http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjKgXOsG2j4

Hey! Video wizard Rick Sutton of Sutton Place Productions has finished our new video of "I Will Trust in You" featuring Wes Hampton of the Gaither Vocal Band handling the vocal duties. Check it out!

No one likes a fall. I'm not talking about 'fall' as in the season (love that kind of fall). I'm talking about the 'I've fallen and I can't get up' kind of fall. Which is about what happened to me this past Sunday morning (in more ways than one).

It was another busy weekend on the road (can you say 'thank you, God'?), but things weren't going all that swimmingly. On the way down to Oxford, AL Saturday morning for an event that night, I started feeling a bit under the weather. By the time I arrived at the venue for set up and sound-check, I was in full-fledged 'virus' mode. Yep... the 'Full Monte(zuma)'. Thankfully our host and the band guys were very patient, and the event schedule was very kind to me. I got through the gig and made it to Birmingham that evening, as I was scheduled to play at Hunter Street BC in Hoover, AL the next morning.

By the time 6am rolled around, I was still a bit shaky but on the upswing. Whenever I play, I typically like to stand, especially in a worship setting. But that day I was just too dang tired, so I played from a folding stool. Two out of three services... no problem.

Can you see it coming? Of course you can! We had no more started the opening bit of music for the last service that it happened. There I was... sitting there, minding my own business... listening to the beautiful strains of "Shout to the Lord"... waiting for the measure to come where I strum this gorgeous A2 chord, replete with shimmering chorus and my trademark delay sounds. Suddenly as if the New Madrid fault line had a seizure, I found myself involved in literally the longest fall I've ever experienced in my life. Oh... I'm sure it only lasted seconds... but in that moment, I'm certain that Einstein's theory of time dilatation came into play and that my tumble was exponentially longer.

Somehow I started to fall backwards... yes, backwards and off the 18" high riser, all the while holding my prized '82 Strat. It would only be poetic justice (or poetic license) if the lyric at that moment was the 'mountains bow down' line in the song being played. But who knew... all I knew is that I was falling!

Finally I fell to earth. In best Olympic tradition, I immediately jumped to my feet. You know when the gymnast misses the final 'stick' but jumps up and acts as if nothing had happened? Yep... I tossed my stool back onto the riser, made sure that me and my guitar were all in one piece and plunged right back in (ok, I did re-tune first... lol). Fortunately there was no long-term damage, other than my ego. I have been told that part of this wonderful event was captured on video... oh, great!

But then it gets serious. I was on the way back to Nashville when I received a phone call from Carol. Our son Justin had been in a car wreck in Huntsville. Apparently he was on the way home and was literally a few hundred yards from his house when a car came out of the blue and hit his vehicle on the passenger side. He was in an ambulance on the way to the ER when he made the call to my wife. We planned on meeting at the hospital as soon as possible.

Thank God for grace and mercy! Other than a few minor cuts and some bumps and bruises, Justin was fine (his car, alas, was not so good). We spent the rest of the day getting him back to his house and settled.

On the drive back later that night, I couldn't help but think about all the events of the weekend. If you believe in luck, then you'd have to wonder why me and the family were patently unlucky. But I don't think that way. I don't even think it was the enemy or an 'act of God'. The Bible is clear that we live in a fallen world. When we fell in the garden, we pretty much told God what He could go do with himself. And ever since then we've been living in a world full of random chaos. Sometimes, stuff just happens!

But even in the middle of 'stuff', God never stopped caring or protecting. In every event of the past weekend, God's grace and mercy were evident. From getting through the event on Saturday, my Humpty Dumpty impersonation on Sunday, and to Justin's near brush with disaster... God protected us from far more serious consequences. And if feeling some sore muscles or replacing a vehicle is the price to pay, those pale in comparison to what could've been the end result.

No one likes a fall. Least of all God... when we fell, imagine his grief. But continue to imagine his love and mercy... so much so that Christ came and lived and died for me and for you and everyone who needs that mercy and grace.

Guess you could say that God 'took the fall' for us.

In His Mercy,

GV

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

You've heard that one before, right? And while words can't really 'hurt' per se, what about your name?

Yep... your name. Your moniker, handle, designation, sobriquet... the list goes on. I love words and their meanings, but there is no more meaningful word than the one that signifies... you!

It's interesting the cyclical nature of the names we give or curse our children with. I was at a music workshop just this past Saturday, and three of the guys in the band were named 'Justin'. I have one of those too (son number two). It means 'full of justice', by the way.

So what's the deal with our names? Some of us have them because our parents just like the way they sounded. Names are also given to honor a past family member or great world leader. In fact, I'm named for both my maternal grandfather AND British kings... woo hoo!

Most ancient cultures believed that names were powerful and could shape the destiny of the individual. Some even have birth names that are used until maturity and then their 'real name' is bestowed after some 'right of passage', or at least until the nature and character of the person has been revealed. The popular young adult book series 'Eragon' has an important plot point in that everything in that fictional world has just such a 'true name' and the holder of this secret knowledge can wield immense power.

The Bible is pretty clear about what God thinks about names... especially his! All throughout scripture, God tells us that his name is so holy, that it's what he swears by. All the promises given to us in the word has the God-name 'seal of authenticity'! The people of Israel were so in awe of God that they wouldn't even speak his name aloud or inscribe it.

So do our names define us? Are these seemingly random bestowed appellations really self-fulfilling prophesy for our lives?

And it seems that the nursery rhyme about names and pain is not really accurate. There are some names that wound so deeply that these titles can shape our thoughts and emotions. 'Loser'... 'idiot'... 'cripple'... 'tramp'. Given years of repetition, these names begin to stick to our souls. Called 'loser' enough, a person will believe it, giving power to the lie and dominating their life until God knows what end.

But there IS hope! The Bible tells us that God not only knows our name... he has a new name for each of us, known only to him. Jesus promises that "to him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."

Wow! The God who created the universe knows and cares for me so much that he has an intimate name that only he and I will know. And I believe that this name will be the defining descriptor of me and my life and purpose... the ultimate 'true name'. Incredible!!

Finally, in a passage in the book of Revelation, the name and identity of Jesus is made crystal clear:

"On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

So what's in a name? Apparently... everything!!

GV

Today is a historic day... but you don't need me to tell you that!. Whether with excitement or dread, we've all been looking toward this day when Barrack Obama will cease to be the President Elect and will become THE President of these United States. Whatever your opinion of the man or your political persuasion... he will be the God-ordained leader of our country, and deserves our respect and more importantly our prayers. Barrack Obama early on was labeled the 'candidate of change' and ran openly on a platform of 'hope'. Hope... now there's something to talk about. I tried to search out all the political speeches that contained the word 'hope' but quickly realized how futile a task that would be. Just about every politician has, at one point or another, embraced or even tried to personify the concept. The word itself is defined several ways. 'Hope' can be 'to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment' or even 'the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.' Hope... just say the word. It's powerful... and you can see why speakers are quick to invoke this magic phrase. And that's the problem. We are quick to make the promise, but rarely can we deliver! When bandied about so casually, the word becomes (like it's close relative 'love') just another 'four-letter word'. My prayer is that Barrack Obama will be a great President. We're in desperate times and need the fulfillment of the promise of hope. But ultimately we need to trust not in a man or a system or the hope that political promises will be kept... we need to find the true source of Hope... Jesus Christ. "What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole." 1 Peter 1:3 (The Message) Now that's Hope! GV

Wow. 2008... almost gone. And where did it go so quickly? I couldn't let this year end without one more journal entry. I purposefully went on 'radio silence' during all the election madness of November, and then the Christmas season was upon us (and numerous musicals and gigs, thank God!).

In the midst of all the holiday cheer, there are a select few Christmas tunes that I really enjoy. "Silent Night" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" are a couple of carols that ring my bell. But one song in particular has been rolling through my mind even now.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

John Lennon wrote "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" as his ode to peace and the belief that love could triumph over war, hate, bigotry, and all the other ills that infect and affect mankind. This is not just an idealistic hippie dream of the 60's, but the fervent faith of a man proclaiming his heart-felt faith in peace.

And he was right... almost. In my own life, every attempt to change in my own power usually ended in disaster... or worse! I can't help but be reminded of my friend Martin in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After giving us a tour of that war and hate-torn city, he made a statement that still rings true. "The only thing that will bring peace to Ireland", Martin boldly exclaimed, "is the Love of Jesus".

Amazing! I know he was referring mainly to Belfast and the Irish 'Troubles", but his words are incredibly appropriate. On every hand we have our own 'troubles'; recession, unemployment, bankruptcy, political unrest... and almost in fulfillment of those dire prophesies, we have war, famine, and starvation. Somehow just hoping and wishing for Love and Peace to triumph is not enough.

And it's not. But God made a way through these troubles (notice I didn't say 'out of'). The Love and Blood of Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Check it out for yourself and see if it's not true.

So... this was Christmas and 2008. What have we done? What have 'I" done? In spite of the triumphs and trials of 08, I know that 2009 will bring it's own unique set of challenges, and that Jesus Christ is still the answer to the war that rages in my own life.

I'll leave you with the chorus of what is now my favorite Christmas song...

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Wishing you Love and Peace in 2009... His!!

GV
December 31, 2008

This was posted on David Gaines' Caring Pages site about an hour ago:

After a very long night, David's lungs are now in and he has a couple of hours of surgery left. He has come through the surgery well this far and we should know more later this morning.
Just to let everyone know how events have progressed since I posted David's latest entry, David and Sandy found out about the lungs around noon (CDT) and surgery was scheduled to start around 3 or 4 that afternoon. As the afternoon progressed, it became obvious that deadline was not going to happen. But God timing is always perfect and after the doctor inspected the lungs and brought them back, he went into surgery around 12:30 am.
Please continue to pray for David as the surgery continues and as the recovery process and now the "rehab." Please also pray for Sandy and the girls, and David's mom as they help him through this new challenge. GOD IS GOOD!
Eric Alexander

I just got back from the hospital. I arrived around 8pm, but left around 10:30pm as there really wasn't room for me to hang. It's a long involved process just making sure both patient and organs are all ok and ready, so they were getting set for a long night. Around 11:10 (I was almost home), Sandy sent me a message that David was being prepped for surgery! The surgery will probably last all night, but that's ok... don't want to rush something this important!

David is in good spirits, and is surrounded by his family. Sandy and the girls 'just happened' to be in town, along with Sandy's Dad and her brother and his wife. What great timing on God's part! Not long before I left, we gathered around David and had a time of prayer. It was cool because you could almost feel the prayers of the many people literally around the world joining in. David is an incredible guy and has touched many, many lives. Thank you for continuing to pray!

GV

For 7 years I was the Director of Technical Ministries for the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. During those years God placed about 25 folks into my ministry there... yes, I'm talking about those wacky, wonderful, and sometimes weird people who were the tech volunteers. Each of them brought passion, dedication, and their own unique set of skills to the task of enhancing our worship services, week in and week out. I miss them terribly!

But even since moving to the Nashville area almost 3 years ago, I have still tried to keep in regular contact with as many of them as possible. I was saddened to learn this past weekend about the passing of Mark Groenke, probably the one person in our crew that personified all the qualities I described above. Every person on our crew was vital, and I could safely describe each of them as a 'right hand man (or woman)", but Mark would arguably be at the top of that list.

One of the things that made Mark wonderful was his selflessness. So it's no surprise to learn that he had been fighting a battle with MS... I don't think any of us knew that about him, and we were all very close. Just like Mark to keep such a thing to himself! In fact, we all lost touch with him after he moved to Florida a few years ago.

Mark was truly unique. As my main backstage manager, Mark would handle any situation with speed and professionalism... along with a dry wit that would have you rolling on the floor. At the time, he sported shoulder length grey hair and a huge mustache, baring more than a passing resemblance to WKRP's "Dr. Johnny Fever", hence that nickname (one of many, trust me...lol).

I could go on and on about my buddy, but will spare you. Those of you who knew Mark share my grief at his passing, but can rejoice in the fact that we WILL see our buddy again in heaven. If I know Mark, he's rearranging that backstage area right now... and probably has a few angels laughing uncontrollably... lol.

John "Mark" Groenke


GROENKE, JOHN "MARK", 57, joined our Heavenly Father Tuesday, June 10th, 2008. After an 18-week battle (he WON) in the SICU at a local hospital. Preceded in death by his mother, Lois Ann Nelson and his father, John H. Groenke. He lives on through his children and grandchildren. Daughters, Lindsey (Paul) Correia of Hoover, AL, Shelly (Sean) Payne of Vestavia Hills, AL and Tania (Jon) Tate of Gulf Breeze, FL. Grandchildren, Ashton, Tate, Olivia, Miller, Connor, Austin and Ali. Sister Marcia (Ken) Lanier, Stepmother, Joy Groenke and many family and friends. Mark's true passions in life were food; he enjoyed cooking and entertaining, a life long race fan and music lover. He was a father, friend and joker. He will be deeply missed and remembered for touching so many lives. Daddy, may I have this dance? Love, Booka. Visitation will be held Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Saturday at 3:30 PM at Southern Heritage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that those interested contribute donations to the National MS society.

Mark... I miss you, my friend. Get things ready for the band up there, willya??

GV

In all my many travels, I get to play a lot of different kinds of places and events. I mean a LOT! C'mon... I've played American Dixieland to Muslims in the Middle East! lol

I was reminded of a student camp I played a couple of years ago over in the eastern part of Tennessee, for a church denomination known for their 'exuberance' in worship, and for their disdain of 'modern cultural influence'. As many of you know, I am the essence of modern culture (lol), with no better example than my hip/cool hoop earring (properly threaded through my left lobe, as everyone knows is the 'correct' bit of cartilage for straight guys).

Alas, this bit of chrome proved to be a point of contention for the Elders of this group. When I arrived on scene to play the first night of a week-long camp, the band leader (a friend of mine) said that I'd need to remove my ear-wear. This was not an unreasonable request... but I typically don't get this at events designed to reach students. I quietly complied and the night went on (and on and on and on).

The next night came and I arrived a bit early. My band leader buddy once again pulled me aside and explained that he had 'taken some heat' on account of my worldly fashion statement. Apparently the Powers-That-Were observed my earring and wondered... "who is this worldly guitar player? How can he possibly lead our students in worship? He's wearing what? An EARRING? Tool of Satan!! He's obviously NOT a Christian!!"

You can imagine my reaction! When I explained to my friend that I wear a hoop as a sign of being a life-long bond-slave to Christ, he understood and assured me that he had tried to defend me. Despite the fact that I've been a believer since the age of 13 (and an ordained minister since 2004), I was 'weighed in the balance and found wanting'. At least I was allowed to come back and finish the camp... lol (my buddy and his group have since broken ties with this denomination).

On the ride home that night, I immediately thought of the scripture in Matthew where Christ talked about how we shouldn't judge people, unless we want to be judged as well (Matthew 7:1). In this era of 'rock star as human billboard' I thought about showing up the next night with a clever yet enigmatic phrase scrawled on my hand... EMPTY 71.

Get it? MT 7:1? MT? Empty?? I know you get the reference. People who judge are no worse than the Pharisees who would publicly denounce and deride those of lesser spiritual insight. Truly these self-appointed judges are nothing more than empty shells, embracing a form of godliness but denying it's power.

But even though I was wrongly judged, I deemed it hypocrisy on my part to attempt to judge them in however subtle a manner. But that phrase, Empty 71, has stuck with me. From time to time I think about using it, in an effort not to be a judge of others, but as a reminder that I have NO right to judge any one.

So if you see me out playing a gig, and you see Empty 71 written on my hand, rest assured that my heart and head are asking God to forgive me for being so empty and judgmental, and to fill me instead with the Spirit.

Empty 71... I rest my case!!

GV

Hi gang!

I just realized that it's been almost an entire quarter-year since my last posting... for shame! lol As usual, I will plead too much activity... thank God that it's true!

And because of all the things that have transpired since late January, it's a difficult task for me to 'hone in' on just one topic to share. I've traveled all over, from Mississippi to Wisconsin, been down to Birmingham almost weekly, done sessions with gospel & soul legend Roscoe Robinson, played on a Dove award winning kids worship project, been to prison a couple of times (!), and endured personal triumph and tragedy.

But you know... that's life! The French have a wonderful term for it; "c'est la vie". Ttranslated literally as 'this is the life', it has neither a positive or negative association. But being the 'glass half full' guy that I am, I see it as 'this IS the life'! So many people think that being a Christian means no more problems, everything is great, etc. But Christ never promised us this (or a rose garden either). I am firmly convinced that the most effective faith-statement we make in life is how we respond to life, with it's challenges and rewards.

The past 90 days or so have brought me into contact with believers in a variety of settings. Each of these folks are going through 'life' in a big way. Some of these brothers and sisters are in situations that society looks down upon (prison, halfway houses, etc), and are there because of poor choices. Others are living in the prison of their relationships, enduring trials not of their making... walking prisoners in a sense.

But the reason I am so intrigued and impressed by them is the way they are responding to these trials... with the quiet hope and resilient inner joy that only a changed life in Christ can create. I have a song on 'Spheres of Influence' called 'A New Heart' that is based on Psalm 51:10. The Message Bible says it like this:

"God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life."

Even as a Christ-follower, I can have chaos in my life. But what an incredible promise that no matter what we face, God can and will make a fresh start. He can shape my life in the same way that He shaped and molded creation from nothing to an awe-inspiring work of art.

C'est la vie?? You bet it is!!

GV