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Rebel

by Natalie Kendel

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1.
He called me like a riot, like a whisper Fed me on my freedom like a right I am so much more than you can fit in these boxes You see, my Father raised me wild All the world was meant to be our playground Adventure like a mighty flame inside We were never meant to be imprisoned by fear, Oh no My Father raised me wild Life is something so much wilder, freer than we’ve known Right is something brighter than the grey we’ve all been shown I was meant to run just like the river Chase the reckless wonder like a child Relish in the bravery that’s born when you’re certain you’re loved My Father raised me wild We were made for more than fits inside these narrow moulds And to be a human’s so much greater than we’re told He calls us in the freedom of his Spirit to vibrancy and colour that’s alive We are so much more that they can fit in these boxes because Our Father made us wild My Father raised me wild!
2.
Capitalism 03:11
Welcome to the game of Capitalism Follow instructions and you could win Let the game begin… Level one! Here is the level where dreams are made ‘cause every super-winner is of course self-made Put in the work, have the right attitude and you’ll soon have a million dabloons! Welcome to the game of Capitalism Follow instructions and you will win Come and play the game of Capitalism it’s not a prison Ignore the bars Level 5’s about to start… This is the level you start to see your worth depends on your productivity Make yourself useful and pull your weight; taking breaks is a loser’s trait Welcome to the game of Capitalism Follow instructions and you could win Come and play the game of Capitalism Join in the hustle! What recession? Here is level 10! Time to view the world through different eyes ‘cause nothing’s really valuable without a price Stick animals in zoos, and what good are trees until we have chopped it all down? (*Sounds of capitalistic frolicking*) Are you struggling? Are you behind? It must because you’re lazy Pull yourself up by your bootstraps You wouldn’t want to be like the commies! Welcome to the game of Capitalism Why would you ask if the game is rigged? Nothing is as free as Capitalism! Oh, you appear to be low on juice…. You’re dead! You lose!
3.
Built with stolen hands in chains atop forgotten native graves This is the way we got ahead Through slavery and genocide We wave the flag and close our eyes The propaganda’s done its work Our truth is truth - your stories lies This is the way of empire We are the true enlightened ones We’ll spread our light to savages To bring them our way of life A gift at the end of a knife We are the liberation force Our way of life’s superior A hundred generations bear the crushing weight of what we’ve done This is the way of empire And we will wash each history page until its white and good and clean And spread out till there’s nothing left This is the way of empire Sing glory to the empire!
4.
Rebel 04:52
Rebel, you're called to be a free in an Age ruled by selfishness and life has a fee Rebel, you're called to be brave Dare to fight with compassion when they stoop to hate Rebel, you're called to rebel break the laws of this Age Oh, Rebel Rebel, you were made by his wind and where the Spirit of Jesus is freedom will reign Rebel, let Truth be your guide and your kindness your weapon to rage at the night Rebel, You're called to rebel break the laws of this Hell Oh, Rebel Love is contraband in Hell it eats at bars of prison cells Pregnant with his freedom song we’re a living conspiracy Have you heard your captain’s call? Invitation’s sent to all to join in his campaign to heal, restore, and deliver Rebel, you’re called into joy, into radical grace and rest, justice for all Rebel, let Love be the spark that ignites us like candles to light up the dark Rebel, come join in the song of a kingdom to come Oh Rebel
5.
I have longed for something - a thirst I can’t ignore Nothing seemed to quell it; it left me wanting more Someone comes to find me wandering in the dark That’s when I discover: You’re all I’m searching for I’ve tried compensating with empty, hollow things Answers weren’t around me nor hidden deep within But someone comes to find me wandering in the dark That’s when I discover: He’s all I’m searching for And all our hunger it congregates within a stranger’s familiar face And all we’ve longed for is realised within a Saviour’s redeeming eyes We have longed for something; A thirst we can’t ignore We’ve been living homesick for a time not seen before Jesus comes to find us, calling in the night He’s the one we’ve looked for He’s all we’ve longed to find Jesus comes to find you wondering in the night Jesus is the answer He’s who you’ve longed to find He’s all we’re searching for
6.
First they came for the disabled but I’m not disabled so I did not speak out Then they came for socialists but I am not political so I did not speak out Du må ikke tåle så inderling vel den urett som ikke rammer deg selv Then they came for women but that’s just a woman’s issue so I did not speak out Then they came for Muslims but that is not my religion and i did not speak out Du må ikke tåle så inderling vel den urett som ikke rammer deg selv They’ve come for those with darker skin but I'm untouched and privileged so I did not speak out Now they come for me but there’s no one left standing - nobody to speak out Du må ikke tåle så inderling vel den urett som ikke rammer deg selv (Translation of Norwegian chorus:) You must not tolerate so terribly well the injustice which doesn't affect yourself
7.
Thoughts and prayers are useless when you never choose us ‘Cause you love your violence more than you love your children You can keep your bandaids; we're bleeding out in classrooms Your hands are ever bloodstained Your apathy speaks volumes Like the ancient altars, risen up to Molech, you have raised the sharp knife to offer sons and daughters Is this not the zeitgeist: the spirit of our cursed age? There'll always be a monster whispering this promise: “Sacrifice your children - you will prosper then.” Thoughts and prayers are useless Save your breath and save us! You're bowing to an idol: not of a stone, but a gun When will you renounce it? When will you all repent? ‘Cause you've loved your violence more than you’ve loved your children
8.
Let none despise your youth There’s no height requirement on truth You have every right to be heard The number of your years, your degrees, all your accolades are moot, aren’t the measure of your worth in his kingdom the little ones come to his open arms and a little child will lead them Listen to the children Listen to the young The Spirit of God moves them and speaks with their tongues And wisdom’s not a fallout of titles or age So listen very carefully to what the young ones say Who then will have the guts the humility to set aside their pride, and that practised cynicism? From the mouths of babes we have heard of our sins: the ways we’ve failed. And they’re pleading for their elders please to change before it’s too late! And in Jesus’ name the little ones will lead us Listen to the children Listen to the young The Spirit of God moves them and speaks with their tongues And wisdom’s not a fallout of titles or age So listen very carefully to what the young ones say Can you hear their voice - those we patronise and told to settle down - like we forget they are people Adults fear to lose any drop of the power they revere; any changes to the hell they leave the children The one’s we’ve betrayed, they’re a conscience today to the older generations Listen to the children Listen to the young The Spirit of God moves them and speaks with their tongues And wisdom’s not a fallout of titles or age So listen very carefully to what the young ones say Listen to your children Listen to the young Theirs is the kingdom They’re his little ones These are our examples, the ones who are leading Listen to your children Open up your ears Listen very carefully Open up your ears!
9.
Now who for the silenced will raise their voice? And who for the helpless will rise and fight? Oh my Priest and my Soldier! Raise your merciful hand and your sword My relief and my fortress, turn your eyes to me Defend me tonight And who for the foreign will build a home? And who for the children will call them their own? Oh my Priest and my Soldier! Raise your merciful hand and your sword My relief and my fortress, turn your eyes to me Defend me tonight Pity on those who dare attack your little ones Pity on those who dare oppress your little ones One the day the Lord he will rise up He will rise up See our Priest and our Soldier! Raise your merciful hand and your sword! Our relief, our Defender, turns his eyes to us Defend us, O Lord! Oh our Priest and our Soldier! raises merciful hands in this fight Our relief, our Defender turns his eyes to us Defend us tonight
10.
Come in, sit down, is it your first time? Goodness me, is that your hemline? Never mind, we'll have your straightened out in no time Come in and be washed by the blood. We'll pump your veins full of our judgement Cut you on the pages of our Holy Bibles Ooo, the hunt on and you can run but if you trip up we will kick you when your down Who'll protect us from these vicious counterfeits? Who survives these congregations when the fold's a flock of wolves Our teeth are glinting in the night Our smiles are laced with cyanide The hunt is on, our fangs are ready Who's for dinner? Come one, come all, come fill our pews The pastor takes a bite of you A pack of spiritual abusers Face your accusers Ooo, the hunt is on and you can run but if you trip up we will kick you when your down Who'll protect us from these vicious counterfeits? Who survives these congregations when the fold's a flock of wolves We'll use your want to come to God as bait to lead you further from him, make you twice the sons of Hell as we're becoming We'll stalk your choices, every move, in case we'd like to disapprove And none are safe 'cause we have weaponised religion Ooo, I wonder how will you respond when you are asked to answer for the sheep you’ve culled Who'll protect us from these vicious counterfeits? Who survives these congregations when the fold's a flock of wolves Oh good Shepherd, come and rescue us from all these counterfeits! None survive these congregations when the fold's a flock of wolves ‘Cause the fold's a flock of wolves
11.
Come you orphans Come you fatherless Come you outcasts fallen through the cracks Come you unclaimed Come you scandalous The Lord has gathered these unto himself With these stones along the margins and the pieces they threw out He will gather them around a Cornerstone With these disregarded people that the foolish disavowed He will build up a house unto himself Come you "unchurched" Come you struggling Come discounted Come you pondering Come you lowly, deconstructing The Lord has treasured these discarded jewels With these stones along the margins and the pieces they threw out He will gather them around a Cornerstone With these disregarded people that the foolish disavowed He will build up a house unto himself You’ve picked up rocks to stone them and with your mouths condemn them the very ones invited to people his kingdom You’ve picked up rocks to stone them You’ve ostracised, condemned them but can’t you see that we’re all living in glasshouses With these stones along the margins and the pieces they threw out He will gather them around a Cornerstone With these disregarded people that the foolish disavowed He will build up a house unto himself All these disregarded people that the foolish disavow will be gathered ‘round the Cornerstone Himself
12.
Unlearn 04:38
Many are the things that we have learned, handed down to us by those who’ve gone before We may walk the steps that other’s took but the righteous path isn’t always the most worn Have we dressed our habits up as values? Time to unlearn some broken lessons Dare to challenge what has always been done Time to unlearn to not grow stagnant dare to imagine goodness yet unexplored Many are the things that we’ve been taught; elders and tradition carve into our heart “This is just the way it’s always been” is never wisdom’s way, not a reason to go on Many are the evils we revere, masquerading as traditions old and dear Some of the ties we cut with our past were never golden threads but the noose around our necks Have we tangled faith up with nostalgia? Time to unlearn some broken lessons Dare to challenge what has always been done Time to unlearn to not grow stagnant dare to imagine goodness yet unexplored We were always meant to be on a journey, let him lead us and to grow us continually Wrongs aren’t right merely because they’re inherited Jesus, let us to dare to cycle-breakers Have we dressed entrenchment up as fealty? Time to unlearn some broken lessons Dare to challenge what has always been done Time to unlearn to not grow stagnant dare to imagine goodness yet unexplored Time to unlearn some broken lessons Dare to challenge what has always been done Time to unlearn to not grow stagnant dare to imagine goodness yet unexplored Dare to be lead to goodness yet unexplored goodness yet unexplored Time to unlearn!
13.
You Can 04:24
I cannot be faithful the way I ought to be I cannot be perfect I fail emphatically And I cannot be loyal to what I want to be The spirit may be willing but the body’s weak But you can Oh you can Where I fail, Lord, your grace is sufficient I cannot be strong now; my weakness it bleeds through I cannot be flawless no matter what I do And I am not unbroken and life has left a mark As for my behaviour, it's miles from where you are But you can Oh you can Where I fail, Lord, your grace is sufficient And when I feel the thorn within me your strength stands firm in my weakness You can Oh, you can Where I fail, Lord, your grace is sufficient And when we feel the thorn within us we’ll trust your grace is sufficient
14.
Hungry 04:49
I have eaten pleasures and I have dined on greed I have swallowed monsters, most of them living inside me But I was left unsatisfied every time For who us can have their fill on the asinine? 'Cause religion didn’t fill me nor the pride of piety I’m starving for the real thing: for your true reality I don’t want that cold and dead stuff; it’s just another kind of chain but to feast and be satisfied at your table once again I have drunk distractions and I have gnawed on pain Nothing seemed to fill this empty, heart-shaped space For I was left unsatisfied every time No substitute could ever match this heart of mine 'Cause religion didn’t fill me nor the pride of piety I’m starving for the real thing: for your true reality I don’t want that cold and dead stuff; it’s just another kind of chain but to feast and be satisfied at your table once again I have been so hungry I’ve made my home inside the bloated, rotten carcass of the longing we can’t hide And I am left unsatisfied every time! Even your crumbs are like a feast Let me dine 'Cause religion didn’t fill me nor the pride of piety I’m starving for the real God, for his true reality I don’t want that cold and dead stuff; it’s just another kind of chain But to feast and be satisfied Feast and be satisfied at his table once again
15.
Jesus Christ is waiting,
 waiting in our streets Who will love their neighbour
? Who will wash their feet
? Come follow Jesus,
 sit with lonely too
 Who will greet the stranger
, welcome the outcast too? Jesus Christ is raging,
 raging in our streets 
where injustice spirals
, where our hate mistreats
 Come follow Jesus
 Come be angry too Tenderness for others: 
may it burn in you Jesus Christ is healing,
 healing in our streets Meeting those who suffer,
 helping those in need
 Come follow Jesus
, show compassion too
 Let our care be active
, healing just like you. Jesus Christ is dancing,
 dancing in our streets Sharing joy, renewal 
violence can't defeat 
Come, follow Jesus
 Triumph is ours too Let our hearts be lifted Let us dance with you Jesus Christ is calling,
 calling in our streets: 
“Who will join my journey? Who will come be free
?" I will, Lord Jesus,
 for your way is true 
Help me walk beside you
 I will follow You.
16.
There is a dream of a coming place that some are waiting for A place of light of beauty, peace, without any locked doors One day there’ll be a city where Heav’n and Earth have touched And in the centre there God will live where every citizen’s an immigrant The most important place in space, whose gates are left open wide Where non are barred but streaming in are all who may come reside And nobody’s a native there but every one belongs And in the centre there God will live where every citizen’s an immigrant Zion the city of the Lord Zion the city we long for Zion her gates are open wide Zion where every citizen’s an immigrant and he will welcome every immigrant
17.
Don’t let their words of fear manipulate you into joining in a campaign of hatred So easy to give in - into the lie that bullies always spin: that greed makes us stronger But there’s another way So come, stand up and say: I'm not gonna bend my knee to hate Not gonna feast on the poison our father's ate Not gonna bow to the urge to discriminate for I was made for better And I though I was born to the drums of war I’ll build a longer table instead of a wall For you and I were made for so much more: a freedom that is better It’s so tempting to pretend, to live our lives like there’s an "us" and "them": a fear of the ‘other’ The threat of change or loss can spin a fiction that this cause is just: to hate sisters and brothers But you don’t have to play their game Be the link to break the chain I'm not gonna bend my knee to hate Not gonna feast on the poison our father's ate Not gonna bow to the urge to discriminate for I was made for better And though I was born to the drums of war I’ll build a longer table instead of a wall For you and I were made for so much more: a freedom that is better We will lay aside the lies, throw our doors open wide Wars stop when soldiers lay their guns aside Join a better fight It’s time to rise We’re not gonna bend our knees to hate Not gonna feast on the poison our father’s ate Not gonna bow to the urge to discriminate for we were made for better And though we were born to the drums of war let’s build a longer table instead of a wall for you and I were made for so much more: a freedom that is better And we are not gonna bend our knees to hate (Rise up!) Not gonna feast on the poison our father’s ate (Rise up!) Not gonna bow to the urge to discriminate (Rise up!) We will fight for better! (Rise up!) And we are not gonna beat that drum of war (Rise up!) We’ll build a longer table to seat us all (Rise up!) And we will live our lives for a higher call: a freedom that is better Rise up (Rise up) my love (my love) Rise up (Rise up) choose love (choose love) Rise up (Rise up) my love (my love) Rise up (Rise up) choose love (choose love)
18.
"Only by love is love awakened" This is the true and real resistance, this is how kingdom rebels move the world Only by love are hearts awakened, how our world is truly shaken; how those who follow Jesus will be known What if we when the world becomes a harsher place we choose to show instead a kinder face: refuse to pay back their hate with hate, but instead fight a better way "Only by love is love awakened" This is the true and real resistance, this is how kingdom rebels move the world Only by love are hearts awakened, how our world is truly shaken; how those who follow Jesus will be known What if we, when life becomes a harder thing, we choose to be generous in scarcity We lose not a thing that is not gained as a gift and blessing too "Only by love is love awakened" This is the true and real resistance, this is how kingdom rebels move the world Only by love are hearts awakened, how our world is truly shaken; how those who follow Jesus will be known And I could preach a thousand sermons, wax poetically in song, I could try force agreement punish those who won’t align, I could overthrow the tyrants while I slowly take their place, but a different kind of kingdom must be established in a different kind of way "Only by love is love awakened" This is the true and real resistance, this is how kingdom rebels move the world Only by love are hearts awakened, how our world is truly shaken; how those who follow Jesus will be known By this they will all know that you’re my followers by the love that you show for one another


19.
The times are dark and it’s hard to hope, to remember what kindness can feel like So many hands outstretched in a question: “Will nobody help as they pass?” But every moment is another chance to Shine a little light in the dark places Light up the corners where candles of hope’s gone out Shine a little light in the dark places Even the smallest of sparks interrupts the night Each day’s a new opportunity Every person you meet’s in a battle Rise up to meet the chances around you to love and to help where you can And every moment is another chance to Shine a little light in the dark places Light up the corners where candles of hope’s gone out Shine a little light in the dark places Even the smallest of sparks interrupts the night Who hides a lamp under a bowl? A town it shines upon a hill And we were meant to shine as well Arise, and shine you light of the world! And every person is another chance to Shine a little light in the dark places Light up the corners where candles of hope’s gone out Shine a little light in the dark places Even the smallest of sparks interrupts the night Shine a little light in the dark places Light up the corners where candles of hope’s gone out Shine a little light in the dark places Even the smallest of sparks interrupts the night Come defy the night And let your light shine Shine a little light Shine a little light Shine a little light
20.
Jesus comes to find us: calling in the night He’s the one we’ve looked for He’s all we’ve longed to find Jesus comes to find you wandering in the night Jesus is the answer; He’s who you’ve longed to find He’s all we’re searching for

about

Rebel explores themes of civil resistance, social justice, and the importance of choosing active compassion.

A celebration of young people being a conscience to older generations, and how the Spirit of God is moving in them and through them as they reach for justice and change.

May God move us to further kindness, compassion, inclusion of the marginalised, defence of the vulnerable, and wise judgement.

May we never grow cynical or willingly conform to greed, hatred, and selfishness. Rebel is a call to have the courage to unlearn things, learn new things, and revel in the radical rest and joy human beings were created to live in.

"...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)

The album's sound is inspired by 80's pop and electronica.

credits

released June 1, 2023

Album art: Photograph by Sebastiaan Stam.

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about

Natalie Kendel England, UK

Theologian, Natalie Kendel, is a singer-songwriter, author, pastor, and theological lecturer.

Using an imaginative, narrative approach, Kendel aims to musically communicate the biblical narrative.

Kendel's music is influenced by folk, orchestral, neo-80s & various genre blends. With unique lyrics and theological depth, her music evokes a rallying listening experience.
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