Out of My Element

Do you ever have that “matrix moment,” where something about the earth just feels intangibly, inexplicably wrong? I love how C.S. Lewis articulated it when he wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

 

Out of My Element

What words did you speak
To win the wind?
Trust on its breath
Echoes beneath your wings

My trembling arms are weak
From fruitless flapping
Embarrassed
You wing away from me

With a gust, gentle and meek
The wind catches you
In its confidence
Mocking my gawky show

Hyperopic, I seek
The key to the chain
Shackling me between dust and sky

“Out of My Element” is Copyright © 2011 by Avery Lill.

Orange

No, you didn’t read wrong. This song is called Orange. This may surprise some of you, but I actually wrote a love song. Actually, I have written several love songs. This one, however, is a bit more on the abstract side for me. It has a bit of imagery, rather than just flat out saying “I LOVE YOU!” So, please enjoy:

Orange
Seth Kays

Verse 1

Just as the sun began its twilight drop

Past the horizon

I saw you standing on the balcony

Gazing into the sea

You said the color of this time

Sent chills and shivers down your spine

You love the orange sea

Chorus:

One day we, will venture on the sea

You and me

One day we will venture through the misty breeze

Oh so free

Hand in hand, we will stand before the storm

Forever more

You and me, oh so free, we will see

Verse 2:

You tell me that you love sea air

Clears up all the senses

The cold begins its slow decent

You pull in close to me

I say imagine you and me

One day, out there, out on the sea

All that for us to see

Chorus:

One day we, will venture on the sea

You and me

One day we will venture through the misty breeze

Oh so free

Hand in hand, we will stand before the storm

Forever more

You and me, oh so free, we will see

“Orange” is copyright © 2011 by Seth C. Kays

Time

–
Change is exciting–new adventures, new experiences. But when the people around me change, I have more trouble trusting God. The more people around me change though, the more I realize that instead of trying to hold on to them and keep my friendships just as they were, I need to hold on to my Savior.

“Time” is Copyright © 2011 by Avery Lill.

Easter Break

Hey everybody!

We’re going to be taking a break this week for Easter. Tune in next week for more music!

-Seth

Sestina {Frankenstein’s Monster}

Catey here! I’m excited to be back after an all-too-long absence.

Sestina {Frankenstein’s Monster} is a poem about being on the outside looking in, and what redemption means to all of us ugly monsters…

Sestina {Frankenstein’s Monster}

Hey. It’s Me. Just Me.
When you hear Me beneath your window
And you for a little while look at the moonlight
I’m in the rosebushes, all but hidden
By thorns. Folded like a crane, though upright
With stains upon my neck.

Don’t worry. I’m not a vampire, biting your neck
Not all monsters are like Me.
Pure and sweet is my name, the Upright
And yet, here I am, still pooled in light from the window
Perhaps if we were not so hidden –
Ah, anything can happen in moonlight

Being illuminated is tricky. It’s no fault of the moonlight
That my blush begins on my neck
And once my solitude beings it can’t be hidden
My brutish-garish-deathish-notish is just Me.
Real is on both sides of this window
But beauty – that is the world of the upright

Piano drones on and I stand upright
Don’t be afraid. I’m uglier in the moonlight
I turn from the window
And begin to walk, hand on my neck
Sometimes I wish I had lived among the lights. Yes, Me!
I shove my hands into my pockets to keep them hidden

I’ll steal myself a goblet of the sun and keep it hidden
Then, once I’ve drunk the golden light, I’ll stand fully upright
They’ll count me not as a monster, but an equal – even Me-
Even uglies could be real in the moonlight
[Bolts in my neck]
Would be invisible from the window

An ivory hand stretches out the window
And, ashamed, I stay hidden
Out the window, tinkling laughter and a bejeweled neck
And, ashamed, I am no longer upright
I’ll show you a world, sings the moonlight
And, ashamed, I’m not even Me.

Ugliness in the window becomes laughter in the moonlight.
All hidden, I’ll play with bones and stand upright
Raise my neck, and nothing matters, not even me…

Untouched

Well, sorry for this very late post. Last week was extremely busy for me.

This song was an interesting write for me. I was inspired by two things simultaneously. First, as I was watching a video by 30 Seconds to Mars, the song they used for the credits just gave me goose bumps. I looked into it and found out it was called R-Evolve. Second, I was thinking about when I was a little kid, and how simple everything was, how few worries I had, and how I knew everything was alright. As life has changed, I wish sometimes that I could go back to that. Enjoy,

Untouched
Seth Kays

Verse 1:

Gone again, the days have become

Dark and void of love

But I never thought I’d see the end

Came in fast just like the lightning

Strike then you were gone

But I wish that I could do the same

Chorus (1/2):

And I feel like

We did when we were young

We had no fight

Innocent we could live long

Verse 2:

All this time I’ve wished to God we

Could go back to the start

Before the poison sank beneath our veins

Back when love was free and blameless

Before the world was wrong

I’ll keep your image burned within my mind

Chorus:

And I feel like

We did when we were young

We had no fight

Innocent we could live long

Do you feel like

This time we lived too long?

And this dark night

If only we were wrong

Verse 3:

A new life starts, so small and helpless

I think back to the start

Oh to feel this newborn’s gentle breath

Chorus x2:

And I feel like

We did when we were young

We had no fight

Innocent we could live long

Do you feel like

This time we lived too long?

And this dark night

If only we were wrong

Press Up

When I turned 13, I told my family that my favorite part about being a teenager was that I had so many options for life. So many open choices. Now, that those choices are more immediate, I’m learning to trust God to direct me, as I narrow my life’s horizons in order to focus more completely on Him.

Press Up

You’ve no eyes
To see your path
And yet you grow

Pressing onward
Pushing upward

You trust a sky
You’ve never known
To greet you there

Pressing onward
Emerging outward

Did you ever doubt
Your way
Would lead you out?

Pressing onward
Pushing upward

Your bud is soft
Your leaves are frail
And still you trust

Pressing onward
Emerging outward

Your first journey
Left your trail
Your roots sustain

Pressing onward
Reaching downward

All your life they will remain

~Avery

“Press Up” is Copyright © 2011 by Avery Lill

I’ll Fly Away: Our Future Healing

In the past few months, my church family has faced serious physical illness. Two key members of my congregation have been diagnosed with cancer. My pastor’s wife, Mrs. Linda, and our choir leader, Mr. Kenny. Both of these people have been amazing examples of Godliness to me. But even more than that, I have been amazed by their response to the battle with cancer they are now facing. They truly desire only that God be glorified and their lives be a testimony to others of the security and salvation found in Christ.

A few Sundays ago, I came across the hymn I’ll Fly Away in the hymnal. I’ve always loved this song and I thought it would be fun to do a new rendition of it. One sleepless night and sixteen hours later, I finished recording the song below.

During the recording of the song, I noticed how much the words resonate with the situation my brother and sister are facing. We all will battle illness in this life, but we can all look forward to the day when we will fly away with Christ and receive true healing, healing that washes away sin and allows us to worship God for all eternity.

-Mark

Post From Catey Soon

Hey guys,

Sorry that Catey hasn’t posted anything yet. We’ve both been busy running a conference in Ohio. She will be posting something as soon as possible. Thanks for your support!

-Seth

Is

So, this song was inspired by my musical hero, Jon Foreman. I absolutely love the stuff this guy puts out. His song “White as Snow” inspired the feel of this song and the way I wrote the tune (audio will be up at some point in life). As for the topic of this, the song itself is a question. Many people continue to wonder why they should continue living, since they have nothing to live for. Sadly, many of them never find the answer they seek. However, in the end the questioner in this story does. Enjoy!

Is
Seth Kays

Verse 1:

I’m staring at my own reflection

Clinging to my desperation

I’m running out of time to hide myself

But everything around me burns like hell

I always thought I’d be somebody

I never thought that life would catch me

Chorus:

Is there a reason to wake up every day?

Is there a reason to bow our knees and pray?

Is there a reason that I feel this way?

I’m running out of time

I’m running out of time to let you in

Verse 2:

The cold creeps in and wraps its hands

Around the very center of who I am

I can’t escape the feeling that nothing’s there

But everything says you are always there

Chorus:

Is there a reason to wake up every day?

Is there a reason to bow our knees and pray?

Is there a reason that I feel this way?

I’m running out of time

I’m running out of time to let you in

Musical bridge

Chorus:

There is a reason to wake up every day

There is a reason to bow our knees and pray

There is a reason that I feel this way

I’m running out of time

I’m running out of time to let you in

“Is” is Copyright © 2011 by Seth Kays.