Follower of Christ, Author, Musician
Though I have been a "Christian" for so many years, in many ways I feel life with Christ is a quest in with many troubles and dangers. It is frightfully more dangerous than anyone ever told me at the outset. Any "true" adventure would be, wouldn't it?
This blog is about the adventure of discovery in this quest to follow the one who forged the path to life and true love so many years ago. I have found that the epic rescuing story of Jesus is far more relevant to you and I than we give it credit.
This song was meant for Mothers day so… here it is. Happy belated Mothers day! I hope you were/are blessed!
I want to dedicate this song to all you amazing moms and on behalf of your children I say, “Thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for your children. You make the world a better place by all you do. You are the often unsung heroes.”
Well, I’m going to take a moment to sing for you all! I’d like to dedicate this one to my wife who is an amazing mom. I tell her that often. She sacrifices so much (her sleep mostly these days as we have a 3 week old) and loves our children well.
I’d also like to recognize my own mother who helped me be who I am today. (I credit her for all the good and take personal responsibility for any of the bad.)
My day:
It has been a crazy day around here. I got to lead worship for the 11 am 2nd service fellowship at United Methodist Church in Neenah. That was a really blessed time and I really enjoyed sharing music with them.
Then the whole family got together for birthday celebrations and Mothers day. I had a little trouble joining in the fun. Why? Because I was disappointed with myself. I wish I talked more and related better with people. So often I just simply don’t know what to say or how to show these people that I love them. Ever feel that way?
It just felt like a missed opportunity for something more, something better, a deeper conversation or connection or something. I thought about how that could have been the last interaction I had with them. I thought about how it isn’t guaranteed that any of us would make it home alive. We may not have another chance at this. “Seize the day”, right? What will that look like next time?
So today I have a song I want to share with you that really had a profound impact on me years ago. This song served to remind me that Jesus has promised never to leave me or forsake me. This promise has helped me to overcome depression. If you are going through it, I trust this song will speak to you:
Come Around Again
I’m all messed up and I’m feelin down
Down so low I have bottomed out
In this cavern where my heart is found
Just know I am here when you come around again
You mop all my blood in every circumstance
I can’t shake you off you are in my glance
And though I try so hard sometimes against the flow
You know, I am here when you come around again
It’s the difference that makes the earth move
Under our feet
And frustration allows a heart to twist until it breaks
It’s the difference that makes the earth move
Under our feet
And frustration allows a heart to twist until it breaks
And I’m breaking for You
Update with the mouse! The cat caught it and put it on the bed and was pouncing on it. My wife freaked out and shortly after the cat and I cornered and captured it and removed it from the house unharmed.
Today I share a “profound and holy song” (as one person has said) written by Sinead O’Conner. I did some research about this sister and as it turns out she is a believer in Jesus. She may not believe everything the same way you do (and who does?) but I was blessed to learn she has faith in the Savior! She is even an ordained minister in a “fringe Catholic sect” and has an album called “Theology”. It was interesting listening to a few of the songs on that album today.
This is a song that my girls and I have been singing around our house for the past week. Please don’t get distracted from actually using this song to connect with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sing along:
Thank You For Hearing Me Prayer Update:
So yea, God actually hears and heals and finds and saves and holds and loves us. He responds to our prayers. The really cool part is when and how he speaks to us. The following is a testimony of this:
So I had a facility that owed me for some Christmas concerts I did. There was a miscommunication and confusion and I never got paid for these concerts (It was over $100 dollars). I contacted them a couple of times and hadn’t heard from them in a month. It was now April. I drafted up an invoice and had it in an envelope and put it on the mailbox to be picked up.
As I was driving away the Lord said, “No, go back and get that envelope. Don’t send it. I got this.”
“What? This makes no sense but OK.”
I didn’t have peace about mailing it… for days.
Finally, and this reflects my lack of complete trust and that I freak out over money too much, I put it in the mail. I actually did have peace about it now for some reason.
Well, wouldn’t you know it, the check arrived in the mail the following day. I called up the facility to thank them and told them to throw away or “return to sender” on the letter I had sent. Should have stayed trusting God’s, “I got this”.
So, how can we learn to hear the voice of God better?
I’m reading Hearing God by Dallas Willard… and the Bible. Join me in reading it with me?
Your answered prayers:
God has set me free from the bondage of getting involved with religious debates and has instead directed me to use my time to record and share these music vid’s with you. Religious debates and politics are another HUGE source of depression! I’m going to avoid both of them! It literally feels like I drink poison whenever I get involved in a religious debate, and I haven’t cared about politics for forever ago… I doubt heaven cares either. God does still rule from heaven ya know. He is still Soveriegn, so get your eyes and heart where they ought to be and know PEACE!
Do you have an answer to prayer you’d like to share? Leave a comment! Subscribe to this blog and stay tuned!
This song is for everyone who is going through a season of depression. I just coming out of one myself… hence the song:
Lyrics:
Holding out for Hope (You Carry Me)
A gridlock of confusion,
In the labyrinth of my mind
How did I end up here?
I lost all sense of balance
As I walked the wire of this life
As I tumble through the dark I feel you near
CHORUS:
You’re the reason, I’m holding out for hope
I’m trusting that your arms are catching me
You’ve given me, a reason to believe
May I never forget who carries me
You carry me, You carry me
What a comfort,
To know you never leave me
Though I’ve tested your love
I could never ask for,
A better friend than you’ve been
You’re more than I could ever (imagine) (dream of)
(CH)
BRIDGE:
And when I lose my way,
You’re there to save the day
You lift me up… when I am down
And as I feel you close
How you love me so
Jesus, You save me when I’m drowning
I recorded this song today after a nursing home concert on their piano. I have written a couple of songs on that piano so far. I like to hang out and just play on it for whoever wants to stick around and keep listening.
After the concert I felt led to go to Voyager park in DePere. I drove around until I could find a place to park in the shade for the sake of my guitar. As I parked and stepped out I saw a few guys fishing so I decided to go talk with them. They had guitars with them which we were soon playing and singing Johnny Cash. Dave told me he really liked Johnny Cashes version of Hurt.
“NO WAY!” I replied, “I just recorded a version of that yesterday and put it on Youtube!” (see previous post)
Dave then played a worship song for me that he wrote about surrender. It was awesome! Especially when Tony added a musical hook to the intro and was jamming some sweet lead lines throughout.
We exchanged info and it seems I found some new friends who I will probably work with musically in the future. Definitely more keen on changing band name to “Reflect Worship Collective” but I better discuss that with the rest of the band before announcing it just yet. I am excited!
Dave mentioned being involved with “Full Gospel Evangelistic Association“. I remember when I first came back to Jesus, one of the first things I did was to attend one of their meetings to share my testimony. One man there prophesied that Stephen (my brother) and I would be in ministry together. I didn’t see that happening. But then a year later I was driving my little brother to worship practice (he played keys) and sitting out in the audience during their practice.
Finally the worship leader said, “Hey, why don’t you come up here and play bass for us?”
“Ok” I said. After putting the bass on, I asked dumbfounded, “Ummm… what do you do?”
Within a month I was playing Sunday mornings with the worship team and that was my introduction into music ministry… with my brother.
I also realized that I have been keeping WAY too many God stories to myself. I will try to share more of them in future blogs!
Another God moment today: I had been needing to get a channel locks for my tool box and hadn’t gotten around to it. Well, wouldn’t you know it but I found one lying in the middle of the road today. It reminded me of the time I was driving around thinking about a lure for fishing. I imagined a silver minnow lure.
Later that day I got a coffee and “felt led” to go down a bank to a river side. When I got down there I looked up to see the exact lure I imagined hanging from a tree branch.
Do you have any God stories you want to share? Leave a comment!
“For when you gave your life, you gave my soul, it’s worth”
These lyrics are from my new Christian worship version (parody) of a Johnny Cash cover of “Hurt” which I called “Worth”. Enjoy and sing along to the lyrics below and continue reading for more about this song:
LYRICS:
“Worth”
I worship you my God,
For you have saved my soul
You offer me your blood,
You come and make me whole
And when I come undone,
When life has lost it’s sense
You’re there to show the way
A return to innocence
CHORUS:
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
You have made us one,
And You’re with me to the end
So You could have it all,
My empire of dirt
For when you gave your life,
You gave my soul its worth
You spared no expense
To reconcile me
You gave your very best
So I could know your peace
I now stand redeemed
Bought back for sin and death
And now you’ve come so near
You’re closer than my breath
(CH)
…Yes now you call me friend,
You’ve become my hope,
My heart swells with joy,
A love I’ve never known
Here is another take I did on another guitar:
I have long enjoyed Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” (which happens to be his fourth most popular song of all time). But seriously, is it really edifying? Perhaps for the human element and drama and reality of a drug addict it presents, but I’d rather spend my time listening to music that brings redemption into focus. Wouldn’t you? So even though the music is beautiful I found it difficult to ever share it at the Nursing homes I play at given its original drug addict theme.
Given the fact that Johnny Cashes first love was Gospel music (he tried to start his career singing only Gospel and left Sun records so he could start recording Gospel) I trust this version has put a big smile on his face in glory and a nod of approval.
I absolutely love these new lyrics that came to me. I thought about starting with something that more people in the world could readily sink their teeth into to reflect how tragic most people’s existence is. I am mindful of all the criticisms Christian music gets for “not being honest”. I just read one the other day from U2’s Bono who is a Christian.
I asked myself, should I really start with, “I worship you my God”? Is that too trite? Not “honest’ enough for all the people who don’t connect with this?
The more I thought about it the more I reasoned that, instead of going backwards and writing that our meager and paltry experience of God has rendered us thus far, it is time to elevate our experience into glory and the heavens and join with all of creation and all the saints and angels in true worship to our LORD and God Jesus Christ… Who by his sacrifice has now made us friends.
I’m reading Hearing God by Dallas Willard… and the Bible. Join me in reading it with me?
