STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

1. I LOVE THE RAIN
With my head swimming full of technomania from a “Computers for Physicians” seminar in San Diego, I was glad to have raindrops hit my face at the end of the day. I went jogging in the downpour (one of my favorite things), and my cluttered mind was soon rinsed, and this song began to dance on my rain-soaked lips.
       

2. I CAN’T BELIEVE MY EYES
Nature’s beauty has a powerful influence on virtually every art form. Beauty itself is a gift from the Master Artist. His creativity paints the lily of the valley, and sculpts the “fearfully and wonderfully made” human form. This song was written while taking a walk over a meadow, through a creek bed, and under a forest canopy near my house. On this particular day, the day the song was born, I was keenly aware of the blood flowing through my veins. I was overwhelmed with an extra sense of feeling alive.
       

3. HIS HEART WAS WELL
Hal Beatty was a bright, energetic and successful gentleman who was on top of the world. Then came an insidious and debilitating disease, rheumatoid arthritis, which left him in a wheelchair with severe pain and deformity. For over 20 years he suffered, but in this brokeness he found the Savior Jesus, who strengthened his inner man with joy, courage and hope. Hal was my patient and friend, and I wrote this song in his loving memory.
       

4. FAIREST OF ALL
As I get older, sometimes I think the mirror is going to crack when I look at it (especially in the morning). My wife is beautiful, but her outward beauty will wane in time; however, the inner beauty of her gentleness, kindness, humility and wisdom will continue to grow in grace until she meets the Author of Beauty.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart (1Samuel 16:7)

5. GOD IN A BOX
If only man could be content with the unsearchable ways of our Lord. Instead, we often try to package Him up into something more comfortable and explainable; a dogma, a special revelation, a particular church or denomination, a style of worship, etc. And yet, though unsearchable, God is “down to earth”. He sent Jesus down to earth to sympathize with our weaknesses, to suffer in the flesh, and to save us from ourselves. His passion is to know us and to love us, and....to be known and to be loved.

Behold I am insignificant; what can I reply to thee? I lay my hand on my mouth. (Job 40:4)

6. ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE
Reading the Chronicles of Narnia again, this time with my own children, was even better than when I read them as a boy. Here is the quote from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe that started the inspiration of this song:

“Here the beaver’s voice sank into silence and he gave one or two mysterious nods. Then, signaling to the children to stand as closely around him as they possibly could, so that there faces were actually tickled by his whiskers, it added in a low whisper, “They say Aslan is on the move – perhaps has already landed”. (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis)

7. RANCHO MILAGRO
Since high school, I have intermittently visited “El Rancho Milagro”, a small orphanage out of East Ensenada. Last year, I had the privilege of helping set up a medical clinic there. I am continually blessed by the children with their giant smiles, often hiding the heartache of a troubled past.

Dear God – Thank you for being a father to the fatherless. Thank you for teaching us so much through a child’s faith and simple joy.

8. SHADOWLAND
I remember vividly the cluster of tragedies that seemed to surround me at the time I wrote this song. My mom’s best friend lost her husband to a sudden illness. A 17 year old young man in our church was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. Several of our friend’s marriages were going through painful separation or brokeness. I thought hard on our Savior’s words, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. (Matthew 11:29-30). These words would be a true test of faith for those in the midst of such darkness. The song title is borrowed from the movie “Shadowland”, which was based on the book A Grief Observed by the beloved C.S. Lewis.

9. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTHWIND
A poor Scottish lad, living in a thin-shelled hayloft, awoke to the whispering voice of the North Wind, blowing and beckoning through a small knot hole in the old wooden planks. Thereupon was the beginning of many magical adventures in George MacDonald’s classic book At the Back of the North Wind, written in the late 1800’s. This song was written the day I finished the book.

10. HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
God in the flesh walked among us, healed our diseases, mended our broken heartedness, filled our emptiness, strengthened our weaknesses, forgave our sinfulness, and suffered and died that we may live. The Lamb of God was slain by those whom he loved with Holy Passion.

And He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you are healed.” (1Peter 2:24)

11. O'CREATOR
This short verse says enough about the inspiration behind this song:

“The heavens declare the Glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork”. (Psalm 19:1)

12. PRAYER ON THE DAWN TREADER
In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, there was a place called the Dark Island; a place which swallowed up all light. The ship and its crew were lost in this island, for a time which became unknowable, where fear became their greatest tormenter. When a tiny speck of light finally appeared, all eyes were fixed upon it, the ship was turned toward it, and all hope depended upon it. As the speck turned into a broad beam, Aslan as an albatross circled the ship and whispered to Lucy, “Courage, dear heart”. This prayer song invokes our Lord for courage when the dark and stormy times of life overwhelm us with fear.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. (Psalm 23:4)