I Believe

By Ken Hanson

They ran in while others ran out,
That fateful day in 01,
Thousands died but many were saved,
Before the day was done.

First responders we call them,
Police, firemen, and paramedics too,
We also call them hero’s,
Their job is to save me and you.

They were where they were supposed to be,
The day the twin towers fell,
A lot more would have died had it not been for them,
They did their job very well.

Some say miracles happened that day,
As the cries of the injured filled the air,
They will say they were just doing their job,
But I believe it was God who put them there.

The earth moves, buildings fall,
And the ocean comes ashore,
Thousands trapped and dying in the rubble,
The water took thousands more.

Japan is devastated by natural disaster,
We watch the chaos on the evening news show,
How much worse can it possibly get,
All too soon, we know.

Without power, coolant pumps fail,
Reactors heat up out of control,
Man’s technology turns against him now,
Aided by Mother Natures role.

Buildings explode, steam escapes,
Radiation finds it’s way to the sea,
Human life hangs in the balance,
How much worse can it be?

We watch from our safety an ocean away,
The workers try to control their beast,
They face lethal levels of radiation,
We expect a few to run at least.

But none do, they head back in,
They sacrifice themselves to save other lives,
They willingly do what has to be done,
To save their town, their children, their wives.

Where do you find the courage to do that,
To put the safety of others ahead of your own,
I believe it to be a gift from God,
His love for us is well known.

A waiting room is a tense environment,
When a loved one is hurt or sick,
When their life depends on someone else,
It can test your faith pretty quick.

You pray that doctor or surgeon,
Has the best in training and a level head,
If something went terribly wrong,
They could end up worse or possibly dead.

Thankfully, that rarely happens,
Doctors are good at what they do,
The right people in the right place,
To save the life of me or you.

An experienced pilot in the left seat,
When the birds hit the plane that day,
A power off landing in the middle of the Hudson,
And everyone walks away.

A little baby falls down a well,
Miners trapped underground,
The right people on hand to get them out,
And everyone’s safe and sound.

Time and again we see on the news,
Someone saved in a dramatic way,
They were lucky a hero was there by chance,
Is what some people might say.

I don’t believe in fate or chance,
I don’t believe in coincidence at all,
I do believe it’s a part of God’s plan,
He’s the one in control after all.

That hero that saved that person that day,
Was right where they was supposed to be,
They didn’t just happen to be right there,
It’s part of God’s plan you see.

We know that God watches over us all,
He makes us strong enough to survive,
But if we’re not he will send in a hero,
Someone put there to keep us alive.

A nurse finds a fever at 3 am,
A cop sees a thief breaking in,
A marine sees a bully take an old lady’s purse,
You gotta feel sorry for him.

A doctor pulls up to a traffic accident,
A teacher sees a child fall behind,
It’s no coincidence they’re where they are,
And they’re competent, good, and kind.

God knows what will happen before it does,
It’s all a part of his immortal plan,
We have to trust in His divine judgment,
That’s not negotiable by mortal man.

God lets good people die every day,
That’s where your faith comes in,
When you are a born again Christian,
In time, you’ll see them again.

When you give your heart and soul to Jesus,
By His grace you are forgiven of your sin,
You shall live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven,
Your life begins anew and you are born again.

I believe that hero’s are Gods visible work,
I believe there are things we are meant to do,
I believe that God has a plan for us all,
That’s what I believe, now how about you?

This Thing Called Freedom

Photo by Steve Douglass

By Ken Hanson


Some take if for granted, this thing called freedom,
But that’s the next to last thing you should do.
Freedom isn’t free, it comes at a cost,
Paid for by people who came before you.

Our founding fathers and ancestors,
Paid for our freedom with their lives,
A way of life we all now enjoy,
Sons and daughters, husbands and wives.

In the long warm days, while summer is still new,
We gather again to celebrate and play,
Picnics, parades, fireworks and lemonade,
We honor those who gave us what we have today.

This precious thing called freedom, do we really understand,
The price that was paid long ago?
To us, it’s a day off from work,
Fun at the lake, take in a picture show.

To them, freedom meant their lives,
They gave everything to start something new,
Their sacrifice lives on today,
So much that was gained, bought by so few.

This fragile thing called freedom, are we really aware,
How easily it could go away?
A border over run, the people oppressed,
Examples on the news most every day.

Dictators cast their eyes on our freedom,
They would take it away if they could,
But we are a people who defend our flag,
We can, we do, and we should.

Those who would harm us rarely succeed,
There are people who stand in their way,
Our brave men and women in the US Armed Forces,
Stand vigil over our freedom every day.

They continue a service started long ago,
A time when our nation was still new,
Our freedom shall not be in peril,
We have something worth defending, and we do.

It usually isn’t easy, families split by deployment,
Hard on them, their children, especially their wives,
The price of freedom paid for willingly,
Their time, their families, sometimes their lives.

Next time you see a soldier, offer them your hand,
Tell them you appreciate what they do,
A sacrifice they made by choice,
To defend the flag, and me, and you.

This amazing thing called freedom, can we even comprehend,
How deeply it runs through our soul,
A fundamental way of life, demanding vigilance,
And sometimes extracting it’s toll.

Our very lives determined by freedom of choice,
A concept which is known to us all,
Placed there, I believe, by our creator,
Impacting all lives, big and small.

This thing called freedom is part of our salvation,
A choice you have to make,
Christ’s salvation is offered, not demanded,
Even though your everlasting soul is at stake.

You have the choice to follow Christ,
It’s a choice you alone will decide,
Freedom from sin demands a sacrifice,
You might have to swallow your pride.

There’s only one path to salvation,
“No one comes to the Father but through me”,
Christ’s words that will shape your life,
And determine if salvation you will see.

Salvation can’t be bartered for or earned,
It doesn’t matter what you’re worth,
It’s a gift given by the grace of God,
Without restriction to all people of Earth.

This thing called freedom means it’s all up to you,
Freedom of choice you must embrace,
Certain damnation or everlasting salvation,
Offered to you through God’s Grace.

So, have you forgotten or are you still wondering,
What’s the last thing you should do?
That would be to turn away from Christ,
Don’t do it, He’s still waiting for you.

The Alternative

By Ken Hanson

The other day I saw an old cowboy,
Limping on down the street,
Although he wasn’t moving too fast,
At least he was still on his feet.

He appeared to be busted up pretty good,
With a bent leg and a built up shoe,
He obviously wasn’t about to give up,
Real cowboys never do.

It’s a sight that’s not that uncommon,
I’ve seen it many times before,
Farming and ranching can hurt you bad,
It’s a lifestyle with dangers galore.

A mean bull can hurt you by swinging his head,
He can stomp you and break any bone,
The brave men who ride them compete for points,
Even though the dangers are known.

Even your best horse can step in a hole,
And roll over on top of you,
There’s about a million ways to hurt your hands,
And cost you a finger or two.

A tractor can roll over and pin you down,
And do all kinds of harm,
A combine header has no sympathy,
When it clogs up and cuts off your arm.

Irrigation pipe can touch a power line,
And kill you in the blink of an eye,
Even though vigilant, something can get you,
No matter how hard you try.

Dave has a T-shirt he bought at Sturgis,
It’s one of his favorites by far,
It says, “If you don’t limp you ain’t squat”,
I think he found it in a bar.

He wears it with pride though he doesn’t limp much,
Some days it don’t even show,
He does pretty good to be missing a leg,
Something not many people know.

I’ve seen some people who are hurt or sick,
And lucky to be alive today,
“Well it sure beats the alternative”.
Is something I’ve heard them say.

The alternative they’re talking about,
Of course, is being dead,
They seem real happy to be alive,
At least that’s what they said.

I’m sure that being crippled or sick.
Is better than the death you fear,
Especially if you’re afraid of the devil,
You’re better off to stay right here.

But when you’re a born again Christian,
Everything changes for you,
Nobody wants to check out too early,
But it’s not the end if you do.

That bull or horse or tractor or combine,
Doesn’t mean it’s the end,
The fear of death is taken away,
When Jesus is your friend.

When you give your soul to Jesus,
Your life begins anew,
There’s a brand new body, healthy and strong,
Waiting in Heaven for you.

That sounds to me like a better alternative,
Than living your life in pain,
Struggling along, cursing your luck,
And using God’s name in vain.

Our time here on Earth is very short,
Compared to eternity, but then,
If you’ve told your children about Jesus,
In time, you’ll see them again.

So live your life the best you can,
Trust the Lord like a friend,
Be at peace knowing the salvation He offers,
Means that death isn’t the end.

But you already know that, it’s the reason you’re here,
Let’s tell the rest of mankind.
When you leave this church, tell the story of salvation,
To everyone you can find.