"Tell me a story, Papa," said Christopher.
"What would you like me to tell you a story about?"
"A horse."
Okay, why don't you crawl under the covers and I'll tell you a story about a horse... a dark horse..."

Dark Horse
Words and Music by John Fischer
(This song was originally written about my mentor and friend, Ron Ritchie. In my dedication on the album, I call him the original dark horse. I later revamped the lyrics to be a metaphor for all believers, except that the male gender now bothers me. I have a "mare" version I'm working on.)

He's a dark horse in the nighttime
Heading straight for the enemy camp
And he has no fear
'Cause his eye is clear
Throwing light like a burning lamp
And maybe sometime at the right time
You may see him galloping by
A simple man
With a single plan,
And the Spirit in his eye

He's the one who no one thought could make it through
He's the one who looks a lot like me and you
But he can hear it
When the Spirit
Tells him where to go and what to say
'Cause he knows that he can never be free
When he's going his own way

He's a dark horse in the nighttime
Heading straight for the enemy camp
And he has no fear
'Cause his eye is clear
Throwing light like a burning lamp
And maybe sometime at the right time
You may see him galloping by
A simple man
With a single plan,
And the Spirit in his eye

He will not deny the struggle in his heart
But he also knows the grace that is his part
And his secret
Is the Spirit
'Cause he's trusting nothing of his own
And he's fixed his eyes on the highest prize
And he's headed for his home

He's a dark horse in the nighttime
Heading straight for the enemy camp
And he has no fear
'Cause his eye is clear
Throwing light like a burning lamp
And maybe sometime at the right time
You may see him galloping by
A simple man
With a single plan,
And the Spirit in his eye

"Why is the horse dark, Papa?"
"So no one will notice him--just his eyes."
"Why just his eyes?"
"Because eyes are like windows. They show what's inside and what's inside is the most important."
"Tell me another story, Papa."
"Okay, let's see . . . would you like to hear a story about a beggar?"
"What's a beggar?"
"A beggar is someone who is hungry, or thirsty, or in trouble and doesn't mind asking someone else for help."
"Have you ever been a beggar, Papa?"
"We're all beggars, son. It's just that we big people are usually too big to admit it . . ."

Beggar
Words and Music by John Fischer

I know where the food is
And it isn't very far away
Doesn't cost much but an empty soul
And the pride that stands in the way

I'm not one who's got it all in place
Telling you what you should do
No I'm just one old hungry beggar
Showing you where I found food

Have you found the water
That will never make you thirst again
Jesus is a well of water springing up
Into eternal life from within

I'm not one who's got it all in place
Telling you what you should do
No I'm just one old hungry beggar
Showing you where I found food

Maybe you aren't hungry
And maybe you don't thirst at all
But maybe the years have hardened the tears
And you really are a beggar after all

I'm not one who's got it all in place
Telling you what you should do
No I'm just one old hungry beggar
Showing you where I found food

"Papa, sing 'Only a few'."
"Of all of Papa's new songs, why do you always ask for 'Only a Few'?"
"Because I like it!"
"Do you know what it means, Christopher?"
"What?"
"Let's see . . . you know at Marine World they have that little house with the tunnels that you can crawl through?"
"The one with the stairs and the slide?"
"That's the one. That house is only for little people like Christopher; big people can't crawl through it. 'Only a Few' is kind of like that."
"You mean 'Only a Few' is just for little people?"
"That's exactly what I mean . . ."

Only a Few
Words and Music by John Fischer

Many people say today
They've been born again
Many people call Him Lord
And say He is their friend
Thousands watch the preachers smiling
On their TV screens
But when I hear the words of Jesus
I wonder what it means

Only a few
Enter the small gate
Only a few
Walk in the narrow way
Only a few
Taking the long road to life
Only a few
Hearing the savior
Only a few
Doing His favor
Only a few
Changing the darkness to light

Many thought when Christ was here
They were the holy ones
Many said they followed God
But passed right by His Son
Is it any different now
Are we so self-assured
Do we come to Him for mercy
And hunger for His word

Only a few
Enter the small gate
Only a few
Walk in the narrow way
Only a few
Taking the long road to life
Only a few
Hearing the savior
Only a few
Doing His favor
Only a few
Changing the darkness to light

Am I trying to be self-righteous
Am I trying to be cool
Am I trying to scare you into
Thinking you're some kind of fool
If He said these words to you
He's saying the same to me
I think we'd better all consider
What it has to be

Only a few
Enter the small gate
Only a few
Walk in the narrow way
Only a few
Taking the long road to life
Only a few
Hearing the savior
Only a few
Doing His favor
Only a few
Changing the darkness to light

"Papa, where did you and Mama go tonight?"
"We went out to dinner."
"How come?"
"Because we love each other very much, but sometimes we get so busy we forget to notice, so once in a while we do something special to remind ourselves again how much we love each other."
"How come me and Annie didn't come?"
"Christopher, you need to realize that Mama and Papa's relationship is the most important thing in this family. Someday you and Annie will be out on your own, but Mama and Papa will grow old together. I want to be sure we are always in love . . ."

Falling in Love (With My Wife)
Words and Music by John Fischer

Falling in love with you again
It's hard to stay lovers when we're such good friends
But instead of illusively searching for a new life
I'm finding my own
Falling in love with my wife

Looking into her eyes again
I thought I knew them well but then
The longer I linger
The more seem to see there
And I'm finding that I'm falling in love with my wife

Trying to satisfy the thirst
Looking in foreign faces first
Takes you round and round on a carousel
The sweetest water
Comes from your own well

Falling in love with you again
It's hard to stay lovers when we're such good friends
But instead of illusively searching for a new life
I'm finding my own
Falling in love with my wife

Just when I think I know her well
Is just when I stand to lose the spell
A love that's cultivated will never go
The more I know her
The more there is to know

Looking into her eyes again
I thought I knew them well but then
The longer I linger
The more seem to see there,
And I'm finding that I'm
Falling in love with my wife

"So, how are things going with you, Papa?"
"Just fine, Christopher. Would you like me to sing you another song?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay, here's a song about you when you were little."
"You mean like Annie?"
"Even littler than Annie . . ."

Christopher's Toes
Words and Music by John Fischer

Christopher knows Christopher's toes
He just found them today
Stuck in the air at the end of his chair
Ten little toes just waiting to play

It's hard to believe that these little feet
Will walk into the next generation
May they be feet that bring the gospel of peace
To every situation

Christopher knows Christopher's toes
He just found them today
Stuck in the air at the end of his chair
Ten little toes just waiting to play

Sometimes I shrink at the hopeless world
My helpless child must grow in
That's why I pray
As I'm watching him play
That he might carry Christ in him

Christopher knows Christopher's toes
He just found them today
Stuck in the air at the end of his chair
Ten little toes just waiting to play

"I like that song."
"I do too, son. You know what I think? I think you're terrific. I also think it's time for you to go to sleep."
"But I don't want to."
"I know, Christopher, but you have to get to sleep or you'll be a horrible grouch all day tomorrow. Come on, roll over and I'll scratch your back."
"Watch out for my 'spigeeto' bites!"
"Okay, I'll watch out for your mosquito bates."
"But I don't want to go to sleep, Papa."
"You know what, son? Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, but that doesn't matter--we have to learn to do them anyway. Papa has lots of things he doesn't want to do right now, too . . . lots of things . . ."

Nobody Wants to Die
Words and Music by John Fischer

You want to have wisdom
Without making mistakes
You want have money
Without the work that it takes
You want to be loved
But you don't want the heartaches

Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die
Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die

You want to be forgiven
Without taking the blame
You want to eat forbidden fruit
Without leaving a stain
You want the glory
But you don't want the shame

Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die
Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die

You want to be a winner
Without taking a loss
You want to be a disciple
Without counting the cost
You want to follow Jesus
But you don't want to go to the cross

Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die
Everyone wants to get to heaven Lord
Nobody wants to die

"What does it mean to die, Papa?"
"Well, it means different things to different people. To some people it is the end of everything; to others it's only the beginning."
"I just don't understand this."
"I know, son, it's hard for you to understand right now. Let me try another way to explain it. It's like going through something very hard to receive something so wonderful, that you forget how hard it was getting there."
"Like when we had Annie in Denver, Colorado?"
"Why, that's exactly what it's like! We almost lost Annie, so having her is that much more wonderful. You've got me going now. How about another song?"
"Yeah! . . ."

Losin' is Winnin'
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Leslie (Sam) Phillips sang back-up on this song. She was soon to go into the studio and record her first album. She ended up recording a song I had written for my album but it just didn't fit into the format. It turned out to be the title cut on her debut release: "Beyond Saturday Night.")

He walked aboard ship he was runnin' away
A storm hit the harbor and they started to pray
And Jonah said Please throw me into the spray
But he came out a winner

Losin' is winnin' if it turns you around
It all looks clearer when you're close to the ground
If you know you're lost then you can be found
And you walk out a winner

She walked in the room and she looked out of place
Anointing his feet from an alabaster vase
Salted with bitter tears that fell from her face
And He called her a winner

Losin' is winnin' if it turns you around
It all looks clearer when you're close to the ground
If you know you're lost, then you can be found
And you walk out a winner

He fell up the hill with the cross on His back
The King of the Jews was the name on the plaque
They drove the nails and the sky turned black
But He walked out a winner

Losin' is winnin' if it turns you around
It all looks clearer when you're close to the ground
If you know you're lost, then you can be found
And you walk out a winner

"Look at you... wide awake! Well, did you have a good day today, Christopher?"
"Yeah!"
"What did you like most about today?"
"I liked going to the city with Mama and running into all the pigeons and watching them go round and round all over the sky and in my face!"
"That was really special of Mama to do that for you. You know son, your Mama loves you very much but sometimes, because she's here all the time, we forget to tell her how much we love her."
"I know what would make Mama happy! Maybe tomorrow when we go to the store we can get some flowers for Mama and bring them home for her--remember, like you did yesterday?"
"Yes, I remember, and I think that's a great idea."

Roses On Wednesday
Words and Music by John Fischer
(As a single man, I was a frequent guest in the home of Horton and Edna Voss of Redlands, California. Horton was in his last year of practice as a dentist at the time. He also served as an elder in his church and Edna was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship. But the truly wonderful thing about them was their relationship. Their marriage always seemed young and fresh and alive. I once asked Horton to share some of his secrets with me in regards to keeping Edna happy and one of them made it's way into this song.)

Give her roses on Wednesday
When everything is blue
Roses are red and your love must be new
Give her roses on Wednesday
Keep it shining through
Love her when love's the hardest thing to do

Love isn't something you wait for
Like some feeling creeping up from behind
Love's a decision to give more
And keep given every time

Give her roses on Wednesday
When everything is blue
Roses are red and your love must be new
Give her roses on Wednesday
Keep it shining through
Love her when love's the hardest thing to do

It's easy to love when it's easy
When you're in a Friday frame of mind
But loving when living gets busy
Is what love was waiting for all the time

Give her roses on Wednesday
When everything is blue
Roses are red and your love must be new
Give her roses on Wednesday
Keep it shining through
Love her when love's the hardest thing
Keep on loving through everything
Love her and love won't be so hard to do

"Alright, little jack-in-the-box. It's time for you to get under the covers for the last time and go to sleep."

"Papa?"
Yes, son?"
"I love you."
It's so nice to hear you say that. I love you too, son. Good night now."
"Good night, Papa."

"Papa, Papa! PAPA!"
"What is it, son? I'm right here."
"I want the light on."
"All right, I'll turn it on."
"Remember, Papa, when God made the world and He told Jesus, 'Will someone please turn on the lights?' . . . remember?"
"Yes, Christopher. But I'm going to punch your lights out in a minute if you don't get back under the covers and go to sleep!"
"One more song."
(Sigh) "Alright, one more song . . ."

Lookin' Straight On
Words and Music by John Fischer

Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
There's nothin' to hide but the light inside
So shine where the people can see
Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
Your eyes reflect the glory of God
So let everybody see

Once you've had the Lord see through you
You've got nothin' to hide
Once you know He loved you anyway
You've got nothin' but love inside

Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
There's nothin' to hide but the light inside
So shine where the people can see
Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
Your eyes reflect the glory of God
So let everybody see

Why not turn full face to Him
Let His light flow into your soul
And in the mirror of your eyes
We'll see He's makin' you whole

Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
There's nothin' to hide but the light inside
So shine where the people can see
Keep lookin' straight on at the Lord and then
Keep lookin' straight on at me
Your eyes reflect the glory of God
So let everybody see

"Okay, C.J. That's it. Good night."
"Good night, Papa."

"Papa, Papa! PAPA!"
"What now, Christopher?"
"We forgot to pray."
"Oh my, you're right. What shall we pray for?"
"Nothing special right now."
"Okay . . . Dear Lord, thank you for the pigeons, and thank you for keeping us all safe today and for providing for our needs. Thank you for letting Christina be a part of our family. Thank you for Annie and give her and Christopher a good night's sleep . . . and Lord, please come into Christopher's heart soon."
"And into my ears and into my stomach, too!"
"Oh well, Lord, that too! . . . Amen."

Leaving It All to You
Words and Music by John Fischer

I'm leaving it all to You Lord Jesus
It's better off that way
Working it out until it pleases me
Never pays
Trusting it all to You Lord Jesus,
I'm leaving my doubts behind.
Knowing Your love is perfect
Eases my troubled mind

I'm believing in all You've said Lord Jesus
I'm counting on Your word
Even when I don't hear Your answer
I know you've heard
Your promises are all true Lord Jesus
You've never told a lie
The one who abides in You
Will walk with a single eye

I'm receiving it all from you Lord Jesus
My soul is dry again
Waiting for the cooling breezes
Your Spirit sends
I'm relying on all the power that You keep
Placing at my command
Knowing that only you can give me
The strength to stand

I'm leaving it all to You

"Good night, Christopher . . . Christopher? . . .
Good night, son. I love you."

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