I am the husband of one and the father of nine. I was created to sing, to worship, to encourage, and to be steady. I am the Owner & Executive Director of Trinity Arts Center, a multi-disciplinary Arts Center in Eastern Tennessee, and the President of Trinity Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on funding arts education and performance. I've been involved with four music projects in my life -- Hot Pink Turtle, Spin Radio, Stand Like Stone, and of course, Jamin Rathbun.
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music
It's funny how the internet allows you to just throw something out there into the world and see if it resonates. Apparently, the newest Stand Like Stone song "Stand" hit a chord (get it)... And made #6 on the Rebourne Radio Top 20. (thanks to Lamont for sending me the link.)
Anyway... I thought I'd post all of the songs from the only full-length Stand Like Stone album, Lift. As with everything I post here, the production value is what you'd expect from my (very modest) home studio. Regardless, I hope you find something you like. = )
Notes: This was primarily taken from 1 Tim 2:1-5. It was one of those times I was able to pull the text (nearly) straight from the passage. This is my son Luke's (and I think all of my kids) favorite because it's loud. = )
Lyrics: I urge you first of all to pray. Make intercession for the ones you love and even sometimes those you hate. For this is good and pleases God who wants for all men to be saved and find the knowledge of the truth. Time to pray time to pray time to pray. Don't you see that I speak the truth and don't you see I do not lie. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands to pray.
Notes: Most of the music I write -- is written to Christians. This is one of the few songs that makes an attempt to convince a non-believer that they might consider the possibility of "What If?" Successfully? I hope so.
Lyrics: What if there's more to this life than a moment? What if it's not all just done when you die? What if there's nothing in this world to hold us? And what if we're changed in the blink of an eye? What if your holding something inside you and what if you felt it was something to hide? What if we're never as good as we want to? Doesn't the wrong of it mean there's a right? What if it's love and what if it's free and what if it's all He said it would be? What if He is and what if He was just who He said? What if He is and what if He lives and what if He waits for you to believe? What if He speaks and what if you hear it? What if you thought you heard something inside you? What if a small voice said come and believe? What if the promise could never be broken? And what if that promise was all that you need?
Notes: A song I wrote to my wife after we had moved from Kansas City to St. Louis. Yeah, yeah... I hear you saying aaaawwwwww. = )
Lyrics: Whatever you wanted, I'll be the one to bring it home. Whatever you needed, I'll be the one to ride the storm. Whatever the time, whatever the place, whatever you need, I will be there. Whatever you're feeling, I"ll be the one to look inside. Whenever you need it, I'll be the one to dry your eyes. Whatever the time, whatever the place, I'll be the one, I will be there. Though this may not feel like home. Over there's not all that far to go so this might as well be home. I know what you're thinking, I see it happen in your eyes. I know it aint easy, to stand alone under new skies. Whatever the time, whatever the place, whatever you need, I will be there.
Notes: This song was (very loosely) based on 1 Cor 6:18. The song was a (somewhat) veiled way to express my frustration at having not "saved myself" for marriage. There are a lot of specific images here from my personal experience. It always seems like the more specific you are... the wider audience it relates to. Hmmm.
Lyrics: She came to me softly with whispers in her hair. No one would tell us how there was danger everywhere. I looked through the opening and I stepped up to the floor. I wonder what might have been if I'd had a word before. And the mouth's of they tell the lies of old. And just one regret leaves an eye shaped hole, and we can never love this way again. Three minutes later is a lonely walk toward home. Secret and obvious to the ones who watch me go. Torn out and tragedy'd getting ready for the ride. Kind of insanity to keep bringing it inside. And the other crimes stay outside the soul [body] but this one regret leaves an eye shaped hole. And we can never love this way again.
Notes: I hate to admit it but -- the lyrics to this song are based around the temporary chorus that I kept singing as I was writing it. Once I started singing "I Can Breathe" -- I just couldn't get it out of my head so... I had to write a songs around it. I'm not sure how successful I was.
Lyrics: More than a man more than a dream. More than a god (with a little g) and more than you need. The more that I have lived is the more that I believe that the more I breathe of Him is the more that I receive. I can breathe, I can breathe, I can breathe, I can breathe. All I can be, all that I am, for all to see a sinful man. But I'm free from the lie that taught me to deceive. Free by the light of the life that made me free.
Notes: This song started out as a description of a committed Christian life, in spite of what the world brings, with encouragement about "winning" in the end. Sometimes, as with this song, I feel like I may be waxing too poetic and losing sight of a clear meaning. Maybe it just leaves room for interpretation? Yeah -- that's it. = )
Lyrics: These are the days of life gone by and reasons made to bring us down. Another way to strike the heel and find the place to bring us down. Over the edge now and wanting to see. Over the edge now it's waiting for me. Over the edge now it's not how I feel, it's what I believe. These are the days for meek to fly the set aside to never die. A promise scratched into a tree, a broken heart on bended knee. Over the edge now in sight of the shore. Over the edge now and waiting for more. Over the edge now it's not how I feel, it's what I believe.
Notes: I wrote this after reading CS Lewis's book, Mere Christianity. It really changed my thinking about the difference between the "saved" and the "lost".
Lyrics: Oh are you ready to believe in something real? And are you ready to let go of all the loneliness you feel? Here's the deal. Oh everybody hides a closet full of bones. The only difference is that mine have been exposed into the light. Let the water and the blood come and wash away the stone. Let the Holy Spirit come and lead you toward a home. Let the peace of Jesus fall and soothe a weary mind. Thank the Father for his love and take the time to find. Find the way - you might as well. Now everybody has a broken life to heal and everybody has been given light to see but here's the deal. Here's the deal.
Notes: This is another very personal song about a very specific experience. The production doesn't do it justice but -- the idea of this song is one of my favorites, especially the simple chorus, inspired by a couple of my favorite passages - 1 Corinthians 9:24 & Philippians 4:4-7.
Lyrics: I'm overcome by the day and all the words that she said. I'm broken down by the dream cause it's not as real as it seemed. But I run for the prize and I lift up my eyes cause He knows the way. He was beaten down by the world and crucified for my hurts and my burdens. I'm overwhelmed by the deal and I lay it all at his feet - I believe. A river of love poured out for me beyond understanding. Over above beyond my need - I lay it down.
Notes: A song about the process of realizing that, without Christ, I will continue to fail. It's a little dark but -- it tries to capture the process: failure, humility, repentance, forgiveness, peace, and praise.
Lyrics: My hands are tied, my eyes held down. Caught up in mine, can't make a sound. And the mighty have fallen down and now something has hit the ground. And the water has run its way and the winds have blown me away. Arms open wide, I hit the ground. An ear on high but am I found? Come raise me up, I want the crown. Come fill my cup, I'll drink it down. I have been found and justified and so I cry Father.
Notes: Another song for my wife because she is beautiful and more than I ever hoped for. Just to remind her that I.A.W. (she knows what that means).
Lyrics: She's a little more to me than anything that I've been dreaming of. She's a little more to me than all the others rolled up into one. I'm a little more to her than anybody else could ever be but she's a little more. More than I can write and more than I can sing. She's a little more. All the air I breathe and all the love I bring. She's a little more. She's a little more to me today than she was 13 years ago. She's a little more to me a mother to my children as they grow. I still can't believe it's me she chooses to inspire with her smile. She's a little more. More than meets the eye and more than I could dream. She's a little more. I can't express the depth of what she means to me. She's a little more.
Notes: Some impromptu rainfall and a simple melody to sing you to sleep.
Lyrics: These are the new and quiet sounds. My head has been spinning round and round. What once was lost is washed and free in just this minute I believed. I'm on the edge of a healing heart.
Well, there you have it. The majority of the Stand Like Stone collection. Although, if you like them, I've got a few bits and pieces of things that I may pull out later this year. = )
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