music...
Humble Hands was recorded
in the summer of 2000 at Raptor Studios
in Fargo, North Dakota, produced by Mike
Coates. Truly a collaboration of family 
and friends, the album is a collection
of originals, many featuring the vocal performing trio of Pat
Ahlschlager, Lee Jensen and Jeff Tweten, as well as featured
solos by each vocalist.
Other musicians include Don Ahlschlager, electric and acoustic
guitar; Cindy Egge, keyboards; Bruce Nelson, bass; Ben Sass,
drums; and Terry Jensen, pedal steel guitar. Additional percussion
and keyboards: Tom Christianson, Mike and Linda Coates.
The musicians pictured (left to right, back row): Terry Jensen, Lee Jensen, Jeff Tweten, Bruce Nelson, Don Ahlschlager; (left to right, front row): Cindy Egge, Ben Sass, Pat.
Humble Hands is available at music, gift and Christian book stores in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, as well as online.
lyrics & sound clips...
EARTH'S HONORS, HEAVEN'S GOALS
Words and Music by Pat Ahlschlager
60-second MP3 sound clip
I know it's not fair, watch the news each night
People keep killing and everyone fights
The world it calls us to be beauty queens
To be the winner of all of life's games
Heaven's goals are not grounded
God's plans for us are sure
Earth's honors may impress us
But seldom last, seldom last a year
We gather up belongings, surround ourselves with stuff
Looking for the bargains, the easy way out
We compare ourselves to others
Judge and look for blame
The opportunity of honor
The times we blow out the flame
But I want to be like Jesus, stand upright, stand tall
Stop looking for honor, start serving others now
I need His help each day
To fight the earthly pull
To remember my honor
Is to be humble and follow heaven's goals
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Jeff Tweten,
Lee Jensen
Electric and Acoustic Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Guiro & Tambourine: Linda Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
LORD, TEACH ME TO LOVE
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Cindy Egge
Lord, teach me to love
Help me to pray
Give me the words
The wisdom of today
You lead me in the right path
When I listen to Your voice
You guide my footsteps patiently
Though I stumble and I fall
Many times I'm weak, and I don't listen to Your call
The world it pulls against me
Like a puppet on a string
The days I've spent in the desert
Have been painful and alone
I think that you've forsaken me
And have left me all alone
But just like the shepherd
Who tends the sheep and hears us all
You've been carrying me tenderly
As the footprints in the sand
I know You're with me always
And in everything I do
Your help I need to know Your words
And Your will for all my life
I ask for Your touch
In all I say and all I do
To be an instrument of love and of prayer to You
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Lee Jensen,
Jeff Tweten
Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Keyboard: Mike Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
I CAN SEE THE LORD
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
This was the first song Lisa and I wrote.
On this song, she wrote the music and played it for me and I
wrote the words after hearing it. The rest of our music we wrote
together -- I wrote the words first and Lisa then composed the
music.
I can see the Lord
Feel His presence surround me
I can see the Lord
In each face around me
Every place I go
His faithfulness, His armor protects me
His love for me is true
Is ever new
Look for the goodness, look for the peace
Feeling this joy now, feeling this praise now
See His angels when trouble surrounds me
Feel their wings battling around me
When I say yes Lord, when I say I will
When I face the world
The trials, the sadness abounding
I look to Him to see, a shining light
When I pray Lord, when I am humble
Feeling this joy now, feeling this praise now
See His angels when trouble surrounds me
Feel their wings battling around me
When I pray Lord, when I am humble
Today is all we have
To show the love we want to share
Tomorrow is too late,
Now not later, let's give
Give our lives to the Lord
Feeling this joy now, feeling this praise now
See His angels when trouble surrounds me
Feel their wings battling around me
When I say yes Lord, when I say I will
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Jeff Tweten,
Lee Jensen
Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Organ and Clave: Mike Coates
Congas: Tom Christianson
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drum: Ben Sass
GET YOUR HEART SET
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
The words for this song were inspired by
one of my favorite passages in the Bible: Ephesians Chapter 6
verse 13-17.
Lately when I look around at trouble today
It feels like the devil's working overtime for pay
Pushing and a prodding us to be all we can be
Don't believe a word of it 'cause it's lies anyway
So get your heart set
Get ready clear a space
Let God's words be
Our armor for the race
When I think about the love He's got for you and me
I get a feeling deep inside peaceful serenity
Giving me the tools to fight the devil's sick game
The love God has doesn't need good deeds every day
Now I know you're troubled and anxious today
Doubt, fear and sadness are ready to prey
You feel so out of sorts and think you'll never get along
But remember Jesus died to beat down the foe
You don't need to do great things or triumph each day
Open up your heart and let Jesus lead the way
So be all you can be in God's great name
With Him guiding us our hearts will stay faithful we pray
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Jeff Tweten,
Lee Jensen
Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Tambourine: Linda Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
GOD'S WORK ON EARTH
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
Have you wondered about life
Who you've met along the way
Where you've been when a kind word was spoken
Does it matter, what is the point?
Are you getting through each day?
Look around and you'll find a way
For God's work on earth
Needs hearts and hands and voices
Thanks and praise oh God
For friends that help us through
All your needs, God knows them
He has planned for you good things
Sends friends to help along the way
Lifts you up in love and prayer
To help you with today
Look around and you've seen a friend
Now in our life there is one great truth
You've been touched by a friend
Turn your heart toward Jesus
And you will find a place to rest
And learn to be a friend
Look around and see love shining through
Vocals: Lee Jensen, Jeff Tweten, Pat
Ahlschlager
Guitar: Pat Ahlschlager
Steel Guitar: Terry Jensen
Keyboards: Cindy Egge, Mike Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
Tonight when I kneel at my bedside to pray
I'll sift through the thoughts of yet another day
A prayer of thanksgiving as each face appears
Who've entered my life, through the tapestry I wear
For the beauty of nature, the creatures of earth
The food that feeds us Your hand provides
To give homage to the Trinity, the Father and Son
And the gifts of the Spirit, all in one
The angels and saints, and Mary so dear,
Who guide and protect us throughout the year
For generations of faith, generations of love
That have shown us the path
The endurance of peace, the endurance of hope
And the warriors of prayer
For the good and the bad, each day brings
That I only do your will toward all living things
A prayer for my family, and the gift of children
With thanks for each day, as you show me the way
Tonight when I kneel at my bedside to pray
I'll praise the Lord Jesus for giving me this day
A prayer of thanksgiving, God show me the way
Vocals: Jeff Tweten, Pat Ahlschlager
Acoustic & Electric Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Steel Guitar: Terry Jensen
Keyboard and Piano: Cindy Egge
Keyboard and Percussion: Mike Coates
Tambourine: Linda Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
I STAND IN AWE
Words by Lee Jensen, Music by Lee Jensen and Cindy
Egge
Humbly, I stand in awe of the breathtaking
beauty of patients, friends and families that battle cancer.
In the years I have worked at Roger Maris Cancer Center, I realize
each of you who combat this silent war give me strength. With
each glance from you I see the living God among us. Your grace
in this journey places a breath of comfort upon me and this song
is for you. It was inspired by your beauty and strength. It was
also written for the caregivers that walk beside you, it is to
praise God and His grace for your creation. I especially give
this song to Val, Aunt Angie, Cousin Duane and Grandpa Don. For
Preston, who is one of those angels who never takes the time
to rest. To the Father, who shows His grace and blessings in
every step of the journey. I truly stand in Awe. -Lee Jensen
I stand in awe, I stand in awe
Amid all the glory of the Lord
I see Your path, Your guiding light
I stand in awe
You give me strength, You make me whole
When I am weak, when I am cold
I ask of You to help me be,
The breath of life for all to see
You give me hope, again today
You call me back, You help me pray
I ask Your Spirit to touch my soul
With the fire of love Lord, make me whole
You are my hands, You are my tears
You've changed my life, and calmed my fears
I will sing your praise, and speak your love
I will lift my eyes to God above
Vocals: Lee Jensen, Pat Ahlschlager,
Jeff Tweten
Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Organ & Keyboard: Mike Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
GOD'S PLACE
Words and Music by Pat Ahlschlager
60-second sound clip
There is a quiet place where I can go
Away from the world, away from the flow
A sanctuary of quiet, where candle light glows
Where angels and saints guard over God's house
Sometimes in the darkness, the quiet evening light
To ponder a problem, or rest for a while
It's a place of prayer, a peaceful respite
Where tears can be shed and feelings poured out
It's a house of joy of sadness and wonder
This house of God where incense fragrance hangs
Like a history book, if this place could speak
Of the prayer and praise, lifted by humble hands
There's a feeling I get when I come here to pray
A place of the quiet, of angels' comfort and love
There is a quiet place, a place you can go
It's God's love eternal, when you find it you'll know
Vocal: Pat Ahlschlager
Guitar: Pat Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Mike Coates
BREAD AND WINE
Words and music by Fr. David Maciej
The words of "Bread and Wine"
came to me in a weather office on a naval air station in Key
West, Florida, sometime in 1973. They originally were "friendship"
words, directed at an individual who supported me a lot in my
Catholic faith during my military time. Some of the words were
singular (e.g.: "brother") rather than communal ("people")
which they are at present. Some years later a Benedictine sister
encouraged me to modify the words so they would speak to a wider
community rather than only one person.
-- Fr. David
Enter and feel the silence
Deep and peaceful, this house of God
Enter, oh pilgrim people
We will find Him in bread and wine
See Him, Oh can you see Him
With eyes of faith, within your heart
Kneeling before His altar
Before His presence in bread and wine
Echoes of countless ages
These prayers are lifted, by priestly hands
Jesus, the silent witness
Of human longing in bread and wine
Voicing the prayer of travelers
Forgive us Father, Thy will be done
Cherish this golden moment
The host is humble, the love divine
Placing that love within us
He comes as Savior in bread and wine
Feeling a thousand questions
Yet just one answer is all I need
Homeward we turn our faces
The soul reflecting His presence within
Tell me what are you thinking
The thoughts He gave you when time stood still
I know because I love you
That He came to us in bread and wine
Vocals: Lee Jensen, Jeff Tweten, Pat
Ahlschlager
Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Steel Guitar: Terry Jensen
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Organ: Mike Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
PSALM 27
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
The Lord is my light, the Lord is my salvation
The Lord is my light, the Lord is my salvation
I shall not be afraid, the Lord is my light, I shall not be afraid
Though foes come at me to break down my defense
They camp against me but they stumble and fall
My heart does not fear, I shall not be afraid
Of the Lord I ask to be humble and meek
To seek His presence all the days I shall live
To keep me from trouble, set me high upon a rock
Show me, oh Lord, the path You have for me
Don't give up when I fall, have pity on me
For You are my helper, my Savior and my God
So let me sing Your praises with loud shouts of joy
Because I believe in You I know this day
I will see Your glory in the land of the living
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Jeff Tweten,
Lee Jensen
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Organ: Mike Coates
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
SPIRIT'S FIRE
Words by Pat Ahlschlager, Music by Lisa Denzel
I'm not gonna tell you a story
Or paint you a picture with rose-colored glass
Life is not easy, it's sometimes very sad
Discouragement and fear the devil sells now
But I'll share my life with you
A light from above, that Jesus came to give
His forgiveness, His love
So keep the fire burning
Pray hard for faith and love
Read the word of Jesus
Live the life, walk the walk
The apostles knew the secret
Sent to calm their fears, the Holy SPIRIT'S fire
To burn down through the years
Now their lives were nothing easy
Hardship, fear and evil lurked at every turn
Now Peter, James, John, Matthew, on and on
You know their names, the key guys long ago
They gathered strength as they prayed
These saints of long ago told us
About the Lord Jesus and how to live our lives
Let's look to them as heroes, the example of their lives
They made it without riches, without hype
So ask for the SPIRIT'S Fire, the gifts from above
Feel the flame burning, a light to keep love
Vocals: Pat Ahlschlager, Jeff Tweten,
Lee Jensen
Chorus: Steve, Amanda and Don Ahlschlager; Curt Jensen, Lisa
Jensen, Linda Coates
Acoustic, Electric & Classical Guitar: Don Ahlschlager
Keyboard: Cindy Egge
Organ: Mike Coates
Steel Guitar: Terry Jensen
Bass: Bruce Nelson
Drums: Ben Sass
production...
Produced by Pat Ahlschlager and Mike Coates.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Mike Coates at Raptor
Studios in Fargo, North Dakota, in June and July 2000. Graphic
design, hand-painted illustrations and layout by Linda
Coates.
