What’s the hardest part of a song to write, assuming you’re not a genius who can make up an entire song in three minutes (which is most of us)? For my money, it’s the second verse. The chorus usually comes to you in your first blast of inspiration, so that’s the easiest part. After that the first verse, because you’re all full of things to say that build off of the chorus. Then a bridge is no big deal (if... Read more
The Garms Family announced in their latest e-mail newsletter that the Little Adventurers’ upcoming project Out Front: Featuring Sam, Jayme, and Caleb Garms will feature a very special guest quartet: Legacy Five! They are singing backup vocals for Caleb on “I’m Feeling Fine.” If by chance you missed the video of Caleb’s performance that was going around the interwebs some time ago, this will give you a taste of what the studio version should sound like: Read more
In memory of our veterans, I’ve compiled a list of appropriate songs from artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Schultz and Five for Fighting. Some of them are music videos while others are simply photo compilations. For most of these I’ll simply provide a link to a Youtube video, but I picked one video to embed/feature, because the combination of images, footage and music is so fantastic. Someone put this together to Michael W. Smith’s instrumental tribute “Heroes” (I suggest... Read more
The Republican party is at a crossroads right now. They can choose to respond to Obama’s victory in one of two ways: Move (even more) to the left in a desperate bid to appear more moderate and therefore more “electable” (supposedly), or stand their ground. Actually, I suppose there is a third option, which would be to retrace their steps and move back to the right, but wait, wait, I think I see a pig flying! Unfortunately, I think what... Read more
The thoughts and sermon clips contained in this post may not, on the surface, seem particularly cheering or comforting in the wake of our commander-in-chief’s reelection last night. They may even strike some as grim or despairing. However, I submit that “grim” is one thing, but despairing is another. Truth is often harsh and grim. But we are commanded never to despair. For out of the ashes, beauty rises. And out of great evil comes great glory. (more…) Read more
When’s the last time you heard someone begin a statement about President Obama in one of these ways? “Even if you disagree with President Obama…” “I disagree with President Obama, but…” “President Obama and I would doubtless disagree on certain issues, but…” …where what follows after the “but” could be anything from “You should still respect him” to “I don’t think he’s an evil person” to “We can still come together on other issues.” I “disagree” with some people that... Read more
I thought this might cheer somebody up today: Read more
Yesterday was All Saints’, and I suppose I should have put this up then, but I’ve been busy… Calculus II test prep, don’t you know. Anyway, I wanted to introduce my readers to this classic Anglican hymn about the saints: “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God,” written by children’s hymn-writer Lesbia Scott in 1929. I think it strikes the perfect balance between on the one hand elevating saints to a heretical extent (praying to them) and on... Read more
I haven’t found an official press release yet, but on Devin McGlamery’s twitter, he has been discussing the recording process for a solo record to be released on Stowtown: Just recorded the first track for my solo record with Stowtown! A Wayne Haun original!! I’m so excited I could cry!!!!!!! Wahooo Devin has a natural solo voice, and this makes sense in the wake of Doug Anderson’s award-winning album. I look forward to hearing it! Read more
The Booth Brothers came to the Gospel Barn in Hillsdale, Michigan earlier this month, and I got to go and enjoy them. It was a great experience and a great concert with a mix of old favorites and material from their new Gaither project. Here are some of the highlights off the top of my head, in no particular order: (more…) Read more
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