STAND: winter lingers

I hope that you are all warming from winter's chill, or keeping safe from the wind and water daemons raging throughout the world. Reading the news, I find cause to actually be grateful for mere mild temperature fluctuation--as opposed to earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, or worse: human destruction. It is certainly a time to lift up faith before oneself, draw forth the Holy Spirit, and pray with unashamed conviction. It is a time to remember what YHWH has done, to remember that He can engage our lives in a very real way--like the fury of flame that descended from the sky to consume Elijah's flooded offering set against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (see I Kings).

If only it was that easy. Perhaps it is. Yet I struggle to comprehend it at times. I am humbled by grace. I am thankful for patience. Usually it is in the moments between--the spaces where fresh thought breaks through the levees that each day's routine builds around my mind or spirit--that I hear God's voice the clearest. It is difficult to describe those moments, or the messages that He offers. I believe that melody or imagery and metaphor is my clearest expression of that perception. It is more than that. Mostly, I try to free my art to speak for itself—like a blurred glass window through which different views are emphasized depending on the angle or perspective of the onlooker. It is a challenging journey at times, misunderstood, but it is also so rewarding.

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you to those who have been praying for my knee. I believe that it is healing. I am beginning to be able to run farther and with less apprehension of a relapse. I anticipate being able to really start training for this year’s Pike’s Peak Ascent in August. I anticipate assistant coaching high school cross country for a second season this fall. Currently, I split my workweek between construction and assisting the Personnel Department at the One Challenge (OC) US Mobilization Center in Colorado Springs, CO. I am also still writing when I can. While I have not had any real interest from literary agents yet, I will not give up. I have completed two-thirds of my second novel, a smaller companion piece to the former. It may be, or I hope that it will be, a better means to entering the professional writing world. Furthermore, I continue to compose and play music actively. Right now I am developing a set with a cellist, which already sounds beautiful after two rehearsals. Reflecting back on my musical journey, I am thankful for the time that my friends Elliott Irby and Tyler Griffith spent creating the musical sketchbook, “There was Music” together—Elliott is currently serving as a missionary in Cyrpus, while Tyler is learning Spanish in Guatemala in preparation for missionary work in Mexico. I am also thankful for the few months to perform and record with my friend, Regina Davis. Before she returned to her professional singing base in Holland, we managed to create our own musical sketchbook, “Between Meadow and Sky”. Both albums have preserved important memories, not only of important people, but of some of those aforementioned spaces in between. I am thankful to also be still serving with a worship team a few times a month, playing either djembe (mostly this), electric bass, or acoustic guitar. Music has become a very important part of my life. For me, it is a window of my deepest self to God; whereas, with writing I can dialogue with who He is, what He has done, and what He may do. More and more I realize that I am an artist above all else. It is a journey demanding endurance and discipline, full of uncertainty, but in it I find peace. In it I find community. In it I find Truth. Soli Deo Gloria.

Thank you for sharing some of that journey with me. May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine down upon you, and give you peace. Now and forevermore. Amen.

Between Meadow and Sky

Alaudidae, a progressive fusion duo comprised of Myshkin musician, Joshua Grubb, and professional singer, Regina Davis, have put together a musical sketchbook of original music developed during their brief time together earlier this year. Though more a collection of musical ideas, their album, "Between Meadow and Sky", offers a diverse sampling of beautiful melody and stirring poetry. So please support them by going to www.noisetrade.com/alaudidae and downloading their 8-song album for FREE.

For those familliar with Redwood's music, the album includes an older version of "Miles and Ocean Apart" featuring the mandolin, as well as newer forms of "Lay Down," "Ainulindale," and "The Triune Dance of the Forest Lord, Part I." Alaudidae really appreciates your support and feedback. Please share the music with all.

Furthermore, it is not too late to download Myshkin's recent musical sketchbook, "There was Music", which offers a similiar progressive fusion sound enhanced by the skilled fiddle playing of Tyler Griffith and musical/engineering creativity of Elliott Irby. Go to www.noisetrade.com/redwood for their FREE 15-song album.