DESCRIPTION:
There are times in the impossible number of hours I've spent listening through old tapes in real time, that I almost decide to let what isn't yet heard alone and attend to my real life's "To Do" list. Once again, in that moment, I happened upon a recording I thought lost. I closed my eyes and was in the Beech House in Price Hill at a Zion practice, hearing for the first time a song that would change my heart forever. As a preacher's daughter, it had always been drilled into my head not only should I not question my own faith, but that "your" salvation was my job. was my responsibility to force you to accept and believe, and the weight of such a responsibility was exhausting to carry. When richard said he had a new song and sang it for us the first time, I had no idea this song he had crafted for me to sing would force me, every time I sang it, to choose to relinquish the burden I thought was mine; to remember that He who created me and those I loved, gave us just this choice, to demonstrate how important our choosing Him was to Him. My theology of absolutes rocked, trembled and fell into a faith in a God of grace, mercy and such love. He longed to carry the very weight of our choices that I could not.
As this is a very rough recording, I hadn't been going to post it. As I listened, though, I was reminded what a special gift was given me to be "present" for many of these creative moments; to have the opportunity to participate in such music, when I was well aware there were many much more talented who'd have done a much better job in such a band. As I no longer believe in coincidence, I'm just grateful God prompted me to join the madness those years held, and now when possible, offer to others who might be interested, a glimpse into the origins of songs that amazingly continue to offer life...and remind me that you..that I..can live without Him if we want.
(What I also love about this early recording, was that as we gathered instruments..70/80's instruments at that..richard moved this song to the synthesizer..a new toy to him at the time.. and this is the only version I have of this song with him singing and playing it on the piano..where it should have stayed!)
Oh and you'd better run, 'cause His love is catchin' you
And you're scared that when it does, it's gonna break through.
You built your house of dreams behind a wall that no one can penetrate.
You leave yourself no escape..no chance to be made new.
Oh and you'd better stand with your fist clenched to the sky
'Cause open handed you're afraid of what you may find.
You've got it all..or so you want to think..but anyway you'd much rather pretend.
It's too much to run the risk when you can simply close your eyes!
You can live without Him. You can live without Him if you want.
You can turn your back on music; turn your back on love; tuck your tail and run!
You're good at lookin' down and never seein' a thing.
You're good at being touched and never feelin'.
You're good at sittin' in the midst of a music that's never heard.
But you're not as good at livin' as you thought you were.
You can live. If that's what livin' is death would be such a gift!
Oh Lord let me die that I might find my life in You!
You can live without Him. You can live without Him if you want.
But, that is so much less than any life that I could ever choose.
Oh, and you'd better fill the empty spaces with some noise.
'Cause if you look to squarely at the facts, you might have to make a choice.
Better put off 'til tomorrow..maybe then you'll be more in control.
Somehow tonight this feeling stole into you and left you soiled.
Oh, and you throw it off before you see beyond the din.
There might very well be more, but not right now, don't let it in.
And, if you don't let it root, you'll never have to let it make you grow.
There's more to life than you want to know..so shut it down again!
You can live without Him. You can live without Him if you want.
You can turn your back on music; turn your back on love; tuck your tail and run.
'Cause you're good at lookin' down and never seein' a thing.
You're good at bein' touched and never feeling.
You're good at sittin' in the midst of a music that's never heard.
But, you're not as good at livin' as you thought you were.
You can live without Him. You can live without Him if you want.
Oh Lord let me die that I might find my life in You.
You can live without Him. You can live without Him if you want.
But, that is so much less than any life that I could ever choose.
(finished version from "Behold the Man")
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=you+can+live+without+him
©richmullinsongs