I find it so cool that God looks past our imperfections and love us unconditionally.

I’m Not Perfect

I yell and I scream

Sometimes I’m downright mean

I think bad thoughts

Way more often than I ought

I say some things

That hurt till they sting

I act so bad

It even makes my mama mad

But in your eyes, I know I’m alright

I have no idea why, but I’m alright

I’m not perfect

Yet you see me that way

I’m not perfect

I fall down each and every day

I’m not perfect

But somehow you see

My imperfections

Quite imperfectly

I get so selfish

It’s all about me

What matters to you

Sometimes I can’t see

And you’re the one

I should treat like a king

You’re the one

Who gave me everything

But in your eyes, I know I’m alright

I have no idea why, but I’m alright

Rose-colored glasses must prevent you to see

All those terrible things that I’m seeing in me

I’ve pulled the wool right over your eyes

Yet you see me as a perfect prize

A prize… in your eyes

I am … that prize!

I’m not perfect

Yet you see me that way

I’m not perfect

I fall down each and every day

I’m not perfect

But somehow you see

My imperfections

Quite imperfectly

By Paul J. Hoffman

12/4/2007

Good Ground

You must think I’m dirty, cause you called me good ground

Filthy hands and filthy feet, you knew the rest of me was clean

Or not too far gone

You planted you a seed, cause what you reap is what you sow

I don’t know if it will grow now, just the way you planned

It’s too early to know

It makes no sense to plant peas in the desert

And don’t tend tomatoes in the snow

No matter how hard you work, your crop won’t grow

No, your crop won’t grow

It makes no sense to put melon on the moon

You can’t raise compliance in a mule

No matter how hard you work, that’s the general rule

Yes, that’s the general rule

But get some good, good seed

And find some good, good ground

Pick your time and your place

And sow them very sound

Be very gentle when they’re young

Before the sprouts start to show

Keep predators at bay

That’s your love that they’ll know

Let the sun shine down

Let your crop come ’round

And that good, good ground

Will never let you down

No it won’t let you down

Feed them, love them

But know you just can’t own them

Raise them, reap them

You don’t know what you’re getting’

But you know it’s gonna be good

Yes, you know it’s gonna be good

I was looking for you man, when I really wasn’t seeking

You were looking for me too, it seems like all too long

What’s the meaning?

You prayed my heart ope’ up, and let the love pour in

So many messages I hear, if this crop goes and fails

Will you stand by me?

By Paul J. Hoffman

Jan. 28, 2005

A letter from God to me:

You Still Have Me

When your friends turn their backs

Just when you need them most

And nobody seems to hear

The day is dark as it is long

And there’s no light for you to see

Remember this: All hope’s not lost

Because you still have me

When your mountain seems too tall

For you to overcome

And too dangerous to climb

The fight you might have to wage

Just makes you want to flee

Remember this: All hope’s not lost

Because you still have me

You still have me

Yes, you still have me

You still have me

And with you I’ll always be

I am your rock to stand upon

I hold you when you cry

I lift you up when you are down

You have hope with me

You must believe

Take my hand; you’ll see

When they can’t tell right from wrong

You don’t know how to be strong

Or just looking for the way

You’re sure you can’t do my work

Ax, hammer, nail fail to set you free

Remember this: All hope’s not lost

Because you still have me

You still have me

Yes, you still have me

You still have me

And with you I’ll always be

By Paul J. Hoffman

Nov. 20, 2007

When I Think of You

When I think of you, I think of Jesus

When I dream of you, I dream of Jesus

When I’m holding you, I’m holding Jesus

When I look in your eyes, they show me Jesus

Open windows to his soul

When I see you smile, it’s the joy of Jesus

When I see you dance, you dance for Jesus

When I hear from you, wise words from Jesus

When you love me, it’s with the love of Jesus

His love shines through you I know

When I hear you laugh, we laugh with Jesus

When I hear you sing, sweet song from Jesus

When I see you play, you play for Jesus

When I hear you pray, you pray to Jesus

Praise him for the chance to grow

When I think of you

It fills my heart with peace

And my soul with joy

I get to giggling just like a 9-year-old boy

When I think of you

My spirit starts to soar

Because it’s Jesus I adore

And you keep showing him to me evermore

By Paul J. Hoffman

11/27/07

A letter from me to God:

Until You Loved Me

I never knew what real love was

I didn’t know what I was worthy of

The harder I looked, the less I found

A hardened heart can’t make a sound

Until you loved me

I could not try

Until you loved me

I could not cry

Tears of joy come flowing down

When the groom his bride has found

Joy I found in so few things

Tenderness to this heart brings

Washing over when you sing

Rain on me; renew like spring

Until you loved me

I could not live

Until you loved me

I could not give

And like a mirror that’s on the wall

If we look, you give love to all

I never felt a love so pure

Never had a peace so sure

Restless head for the rapture

You know you are my only cure

Until you loved me

I could not see

Until you loved me

I could not breathe

The freshest air that’s ever made

You’re the reason that I’m not afraid

By Paul J. Hoffman

Nov. 12, 2007

Praise God Like it’s the Super Bowl

Spoken:

Why is it that when it comes time to worship the Lord, many of us hang our heads and shut our mouths?

Why do we climb inside our cocoons and hope He doesn’t notice us?

God doesn’t want us to praise him like it’s a funeral. He’s not dead.

He’s alive. In fact, He’s alive within each and every one of us.

And He wants us to be excited about our walk with Him.

Now, how can we show God how happy we are to have to Him with us if we’re climbing into our little cocoon?

God wants us to praise him like a child. With laughter and dancing and banners and singing.

You wouldn’t cheer on your favorite football team in the biggest game of the year by hanging your head and mumbling, would you?

Now don’t you think God deserves your best?

He’s on your team. He IS your team. Praising Him with all your heart should be your goal.

Now let’s go out there and praise God like it’s the Super Bowl!

We’re tailgating with the angels; we’ve got our banners flying high

We’re ready for some football; we’ve got salvation on our side

Our team is strong and mighty, our team is set to fight

Lord, we feel your power, And Lord, we sense your might

We’re gonna run the ball down Satan’s throat

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Don’t let the devil intercept one soul

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

U rah rah, Abba Father

U rah rah, Jesus Christ

U rah rah, Holy Spirit

U rah rah, it’s worth the price

Spoken:

It’s first-and-10 for the Christians at Satan’s 49-yard line. Jesus is up under center and the Holy Spirit is split both left and right. Jesus takes the snap and drops back. The Holy Spirit races into the end zone and looks back. It looks like God’s called for the Hail Mary. Satan is breathing down Jesus’ neck, but Jesus fires a laser right through Satan and into the end zone. The Holy Spirit reaches up with one hand and brings it down for a touchdown. The Christians take the lead!

Lord, we thank you for the ticket, To get into this game

If it wasn’t for your son, it would never be the same

We know we’re going to win; we’re giving Satan all the blues

With Jesus as our QB, We know we’ll never lose

We’re gonna run the ball down Satan’s throat

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Don’t let the devil intercept one soul

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

B-e a-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e

B-e a-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e

Be aggressive!

Spoken:

The Devils have been pesky tonight. But they’ve hurt themselves with a slew of penalties. It seems Satan’s crew just doesn’t want to play by the rules. The Devils are facing fourth-and-3 with at God’s 12 with time running out in the half. It looks like they’re going to go for a field goal, which would tie the game. The enemy lines up and Satan puts his evil boot into the ball. But wait, Jesus is rushing in from the outside. He leaps face first and stretches out. He blocks the kick and the Christians keep the lead as we go to the locker rooms for halftime.

C’mon people, get up and dance, C’mon people, get up and cheer

Let’s shout out our praises, then get ready to hear

C’mon people, get up and dance, C’mon people, get up and cheer

Let’s shout out our praises, then get ready to hear

It’s the biggest game of the year

Put a snout on your nose or cheese on your head

Put paint on your face green, purple or red

Raise your hands to the sky, He loves you so much

You won’t ever find a more perfect love

We’re gonna run the ball down Satan’s throat

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Don’t let the devil intercept one soul

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

We’ve got Holy Spirit, yes we do.

We’ve got Holy Spirit, how ’bout you?

We’ve got Holy Spirit, yes we do.

We’ve got Holy Spirit, how ’bout you?

Spoken:

Folks, I can hardly believe the predicament the Christians are faced with. This whole second half, the Devils have held and bit and kicked and cheated their way into the lead. They tricked the referees into thinking that some good will come of their misdeeds. If only there was some way to reverse this blindness and make the officials see again. God’s Squad is pinned back on its own 1-yard line and needs a touchdown to win. There’s only time for one play and they have to travel 99 yards to do it. The Christians need a miracle. Jesus calls out the signals. The ball is snapped. Satan sends a legion of doom in on Jesus. Jesus evades the rush. He’s back in his own end zone looking for an open receiver. He spots the Holy Spirit downfield and fires the ball. The Holy Spirit grabs it and starts to turn upfield. A hundred legions of fallen angels converge on him. It looks like he’s about to be tackled.

Folks, this is when your teams needs you most. C’mon, get up off that seat and cheer like you’ve never cheered before. Urge the Holy Spirit to enter you and give you strength. Urge it to fill the souls of your fellow Christians and his teammates that we might all stand strong against our enemy and triumph.

C’mon people, yell and scream and dance and jump. God loves it when you get excited. He needs you to score that touchdown and beat the enemy and send him back to Hell!

The Holy Spirit is nearly engulfed by the enemy. But he’s not down. He’s still up. Your enthusiasm is flowing through him and he refuses to be tackled.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is amazing. The Holy Spirit is slowly trudging downfield with Satan’s legions hanging on by their evil clutches trying to bring him down. But they’re getting weary and they’re starting to fall to the turf one by one. I don’t believe what I’m seeing. The Holy Spirit is breaking free. Your praise has set him free.

He’s down to the 40, the 30, the 20, I think he’s going to go all the way! The 10, 5 and touchdown! God wins! Hallelujah!

We’re gonna run the ball down Satan’s throat

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Don’t let the devil intercept one soul

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Let’s praise God like it’s the Super Bowl

Paul J. Hoffman

July 29, 2005

In the Heart of Man

I didn’t find him at the church/I didn’t find him in the pew

Certainly not in the surly word of my minister true

No, no, no, I didn’t find him there

I didn’t find him in the Bible/I didn’t find him in the book

Not Matthew, Mark, Luke & John though I did take a look

No, no, no, I didn’t find him there

I didn’t find him on the TV/Not in the magazine rack

Not in those guys who knock at your door but in the heart of man

Yes, yes, yes, he’s in the heart of man

My mama took me to the church/My mama taught me how to say

My prayers upon my knees each and every day

But no, no, no, I didn’t find him there

So I gave up on my savior/And I said “This isn’t for me”

But now my eyes have opened and now it is I see

Yes, yes, yes, and now it is I see

I found God in the heart of man

He said “Son, you gotta understand.

When you found God in the heart of man

He found you everywhere you stand

Now you find him everywhere you go

He was always there don’t you know

But he wouldn’t show though you know he can

Until you found God in the heart of man.”

You know the devil gets in your head/You know that God is in your heart

And you can meet him, too, if you’ll only start

Yes, yes, yes, better look in the heart of man

It isn’t how often you go/It isn’t what color you are

Jesus digs you, brother, if you’ll open your heart

Yes, yes, yes, he’ll be in the heart of man

By Paul J. Hoffman

4/14/2005