A Hymn.

I’ve been colaborating with a great writer from Houston. Eva and I have written a few tunes together and recently she asked me to write a hymn with her.

When we were researching the hymn, Eva sent me a link to a sermon on the subject. It turned out that the sermon was an all-night sermon from new year’s eve, 1960. The speaker was W.A. Criswell. Wally Amos Criswell was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas from the mid 40’s until the mid 90’s. Pastor Criswell dedicated my two oldest children. He was a gentle soul with a powerful passion for the gospel and people.

The sermon was entitled, “The Scarlet Thread”, the same title we had chosen for our hymn, and was about the common thread of God’s holy sacrifice throughout the history of mankind. Amazingly, the audio tape of the sermon was available in the W.A. Criswell library online! It was amazing to me to listen to a sermon from so long ago, and to be so moved and enlightened. It was an exciting find.

W.A. died in 2002. First Baptist Dallas has had eight senior pastors since its beginning, but only two pastors, George Truett and Dr. W.A. Criswell, for the period between the church’s founding in 1897 through 1995.

The hymn, SCARLET THREAD is the result. Here’s a video of the demo:

Rain Is Rain.

For my birthday, I was treated to a concert last night at the Fillmore in Detroit. Headlining was Jonsi, (Pronounced Yonsi) who is the lead singer for Segor Rόs. Iceland anyone?

To say it was good is an understatement. In fact, the communication of text on page doesn’t really have the means to convey what I want to communicate. The concert was a blast to the senses. A massage for the mind. It was very beautiful. It went from subdued to boisterous. The only way it could have been more complete, from a sensory standpoint, would be if they passed specific things to eat upon crucial downbeats and then generated smells that could waft through the audience as the mood of the music shifted.

It drew upon the talents of so many people, from the player who played the vibraphone with a bow, to the fantastic shadow, fractal, and stop-frame animations upon the full-stage backdrop of a barren forrest, to the lighting artist who It was really amazing.

All this in the beautiful Fillmore, which is a turn-of-the-20th-century opera house that has survived the 21st century economy.

I am continually amazed at how God reveals his creativity. Furthermore, when it is revealed through those who may not even know who He is. How the rain falls upon the just and the unjust... but, is still rain.. life giving, inspiring, thirst-quenching, glorious rain.

If you’re interested in the show details, here’s a couple of videos that tell about the making of the show:

http://www.youtube.com/user/XLRecordings?feature=chclk#p/u/15/4vrGixR7rbM

http://www.youtube.com/user/XLRecordings?feature=chclk#p/u/14/vStUA0g71sM

Someone shot a video of the encore at the actual concert in Detroit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P9ajJHNgY8

You Can Change The World

A while back I was thinking about free will. How, in the midst of a omnipotent power, we are each handed the ability to choose. How we are given the choice, each day, between our own agendas and a higher agenda.

In the mix, of course, are the evil forces that control this world at present. This makes the choices much muddier than they otherwise would be. Most would admit that “a higher calling” is downplayed in this world we live.

For those of us fortunate enough to have been brought up by God-fearing parents, we have a better perception than most. But even given that advantage, I find the choices more and more obscured as our hearts acclimate to a colder and colder world.

It’s amazing to me that people will choose to rebel against the creator, and yet, how can I dare be amazed when I do it myself everyday.

It was in one of these thoughtful times I sat down and wrote a lyric. Know, as I remember, its been almost 5 years. I got a message a few weeks back that a publisher wants to sign the song and start pitching it. I’d almost forgotten about it.

I may ruffle some feathers with this song, and you may have a theological difference with me on this. To be honest, I struggle with it still. I know that there’s a plan and a knowledge of our lives, but I also know our free will is a part of that plan and that knowledge. Perhaps you struggle with it, as well. Let me know what you think.

When I wrote the lyric, I tried to give it a musical life, but ended up asking a friend of mine to put it to music.

Alan Johnston is a great songwriter from the state of West Virginia, and he has a voice and life that can speak truth into these lyrics. Alan’s had songs nominated for IBMA’s song of the year, and has had his songs sung by the legendary greats of bluegrass.

When Alan sent me the track, he urged me to add some piano. I decided it was just right where it was, and frankly, I was scared to add anything more.

Here’s a link to the demo: YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Here’s the lyric:

You Can Change The World
(But you can’t change me)
©2010 Tim Wheeler, Alan Johnston

Chorus:
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
And If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy

You can lead a horse to water
You can force a horse to drink
You can get inside a horse’s head
And teach him how to think, and

You can change the world, but you can’t change me        
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
And If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy

You can stage a protest
You can change the laws
You can march on Washington
And stand up for your cause, and

You can change the world, but you can’t change me
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
And If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy

You can be for the devil
You can be for the Lord
You can be for the president
Don’t care who you’re working for, cause

You can change the world, but you can’t change me
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
And If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy

You can walk on water
You can heal the blind
You can offer me forgiveness
It don’t matter ‘cause you’ll find that

You can change the world, but you can’t change me
You can change the world, but you can’t change me
See, If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy
If I don’t let you, you can’t change my legacy