Category Archives: Music, Art, Culture, Books

What We’ll See

Once in a while inspiration for a song strikes, and at the same time I’m ready to capture it permanently. Yesterday, that happened. As I woke up the following lyrics came to me, tune in my head, and I penned this first draft of a new song, which I later played at the house show that night.

Suffering in this life has many purposes, I think, but one of those, for sure, for the Christian, is to remind him of his hope in God, and to keep his eyes fixed on the glory that will one day be revealed. Romans 8:18 reads, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present world are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (ESV).” Here are the lyrics for “What We’ll See.”

verse 1

Her Mom died from cancer and a few years later Grandmother the same
Everything right-side-up was up-side-down and our lives forever changed
It took years to make it through it
Though in our minds we knew it
All things work toward good for those who love the Lord

chorus

I believe Lord, I believe
Help me in my unbelief
Take the darkness from my eyes
Take the veil down from my heart and let me see
That these present pains and troubles,
all this heartache and these struggles
are all nothing when compared to your glory and what we’ll see

verse 2

Early onset Alzheimer’s caught up with my mom at 59
Now she’s mostly partly there as disease rushes in and steals her mind

Dad stands by so strong, living up to his vows that
only death can separate them through these years
And the questions keep on coming, I feel like in my soul I’m running
both to and from the answers that I fear

…chorus…

verse 3

Years ago we tried and tried
Desperately to have a child,
Coming from our bodies, just our own
Had we had that dream back then,
We never would have seen the plan
That God brought in from outside to our home

Hollowness had filled us up, all we saw was the empty cup
We had to press so hard just not lose our minds
But the truth we mostly hardly see is that in beauty, pain and mystery
He makes all things beautiful in HIs time

…chorus…

Jeremy Casella House Show (with Chad Voller)

Wanna hear the guy whose record beat both Switchfoot and Derek Webb in the 2007 Christianity Today’s Top 10 Albums of the Year?

Wanna hear him right here in Medina, OH at a house show for only $10?

I’ll be opening for my friend and recording artist, Jeremy Casella, this Friday, September 7th, at 7 p.m. Here are the details…

House Show with Jeremy Casella
This Friday, September 7th
8755 Friendsville Rd
Seville, OH 44273

Cost: $10/person, $20/family
Call or text me for more info: 440-991-7679

Proceeds to benefit Cups Cafe (http://cupscafe.org) coffee house in Medina, OH.

Jeremy’s Website: http://jeremycasella.com
Jeremy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremycasellaUS

Jeremy’s album Recovery received 5 out of 5 stars in Christianity today and was voted Indie Album of the Year, as well as #4 on the top 10 albums of the year. That year he beat out music icons Derek Webb and Switchfoot in the top 10!

Buy his music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/recovery/id256500742

Directions


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Need So Little

image

I want to run, I want to weep
I cannot, no I must not sleep
I want to live, I want to dance
I cannot die and miss romance
I want to climb, I want to fly
I want to take you through the sky
I want no splinters in my cross
I want to slide by at no cost
I want to feel, I want your touch
I need so little, want so much

I want to read, I want to be
I want to give myself to thee
I want to sip, i want your drink
I want your drugs, but not your shrink
I want to fight, I want to win
I want to lie beside my sin
I want to scream, I want to bleed
I am a rose, I want a weed
I want to cry with all my might
I want to flee into the night
I want to feel, I want your touch
I need so little, want so much

“Need so Little” by Chad Voller                                                                                  "Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear

For Yer Money

Recorded this evening on my iPhone for your video enjoyment.  Wrote this one for the wife many moons ago.  Just a quick, fun piece on simple love.

Simple songs are far and wide, this one’s for you
I wrote these words down just to sing them with this tune
Now I don’t want to take too much of your time
So just listen to my rhyme

I don’t love you for yer money
I don’t love you for yer good looks
I don’t love you for anything you do
I just love you fer you

One More Dawn

This one’s for you, Heidi…


Years ago I wrote this song while we waited for Allyson’s mother to die.  It was a difficult time in our first year of marriage, and something we wish we didn’t have to go through.  It was for both of us our first major loss in life.  Robin was her name.  I imagined her prayers during the final moments before she went to Jesus Land, and the words came out like this:

One more dawn, before I say good-bye
One more night alone, just my friends and I
Do not want to leave this world in darkness
So give me one more dawn

Until You take me, and I rest in Your arms
And throw my crowns to Your feet
Until I breathe my last breath in this world
And drink celestial air

Give me strength, Lord, before I say good-bye
To worship You in my heart, both my friends and I
And as I wait, I’ll rise up like an eagle
I’ve run but I’ve grown weary, I’ve walked, I’m feeling faint

And in this morning light shine
Take the darkness, the veil from my eyes
You bestow Your glory upon me
And You lift up my head, You’re the lifter of my head

Further up!  And further in! Make room for me Lord!
Further up! And further in! Yes I am coming!
Higher up!  Futher in!  I’m running to meet my Maker!
Further up and further in!

One more dawn, before I say good-bye
One more night alone, just my friends and I
Do not want to leave this world in darkness
So thank You for one more dawn

Wonder what my last prayer will be…

King of Glory, God of Grace

Songs happen to me sometimes, that’s just the way it works.  If you write music or poetry, you probably understand.  There isn’t always a well-planned 7-step process to making a song work.  This is one of those songs.  Through studies and sermons this week, I was reminded that God is at the same time ultimately glorious and ultimately gracious.  It is astounding that the King of Glory, the One true God, the Holy One of Israel, would also be gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing this song during the offertory, and we will perhaps sing it as a congregation the following week.

King of Glory, God of Grace
Words and Music by Chad Voller

Verse 1
You are awesome in this place
King of glory, God of grace
Holy One and precious lamb the same

Commanding conqueror
Yet You save the sons of earth
You’re the Judge and You’re the Giver of life

You gave up the throne of Heaven
Became blood and body broken
Calmed the storm and our raging sea

You spoke the earth and all creation
Sovereign Lord of all the nations
Sent Your Son to Calvary

You are awesome in this place
King of glory………..God of grace

Verse 2
You’re the keeper of the stars
And you mend the sinner’s heart
You have chased us down and caught us in love

We have cursed You with our lips
And betrayed You with a kiss
But You rescued us from death below

We hailed You with a crown of thorns
Pounded ’til the flesh was torn
By Your wounds and stripes we are healed

Lord of all, the King of men
Traded righteousness for sin
Hung upon the rugged tree

You are awesome in this place
King of glory………..God of grace

Bridge
I could never comprehend Your greatness
I could never understand Your love
But I’m falling down to worship
And I’m rising up to praise
The King of Glory, God of Grace

North! Or Be Eaten

Do you remember reading your favorite adventure books as a child?  When was the last time you sat down and re-read one of those treasures?  If it’s been a while for you, you’ll find a stunningly fun and exciting journey lies ahead in the dangerously wonderful fantasy land of Aerwiar.  And, of course, I’m a sucker for any fantasy book with a Tolkien-esque hand-drawn map in the beginning!  :-)  After reading this tale of adventure, I am going to have to start from the beginning and read book one: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

This second book of Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga, North! Or Be Eaten brings a terrific childlike whimsy back into our lives with a story of adventure, travel, peril and friendship.  The suspense is real when, at one point, Janner climbs down a hole into a chamber, strikes a match and meets someone terrifying, “Her hand touched his foot, and Janner tried to scream, but his voice made no sound.  The stars burst into fiery colors, and he had the sensation of falling slowly upward and into the dreadful, silent well of space.”

To learn what happens to Janner, Podo, Tink, and the rest of the ragged band, you’ll have to pick up a copy for yourself. Enjoy!