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Today I Arise

February 1, 2011 in Blog, life with 5 Comments

My frequency in posting has been downright pathetic lately, and I apologize for those who read here.  I’ve actually contemplated changing this whole site around, perhaps changing the domain to make it more of a music site/blog.  I’m thinking of getting more serious about the whole music thing.  We shall see how that goes.  I’m not much of a networker/marketer, so if I said I didn’t struggle with that I would be lying.  Perhaps I should talk to some people with some knowledge….can’t just sit around.

When I picked my One Word for 2011, I had no idea that I was foreshadowing something that God was going to teach me.  Needless to say, I’ve been doing my best to really lean hard against the truth lately.  I’ve been under more stress in the last few months than I have the last few years.  As I lean into God in all of this, I’m beginning to understand that it’s actually quite a good season to be in.  Don’t get me wrong, though…that last sentence was a hard one to write.

I was comforted today by a portion of the breastplate prayer of St. Patrick.  I’d like to share it with you.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude…
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today.

Going to be reading this every morning as a reminder of whose I am.

I encourage you to join me.

One Word for 2011

January 5, 2011 in Blog, life with 14 Comments

My blogosphere friend, Alece has a great thing going.  She’s encouraged us to pick one word to focus on this year instead of making countless resolutions.  I’ve decided to join in with the fun.

Risk was a word that kept coming back to me in 2010, although I had not picked it.  I guess it sort of picked me.  Making a record was a huge risk to me, considering I never really risk anything financially if it’s over 20 bucks, let alone risking the potential humiliation of people hearing my music and not enjoying it.

I’ve thought a lot over the last week or so about what my word for 2011 was going to be.  I narrowed it down to a couple (well, a few if “dang” counts), and I believe I’ve finally decided on a word.  I think it encompasses what I hope for this year.  It’s an action word, which is good because I tend to freeze in fear.  The word is:

Lean.

I want to lean hard against the truth.

I want to lean hard into prayer.

I want to lean hard into my family and friends.

And ultimately, I want to lean into Jesus.

One can rest assured when they lean against something firm and true.  God is just that.

Only God.

My prayer will be that I choose to always lean there instead of leaning against a faulty frame of  cheap substitutes.

What’s your word for 2011?

Give Me Faithfulness

December 9, 2010 in Blog, life, The Music with 7 Comments

Do you ever get discouraged?

I was asked this question recently when discussing the trial (and error) of releasing music independently with little-to-no anticipation.  Without thinking, I immediately answered with a resounding yes.  It’s hard to release music that you’re proud of, knowing that you’re basically throwing a pebble into the ocean and hoping someone sees the ripples.  A return on your investment and energy is not guaranteed.  Success, whatever our definition of that is, seems almost like winning the lottery.

We live in a world that sees success as something very different than what we’re taught in the Scriptures.

Our world defines success in terms of gain:

  • How many copies did you sell in iTunes?
  • How many CDs have been ordered?
  • How many shows are you scheduled to be playing?
  • How much money have you acquired?

Now, don’t get me wrong…I do have specific goals that Stand[by] will hopefully help me accomplish.  To have no goals would be a mistake, I believe.  I’ve classified mine this way:

  1. AIM – to record another project in 2011
  2. REACH – a broader audience and establish myself more as an artist
  3. GIVE – to give 25% of all proceeds to One Day’s Wages

[which I'm about to do my first donation...more to come with that]

Jesus defines success by means of loss:

  • What did you give?
  • Who did you serve?
  • Who did you love without expectation?

In Luke 9, Jesus tells us, “whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

It seems to me that a successful life is a free life.  A life given away to others.  Talents used instead of being hidden.  Resources expended instead of hoarded.

ht: hidemitadajp

In 1980, Mother Teresa was asked, “Do you ever get discouraged?”  The question came at a time where many people were without food, far more than when she first began to help feeding them.  She replied:

I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.

What a lesson to learn from her!  For my music, your job, your ministry, your life.

Faithfulness is more important than the “Big Outcome.”

We all like to focus on the big, grandiose idea.  Mother Teresa didn’t.  She focused on faithfulness in the smallest of things.  We all want to love the world and end all the hunger in it.  Mother Teresa would encourage us to love our neighbor well.  Faithfulness in the small things will ultimately be the way any of us end up with anything “big”, whatever that means in your life.

Give yourself away.

This woman gave all of herself to the needs of others, and she became a world changer.  The needs of the poor and downcast were more important to her than her own comfort.  She knew that what was comfortable wasn’t always best.  But again, don’t forget the small things.  Mother Teresa went on to accomplish much for the poor in her time, but she did it by serving and touching one life at a time.

In all honesty, I want lots of people to hear my music.  I want to continue to make music as long as God gives me the songs to sing.  I want it to be respected and appreciated.  I want to travel some and play outside of Arizona.  I want to use it to give back to the least of these.  I want it to be used to raise awareness for eating and anxiety disorders.  I want to have to order more discs because I’ve sold out.  That all may happen.  It also may not.

Whatever the outcome, I ask for faithfulness.

And I trust that his faithfulness will be what makes the difference.

Traps Along the Way

September 27, 2010 in life, The Music with 5 Comments


I can’t express enough how overwhelmed I am so far at people’s reactions after listening to Stand[by].  The EP climbed as high as #31 on iTunes in the singer/songwriter category over the weekend. 

I’m humbled beyond anything I could write about.  Truly humbled. 

In more ways than one. 

First off, I thank God for giving me songs to be used for His glory.  I’m thankful for the music to be able to bless those listening, as well as impacting those in extreme poverty.  I’m hopeful that God will continue to use the music to further His fame all over the world through a random guy in Arizona.  I know that’s how He works, and I’m honored to be a part of it. 

But there are traps along the way. 

They humble, too.

The EP is at #40 on iTunes this morning.  How do I know this?  Because I’ve checked it every day since I found out randomly that it was at #66 (after less than a day since releasing).  I wish those lists didn’t exist, sometimes…

You see, I was humbled and grateful at #66.  Today at #40, I’m more driven by position.  Will I surpass The Weepies at some point, or maybe get lucky and pass The Civil Wars.   I find myself creeping back into a position that I wanted to resign from permanently, and I don’t want to become a slave to statistics.  That only leads to one thing…

Pride. 

Would you join in prayer with me that pride would not begin to overshadow thankfulness and joy?  I would greatly appreciate it.  I want to focus on what is good and true, not what my flesh suggests is important.  Your prayers and the accountability of good friends are key.  God using the music however He chooses is important.  My stats are not.  Besides…

You and I are more than a number.

image: sam

The EP: Stand[by]

September 15, 2010 in life, The Music with 8 Comments


I’ve not done a great job at posting the last few weeks.

To those who read, my apologies.  I’ve just not had time to write, and I’m not a big fan of posting for the sake of posting.

The rest of the week will have entires, I’m pleased to say.

I’m even more pleased to let y’all know that the EP is done!  Yes!  Recorded, mixed, mastered, artwork…it’s all done.  I can’t wait for you all to hear it.  I’m pretty proud of the sounds that were achieved.

The EP is named Stand[by] .  Why is it named that?  Glad you asked.   Fair enough question…

My wife travels a lot for her job.  So much so that we get quite a lot of free tickets (I heart you, Southwest!).  Sometimes she books her schedule too tight and misses her return flight.  Often there are several other flights going to Phoenix at a later time that day, so she doesn’t get too awful stressed.  She knows she’s going home.

But she waits.

Isn’t that just life?  As a believer, I’m fully aware that this world is not my home.  That it’s temporary.  But, until Christ returns or I pass away…

I wait.

And you wait, too.

CS Lewis said:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

You see, we’re all on standby in a sense.  Just like April’s travels, this life we live in full of waiting- tension, despair, anticipation, unresolved conflict, a longing for reconciliation.

And this is what I’ve tried to capture in these six songs.

I really can’t wait for you to hear it.

In the next few days, I’ll be sharing more about the EP.  I thought about writing some about how these songs came to be.  I know that I like to know these things about an artist’s work, so maybe you’d like to know as well.

There will also be another announcement regarding the EP and One Day’s Wages.  I’m beyond pumped to share that with you.

Through all of this, I would really appreciate your prayers.  I’m going way out of my comfort zone with all of this, which is awesome and freakishly horrifying at the same time.  Here are a few requests that I would have off the top of my head.

  1. Pray with me that God would use these songs to impact folks, and that it would serve in making his name more famous.
  2. Pray for me that I persevere in all of this.  This has already come a long way, and I want to see it through.  Doing this independently has created its fair share of doubt in my mind, even though I’m extremely proud of the work that went into making this record.
  3. Pray for my wife as she listens to my questioning, doubting, complaining, pouting, pride-creeping-in boasting, etc.  She may need an extra boost of the Holy Spirit during all of this.
  4. Pray for me – in whatever way you think I may need prayer….because more than likely you’ll be correct in your assumptions.

More to come this week, as well as the weekend.  I can’t wait to share it all with you.  I have a lot of people to thank…blessed is an understatement, folks.

Here we go…

image: sam
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