Jericho

The way out of here seems clear

But the doors won’t open I fear

The windows are locked and shuttered down

Lost with no desire to be found

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

Within the edifice of pride

It’s easy to hunker down and hide

As the perfect poser I am posed

My neon signs says I am closed 

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

Not so much afraid of rejection

Hesitant to brook affection

I’ll take refuge in the tower of light

And shed my security tonight

There is another hiding place

Where light abounds - its full of grace

So to that shelter I will flee

Where with new vision I can see

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

You make my walls come tumblin’ down, tumbling down

May 9, 2024

Anthony Foster

The Old Man Dreams

I’m still dreaming yeah, I’m only dreaming.

But Reality knocks and I’ll heed the call

My flesh is weak but my soul it is beaming

This mortal vale's not unlike Jericho’s wall.

Love pouring down is more than a dream

It touches the spirit- hear  it slowly speak

It’s the essence of all that is seen and unseen

It’s the providence that empowers the weak

My concepts will follow a coherent scheme

In a place that  is more than a dream

To  enfold a vision of  glory supreme

In a place that  is more than a dream

Then I’ll raise my voice with the cherubim

In a place that  is more than a dream

In a place that  is more than a dream

In a place that  is more than a dream

The darkness is wailing and now it is screaming 

But the dream is now clear for mercy is great

I am an old man and yet I’m still dreaming

But I shall take refuge in the light while I wait.

So fantasy fades and reality beckons

And the mundane’s much more than it may seem

It avails to the pilgrim who will choose to reckon

The righteous root of an old man’s dream

My concepts will follow a coherent scheme

In a place that  is more than a dream

To  enfold a vision of  glory supreme

In a place that  is more than a dream

Then I’ll raise my voice with the cherubim

In a place that  is more than a dream

In a place that  is more than a dream

In a place that  is more than a dream

May 5, 2024

Anthony Foster

Open Eyes (The Gospel of the Glory of Christ)

Lord You opened our eyes to your light

So we could apprehend

The beauty of your glorious face

We were created for this End

You opened the eyes of our hearts

And became the light of our souls

It was by Your illumination

That You are our reason and goal

Lord open the eyes of more hearts today

Lord give vision to the blind we pray

So that men may come to know your living way 

Through the Glorious Gospel of Christ

Lord with open eyes we can see You

Are the Good and the Beautiful and the True

And savor You like we were created to

Through the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

Lord open new eyes to Your True Light

Through Your Word Lord open new minds

To the beauty of your excellencies

That with awakened  hearts they may find

Lord open the eyes of those in need

Like moths fly to a flaming light

With open eyes may they see your face

Transformed by the glorious sight

So we spread the Gospel to those we meet

Walking this earth with beautiful feet

Until Your Kingdom becomes complete

Through the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

Then with open eyes Your  truth is believed

By the light of Creation faith is conceived

And by this fresh birth, new life is received

Through the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

Through the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

Through the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

April 30, 2024

Anthony Foster

The Gospel of Grace

The living God came into history
The One who is the last and the first 

The long-awaited King of Israel
And the Lord of the universe 

This King was Jesus Christ, the Messiah
With authority o'er all things

And the Savior is the Son of David
He rules as the Eternal King

It was for our Sins he bled and died

At Calvary He rent the veil

He was buried but He rose again

Triumphant over death and Hell

He promised His Spirit-Would be with us,
to abide with us, ne’re to leave

There to always help us and to teach us-
For every one who will believe

So His Gospel ever holds the promise-
Of salvation sure and great

Healing, liberation and forgiveness -
The source of Peace with God through faith

It was for our Sins he bled and died

At Calvary He rent the veil

He was buried but He rose again

Triumphant over death and Hell

He alone is our justification-
He forgives us of all our sins

So we are conformed unto His likeness-
Transformed, eternal life begins

And so chosen peoples of all nations-
are very glad when they are told 

Of full, abundant and unending life-
With God Himself the final goal

It was for our Sins he bled and died

At Calvary He rent the veil

He was buried but He rose again

Triumphant over death and Hell

April 23, 2024

Anthony Foster

My God Will Deliver Me

Lord, I cry out to you I am a wretched man

I do what I don’t want to do, I make such foolish plans

And what I really want to do, the narrow way to seek

My spirit may be willing, but you know my flesh is weak

Who will deliver me from this wretchedness?

Who will pull me from this miry mess?

My Savior and Lord will set me free

For my God will deliver me.

My God will deliver me

My God will deliver me

The source of sin put to the sword

Through Jesus Christ my Lord.

I may do the thing I hate, I may fall into sin

But if I repent and confess he will forgive and cleanse

I reckon myself dead to sin and gain the victory

Though evil will lie close at hand my God will deliver me

Who will deliver me from this wretchedness?

Who will pull me from this miry mess?

My Savior and Lord will set me free

For my God will deliver me.

Lord give me faith to believe your promises are true

Though you will not forsake me it matters what I do

If I will trust in the truth, the Truth will set me free

Through Jesus Christ and Christ alone God will deliver me

My God will deliver me

My God will deliver me

The source of sin put to the sword

Through Jesus Christ my Lord.

April 5, 2024

Romans 7:24-25

Anthony Foster 

The Victor

The Victory is Yours, oh King!-
Now claim what is your own

For with Your victory you bring
New life by grace alone

The Kingdom and the joy is yours-
For you did not despise

The shame of the cross that cures
Our wounds and makes us wise

Every inch of planet earth 

And all of heaven’s span

The universe declares your worth
And time is in your hand.

All this is yours, the throne, the crown
The name above all names

We declare your work and your renown
From age to age the same

Refrain

So to the victor goes the prize
and so your sovereign rule

Shall be exalted in men’s eyes, 
both wizened and the fool

Let every tongue your name confess
till  every bended knee 

Declares the victor’s righteousness 
and   proclaims Your victory

Now with Your very Body’s breath
We proclaim the blood that saves

For with your vict'ry over death
You have conquered the grave

So may this futile world give way-
transformed by holy light

As we shine forth help us, we pray
To fight the worthy fight

So in this moment and this hour
Lord  sanctify  our souls

As we live in resurrection power
Redeem and make us whole

As we work out what you’ve worked in,
may your image be restored

As we reckon ourselves dead to Sin
And give glory to You Lord

Refrain

So to the victor goes the prize
and so your sovereign rule

Shall be exalted in men’s eyes, 
both wizened and the fool

Let every tongue your name confess
till  every bended knee 

Declares the victor’s righteousness 
and   proclaims Your victory

Based on “A Liturgy of Praise for Christ Who Conquered Death”

Romans 6, Philippians 2

April 1, 2024

Anthony Foster