After a late-night conversation with some friends last week, Thom emailed me the lyrics to a Charlie Peacock song. Experience is off of Peacock’s 1990 release, The Secret of Time. You may be able to guess at some of the content of our conversation from these thought-provoking lyrics.

Enjoy.

We can only possess what we experience
We can only possess what we experience
Truth to be understood must be lived
We can only possess what we experience

There is a difference, a qualitative difference
Between what I know as a fact, and what I know as truth
It stands as a great divide to separate my thinking
From when I’m thinking foolishly and when I’ve understood

The facts of theology can be altogether cold
Though true in every way they alone can’t change me
Truth is creative, transforming and alive
it’s truth that keeps me humble, saved and set free

Straight up honesty, that’s my obligation
That’s the point when I obey the truth without hesitation
When faith gains consent of my stubborn will
And makes the irreversible commitment real

To the Jesus of my journey, to the Christ of crucifixion,
Resurrection and redemption, to the Father of mercy,
To the God of all comfort
Then and only then, then and only then,
Then and only then, truth begins its
Saving and illuminating work within the heart

And not a moment sooner, not one moment sooner

If there be no sympathy, there can be no understanding
You must surrender to a truth to really understand it
Oh look at me, my opinion slipped out
But I’m under obligation, without hesitation
To speak the truth in love, speak the truth in love
Somebody said, “Opinion is the queen of the world”
I believe this goes way beyond opinion
Crown this one king, crown this one king, crown this one king
Baby, where I come from that’s a bold, bold statement
But I ain’t no company man, you can respect that, can’t you?

Thanks Thom.