Favorite quotes from 3/10/10 reading of The Language of God by Francis S. Collins (head of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Francis Collins is one of the world’s leading scientists.  He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life.  Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture):

“I can recall clearly some moments in my own life, where this poignant sense of longing, falling somewhere between pleasure and grief, caught me by surprise and caused me to wonder from whence came such strong emotion, and how might such an experience be recovered.” –Francis S. Collins (The Language of God)

“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” –C.S. Lewis (quoted in The Language of God)

“Why do we have a “God-shaped vacuum” in our hearts and minds unless it is meant to be filled?  In our modern materialistic  world, it is easy to lose sight of that sense of longing.  In her wonderful collection of essays Teaching a Stone to Talk,  Annie Dillard speaks about that growing void: “…It is difficult to undo our own damage and to recall to our presence that which we have asked to leave…Now speech has perished from among the lifeless things of the earth, and the living things say very little to very few…And yet it could be that wherever there is motion there is noise, as when a whale breaches and smacks the water, and wherever there is stillness there is the small, still voice, God’s speaking from the whirlwind, nature’s old song and dance, the show we drove from town…What is the difference between a cathedral and a physics lab? Are they not both saying: Hello?” –Francis S. Collins (The Language of God)
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It’s 10 am and I made my peace
With Hollywood, I’m headed east to Charleston
It’s such a long way from here
I don’t know if we’ll meet again
I thank God I ever met you at all
How beautiful we both cried

If you are the one
It’s better this way
You’ll find me again
If you’re not the one God knows
It’s better this way, much better this way

It’s not like me to let it show
But surely you could see you left me breathless
With every word you said
You sent me a text and I think that’s fine
But I’d rather hear the voice that had me falling
I’m hoping you’ll call me too

If you are the one
It’s better this way
You’ll find me again
If you’re not the one God knows
It’s better this way, much better this way

I know you’re chasing all the beauty that you see
But I don’t care, that’s what I tell myself when you’re not chasing me

It’s not like me to let it show
But surely you could see you left me breathless
With every word you said

If you are the one
It’s better this way
You’ll find me again
If you’re not the one God knows
It’s better this way, much better this way
It’s better this way, much better this way
It’s better this way, much better this way

Your eyes how they draw me in
Your smile, your smile says it all
And the sweet sound of the violins
Are guiding my feet down the isle

They say that I’m old fashioned and that’s alright
Cuz the way that I was fashioned feels so right

I’ll be wearing a white dress with God as my witness
I’ll say I do and you may kiss your bride
I’ll be wearing a white dress we’ll take our first steps
And dance the night away veiled in white

Your hands how they draw me in
Your warm embrace is my reward
And the sweet sound of your gentle voice
Is sweeping my feet off the ground

Ooh feels so right
Ooh I’ve waited all my life

I’ll be wearing a white dress with God as my witness
I’ll say I do and you may kiss your bride
I’ll be wearing a white dress we’ll take our first steps
And dance the night away man and wife
We’ll dance the night away feels so right
Dance the night away veiled in white

Love the mystery course through my veins
My heart’s your stage to play deliberate acts
That turn the page till the incense is smoky
Cruise the alley ways and dusty trails
The sudden light appears that wakes my eyes
Till my heart is on fire

Until I am on fire
Until I am on fire
Until I am on fire

Love the history runs through my brain
My mind’s your clay to play until it reacts
Upon the wheel of the world you are turning
Proven in the glazing oven flame
The hottest white it sears beyond the coal
Till my mind is on fire

Until I am on fire
Until I am on fire
Until I am on fire

What’s the matter?
If no one has answers
Why are you really here?
The questions are creeping, repeating
Like are you really there?

You think because you touch and feel
This flesh and blood is something real
Everyone you follow, do they get you high?
If cowardice you choose instead of mysteries inside your head
All you’re ever feeding is your soul, so…

What’s the matter, do answers leave questions?
You never want to hear
Your silence is screaming
Repeating, you’re never really there

When all you drink is misery to satisfy the remedy
Every time you swallow every tear you cry
All you crave is sympathy, addicted to the vanity
Turn from this insanity you own, oh…

What’s the matter? The matter?

Return to who you were before you buried the dream
When did you give into the lesser?
You’ve given to the pressure
With every lie
You’re dying to see, oh…

What’s the matter, the matter
What’s the matter, the matter, the matter
What’s the matter, the matter
What’s the matter, the matter, the matter
What’s the matter, the matter, the matter

I’d like to take a while and pray
Call in to God and ask for rain
Start with a song to make him smile
Break out the drums and dance like
Oh warrior

I went to see a holy man
But he refused to let me in
Flew on the wind from pew to pew
Broke out the wine and danced like

Wild Child
Heart of a warrior
Head in the sky
Don’t mind they call me wild

I woke the dead to set them free
Only the dead refused to see
Light up the grave, unveil their shame
Strike up the band and dance like

Wild Child
Heart of a warrior
Head in the sky
Don’t mind they call me
Wild Child
What am I fighting for?
I’m fighting for life
Don’t mind they call me wild child
I’m a warrior
Ahhh

I’d like to take a while and pray
Call in to God and ask for rain
Start with a song to make him smile
Break out the drums and dance like

I don’t mind
Living my life for you
Despite all my aimless time
I’m living my life for you
Long way to go

Thinking about you makes me want you more
I can’t get you out my aching mind

Still a long, long way for me to go
Still a long, long way for me to go

I don’t mind
Giving my life to you
Despite all my foolish pride
I’m giving my life to you
Long way to go

Thinking about you makes me want you more
I can’t get you out my aching mind
Thinking about you makes me love you more
God I need you take this heart of mine

Come deliver me
Still a long, long way for me to go
Mercy cover me
Still a long, long way for me to go

Come deliver me, mercy cover me, long, long way to go
Come deliver me, mercy cover me, long, long way to go
Come deliver me, mercy cover me, long, long way to go
Come deliver me, mercy cover me, long, long way to go

I don’t mind
Living my life for you

I could be your mother
You can be my child
We can hold on to each other
As we lie in Jesus’ arms

As we lie in Jesus’ arms
As we lie in Jesus’ arms
As we lie in Jesus’ arms
In Jesus’ arms

I could be your sister
There’s no shame my brother in breaking down
Our tears will turn into gladness
As we cry in Jesus’ arms

As we cry in Jesus’ arms
As we cry in Jesus’ arms
As we cry in Jesus’ arms
In Jesus’ arms

I could be your daughter
You can call me child
We can save the world from darkness
As we shine in Jesus’ arms

As we shine in Jesus’ arms
As we shine in Jesus’ arms, in his arms
As we shine in Jesus’ arms
In Jesus’ arms

I was thinkin’ and I thought of you
Watching clouds float on by
In the silence there you came to me
Thinking about you makes me smile

Everybody knows your name
Everybody wants to say

Oh, my first love
Oh, my first love
I cannot eat, I cannot breathe, I cannot sleep, I only dream
I dream about you
Oh my first love, love, love, love

I’ve a feeling, even when alone
You are near and we are one
In this spirit I feel right at home
Me and you and You and I

Everybody knows your name
Everybody wants to say

Oh, my first love
Oh, my first love
I cannot eat, I cannot breathe, I cannot sleep, I only dream
I dream about you
Oh my first love, love, love, love

I dream about you, oh my first love

There you go, you’re always running away
Haven’t we all been there before
Hear my cry, when will you open your eyes
All that you want is more than you know

You say goodbye
I’ll be waiting here when you return
Still be waiting here when you return
You say goodbye
We’ll be alright
Yes we’re gonna be alright

Words you say offer no weight anymore
Prodigal life promises woe
Here I am, waiting to hold you again
All that we’ve lost is more than you know

You say goodbye
I’ll be waiting here when you return
Still be waiting here when you return

You say goodbye
We’ll be alright
Yes we’re gonna be alright
Alright

I’ll be waiting here
Still be waiting here