Irony: the blood we bleed
every drop this fire feeds
into forever...)
Lines of faith drawn in the sand, completed by another
Stranger, show me where you stand
and if you are my brother
One part by me, one by you

CENTURIES FLY
BUT THE FLAME IS STILL ALIVE
THE MAY HIDE IT, BUT IT WILL NEVER DIE
CARVED IN THE WALL,
SEE THE TWO HALVES OF THE SIGN
THROUGH THE AGES HIS GLORY WILL ARISE
FOR ALL TIME

Forced into the catacombs
unite to praise the King of kings
they fear a revolution
and the power that He brings
heaven's sons stand as one, as believers
in the blood of Christ
even in death we have true life

(Enemies castigate
but darkness doth illuminate
Irony: the blood we bleed
every drop this fire feeds
into forever...)
Lines of faith carved in the wall,
a sign of peace abided
Stare into the eyes of death
clothed in the grace provided
this will live on without me

CENTURIES FLY
BUT THE FLAME IS STILL ALIVE
THE MAY HIDE IT, BUT IT WILL NEVER DIE
CARVED IN THE WALL,
SEE THE TWO HALVES OF THE SIGN
THROUGH THE AGES HIS GLORY WILL ARISE
FOR ALL TIME

This will live on without me...

CENTURIES FLY
BUT THE FLAME IS STILL ALIVE
THE MAY HIDE IT, BUT IT WILL NEVER DIE
CARVED IN OUR SOULS,
SEE THE TWO HALVES OF THE SIGN
THROUGH THE AGES HIS GLORY WILL ARISE
FOR ALL TIME


3. The Serpent's Kiss

Born into the darkness
thrown into the viper's den
the serpent in the cradle
takes the child into its nest of sin
slowly suffocating
the souls of victims it has found
into the vicious cycle
on the path that only leads us down

Rat-race-fueled machinery
this system of corruption
have we become so cold and numb
we're blind to its destruction?
We're forging in the fires made of greed
Our idols made of gold
then bowing down before them
with corrupt, adulterous souls
opened eyes,
realize...

WHAT WE HAVE DONE
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
WHAT HAS BECOME OF OUR LIVES
CORRUPTED OUR DREAMS
WHAT WE HAVE LOST
AND WHAT REMAINS
PARALYZED BY THE VENOM THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS
THERE'S GOT TO BE MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS
THE WORLD'S CARESS IS JUST THE SERPENT'S KISS

The demons veiled as angels
The darkness as the light
the poison seems so harmless as you drink of it
tonight
we reap the harvest we have sown
empowering our enemies
we dress the wolves as sheep
and then forget their true identities
forgive me
now I see...

WHAT WE HAVE DONE
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
WHAT HAS BECOME OF OUR LIVES
CORRUPTED OUR DREAMS
WHAT WE HAVE LOST
AND WHAT REMAINS
PARALYZED BY THE VENOM THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS
THERE'S GOT TO BE MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS
THE WORLD'S CARESS IS JUST THE SERPENT'S KISS

Father bring us back to you
we're lost sheep, afraid, confused
tangled in the scnares that grow
along this road of pain we chose
and though we've wandered far away
we've turned around and lost our way
though we are the prodigal,
with open arms for us you still await

All we are is laid to waste
All we've seen crumbles in haste
everything under the sun is vanity put in its place
you have seen this all before
we are nothing, nothing more
we're the ones who betray you,
yet we're the ones who you adore.

I stand before you as a child
by this world I've been defiled
stained and poisoned, burned and beaten
bruised and wounded, sick and vile
with hands reaching out to you, I run
realizing what I've done
you take me in your arms, a reunited father and son...

And all illusion ceases to exist
the world's caress is just a serpent's kiss


4. Mountain

I'm searching to find what's beyond each horizon
to the end of one world and on to a new one
always chasing golden sunsets
I'm struggling out of the depths of the valley
and my weary legs have failed me once again
so I give my broken soul to you

And in my weakness is Your strength realized
Consume me in the fire of Your glory once again
and help me rise

Rise, taking flight
To the zenith of life
Rise to the top of the mountain with You
The world disappears
Into the valley below me
As I'm lost in the glory of You

Step by step the climb gets harder
my being weakens as I struggle farther and farther
flesh is weakness, darkness, sickness
my dreams are shattered, my ambitions crumbled
my will defeated, my spirit humbled once more
I am hopeless, helpless without you

And I must decrease so that You may increase
and when I find you're all I have
I found you're all I need to help me rise

Rise, taking flight
To the zenith of life
Rise to the top of the mountain with You
The world disappears
Into the valley below me
As I'm lost in the glory of You

I cannot fight this battle on my own
Have mercy
I'm fallen weakness clothed in flesh and bone
consume me
I stand in awe of who you are
and what I feel I cannot explain
forged in the flame, broken again

Take me to the places I can't go
Transcending
I'm sick of living in the status quo
New Beginning
And when it seems I've given up
On eagle' wings you life me up again
and this time I know, in the end
...You carried me


5. Theocracy

At the center of my heart there sits a throne
That the rightful occupant's not always
free to call His own
For how can I give the King
His place of worth above all else
When I spend my time striving
to place the crown upon myself?

Battle cry, to engage
for the war, set the stage
and armies march and kings arise
for the choice, the time has come
mine or thy will be done?
and the pain reflects in holy eyes
for the will to obey
for the night to the day
and the seasons change and rulers die
not of flesh, not of men
wage the war deep within
on and on uit rages undenied

I TAKE MY CROWN AND CAST IT DOWN
CASTLES BURNING
CASTLES BURNING
LEARN TO GROW, GROW TO BE
A FLESH AND BLOOD THEOCRACY
TO TAKE THE LOSS AND BEAR THE CROSS
RAISE THE KINGDOM
RAISE THE KINGDOM
BURN AWAY ALL IVE BEEN
TO RESURRECT THEOCRACY WITHIN

and the would-be rulers of my heart
that I place upon the throne
each lead the kingdom of my life to ruin
to bring every though into submission
to tear the idols down
is to break the chains, to rearrange,
to give the king his crown

I TAKE MY CROWN AND CAST IT DOWN
CASTLES BURNING
CASTLES BURNING
LEARN TO GROW, GROW TO BE
A FLESH AND BLOOD THEOCRACY
TO TAKE THE LOSS AND BEAR THE CROSS
RAISE THE KINGDOM
RAISE THE KINGDOM
BURN AWAY ALL IVE BEEN
TO RESURRECT THEOCRACY WITHIN

Rather, use me to be your hands down here
a mirror to reflect your glory into hurting eyes
and let me see the world with vision clear
and not through selfishness and lies
for if I am consumed with my own cares
what right have I to speak the words
Thy Kingdom Come?
And if I am consumed with my own will,
what right to pray Thy Will Be Done?

As all round me I see bleeding souls
please give me strength to never pass them idly by
and as the angry storm clouds start to roll
may they see comfort in my eyes
for just as you are full of love
the same to others you have called me to be
and by the covenant of grace above and below
within our souls: theocracy

I TAKE MY CROWN AND CAST IT DOWN
CASTLES BURNING
CASTLES BURNING
LEARN TO GROW, GROW TO BE
A FLESH AND BLOOD THEOCRACY
TO TAKE THE LOSS AND BEAR THE CROSS
RAISE THE KINGDOM
RAISE THE KINGDOM
BURN AWAY ALL IVE BEEN
TO RESURRECT THEOCRACY WITHIN


6. The Healing Hand

[I. The Gift]

Gloria gloria
underneath a burning star
seeking their salvation
see them searching for the One
who's come to heal their nation
prophecy incarnate
holiness in flesh arrived
the star has shown the path to life and hope is now
alive
FOR UNTO EARTH IS BORN THE HOLY HAND

[II. Restoration]

See the multitudes surround this man of miracles
the key to life they've found, He is the Son of God
Hear the suffering people cry for healing from this man
as they reach out to touch a supernatural hand
"take my scars, heal my wounds, give new life to me"
the cry cleanse my stains, kill disease, Master, make this sickness die
Endless power, fueled by faith, restoration in one touch
Miracle, supernaturally disease is crushed
THE HOLY HAND BECOMES THE HEALING HAND

[III. Adulation]

Faith is Freedom, freedom faith
[repeat]
hear the people joined in praise to Christ
incarnate holy one
worthy is the lamb they say
messiah prophesied has come
honored for eternity, forever shall we give Him praise
never will our hearts turn cold,
we never shall betray

[IV. Betrayal]

Hearts Once Soft have turned to stone
left their king to die alone
lips that once had echoed praise
now mock the holy gift of grace
prophecy fulfilled in death
complete redemption with final breath
Israel lifting up her king
not in praise, but suffering

see the hand that drives the nail
through the hand that never failed
hear the laughter, see the games
the mock salvation unashamed
see the ones He came to justify
coldly stand and watch him die
rejected by his chosen land
The healing hand becomes the bleeding hand

[V. Eternity]

His kingdom forever, the Lion of Judah in strength
everlasting redemption, atonement complete
resurrected in power, as King now he stands
FOR THE BLEEDING HAND HAS BECOME THE RULING HAND

Faith-born forever, a part of His kingdom become
Or reject him, stand back
and watch his kingdom come
Alpha and omega almighty is he
Christ reigns victorious for eternity
Eternity


7. Sinner

Shame covers me
what was light has turned to dark
pain torments me
where there once was something holy
now beats my blackened heart

sin has tangled me
my life is broken and I bleed eternally
grief's controlling me
so I cry out to the only one who can bring
the healing that I need

HELP ME
SAVE ME
TAKE THIS GUILT AWAY FROM ME
HEAR ME
TAKE ME BACK TO WHERE I WAS (BEFORE THE FALL)
WASH ME
CLEANSE ME
SEE WHAT HAS BECOME OF ME
TRYING ON MY OWN I FAILED
SO I NOW COME CRAWLING BACK TO YOU
I'VE FALLEN

HELP ME
SAVE ME
TAKE THIS GUILT AWAY FROM ME
HEAR ME
TAKE ME BACK TO WHERE I WAS (BEFORE THE FALL)
WASH ME
CLEANSE ME
SEE WHAT HAS BECOME OF ME
TRYING ON MY OWN I FAILED
SO I NOW COME CRAWLING BACK TO YOU
I'VE FALLEN

I'm a sick man rotting slowly
spiritual leprosy
I'm a captive crying out
tear the chains and set me free

HELP ME
SAVE ME
TAKE THIS GUILT AWAY FROM ME
HEAR ME
TAKE ME BACK TO WHERE I WAS (BEFORE THE FALL)
WASH ME
CLEANSE ME
SEE WHAT HAS BECOME OF ME
TRYING ON MY OWN I FAILED
SO I NOW COME CRAWLING BACK TO YOU
I'VE FALLEN


8. New Jerusalem

New Jerusalem

In My dreams I have seen beyond
in my dreams I have seen what I am coming from
Visions of my eternity
visions of a celestial holy city

12 gates of Jerusalem
12 angels surround the wall
only one way leads inside the gates
only one way prepared for us all

I have seen the New Jerusalem
Glorious, the new Jerusalem
behold, the world of corruption has passed away
out of the ashes below me I rise
into the city of new life, the power, the way
ascending into paradise

by the grace of the holy one
I am free from this world of desolation
free from greed, lust and selfishness
to nevermore be a slave to this wicked flesh

by the ultimate sacrifice
I'm alive, yet transcend this life
from this old world of death burning down
now I walk through the ashes unto holy ground

I have seen the New Jerusalem
Glorious, the new Jerusalem
behold, the world of corruption has passed away
out of the ashes below me I rise
into the city of new life, the power, the way
ascending into paradise


9. The Victory Dance

She stares ahead in silence again
her eyes tell me of struggles, loss and pain
a mask to hide a world of sorrow
where hollow, painted smiles remain
the flesh whispers its lies to me
and walks me to the edge, so far to fall
I'll never have another chance if there's a chance at all
If I fail this time...

Seven scares turned to ashes
faces of madness melt into victory
trial by fire, my burden
burned in refining flames of purity
seven steps into darkness
mortal and crownless
eternal victory
altar flames rising, burning higher
and straight through the fire
I'm dancing the victory dance

she takes the communion cup unholy
born and raised a slave to rules of man
will my eyes reflect you
when she searches them again?
I am not a god
I release this burden unto you

Seven scares turned to ashes
faces of madness melt into victory
trial by fire, my burden
burned in refining flames of purity
seven steps into darkness
mortal and crownless
eternal victory
altar flames rising, burning higher
and straight through the fire
I'm dancing the victory dance


10. Twist of Fate

[I. Descent Into The Valley Of The Shadow]

Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death
I will not fear
Yea, though I breathe heavy
struggle in every breath
I will draw near

[II. Passage Through The Valley]

I have broken bread with evil unaware
I have sat down to dine with the road to hell
I have walked hand-in-hand with deception and greed
And I have lived to tell

Sometimes I feel like a puppet of "fate"
And struggle to sever the strings
Sometimes my soul tries to fly away
But collapses under broken wings
The modern-day Judas has planted the kiss
The chameleon has changed once again
Open the gates of betrayal
Plant the knife in my back, my "friend"

Why must another day sown reap with confusion?
Why must I sleep wrapped in blankets of pain?
Trying to win with the cards I've been dealt
But without eyes of faith there can be nothing gained
The thorn in my flesh, the scars of myself
The dance with deception, the death of my pride
Confusion of life, tasting the knife inside

The hand of "fate" has wrapped its freezing fingers around me
And squeezed until the life dripped from my soul
And broken strings disrupt cohesion of my symphony
But my eyes watch the Conductor in control

I wait for an answer
I search for a sign
I pray for the healing of time
I look for a reason
To bring peace of mind
But once more, no reason I find
Father, hear my cry

Spirits swarm around me: I feel it
They war against the one who dwells inside
Fate does not exist, I know it in my soul,
And strife to have that same faith in my mind
Tonight I sleep upon a bed of nails it seems
For once again I am a field of war
But it has long been written,
all things work together perfectly for me
For I have been reborn

The hand of God has wrapped
protective fingers around me
To guard me from a self-defeating way
The Spirit brings discernment so I need no eyes to see
I realize my loss is gain today

I wait for an answer
I search for a sign
I pray for the healing of time
I can't fathom the reasons
With this mortal mind
So I step out in faith after closing my eyes
Father, hear my cry

[III. Ascent Unto The Mountain]

Visions of a child, visions of a life I behold
Visions that I can't purge from my mind
Visions in the night, dreams of second sight I behold
Dreams of supernatural warning signs?
The issues of man, the fabric of time
All weave in cohesion, exist interwined
Divine orchestration, flawless grand design

Beyond comprehension,beyond mortal minds
Methodically, flawlessly restructuring my life
Supernaturally changing me, surgically precise
Father of glory, the only help I see
Reach down your hands to me
Set me free
Father of mercy, please take this hex from me
For yes I do believe