Had a bit of a health scare today. Upon investigation and after making a few phones calls, I was advised to see a doctor immediately.
While driving to the doctor’s office I found myself stressed out, anxious and full of uncertainty.
At one point, I turned off the radio and started praying.
“Lord, it would be great if you healed me of whatever this is but if you don’t end up doing that would you just hold my hand through this? I can make it through if you are with me.”
And the funny thing– as I prayed those words in silence and total privacy while driving my car through winding country roads– I found myself amazed that I actually believed what I was saying to my Maker.
Ever had a thought like that? Or a moment where you caught yourself off guard by the honesty of your own words?
What looked like potential melanoma ended up being a nasty spider bite. It’ll be an ugly few days but I’ll be fine.
I’m thankful for today. While I don’t wish any illness upon myself, I am happy for the reminder that my Maker is my shepherd, brother, friend. My prophet, priest and King.
I don’t usually share so bluntly here about my faith. But there you have it.
Truth bares out its weight and glory over time and Jesus, as it turns out– is everything.
I am His. I could be sick or healthy. Rich or poor. I am always His.
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2008 was quite a year for me. Our family moved into a new home and we spent the first few months doing major renovation and then the rest of the year trying to settle in. Work-wise, I spent most of my time in the recording studio producing for other artists and co-ordinating Worship & Arts for a church plant of the Nashville Presbytery with a few gigs here and there.
Overall, two words sum it up for me: Patience and Perseverance. Here’s the run down of the 12 things I learned in ‘08:
1. Measure twice, cut once– a great thing to remember in carpentry and life in general.
2. Giving changes me. It’s not my money and giving some of what I have away keeps my heart and head in tune with reality. It feels like the more I give, the less control money has over me.
3. Running is still a great way of getting rid of stress, but just make sure you get the right shoes, even if they cost more…and never underestimate what a run will do to get you out of a funk.
4. Artists reflect the world that is and create the world that ought to be.
5. Publix, though a tad more expensive, is vastly superior to Kroger.
6. Two very cool things happened to me this year:
#1. Fat Tire (my favorite beer in the entire world) is now available in Tennessee.
#2. I’ve discovered an amazing beer called Old Chub. Thank you to Cason Cooley, Paul Moak and Matt Slocum. I am a changed man.
7. Celebrate the people you love. My friend Billy Cerveny celebrated his 40th birthday last fall with a gathering of family and about 20 close friends. It was a great evening full of laughter and stories of how much we all love Billy and what a gift he is. It was beautiful and I was moved to tears a few times hearing folks speak (right in front of him) about how much they loved him. After everybody got to share, a bunch of artist people (myself included) got up one at a time and each performed a cover of their favorite Cerveny song. I chose “Heaven Knows” and sang it basically unplugged because my old J-45 didn’t seem to want to plug into the PA. It got me thinking about funerals (hang with me here…) and how we all share about the person once they are gone, instead of blessing them with the knowledge of how much they are loved while they are with us. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to tell people how much I love them.
8. I can’t stand Jack Johnson. He’s like an island
version of Kenny G.
9. Though technically it didn’t happen in 2008, I nonetheless have been quite anxious for U2’s new album No Line On The Horizon which comes out on March 3rd, 2009. This is huge for a number of reasons–and U2 is always important in the scope of one’s yearly reflection– First, this will undoubtedly be the best album of 2009. I’ve got a feeling it will rank among The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby… maybe higher! (deep breath of anticipation) Second, the other day my friend asked me my favorite records of 2008-ish and I gave him the obvious list– Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, Robert Plant & Alison Kraus’s Raising Sand and Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago but honestly– all of these records just point to the real and present vacuum in 2008 (and whatever other year for that matter) that is created by the passage of time between U2 albums. Absence makes my heart grow fonder– so bring it on guys.
10. 2008 will surely go down in history as the year The Truman Show ended for the US economy. The drunken-spending-fest fueled by low mortgage rates and endless consumer credit card debt has come to a giant halt. 2009 will be a year of continued re-adjustment for many many folks as they learn to live within their means again or even for the first time. And just for the record, everything I was ever told about “needing” a credit card was wrong. Forget what the culture tells you. Think for yourself and live debt free. It’s not always easy but it is more than worth it.
11. Perseverance - seeing things through to the very end while renovating our 110 year old house this year. We have some great plans for this old bag of bones but it will take a few years to get there. Kierstin constantly reminds me that it is worth it. I agree with her even though I refuse to admit it, because I tend to get overwhelmed with tasks to complete. We’re making good progress though and I hope our family enjoys this place for many years to come. We’ll plant a nice garden this Spring and get some new trees in the ground as well. I’d also like to add a hedge or two of Rosemary. It’s hardy and beautiful– like this old house! Oh and I also hope to add a wood stove to our living room this year, but we’ll see.
12. Patience - holding steady during the renovation process, staying focused on the goal and moving towards completing all the projects we had going– new drywall, hardwood floors, light fixtures, tile, etc etc… quite a long list. I’m actually tired just having typed that out…
And so, looking forward into the new year, I am busy writing and recording for various projects I’m involved with. A hymns collection, an EP for a great new artist named Esther Ellis, and possibly 10,000 Angels EP Part 2.
I’ve been experimenting with beats and sounds trying to feel my way forward into new creative territory. When I have something to report I will surely let you know. I’ll know when I get there. So far it’s just building on itself. I loved RCVRY but want to push forward and lean into things a bit more. Grow and reach a little further. I want to add joy into the mix of truth and beauty for my music. Joy is sort of elusive I think. You can’t fake it. So we’ll see where it all goes…
Happy New Year, friends.
Posted in General by Jeremy | 9 Comments »
Ring them bells St. Peter
where the four winds blow,
Ring them bells with an iron hand
so the people will know.
Oh it’s rush hour now
on the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
upon the sacred cow.
Ring them bells Sweet Martha,
for the poor man’s son,
Ring them bells so the world will know
that God is one.
Oh the shepherd is asleep
where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep.
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf,
Ring them bells for all of us who are left,
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through.
Ring them bells, for the time that flies,
For the child that cries
when innocence dies.
-Bob Dylan
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Just got this new record from Fleet Foxes. It’s worth your time…melodic, confident and dynamic. It was recorded here in Nashville and is kind of a mash-up of 60’s Brian Wilson and The Shins with a dash of Kings of Convenience. Goes great with the weather.
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“The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.”
-William Faulkner
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Todd Bragg is coming over this morning to help me hang three doors in our new old house. Two bedrooms and one closet will finally be covered at long last by noon today.
We started living here in March after renovating in January and February. I’ve done a good bit of the work myself and I’ve learned so much in the process about so many things– patience, craftsmanship, diligence, vision, courage, discernment, patience, craftsmanship, patience, rinse….repeat.
I am amazed at how easily I am annoyed or frustrated. It’s pretty ridiculous. Even with plenty of sleep –it still doesn’t take much to knock me off my horse.
Working on this old house has taught me that we all need each other and that indeed no man is an island.
It really takes two people to hang a door. They are heavy and somewhat cumbersome being that they are made of solid-core hardwood and split jambs. It takes two to handle them. Two to make sure it is level and plumb.
Simple and obvious lessons but they are just as true as gravity or sunlight.
Patience and diligence. Vision. Feels like I’m making a record.
“Try to write it down while I still remember it…” (Lanois… “Lotta Love To Give”) because I know that after today we’ll be that much closer to being done with the more major projects on our house and will cease to live (and stare) at the daily reminders of work to be done and the need for vision to get to where we need to go.
Lord, make me patient and wise.
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current listening:
John Mellencamp - Life Death Love and Freedom
Ryan Adams - Cold Roses
Sixpence None The Richer - My Dear Machine EP
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations (this is really great)
Ben Shive - The Ill-Tempered Klavier (i really love this one too)
In other news:
I’ve been writing new songs, producing tracks for other artists, reading a great book by Umberto Eco and hanging doors & trim in our 100 year old house. I’ve also been running, drinking sweet-tea, cutting back on beer (boohoo) and enjoying life with my gorgeous, awesome wife and my energetic 18 month old son. Life is good, people!
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I was up late last night working on new music. My mind has been taken over by couple of new riffs that keep ringing in my ears. Playing over and over. That’s usually a good sign that something wants to come out.
I’ve been listening to a cool band I recently discovered. An Indie-Electronic outfit from Los Angeles called Philippians. I found them on myspace and really like their stuff. It’s mostly instrumental and has all sorts of textures and beats that I love.
I’ve been doing some production work too. Actually that’s most of what I’ve been doing…helping folks record EP’s and working on a few album tracks for other artists. It’s a good season and I’m thankful to just work and be home with my family.
I am out on the road a bit here and there although I haven’t posted the dates. There’s a reason for that– I am still trying to figure out how to perform the new material in a live setting. (maybe that’s bad but it’s just sort of happened) It needs to be more than just my guitar and voice (at least part of the time) and growing it up (reforming) my live animal is just taking time. I’ll get there I think. When it comes time to give it a go (most likely Fall 08) it will really be something worth seeing instead of the typical me and a guitar thing. Can you tell I’m conflicted? There’s a whole long post I could write about here but it wouldn’t do any good at this point.
I leave for Atlanta around lunch-time today. I’ll be playing there this weekend at a couple of churches with some dear friends of mine.
This morning I’m going to meet up with Derek Webb for coffee which I’m looking forward to. Then I think I may try and visit my best friend Cason after that. Then I’ll skip town until Sunday night.
Grace & Peace.
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Oprah is crazy. Seriously.
She’s nuts.
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Arrested Development is being made into a full-length motion picture!
The whole cast is back and I am excited! I loved the show when it was on the TV.
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