I recently gathered up a few songs from the past several years of writing and thought I would post them for the public. I figure, they aren’t doing any good just sitting there on my hard-drive gathering electronic dust. Why not put them out where people can hear them.
Disclaimer: All four of these songs are in what I consider the “alpha” stage. Alpha meaning that if the “release to the public” scale it goes… Alpha –> Beta –> Pre-release –> then finished product, these recordings represent the very first stages of song completion. So I guess I mean, just don’t listen to them expecting a polished studio release.
Having said that, there are some good elements found here in these recordings and perhaps worth taking a listen or two.
Of course I don’t actually think we had ‘near perfect’ harmony. But we were pretty stinkin’ good for a self-motivated vocal group made up of only teenagers. I remember performing many times with this group of very talented vocalists in the late 80’s. What a great time we had. Seems like we were constantly looking for more places to sing and always finding new music to perform.
Anyway, I came across a Cassette tape recording of some of our songs. This particular performance wasn’t so great, and I remember thinking that at the time. However out of it I found one huge gem. This tape contains the only known recording of the hymn “This is My Father’s World” arranged by Larry Jackson of McMinnville Oregon. I believe he wrote this specifically for our group to perform, and we all loved to sing it live.
Larry, if you’re out there somewhere, this is absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time. You did a masterful job with the arrangement. I hope we were able to do it justice… but somehow I doubt it.
This is my tribute to Larry and all the Willamina “Vocal Point” members. KT, James, Jeremy, David, Andy, Nick, Korina, and Rob (me). Perhaps one day we could get together and sing again. Who knows.
My wife and I went to a Jason Upton concert several years ago. We had a great time. As a spirit filled worship leader myself, it was wonderful to see someone, on a much larger scale, operate and flow in a prophetic worship style. He has a great voice, a great platform, a great musical style. We left thinking what an awesome time we had and that we could possibly be able to follow Jason’s music with enthusiasm into the future.
But, unfortunately I was wrong. It appears as if he’s fallen head over heals into pseudo-christian spirituality. This is the same red-herring gospel that we’re hearing from the likes of Joyner, Bentley, NAR, and a ton of others, where the focus is a “spiritual Experience” rather than an authentic worship to God. It’s really narcissism in a Christian shaped wrapper.
I came across this album (and sadly there are others just like it) called “Trusting the Angels”. The whole point of the CD seems to be that “Angels can take you to higher dimensions”. I find it ironic that the Bible explicitly tells us “DON’T trust angels”, and yet here he is telling the opposite.
So I’m guessing he’s gone the way of all the other “professional prophets” who abandon a true spiritual life for the pursuit of angels, trips to Heaven, soaking, gem stones, angel feathers, talking to dead people, strange smoke, etc.
Where are the truly spiritual musicians anymore? Where are the leaders who form their theology from what they read in the Word rather than torturing it to conform to their new “enlightened” or “higher dimension” doctrines? Where are the prophets whose prophecies actually come to pass? Where are the healers that actually heal? Where are the Christian meetings and gatherings that actually cause the earth to shake and touch the Father’s heart? Where are the apostles who demand to be taken OFF the Elijah List?
Because of my age I missed the Keith Green era. But I’m still waiting for the next great Christian musician that actually calls a generation to Holiness and strives for uncommon greatness. I was hoping Jason Upton was one of those. But instead… I see a misguided showman – along the order of Kim Clement.
I recently gathered up a few songs from the past several years of writing and thought I would post them for the public. I figure, they aren’t doing any good just sitting there on my hard-drive gathering electronic dust. Why not put them out where people can hear them.
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