Music Unto The Lord is a collection of original songs, scriptural settings, and instrumentals, written and arranged, played and sung, by a contemporary psalmist... me! It’s my communion with my Creator, conversation with my heavenly Father, meant, so it seems, to be listened-in-on by some of you; God knows who, or why. It’s the expression of gratitude and complaint, Lord knows, a plethora of that, but it’s the honest cry of the psalmist’s heart, a kind of music to God’s spiritual ears. It’s the sorrow oozing out of our low estate and desperate plight, my common-to-man struggle and plea for valor, courage, and the like. It’s rejoicing in the occasional triumph, but praising in the everyday, the always. It’s the trail of crumbs from my larger life, my own Pilgrim’s Progress, my testimony and reflective light before men. Ultimately, it’s my thanksgiving for redemptive love, packaged without the affectation of neon broadway; rather, more the soft blue night-light glow of my own hallway. It’s my untrained, often feeble voice, cringing at its public nakedness, clinging to, and swept along by, instruments with voices of their own, good ones, entrées of various guitars and pianos, seasoned bytes of orchestral and percussive samples, all of it ever hoping to carry something of value some great, unfathomable distance. It’s the indomitable desire for excellence underpinned by Psalm 33:3, “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.“
"In The Balance" is a selection of 15 tracks from the "Music Unto The Lord" recordings.
I'm pleased to say it is available at CD Baby, , and, ultimately, some others. I searched out one site which appears to be in Latvia. You never know. Remember, in "The Muppet Movie", Gonzo headed for Bombay, India to become a movie star.
Check out some QuickTime Movies I've made that are hiding in the Videos section .
My dot.mac site has expired, so I am in transition about where to post music, pics, etc. I mean, besides here *L*. I've been working hard at trying to build a website; you know, one of those things that just gradually evolves, and learn how to do it while you do it... it's still at http://www.jamesmadisonthomas.com .
Generally, I am no longer a shy person. I have the ability to go down every rabbit trail in the story and lose the point entirely. I have equal amounts of faith and fear, I guess, but the Lord is, with a certainty, working on me to change this. I have always preferred to be transparent; I just haven't figured out to acknowledge the negative without hanging on to it. I finally am aware nearly every day of the power and necessity of a thankful heart. I hope never to have to eat my words after I've been standing on them so long.
I don't know if this has to be said, but I have not met face to face all the folks listed as Friends below... I have placed their links there because they have either been an inspiration to me, moved my heart with their music, or are someone I've only recently discovered on a MySpace page and want to follow with interest...
I have made a decision about how to approach the "Friends" part of MySpace;
I wish they'd call it something other than "Friends" really, because that really doesn't quite peg it... You'll see people I have as Friends that I do not know personally and some bring "celebrity" to the table... I have no desire to be a groupie and see how many Friends I can collect, so this is not going to be a numbers game. These are folks that I have respected and admired for their heart or talent or humility, and know in some way through their work, their art, though they don't necessarily know me. Or the Spirit just tells me I'm safe having their alliance.
I am always bowled over if someone contacts me asking to be a "Friend", but I have decided that if it is a complete stranger and I have had no interaction in any way, no concept of that person's heart, I want to give myself the grace to give it a little time before I add, or yes, even decline them for the moment. Honestly, I respect a humble, Godly person more than just about anyone I can think of, so I am not trying to be arrogant in any whisper of the word by saying "No" to the Add request. I am just having to "clean off my desk" for the moment. I only want God to be honored. At least that's the me that is writing this at this moment. And even if my look at myself is a cloudy deception, God's love for you is clearly stated in His Story to all of us, so much that He will never forsake you or decline your invitation. It's about relationship & He's the one that counts!
I had nothing to do with this UTube video; I just think it's a mesmerizing piece of work and my hat's off to whoever is responsible...