Living in Boulder, CO gave me the opportunity to be connected to several expressions of Christ’s church. Several men’s groups that beat into me some strong godly ideas and teachings and beat off me some useless and dull edges… (iron sharpens iron)  One gathering was an early Friday prayer breakfast from whence a few of the guys went on to start Promise Keepers… years later, I was re-connected to Promise Keepers and wrote a few songs that were sung at some of those large gatherings. Here’s one that I want my present men’s-prayer-group to hear. I meet with a group of guys each Thursday from a diverse background of culture, race, denominations, political expressions – but all men of faith in the Lord Jesus.

I’m the oldest guy in the group and I hope the younger guys don’t laugh too loud at this song written in the ‘80’s. Before a few of them were probably even born.

So, men, I’m writing a new song based on our new vocabulary of “boy soul versus man soul”.  But the thoughts of this 1980’s song and the new 2020’s are similar – what you think, guys?

Again today we’re doing some reminiscing of some of my old songs and recordings.  In the early ‘90s I wrote several songs for children and their families when Tessa was a toddler. One of the albums was intitled “It Takes Love” which was a collection of songs that accompanied a curriculum for Children of the Word (a division of Campus Crusade for Christ) and was used in several countries as a study guide for character development for children – based on the life and teachings of Jesus. (This was a precursor of my more well-known album, The Choices Project) The album, “It Takes Love” was translated into several languages and used around the world. The same world that God loved so much that He sent Jesus here to save it!   In the bridge of the song, it speaks of the “incarnation”:

We all agreed that God must love us
That’s the reason He gave us Jesus
He was a child Himself, so He knows
What it takes to make us grow

Here is the title song of the album and it gives a picture of how the curriculum was to be used – getting children together with the intention of loving them and teaching them about Jesus.

It Takes Love

_{Words and music by Douglas C. Eltzroth}

Verse 1

I asked the children to gather ‘round
Under the tree and we all sat down
And we had a little talk
Near the old brick walk
About the fact that they are growing up

We met on Monday at half past twelve
We had a neighborhood ‘show & tell’
They were telling the truth
They were giving me proof
About the fact that they are growing up

Some could run faster and faster
Some could reach wider and wider
The marks on the wall telling who’s this tall
Just keep getting higher and higher

Showing me books they had colored in
Showing me books they were reading
Showing me books they were writing themselves
About the ways they’ve been thinking and feeling

We talked and laughed about silly things
We took turns riding in a tire swing
We sang about God and we played ‘til we were tired

Chorus:

It takes love to make a child grow up
It takes love to make a child grow up
It takes love to make a child grow up
Everybody knows it’s so hard to grow
It’s a good thing that God is love
It takes love to make a child grow up

Verse 2

I asked the children to meet again
And if they wanted to bring some friends
We could learn their names
We could play some games
They could share how they are growing up

We met in back of the school playground
We played awhile then we all sat down
In a circle on the grass and again I asked
If they could share how they are growing up

Some could jump over that big ol’ rock
Some could throw the ball clear over there
Some could reach the sink when they wanted a drink
Without even using a chair

We talked of rainbows and butterflies
We talked how Jesus cannot tell lies
Brandi let us all try her baseball glove
Jac’ was feeling sad so we gave him a hug

One of the children forgot their lunch
We all pitched in and we had enough
We prayed to God and we thank Him for this day

(Chorus)

Bridge:

We said a verse we were memorizing
We talked of Heaven and we talked of dyin’
We all pretended we were birds out flyin’
We all agreed that God must love us
That’s the reason He gave us Jesus

He was a child Himself, so He knows
What it takes to make us grow
It takes love to make a child grow up
It takes love to make a child grow up
It takes love to make a child grow up

Everybody knows it’s so hard to grow
It’s a good thing that God is love
It takes love to make a child grow up…
It takes love.
It takes love to make a child grow up…

_{© 1993 Douglas C. Eltzroth and Children of the World/Campus Crusade of Christ}

During this season of what we call the 37 Days of Christmas, I’m going to be doing some reminiscing. That is a good Holiday Season thing to do, don’t ya think? So, we’re not just playing “Christmas” songs, but will include some old songs of mine, that my adult children may have not even heard. For example, here is blast from the past that we still use now and then in our worship gatherings, but they’ve not heard the recording. Build Your Fire.  (written a couple of years before Trailand was born)

LYRICS:

Lord of all hear my call
In my heart (home / church) now build Your fire
Make it holy, make it just what you desire

Son of Light make it bright
Spirit Wind now move within
Make a holy, holy, holy fire

Chorus:

In my heart (home / church) Lord, build Your fire
In my heart (home / church) Lord, build Your fire
In my heart (home / church) Lord, build Your fire

Make a holy, holy, holy fire