An Illustrated Song: Russ Lee's "Live What I Believe" with George W. Bush (VANITY)

me

[lawgirl]

Welcome to (as far as I know) Free Republic’s first “Illustrated Song”. Some songs just naturally bring certain images to your mind, and as I listened to this song, the following images came to the forefront of my mind and reminded me that you can see President Bush’s words and beliefs coming to life in his face. Hopefully you will agree with me that the photos illustrate the song well.

This song was recorded by Christian artist Russ Lee, and this version came out right after President Bush’s inauguration. Russ Lee took W’s words and interspersed them into his own song. When I first heard this song, I was moved to tears. This song is about taking a stand as a Christian, which our President has done. This song kicks off with President Bush’s reply at the Iowa Republican primary when asked to name the philosopher that had the greatest influence on his life: “Christ, because he changed my heart”, and uses words from, mostly, President Bush’s first major speech as President-Elect from the Texas House of Representatives in December 2000. He was talking about unity and his vision for our country, and I think a lot of it is still very relevant in our post 9/11/01 world.

I put this together as a tribute to our President. It’s no mystery around here how I feel about President Bush. What a blessing he has been to this country, and to me. His leadership, devotion to faith, and his willingness to allow us to glimpse his heart and see Christ shining through are an inspiration to me. He has reminded me that, no matter who you are, Christians have no excuse for hiding their faith. He has taken heat for his faith, and has remained faithful. I pray God blesses his example.

Below, President Bush’s words are in blue, and the song lyrics are italicized. The song is copywrited by Sparrow Records and was written by Russ Lee and Doug McKelvey. It can be found on Russ Lee’s album “Words in Time” and the original is a little bit different than this version. I encourage all of you that have this song, to pull it out and listen to it as you look at the pictures and read the thread—that makes it best experience IMO.

I hope you all enjoy this illustrated song. May God bless our wonderful President George W. Bush and may God Bless America!

"Live What I Believe" – Russ Lee with President George W. Bush
by Russ Lee and Doug McKelvey

Voiceover: When George W Bush was asked to name the philosopher that had the greatest influence on his life, this was his answer:

Christ, because he changed my heart

These are the days
For the children of faith
To stand up and be counted

I believe things happen for a reason

Now is the time
For the light in us to shine
On whoever's around it

I ask for you to pray for this great nation

One life can be the proof
Of the hope that is You

I'm gonna live what I believe
I'm gonna walk that line
If it costs me everything
I'm gonna stand for what is right

I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our land, I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God

The world will see God's grace
When we work and we pray
And then love like we mean it

Now it is time to find common ground
And to build consensus
To make America a beacon of opportunity in the 21st century

Well, I think we're in it
One life can be the proof
Of the hope that is You

I'm gonna live what I believe
I'm gonna walk that line
If it costs me everything
I'm gonna stand for what is right

So that everyone can see
It's Jesus that they need
I'm gonna live what I believe

I know America wants reconciliation and unity

There's a passion deep inside
(I’m gonna live what I believe)

I know Americans want progress

For my life to testify

And we must seize this moment and deliver

Lord, let me be used
As a witness for You
With faith and conviction

Together guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy, and common goals
We can unite and inspire the American citizens

(Live a life)
Gonna walk that line
(Live what I believe)
(Live a life)
I'm gonna stand for what is right
(Live what I believe)

I ask for your prayers for leaders from both parties
Hey, it's Jesus that they need

I'm gonna live what I believe
I'm gonna walk that line
If it costs me everything
I'm gonna stand for what is right

So that everyone can see
It's Jesus that they need

I'm gonna live what I believe

I thank you for your prayers for me and my family

I ask for you to pray for this great nation

And if it costs me everything
(Live what I believe)

I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God

I’m gonna live what I believe
(Live a life)
(I’m gonna live what I believe)
(Live a life)

Christ.

I want everyone to see

(Live what I believe)

Because he changed my heart
(So everyone can see)
I’m gonna live what I believe

It is more than an office
It is a charge to keep
And I will give it my all

[conservativemusician]

Thanks for the heads up, Mud.

Awesome job, lawgirl! Great idea, done beautifully.

BTW. You may have just created a monster with my man Mud.
If he starts illustrating HIS tunes...look out.LOL

[Mudboy Slim]

Some day we're gonna Rock MTV, mi amigo!!

FReegards...MUD

[conservativemusician]

The youngsters over at MTV could use a little educatin'!


And we're just the guys to do it!

[Dusty Rose]

Thank you!!! Bookmarked.

[Mudboy Slim]

"...we're just the guys to do it!"

Yep...we're gonna blow their little heads fulla mush outta the water...LOL!!

FReegards...MUD

BTW...I bought my first Eminem CD yesterday...won't that be a HOOt?!!

[lawgirl]

Thanks! I am glad you guys enjoyed the illustrated song.

Conservativemusician and MudboySlim--let me know if you create one of these. :-D

[olliemb]

"What a blessing he has been to this country, and to me. His leadership, devotion to faith, and his willingness to allow us to glimpse his heart and see Christ shining through are an inspiration to me. He has reminded me that, no matter who you are, Christians have no excuse for hiding their faith. He has taken heat for his faith, and has remained faithful. I pray God blesses his example."


What beautiful thoughts--you expressed how I feel about this man. I, too, fell in love with him when I heard his speeches during the 2000 election. I, too, pray many times a day for his presidency as I see God working thru him. And in turn I see the effects that President Bush has had on me as well. As he said--Christ changed my heart. How true, how true.

It is up to us to continue that work and I know we are doing it. Many thanks for your beautiful work--if I were you I would send it to the president-- and I will look for Russ Lee's CD. Thanks again!!!

[gramho12]

Lawgirl, I just saw your wonderful tribute. This really just cuts to the heart and soul of our President - thanks so much for creating this photo journal.

Dosers are the best!!

[lawgirl]

Thanks gramho! I am so glad you liked it. I had a wonderful time putting it together.

[keats5]

Lawgirl, my prayer during that election was that the Lord would give us the President we needed we needed, not the one we deserved.

[lawgirl]

In these days of partial birth abortion and prayer banned in school, it is a real blessing that God gave us W instead of what we deserved. I guess we deserved algore as the punishment for putting money above all else. The 90s attitude of "so what if there's a little hoo-ha going on in the White House if my pocket is lined" should have earned us agore. Instead, God was merciful and gave us a President that is not just a good man, he is a godly man. That's what more than we deserve, and I thank God for him everyday. I think he is really helping to turn the tide in this country.

[mtngrl@vrwc]

....it is a real blessing that God gave us W instead of what we deserved. I guess we deserved algore as the punishment for putting money above all else. Instead, God was merciful and gave us a President that is not just a good man, he is a godly man. That's what more than we deserve, and I thank God for him everyday.

I think we deserved algore because we showed that we didn't care about morality by reelecting x42. We chose the impeached one over Bob Dole, a good man, even though he was not a smooth talker.

But you are right about how we were also putting money above all else. Everyone was thrilled about how well the stock market appeared to be doing and how well the economy was humming along, even though George Bush the elder was primarily responsible for that. We just didn't want to rock the boat and upset that. The main thing we cared about was our pocketbook, not having a moral and decent person as our president.

Thank you God, for giving us another chance.

[Bigg Red]

Wonderful, girlfriend!

Yes, that song gave me tears the first time I heard it, and it still give me goosebumps.

Thanks for the flag.

[CyberAnt]

Thanks for your kind words!

[DrDeb]

Just one work: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrDeb]

work = word

[Freee-dame]

Thank you so much for this collage of pictures. I, too, trust that President Bush is doing the best he can for our country. I don't understand much of it and might be opposed if we had a leader whom I didn't trust. I can only pray that God will continue to guide our leaders in these perilous times.

[jla]

Yep...yer ridin' up with me, right? If yer 100%, I'll flag kristinn and get him to save us a coupla seats...MUD

Yes, looking forward to it. I seen on another thread that Iowa Granny will be there. It'll be a pleasure to meet her, (and the others), as I've always enjoyed her way of thinking & expressing herself.

BTW...ya reckon our buddy EricC. would wanna join us?! The MudMobile's got the half-cab in the back, so if you call shotgun, Cantor's gotta sit back where I stuff the young'uns...LOL!!

LOL...Well, Saturday is the Sabbath & Mr. Cantor would be at Synagogue, I assume.

I'll Freepmail you as to when & where we'll meet up.

[Carolinamom]

Thank you, lawgirl, for a wonderful and true tribute to OUR President. I'm keeping this one for sure.

[pamlet]

Thank you for this incredible thread! You managed to select just the absolutely PERFECT pictures...