Loving Scotty

I met Scotty today. He was holding a cardboard sign, standing in the center divide of the road. I pulled up to the red light, called out to him, and offered him a clean pair of socks with a granola bar wrapped inside (homeless people always want and need clean socks!). He gladly took it. I asked his name, then if I could pray for him. He let me pray. What happened after the prayer touched my heart in a powerful way. Brace yourself...

A truck had pulled up behind me. As Scotty walked away, the man in the truck rolled down his window and handed Scotty an apple and a sandwich. Scotty thanked the man and walked away. The man turned back in his truck, and then handed out a bottle of juice and an orange. Scotty again thanked the man and walked away. The man in the truck noticed I had been watching the exchange and smiled at me. I smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. He gave me one back.

What touched me today was this thought: love is contagious! I am always more likely to jump in and help someone if I see someone else doing it too. But it's gotta start somewhere. When I worked at Starbucks, one person would pay for the car behind them, which would start a chain of cars all paying for the drinks behind them. Amazing to watch, but someone had to be first. Go infect someone with a little love today. It's likely they will pass it on.

New song! And FREE music!

It's here! It's finally here! OK... here's the story:

I took my high school students (I'm a youth pastor) up to Hume Lake for summer camp. While there, they offer loads of activities to do during the afternoons, one of which is to go into their professional-grade studio for an hour. I thought that was a great deal and asked two of my students if they would want to record with me. They said yes!

So we practiced a song I had written in 2004 but had never recorded in a studio. We got the recording at the end of the week, and I finally finished the artwork, so here's my new song!



I hope you enjoy listening to it! If you want, you could buy it for only $1! You'll get that song, but you'll get SO MUCH MORE! With the purchase, you get:

• a download of the song "see"
• a high-res back image with all the song credits and a couple extra pics
• a second front cover, only available here
• "Come Here Squirrels", an exclusive bonus track never before released!

Along with that, I've put up all my other music, available for download. Click on an album cover or title to go listen to it. See You There is FREE!

Here's some pics of us in the studio:

Writing a Great Worship Song

In our quest to write the best songs, sometimes we look for help.  There are many videos on YouTube that can help turn that good worship song into a GREAT worship song.  Here is my favorite:

We went live!

We got to play our song "My Soul Cries Out" in a worship set on Sunday, and it went really good! It was exciting for both Rob and I to share our song with the church. We are excited to continue using that song at church in addition to other songs we write!

First new song in 4 years!

Here it is!  The first new song I've written in 4 years!  I think one thing that has helped me move forward in my writing was working with Rob Collins, who has been a fantastic partner in all of this.  We gel together well, tossing out ideas that are similar enough that we both like them but different enough that we challenge each other.

Well, without further ado, here it is - "My Soul Cries Out" by Rob Collins and Ben Palm



I'm standing here before You, there's nothing left to say
You moved the heavens to find me, but I chose another way
I fought to find my freedom, to break these heavy chains
And though You saw me fully, You loved me just the same

I fall on my face
I yearn for Your grace
My soul cries out
You call me Your own
No longer alone
My soul cries out

I'm standing here before you, I am so amazed
The cross You bore to free me has set my heart ablaze
Creation sings Your praises, a song for every man
My fate was changed forever by the touch of Your hand

Holy holy holy is the Lord
Holy holy holy is the Lord

My sin washed away
By love's crimson stain
My soul cries out

New song! New blog?

I just went on a fantastic retreat with my high school students... and the students from 13 other churches!  It was amazing!  I had a great time connecting with people from other churches and building the relationships with my students!

Two things came from this retreat:

1. A NEW SONG.  Rob, my writing partner, had sent me lyrics a few weeks ago that he wanted me to put some music to.  I took some time alone and started playing.  After about half an hour, I had something I really liked.  I recorded it, shared it with a few people around me, and to my amazement, I overheard them singing it throughout the rest of the weekend!  I sent over my recording to Rob, and he loved it!  Can't wait to finish the song (it needs a bridge) and play it with the band!
2. A NEW BLOG... MAYBE.  I co-taught a seminar on sex/purity to the high school students.  We opened up the floor for questions, and we got a TON - so many we couldn't answer them all!  I've thought about starting a blog that would tackle one of those questions each week - what do you think?

Music - a new chapter!

Hi. As some of you may know, I used to write music. A lot. But then some wonderful blessings came along...

Gabriel (1 1/2) and Micah (3 1/2)

See?

Up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't written in four years. Though I had tried every now and then to sit down and write, nothing really developed. Nothing. This was frustrating to a guy who has written over 50 songs.

So I kinda gave up. I let it sit, thinking my writing days were over.

I don't remember where my idea came from, but there I was, on the phone with Rob, asking him if he wanted to write a worship album with me. Bizarre. But I had been feeling passionate about worship music recently. I knew Rob was a great lyricist (so he told me), and I knew I could write music well, so I called. And he said yes.

We sat down to write our first song together. I showed him a musical idea I had written in 2003 (or somewhere around there). He liked it, and we started working on some lyrics. After about an hour, we had what we felt was a good start. We agreed to sit on what we had and revisit it a week later. But we both agreed this writing team was a God-ordained match. We really gelled.

After a week, we got back together, both agreeing that the song needed work. We went back and forth on a couple of ideas, and finally landed on a fit for the song that we really liked. After playing it with a full band behind us, we knew we had our first song ready to go. It's called "My Soul Cries Out."

I will continue to keep you updated regarding the future of our worship album, including lyrics, audio files, and news on our progress! Thanks for reading - I'm glad you're on the journey with us!

Micah 6:8

Sometimes God smacks me with a Bible verse – like today.  Micah 6:8 has come across my path FOUR TIMES today!  A version you might be familiar with is this:

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Today, I had my Message Bible with me in church, so I read it in that version for the first time.  I pray you’re just as inspired as I was by these words:

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously-- take God seriously.

I love that.  I will be meditating on this verse this week.  I don’t know what God has in store for me, but I’m going to pursue this.  If you wish to, join me in my meditation!

Ezekiel 20 – continued disobedience in the face of forgiveness

I want to begin by pointing out to the few of you that follow my blog that although I have not written in a while, it does not mean that I have ceased reading as was the case before.  I either wanted to internalize what I read or wasn’t in a place fit for writing, but either way, I was still reading!  I encourage you to go back through chapters 16-19 to see what’s going on (especially 16 – that one got me good!)…

In Ezekiel 20, elders of Israel come to Ezekiel for a word from the Lord and get a history lesson.  God points out to them how time after time He would show them the way to live, they would turn the other way, and He would forgive.  God has had enough.  He tells Israel how to find forgiveness, but He also tells of coming judgment.  Israel is in trouble.

Ezekiel ends by saying, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, `Isn't he just telling parables?'”  In other words, the Israelite elders aren’t buying what Ezekiel’s telling them!  Not only have they been foolish in not following God, but they are now being foolish in not believing His words!

I am SO guilty of this!  I’ll be in the depths of my sin and instead of listening to God to find a way out, I’ll continue ignoring Him and decide that I still know what’s best.  FOOLISH!  God, help me be wise!  Help me see my foolishness before it’s too late!

Ezekiel 15 – short but sweet

This is a short chapter, but it packs a powerful punch.  God simply says that Israel will not escape His wrath.  Too often we foolishly think we can get away with things, but we can’t.  God sees all and knows our hearts.  We need to be honest with God, others, and ourselves.

On another note, I came in second today in a disc golf tournament!  I played in the same tournament last year and did horribly – this year I finished on the top (#2 out of over 60 people!).

I had a thought: maybe I did well because I’ve been investing in God’s Word more!  Do you think God works this way?  Do you think He blesses us when we are obedient to Him?  I’d love to hear your thoughts…