MusicNL Conference and Awards...

I didn't get to post a song story this week. Here's why: I was attending the MusicNL awards and conference in Gander this past weekend.

First of all, I was nominated for Gospel Artist of the Year. I didn't take home the award, but it was an honor to just be nominated. Janet Cull and Kelly-Ann Evans won the category and deserved it to the fullest.

I also had a chance to perform at the CBC Song-Writers Circle on Sunday afternoon. During my first song, which was "Like Your Love", I pushed against the microphone with my mouth and the mic-stand started to swing away from me. So I stopped, and fixed it. So...There is a pause in my first song that I'm hoping the merciful people at CBC will edit out before they play it nation-wide (Yes...nation-wide. It is slated for broadcast on CBC Radio 2 some time in the new year, as well as Province-wide on CBC Radio's performance hour on Saturday November 22nd.) The second song that I did was "Hope Will Rise". No micrphone incidents with that one.

Later that night, I had a chance to perform at the awards gala at the Arts and Culture Centre. I used the Loop Pedal on "Create in Me". It was a very good show all-around. MusicNL needs to be commended for their professionalism and hard work.

Anyway, that's the scoop. I'll be back with a Song Story on Saturday.

Saturday Song Stories - "Create In Me"

As odd as this might sound..."Create in Me" was inspired by the writings of a man with a pretty brutal past. This man, being in a position of authority, used his power to lure another man's wife to sleep with him. After his adulterous affair with this woman, she revealed to him that she was pregnant. So in a desperate attempt to cover it up, he ended up arranging the murder of his mistress' husband. Sounds like the storyline to a daytime soap.

It's actually the story of David...the king of Israel. After this dirty laundry had been laid out, he wrote Psalm 51, with the words "Create in me a clean heart." By stating that he needed God to create a clean heart in him, I think he was implying that there had never been one there before. Whatever was there previous to this, exhibited itself in lust, illicit sex, murder, deceit. Call it what you will, it needed to be replaced, and the replacement had to be fashioned from nothing.

The second verse of "Create in Me", at first glance, seems to not necessarily fit with the rest of the song. The first verse speaks of the need for our souls to be awaked to the truth of Christ, and how the "Man of Sorrows" (Jesus), gave so much to pave the way for that awakening.

But the second verse speaks of the need for us to be agents of restoration in relationships, and feed orphans and touch lepers, a theme that is not explicit elsewhere in the song. I took the song in this direction, because I see a huge connection between us having a new heart, and us feeling compelled to do the things in our world such as feed the hungry, be agents of restoration, and touch those that are without the warmth of human relationship. How can our heart be recreated if we have no desire to bring good news to fruition in the lives of people in practical ways. The Bible is full of commands to take care of those that have lost the ability to care for themselves.

Alright, enough preaching...

By entering your email in the "Join My Mailing List" widget in the sidebar to the left, you will get access to a free download of "Create in Me" along with a couple of other songs from the album. Hope you enjoy.