Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Clearly Different!

It's Wednesday night around 11:30 pm, and I just finished up 4 days of revival services with our friends at the ClearBranch UMC in Argo, AL. My former pastor at Brook Hills, Rick Ousley, was the speaker for the week, and he preached with fire and passion and authenticity, speaking truth into the lives of the members of this wonderful church.

I've known their worship leader, Charles Harnach since I was 15 (and I turn 45 in about 30 minutes, so you do the math). He has been a musical mentor and friend to me for decades now, and it's always a joy to work with him. I had the privilege to play guitar each night with a different musical group from their church. Sunday and Tuesday nights featured 2 different praise teams; Monday night saw me playing bass with Exit 148, their way cool college folks, and tonight I got to jam with my buddy Stephen Hayman (the Mad Scotsman) and their kicking student band. It was another special joy to once again work with my buddy Wes Hampton (the tenor with the Gaither Vocal Band). Wes may be with the GVB, but he'll always be one of the Project Onefifty guys.

It was a powerful moment for me on Tuesday night, as Wes and I got to sing "I Will Trust In You", a song that many people around the country have come to adopt as a special musical rendering of Psalm 56:3. Rick Ousley's own story about his recent battles with a rare medical condition found him reciting that verse and rolling this song through his mind as he lay on a hospital operating table.

All these thoughts flooded my mind as we sang that night. And as we sang, it was all I could do to get through this song. I kept thinking of those moments about 3 years ago when God was leading us through a dark valley, wondering if the life of our yet-to-be-born Audra Grace would have a chance to develop. Thank God that His grace gave us Audra Grace (turning 2 next month!), and He gave a song to comfort...not only us, but many, many others. I can honestly say with no shame that tears flowed freely and abundantly this week.

I won't again recite it in this blog, but Psalm 116 once again comes to mind. Crack the Book and read it and be challenged!

Love you guys!!

GV

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Same passage...different song!

THE JOURNEY SO FAR: Reflection: Lamentations and the blues

This morning my friend and 'partner in crime' Durand Robinson posted an entry on his blog about Lamentations 3. It's funny...he read these passages and heard a blues tune. A while back I was reading the same verses and heard something completely different! You can check out a demo of 'Love Never Fails' (featuring the vocals of the incredible Tony Wachter) at my page on My Space (http://www.myspace.com/georgevinson).

Durand's comments are timely and on target. For me, this passage sums up my life before and after I met Christ.

Isn't it amazing how His grace and love is perfectly applicable to each of us? Thank God His mercies never run out!!

GV

Friday, September 01, 2006

Family and Faith

Hi everyone!

I've had a couple of weeks here at home, being busy with domestic stuff (ahh, yard work!) and doing some sessions. Work is steadily increasing...so keep praying! Tomorrow I head down to Birmingham for a session at Bates Brothers Recording...a quick 'there and back again' trip. So with little P150 news, I thought I'd share some thoughts about family and faith.

As many of you know, I am the father of 5 children. Yes, down in the South that officially makes me 'white trash'...lol. Well, I know that having lots of kids can generate some trash.

But having this wonderful group of 4 boys and 1 baby girl has generated more than just trash. Brandon (22), Justin (19), Colin (10), Cameron (8), and Audra (22 months) have brought so many wonderful moments to Carol and I. And not a few moments of anguish and fear. From Brandon's near-fatal car accident a few years back, Cameron being in a halo at age 2 (so his broken neck would heal), and our latest challenges with Audra, there have been moments where we bombarded heaven with prayers, and not a few angry questions.

Isn't it wonderful to know that God not only hears and answers prayer, but can handle our anger? In my work with Project Onefifty there have times where people have compared me and my music to David and the Psalms in the Old Testament. David was reported to have a heart like His (in tune with the Father) but had moments of trial, dark moments of sin, and many moments of consequence resulting from his actions. There are times when I have far more in common with David's dark side than anything else!

In many of his psalms, David displays a brutal honesty with God. I suppose that is what draws me time and again to these centuries-old songs. And no matter how angry David gets, or graphic (asking God to destroy his enemies) invariably his tone lightens and he gives God praise, no matter what the circumstance.

Is this 'a heart like His'? The trust in Abba Father in every trial? I fall so far short of this mark (and often), but I continue to pray that I'll be faithful. God has proven His faithfulness to me over and over and over. My reasonable response is a life of faithful worship.

I'll close this entry with a Psalm that the 'prophet Bono' has been know to pray over U2 crowds:

"How can I repay the Lord
all the good He has done for me?

I will take the cup of salvation
and worship the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all His people."

Psalm 116:12-14 (HCSB)

Love never fails!!

God bless!!

GV