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Called to Live as One
by Hugh Springer, Jr.
© 2007 People of Praise, Inc.

Verse
Thank you Lord, today, for who we are, for where we are.
For the work you've given us, For the life that we have made.
We are closer than we've ever been before, we long for more.
Father Keep us unified, as we change and build and grow.

Pre-Chorus
We are called to live as one, let's build His Kingdom.
We are called to live as one, lend me you're strength
We are called to live as one, let me lighten your burden.
We are called to live as one, in Jesus Christ.

Chorus
This is more than just another thing to do in life.
To be called a sister, called a brother, is a love that's like no other.
It's sacrifice for unity,
Here I am Lord, please use me.
There is work do be done,
We are called to live as one.

Working notes:
Set melody in stone for both verse and 'chorus' (ie. get some notes on a staff in A-B-A-B form).

After some additional revision and recording, the melody, lyrics and recording has been updated. No longer in G capo'd to 3, but simply played in E.

Inspiration:
In recent years (ie 5-10), the People of Praise has been undergoing some pretty significant change. It is good for us to thank the Lord for all that we have and what he has given us, whether we are comfortable with this change, struggle with this change, or are working through it. Who we are as a people and where we have come to up until this point is something that we should remind ourselves through song to be thankful for.

In this life that we live as the People of Praise, we are building the Kingdom of God on earth, but it requires a unity of mind and heart to do this successfully and to do this well. It requires strength from the Lord and strength from one another, it requires taking on burdens and challenges that each other face so that wecan help each other to be free in the love of Christ.

Finally, as I reflected on the covenant making in 2006/7, it was clear that what we have in the People of Praise is amazing. It's not simply another non-profit organization to volunteer at. It's not simply an evangelical prayer group or retreat group. It's not simply a worship band or praise group. It's not simply peer/support group. We call each other brothers and sisters in the Lord, as though we were born in thes same family. We consider ourselves to be a family of families, where we bear the fruits of those types of relationships and also make sacrifices for the benefit of each other. As mentioned by a brother at a Servant Branch Men's retreat, "I have constantly found myself coming to the Lord, saying Here I am Lord, please use me, for whatever it is that you would have me do next to better serve you." That's what this is about. In order for life in the People of Praise to continue to be recognized as significant and more than just another "good" thing to do, we need to live as one body, in this life to which we have been called.

Contemporary musical influence: Modified E chord structure emulated from styles by John Mayer.

Submitted by hugh springer jr on Sun, 2007-04-23 1:00.

Updated by hugh springer jr on Sun, 2007-05-29 12:30.

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