It’s a new day, and that means (today) a new video.

This is another one of the non-iPhone videos that my friend Nate and I captured a couple of months ago.

Same as last time:  one take, and mistakes included.

If you haven’t heard the recorded version of this song before, feel free to go to the music page to find your way to a few minutes of listening.  If you haven’t heard the story behind the song, go here to get the gist.

Again, thanks for all your support for me and this music.  I’m looking to carve out some time to work on new stuff, which is looking to be very different than Stand[by].  I’m beyond okay with that.  No need to force anything.  Recording a new project sometime in 2012 is a goal of mine.

Feel free to share with all who have the ability to enjoy it.  I won’t be mad at you.

Have a great rest of your week!

There are learning opportunities on perspective everywhere it seems.

What’s something that gave you some good perspective lately?

image: my iPhone4

A new season will come.  

image:  Myself.  Please don’t steal photos and claim as your own.

If you’re here, then you’ll probably notice some major changes around here (If you’re reading from a RSS feed, go to the site and check out the changes).

First of all, many thanks to Shawn Landis, who really did a great job on the look and feel of the site.  Also, follow him on twitter.

Saturday was the one year mark of the release of my debut EP, Stand[by].  When I started the old blog, I didn’t have any music to call my own.  So, I didn’t think of having any clear domain name to simply point people to the music.  After telling folks “contentunderpressure.net” a dozen or so times, I realized that I better think of something else.  So, combine that fact, along with my recent job change and you get what you see today.  I’m excited about all of the changes.

Here are some changes to note:

1.  It looks different, eh?  That’s because Shawn did an awesome job customizing my old theme.  Feel free to browse all the pages.

2.  If you go to ‘Music’ you’ll see ways to purchase the EP, whether it be CDs, iTunes, or Bandcamp.  My Bandcamp page is a new addition.  You can listen to the entire EP without purchasing.  Tracks are a buck each, or you can get all 6 tracks for $5.  That’s cheaper than iTunes, folks.

3.  ’Shows.’  This page is empty, and that’s because it needs you to see about getting me to play at your venue, church or college.  :)

Browse around and let me know your thoughts.

And, new blog posts coming soon.  Hope you stick around.

Happy weekend, folks.

I wanted to let you all know on this fine day that this site will soon be moving to new digs.

I started this blog almost two years ago, and, although my posting has been fairly moderately horribly erratic it’s grown fairly well.

Then last year and Nashville happened.

Questions of “do you have a blog?” turned into “where can I find your music?  Do you have a website?”  Telling them contentunderpressure.net didn’t really roll of the tongue easily.

So, we’re moving. 

You’re all invited.
Your friends and family are invited.
Heck, your pets are invited…except cats.  I reserve the right to screen them first.

The new site will still include this blog, including all past content.  However, it will be  easier to communicate to folks as I dig more into sharing my music.  I’m excited to be able to have the best of both worlds.

Oh, and that new site will be found here.  It’s currently up, but still in construction to some extent.

Feel free to take a sneak peek at it!

For you who subscribe to this blog, you need to do nothing.  I will be updating that on my end for you all.

That’s about it for now.  I’ll update more in the comments as this page screeches to a halt soon.

Hope you’re doing something fun this week, and spending time with those you love.   

Today I share with you an artist that some of you may know, David Ramirez.  If you don’t know him, you’re in for a treat of folky-pop goodness.

Even cooler, if you’re in the Phoenix area this Saturday, he’s playing a house show in my friend, Brent’s living room.  Go here for more details on that.  You can thank me when you see me Saturday.

Here’s a video of him playing his song, “Shoeboxes.”  Hope you enjoy it.

Last week, I told you I had some news to share.

For those of you who know me, you’ll know that this is both really exciting and saddening.  None of what’s happening was anywhere on my radar, which has been the case for a lot of things in recent years.  So, in some ways this is quite consistent with what God has been doing in my life.  All this to say….

My season at Remuda is coming to a close.  

This is bittersweet, to say the least.  One on hand, I am very sad to be leaving this ministry.  And on the other hand, I’m pretty excited about what God has in store.  The last 3.5 years have taught me so much about what it means to get real with ourselves, and with God.

I’ve seen the beauty of brokenness like never before.
I’ve seen young women and women being pulled out of death and into life.
I’ve seen people find out about God’s grace for the first time, causing me to remember that feeling all over again.
I’ve been reminded of how shocking grace really is.
I’ve learned more than ever the importance of understanding our identity in Christ.
I’ve understood more than ever how God is close to the brokenhearted.

And the list could go on and on, really.

My last day is this Wednesday, and I’ll be going full-time to the church I’ve been working at part-time.  I’m pretty sure I’ve said, “I’ll never work in a church” a time or two.  Funny how things don’t always go to plan.  I will also be focusing more on my own music, which I’ve not been able to really do.

With that said, I’d like to ask a few things of you all (if I may):

Prayer
I’d really appreciate your prayers during this time of transition.  There are aspects of leaving Remuda that will be a real loss for me, and I’ll need to grieve that as I move forward.  Pray that I’ll do that and not internalize everything.  I’m prone to do that sometimes.  I have more peace that I thought I’d have about this change, but I know I need to grieve it.  I’m not looking forward to that process, if I’m being honest.

Support 
This is awkward, as I’m not sure who all reads this blog.  This is what I mean by support:  I’ll be focusing more on playing and sharing my own music throughout the year.  That will allow for more people to hear it, first and foremost.  It will also allow for me to record another project, hopefully within the next year.  I’ve had many folks who came to Remuda that said they’d like me to play at their churches/colleges, etc., and I’ve not been able to respond to those requests due to privacy reasons.  But, after Wednesday I can.  However, if you’ve been to Remuda before and read this, know that I consider your privacy with the utmost importance.  This will never change.

I’m not looking to travel a ton and play by any means, but perhaps there are a handful of opportunities per year that I can do that.  If that interests you, let me know.  The real question, logistically, is travel.  I don’t need a bunch to come play at your church, college, etc.  I just need a way out there.

Prayer 
See above.

I’m excited about the new season that I’m entering in.  I never thought I would’ve worked at Remuda almost 4 years ago, and I can’t say I thought I’d leave anytime soon, either.  But, the timing is really not important.  We should be obedient to the season we’re in until we’re not anymore.  This is the point in which I find myself, and I’m okay with that.

That’s all the news for one day, I think.  I have something else to share, but I’ll save that for next week or so.

Thanks in advance for your prayers, and I hope this finds you all doing well.  

I was asked this question last week by a young lady in treatment. Her life full of fear, regret and shame.

Shame that tells you that keeping it all in will protect you.  That the initial pain that leads to healing is too much to bear.

Oh, shame.  How it lies.

I knew the answer immediately, but I didn’t know if I had the courage to say it.  I knew she would probably not like what I would have to say.  After a long pause, I answered.

Until it doesn’t, I’m afraid. There is a season for everything.

We work through the season until the time is done.

You know, God’s timing is impeccable. I realize that’s beyond an understatement.

Our pastor had gone through the beginning of Ecclesiastes 3 the week before, reminding us that for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under the sun. We’re not given recommended time for weeping or laughing, or for war and peace, etc. We just know there’s a time for everything.  So…

How long do we cry?
How long does it hurt?
How long do we mourn?
How long do we cast away stones?

Until we’re done.  Nothing less, nothing more.

I’m in a season of transition right now, myself.  Confusion, even.

And I want it to stop.  Like, now.

For the last four weeks or so I have been bi-vocational (tri-vocational if you count the whole independent musician thing).

I have come on staff at a church in addition to my work at Remuda.  I’m finding out quickly that I have a hard time splitting the time up.  I feel like I neglect one thing or another, and that really attacks the way I like to prepare for things.  I’ve asked the question, “how long will it be like this?” at least ten times so far.  I think the answer is the same….until it’s not.  So, I want to ask these questions instead:

What can I learn during this season?
For what purpose is this particular season right now?
What is it preparing me for?

I know that God’s purpose is to bring life and freedom to us, and ultimately, glory to himself.

I want to lean into that and see my heart follow.

What season or time do you currently find yourself in?

Do you find yourself struggling with wondering how much time it will last?

How can we more clearly see the season in which we’re in?

Today’s post features Joe Pug, a great artist if you like any sort of folk music.

I got the chance to see him live in Tempe a few weeks ago, and he didn’t disappoint.  It was amazing to see how genuinely himself he was, which is what I think makes him so unique and great. It felt like we were all witnessing a folk legend before a lot of people did. Now, that may be a premature declaration, but I do think it may come true. Only time will tell.

Here’s a great song from him, “How Good You Are”.  Enjoy it on this Monday.

What’s some music you’re listening to that we should know about?

Age five was a much easier time.

I was convinced as a kid that I was going to one day become an architect, mainly because I loved to draw.  Little did I know there was a lot of math involved, which I grew to despise.  Luckily, I also aspired to one day become a Thundercat.  I was prepared for my plan B, and I had the costume to prove it.  You know, just in case I got tired of the whole drawing thing.  I was too young then to know I’d get tired of math long before that.

Twenty-five years later, I laugh a bit at the thought of being a Thundercat.  After all, it’s a cartoon clan of cat-like aliens.  But, I did.  I spent many a day in my back yard in all the Thundercat garb I had, swinging a sword around to ward off my enemies.  Had it been my front yard, my parents may have been reported for some sort of abuse.

In recent years, God has awakened new dreams that I didn’t even know I had.  You’ve read about some of them here at this blog.  I still feel like He’s doing more, and that this is just the beginning.  But, the fear of the unknown nearly paralyzes me.  I lose sight of anything presently good and anything potentially better, not to mention the suffering that will prove beneficial along the way.

I forget to run because I forget who is with me.

Always with me.

What is there to fear then?

What dreams are you holding back on pursuing because of fear?

What’s stopping you from running towards it?

The first step is the hardest, but it’s worth it.

**Disclaimer** I’m preaching to myself.

image:  sam