I packed a sandwich for the trip, but had to stop and get some fries and a diet Coke for accompaniment. It’s better that way. It’s only a three-hour tour from Nashvegas to Louisville, just long enough to make a couple phone calls and get through three CDs. Haven’t heard Breathe’s “Hands To Heaven” for a while, so I enjoyed that. Would love to cover that, as well as “Somewhere Out There,” perhaps with Natalie Grant playing the Linda Ronstadt part, for the forthcoming Pilgrim Man CD.
Last time I pulled into Dover Chapel, the town was covered with ice. This is the church used in “The Perfect Gift,” you know, the one that put up the Nativity scene that I had ordered taken down? I was wondering if the real-life church would have an actual Nativity scene set-up, with maybe a sign declaring, “As seen in the feature film THE PERFECT GIFT” for those who drove by. No such luck.
I’ll be doing a concert in their morning service tomorrow, and then singing “Emmanuel” prior to a screening of the film in the evening. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be here, and get to share some of my tunes with these amazingly kind people.
I’m listening to a station that just might play my Christmas song, "Emmanuel (You Are With Me)". Honestly, it’s a weird feeling thinking your song might come on, and then realizing it probably won’t. And trying not to be resentful of the others who do get their songs played on the radio. The more effort that is made to get my song played on Christian radio, or to get some press coverage for the movie – and the more walls we hit – people saying no, or just not saying anything at all - the more challenging it is for me not to get frustrated. It’s easier to not go after something, and simply live in the fantasy of what might happen. But putting yourself out there for people to say “this is of value to us” or not…is a crazy way to live.
December 12, 2009
October 9, 2009
Movies, Music, Radio... To the Moon, Alice!!!
CLANCY - this awesome faith-based family movie is being released around the country via DVD on Oct. 20. It's a great adventure-driven relationship story with powerful themes of forgiveness, faith, sacrifice, and redemption. Oh, and it features my song "Precious Memories" - available now on iTunes, or watch the music video on YouTube. You can also hear the whole soundtrack for Clancy on iTunes, as well.
THE PERFECT GIFT - my motion picture acting debut! Releases on DVD Nov. 3rd, with a limited (teeny-tiny) handful of theaters showing it, as well. A few TV networks will be showing it, too (details TBA). A heartwarming Christmas film that will be around for many years to come, The Perfect Gift explores the Culture vs. Christmas war that always seems to strike up around the holidays. I play the leader of a local ACLU-type group who tells a local church they have to tear down the Nativity scene they've put up in their front yard. Yes, I'm the bad guy. But I play him with such charm and passion, I'm certain you'll love hating me. The Perfect Gift also features my tune, "Emmanuel (You Are With Me)" - more below on this one. Again, this is a Kelly's Filmworks production - my friends Jefferson and Kelly up in Louisville are amazing and really appear to want to help the people around them succeed more than themselves. I'm thankful to be around them and the beneficiary of much of their generosity and love.
September 8, 2009
Major Turning Point For Me
Had an amazing concert experience at Rochester Covenant Church - the people were so overwhelmingly loving (special thanks to Pat & Ray!). Also had a very special time at the Bleeker's house doing an extremely intimate concert in their living room for a great group of people. My singing was fueled by some unbelievable ribs and fixins eaten on the back patio on a terrific MN summer evening.
Honestly, this trip was a major turning point for me. I'll try to explain it.
June 30, 2009
My 2nd Music Video....Seriously?
With that being said, it's been an amazing year. And I wanted you to get a chance to see my brand new music video. Last fall I decided I wanted to write a Christmas song. But I didn't want just another normal holiday "isn't everything so great" kind of tune. I know the holidays are one of the most difficult times of year for many people. So I sat down and wrote: "Just another lonely holiday, never thought it would turn out this way." Cheery, right? Then I decided to turn it into a prayer: "Come into my silence and bring me peace. Come into my darkness and be my light. Come into what's broken and make it whole again." Then my friend, the amazingly talented Tim Brown, put some great music and production to the words. A little while later he offered, "Hey, wanna shoot a music video?" After a little Photoshop for the wedding picture, a hot summer day, and a dozen tolerant neighbors later, we had a video.
The tune is also going to be used in the holiday movie "The Perfect Gift" - yes, the same one I'm making my motion picture acting debut in. I feel very blessed. And a bit freaked out all at the same time.
Wanna see it? Hope you like it. And more importantly, I hope it will be encouraging to people who don't have much to smile about at Christmas.
March 17, 2009
I believe in fighting against my apathy.
I believe in fighting against my apathy. This is, or should be, a life of choices.
I am essentially a very ambitious person. I'm a creative dreamer. I moved to Nashville in 1993 to go after my dreams of doing music just like some of my heroes. It's been an amazing journey. I find myself wearing the different hats of singer/songwriter, author/journalist, and am even acting in my first film. But being the freelance, or self-unemployed, kind of person I am, I have so many options of ways to spend my time. Heck, I've got a stack of really amazing creative projects I could be working on right now.
But I've been down this road before. I've mustered up my energy and written pages and pages of books...that have gone unread by thousands and thousands of people. I've written and recorded songs that have been heard only by my family and a handful of friends. When I think of all I've created and worked toward, without achieving what feels like any tangible results, or getting any place I thought I’d be, it's often impossible not to throw my hands up and say, "What's the use of even trying?" It's a subtle, but completely paralyzing, one-two punch of apathy.
Apathy is a lack of interest, concern, or emotion. It's a flat-lined, comatose-like state of living that feels like nothing. Literally nothing. It's the muse-less artist. You know, the washed up old guy who drinks too much, and gawks a bit too long at the younger, good-looking hipsters. I pray I don't turn into that kind of person.
But if I were completely honest, I've made good friends with apathy. Oh, yes. It's an odd place of comfort. If I don't try to achieve anything, then I can't be hurt by being ignored or rejected. There's a comfort in nothingness, almost a sense of my being able to control my own destiny. When I can't choose success, I can at least choose apathy.. At least then I am in control, I am choosing.
Thankfully, I can only stay there so long, before I get stir crazy. The gift of maturity is learning how to engage my psyche in positive, healthy ways, rather than settling for what's easy or unhealthy. If I'm hungry, sometimes the shiny allure of the Golden Arches can actually be appealing. Unless I remember the gut ache I got after my last visit. Or how much better I'd feel if I'd eat something healthier. I've tried shame and addiction, and they never really worked very well for me. Apathy is easier, but no more satisfying.
I've found the best ways to fight my apathy are: Walking in honesty with my friends--relying on their encouragement and strength when I have none, exercising regularly and eating right, trying to do the most simple next-right-thing, and most importantly, allowing myself the same kind of grace and patience I would extend to someone else in my shoes. It's a quiet, one step at a time, kind of battle against apathy. One I will continue to choose to fight.
Because ultimately, I really like me, and the things I create. I think I bring value to other people's lives. I believe my creative efforts will ultimately help wake up other people who have fallen asleep to their own lives. That's why I believe it’s so important for me to fight against my own apathy.
I am essentially a very ambitious person. I'm a creative dreamer. I moved to Nashville in 1993 to go after my dreams of doing music just like some of my heroes. It's been an amazing journey. I find myself wearing the different hats of singer/songwriter, author/journalist, and am even acting in my first film. But being the freelance, or self-unemployed, kind of person I am, I have so many options of ways to spend my time. Heck, I've got a stack of really amazing creative projects I could be working on right now.
But I've been down this road before. I've mustered up my energy and written pages and pages of books...that have gone unread by thousands and thousands of people. I've written and recorded songs that have been heard only by my family and a handful of friends. When I think of all I've created and worked toward, without achieving what feels like any tangible results, or getting any place I thought I’d be, it's often impossible not to throw my hands up and say, "What's the use of even trying?" It's a subtle, but completely paralyzing, one-two punch of apathy.
Apathy is a lack of interest, concern, or emotion. It's a flat-lined, comatose-like state of living that feels like nothing. Literally nothing. It's the muse-less artist. You know, the washed up old guy who drinks too much, and gawks a bit too long at the younger, good-looking hipsters. I pray I don't turn into that kind of person.
But if I were completely honest, I've made good friends with apathy. Oh, yes. It's an odd place of comfort. If I don't try to achieve anything, then I can't be hurt by being ignored or rejected. There's a comfort in nothingness, almost a sense of my being able to control my own destiny. When I can't choose success, I can at least choose apathy.. At least then I am in control, I am choosing.
Thankfully, I can only stay there so long, before I get stir crazy. The gift of maturity is learning how to engage my psyche in positive, healthy ways, rather than settling for what's easy or unhealthy. If I'm hungry, sometimes the shiny allure of the Golden Arches can actually be appealing. Unless I remember the gut ache I got after my last visit. Or how much better I'd feel if I'd eat something healthier. I've tried shame and addiction, and they never really worked very well for me. Apathy is easier, but no more satisfying.
I've found the best ways to fight my apathy are: Walking in honesty with my friends--relying on their encouragement and strength when I have none, exercising regularly and eating right, trying to do the most simple next-right-thing, and most importantly, allowing myself the same kind of grace and patience I would extend to someone else in my shoes. It's a quiet, one step at a time, kind of battle against apathy. One I will continue to choose to fight.
Because ultimately, I really like me, and the things I create. I think I bring value to other people's lives. I believe my creative efforts will ultimately help wake up other people who have fallen asleep to their own lives. That's why I believe it’s so important for me to fight against my own apathy.
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