shutting down

real close to shutting this blog down…then Michael Jackson dies. I posted a blog birthday wish to him on his 50th birthday (many months ago now) and yesterday had the most activity this blog has ever seen.

sabbatical – week one

So week one has concluded and I knew the beginning of the sabbatical was going to be a bit of a transition week – especially coming off a huge event the day before I started.  However, it has been a good lesson in managing what this will look like over the remaining time.  So what did I “accomplish” this week?

• Took my daughters to school every day (a feat in and of itself)
• Went to the Brookside Art Annual
• Attended the Shawnee Mission South Band Festival
• Saw “The Color Purple” at the Music Hall
• Spent some quality time with a very good friend, had a Philly
• Attended the Middle School Family Dinner at church, played spoons, came in fifth in the spoons tournament (losing my spoon to the eventual champ, Abdul-Jabbar armed Chris Dempster – I think his wingspan is like 7′3″)
• Finished the recording of “Hallelujah”
• Almost finished a song I’ve been working on for a while
• Started writing a new song – which I lovingly call “the cynic’s song”
• Did some “pre-production” for my licensing thesis
• Currently reading The Storm by Frederick Buechner
• Spent some time with Seven Words of Worship for some sharpening time.
• Attended a church other than my own (…weird…not the church, just the act of going somewhere else)
• Blogged
• Decided not to shave

This week holds a more determined attack on the licensing thesis and a less active school calendar (although I do have a Girl Scout recognition meeting tonight – whoohoo!!)

“Hallelujah” – podcast 04/29/09

REMINDER:  all this music is available to download FREE at the iTunes podcast.

Yes, I’m back at it.  I know it’s been a while, but there is such a thing as having margin to accomplish all that’s set before you.

“Hallelujah” was a song written at the piano in Glen Eyrie’s castle meeting room.  It was the afternoon of a conference at which I was leading worship (National Seminar on Evangelism, if you were wondering).  If you’ve ever been to The Navigator’s Glen Eyrie Conference Center, then you know afternoon rain is a common thing.  I’ve had the great blessing of being caught in an afternoon thunderstorm while hiking up to the falls (or the pools, for those of us who were adventurous enough to do so).  And although there is something awesome and powerful about a thunderstorm on the mountainside, there is also something incredibly serene about it as well, almost transcendent and spiritual in and of itself.

Throughout the week, I had experienced many of those transcendent moments – moments I could only describe as grace moments.  Moments that could only be explained as gifts from God to rejuvenate the soul – afternoon rainstorms, watching an eagle soar, big horn sheep grazing in the middle of the campus, late night outings with good friends and colleagues.  It also happened to be the Summer following the birth of our daughter, Grace.  Born 2 months premature, Grace had fought in the womb for life until she finally just made it known that she was coming – whether we liked it or not.  Those first few months of struggle, adjustment, anxiety, and utter dependence on God had been filled with similar moments.  Moments where we rejoiced over the smallest miracles – breathing, eating, hearing, seeing, gaining weight – grace moments.

And so it was that on that rainy afternoon in the middle of Colorado, my heart was overflowing with the grace (unmerited favor) of God.  And when that happens, sometimes all you can say is, “Hallelujah”.

Halleujah
words and music by randy bonifield

I see it softly in the Summer rain,
As it falls gently on my window pane,
And something inside me just can’t refrain,
And I just have to say, “Hallelujah.”

I feel it gently on the Autumn breeze,
And see its beauty in the turning leaves,
And something brings me down to my knees,
And I just have to say, “Hallelujah.”

“Hallelujah, to the Risen One,
Hallelujah, for the things He’s done,
Hallelujah, for love has come,”
I just have to say, “Hallelujah.”

I hear it thunder on the mountainside,
And see it soaring as the eagle flies,
And I can’t help it and I don’t know why,
But I just have to say, “Hallelujah.”

CHORUS

I see it sweetly in my daughter’s face,
And I can feel it in her warm embrace,
It’s so amazing, this thing called grace,
And I just have to say, “Hallelujah.”

CHORUS

©2003, boogielamb music (BMI)

my sweet sabbatical setup

Starting today, I have been blessed with a three month sabbatical.  While on this sabbatical break, I intend on doing some writing and recording, so today I got my setup in place and ready for the next three months.  Check it out:

A little digi suite with my mackies all ready to spend a little time together.  If you’re wondering, the picture is a signed cover of Berke Breathed’s “Wish For Wings That Work”, an inspirational children’s book about Opus the Penguin.  I know…but you’ve got to read it.  It’s a book for misfits such as myself.

Party In The Park

Yesterday was an incredible day.  We celebrated the 20th year of Christ Community Church by gathering for Sunday morning services at Shawnee Mission Theater In The Park. Here are some pictures:

The day included just a great variety of incredible music (our band and choir were pumpin’!), a party atmosphere and special guest, Sara Groves.

All in all, a great day with great people and a great church.  It was windy and we have sunburns to prove we didn’t think about the whole ultraviolet effects, but the rain and storms went North and we spent the whole day out there.  Mitch Holthus called it an “Old Testament Miracle” that we got missed by the storms.