word is from the Lord Don’t turn away this time And I knew the voice that called me Had been speaking all my life Her faith stood beside me Where my fear had been God used the one I love to say Begin again I ain’t running from the calling Not anymore I’ve laid down my excuses At the sanctuary door I’ve seen death in the rearview Felt hell breathe near But grace was still louder Than every fear He said Son Finish what you started Become what I Called you to be Now in twenty twenty six I’m stepping into light With a shepherd’s heart And a soldier’s fight I’m not the man I was When I first heard that call Still got dust on my boots Still got scars on my soul But if He can use a coward Who once turned away Then maybe somebody listening Will bow their head and pray Yeah He said Son Finish what you started And by His grace Pastor Jim is on his way
