in love at 19 - mark mathis music(ASCAP)

something in the way that time stands still
when you walk towards me - i feel
hope, peace, and eternity - baby

something in the way your eyes speak
yeah, they held me close and you breathed
life into me, ten-thousand white doves were released

see how my eyes tell this story
of a man and his eternal devotion
throw your head back, girl, and laugh one more time
now is the season for me and you

something in the way your voice speaks
as it comforts and uncovers all my needs
'cos i'm a wild horse, baby, running through the canyon
and half the time i don't know what i'm running for

see how my eyes tell this story
of a man and his eternal devotion
throw your head back, girl, and laugh one more time
now is the season for me and you

i know our love is just a reflection
of all that we want to believe
come let me lift you up just one more time
now is the reason for you and me

I just finished reading my friend, John Mark's bulletin about his new album, "the medicine", and it has spurred some thoughts in me. He and I have been in a place for the past two years where the Lord HAS to come through for us. Jessie, Jeremy, Luke and myself have been working at Public Radio really hard for the past year or so. My brother and sister in law have a camp in rock hill, "camp caanan" that is trying to get off the ground. My artist friends are all working, Patrick, Sarah, Eric, Chris, etc... I am going in the studio in a week to record another album. There are so many people that are operating independently in their gifts in this geographical area that it blows me away. My friend, aswan, just signed his band,"papertongues" to a huge deal and tim scroggs is not too far behind.
John Mark mentioned "risk" in his blog. The Lord told me a long time ago that "without great risk there is no great reward". He also said in the bible, "run in such a way to win". I just want to say that I am proud of everyone that I mentioned and accidentally excluded - don't lose heart. A big part of what I have been learning in this season has been figuring out how "big" or how "small" I am. Am I a platinum record seller or an independent couple thousand seller? Am I ok with either? Have I learned the secret of being content in the place that God has given me? Am I ok to work a job and still operate in the music that is mine - or am I too proud?
I just watched a movie, "Basquiat" about one of the first graffiti artists and the first black painter to receive international attention. He had an extremely short run of it, he died of a heroin overdose at 28. He would not work a job that he felt was beneath him(depicted in the movie), he did not value his friends, and he had not battled his personal demons(turned to drugs). I am not an expert on him or the visual arts for that matter, but I do know that if you want a longevity in the arts and life in general you can't behave like this. It was a strong warning to me watching this movie. The gifts of God are irrevocable and he had them, regardless of how he lived. You have them too as do I, but we have to stay alive to use them - and we have to stay in a place of "risk".

The song is really about how private education under the guise of a church is all about making money and pandering to the elite of society. I realize that the church and government have gone hand in hand for some time, but there was a time when monks, priests, missionaries, and nuns deliberately went after the poor and uneducated - 'the least of these'. Now it seems that the church has abandoned its role as the hands of Christ and given it to secular government.

I'm glad that the song has made you think - I have been overwhelmed with the response to a song that I did on garageband in 30 mins....

mark