alignment.

i’ve been thinking.  thinking about who i’m surrounding myself with.  who are the leaders in my life?  who is it that i’m listening to?  who am i allowing to help me with character issues?  who do i look to and say “wow–that is someone i’d like to be like.”

okay–of course studying, following and knowing Jesus should be step #1.

i’m talking about folks on earth.

i’ve found myself wanting to be surrounded by people that will challenge me to be better.  better at all of it. being a better christian, husband, father, friend, musician and worship leader.  being better at managing finances.  being better at keeping my mouth shut.  being better at helping those that are in need.  all of it.

those words that my mom said are so true — “you are who you hang around!”  i hated to hear it back then but it is so true.

i thank God that He is placing people in my life that can show me how to be better.  i want to be aligned with these people.  i know that i will grow through knowing them.

tv christians (re-post)

i have decided to post some of my old blogs on here…. this one is from august 31, 2007.  i must have been mad.  

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i’d like to send out a big thank you to the “tv” christians that represented us so well last week…..you know the ones that i’m talking about…..i know that seems a bit harsh—i have prayed for them and i am sorry for what they are having to go through…..but please let me vent…..We’ve all seen them on tv (go ahead and admit it) talking about the power of God……they put on this invincible front and act like all is well…..i’ve heard one of them rattle off a world record amount of cliches (i am the head and not the tail…i am the front and not the back….i am above and not below…etc…etc)  …….and the other one is very bold, loud, and in your face about what to do when the devil comes against you…..it all seems so—unreal—-so—-un-do-able……then they get hit with horrible situations and the everyone begins to ask “how can this happen to them?”……ok….here is a plan….lets all just be honest when we get on tv…….try out this little speech…”i’ve had a crappy day.  my husband and i are having problems and i just don’t know what to do…i’ve prayed but i feel like God isn’t listening….anyone have any thoughts??” ….  No more fake stuff…..no more emotionalism…..no more creating moments…..just lay it out there and deal with it before all that you stand for is ruined….people will listen if you are honest….we are tired of hype and golden furniture…..

michael’s heart

the michael jackson deal has really made me sad. 

(i’m going to exclude all of the bad parts of his life in this blog.  i’m gonna choose to only think about his good stuff for now.)

i can remember my sister charity and i sitting on my bed holding a HUGE radio and listening to see how many times that the station would play “thriller” in an hour.  sometimes it was 6-7 times in an hour!  

his music is tied up into so many of my memories.  i listened to it endlessly.  the melodys.  the arrangements. the instrumentation.  the soul.  it is simply timeless music. 

i am sad.  i am sad that he didn’t get to “come back” like he was trying to do.  it would’ve been AMAZING to see and hear.

but i think that i’m more saddened by the fact that no one cared enough to help him.  it seems like he was surrounded by “yes” people.  enablers.  it seems like he didn’t have anyone that he was accountable to.  no one that would say “hey mike—that is a bit crazy.  maybe you shouldn’t go down that path.”  

i know that he was “supposedly” on all kinds of pain meds and that is what caused his heart to shut down.

i think that it is more poetic to think that he died of a broken heart.  

longing for his dad to love him.

longing for belonging.

everybody loves raymond

my mom and dad (raymond) are selling their house.  for sale by owner.  the potential buyers gave them a $1000 deposit while they get through the contract and inspection phase.  i was listening to them talk about this stuff and my mom said “well even if they back out we can still keep their $1000!”  then my dad quickly replied back to her, “i’ll give that back to them.  i wouldn’t dare take their money that way.”  and that was it.  

a flood of memories rushed through my mind about the generosity of my dad.  raymond lowery was the town barber in DeQuincy LA for 38 years.  he worked tuesday through saturday.  6.30 am til 8pm.  he was funny, fun and trustworthy.  i can remember people coming to our front door many times and asking for mr. raymond.  i’d go get him and hide out so i could listen.  most of them were asking for money to pay the electric bill, rent, water, car—whatever.  i’d watch him sneak away and come back with something to help them out.  he never boasted about what he had done.  i can remember a single mom with three kids that needed a car.  suddenly one sunday at church she appeared with a new car.  i recently found out that he was behind that.  heck–he worked his butt off to support all of us–but he never passed up the opportunity to help someone that needed it.  that was the example i saw growing up. selfless to a fault.  and i think that it is a pretty dang good way to live. 

i think that this explains why i get so upset with people that have the power to actually help people and DON’T.  people that have the means but keep them.  people that have ways to change someone’s life with one phone or with one pen stroke.  i can’t understand why a person would be that selfish.  

i’m glad my dad set this example for me.  i like giving away stuff.  my time–my talent–my money–i’m a sucker for it.  

i believe that when he is gone on to heaven that he’ll be remembered for this way of living.  living the selfless life. 

selflessness really seems to be fading away.  especially with this “spooky” economy.

i choose to keep it going.  thanks dad.

lessons

this is a nerdy musician blog.  some of you will hate it.  but i’ve been dwelling on it and wanting to share it for a few months—-soooo…..

i’ve always thought that right was right.  if i play the song perfect—note for note—that it was right.  if it is supposed to be a C# in an 8th note pattern from measure 45-46 then thats what would happen.  read the chart and get it right—right?

one day i was working with mr. jeff balding (www.jeffbalding.com).  we were re- tracking the bass part on a song from john ragsdale’s album(www.johnragsdale.com).  i’m pretty sure it was “what a sound”.  jeff was getting the sound he wanted for the bass (which took him about 4 seconds) so he asked me just to play through the song.  i went straight through it and then it was time to get to it.  he gave it to me again.  so i started concentrating this time.  of course jeff noticed this.  he let me get all the way through it again.  then the test began.  ”let me play you this second verse from the first pass and the second verse from your second pass and tell me what you think.”  oh boy.  

well they both sounded right to me.  even kinda cool.  i’m not even sure what i told him because i thought that they were both right.  jeff says “listen to the urgency, tension and passion in the first pass.”  uhhh—it is a bass part man!  one note at a time.  urgency?

he was so right.  the first time i played it i was just playing the song for the fun of playing a song.  i wasn’t trying to lock it down and get it done asap–i was enjoying every note and it came through.  

this lesson came from one of the greatest note observers of all time.  i listened and learned.

blindly stepping

blindly stepping.

thats how it feels sometimes when you are on a total faith journey.  blind steps into the dark.  you never know what type of ground you’ll land on–or if you’ll land on any ground at all.  

the past year and a half has been the most beautiful, romantic, scary, and inspiring time of my life.  it has made me a better husband, dad, Christian and musician.  and it is all because we simply closed our eyes and said “we will follow”.   

we will follow without the promise of anything.  no albums to produce.  no sessions to play on.  nowhere to lead worship. nothing.  nothing but a blind step into a gigantic ocean of possibilities and a gentle push from the Holy Spirit.  

i think about my dear friend James Owens.  he left his lifelong home in Louisiana to do something new in Austin, Tx.  he and amanda felt the urge to take the faith dive—and they did.  i’ll go ahead and say that where he works now has improved by 200% (no joke) since he stepped on board.  it had to be hard—but he heard the call and he didn’t ignore it.  way to go man.  

if you feel that push do not ignore it.  you will only grow more and more frustrated if you do choose to ignore it.  that push is for a reason.  

remember….when you jump–don’t forget to enjoy the dive.

almost

i wrote this blog on myspace about 8 months ago—but i thought that i should re-post it here.

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it seems like we are almost “there”…. the funny thing is that we’re not sure what the “there” is…. is it an achievement?… is it a time and place?…is it financial stuff?… it’s the wondering and waiting that makes God seem so distant—yet He grows larger in our minds during these times…. i guess that you do what you do and do it well—until…. but until what?… until you feel this way again?….is it a vicious cycle that we are in?… it seems that i was raised to be a seeker—always seeking for more….so what is next?…. i am always ready to chase after the answer to that question….. it’s the waiting that seems to wear you down…..

robots

you think you really know me.  

actually its not true.  the me that you used to see was “me” because of you.

acting like a little tool that helped you with your plan.

but when i looked in the mirror it was more than i could stand.

fear was the great motivator— and love couldn’t make a sound.

and when i finally spread my wings you were nowhere to be found.

all your little robots are created to fall in line.

but when they leave you scowl and say “they weren’t worth my time.”

so thanks for showing me the “me” i shouldn’t be.

fear is good but i have to say that love just can’t be beat.

love

love has been on my mind.  it’s patient and it’s kind.  it never fails.  never judges.  looks you right in the eye and says “i don’t care what or who you are”.   God is love. 

i was listening to the Michael Gungor song named “Glory is here”.  the song is obviously about the glory of God being among us–how we want more and more–but i have failed to listen to the first verse—and it slapped me in the face yesterday.    i always put the song in the “church” context of  God’s glory being in a sanctuary while we worship Him.  but the verse says “awaiting the day–   searching for more–  while all along you are found with the poor–   help me to see–  you’re all around me.”  

what does this mean!  this was such a kick in the head for me.  i’ve spent my life going to church and wanting the “glory” of God to “show up”.  trying to sing the right song or do the right thing— while all along He is found with the poor.  that rocked me.  it is still rocking me.  are we spending too much time (talking to me now)  loving and fixing each other when broken people need us?  broken and hopeless people.  Is He dwelling among those that need Him instead of with those that take Him for granted.  as i type this tears of  anger and confusion stream down my cheeks—because i’ve always wanted to be where He is.  Is He in places that i would never consider going?  is He with people i would never consider loving?

i know that when 2 or 3 agree there He will be— but i’m digging for MORE love.

church workers

this is to all of the church workers out there. easter sunday is coming up folks.  i did it for 11 years.  i can hear the boss man saying it–”EASTER SUNDAY IS COMING!  it is the biggest day of the year!”  and he is so right.  so here is the juicy nugget of wisdom (that was learned from ignorance) that i have for you.  

don’t.  just don’t.  i know you want to, but just don’t.

skits, dramas, new songs, new formats, new dances—don’t do it.

the goal for easter is to get people to come back.  don’t be something you are not on your biggest day of the year.  just be yourself.  do stuff that you know you can do well.  

pastors—communicate your vision for easter weekend to your staff NOW.  plan the weekend out NOW.  service format, songs, transitions, technical stuff, blah, blah, and blah—plan it out and practice it.  this sets your team up for success.  everybody wins.

music directors and worship leaders—-DO NOT DO A NEW SONG ON EASTER SUNDAY!  it makes everyone feel left out.  even if it is the greatest song of all time–don’t do it unless it is familiar.  not an exhausted song (lord i lift your name on high)– just familiar and fresh.  start doing that new song a month in advance so that your regular members will know the song and so that your band and singers can play it without their nose in the chart the whole time! 

my brother in law–Robin Steele– was and is so great at communicating and planning for easter.  we learned these lessons together.  each year we would tweak what we did, but in the end i think we found that being ourselves worked every time.

so.   300 words later…. here is what i want to say.

don’t re-invent the wheel on the biggest day of the year.

dance with the one that brung ya.