Songs We Wrote (Fire School of Ministry)

I’M LISTENING

Alright, alright, alright, Lord, I’m listening
'Cause obviously, You're tryin’ to get my attention
Okay, okay, Lord, of course I wanna hear what You have to say
'Cause the way things are going right now
Looks like I have really lost my way (I’d say)

I'm sorry, so sorry Lord, for the lack of communication
‘Cause You been tryin’ to speak to me
But I been wandering around like a drunk man
Oh yes, Lord, nothing You say is out of the question
You are welcome to make any change
Whatever You say, Lord, I will do

I need to hear from You
I need to hear from You
I need to hear from You
I need to hear from You

I think I been suffering from total amnesia
'Cause I keep forgetting all that matters is that I please Yah
Runnin' 'round, tryin' to please man with all my might
Lord, shock and persuade my soul to ignite! Oh…

I need to hear from You
I need to hear from You
I need to hear from You

Alright, alright, alright Lord, I’m listening…

Words and Music by Charles J. Ciepiel  5/31/04
©2004 In The Meantime Music.
"Shock and persuade" lyric inspired by Kobi Ferguson.
Bass, Percussion, and Production by Steve Antonelli.

I'm Listening

SUNRISE, SUNSET

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn’t it yesterday
When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

What words of wisdom can we give them?
How can we help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

They look so natural together
Just like two newlyweds should be
Now let the two of them
Be blessed by Thee

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Words by Sheldon Harnick / Music by Jerry Bock 
©1964 Mayerling Productions. LTD and Jerry Bock Enterprises.
From the Broadway Musical, “Fiddler On The Roof”

STORY (from Charles): It’s always been a dream of mine to have a recording of my brother Vito and I singing together. Vito is an opera singer who lived in NYC for many years and has always been an inspiration in my life - he even taught me my first song on the piano, “Colour My World”. This is a recording of Vito singing this classic Fiddler On The Roof tune at my wedding ceremony on March 12, 1994. Unfortunately, the first verse was missing from the recording so I went back a few years ago and added the verse with me singing and also added some harmony to my brother’s lead. The wonderful Sandy Bierbaum on Piano.

Sunrise Sunset (featuring Vito and brother Charles)

This song was written for a dance recital. The words come from Psalm 92: The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, planted in the house of the LORD. They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Musical inspiration: Peter Gabriel's song "Signal to Noise" (for the closing section).

Flourish

LOVE NOTES

Remember the days
Back in high school
When our love, was brand new
And peekin’ ‘round every corner
I’ll never forget the first time
I saw you

You captured my heart
With one glance
When your brown eyes, first met mine
I knew that I found a friend
While I was stumblin’ to ask you out…
You said, “YES!”

Those were days
Passing love notes
When a simple piece of paper
Folded just right
Could bring such feelings of excitement
‘Cause when I saw your handwriting
I couldn’t wait
To look inside

They were the highlight
Of my days
I would find, a quiet place
To read them by myself
Every word from you, sweet and true
They always put a smile
On my face

Those were days
Passing love notes
When a simple piece of paper
Folded just right
Could bring such feelings of excitement
‘Cause when I saw your handwriting
I couldn’t wait…

I’ve kept those love notes 36 years
In a shoebox
Somewhere in the basement
I confess
To anyone else
I know they’re not worth much
But to me they are
A treasure chest

Remember the days
Back in high school…

Words and Music by Charles Ciepiel  2/18/24
©2024 In The Meantime Music. 
For Jenny on our 30th anniversary (and 36 years dating)
Inspired by Nicky Gumbel’s  “Your Love Letter”
(The Bible, Day 49 | February 18)

Love Notes

THE REASON WE LIVE FOR

Reach out and feel
Feel how the sun can burn upon the sand
And driven rain
Can cleanse the soul and sting the hand
There is a reason to be

Reach out and see
The reason for giving life today
And reason for turning it gray 
A reason to be

Look out and see
See how the years can turn the gold to white
And how the night
Can chill the fire and blind the sight
There is a reason to be

Reach out and find
The reason for giving worth to pain
The promise that peace will remain

And when we love
It’s the reason we live for
The reason for peace and to fight for
The reason to give without wanting at all
And if we lose love for only a moment
No matter how short is the moment
It’s just too long
It’s just too long

Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah…

Words and Music by James P. Grady
©1969 / 1973 20th Century Records

The Reason We Live For

SOMEONE

She’s someone who I am thinking of
My someone all day and night 
She’s someone
Who brightens my life

She’s someone who is one of a kind
She’s someone who’s warm and dear
She’s someone
Who I need to be near

Her tender kisses, her loving smiles
Her understanding way
Her warm caresses, her loving eyes
When she looks at me that way

She’s someone who’ll always be right here 
Beside me through all my life
She’s someone
Who I’ll make my wife

Her tender kisses, her loving smiles
Her understanding way
Her warm caresses, her loving eyes
When she looks at me that way

She’s someone who’ll always be right here 
Beside me through all my life
She’s someone
Who I’ll make my wife

And I’ll thank the gods above for her
Yes, I’ll thank them them oh so much 
For when I meet my someone girl
I’ll be happy in this life

She’s my someone
My lovely someone
She’s my someone
My lovely someone
She’s my someone…

Words and Music by Victor C. Ciepiel
©1975 Victor Ciepiel Music.

Someone

CONSECRATE

I consecrate myself to You...

What good is it, if I were just to give You
A part of me?
When the depth of love You are worthy of
Is every last drop of me

Lord I give You all of me
Lord I give You all of me
Take everything

I'm still amazed, when I think about that day
You gave Your life for me
I was beyond all help, You bankrupted Yourself
So I could taste freedom

Lord I give You all of me
Lord I give You all of me
Lord I give You all of me...

I consecrate myself to You
I consecrate myself to You
I consecrate myself to You…

Lord I give You all of me
Lord I give You all of me
Take everything

Words & Music by Charles Ciepiel   5/31/05
©2005 In The Meantime Music.
Produced and recorded by Charles Ciepiel
Background vocals (and cover design) by Carol Soares Lantis

Consecrate

Here's a throwback for you. A hidden track from our Songs We Wrote album (Winter 05), as part of our Songwriting Café class at FIRE School of Ministry. There's only one Tiffy Jones! 

True Friendship (Tiffy Jones)

WALKING REVIVAL

Deep calls to deep, Your heart calls to me
In the roar of Your waterfalls, I wait for You
As the waves of Your Spirit, crash over me
I sing...

Change me, change me
'Cause I wanna be
A walking revival for You
Change me, change me
'Cause I wanna be
A walking revival 
(for You)

Touch my eyes, so I can see
Touch my mind, so I can believe
Touch my hands, so I can receive
The sacrifice You made for me...

Words and Music by David Cheek
©2005 Grace Upon Grace Music.

Credits:
Lead vox and acoustic guitar: David Cheek
Piano: Charles Ciepiel
Bass: George Herbert
Bgv's: Lindsey Quick Lamica and Charles Ciepiel
Produced by Charles Ciepiel
Recording Engineer: Ben Canon
Cover art: Carol Lantis

Walking Revival (David Cheek)

RAVISH
(featuring Carol Lantis)

Come and ravish my heart
Come and ravish
Come and ravish my heart
Come and ravish

Come and sweep me off my feet
Come and sweep me
Come and sweep me off my feet
Come and sweep me

You are all that I want
You are all my heart desires
You are all that I want
You are all my heart misses
Now

Words & Music by Carol Lantis
©2005 Poiema Music.
Produced by Charles Ciepiel
Songs We Wrote Album - Spring 2005

Ravish (Carol Lantis)

Another one in my Geology series (look up "talus slope"). A fun piece, with some experimentation with using compression on a per-track basis as well as on the mix.

Talus

Doug Kenyon Pennington & Vito Ciepiel, recorded around 1984.

On A Wonderful Day

On A Wonderful Day Like Today

HABAKKUK 2
(Let All The Earth Be Silent)

The LORD is in His holy temple
Let all the earth be silent
Before Him...

For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of
The glory of the LORD...

As the waters cover the sea...

Music by Charles Ciepiel 6/13/12
©2012 In The Meantime Music.
Based on Habakkuk 2:20 and 2:14
Inspired by Bill Wilkinson
Recorded live at New Creation Church 6/24/12

Habakkuk 2 (with Heather Land)

YOU DELIVER
(Psalm 116; Psalm 119:65; Romans 12:1)

Lord I love You
You have heard my cry
You came to my rescue
You are the reason I'm alive
ooh and…

CHORUS:
You delivered my soul from death
You delivered my eyes from tears
You delivered my feet from falling
You delivered me

What can I do
To show my gratefulness?
I will offer You gladly
My body, a living sacrifice
ooh and…

You delivered my soul from death
You delivered my eyes from tears
You delivered my feet from falling
You delivered me...

You have dealt well, with Your servant, O Lord
(You been so good to me)...


Words and Music by Charles J. Ciepiel  5/23/99
©1999 In The Meantime Music.
Luis Lopez on percussion.

You Deliver

YAHWEH IS SALVATION
(Psalm 79)

Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation

Lord help us
O God of our salvation
For the glory of Your name

Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation

Oh deliverer us, O Lord
Provide atonement for our sins
For the glory of Your name
Your name

Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation
Yahweh is salvation

Words and Music by Charles Ciepiel  12/24/07
©2007 In The Meantime Music.

Ciepiel Christmas Album 2007
(Connecticut Christmas)

Christmas Unplugged

Yahweh Is Salvation

GOD IS BEAUTY
(Thoughts on Creation)

God is beauty - and every where I go I see the imprints of divinity
No anguish, despair, for all is bliss - chaos no where to be found
Sounds of rivers running wide - birds singing praises from the treetops
As beauty surrounds me on every side

Emotions skating in this dusty bottle - vital to this toddler's height
Are the motions of Earth - that breathe the breath of its Creator
Rocks, stones, trees, logs, skies - dogs, eyes, frogs, bee’s brushed with the spoken word
Opening a door to a hermit's room - so as I look beneath the skin of this painting
I see virtue heavenly facing me eye-to-eye - bringing delight beyond tranquility

Divine Author of intelligence - thoughtful enough to give the pansy eyes
In Your kindness and benevolence - the solitude of the golden gaze of haze on the horizon
And flowers will talk if you'll sit and listen - infinite wisdom
A rhythm of a beating drum - displayed in the harmony of colors
And children laughing in the beaming sun - from oak trees to glistening magnolia leaves
Waterfalls and the oceans breeze - all echo eternity

Lakes, woods, hills, daffodils, and giant trees - all with unraveled tongues speak of His majesty
Creation tells of such towering love - written in the genesis of simplicity
A forgotten music to be discovered - with the naked eye
Take me there with naked ear so I can hear - the boundless beauty of the sacred sky

Such order and wholeness - conveys His holiness
Producing a love for truth - the immense muscle of Your fancy
Who can comprehend? What kind of mind can think these thoughts?
Every object has a meaning - every creature a purpose
So often I'm blind - and all I see is the surface
So purge my eyes that I may see - the beauty of God and imprints of divinity

God is beauty, God is beauty, God is beauty

Fire, water, fields, winds, sizzling sun - so splendid are these servants that go unnoticed
God is a giver and wants to give pleasure - he gives bees nectar and ant colonies to the woodpecker
So as the roses perfume the air - I sit here in awe and wonder at this spectacle
This eternal picture painted visible - purifying my soul
Pointing me to see from a different perspective - diminishing my egotism with a vision so festive
I sit in reverence and wonder at this God of peace - for this is what's spoken of
When sun begins to slumber

All creation a constant reminder - that God is with us even when we think He's not
Bottomless beauty, fathomless miracle - paradise in a parable bathed in meaning spiritual
A fog-free mirror of that celestial castle - not broken, but open for all to see its shadow
For these are the thoughts of God made tangible
God is beauty - and every where I go I see the imprints of divinity
Calling me to be a seeker of - the One who gave it birth

I seek to find the reason why - You've given so much life to earth
Such depth rekindles the candle within - that which was sluggish begins to beam
As I view the form and mystery - of such a lovely beauteous scene
Pondering by the pond, the presence of the sublime - I stand and walk a path of pebbles
While seeing the poets rhyme
I marvel at this magical medicine

Such melodies of meekness leaves me speechless - rhythmic form precision and uniqueness
No two blades of grass the same - no two thumbprints alike
And all the snowflakes of winter differ - in their falling flight
Cycles of complex continuity - the rains spills and gives life to trees
The trees now turn to the beasts it feeds - the beasts then turns to feed the man
This circle of life comes from Your hand

And from without Your children flow - the innocence of a box of sand
Intoxicated by ornaments abounding in deep soundness
Life all around us - growing up from where the ground is
Who are You? I long to know - for if You flood creation with this beauty
How much more willing you should be, to do the same in me
God is beauty - and every where I go I see the imprints of divinity

The flower and plants are but silent prophets of the resurrection
The butterfly is the representation of the new creation
These things are baby shoes dressed in dinosaur truth
For sometimes it's the smallest things that teach us the biggest lessons
God is love, this I know, for all these are mere reflections - imprints of divinity


Words by Matthew Lawler, Music by Charles Ciepiel
©2005 In The Meantime Music.
Original rap by Matthew Lawler, Vocals and instruments played/programmed by Charles Ciepiel.
Written for Holy Creativity class at FIRE School of Ministry, May 2005.
From the "Songs We Wrote" EP recording from Songwriting class Spring 2005.

God Is Beauty (featuring Matthew Lawler)

Charles Ciepiel is a worship leader and pastor with a passion for the nations and a love of sharing from his years of multi-cultural experience. Through his work with Christ for All Nations (CfaN) and other ministries, Charles has led hundreds of thousands of people around the world in praise & worship of Jesus Christ. He is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. But, he'll be the first to tell you that talent is not the priority - making disciples is! With that in mind, he keeps his focus on raising up worship teams with a focus on excellence that honors God and His Church and attracts those who don't yet to know Jesus. His praise is effortless, his worship immersive and his enthusiasm is contagious. His albums, Psalm 119, Mr. Savior Man, and Fuoco (Italian Worship) are available on iTunes. Charles lives near Denver, Colorado with his wife, Jennifer, and their two amazing children, Josiah and Julia.

Ravish (Carol Lantis)

Charles Ciepiel

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