From a stranger, to a stranger.

Finished this one last night. I wrote the first verse during the first two weeks of school and ended up leaving it to gather dust. It has that "you vs. me" style that I've been practicing lately, in which the subject transitions through the verse and the chorus.

This song began as a song about moving away from home, and slowly shifted into the story about my faith rediscovery, through my friends and my church. I call myself a stranger, as I'm new to Nashville, and I call my schoolmates strangers because I've only just met them. Yet, as I learn more about these strangers, I discover that they are the "faces of friends I left behind," or people who share similar interests and attitudes as my friends back in Indiana. Now, that's not to say that these new companions are exactly like me; our beliefs, politically and spiritually, seem to differ. But these "strangers" have helped me define myself and my relationship with God. 

I received love "from a stranger" so now I'm giving it back "to a stranger."

You're just another kid who moved down south

The heart of Nashville pumps its blood into your mouth

And after flight, you thought you'd never find

The faces of friends you left behind

'Cause in the city does he show himself

To those who run and claim that they do not need help?

Well, as a stranger who began alone

A call from a stranger led you home

A call from a stranger led you home

The house was small, the praise was loud

The Lord appeared, the people bowed

You wept for joy before a joyful crowd

A hug from a stranger led me home

A hug from a stranger led me home

There was no judgement and nobody cared

If someone spoke aloud with arms raised in the air

And in these faces that were true and kind

Were faces of friends you left behind

If home is where the heart is, yours was numb

When you recited those three words, "Thy Kingdom Come"

So were you shocked in your attempts to roam?

 A smile from a stranger led you home

A smile from a stranger led you home

The house was small, the praise was loud

The Lord appeared, the people bowed

You wept for joy before a joyful crowd

The love from a stranger led me home

The love from a stranger led me home

The love from a stranger led me home

The love from a stranger led me home

50.

Stumbled across this old tune that I wrote for my mom for her 50th birthday party. I was/am torn between two titles, "50" and "The Blink." Not sure whether I'll record it.

Age, it's just a distraction

Well, what is your passion?

Pursue without fear

And rage, why does it come easy?

Do you see what I see

when you look in the mirror?

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

I doubt, you didn't want to stay young

But I'm here as your son

Who can't picture life

Without your warmth and your patience

And yours saw the changes

To a mother and wife

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

As human's we pretend and disagree

But life on earth is just a blink of eternity

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

Don't blink 'cause the world moves too fast

Barefoot.

The other day, I asked my friend Winston, a songwriting major here, how he goes about writing a song. The brains behind Night Beds, he's written and recorded some pretty impressive tunes (although he won't admit it) and will be releasing them on iTunes within the year. Anyway, he described to me an exercise that he practiced in one of his classes: to think of an idea, place, person, or thing, and write everything you know about it. In his words, "vomit" on the page. And so "Barefoot" was born.

The story behind this: On campus, we have what we call "The Quad," an attractive area of grass and trees situated right in the middle of everything. My friends and I occasionally throw a frisbee or dribble a soccer ball in between classes, and every time I head out there, I kick off my shoes and enjoy what's beneath me (admittedly, this is destroying my feet). But it seems like when I lose my shoes, I lose my stress. The "cliff" bit in the song refers to an actual set of cliff at a nearby lake that Kern showed me to. Jumping off those things is so liberating. My surroundings: the trees, the water, the rocks, are so beautiful, and I really thank God for the nature that He's given us; it's always a retreat for me.

So here's what I "vomited" this evening :-)

Bare, I stand barefoot

The sand and rock and earth between my toes

And there, from where I look

God's wonderful creation lives and grows

Sometimes you gotta strip yourself

Of shoes and futures, worries, wealth

And smell the smell of green here in the air

'Cause what's the thrill in life concrete

Just shed the shield right off your feet

And jump off of a cliff with body bare!

MP3: Night Beds - There Was Enough/Rest

A friendship.

Big update.

So I've been at Belmont for a little over a month now and, truly, I've never felt closer to God. It's pretty amazing how environment can influence your faith. In particular, my resident assistant, Kern, has been such a blessing to me. Not only has he helped me ease into college life, but he invited me to a church called Lifehouse, and the service really shook me. The music, the worship... it was so powerful and joyful. At this point, I am talking out loud to God and I'm proud to call my relationship with Him a friendship.

So amongst all these influences, I've been writing like crazy. I've finished one, and I'm almost finished with two other pieces. This song here is called God in a Box. I was talking about the routine of worship with Kern, and he told me one of his friends said this: "Wouldn't it be great if we didn't try to put God in a Box?" This really stuck with me. And as I reflected on my own experiences, I realized that throughout my youth, I had done just that. As a "Sunday Christian," I was praying to God in a box and not outside of it. So this piece is somewhat biographical, but I think it applies to a lot of people.

"God in a Box"

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can praise Him on Sunday then dry myself out in the week.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

And let the preacher pray for me so that I don’t ever have to speak.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can tell the world I love Him just to get a load of guilt off my chest.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

Then I can take and take and take and take and take whenever fits best.”

But our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

Oh, our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

He said, “I wanna hold God, I wanna hold our God under locks.

So I can put Him on a pedestal and advertise the wealth that I’ve gained.”

But wouldn’t it be great, if we didn’t keep our God in a box?

Because I’ve felt Him working through me, and His presence cannot be contained!

Yes, our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

And our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

So, you can listen to the void

And ignore the sound of God when He knocks.

And you can try to tie Him down

You can try to measure love by the clocks.

But our Lord cannot be contained

We cannot put our God in a box.

Words & Wishes

It'll be similar to Elliott Smith's "Waltz #2." I have the acoustic guitar part written and I think a howling electric guitar would sound great alongside. Like something Explosions in the Sky would play. This song is important to me because it applies to my friends, my family, even myself. Sometimes our words can be cruel and hurtful, but the words and lessons of the Bible will forever be pure.

Lord, I am a witness to hollow and crooked tongues

These wishes and words

Your nouns and your verbs

Are the oxygen for my failing lungs

Remind me, your words we believe

Remind me, your words that relieve

Remind me, your words

Abused and forgotten

Remind me how beautiful they sound

And how praises are heaven bound

Lord, love and Your Name

Now so casual, in debauched talk

The devil will leech at once holy speech

Do they know God is shelter, our rock?

Remind them, your words we believe

Remind them, your words that relieve

Remind them, your words

Abused and forgotten

Remind them how beautiful they sound

And how good news is spread around

Like a flag, under your wondrous presence I stand

Giving praises and run-on phrases that you easily comprehend

And when my prayers weaken like the blade of a blunt knife

You still hear me

Kind and unwearied

The shade of your favorite color coming to life

To confess is so seeming

Perched on pedestals with sins we commit

We chatter while we pray, deaf to what our hearts say

And weighted by wrongs that don't sit

Will we act upon what we admit?

Remind us, the unfailing love

Remind us, the innocent blood

Remind us, your son

Risen, almighty

Remind us on unstable ground

Where your words and your wishes are found