Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory.
Oscar Wilde
His Love
Let There Be Light
My mom had a very long, painful experience with kidney disease and renal failure. She was in almost constant pain for as long as I can remember. The amazing thing is that unless you knew mom very well, you'd never know she was hurting. Her magnetic smile, gracious manner and quick wit weren't diminished by her physical problems. The summer after I graduated from high school mom passed away. My dad, my brother and I each struggled, in our own way, to come to grips with the fact that God had allowed such a sweet, loving, caring person to suffer so much and then die at the young age of 42. For myself, I came to realize that while mom's death wasn't God's idea, he can and does use trials in our lives to strengthen us, to refine us and to bring us closer to him. I wrote "It Takes Rain" several years after her death, and I sing it as an encouragement to those how are struggling with those same questions.
In October of 1984 Cindi and I moved to Grenada, Missippi. Grenada is a small town, but it is huge when compared with Water Valley, home of the nearest Adventist church. When we first walked into the Water Valley SDA Church, there were less that 20 people in attendance. Neither of us had been members of such a small church. It wasn't long before we realized what a blessing this little church family would be in our lives. Because even though they were small in numbers, they were large in faith and in vision. It was during our time at Water Valley that I wrote this song. Water Valley taught us that we don't have to be part of a giant army to do great things for the Lord.
Travis was the kind of kid you liked right away. He was energetic, funny, had a quick wit - and in my role as a leader in his Pathfinder youth group, more than a little mischievous. For Travis the future was bright.
I feel that I have led a blessed life. I have not been called upon to sacrifice very much. But I have good friends who have been asked to sacrifice greatly. On May 19, 2007 their son, Private First Class Travis Haslip, was killed, along with 5 other men from his unit, when an IED exploded near his vehicle.
Watching Travis' parents go through that experience, I was inspired to write this song - as a tribute to those who have sacrificed so much for their country and also as an encouragement to the families left behind.
I don't know where Travis' heart was when he died - I don't know about his walk with the Lord. But standing there, watching the military precision of his funeral and looking on the faces of my friends, I wanted to tell them not to focus on the loss, but on the hope. I wanted to ease their sorrow with the knowledge that God is stronger and that in the end He will prevail. I wanted to wrap my arms around them and remind them that this world is not our home.
One thing I remember about my mom is that she would sing, mostly to herself, a little made-up song as she did her housework. She wasn't a singer and never sang in public, but that little song is a memory I'll always treasure. Every mother has a "song" she sings to her kids - her special way of showing love, care and concern that becomes a part of who they are. That God-given influence should never be taken for granted.
I wrote this song to sing at my 20th high school reunion. The comparison between school reunions and our heavenly reunion is inescapable. I can't wait until we can be reunited with friends and loved ones! And just think - we get to share that with Jesus himself. What a joy!
My older brother, Richard, has had a profound influence in my life. We are four years apart, and there were years that we had very little in common and didn't get along all that well. But I remember very well, some special times when he included me in events even though he didn't have to. That's what Christ did for us - He included us (saved us) even though He didn't have to. Praise God for Brotherly love.
Let There Be Light --
I wrote the foundation of this song during a community Thanksgiving service in which I was singing with inSpirit Men’s Chorus. One of the participants was a young lady with a beautiful voice. During the intro of her song, there were images on the screen of planets, stars and the earth, and the music was very ethereal. I thought the song was going to be about the creation of our world, but it went a different direction altogether. I realized that would be a great way to intro a song about God speaking our world into existence, beginning with light. And then other references of light in the Bible came to mind, and “Let There Be Light” was born. I pray that this song will help each of us understand that God was speaking to you and me when He said , “You are the light of the world.”
My Shepherd --
Unlike most of my songs, "My Shepherd" began not with the lyrics but with the music. I wrote the melody and chords for the entire song before I wrote any lyrics. Then, while playing the melody, the phrase "Lord, you are my shepherd" came to mind and I thought of Psalm 23. This passage is so familiar and yet so filled with meaning. After reading Psalm 23 in several different versions of the Bible, I wrote this paraphrase of this most beautiful of Psalms.
Child of my Heart --
No matter how quickly our children grow, there is never a point at which a parent
ceases to love and care for his or her child. The hopes and dreams a father or a
mother whispers over their little one’s crib never diminish. Having been blessed with two healthy children, I’m afraid I am guilty of taking their health, and therefore their futures, for granted. But as I stand on the sidelines and watch a young girl and her family battle cancer, I realize that I should get on my knees every day and thank God for my children and my wife. May I never again take for granted these precious gifts.
To Roo and her family — thank you for your example of faith, courage, honesty and grace under fire. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isiah 40:31
Beautiful the Love --
I began writing "Beautiful The Love" after Cindi's brother Ron suggested that there was a need for more Christian love and wedding songs. And he is right. In today’s world, where the word relationship has become synonymous with the word temporary, there are not enough reminders that marriage was instituted in Eden — by God himself. And it was meant to be forever. The blending of two lives into one to produce a lasting, loving bond with God at the center is a miracle of heaven — and that love truly is beautiful.
Night of Messiah --
In the beginning, “Night of Messiah” was going to be a Christmas song — and only that. With a focus on all the magical images we remember from childhood pageants and musicals, it would be a song of angels, maggi and mangers. But as I was writing the lyrics, I came to believe that to focus on those things without dealing with what is truly magical would be missing an opportunity. Of course the fact that the Son of God traded his throne for a manger is amazing. But the point of the story is not what He did but why He did it. And so, yes, we should remember that wonderful night. But we should never forget that dreadful day. And we must continually wait with eager
anticipation the glorious, victorious return of our Messiah!
The Lamb --
Inspiration for this song came from a sermon by Pastor Randy Roberts at the 2010 General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists. In it, he compared three examples in which Christ is referred to as “the Lamb." I took a few notes and that became the framework of this song. In each instance, Jesus performs a role that is crucial to our salvation and that only He can fulfill. Praise God for His marvelous grace!