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I wrote this at the request of our minister of music. Our Pastor who was being treated for deep depression took his own life the morning he was to give a sermon on James 2 verses 14 through 26. For those not familiar with it, it is about a man being saved not only by his faith but by his works as well. Of course everyone was devastated with many questions left unanswered.

Anyway, I wrote this song and performed it to go along with what his sermon was supposed to be based on before the music minister delivered it from our deceased pastor's notes a few weeks later. I tried to use as much actual quotation from the scripture, word for word as I could with a little artistic license thrown in to make the song work, yet staying true to the scripture.

CAN HIS WORKS ALONE SAVE HIM
(c)2009 bu Steven M. Biederman

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8336953

What does it profit my brethren
If a man has faith but his works are slim
like a dive in the ocean when he doesn't swim
What does it profit? Can his faith alone save him?

If someone needs food and clothes my friend
cause their bodily needs are wearing thin
And a man says go in peace but gives nothing to them
What does it profit? Can his faith alone save him?

Chorus
Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
When he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
He believed God and it was reckoned to him
For righteousness and he was called God's friend

was not Rahab the harlot justified by works
in that she received God's chosen messengers,
and sent them out another way
saving their lives so they could serve God another day

Chorus
Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
He believed God and it was reckoned to him
For righteousness and he was called God's friend

So What does it profit my brethren
If a man says he has faith but his works are slim
like a dive in the ocean when he doesn't swim
What does it profit? Can his faith alone save him?

Last edited by Little_stevie_b; 11/11/09 03:05 AM.

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Hi Steve. First, let me say I'm so sorry to hear about your Pastor. That had to be devastating to the congregation as well as his family. My prayers go out to all of you.

As for the song, wow! I really like this. It has, IMO, a decidedly Brit Pop feel to it with a bouncy, jangly sound that keeps the listener's attention. The melody was right on.

The only place I think could be worked on some is in the chorus. It seemed like you were trying to cram a lot of words in, and in the process, it didn't sound as smooth as the rest of the song.

I love what you had to say lyrically, and really enjoyed this over all. I hope it was a comfort to the members of your church.

Greg


If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
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Thanks Greg. Apparently your the only one who did like it due to the lack of responses. So I really appreciate you're taking the time to listen and comment. Glad you liked it.

The reason the chorus may seem crammed is because it came word for word from the scripture itself and I wanted to stay true to it as much as possible. I hadn't noticed it till you mentioned it but I guess it is a mouthful to listen to. Thanks for pointing that out. Thanks again.

Steve


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I know. What a shameless bit of self promotion...but...bump!


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It is absolutely Beautiful Steve, absolutely beautiful. I too am sorry to hear about your Pastor
In my prayers my friend
Dan


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Sorry about your pastor. I know this is your style and it's a good message, but the melody seems a little happy for such a serious message, but I get overly dramatic with my stuff probably. smile


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"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
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Thanks for the listen and kind response, Dan. I also thank you for the prayers. The pastor had two teenage kids and a wife. It's a hard thing to fathom a pastor of all people being so depressed that he takes his own life. But I too am Bi-Polar and suffer deep depression so I have a little bit better handle on it than most folks probably. It's a chemical imbalance in the brain just as diabetes is a chemical imbalance in the body. Depression can come on one suffering from it for no external or environmental reason at all.

Anyway, I guess I don't need to get into all of that. Thanks again for the prayers for his family.

Your Bud,

Steve


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Glad you bumped this Steve - somehow it and me were out of sync and I missed it. smile

It's a good idea for both a sermon and song - I wouldn't have minded reading that sermon. When I was growing up, my preacher told us that faith was all you needed. I remained skeptical.... smile

I loved the delivery with the familiar (by now) jangly guitars. smile

I'm sorry about your pastor. That would be a difficult (or impossible) job to do while you are suffering from depression.

Scott

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Wow, Steve, this song is a LOOONNNGGGG way from Vacuum Casanovas.

I'm not sure what to say here. I'm so sorry to hear about your pastor... that's a tough one. The person one turns to for strength in times of need was obviously needing desperately himself.

What drives people to such depths of despair? Mental illness is the disease people don't like to talk about at parties, and therefore many times sufferers suffer alone... which can take them even deeper into the abyss.

I've been in that "hole" before and I've been touched by those who never made it out. Something inside me changed each time... for the better, I'm happy to say. The lesson I learned was that life is fragile, yet AMAZING! We get out of it what we put into it and the rewards can be inspiring.

I'm not sure if that's what you're saying in this song, Stevie, but that's what I took from it. I'm not what one would call a traditional religious person. I believe in God, I believe in the Son of God. I believe in being a good person - treating others with dignity and respect and doing what I can for those in need.

I enjoyed the music, your voice and the overall composition of this piece. I don't know much about music production, but I do know what sounds good to my ears. And this did.

Take care,
Cindy



The Artist formerly known as TINK ;\)

I write so I can breathe...

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Thanks Louis. Actually, believe it or not, our church band played SWEET HOME UP IN HEAVEN to the tune of SWEET HOME ALABAMA at the funeral. He loved that kind of stuff. We tried to make it a celebration of his life rather than a dirge.

Thanks for the listen and suggestion.

Steve


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Thanks Scott. I too suffer from depression so I guess I have a better handle on it than most others. It's hard to really relate unless you suffer from depression yourself or live with one who does. Thanks for the listen, as always, and your comments. Glad you liked the Rickenbacker electric 12 string. She's my baby which is pretty obvious by now I guess. Gives me that Byrds, Tom Petty, REM vibe.

Your Pal,

Steve


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I was immediately taken back to the early sixties and thought of the Byrds when I heard the opening. Great arrangement but not sure it fits in with the deeply religious almost archaic lyrics..perhaps too happy and contemporary for the message JMO.

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Thanks Cindy. I appreciate your time to listen and comment.

Steve


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Good Morning Stevie

My sympathies to you and your fellow church members for the loss. Tough to understand the things that bring a person to this place. From my experiences I have drawn the conclusion that at> that moment in time they ( the person your know ) are not in their own mind or really in control - the chemicals in the brain are doing funny things.... that's how it feels to me in any event.

As one who is left to look at the situation and consider - you have done the best thing possible with your grief by creating something beautiful in his memory. Nice work. jm

Last edited by Joice Marie; 11/12/09 11:25 AM.

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Thanks Joice, both for the condolences and the listen. You are completely correct about it being a chemical imbalance. I myself am bi-polar and suffer deep depression so I can understand better than most people. It comes on you sometimes with absolutely no external trigger of any kind. Thanks again.

Steve


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I appreciate the listen and taking the time to offer feedback Big Man.

Your Bud,

Steve


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HiDee Bro Stevie!

Hey, you're GOOD at this "Let's Pen a Song For The Funeral" Stuff...(remember "A Song For Joe" we did..years-back?)

Very Byrds-Like Guitar on this one...reminded me of "Turn Turn Turn"...a Lifelong Fave of mine.

I sorta got Mixed-Messages out of all these Quotations & the song's Hook. Yeah, a Believer should ACT on their Beliefs.

The irony here is your Minister took himself out before his Teenager was full-grown. (& evaded all the other UN-finished Acts of a well-meaning Life.) I'd guess his Faith DID save him, yet I'm not in the position to pass judgement.

None of Us Mortals really ARE. JMO.

Anyways, Sorry about this Local Tragedy...& Real Glad you're dealing with it...in Song...& still doing your Kind Acts, as well, Amigo! (I miss your Wilder Side...but always wish ya Continued Luck on this Good Path you've settled on!)

Best Wishes & Good Luck, Good Friend!
Big Guy-Hug,
Stan


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Hey Stan, Good to hear from you (no pun intended). Funny you should mention Song For Joe. I found the kind note of thanks from his daughter the other day but couldn't find the CD master. It had been in the same case. I tried looking in the same places over and over, the only places it could possibly be I thought. Then after days of looking I thought of one more place and it was there. I sent an mp3 of it to a friend who had some folks over recording in his studio and they loved it.

Thanks for the listen and feedback.

Steve


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Shameless bump to the top for Polly. See Polly, this way no one can accuse me of self promoting, haha


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Good one, Steve! I liked the melody and musication. You have a good voice. Sorry to hear about your pastor though. The lyric is very true.


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Thanks Polly. It stands as a good example of what you are doing for Glynda.

Steve


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