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True hope does not reside in riches ... or power ... or one's current worldly position. True hope lies only in the Father. Zephaniah tells us "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. ... For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. ... Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord." (04/19/09)
I took this picture from my deck at Song of the Wood Workshop and Perelandra Studio this morning (04/20/09).
"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. ... And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle in my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (04/24/09)
"For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. ... I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and strong; I will feed them with judgment. ... Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God." (05/04/09)
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (05/10/09)
Here's a picture from my house tonight (just snapped it). It reminds me of a promise ... and a hope. (jrs 05/26/09)
Hope, I think, is a very quiet thing. Quiet has not been my nature. Thank you Father ... for hope.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call." (09/09/09 ... 7:07 PM)
In Whom ... or what ... do YOU trust? If it is in anything less than the Creator of the heavens and the earth ... it is not enough. Careful ... do not fool yourself here! I am speaking of the one God ... Father, Son and Holy Ghost ... none other. Again ... careful please ... this might be a question worth considering! Time ... as we have known it ... could disappear. Where would that find you? (jrs 11/06/09)
Many continue in their "old" ways. Some thankfully ... are abandoning the patterns they have found themselves comforted by because those patterns are "waxing old." That comfort was only temporary anyway ... and always needed recharging. There remains ... the hope ... not of the world ... but of something greater. That hope is rising but we have to step out to meet it. I love these words: "For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." He continues: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." (jrs 11/12/09)
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." (11/17/09)
Thanksgiving is coming upon us. There is tragedy all around the globe. We in America are largely sheltered and yet not immune from the pain and suffering of daily life in a fallen world. Our loved ones die, suffer or flee ... and we are left to consider the meaning, the purpose, how we can go on with some semblance of hope. Perhaps pain is further from us than it once was ... perhaps it is closer than we ever imagined it could be. Our Creator is calling out to us today whether you feel so broken you feel you can't go on ... or you feel free and in no need of a Savior. Here are the words that I rejoiced in today: "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come" ... "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord." I hope and pray you have a meaningful Thanksgiving this year ... and may our God and Father richly bless you and those you love. (jrs 11/21/09)
Here we are beginning the month where we who believe celebrate the One who came to conquer death and give us life everlasting. No small thing, eh? My prayer is that we will all slow down ... this time around ... and consider more carefully than ever before what that means. My prayer is that we will heed the still small voice ... and not the noise and confusion. This is a really good time of year to turn off the TV and look at the sky, the trees, the sea. I think it's when we are quiet and alone that we can most realize we are not alone. If we fill our time with busy-ness all we can do in between is collapse ... or escape ... but I don't think that's how we should live. There is a great book we can read too ... it says (in part): "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." (jrs 12/01/09)
Scripture speaks to us in ways that nothing else in Creation can. Have you ever noticed that? I have to admit that I have been, almost literally, consumed with God's Word for many years now. I just love to read, consider, question, follow, investigate and challenge it. It often makes me feel very uneasy. But ... I keep coming back. It is like no other word on earth. On many occasions it seems to speak directly to ME ... which is a little freaky ... but then I've spoken with countless others who can relate to that experience ... so I relax a little. Anyway ... Lisa's spooning up dinner so here's what I was reading that I felt moved to post: "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed." (jrs 12/09/09)
"Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches, pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street." (12/18/09)
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (12/30/09)
It's New Year's Eve 2009. I'm thinking you'll agree with me that it's been a difficult decade. Personally, I look at the news ... financial bailout, too big to fail, corporate ponzi schemes, economic stimulus, housing crisis, banking crisis, illegal aliens, terrorist threat, global warming, universal healthcare, nuclear fear, middle-eastern unrest, African unrest, global unrest, change you can believe in ... where does it end ... who can we trust? "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (12/31/09)
I love the way Steven Curtis Chapman put it right before the song "The Journey" ... where he wrote "We have this hope as an anchor / 'Cause we believe everything / God promised us is true, so ... We wait with hope / And we ache with hope ... " A decade later Mark Hall and Bernie Herms wrote ... after the song "Until the Whole World Hears" ... the following lyrics ... "Here I cry, Lord, we pray / Our faces down, our hands are raised / You called us out, we turned away / We've turned away ... " Are these men speaking the Truth? I believe they are. Thank you Holy Spirit ... for giving us words today. Thank you Father for knowing how much we would need them. "Rest assured, I feel your hand / Holding me until the darkness clears (a little later from "Mercy") ... " My prayer today is that we will "turn back" ... quickly! We need each other. (jrs 02/09/10)
No walk tonight. I've been in the Workshop since about 2:00 AM. It's been a very good night. I've been listening to my favorite female lyricist. About 10 years ago she recorded these words: "Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again? / Say goodbye to the lines that we've colored in / Brown and gray from day to day Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new? / Try and try to invoke us to live in You / That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery" I just have to say ... I would love to see her in Perelandra. I would love to record a song, struggle with possibility, consider options, investigate avenues, dare to dream, end with a work well done ... for all the right reasons. So I was also "contemplating" ... as I do ... and our Father's words, once again, helped me cope with this mortal conundrum we find ourselves ensconced in. Here's what I was reading: "For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee." Anyway ... it's possible I might be taking a nap today. I confess to doing that on certain days ... when my schedule submits. (jrs 02/12/10)
"Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord." (02/15/10)
It's music. We can speak to one another through music like nothing else. There have been times I can remember where I feel as though it has nearly saved my life. I know that music has undeniably, at the very least, enriched my dreams. Although I've mostly been involved with instrumental music ... I absolutely LOVE lyrics. I love stories. You can pose questions ... you can pour out your heart ... in poetry ... with melody, harmony and rhythms to help transport the message. This past week has found me absorbed in "The Long Fall Back to Earth." This small part of my personal journey has been ... delicious. (early evening on the 15th)
Listening to "please come." Just hanging ... at 9:58 PM on this day. Anyway ... as I listen to the incredible "every season" ... and as I stoke the stove and move toward my bedroom ... I pray ... that you, like me, can ... oh ... and only if you have the time ... please listen to "why." Sorry ... I'm just temporarily hung up on "this mystery." But, then again, ... how can I apologize for ... music? (jrs 02/16/10)
Mom's in town. She did it ... again! I said "..........." and she said "NO." No back talk from this "idiot" ... at this keyboard ... presently. She told me once "no means NO." That sounded redundant but still I really wanted to challenge her and debate and such ... but, honestly, I couldn't think of one single thing she might see in my defense ... as intelligent ... so I (another quote) kept my "big mouth shut." I gotta just say ... I'm sooooo happy she's here ... you'd love her too I'm pretty sure ... but, then again, I'm related. Listening to "What Now" and I was moved to skip down my irregular steps to the house ... in my crocs, grab my laptop and type ... and all this happened while I was busily and productively "packing." Thanks buddy. You strike ... yet again. I hope I get to see you ... again ... soon. I really miss you. (jrs 02/21/10)
Finally! The last time I slept was ... let's see ... I awoke around 3:00 AM, I think, ... early Monday morning. OK ... had to leave home in the evening. Made it maybe two hours away and, exhausted, stopped. Never slept a "wink." Dragged myself into the shower and at 5:30 AM ... hit the road once again. So now I'm between Memphis and Little Rock typing after over 40 hours of "no sleep." Thank you Nichole. Thank you Louis, Thank you Jo Ann. And thank YOU ... countless others who pray ... not with words ... but with groaning. Those are the very best prayers ... by the way. I love you all. (jrs 02/23/10)
Having a nice visit with some friends during a pretty darn difficult time in my life. I don't want to burden anyone with details. Suffice to say ... I've been crying a lot lately ... and I'm really looking forward to Spring. ... And CC at the Asheville Civic Center next Thursday. Blessings all. (jrs 02/25/10)
Sitting in a good friend's cabin ... by a lake ... with a guitar. Thinking ... as I listen to the most beautiful music I've ever heard. I wrote a song today ... baby ... or was it "yesterday?" So I was thinking of how the very best friends don't try to advise you because they care so much ... that they take the time ... to wait ... or pray ... or help clean up the mess you've made. I'd like to be a better friend. I've been practicing all night. I bought a couple of new CD's ... yesterday. To get them I had to drive ... for miles. So ... I'm anxious to listen but I'm thinking maybe I'll wait ... 'til San Francisco ... (desperado 5:53 AM 02/26/10)
Gosh ... another song. Here are some of the words: "In spite of me ... you live again, in spite of loss ... you give again, in spite apart you ask yourself ... Can I remember when?" (jrs 02/27/10)
Neighbors talk. Walls stood. And now we compose. It could be worse. We could believe it's better somewhere else.
Well ... I'm still at the cabin by the lake. San Francisco will have to wait for a little while I guess. It's been far too cathartic here for me to pack up ... and leave! I am totally delighted with the Eagles new "Long Road out of Eden." Wow. When are you guys coming to the Civic Center downtown? You could try calling yourselves "Joe's Garage Band" so there might be a few available seats! Make it a benefit for peace ... or organic macro-biotic intentional gardening techniques ... or something. So ... it continues to get a little better every day. I guess I'm not a total wreck after all. Oh ... by the way ... enjoying "Fool For You." (jrs 03/01/10)
I believe ... that's it's never wrong to wait on YOU ... Father. And yet ... I've experienced how hard that can be. I guess my prayer tonight is for those who are still ... waiting. There are so many suffering ... what they could be beginning to imagine ... as a never ending battle. You said ... "the battle belongs to you" ... and we believe you've already won ... so why ... do we have to continue to wait? Forgive me Father for my impatience ... I'm definitely "guilty of the crime." (jrs 03/03/10)
I just had this crazy idea. I have three friends I don't know very well but I got to thinking ... a great way to get acquainted might be to work on a project together! I can already see how much fun it might be ... and how other folks might enjoy our collective effort. Anyway ... their names are "nick, steve and mark." Now ... I don't know if any of them know a thing about woodworking but I need some help in my workshop ... so, like I said, I was thinking ... and then I thought ... why not pray about it? Next ... I have to figure out a way to "re-connect" with them ... again. (jrs 03/06/10)
"And Job answered and said ... Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God ... Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (03/07/10)
Like I said a couple nights back ... I'm hoping to connect with certain folks. I've got the Workshop thing going incredibly well. What I'd like to experience now is musical talent. I mean ... and I'm just sayin' ... I could use a few lessons! What you might not know ... is ... I pretty much quit playing music entirely a little over 5 years ago. I don't know ... I guess things just got complicated. Anyway ... I've been realizing in the last couple of weeks how much I've missed that "place you fall into" when you lose yourself in ... music. So, like I said, and again ... I'm just sayin' ... these Jalapeno Kettle Cooked Potato Chips are "awesome" ... no wait is that what we were talking about? (jrs 03/08/10 3:00 AM) P.S. If you aren't receiving the photo above I apologize ... you'll love it when I can get it to load ... correctly!!!!!!!!
"I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me." (03/09/10)
Story time! So I'm in my Showroom yesterday working all day and giving my blessed sister a rest. Now I haven't had a lot of sleep over the last 3 weeks so I'm just hoping I can make it through the day. Anyway ... two dear friends (mother and daughter) come in late in the afternoon and I play my brand new (first in 12 years) song for them on the HD. I finish and I say: "do you know what the title is?" Michelle (the mom) whispers "From Here to Eternity." So I repeat my question and she whispers again ... Whew! So ... even though I "chattered" a different title on the "Until the Whole World Hears Us" website ... I'm making an executive "veto" against myself in favor of that whispering blessed mother. And Alexandria's composition made me so proud as her mentor. (jrs 03/13/10)
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice, with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."(03/17/10)
"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved."
I said before "It's music." I wasn't kidding. That is the language we will use until the whole world hears ... us. So ... let's compose ... not for fame or profit or gain of any kind ... but for the ONE who suffered pain unspeakable. We will speak Jesus' name unto all nations and creeds. We will speak it in shopping malls and airports ... at car rentals and when we stop for Gatorade at a roadside convenient stop in the middle of nowhere ... because it IS somewhere we need to proclaim ... the name ... in deed. I'm not talkin' preaching. Those days are drawing to a close. We've used all the words we know. Let us carry the message now ... more care-fully. If we sing ... let us sing. If we write ... let us write. Most of all ... let us listen ... to the aching hearts that need a friend ... not a sermon. Can we be the hands and feet of this mystery? (jrs 03/24/10)