In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "The Sleeping Giant", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below.
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You will find the show notes and lyrics below:
Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures.
Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next 2 weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I have absolutely loved the subject matter that we've been going through over the past 11 weeks.
We have been going through the 14 songs from my recording “Captured - Songs For The Journey” which were inspired by my fantasy trilogy, “The Chronicles of Bren” and specifically, book one in the series titled, “Captured.” It has been absolutely wonderful for me personally to remember how I felt while writing these books and how certain songs were inspired. Today we’ll be focusing on the story behind the song, “The Sleeping Giant.”
Just outside Muskogee, a few miles to the south, there is a hill formation that looks like a giant that has fallen asleep lying on his back. My former pastor, Chuck, actually inspired this character. He told me that when he and his family were driving home one day, one of the children, pointing to the hill formation, said, “Look, dad! A sleeping giant!” Once I heard that phrase, I could not help but see the sleeping giant whenever I drove past. I still refer to it as the sleeping giant to this day.
In the story found in the book “Captured”, the sleeping giant has been around since before time began. The people of Bren pass the story of the sleeping giant down from generation to generation. It was prophesied that he would one day rise and bring salvation or deliverance to the land during its darkest time. They even have a name for the sleeping giant. Reuben.
Reuben means ‘Behold, a son’. He represents the champion, the hero, the one who delivers. Even though he appears to be dormant and completely covered with soil and trees and all manner of foliage, there is a sense of awe and reverence and expectation and hope emanating from this massive landform. When I began to meditate on the character of Reuben I could not help but think of him as a hero…as a Savior.
I have had many heroes in my life. My dad was my first hero…and then Captain James Tiberius Kirk of the Star Ship Enterprise! I know I have already shared this a few times before, but as a boy, I felt so abandoned on so many levels of my life. I felt utterly captured and saw no way out for myself. I longed for someone to just step in and rescue me and wondered if anyone would ever be able to. I would go to bed each night and dream I was living in space on the USS Enterprise. Each night I was captured by aliens and about to be put to death…and my dad, Captain Kirk, rescued me just as I woke up from these dreams! Every morning for years I woke up feeling rescued!
When I was in high school, my basketball teammates would never let anyone touch me. I was the only white guy on my team yet they embraced me as one of their own and literally protected and rescued me on several occasions, both during games and in the hallways on many a school day! So many things went into the inspiration of Reuben but the greatest inspiration of all? Later in life, I was rescued by Jesus Christ and He became my ultimate hero.
The enemy had held me captive in his lies for so long. When I would cry out to God, it seemed He would not or could not answer me or set me free. I even recall thinking about the way the lies of the enemy took on a mocking tone in my thought life whenever I would ask the Lord for help. He’d say things like, “God doesn’t love you. There is nothing in you worth loving,” or, “You’re wasting your time. He’s not even real,” or, “If God loves you so much, why is He allowing such pain and misery in your life?” On more than one occasion during those dark days I felt like cashing it in…like what’s the use? I’m beyond hope; beyond rescue; beyond help…
I find it quite amazing as I look back on such dark times how much encouragement I found in those nightly dreams about being rescued by Captain Kirk. I mean, think about it. Every night I was captured, about to be put to death, and each morning I woke up feeling rescued. I have absolutely no doubt those dreams were given to me by the Lord to help me keep hanging on.
This week’s song, “The Sleeping Giant”, is a prayer to The Founders (God the Father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit) and specifically to Reuben - Jesus. Listen to this heart cry and imagine Jesus being awakened by your heart’s deepest longing for rescue…and imagine the fact that He was not asleep after all…
SONG
Remember what I said about Reuben earlier? Reuben means ‘Behold, a son’. He represents the champion, the hero, the one who delivers. He represents Jesus in the story, but the enemy of Bren, the dark lord, Lucian, sees his dark powers being pierced by the light as Reuben reveals Himself as the Deliverer. To Lucian, it felt as if he had just awakened a sleeping giant because…
Well, I’ll leave the story here because I don’t want to spoil it for you if you’re reading the book, “Captured.”
My hope is that you would discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. May they serve as uplifting companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials.
Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me!
The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost.
Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Be quick to humble yourself when pride raises its ugly head and be quick to seek forgiveness when you have wounded another. Now, I challenge you to rise as the warrior for God's kingdom you are called to be today. Cast off the enemy's lies, embrace the truth of your identity in the Lord, and go forth as the cherished son or daughter of your Heavenly Father.
