My Year In 100 Words

I’m filled with gratitude for how my year has held so many beautiful experiences: all of them have to do with people — I can’t live fully in isolation. A trip to Whistler, BC or a tour of four baseball stadiums in four days is nice, but it’s awesome with a great friend. My Pilgrim Man CD released a series of beautiful exchanges with like-minded travelers. Filming “1 Message” with AKA and the crew was an honor. I survived the flood, a couple snowstorms, and a half marathon, but my dog’s cancer at year’s end broke my heart. Still, hope reigns.

What Makes Christmas Great?

Christmas is a crazy, beautiful time of year. I love listening to carols, especially the old classics. I also love looking at lights and elaborate decorations. I also love time together with family and friends. But looking back over the multitudes of Christmases, the best part has always been the hope of what presents I might get.

I loved making wish lists as a kid. Going through the big Sears toy catalog and picking out what looked the most awesome. I didn't always get what I wanted, even though I admit I was completely spoiled. I got more than I really needed, certainly.

I would spend most of December trying to find hidden boxes throughout the house...hidden in closets, or under beds. And then when gifts would be set out under the tree, I would shake and rattle the wrapped boxes, trying to determine the contents.

When I try to put profound, grown-up words on what makes Christmas great, I come up with this: Christmas is great knowing that someone who loves you, is planning something special, specifically with your joy in mind. They are preparing something for you - to bring you happiness. This to me, is HOPE. The hope that someone who loves me is preparing something special for me - specifically with my joy in mind.

Still I have to admit that as I get older, I pretend it doesn't matter so much that I didn't get anything good for Christmas. "Oh socks! I love them! This sweater is beautiful - it's so soft!" But I can't escape the ache - the feeling that there should be something more. Something more in line with my heart's deepest longings. It's not greed...it's HOPE!!

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Another Friend In Prison

It's no secret to those who know me that I'm friends with a lot of guys in prison. Today I found out about another—an old friend from high school who is currently sitting in prison awaiting trial for possibly killing his girlfriend. Somehow this one feels different. Maybe because I never knew any of the guys I now know in prison before they were ever incarcerated. My heart breaks for him and his family. And I wish I was closer to Los Angeles, so I could go visit him...and just catch up.

I've known several incarcerated men over the past 16 years since deciding to start a grassroots prison ministry. This decision takes me inside the walls of a local prison each Friday morning when I  get to hang out with a small group of guys for a weekly Bible Study. Sometimes we open the Bible, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we talk about sports, politics, TV, music, movies...anything really, that a group of guys would talk about it. But my number one goal is to cut through all the religiosity that so many of us have been living under most of our lives. I want to get to the bottom of it, and find out what's real, what's not...and what really matters.

The thing I find the most common is the thinking that if you're good enough, you'll make it to Heaven. That if somehow God deems you worthy of salvation, then you'll receive it. But ultimately, there's no way of knowing until you actually meet Him face to face, so you better do your darndest to be good! To me, this flat out disregards the need for Jesus to have died on the cross. Because of what Jesus did, my entrance into Heaven is no longer on my shoulders—it's on His. Grace is a free gift. No strings attached.

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Pilgrim Man Commercial

While t-shirts and slogans say "life is good," Mark Smeby has written an amazing anthem of hope for those of us who know sometimes it isn’t, and that we all need God’s grace and encouragement to make it through. More than a slogan, this is a beautiful song of truth, encouragement and hope. Who doesn't need to hear that?
~Jennifer Martin, Worship Pastor, Church of the Redeemer, Nashville

I Don't Need To Bark In Order To Be Heard

As a writer I hate walking into a bookstore. Part of me wants to find something interesting to connect with, some new writer that will affect my life like Anne Lamott or Eugene Peterson. All the covers plead for me to judge their contents by their prettiness. Truth is, sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. But instead of discovering beautiful new literary connections, I get bowled over by the silence. Like leafing through page after page of a dating service notebook filled with women last named A-G. So much muted potential, prettied-up with a fancy exterior. Mostly, it’s the overwhelming silence of all those unsold books that is so deafening to me. And I really want to be one more of the unsold authors stacked on those disorganized shelves? What could possibly be wrong with me?

All those words on all those pages. All those hours spent by someone somewhere, hoping their efforts would have some value. All those months waiting for a publisher to pick up their manuscript. All those hours wondering if that publisher will ever do anything to promote their dang book, or if it will just get lost in the shuffle of their better-selling, celebrity-driven, ghost-written titles.

It’s very similar to going into a record store and seeing all those unsold CDs just sitting there, patiently waiting for someone to give them a chance. So much unnoticed music. At the same time, there are so many artists that sell a ton of records. So many authors who sell a ton of books. And still, so many artists and authors who have personally affected me. I’m grateful they chose to throw their heart down the chute of creativity so that I could have my life changed by their expressions.

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Four Overwhelming Weeks

Four weeks since the Chicago 1/2 Marathon. I can't believe it's already been a month since I was in Chicago to run the big race...not to mention the release of my CD. It's been an exciting month! I'm blown away by the tremendous response people are giving the project - saying all kinds of nice things about the songs. I hope it's encouraging, inspiring, and ultimately life-giving. Here's a bit of a recap of the last month...

Sept. 12 - Chicago 1/2 Marathon - had a blast. I indeed did prove that "Impossible is Nothing" by accomplishing something I had considered impossible only 12 weeks earlier.
Sept. 14 - PILGRIM MAN CD released - I celebrated by watching the Twins beat the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago with my friend Dennis Rizo.
Sept. 16 - Fall softball season starts. Awesome. Continues on Thursdays & Mondays into November.
Sept. 17 - CD Release Party (Nashville) - A fantastic gathering of friends from throughout my years here in Music City. Finger foods and beverages. I shared a handful of new songs - a couple live, and a couple on CD. Ended with a great prayer time, thanks to the amazing Brenda Boswell, who has been a beautiful source of encouragement to me ever since we met in 1994.

Sept. 19 - My first stop on the Pilgrim Man Fall 2010 Tour - Roanoke, VA. Had a blast at Vinton Baptist Church with Chris, Bill, and my good friends the Perrington's. Sang in their two AM services, then did a concert that evening. Had a blast - so thankful for the opportunity to meet these great people - and share my songs & stories with them.
Sept. 26th - Outdoor picnic concert at Brook Hollow Baptist Church in West Nashville - thanks to my friend, JR Davis and their Pastor Tom.
Oct. 3rd - Music at my own church!! Church of the Redeemer - Nashville. I love my church - there's such a great, loving, non-pretentious spirit. I'm thrilled to get to serve the body with music, together with the other awesome musicians and our leader, Jennifer Martin.
Oct. 6th - Interview with KFSI Rochester, MN - my new favorite radio station - to promote my concert this weekend. They've been playing my song "Pilgrim Man" for a while, and it's extra special because my parents & a ton of friends live there and get to hear it!

Oct. 10th - Great day at Rochester Covenant Church - two AM services - and big concert that evening. Blew me away to get to sing with their church choir on "Pilgrim Man" and "This World Is Not My Home." Had great help in the concert from Pat, Will & Shannon from the church on BGVs. Had a bunch of family and friends show up, and even surprise me - including a couple I went to college with in Nebraska and hadn't seen for 22 years. They saw a poster for the concert my dad put up in a shop and decided to come and bring their boys. Awesome.

So what's ahead? God only knows. I hope to make it back to the Midwest a few more times this fall, including Omaha, Iowa, Missouri, and even Minnesota again. I'll keep you posted. If you know somewhere I could come sing, let's make it happen.

Thanks for all your love & support. It's all for God & you.

Post Run Recap From Chicago

Man...I did it. What an amazing experience. On the eve of my CD release, I recorded some thoughts from the race. I'm so grateful to everyone who has been cheering me on. We're all on a great journey -and we need each other to keep going!

I'm Answering the Call To Adventure

My friend Danny ran with me!!

I was #948 in the Franklin Classic this past Monday morning. Nobody special—just another guy in the crowd. One of a thousand others who braved the early morning start time and the physical challenge of the race. We started as a giant clump of anticipation, and after the starting gun, spread out like a giant amoeba on a long, long road. Heads bounced up and down around me, and little kids raced by. I kept saying to myself, “Hold back, pace yourself, pace yourself.” More kids zoomed past by me. The run was actually quite fun—the energy high all around me. But the best part was at the end, as complete strangers cheered as I crossed the finish line…my first race. My practice race. See, I've never been a runner—actually more of an anti-runner. Running was the one thing that I put into the "impossible" category. I've tried running before, but was always met with way too much back and knee pain. Not to mention the "L" word—laziness.

But earlier this summer I felt something developing inside of me. It was a desire for an adventure—something really big, something crazy, maybe even a little dangerous. Then a friend told me about the Chicago Half Marathon he was running on September 12th and my heart jumped. That was it. My adventure: running a half marathon.

So I've been training all summer—running nearly 250 miles through all this crazy heat we've been experiencing. This has unquestionably been the most physically challenging experience of my life. But so much of the battle has been in my head. The "I can't" or the "I won't be able to" or "That's impossible" or "I need to stop…" There have been some really tough days—I've cried, I've winced. And some really great days—goosebump-inducing runs and even tears of joy shed. I've developed strength and confidence I never knew I had. I've lost weight! And I've uncovered some amazing camaraderie among other runners.

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It's Strange To Release A CD

I'm hesitant to even write about this. But it's such a strange thing to do to complete and release a CD. Especially when it's something I've been dreaming about doing for 17 years. After all those years of seriously wondering if I'm completely crazy...and even being told by some people that I am... there's a bit of a feeling of redemption in the completion of this project.  And I'm so happy that early reports from people who have heard some of it are very positive.

So what's the point? This is for all the people who are wondering if they are crazy, as well. You're not. But that doesn't necessarily mean that your dreams are going to come true, or in the way you hope they will. Or in your desired timeframe. But I can promise you this: If you don't give up, and continue working towards your goal, seeking wisdom from people who know more than you, you will find yourself going places and doing things that you never imagined.

There are a lot of people who want to make a CD who need to really work on finding their own unique voice. They need to take a lot of lessons, and learn how to write better songs. And they need to tell an engaging story, something that other people will want to hear. That's when you'll be met with an audience at an unexpected time. No audience is concerned about perfection, but they are looking for passion and authenticity.

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Power of Community To Help Reach Your Goals

Beyond my comprehension, I just ran 10 miles this morning. My final long run before the big race next weekend. But I couldn't have done it alone.

Again...Why Am I Running?

The challenge of this morning 9 mile run made me really stop and voice again (to myself) why I am doing this. This morning's big bummer: iPod froze up halfway through the run. Is it normal for an iPod to give out before its owner does?

How's the CD Coming Along?

I'm grateful there are people in my life that ask me this question. Actually, I've had people asking me this question for about 17 years. And of course, I've had different answers throughout the years—sometimes optimistic, sometimes horribly pessimistic. It's a question that has been wrought with all kinds of expectation—mostly self-imposed. As if my level of value as a human being was based on when my CD would finally get made.

I know that I've spent a lot of those 17 years (since moving to Nashville from Minneapolis) waiting for someone to give me permission to start living the life of my dreams - which would be symbolized by their investment in me as an artist. I gave a lot of power to small handful of people, gate keepers at record labels - some even friends - who I shouldn't have. And most all of those people have moved on to something else by now. So I'm left wondering, "Who am I supposed to give my power to now?" By power, I mean, the power to tell me I'm a valid artist/person.

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Tribute to the School Crossing Guard By My House

This amazing lady blessed me this morning with a beautiful, random act of kindness. I pay tribute to her with today's video. She made me so happy. Now it's my turn. Has this ever happened to you?

Why Have I Chosen Self-Pity?

For too long I have listened to negative voices, even though surrounded by encouragement. Why did I waste so much time? Just under 4 weeks left of training...and CD comes out 4 wks from today!

Is Delayed Gratification Really Better?

Today was a really tough run. And this video isn't pretty. I'm choosing to press on, though...to continue on this path, regardless of how long, or how difficult it might be.

Don't Stress (Even if you get hit by a car...)

Today marks the longest run ever in my entire life. I was a bit concerned about what it was going to be like, until someone told me to not even think about it. Just do it. So I did. And I'm thrilled.

Info About the Movie I'm In

Here's some great news about the movie I'm so honored to be a part of. If you read this press release, I'm the "saintly mentor" mentioned. Type-casting, right? HA! More info to come as we progress...

Kelly's Filmworks Takes On Breast Cancer With New Film, "1 Message"

Kelly's Filmworks Ltd, known for such thought-provoking films as 'Clancy' and 'The Perfect Stranger', is embarking on a new movie project that deals with the challenges of the breast cancer victim.

"1 Message" tells the story of Becca, a beautiful 28-year-old woman whose perfect life is severely interrupted by the discovery of a lump in her breast. A double mastectomy follows, as well as a dark descent into seclusion and depression. The storyline revolves around her gradual reemergence into a world she sees with new eyes, thanks to a saintly mentor she encounters online.

Based on the novel of the same name by Mary T. Lennox, the screenplay was written by actor Jefferson Moore, who also serves as director and executive producer. Moore's wife, Kelly Worthington, is producer on the project. The couple started Kelly's Filmworks in 2003.

Moore received the novel back in 2006 from Ms. Lennox, a Catholic nun, who was inquiring as to whether or not her first book effort had merit as a screenplay.

"I was immediately drawn to the emotion of the story", says Moore, "it had such a strong message that inspired on so many different levels - inner beauty, family values, self-worth, and the amazing healing power of forgiveness. As a reader, I found myself touched and motivated at the same time, and I knew that feeling would resonate with movie audiences as well." (Moore's mother, Betty, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.)

New York theatre actress Ashley Kate Adams makes her movie debut in the role of Becca, the young woman who believes that her beauty is lost when cancer changes her body. For Ashley, auditioning for the role came with a great personal significance - her grandmother was a cancer patient who also had endured a double mastectomy. According to her, she felt an inner connection to what the main character was going through as a result of her grandmother's experience.

Adams' age was also a determining factor in how "1 Message" will be presented to the viewing public.

"Breast cancer has always been perceived as a 'mature woman's disease' - but that is not the case," says Moore. As a result of this common misconception, Adams will be appearing in a series of online public service announcements, aimed directly at twenty somethings, encouraging them not to neglect monthly self exams.

Kelly's Filmworks' vision for the release of "1 Message" is to carry the 'service' notion one step further; a percentage of proceeds from box office, television and DVD sales from the film will be donated to breast cancer research and prevention. The studio is currently seeking a national partner to help generate awareness for the project, and to serve as its main beneficiary; talks have already begun with several of the larger cancer foundations. "Right now its all about finding a good fit," says Kelly.

Principal photography on the film will continue through the end of August. A release date has not yet been set.

Pilgrim Man CD (Cover & Tracklisting)

Set for release on September 14, 2010, here's the cover and tracklisting for the new Pilgrim Man CD. Please visit the store page above for all the details or just go ahead right now and send an email to mark@marksmeby.com if you want to pre-order your own copy. Thank you for all your support!

1. Here's Your Life -  Some people seem to be waiting for permission to start living their life - here's the invitation & it's the party track!
2. Pilgrim Man (available now on iTunes) - an anthemic song of hope & encouragement
3. Just Watch Me - a song of courage & empowerment
4. Walk On The Water - I gotta get out of this boat!
5. Time For Hope - a powerful song of hope, regardless of circumstances
6. Turn My Eyes Upon You - a prayer for clarity
7. Don't Forget Me When I Fall - we can't let anyone slip through the cracks
8. Precious Memories - my gratitude song
9. What I Want -funky tune about desire
10. All I Want Is You - you can't work your way into My love
11. This World Is Not My Home - my hallelujah chorus

Please help spread the word--you can share the music player in the upper right hand side of this page, you can retweet below, or email this info by clicking on the little envelope just below! And please shoot me an email if you want to pre-order your copy! Thank you!

Longest Run Ever in the History of (This) Man

What I Actually Sound Like in the Studio

It's not pretty. But here's me working on my vocal for a great new tune "Here's Your Life" that I wrote with Scott Sheriff. It's going to be on my new PILGRIM MAN CD coming out in September. The patient voice in the background is the way talented (and a great runner!) Doug Beiden.

I Only Have To Do TWO Miles Today?

A special shout-out to Gary DeVeau at Long Island's WLIX who has asked me to keep him and his listeners up to date on my training journey with regular audio check-ins! Awesome! We are all on our own kinds of journeys - some more personal than others. I hope my running...and my quest to prove that Impossible is indeed Nothing...is inspiring to others to never give up! (Just like my tune "Pilgrim Man" says!) Thanks Gary for the encouragement!!

Why I Am Running...

Help Me Make the "Pilgrim Man" Music Video!

To celebrate the September release of my Pilgrim Man CD project, I would love your help with the creation of the "Pilgrim Man" music video! This video will be used to promote the album, and I will also use it behind me when I sing the tune in concert! The goal is to make this as inspirational and encouraging to other people as possible. So what can you do to help? Well, thanks for asking…


I would love you to send me video clips of you (or people you know) doing things like:

• Holding up powerful signs of encouragement, i.e. "Don't give up" etc. "You can do it," "You're not alone," "God Will Carry You," etc.
• Hold up a sign of testimony, i.e. "I had cancer…but I'm a survivor." "Didn't think I could do it, but I just ran my first 1/2 marathon," etc. Make it personal! Check out "Cardboard Testimonies" on youtube.com for some ideas.
• Helping someone else, i.e. Mission trip videos, working with kids, volunteering at a shelter or a nursing home.
• Singing along with the song in an interesting place.
• Doing something challenging or difficult - for someone it might be climbing a rock, for someone else it might be walking… what is it for you?

Here's a great example of a clip from Craig in St. Louis:



GET A COPY OF THE SONG: If you want, you can download the song on iTunes (itunes.com/marksmeby), or you can listen to/play the song on facebook.com/MarkSmeby - click on the "My Band" tab. While you're there, feel free to "Like" me. Heck, I'll even email you the tune if that'd help!

UPLOAD: Once you create your video (hopefully at the highest quality possible - HD is great!), upload it to YouTube, and then email me the link to see it: mark@marksmeby.com - subject line: My Music Video Clip! You don't have to record the entire song, just as much as you'd like.

DEADLINE: Please send me your link by August 16th!

SMALL PRINT: Once the CD is released I will send a FREE copy to everyone whose clip I use, so please include your mailing address. Your email will then be added to the semi-official Mark Smeby email list, so let me know if you don't want to be added to it, okay? The videos you submit must not be taken from anywhere other than your own camera or phone. They must be created by you. You are forfeiting your rights to the video once you submit it to me. Meaning, even if this video wins Video of the Year on MTV, you're not gonna get any money for it. Sorry!

I look forward to seeing your creativity and so appreciate your help!

Recording Vocals for Pilgrim Man

This is what I looked like while recording the vocals for my tune "Pilgrim Man." And unfortunately, this isn't what I sounded like. This is the finished mix after all the magicians do their tricks and make me sound like an actual singer. Thanks to Chris Davis for producing a killer track, Tim Brown for a killer mix, Matt Huesmann for the great studio, and JR & Johnathan Davis for shooting the video!

Movie, Music, Marathon - Smeby Update

This whole blogging thing is so strange to me. I picture an imaginary audience out there...you know, people who actually care...and think about what might be interesting for them to read. The problem is, when it's your own life, and it all kinda melts together in a mush of good and bad, fantastic and boring, it's hard to determine what another person might find interesting. (So if you're reading this, I'd love to get your feedback - what would you like to read about?)

Things are progressing well in my creative life. Filming has begun on "1 Message" - the new motion picture from Kelly's Filmworks. I'm so honored to have been asked to be a part of this fantastic story. It's a beautiful, poignant story about a young woman's battle with the ravaging affects of breast cancer. I have an amazing role that is going to really challenge me--so I'm thrilled about it. And you're going to absolutely love Ashley Kate Adams (on the left, with fellow actor Tom Luce on the right) as the lead. She's originally from Louisville (where the filming is taking place) but she's living in NYC and doing the Broadway singing/acting thing...I'm hoping this film could be a big deal for her...and that I get to ride a little bit of her coattails!!

Speaking of challenges, training for the Chicago 1/2 Marathon is right on schedule. I'm learning about courage and discipline. About saying yes when everything in your body says no. And saying no when your body says yes. It's a very spiritual experience. I highly recommend it. I wish someone would've told me sooner how my passion for life is so symbolized by running. How no matter the pain or the distance or the heat or the quality of the road, you have got to keep going!! (cue "Pilgrim Man")

Speaking of "Pilgrim Man" - the tune has unbelievably been added to 100 stations now and is making an impact bigger than I had ever dreamed. I'm looking forward to the launch of the next phase of radio promotions starting this coming week. In the meantime, I continue to plug away at finishing the whole dang Pilgrim Man CD. I'm so excited to be able to share some of these new songs with you. I'm really striving to put heart, sincerity, and emotion at the forefront. With a bit of fun thrown in for good measure. More than anything I want people to know how loved they are.

Here's something I wrote recently about the one word I believe will change your life.

Hope you are finding hope for the journey.  You are not alone.

P.S. Please send me an email if you know somewhere I could come do a concert! Thanks!

Time To Remove Some of the CANT'S and NEVERS From My Life

I just accomplished something I've never done before. And I'm feeling really good about it. I never thought I'd be a runner. And really, I'm probably not. But I did just complete my very first, without ever stopping, 5K up and down Hillsboro Rd.

See, just a couple of weeks ago, I decided to sign up for an adventure. It's called a Half Marathon, and I'll be flying up to Chicago in the middle of September to do it. But until then, I'll be training here in the heat of Nashville. Training for something I most likely vowed to never do sometime in the past.

It's easy to get to a certain time in life and say, "Oh, I surely CAN'T do that…" or "I NEVER will do that…" or how about, I'll "NEVER be able to do that!" I want to remove some of the CAN'TS and NEVERS from my life.

I'm in an interesting season in my life when I'm faced with several very huge challenges in front of me, and I'm not exactly sure I'm going to be able to pull them off. One of them is this 1/2 marathon. Another is working to complete the Pilgrim Man CD project. The third thing is a movie role I was just invited to tackle. It's going to challenge me to act at a level I've never had the opportunity to approach before now. And right now, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do it. I think maybe I can…but I'm not sure. The half marathon? I'm not sure I'll be able to do it without taking half a day. Or without passing out. Or wimping out. And the CD project is forcing me to take my creativity and my passion to a whole other level. My goal: create a CD that only Mark Smeby could create. Anybody can make a CD, but nobody else could ever make a Mark Smeby CD. I think I can do this…but I'm not sure.

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Behind the Scenes Recording the Pilgrim Man CD

From the luxurious Tenbury Wells Studio on Penbrook Drive in swanky Franklin, TN. HA! I'm so excited about this - my first real recorded piano solo! I'm doing this as a tribute to my friend Tom Howard who died earlier this year - it's his amazing arrangement. I'm so proud to have known him.

"Pilgrim Man" Hits 79 Radio Stations - CD Underway

Man, I'm so excited about the response that "Pilgrim Man" man is getting at radio. It's so difficult for a new artist to get airplay…so to have 79 stations take a chance on an unknown like me is really extraordinary.

I hope people are being encouraged by the song. I usually write things that I need to hear myself, and so what happens is that I'll pop the tune in my car and something will hit me in the lyrics that I really needed to hear. That's amazing to me, and makes me feel like God is involved in this process…that it's not just about me being clever or talented. It's about God using a semi-normal guy to create a tool that He will use to encourage His children...including me! What an honor to be a part of this!

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Grandma Mildred (1915-2010)

My Grandma Mildred was a poet, a writer, a teacher, a musician. She focused on being creative and then taught others to do so, as well. She demonstrated how to live an unconventional life, showing me that I could as well. She was rootsy and advantgarde before I knew what that meant, or even more, how to appreciate it. She taught me that life isn't always lived between the lines.

I love that whenever we'd visit her Eau Claire, WI house as kids, the house was full of mystery and intrigue. She always let me explore. She always let me put my hands on new musical instruments I'd never seen before, or to play her big organ with all the fun sounds. She always let me be adventurous. I'm grateful for that lesson and hope to continue to be adventurous, and encourage others to do likewise.

I love that she did an acting stint in the Grande Olde Players in Omaha. She taught me that you're never too old to put on makeup and get up in front of people and act silly.

I love that she took such good care of our dog Scamp in her final dog days. She showed me that even though you live alone, you never have to be lonely.

Grandma Mildred was never fake or artificial. She never wanted to convince anyone that she was anything other than just herself. Sometimes that meant putting on makeup and big jewelry to go play the piano for all the "old people". Sometimes it meant just lounging in her nightgown. I'm grateful for her teaching me that there's a time and place to be fancy, even if other people don't agree.

I don't claim to understand a lot about how she lived her life, or how she managed to live as long as she did on her regular diet of crossword puzzles and romance novels. But I admire her contentment with simplicity. As I grow older, I hope to eliminate clutter and excess.

Her love for me appeared to grow with her age. Oddly enough, the less she was able to walk, the more she was able to say "I love you" to me. I hope to say "I love you" more, the older I grow, as well.

Love, Mark

Advice I Wish Someone Would've Given Me

I'm a big fan of going after the desires of your heart—mostly because I believe God put them there, and also because of the joy I get from doing it! If you're like me at all, you know how difficult it can be to set your sails in a certain direction you'd like to go, only to find out there's no wind and the boat seems to have leaks in all the strangest places.

This is one of my most favorite quotes: "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." —Calvin Coolidge

Here are a few things that I wish someone would've told me a while back. I think learning these early on would've made my life a bit easier...and perhaps made me see I was less crazy than I am tempted to believe I am.

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Lessons I Learned From the Flood

Life has been flipped completely upside-down for many people in Nashville. Over the past weekend, we experienced a crazy amount of rain, up to 20” in some parts. And it all came so quickly that the rivers didn’t know what to do—except to go places they’ve never been before. Places we never imagined they would go.

The center of this picture is where I play softball - you can see the
dark roof of the school on the right edge, my house is just above the school.

The devastation is mind-blowing. The effect this flood will have on our economy remains to be seen, but will most certainly be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Many people lost their lives. Thousands of people lost everything in their homes, and even more people are left with a huge mess to clean up. I’m grateful so many people have asked if I needed anything—fortunately the waters receded before they came inside my house. Many people in my subdivision, and our town, are really struggling right now.

Sunday was a bit scary, surreal, crazy, and intriguing as we helplessly watched the water have its way with our street. During one of the breaks in the rain, I stepped out into the street to examine the rising waters. I found a small group of my neighbors talking. I discovered that one of my neighbors was afraid because he couldn’t get out of his driveway, and was running low on groceries. I told him to make a list, and we’d take care of it. One neighbor (whom I had never met before) had a truck and was willing to take me through the water-logged streets to the store, and then insisted on splitting the bill with me. Through the experience of our like-minded mission, I made a friend.

The flood of 2010 has taught me a few powerful lessons:

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Pilgrim Man - Introduction Video

Pilgrim Man Hits #3 on Chart

It's very encouraging whenever I get a notice that another radio station is playing my song. Incredibly enough, the song has jumped all the way up to #3 on the CRW Global AC impressions chart. I'm not completely sure what all that means, except I'm encouraged by it...cause it could definitely be at a lower spot on the chart. It looks like 32 stations are playing it now, which means that even if each station only has two listeners (the DJ and one other person) that means roughly 64 people have heard my tune. Awesome. Thank you for all your support!!

Here's a complete list of stations playing "Pilgrim Man" as of this week. Please call your local Christian radio station and request it.

(new since last post)
WNPQ: New Philadelphia, OH
WJFY: Heath, OH
WJFZ: Canton, OH
highenergyfm.com - Scotland
WDOV: Athens WV - internet
radioforlife.net:
WGGP: Big Pine Key, FL
KJAN AM 1220: Atlantic, Iowa
KROZ: Hobbs, NM
WGLY: Vermont
CHSB: Bedford, Nova Scotia
WMHR: Syracuse, NY
Real Country Radio: Japan
WSEW: S. Maine/ SE NH

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"Pilgrim Man" - Update

Thank you to everybody for responding so amazingly to my "Pilgrim Man" tune. This might sound weird, but people are saying things that I have always dreamed of them saying. Does that make sense? I have hoped for so long that people would be impacted by my singing and writing, and so to have those two things combined into one package called "Pilgrim Man" is quite a joy for me. Check this out from Julie Branham, Director of the Nashville Soul Choir:

"It drew me in from the moment I heard the opening pulsing rhythm, like a weary heart beating from a long journey, and then the encouraging words “Pilgrim Man, don’t give up. Though the road may be long and the journey hard…” I think we’ve all been there at some point in our lives, wondering if this is all that life has to offer, wanting to let go and give up. Pilgrim Man is a song for everyone who needs to know that they are NOT alone on this journey of life. That every day IS a brand new day and the best is yet to come.

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Radio Stations Are Playing My Song!!

I couldn't be more excited about the fact that even though we just finished the mix of "Pilgrim Man" this past Monday night at 12:30am, we already have FOUR stations that have said they will play my tune! Can you believe it?! Awesome. I'm thrilled at the comments people are making about the song - and how they're being encouraged by it.

Here's the roll call:
WFST: Northern Maine and Western New Brunswick
WKBO: Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle
KGPS: Kingman, Az.
WBYN-AM: Lehighton, PA/ Allentown, PA
(more stations added - see next blog entry!)

Please feel free to call your local station and tell them you'd like to hear "Pilgrim Man." Or geez, call me and tell me you'd like to hear it! (Or find the song on iTunes, if you'd like it for your iPod!)

Thanks for all your support!
Mark

Pilgrim Man - What’s It All For?

I'm sitting at the mixing console with my good friend Tim Brown at the reigns. We're working on the mix of my tune "Pilgrim Man" and I couldn't be more blown away. It is sounding so amazing -- I can't wait for you to hear it. My friend and producer extraordinaire, Chris Davis (Veggie Tales, Ruth McGuinness), created an amazing track. We got fellow Minnesotan Paul Eckberg (Eager) to throw some awesome drums on it, and Mike Payne (Matthew West) did killer guitar parts. Then we had a small soiree at my house, with members of Nashville Soul Choir over to sing the big chorus parts and the blessing at the end—they blew me away. Then Matt Huesmann let us use his studio to record my lead vocals. To top it all off, JR and Jonathan Davis (Winco Productions) caught the whole thing on HD video. I'm struck by a couple of things about this whole process:

#1 - I'm blown away by the amazing talent of my friends, and their willingness to step up and help me, even when there doesn't appear to be anything for them to gain from it all. I hope I can repay them somehow. For now, love will have to do.

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Singing For My Life...er, My Vacation

You know that feeling when you pull away from your house, drive down your street, and then you suddenly remember something you’re going to need real bad? So you turn around and pull back in the garage, dog wondering why you’re back so quickly because she barely had a chance to close her eyes, and then try the whole leaving thing again.

Well, this recently happened to me. But instead of being down the street, I was 30,000 feet in the air, and somewhere over New Mexico. I was on my way to Whistler, British Columbia. A beautiful mountain village about 1½ hour north of Vancouver—in metric that’s about 90 minutes.

But I wasn’t sure if I was even going to be let into the country, because it’s not like I forgot my contact case, or a hairbrush. I had forgotten my passport. Not usually one to panic, I waited until we landed in Las Vegas for a brief layover and then hit the internet to see if I could find out exact details about border crossing. The best information I could find was from the Canadian Border Patrol—sounded credible enough. They said, officially, you don’t need a passport to get into the country, but you do need one to get out. The catch is, you need to prove your U.S. citizenship. All I had was my driver’s license and my Starbucks card. Not quite enough.

We decided to give it a try—surely they’d have some kind of computer system that can look up citizenship, credit score, horoscope sign—it is 2010, for Pete’s sake. Not so fast, Yankee.

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Listening to the Right Voice

“Don’t forget this one…” The muffled sound of music plays in the background.

“Which one?” I ask, not able to discern a melody. She can’t remember the title, but she will.

My sister, Jody, sings along with the music in the car, “Call me from this boat, I wanna walk on the water.” It’s my song about wanting to escape from the doldrums of life, into something more fantastic. There’s got to be something more, kind of thing.

“Oh yeah, I love that one,” I reply.

Jody and I try to talk on the phone every Friday morning on her way to work, me on my way to a weekly meeting with some guys. It’s our regular time together. And it’s usually therapy for one of us.

“But my favorite is still ‘hold onto me forever, and I’ll hold onto you,’” more singing. That someone would actually like my music enough to consider one a favorite is mind-boggling to me. But I don’t have the average sister.

Throughout most of the Nashville years, she has been a steady source of encouragement to me about my music. She keeps old cassettes I’ve sent to her over the years, and plays them in her car. Or jams along to the tunes in her basement music room. She makes me think there’s actually value to some of my songs, when it seems like no one else in the world cares. I have always believed what my sister said because she was older, which meant wiser.

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