This is a rock and roll album, flowing out of a young man's journey from lostness to belonging. My great friend Ben Pasley approached me in late August of 2013, saying, "Well, I think it's about time you made a record." By the end of November we had ten finished songs. I wrangled my best pals into playing with me, had a couple rehearsals, and spent five days tracking the songs in a cavernous, red brick, historic building in Milwaukee. We moved very quickly and kept many first takes. We used no pitch correction and little post-processing wizardry, and captured the sounds instruments make in a Noah's ark-size room. It’s been a great joy for me to watch these songs emerge as I started, for the first time, to let myself be known fully. For years, as I would drive around in my car alone, or lay in bed, I would feel a tight knot of anxiety riding in the middle of my chest. I would tell lies, and worry that my heart was beating so loud, it would surely give me away. I lived in fear- fear that I would lose my wife if she truly knew who I was- that I would never be able to claw my way out of the hole I had dug- that God’s redeeming energy was better spent on those who weren’t such terrible people. My Father God has rescued me. He has taught me who I am. He has convinced me that I am his favorite. He has given me a place to settle down- where I am safe and accepted and treasured. He has shown me his heart. This album tells a story. It’s a record for people who have felt lonely and disconnected, on the outside of the good stuff that seems to be so accessible to everyone else. These are songs that holler about how good it is to be found, songs that I’d like to hear, sing, and play – as a response to the love that I’ve been shown. Father’s Heart is the capstone song of the album. It spells out in simple language the foundational truth of my acceptance and rootedness in the Father’s heart and family. Christus Victor is a reflection on the deeper-than-oceans and serious-as-death love that has rescued me and conquered my weak and wrong opinions of God and myself. In His Love speaks to the astonishing intimacy we are invited into - to this incredibly emotional, enveloping, embarrassing love. Walk With Me relays the process of realizing and being honest about my own ugliness, only to find that my hiding in shame is totally unnecessary. Gathered In shows someone confessing to a friend, “I marvel at who God is. I am full of joy because of what has happened here. Can you believe it?” Loose My Soul is a song of joy - joy about who God is, and my freedom to fully and unapologetically be who I am with him. Precious Lord is a celebration of the God who bends to raise our chins, meets our eyes with compassion, and pulls out a seat of honor for us at his table. Come Into My Home was written for a hurting sister as a reminder to see herself as a cherished member of a family who will always have a place to belong and an inheritance of joy and beauty. Allelu walks through the process of being pursued and won over- to finally begin to see and feel God and be moved to sing praise and count myself as one of his sons. Glory To proclaims agreement. Yes, I am your son and I accept and enjoy my inheritance. I will get my big boy pants on and act like a son, not a beggar. To me, there are few things more wonderful than championing our friends and empowering them to be fully the gift they are intended to be to the people around them. Each of us is the Father's favorite. Each of us is invited to live in freedom and acceptance in the Father's love. Spread the word.