In the past few years I've been on tour all around the world, and in that time I've had several experiences, visions, and encounters that found their way into the songwriting on this album. I also spent countless hours playing, singing, and worshiping before God. This album in particular draws from a deep well of lyrical and musical experiences, many of those quite fresh and exhilarating. The music, and the words, are filled with the abundant life that I've experienced over the past few years and that I sing about. "Crowns" I began writing the chords and the music to "Crowns" on an old river boat going down the Amazon River to a city called Maues to do a crusade where hundreds of people got saved. I was looking into the jungle playing my banjo and thinking about all the animals that were running through the jungle having to kill to survive, and how we should go after the Lord with the same fervor and abandonment. A few weeks later, I wrote the melody while on a missions trip to Okinawa and mainland Japan. Right after that, I wrote the words in various countries in Europe. The song has flavors from each country. The words are meant to reflect the kingship and the Lordship of Jesus over all of the Earth. The last verse is my take on the old hymn "Crown him with many crowns" The song has a 7/8 time signature, seven being the number of the seven spirits of God and the seven candlesticks. "Kingdom come" I was in a hotel room in Rogers Arkansas watching the news and practicing a Johann Sebastian Bach cello sonata on the guitar. As I was watching all the killing all the horrible things that were going on the earth I found myself crying out in intercession, "Lord I want your kingdom to come, Lord I want your kingdom to come!" and I started singing those words to Bach's melody and chords. Being trained in Classical music and Jazz in college, many of the songs on this CD (especially this song) have a very classical nature to them, and seem to be especially attractive to young musicians. "Hale'LuJah" I wrote Hale'LuJah after my first trip to Japan. I have been to Japan four times now and it is my desire to see dancing in the streets of Tokyo and Osaka. I've seen some of the wildest worshipers in Japan that I have witnessed in the whole earth and when I sing that song many times I am in intercession for Japan and for the release of worship and the dance on the streets there. "Majesty" I was meditating one day on how incredibly strong God is, but also how incredibly gentle he had to be, but strong enough to get the earth into its orbit around the sun as well as the other planets and to get it perfectly placed. If we were just a few miles closer to the sun or a few miles farther away from the sun we would all be dead. That's incredible strength but also incredible gentleness. The song is also about the meekness of Jesus; that the creator of the universe would kneel before a man and wash his feet! That's meekness and strength all mixed into one man, and that's why I think of him as "Your Majesty". Here are some of the most recent reviews of the pre-release: "Your words and your music reach right into ones' soul ... and touches the Father's heart!" "...God has such an anointing on you to bring folks right into His presence. Such a ministering CD ...thanks for all the hours you put in so we can be so blessed." "Love this CD! Even when I don't have it on I find the music wafting into my thoughts." "So beautiful , it reminds me of an alabaster box broken open for The Lord." "I know every single word by heart.... Accompanying me on my hour journey to work every day.... Awesome inspiring unique..." "Best work of LJ/Holy Spirit. A whole new level of worship!" "During this difficult season of my life, I can jump in the car or wherever, pop in this CD and just IMMEDIATELY enter into the highest worship and praise. It doesn't matter if I'm upset, stressed, or anything, these songs come on, and suddenly I'm entered into worship, focusing on the Father, which changes everything about my situation, bringing an instant peace that passes human understanding. You can't buy that on the street! Thank you for making this!”