The Choir

Out of the shadow of Shadow Weaver…

…comes Sentimental song.

The Choir‘s new album, Shadow Weaver, is out and ready to be indulged.  It seems to me with each new release by this band there is a drawing of my ear to go deeper in the music and the lyric.  If you are a follower of The Choir, you know exactly what I am talking about.  There is not another band out there who can weave the dreamy alternative rock sound in and out of each album and paint as pretty a picture lyrically as this band can.  You can become a fan now with Shadow Weaver but don’t stop there.  One of the beauties of their art is how previous lyrics or themes are consistently weaved throughout their work.

In 1987, I discovered The Choir, while I was a student at Lee College in Cleveland, TN.  The album was Diamonds and Rain.  Shortly after that purchase Chase the Kangaroo was released and my followship of the Choir was solidified!  As I have grown up over the years, it’s as though the lyric and sound have been a soundtrack for my life.

I’ve experienced many highs and lows in life.  Both of which I would love to have had the right tools to draw from when experiencing both of them.  Today, I hope I’ve learned from the difficulties, destruction, and triumph experienced in my life.  (Deep breath)

I recently attended the kick off concert for the Shadow Weaver tour in Dallas, GA.  I went hoping to be able to write about my experience hearing the songs from Shadow Weaver.  They only played a couple of the new songs that night… and what we did hear was outstanding!  Right now, it’s a song off of the 1990 album, Circle Slide, that I want to share.  As Derri began to strum the first chords of this song, applause began as everyone knew what was coming…  Sentimental Song!

As Derri sang, my mind went back to a little house I lived in back in 1991.  I had been divorced for a short period of time.  Just a little bit shorter than I had actually been married.  My life and my heart were a mess of emotions during that time.  I realize Sentimental Song is really a love song.  But during those days I heard that song from the heart of the Holy Spirit.  Each time I played that song then God reached out to me with love.  I tried hard to grasp ahold of those rays of the Son through the thick darkness that had enveloped my life.  As I sat there listening to Derri sing, emotion welled-up within me as I thought about the love my Heavenly Father has for me.  How His grace is deep and not near as complicated as my life has tried to make it.

I’ve heard of people having serious car wrecks after running slightly off of the road.  The wreck occurred after they tried to over-correct from the first mistake.  Well, my life then was much like that.  I ran off the road through that relationship and tried to over-correct my life and ended up crashing.  Some of the memories of that time in life still plague me.  It’s a constant reminder that God has deep meaning and purpose that is hidden even in the darkness we find our lives in the midst of.  His desire is to mine the diamonds that we have hidden in the past of our lives.

How’s your voice?

Have you ever lost your voice?  If not, I’m sure you have heard someone who has.  It’s an unusual experience and a bit painful.  You are the same person you were the day before – you just can’t communicate the way you are accustomed.

I love music.  There is no telling how much money I have spent over the years on cassettes, CDs, and now digital downloads.  I’m not a musician.  Although I own a guitar.  I only played when I didn’t have anyone else to lead worship while I was a youth pastor.  I still had to have someone else sing and be the voice to lead us where I desired for us to go.  The only time I play now is when God uses a song to speak to me.  I sit down to learn the song (if the chords are not too complicated) as I meditate on what He has been teaching me through it.

I was watching a live performance last night by The Choir.  It was a beautiful moment to watch and listen as these four men play their music.  (You can watch it here) They have literally been one of the best soundtracks of lyric and sound for my life than anyone else.  There are other bands who have had their place in my life that have really moved me and lead me to deep moments in Christ but The Choir has been there pretty much the entire time.  They are in the midst of embarking on their 15th studio album!  I’m excited for them as well as for me… I’m looking forward to hearing what nugget God has in store for my life through their voice.

Steve Hindalong (writer, drummer) talked about how blessed he is to have a voice like Derri Daugherty (vocalist, guitarist) to communicate the lyric Steve writes.  To hear Steve communicate that last night was touching.  I have been thinking about that very thing this week…. “My voice.”

If you think about it, we all have a voice that God intends for us to use for his purposes.  It could be on our job, in the church, at the grocery store, your blog, your small group, you name it…. where is it your voice is heard the most?  We live in a very noisy society.  Our ears tune in to certain sounds and messages that are appealing.  Just as our ears tune in to what we like… an important element in our life we can’t forsake is our own voices.  Just as I look forward to the next album by The Choir – there are people out there who need to hear your voice (my voice).  We all have a message to bring to this world.  God desires for us to surrender our wills – our hearts – to His Message and be His voice.

I don’t want to lose my voice.  I know that there are many things in life that have been crowding in to rob me of my voice.  I want to surrender and ask God to let me rise above the noisy crowd and be who He wants me to be.  No more running!  No more fear!  No more hiding!  No more being quiet!

It’s one thing to preach a sermon someone else has written.  It’s another thing to write the message from your own heart.  It’s one thing to cover someone else’s song.  It’s another thing to write it.  I guess that’s why I had much rather listen to the original artist recording over someone else performing it.  Kind of like listening to Journey without Steve Perry… why would you want to do that?

Don’t lose your voice!  There are people out there who need to hear it.  Their ears are tuned in to what you have to say.  Stay true to your heart and the Message the Holy Spirit has given you… now be His voice and deliver it however He has gifted you!

The Clouds…

I stepped outside last night and the feel of the cool air was refreshing.  I gazed up into the sky to look at the stars.  It’s a beautiful sight just to stare at what God has created.  Throughout time men and women have looked up and seen the same site I looked upon last night.  As I could feel the breeze coming in from the west I could also see the clouds moving in to obstruct the beautiful view.

The winds of change can bring so much that impact our lives.  Some times these winds bring news of great hope, love, joy, and happiness.  Other times these winds bring clouds of  hurt, disappointment, and despair.

We all experience these winds at some time in our lives. We have experienced them with our friends and loved ones:  The bad news of cancer, the unexpected death of a friend, the loss of a job, or the horrible end of a marriage – all bring it…

If we aren’t alert to the troubles that these clouds bring, we will fall into a trap that will blow us off of the path God has intended for our lives.  I’m sure if we are both honest we have all been there at some point in time within our faith walk.  Margaret Feinberg writes about her life where the “marvel of life” was misplaced.

Faith invites us into an enchanting journey—one marked by mysteries of divine beauty, holy courage, irrepressible hope, unending love. But in my life, any sense of the splendor of God had faded. I knew I needed a fresh encounter with God to awaken me from my sleep, to dis- turb me from my slumber.

And so I prayed for wonder.

Palms extended, wide-eyed with expectation, I waited for an answer. And God did not disappoint. For me, a prayer for wonder asks the Lord to expand my capacity to see and savor the divine gifts all around. (Margaret Feinberg, Wonderstruck, 7).

When we look through the lens of the Holy Spirit we can see the good in all things. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (NIV).

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. (Psalm 91:1-2, The Message).

Seeking doesn’t always bring answers but rather more questions.  These are lyrics by The Choir, in TheLoudestSoundEverHeard_covertheir song, The Forest, from their newest album, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard.

More is hidden than revealed. Sometimes the path to understanding is concealed. It hurts to be alive, your pain is real. Go on laugh until you cry, it’s good to feel

The sun will shine. The sun will shine on you. The sun will shine. The sun will shine on you.

I believe the sun will shine on you and me, my friend. I have learned to trust the turning of the seasons. Even now the sun is breaking through the clouds again. But I still don’t know the causes or the reasons

So, in the wake of unanswered questions how do you deal with change that comes throughout the seasons in your life?  I have found praying and reading the Bible are two of the best ways to deal with that which I can’t understand on my own.  Just as those stars have been there throughout time – God is always here with us.  He is not out there somewhere but right here among us.  If the clouds have obstructed your view of God – pray! Pray that He will reveal his marvelous love… may you be filled with the wonder, excitement, and joy of his love.

The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes. (Psalm 19:7-8, The Message).