The Year of Praise Podcast: 52 Songs of Praise in 52 Weeks

Episode 14 features the classic hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” This began as a choral number, but I chose to release it in a solo form to (finally) get a song out for this week. Once the arrangement is done and recorded, you’ll get the full version as a future bonus episode. *** LYRICS “Blessed Assurance” Blessed […]

Episode 13 has an original song that’s very appropriate for Easter. “Bigger Than You” is a bluesy and soulful number that goes out to anything that might make you spend time worrying. Happy Easter! *** LYRICS “Bigger Than You” Lost in the darkest night I know I’ll be alright. I’m not alone there – that […]

Episode 12 features another arrangement of a traditional hymn (“What A Friend We Have in Jesus”) and features guest vocalist (and listener of the podcast), Grace Blackford. I’ve been able to watch Grace grow up in our church (Emanuel Lutheran) where I directed her in the youth choir and I couldn’t be more honored to have […]

Episode 11 features a track from my 2006 album, Verse by Verse (which was recently released in digital format for purchase on bandcamp). I hope you enjoy my arrangement of “Let Us Break Bread Together” with an accompanying scripture reading by Pastor Mark Schuring of Emanuel Lutheran Church. You can stream the entire album to preview before you buy […]

Episode 10 features a cover of the hymn, “Give Me Jesus.” Following a difficult week, I was quickly humbled and reminded how blessed I truly am. During this week (or any time, really), I’d encourage you to focus on the positive aspects of your life and what you really “need” compared to what you think is […]

Episode 9 brings another song from RESOUNDworship’s 12 Song Challenge. Each month, Joel and Sam from The RESOUNDworship Songwriting Podcast give a challenge to write a praise and worship song with specific guidelines. February’s song guidelines were: 1) Songs about and for the church community 2) Strict range limit: C up to Bb 3) Accessible melody […]

Episode 8 is here with a new song and a special story. My cousin Kevin and his wife Gretchen are parents to a beautiful baby boy named Cayden. As of this episode’s release date, Cayden is 335 days old – almost ready to celebrate his 1st birthday. Unfortunately, his celebration won’t be the same as […]

This week is another first – a choir! I wrote “Still” in early 2013 in response to the violence and fear gripping the world at the time. It was first performed with a choir at the Marion Palace Theatre for a concert put together by my good friend, Ryan J Ratliff. The recording in this […]

Gratefulness is this week’s theme with a song I wrote a few years ago called “I Am Blessed.” While it’s an older song, this really is its debut because I’ve never performed this one. It’s an uptempo song somewhat in the style of Lost and Found and I never felt comfortable playing it for anyone. But […]

In this week’s episode I debut a brand new song, “Great and Marvelous.” This praise and worship song was written as part of the 12 Song Challenge being presented by Joel and Sam at The ResoundWorship Songwriting Podcast. January’s challenge was a Scripture Song, with lyrics pulled directly from (and only consisting of) certain scripture […]