From back then to here and now...

I received a text the other day with a couple of photos from the pastor of the church I grew up in. Apparently, one of the seasoned saints in the flock had found a couple of pics of me and some friends playing music in a "band" for some church event outside in the parking lot. This was 1973 and I was 10 years old... that's right, playing in a band in 4th grade (I think we called ourselves The Halos). There were 6 of us all together and 3 of us played acoustic guitar and all of us sang . We did some songs of the day ( I think some Larry Norman and stuff like that) including "Band On The Run" and "Pieces Of April". That's right, doing secular hits of the day in the church parking lot. That probably explains why we were in the parking lot to begin with. That was a pretty radical concept for the times. Anyway, I was the youngest of the bunch and when I saw these pictures, aside from picking up what was left of my jaw hitting the floor, it struck me that this experience from years ago has been part of this long path that has me where I am now, almost 40 years later. This whole thing started with me picking up a guitar at age 7 after watching my brother in law, Bob, playing and singing with my sister. I would just watch his hands and what he was doing and after he left, I would pick up the old beater guitar my Dad had and never played, and simply imitate what he was doing. The funny thing was that it came so easy for me and within a year or so, I was astounding my family by being able to play the chords and sing to almost any record my sisters had or what was on the radio at the time. This is at 8 years old. When I was 9, my folks stepped up and bought me a "new" acoustic guitar. This one played way better and sounded way better and I thought I was ready for the big time. This is the guitar in the pictures below. This same guitar I still have and I actually use it from time to time for a "lo fi" sounding acoustic on the records I produce. I never would have imagined it when I was standing there in that parking lot when someone snapped these photos. When I started playing at the age of 7, I have often wondered what the motivation was. It certainly wasn't picking up girls or being a rock star at that point (although it certainly became that in later years, but God was gracious). When I look at this, I pretty much think it came down to the providence of God and part of His plan for my life, seeing as He knows from end to end. When I look at this guitar and this young boy in the pic, I think of where He has led me. I ended up with nice guitars and big loud amps, perfect for any rock star experience. I have played in front of thousands of folks, everything from stadiums to cruise ships, from clubs to MTV, from county to country, and outdoors in parking lots... He brought me the most beautiful wife I could ever want, who in spite of settling for me as a poor mans substitute for Peter Frampton, has loved and stood with me and my guitar. God gave me 3 beautiful daughters, all who love music and Him. He gave me 2 amazing guitar playing son-in-laws, who care for my daughters and my children's children. I never would have dreamed it on this sunny day in the parking lot, but then again, the lesson for me in all of this is I can't underestimate what God has in store next. Maybe we'll all get together as a family and do a parking lot show...

the goal is to never stop...

In the past few weeks, life has been in one of those seasons of trial by fire. I won't bore you with the details but it always surprises me that as I get older things don't get easier in life... it's pretty much the opposite. I am one of those people that like to try to fix things for everybody else and leave the broken stuff for me to deal with. What makes it more frustrating is when I can't fix things in life for others and I internalize the supposed "grief" of others when they are left to their own devices. It has repercussions in many ways for me...

Since I know this is a ridiculous way to think in life, I am trying to "let go and let God" for lack of a better statement. Even as crazy as life gets for myself or those I love, I believe that I will see things "fixed" if I can keep my resolve to:

1) never stop being in God's Word. I am always amazed at how life changes when I flood my thoughts and spirit with the Bible...

2) never stop praying for things to be "fixed", including myself. It's so easy for me to get impatient or think God has more important things to deal with, so I try to deal with it myself. It never works and I find I just get bogged down in life when I don't let Him take care of things.

3) never stop looking for His return. Look at the world and you have to know that it's (God's rapture of His children) much sooner than we think.

4) never stop trying to pursue holiness. I'm doing a study of the epistles of John and it is so powerful and true. As much as the modern church preaches grace, we still have to try to live life by the example of Jesus. Very hard to do, but the trying is what it is all about.

What does all this mean? I'm not sure even I know as I write this, but as Job spoke " I know who my Redeemer is and I will stand with Him on that day". Lord, let that day be sooner than later...

Trying to remember the way things were...

It's so near to Christmas and I was talking to Suzanne (my lovely wife of so many years) pointing out the fact that it really doesn't feel like the Christmas I know and love this year. Life has it's peaks and valleys and we all do our best to stay afloat, but I feel like I need to stop and take time each day to remember what this is all about and to clear my head. We all know the story but do we know the Saviour of the story? Do we know that we need this Saviour for more than "fire insurance"? I have come to understand this more each year and as I watch the world around me lose it's collective mind, it makes more and more sense to me. At the literal end of each day, I hope that God will help me to rely on Him more and to have a passion to pray for others I know need His comfort and guidance... the kind that only He can bring. MLT

I'm a hater...

As much as I like to think that I have control of some things in my life, I inevitably get tripped up now and then, as we all do. That's not an excuse to accept those trippings, but a chance to rebound from them as gracefully as I can.

One area of my concern lately is my anger. I have come to the conclusion that there are certain things I hate and need to deal with. For instance, I hate the effect the "principalities of this dark world" have on me and the ones I love the most. I hate the fact that I know so many people who would call themselves Christians and you would never know it by the way they live. That's dangerous thing for me to say because God knows I don't have my act together, but you know what? I at least give a dang to try because I love Jesus and don't want to grieve the Sprit anymore than I do... I hate to watch my hard earned money go straight to a government to waste and spend on those who don't want to work and pay for their easy living (not to mention their health insurance). I hate that there is nothing fair in life when it comes to relationships, security, love, sex, responsibility, wealth, health, kids, and the potential for all of those to cause me heartache. I hate the fact that now I have maybe accumulated some life wisdom in my older years, I haven't the body or spirit to act on it and those that I know have young body and spirit choose to ignore wisdom (I'm sure I was the same way and now the glove is on the other hand). I can go on and on... I'm a hater for sure, but will I let the love of God change me enough to hate less? I am praying for that very thing... for now, I'm a hater.

A season of rest...

the older I get, it seems to me life is handed to me in seasons. I know that flies in the face of the "you make your own opportunity" wisdom of a Tony Robbins and I have been known to go there, but things seem much different these days for me. I work at what I do and I want to pursue excellence, but at the same time, I believe God is patient in my shortcomings (that's not a license for my willful rebellion), gracious in His provision (yes, I do believe that all I have is by His hand and not my clever resourcefulness) and is eager to give me His full attention when I sit down and give Him mine... This year has been full of personal disappointment. In it, I have found myself closer to Him than maybe in the past. This makes perfect sense to me and I embrace it. Right now, I've been graciously afforded a season of rest. The bills are paid for now and I have time to spend with Him and my beautiful wife. I have no idea what the next season will bring but I pray that it finds me closer to Him and to His perfect example of a Son...

it has to start somewhere...

I figured since the rest of my family seems to be into this blog thing and since I enjoy reading what they write, it makes sense to join the fun...

For a person who is in my profession (producing records) I am probably not the typical mold. I don't really care about the sounds on the new Miley Cyrus record, nor do I wish to bite the guitar part on the new flavor of the month rock record. I prefer to spend time sitting on my front porch at the end of the day. I quit coloring my hair years ago and I have not a single tattoo on my body. I spend my days making records with folks that have and do all of the above and I love that about them. I totally relate to the Brian Wilson song "I wasn't made for these times" and it describes me to a T. I love the music of that era as well and it shows in my work. The kids think it's cool. I think much of that music was brilliant and unpretentious.

That pretty much also describes my thoughts about the God I know and love. Brilliant and unpretentious... He's the one being I can legitimately count on in this life and I am learning to lean on Him for peace through this difficult life. My hope is built on nothing less... MLT