”Glorybound”

First off, a huge blessing was being able to work with Mike Leduc, the fella playing drums on this disc. It was so cool how God allowed to do this work together, after so many years apart. We were in a band called the Look 20 odd years ago. I remember him having a relationship with Christ back then, me thinking I did, or least enough of one to qualify for fire insurance… we were roommates for a while back then as well. We used to hide in the bedrooms when the landlord would stop over to collect the rent. (He lived upstairs.) Anyway, I digress. What fun it was to do this with him, after so many years. We always wanted to do such a thing way back then, but we just couldn’t get it together, for dozens of reasons. But here we are.

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The title cut “Glorybound” was one of those songs plucked out of the air, written at about 4:30 p.m. one Monday afternoon before Kim got home at 5:15. I remember having read a Bethel Seminary textbook, and some others by Dallas Willard, Frederick Beauchner, Watchman Nee and the like. (Greg Boyd included.) All great theologians to be sure, but it is clear that the Gospel message is simple and pure enough for anyone to understand it. Sometimes I know I have a tendancy to complicate it. (Although I do feel we have a responsibly to “put on our thinking caps.”) The song is merely expressing my lack of knowledge in the intricacies of Post Millenialism, transubstantiation, expiation and propitiation among others. But I do know that we are “Glorybound” if we acknowledge Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” and that “No man comes to the Father except though Him. “ From a musical standpoint, Dave Moulton’s keyboards really took the song to a new place, one which I was not expecting, but one I was thrilled with. Great solo in the middle, Dave! Also it was great having co-worker/friend (& great writer/singer in her own right) Ruth Richmond singing the counterpoint vocal stuff. A real blessing to the song, without a doubt and to me! Last but not least Bruce Bailey supplied the anchor with solid, musical and understated bass playing… Thanks Bruce!

On “Let Love Lead the Way” I had that chorus sort of floating around in my head for a while, and I asked Todd Anderson to help me complete it. Todd is an extremely gifted musician, lyricist and producer. He wrote the lyrics on the first 2 verses. The line “Falling forward upon my knees takes me further that tired feet” is a great bit of lyrical beauty. Mike Leduc did a great job on the skins. Al Mason supplied the tasty Harmonica licks, what a joy it was recording this guy and then having some good prayer time and fellowship afterwards. I hope to work with him again someday. Also having Johanna, Susanna Macden, Steph Rosener and Jill Anderson singing harmonies really gave it a timbre not possible when I am singing all the vocals. The first half of the tune speaks of our need to rely on love to light our path, hopefully in not a vague way, as the 2nd half of the tune makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the source of this love.

The 3rd song is called “Light of the World.” I really wished to have a tune that sang of Jesus as the one who has and is “making us pure for our Father, who’s in Heaven.” He is that light for a dark world and I thank and Praise Him for that… a real highlight on this song is the soprano sax stuff that Rick Reibel played on this song. The second you hear him at the top of the tune playing the melody, you just know this guy is anointed to praise God on his horn. Then that solo in the middle! Love it, love it, and love it. I’ve always know Rick as qualified, as we have recorded together many times, but for me this is a highlight. Also lifting this tune to higher heights is Emilia Zellmer and Bruce Smith, (Teammates on vocal team 2 at Woodland hills Church) 2 very talented and generous singers whom God has used in significant ways.

“Cleanse My Heart, Renew my Mind” is an older song, perhaps 3years old. For me, this cleansing and renewing must take place each day; if circumstances or just plain laziness prevent this from occurring, I’m headed for trouble. It’s God’s grace in operation that this renewing can and does take place with some effort on our part … sometimes just a minute amount, other times some real sacrifice is what’s required. But I l know for a fact that the Lord is always by our side, will never leave us and loves us deeply. Whilst getting into the spirit to sing this tune the prayer at the beginning spilled out and I was blessed enough to have had tape rolling… “Cleanse” is a pretty poppy tune, pretty darn close to cheesiness. (As close as I want to get!) Hopefully some of the more interesting aspects of the song rescue it from “Cheeseville”. I like the guitar solo…

“Psalm 116” Is pretty special to me. It is sort of “my Psalm.” I really cried out to the Lord in the late 80’s (the decade from Hades, at least for me) and HE HEARD MY VOICE. Just like the Psalm proclaims! So I wanted to honor that by putting music to this great Psalm. I initially recorded it a few years back and it sounded really fusion-like, sorta like Sting meets Phil Keaggy. (Not to compare meself with those greats!) It was cool but the message got lost in the complexity of the arrangement, so I re-recorded it for this cd, using a drum loop and simplifying the arrangement. Ruth Richmond played the piano stuff. Renee Tarro plays some cool congas and shakers on it. We had “gang vocal night, ” and Rich Pearson makes his debut as a fretless bassist. Rick Reibel on sax and Lovely wife Kim on flute do some lively and fun woodwind interplay. Combine these with Kev Anderson doin’ his “funk thang” makes for a fun track.

“Simply Worship” came about in an interesting way… I had asked God to richly bless the devotional time one morning. I was reading in Hebrews 3 and came upon the Psalm quote: “today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” As I continued reading in Hebrews and finished up, closing my Bible up to get ready to go to work, that “Still Small Voice” spoke to me and said “Because you have so earnestly sought me this day, I wish to bless you; because I know it gives you joy to birth new music I have something for you. Go to the Psalms and read the chapter that the Hebrews quote is from.” I did so immediately. The voice continued. “Get your guitar and sing this psalm, I will give you the melody and chords.” So I did. This is the result. It came together within 15 minutes. Truly a gift from the Lord given on a silver platter…A little more time was spent arranging the sections, but basically the music was just given from on high. In this I also realized my own propensity to “harden my heart” and close myself off from Him; that a hardened heart need not only belong to a Pharaoh, crooked politician or criminal, but that in my own smallness and humanness I was more than capable of having and cultivating a hardened heart. For this I continue to seek God’s forgiveness and restoration, as I ask for wisdom, strength and insight to repent. Kim’s flute playing brought something special to this Irish-tinged “‘toone.” Once again Bruce Smith and Emilia Zellmer’s voices give the song a rich texture… and Bruce Bailey once again supplying foundational bottom end on his bass. I like that 6/8 feel, but wanted to avoid that sort of “pub feel” strumming style so prevalent these days, so I worked fairly hard at writing my acoustic part to play some rhythms that were semi-unique. Hopefully succeeding… electric solo was done on an old 1963 Gibson SG, a blessing/gift from Rob and Freda Leonetti.

Instrument of Love is a song 8 years old or so and this is the 3rd time I’ve recorded it. First time was on a 4 track cassette, 2nd time in a big reputable studio in Nashville, (still didn’t turn out right!) then at home for the “Glorybound” project. This is the definitive version, I’m happy to say! It’s a pretty simple song, but Emilia Zellmer’s vocal on it is really beautiful… she makes it seem so effortless! I find her tone so pure and reedy, like a vintage Selmer sax. Plus her sense of delivery and rhythmic precision is really a great gift. Having her sing on this rescued it from having a really narrow timbre vocally, as I am doing all the rest of the vocals. (shoulda had her on “Cleanse my Heart” and “Yes, it’s You Lord” as well!) Great job by Joe Schmidt on the bass, nice tone and execution, great brother in the Lord. The song's verses convey some of the frustration and hurt and challenges we face in life, countered by the chorus representing a “giving oneself over” to be used for God’s purposes. We do want to be used as an instrument of love by God! The question becomes, on this day and everyday, will we listen to that call, or will we let our own individuality and self interests block us from doing what God would have us do? I’d be a liar if I said I always succeeded in always putting God’s interests before mine, but I know I’ve made progress.

A Moment’s Peace An instrumental piece written with the idea of having Kim play some melodic flute lines…. It’s a real blessing to be able to do some songs like this together, thanks Kimi! Nylon string guitar and flute sure are a nice textural combo. The title comes from that desire we all have for serenity and reflection. I was trying to capture that feeling in a piece of music. I know that serenity is available to us from knowing who we are in Christ.

“We Seek Your Will” was written in Rocky and Reggie Thiel ’s (Kim’s sister and brother in law) home near Walker, MN. They have a really cool house in the woods by a lake, and had just built sort of a “sun room” (at least that’s what I call it) and I remember writing the tune in that room right before I went on a bike ride in Itasca State Park. It’s just a musical expression of Paul’s assertion that he counts all things as loss compared to what may be found at the feet of Jesus. I also wanted to express my desire for God’s will in my life to come to fruition, and that I long to develop a sensitivity to what His good and perfect will is for my life. From a musical angle I started hearing orchestral passages, countermelodies, themes and motifs in my head, especially in the end guitar solo section. I tried to capture that in the orchestral arrangements contained in the recording. I wish it really was an orchestra (same for the intro to “This Proclamation’”) but alas, last time I checked my basement is still not big enough. (to say nothing of our bank account!) The solo at the end sort of typifies a lead guitar style I find endearing, that of a mini-musical journey with minimal flash, trying to make a statement with themes that take you from point A to point B and that is concluded logically and musically. Learning about this stuff is a never-ending education. (Much like the sanctification process, I might add.)

“My Redemption” I really wanted to write something that was simple and unadorned so the message of what I felt lead in my spirit to convey had no chance of being obscured: and that message is that everything I have going for me is thru Jesus. My salvation, my redemption, my joy, my worth, my everything. Pastor Roger Parrish-Sigglekow plays the mandolin adding a dimension I have never had the opportunity to have in my music before. Great job and thanks for everything, Rog! Altho not executed perfectly, the guitar solo has a lot of emotion, ad-libbed and from the heart…

Divine Deliverance is another old song I re-recorded for the project. It really centers on people’s (including my own) propensity to seek the approval of men, rather than God’s. It also conveys God’s willingness and ability to deliver us from this type of “dog chasing it’s tail” behavior. I love Mike Leduc’s drums on this one (love ‘em all, actually) plus Johanna and Susanna Macden vocal harmonies and ad-libs. These sisters really sing amazingly well together, having grown up vocalizing as a family, ala the Everlys. My pal and fellow writer/producer/multi instrumentalist Mark Arneson plays the sax stuff. He’s a really talented guy, one of the most versatile musicians I have known. If you read this, Mark, just know you are held in high regard here! (super nice guy as well, one of North Dakota’s finest exports.)

All Majesty is Yours – The first song recorded for this project and the fist song recorded using my new protools rig. (the baby version 001, but still a step up from what I was using before.) Really a love song to Jesus declaring Him to be worthy of all admiration, praise and Love; some of it’s lyrics are quite hymn-like.

This Proclamation - sometimes songs have unusual origins. The original idea for this song came from a tune written earlier called ‘”You will seek me and find me (when you seek me with all of your heart)” Turned out to be sort of a lame tune, not one of my better efforts. But there was a basic chordal motiff , coupled with a drum loop thing that I really liked. So I made a loop of that and just sort of started over. The unusual nature of it’s origins helped to make “This Proclamation” the cd’s most unique song. It’s got elements of some of my fave 70’s prog rock artists. (National Health, Wishbone Ash, Peter Gabriel, etc.) The lyric for verse 1 will be familiar to anyone growing up in a Lutheran church, and the Chorus driving the point home of my conviction that NOTHING can separate us from the love of our Lord. Mike spent a lot of time with the percussion, djembe’ and drum kit and did a fantastic job. I was so wrapped up in recording and writing all sorts of things (including the entire “Architect of Beauty” cd) that I asked Ruth Richmond to write the rest of the lyrics, after giving her the 1rst verse and chorus.. She did, and I knew the tune was in good hands. The scripture reading in the middle was from the “dummy” vocal track but seemed to have passion behind it, so I left it. The main point is that God is with us, will never abandon us. If I didn’t have that firm conviction I don’t believe I could maintain any degree of sanity or joy….

The last tune on the disc is “It’s You Lord (You are the One)” and it’s an affirmation that the answer to life’s puzzles, problems, and challenges reside in God through Christ. So many people wonder what it’s all about, or perhaps worse, they don’t wonder. But I wonder no longer. No song could ever convey that reality effectively, not one I can write anyway. It’s a joy to have focus on what to write about… maybe next time (if there is a next time) there will be a different lyrical approach, but it will always contain communication about what God has done for us all and coming to terms with that fact.