The Dance of Grace

I took my daily walk yesterday and, while enjoying the exercise, I listened to the new CD that Glen Campbell just released called "Ghost on the Canvas." I was drawn to a stand-out song on the CD called "It's Your Amazing Grace." The final lyric caught my attention as these words trailed out at the end of the song: "...Your amazing grace keeps us together."

Because of our familiarity with the old hymn, the phrase "amazing grace" can sail right over our heads if we're not careful. But if we stop to ponder the word grace--unmerited or unearned favor--we are again drawn to this incredible, "amazing" offer of redemption from God: He buys us back out of slavery into fellowship with Himself through the blood of His Son. We are arrogant to think that, as sinful humans, we could ever uphold our part of this amazing offer of grace through our own wit or strength. It is only by His work--His invitation, sacrifice, forgiveness and justification--that our salvation is even possible. No human effort could ever bring about this salvation; no human effort could ever maintain it.

When I take a walk, it would be ludicrous to suppose that my exercise regime is the reason my heart beats. Rather, my walking is a conscious effort to cooperate with God to keep my heart healthy. It is only by the grace of God (the beat keeper) that my heart pumps blood and my lungs breathe. So, we should be very careful to distinguish between God's grace and our cooperation as followers of Christ. He leads the dance. The New Living Translation version of Ephesians 2:9 aptly states: "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

Truly, it is only God's grace that glues together the relationship between God and man. I am only a humble, cooperative servant who, in obedience, walks one foot in front of the other toward God's call. I believe that God holds onto us and not the reverse. Likewise, I also believe that we must, as James 4:8 states: "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (NIV)." We must repent from sin and draw near to Him; that is our part in this dance of Grace.

I was blessed recently by reading this profound statement: "The cross is the sign that God has solved all the world’s problems without requiring a single human being to do a single religious thing."

I thank God for fresh air, time alone with Him, and the exercise I get while walking the loop around my neighborhood. I especially thank God for the words that caught my ear on the new Glen Campbell CD, reminding me that His amazing grace is what keeps our relationship together...He's holding onto me!

Steve Jobs: Find What You Love

While reading the online version of the Wall Street Journal last week, I came across a life-changing article. Steve Jobs, who has been at the helm of Apple Inc twice--and started two companies, NeXT and Pixar in between--gave a commencement address in 2005 at Stanford University. In the speech, he made several observations about life that I want to highlight. I believe it is always wise to listen to a person who has looked death in the eye, and has come back from the encounter as a sober messenger with lessons learned. Jobs, just last week, stepped down as CEO of Apple for medical reasons. Here is a bullet version of his main points from the address and, in numbers, what I took away from it..

Connect the dots

1. Sometimes our failures and difficulties lead us to where we are ultimately meant to be.
2. Know when to let go of things that seem right and honorable for someone else in exchange for what you know is the right path for you.
3. God has a future and a hope for everyone.

Jobs says, "...you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

The Importance of Loss and Love

1. When we face rejection or failure, especially from something or someone very important to us, it may help us launch into a direction that we may have never before considered.

"I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life."

2. Love what you do.

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle."

Finding Life in Death

1. If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

2. Its okay to make life corrections--to start over, even in the middle of life.

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

3. Time is limited--don't waste it.
4. Live your own life, not someone else's.

"Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

In Conclusion...

1. Stay hungry.
2. Stay foolish.

"When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation...It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: 'Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.' It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you."

___________________________________________________

My faith in Christ is my "true north," and the peace and instruction I receive from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God helps me to navigate the treacherous waters of life. Even as he hasn't professed faith in Jesus publicly, Steve Jobs has given to those who listen to this commencement address a compass of wisdom from which to set life-goals and dreams.

I pray for Job's health and strength as he and his family wind through some of the toughest terrain of their lives so far. Thank you, Steve, for your wisdom and the courage to share it.

Happy 20th Birthday, Ancient of Days!

Gary Sadler and I were working on our new project in his studio last Thursday when he reminded me that 20 years ago, around August 15th, we wrote "Ancient of Days." Little did we know then that the song would change our lives.

As I look back, I am grateful for the opportunity to follow my heart. I have always done what I loved, and being a songwriter has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life. The song changed my life and that of my family (photo: Gary and Debra Sadler with Brenda and I at a favorite Franklin, TN eatery).

Below is an excerpt from an article written 8 years ago by Debra Akins about the writing of "Ancient of Days." Thanks Gary! This tune has linked us for life and opened up a floodgate of great songs, some of which will be released real soon.

It’s been 12 years since songwriters Jamie Harvill and Gary Sadler wrote “Ancient of Days,” one of the most celebrated worship songs performed in congregations around the world today. And while these two songwriters have gone on to pen and record numerous worship standards, both collectively and individually, it was this song that became the catalyst that helped catapult their careers to international levels. Harvill still wonders at the magnitude such a moment of inspiration can have – both on the songwriter and on those who are impacted by hearing the song.

“It has gone far beyond my wildest dreams,” says Harvill. “I have been blessed to visit many foreign countries and have heard it performed in several languages. It is truly a gift from God. I feel like the proverbial lizard in the king’s palace. It has opened many otherwise closed doors for me. Through this song, God gave Gary and me an opportunity to begin our careers and to go on to write many more songs of worship, but no matter how many others I write, I will always be recognized as the co-writer of ‘Ancient of Days.’”

Harvill and Sadler brought their families together in the spring and summer of 1991, converging at Harvill’s small rental house in Mobile, Alabama. With four children and four adults crammed into a two-bedroom, 1-bathroom house, the two songwriters were somehow able to write together in a small bedroom Harvill had converted into a studio.

“Our inspiration was Daniel 7:22,” Harvill explains. “Daniel’s vision includes the ‘Ancient of Days,’ and that His kingdom shall not pass away. We loved the heavenly, worshipful imagery.”

Sadler had already come up with the song’s title and a basic verse melody. Harvill had been listening at the time to a South African writer and performer named Johnny Klegg, and had begun to imitate some of Klegg’s ethnic drum patterns just for fun. Some of those same sounds became the direction the two writers took when they began to put together the pieces of “Ancient of Days.” Harvill credits worship pioneer and friend Gerrit Gustafson for championing the song and ultimately pitching it to Integrity Music.

“Gary and I had never had a song recorded on a national label before,” Harvill shares. “When it made the list for Ron Kenoly’s Lift Him Up album, we were ecstatic. When we realized that it would include a bass, flute and percussion solo, making the song last more than seven minutes, we knew that God was up to something big!”

Harvill, who wrote his first poems as a child, crafted his very first song, “Albatross,” when he was 13 years old. Growing up in Southern California, he claims he wasn’t great at sports, but learned early on through church plays and school choruses that he was interested in music. Playing guitar, singing and writing songs became second nature to him.

After Harvill and Sadler completed “Ancient of Days” in the spring/summer of 1991, Kenoly’s live recording was scheduled to take place in
Virginia Beach that October. Harvill brought his parents and family along with him to the event, and remembers the night vividly.

“When the song was being performed, I remember looking over at my mother, who has since passed away, and seeing the look of wonder in her eyes,” says Harvill. “I knew at that moment my folks realized that all of the loud garage band practices, music lessons and never-ending requests for guitar gear became worth it in an instant. That night was the beginning of my songwriting career.”

After moving to the Nashville area a few years ago, Harvill gets together with Sadler every week to write. While their musical styles vary, they both write music and lyrics and have formed a collaborative partnership that has produced a collection of songs they plan to record on their own CD that they hope to complete by mid-2004.

“Gary and I are known mostly as songwriters,” says Harvill, “but we are also musicians, singers and ministers. We are going to do it all by ourselves if that’s what it takes to create music and share it with the church. I know God has anointed our partnership.”

The "White" Amplifier

On May 20, 1954, Forrest White joined Leo Fender and his burgeoning Fender Electric Instrument Company in Fullerton, California, as General Manager. In early 1955, an employee came into building #3 at the Fullerton factory and asked Forrest what he wanted to do with the white nameplates that just arrived. He told the messenger to send them back because Fender nameplates only came in brown or chrome. The brave messenger came back with, "No, you don't understand; they are 'White.'" The employee proceeded to show Forrest the nameplates with his own name boldly inscribed. It would soon grace a "studio" amplifier model that Leo was developing for the new "White Instrument Company." Leo surprised Forrest that day; even as General Manager, White had no idea what Mr. Fender was up to, and that his boss had named this new line after him.

The first White Amplifier was born soon after the nameplate incident. In his book, The Fender Inside Story, Forrest White (photo) wrote that they received the first White sales order, #402, for the new studio line--a White Amp Model 80 and a 6-String Lap Steel--on September 13, 1955. The units were constructed in October and November, just weeks later. The White lap steel guitar and amp usually came as a set and were sold at music instruction studios. Fender also planned a White student standard guitar, but never put it into production (Fender: The Sound heard 'Round the World by Richard R. Smith).

I was able to talk with Adam Grimm, co-owner of Satellite Amps, at the Nashville Amp Expo last weekend. His company announced in June, 2011 that they will be recreating the original White Higher Fidelity amplifiers. They are making spot on reproductions--as close to the originals as possible.

Adam expressed to me that full rights to the name and design were acquired by Satellite. As you can see in the photos below from the amp show, it is not white in color, but a variation on battleship gray. Satellite, as shown in both photos, has added an optional extension speaker cabinet, not originally offered by Fender, which is convertible from closed to open back. Adam told me that the original series had varying cabinet depths, but that they settled on the current one. The original series, just like many Fender products, went through various changes in certain aesthetics over it's lifetime--like a "square" power switch and some detailing around some of the controls. As Satellite proceeds with this model, some of the details may change in future incarnations. (In the photos I took of the reproduction, the toggle and chrome chassis are basic).

Adam also explained that, because of the safety and health issues surrounding the chroming process, these shiny chassis are hard to come by, and are expensive. Mojo Musical Supply still carries several chrome options.

The White Amplifier at Fender had a short run and, according to Adam Grimm, the number of amps manufactured is in question.

Forrest White went on to serve as Vice President of Fender. He also worked at Rickenbacker, CMI and Music Man. He died of cancer in 1994.

Below is a demo video of the Satellite Amplifier "White Higher Fidelity Amp" by Doug Myer From Mountain Cat Guitars:

Baby Bets

My daughter, Betsy, has surprised me at every stage of her life. She started out as a fighter: stubborn, and didn't want to go to sleep because she wanted to be in the middle of everything that was going on around her. I would have to hold her against my shoulder as an infant so she'd go to sleep. I had long hair back then, so she would lay on my shoulder and curl a strand of my hair until it wrapped tight around her finger. Unfortunately, right about that time, she was asleep. So I had to carefully take her to her bed, lay her down and untangle her finger from the lock of my hair without waking her and starting the dance all over again.

I have images of Betsy with almost white blonde hair, standing on the front porch in her mom's red high heel shoes, singing to the top of her lungs into a hairbrush. She has never been shy about speaking her mind to either of us. Maybe sometimes as a teenager, her wilfulness crossed the line from expressing herself to disrespect, but not often. She has a streak of her father in her DNA, so I know where that stuff comes from and I notice it quicker than anyone else. I'm not one to stand around and watch someone expel obvious B.S. without being confronted, and neither is Betsy.

How did these kids grow up so fast? How did they make it through unscathed? I know Brenda and I spent countless times praying for both Betsy and her older brother, Joshua. It isn't too early to start praying for them, by the way--for their spouses, their place in the world, their salvation and membership in the Kingdom of God. There were bumps and challenges along the way, but our trust in God for Betsy and Josh was not betrayed. He was faithful at every turn, and I want to encourage those folks who are reluctant to have children because of the risks that today's world brings: it is so worth it! As my dad always says, "What would life be if, at the end, there were no children to accompany us?" We wanted kids because we wanted to raise a family of our own and to leave a legacy. Children are so rewarding.

Betsy is a beautiful girl with a great husband, Adam. We are blessed that they have moved back to Nashville from Memphis after Adam's law school graduation in May. They are awaiting the results of Adam's bar exam last month.

I see Brenda shining through in Betsy. Surprisingly, they have become so alike in many ways. She still has that radical streak that her dad has though, God bless her!

Here's a video she made last week of 15 crazy facts about her--just a few answers to questions to get to know her. She has a wonderful blog, too. I'm a proud papa!

The Summer of Dad

Sometimes we have to change a tire on the way to work. To compound the frustration, it might be raining cats & dogs. We finally get to work soggy and frustrated, only to find out that an accident sending some to the hospital occurred at the exact time and on the same road you would have taken if not for the interruption. Thank God for flat tires! Who knows how many times God saves us and the blessings He brings us--while we're not paying attention.

Earlier this spring, my dad had a crick in his hip that caused him to limp when getting the mail at the end of his driveway, His across-the-street neighbor saw him struggle and suggested a chiropractor; dad made an appointment. The x-ray showed nothing wrong with his hip but, instead, revealed a possible life-threatening aortic aneurism. Dad's subsequent appointment with a specialist confirmed a serious condition which required immediate surgery.

At the same time, I left a position as a worship leader--one I had for almost seven years. Brenda and I trusted God for His provision since we had no other job to jump into. Thank God, as a songwriter, song royalties are a major source of our income. So we trusted God to show us a new direction. Frankly, the prospect of a new adventure was invigorating, but the flesh always craves physical proof that we'd be okay over the next several months. Through it all, my spirit always echoed the Lord, "I will provide!"

As I left my position and "financial security," dad's medical difficulties and pending surgery fell conveniently into my newly cleared schedule. As June marched on, I realized that it was God Who made it possible for me tend to my dad's needs and to spend the summer hanging out together.

Since the surgery six weeks ago, dad has miraculously recovered. He has since left his home in North Carolina to permanently moved in with Brenda and me. He has always been reluctant to intrude on anyone, yet dad's moving in with us has been anything but an intrusion. In fact, I have had the best summer in years! The opportunity has given us the time to spend long hours talking about my childhood days and his life before he married my mother. How can money buy any of the experiences I've had over the past three months? I look forward to many more years with my dad as we are now officially house mates!

Please take a moment and visit my dad's website, one that my son Josh developed several years ago. The site will introduce you to a real cool guy named Tom Harvill. I know you will see how great this summer has been for me.

Joshua

Just over a month after our first wedding anniversary, Joshua Arthur Harvill was born on January 30th, 1987. He was a hit with the nurses in the maternity ward because his smile created prominent dimples on his face.

When he was only a few weeks old, Brenda jumped (actually hobbled) at the chance to get out of the house for a dinner invitation at a friend's home. With a full belly, Josh fell asleep. So Brenda put him down on a soft place between two stereo speakers. At some time during the evening, the host wasn't thinking and cranked some music on the stereo. Josh never flinched--just kept on sleeping-- like he was at home with loud music!

His sister Betsy was born a year and a month after him in March, 1988. Brenda brought the disciplined, quiet, patient and stalwart aspect to our child-rearing duties. I brought the "crazy dreamer" to the game as I was still at college while my kids were born. Even though I was pursuing a bachelor's degree, I longed to be a musician and a song writer in the long run. My kids probably got a real balance with the both of us as parents. Thanks God for my sweet wife!

Josh was and is a true artist. He would always be drawing some kind of super hero or a human-animal hybrid (usually with huge claws)! He also loved music. We have a video of Josh and me sitting in our living room with our backs to the camera listening and singing to songs I had recorded. He was probably 7 years old then, and I said to Josh that someday he could work with me on a recording project. Little did we know then how true that would be in the future.

Josh told me one day that he wanted to play drums, not guitar, and hoped I wouldn't be disappointed. So Brenda set out pots and pans with wooden spoons on the kitchen floor for Josh to practice. His uncle Jon is a drummer and, for some reason, we had Jon's drums set up at my house. Joshua was so tempted to jump on them and start pounding away. We held him back from that so he wouldn't hurt his uncle's gear. Cookware had to do!

After my mother's death in 1997, we moved from Mobile, Alabama to North Carolina so we could live near my dad. We soon started a new church with a local pastor, Mike Snelgrove. The first drummer we had on our new worship team was dying of cancer and we turned to Josh as our drummer, even though, up to that point, he had no real "kit" experience. He just got up there, took the sticks and was incredible. He was a natural right away! He even had to stand up to hit the crash cymbals, but then he'd quickly sit down in a split-second to start grooving again between the hi-hat, snare and kick drum. That was when he was 13. We bought him his own kit soon after and he has since turned into a marvelous, professional drummer.

He has a great reputation for being not only a great live player, but also an excellent session drummer. He has the ability to read music, find the right part and bring signature licks and grooves to each song. I use him exclusively on all of my projects because he is so good.

A few nights ago I sat in the audience while he recorded drums for a live album. He did so well--every lick, groove and fill were expertly executed. No fixes, just straight through from the first song all the way to the last. That's-a-my-boy!

He's married now to a beautiful girl named Amber. They are starting out on a journey just like Brenda and I did 26 years ago. I pray he has the courage to blast through all of the naysayers who might try to talk him out of pursuing his dreams. The funny thing is, he has since learned to play the guitar and keyboards--he can sing, too. Now that he's graduated from college, I know he will set the world on fire. Maybe someday he will let me play on his project!

There Goes the Neighborhood!

My neighborhood is filled with musicians. Unlike most American communities, we have sound guys, managers, producers, arrangers, singers, songwriters, recording engineers, and musicians of every stripe and style making their home here. Thirty miles south of Nashville, we live in a small town called Spring Hill, just on the outer edge of what Music City offers in the way of shopping, food and entertainment. We just choose to live a little further out of the craziness in a quaint, sleepy hamlet. You see, those who play in touring bands with the big acts, along with all of the peripheral supply persons for the music industry, escape to somewhere...and they all seem to live here in my little town!

I say "they" but it is really "we." As a songwriter and a studio player myself, I am one of those crazy musician types who stand in line at Home Depot, or grab a bite to eat at Cracker Barrel. Its just that the folks I'm talking about have hairdos and tattoos that are hard to miss. Its not unusual to see a country or a Christian music artist driving around town or getting a to-go coffee at Starbucks. The locals don't do double-takes anymore because they are used to it. Its not uncommon for me to hear the muffled yet prominent sounds of a recording session emanating from a few of the homes on my daily walking route. Again, the neighbors kind of expect it. I have yet to hear my neighbors complain as I crank-up the guitar amps during recording sessions in my own home (Its amazing how many famous records have been recorded in neighborhoods just like mine).

I prefer the relative quiet of my little neighborhood. I also appreciate the inclusiveness that our town offers the many musicians here. I know I live in an unusual place. Its not strange, just not like anywhere else--except for maybe New York or LA. The big exception is that you can actually raise a family here with great schools, churches and amenities--all the while enjoying the wide-open spaces that middle Tennessee offers.

I'll miss it when "riff-raff" like accountants and business-types move in. Then we can say, "There goes the neighborhood!"

Nashville Amp Exo

For those of you in the Nashville area, its just a week until August 19-21 when Creation Audio Labs and Pedaltrain sponsor the third annual Nashville Amp Expo. It will be held at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Brentwood, off of Old Hickory Blvd.

Each person pays only $5 per day to visit the exhibitors who are set-up in hotel rooms lining several floors. There are no volume limits since the hotel will be taken over by tone freaks (not a place for the late-summer vacation traveler who is seeking peace and quiet)!

Along with exhibits are seminars and concerts to attend. My old friend, former band-mate and fusion guitarist extraordinaire, Denny Jiosa, will be performing on Sunday night the 21st.

The cool thing is meeting all of the makers of great guitar and studio gear, along with a plethora of accessories, and having the opportunity to ask delving questions about the designs, build processes, company philosophies and tone--straight to the owners and designers. This year I will be helping my buddy Kevin Shaw as he is exhibiting the great Shaw Audio handmade tube amps that I love and use.

I will be there for the whole show, so please come by and say hello. You never know who you'll see there hanging out in the hallways. And by the way, everyone is on an equal footing at the Expo, as opposed to the NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville, which are all about the retailers. This event is about the player and the product producer meeting one-on-one to talk tone. You can purchase and take home some new gear, too!

Below is a demo that I made for Kevin of the new Shaw JCM 20 amp. Its a tune I wrote and performed called "Shaw-Shanked," demonstrating the great classic Marshall-esque tones emanating from the brand-new amp. You have got to come by and check out this plus more of Kevin's amps next weekend at the Nashville Amp Expo.

Surprise Me, God!

I have taken a bit of a rest this summer. With the beginning of June commencing the hiatus, Brenda and I took a radical turn from a seven-year career trajectory. We made the decision at the end of May to embark on a radical adventure--one that many would call foolish. Mom always said, "Don't end something unless you have something to immediately take it's place." Well mom, this time I went with my gut and totally disobeyed your teaching.

I left my position as a worship leader and decided to hit "reset" on my career, life direction and the resultant future. This time I am leaving it completely up to God to redirect my steps. You see, I am very good at making my own way. I have a street-fighter hunger to dominate my circumstances so that things will go my way. I've been hungry enough at times to lean-in hard to get what I want--to do whatever it takes to get what I have my "tractor beam" desire set upon. The trouble is, with that mindset I usually meet with failure as my plans take a nose-dive and spiral out of control. Don't we all have the propensity to be lord of our own lives?

This time I want to be a complete fool and let God choose the direction for me!

What the world calls wise (calculating risks, cautious forward movement, get what you can while you can) doesn't ring true to me. I am tired of going for what I want and am willing to say, "God, surprise me!" If I sound like my life before May, 2011 was just a selfish journey, then I have not clearly communicated. God has been in most of what I have accomplished, even though I've made mistakes. What I mean to say is: I am tired of trying to figure everything out; I am throwing it all up in the air and, like Christ-following faith-walkers of the past, am willing to see what God has in store.

I don't believe that my creative endeavors of the past will be affected, although if God wants to make changes, I'm cool with it. All I know right now is that there are songs and books to write, music to make, a family to love and support, and most importantly, a Lord to trust, follow and worship. Beyond that, the sky's the limit.

Surprise me, God!

Stamp of Approval

I grew up in a home where approval was abundant--probably because both of my parents were raised in fractured homes where divorce carved a permanent scar in both of their hearts. Therefore, they knew the importance of encouragement, and I'm grateful for it. But just because we heard encouragement while growing up doesn't mean we don't need it anymore as adults.

The Bible speaks of encouraging words as gold and silver: Proverbs 25:11 states, "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. (NASB)" I believe we have the power to bless other people with encouraging words or curse with negative ones. One blessing that came to me in my early years helped to steer me forward into a music career.

It was Columbus, Ohio in 1980 or 1981, where I came in contact with a brilliant trombonist, and arranger named Stan Morse. He had played in several world-renowned big bands and had worked in television before he became the arranger for American Entertainment Productions. One day in rehearsal he leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You've got what it takes; your gonna make it in music!" Those words gave me the courage to endure in the ensuing years when, at times, I felt like getting off of the rough and tumble road of professional music.

I recently heard Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Chris Hillman, from the Byrds and other assorted folk-rock and country outfits, talk of the importance of encouraging words in his own life. He was in LA in the late 60s and had just finished a show at one of southern California's premier country music performance venues. As his band was taking a break from their set, a tall, bear-of-a-shadow enveloped him from behind, and a large hand appeared on his right shoulder. Looking backward toward the source, Hillman was surprised to see his childhood TV hero, Tex Ritter, whom he had never met, looming over him. Tex said something like, "Keep it up young man, you're gonna make it in this business!" Those life-giving words helped drive Hillman forward as an architect of the country rock sound that flooded California and the world in years to come.

I don't know why some people refuse to encourage others. Maybe because they don't want to seem vulnerable or "soft." Maybe because they never knew encouragement themselves. I believe it is my duty to help others if it is in my power to do so. The Bible states in James 4:17, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them (NIV)." I believe it is important that we, especially as Christians, give encouragement and mentoring when the opportunity arises. We will probably never know the blessing we deposit in the hearts of people when we are obedient to the opportunity.

Be a mentor to someone. There maybe a person out there today--and it maybe your own child--who needs your stamp of approval.

Tax-Free Weekend

Is it just me or do you see the stupidity in this tax-free weekend mumbo-jumbo? Every time I go online to order something, I get it tax-free anyway, many times with free shipping. I shop Amazon.com often because I'm obligated. Last Christmas I signed-up for the "Prime" membership which enables me to get items with the special "Prime" designation including free two-day delivery. I intended to take full advantage of the free trial, but as most folks do, I blew it and forgot to cancel before they charged me almost $100. Did I save money? Only if I use this "Prime" thing and nothing else until this year's Christmas.

I watched a 2007 Apple Computer documentary a few nights ago. Interviewed were several people camping outside an Apple store for as long as five days, anticipating the release of the first iPhone. What is it that makes people think they are getting an advantage when they lose five days of work waiting in some crazy line with a slew of other maniacs for a stupid cell phone?

The same goes for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I tried to join-in the festivities one year but came away with only a few DVDs and a headache. Standing in a line wrapped around Best Buy at three o'clock in the morning is costly for me--very, very expensive--especially for my body.

Brenda told me she heard a rumor that Congress is trying to make online shopping stores like Amazon pay retroactively for all of the gazillions of dollars in unpaid sales tax. I say fine. In fact, I will be glad to make a trade with Uncle Sam and the IRS: If they are willing to discontinue income tax in trade for a consumer tax on purchased items, I'd be ecstatic! I bet we'd close the gap on the deficit in short order!

But no, things don't go as easy as that. So the State of Tennessee ostensibly gives us a tax-free weekend (limited to certain products, mind you) at the end of summer to help families with back-to-school expenses and to stimulate the economy. I know the real reason is for the government to convince us that we can't live without their generosity.

I'll just continue to make my orders online and wait a few days for the big brown truck to squeal it's brakes at the curb in front of my house. From computer to curb with no taxes--every day of the year--now that's shopping!

Fountains of Wayne

How can anyone resist a song for the common man. Not like Springsteen's characters, with young girls holding on tightly to studly motorcycle riders--hair blowing in the wind--tearing down Thunder Road. What I mean is a song written for regular, non-motor-scootin' males like me...who have problems, too much weight around the middle, and who are over 40 (or over 50, in my case!). Fountains of Wayne is a band for the common man, and they write the greatest 3 1/2 minute odes to lonely losers of this world. Their records are filled with stories of the lovelorn, sentimental, stuck-in-childhood geek, still living in his parent's basement.

If that description didn't offend you, stick around and Fountains of Wayne will hit a nerve. I think they write these songs so convincingly because they see the characters in themselves. The band's name--taken from a now-defunct garden center somewhere in the Northeast--suggests the absurdity that many of their songs convey. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young. A quick listen to any of their CDs will reveal a mastery of the guitar-layered anthem, supporting a fine but "Wierd Al-like" lead vocal. Hidden in the background playing bass is probably the most famous silent partner in any band: Adam Schlesinger. Collingwood and Schlesinger are the band's songwriters, but Adam Schlesinger has written for several movie projects, including the title song for "That Thing You Do." He also wrote the theme song for 2007's "Music and Lyrics." Many of their songs make a cameo in TV shows and commercials. Not bad for a bunch of guys who would blend into any amusement park--kids and wives in tow.

The song "Stacy's Mom" is probably the most recognizable in their repertoire, but it would be an insult to judge their range by just that one hit. They are masterful with melodies and craftsmen at turning a phrase. When you listen to both 2005's "Welcome Interstate Managers" and the 2007 "Traffic and Weather" CDs, it seems as if one is led through a cinematic carnival ride, replete with charming characters, idiots, romance, clowns and sadness. I am so impressed with their ability to set new scenes with each song, using various musical styles, brilliant arrangements and artful instrumentation.

Just yesterday, Fountains of Wayne released a new project called, "Sky Full of Holes." Instead of jangly guitars and 80s synthesizers dominating the sound-scape, acoustic guitars take a front seat in this set. The wry character studies are still present, and the dopy dreamers still grace the stage throughout. I just bought the CD, so I am becoming familiar with the songs. The great thing is that AmazonMP3 has the album available for download for just $3.99. I'm sure that deal will go away in a hurry.

For the average guy, this band has a knack for uncovering the bottled-up emotions that many of us bury and ignore as we get older. Unlike Springsteen, I can get lost in a crowd like the Fountains of Wayne guys. I prefer it that way.

Sleeping In on Sunday

I was lying in bed Sunday morning, mulling it over in my head: why should I get out of this warm, comfortable womb to go to church? It took some convincing, especially after the trumpet music from the Sunday Morning show on CBS started to play that old familiar run of notes. It was safe there in my room; no hassles, full acceptance-- and nothing was being asked of me except for my coffee cup to be refilled.

You see, for the greatest part of our married life, we have been "professional Christians." That is to say, we have been paid staff members in churches. Over the years we have served several churches in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee. (I had my first staff position in California as a youth minister at Lutheran church in my hometown of Fullerton at just 19 years old). I have been a professional Christian for 32 years now. Frankly, I have gotten to the point where I have been asking what other non-professional Christians have asked for years: why should I go? A salary is a great motivator to get the professionals to church, but what about those who have no attachment other than guilt, religious duty, or to keep that family burial plot in the church graveyard?

I know that George Barna and Rick Warren have amply addressed the subject of "purpose driven" and "why do we do this church thing." Still, in 2011, after reading all of the books, attending (even leading) seminars on church, I sat there wondering why I should even roll out of bed.

I have seen my neighbors cutting their lawns on Sunday morning as I peeled out of my driveway on the way to work...um, I mean church. I may have even scoffed a time or two at their lack of religious devotion. I have seen them retrieve their morning paper in their bath robes, having no intention of getting to a local place of worship. Maybe they didn't know the Lord; maybe they had tried church and it seemed a big waste of time--and maybe I looked at them with envy. I must admit, I have to ask the question: is going to church this morning worth it? Will I find warmth there, acceptance, grace, patience and friendship? God knows we all need it, desperately. Judgement is cheap and easier to dole out than the costly commitment to walk along side a brother or sister who is having a hard time. I know full well the tendency to avoid the time-consuming effort of helping those in need.

So, as I pulled the sheets over my shoulder and wrestled with the temptation to stay there for a while longer, I resisted and rolled out of bed. Even as a professional Christian, I lose focus on why I go to church, what brought me here in the first place, and what is it that we can do to better serve our communities for Jesus. Guilt won't do it, and "Mama said so" won't do it.

I need to reconnect with the force that brought me to that Christian coffee house in 1975 when I was 15. I received Christ there because I felt the love of Jesus through the people who invited me. It wasn't a traditional religious setting, just an old house set up to host Bible studies, serve coffee and stale donuts, and to meet people's spiritual needs. If those things aren't present in our churches this coming Sunday, we'd do better to roll over and catch a few more minutes of sweet sleep.