he wanted to write of salvation of the sweet, common grace that holds us all a gentle letter between brothers but the wolves were already in the house not with fangs, but with flattering words turning the feast of love into a marketplace twisting grace into a permission slip for the flesh they are clouds without water a dark promise of relief that only brings more dust they are autumn trees, fruitless and twice dead uprooted they are wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shame for all to see they are wandering satellites a brief and fiery spectacle before the blackness reserved for them forever they walk the worn paths of ruin the green envy of Cain the greedy sprint of pride the proud rebellion there are no new sins only old death in new ruined clothes even michael the archangel arguing with the devil himself did not presume to rebuke him on his own authority but said only "the lord rebuke you" and these men mock what they cannot comprehend [instrumental] but you beloved build pray keep wait build yourselves up on the most holy faith a fortress of truth pray in the holy spirit a language of dependence keep yourselves in the love of god a child held safely in his father's arms wait for the mercy of our lord jesus christ a coming dawn that will swallow all shadows and for those caught in the current show mercy with fear snatch them from the fire their clothes still smelling of smoke hate the disease hate even the garment stained by the sickness yet love the person it is a messy dangerous rescue remember it is he who is able to keep you from stumbling he who will present you blameless before the presence of his glory with a joy that rings and shatters the cosmos to the only god, our savior through jesus christ our lord be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever amen [encore] even michael the archangel arguing with the devil himself did not presume to rebuke him on his own authority but said only "the lord rebuke you" and these men mock what they cannot comprehend but you beloved build pray keep wait amen [end]
