COZ

Let’s see, where to begin? …

I got into music at an early age by teaching myself some basic chords on an acoustic guitar at the age of six. Shortly after, I added drums and piano, then bass guitar. I began singing and songwriting in high school and was determined to carve out a career of music for myself. I had heard of Christians, I thought they were weak minded and phony at best. I wasn’t sure if God was real, and if He was, who or what He was. It actually wasn’t that important to me, I never really thought about it much, I had a life to live and a dream to chase.

I remember being told about a band that was looking for a singer. I listened to the band’s demo and thought ‘wow, the old singer was great!’ I asked why he had left and was told that he became a Christian and didn’t want to be a part of the ‘Rock’ scene anymore. I thought, ‘what an idiot’. For me, I wanted to be a part of that ‘scene’ more than anything.

Years later, and one dead end after another, I grew extremely frustrated and depressed. All I knew was music, I had no degree and no other ‘real’ job skills. Money was hard to come by. At one point, I was homeless, had no car, no job, and no plan. I was angry, really angry. Funny thing was I became angry with God. I figured if He was real, then He was to blame. After all, He would have made me this way, right? He would be responsible for giving me this gift/curse of music and then not opening the right doors for me to make a life out of it.

A life that served only myself and my flesh.

I cried out loud to God, telling Him that if He was real to just TAKE MY LIFE. As in END IT. Life was certainly not worth living this way, not being able to fully realize all the dreams and plans I had for myself.

“God, take my life”

And you know what? He did just that. It was around that time I decided to make a journey back home. I had moved 2,000 miles away in my pursuit of a music career, and now it was time to go back. Little did I know that ‘home’ was going to take on a whole new meaning. It was Christmas time, and before I left on my journey, someone invited me to a church for Christmas service. I figured it certainly couldn’t hurt, and if God was real this would be the best time to go and score some points. Maybe things could change.

I remember singing traditional Christmas carols during the service, ones I had heard so many times before, year after year. It was ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ that got my attention. Suddenly, and without reason, the words just made sense! I didn’t know what was happening, but God was answering my prayer to ‘take my life’, and His Holy Spirit was revealing to me what I had been blinded to due to my own pride and prior rejection of God.

Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host procl.. "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

These words resounded within my soul, and all I can say is, ‘I got it. I just got it”. I understood without explanation who this Saviour was now, and why He came. I didn’t ‘know’ Him yet personally, but I knew walking out of that church that my new life’s goal and purpose was to find Him. My new dream was to meet this one whom we call ‘Jesus’. Nothing else mattered, my return home had a new vision now, find and seek out this one called Jesus.

I am still on that Journey of getting to know my Lord Jesus, I will be on it until I go to meet Him after this life. One of the first things I let go of was my desire for music. I thought I had to let go of the music I had once loved so much in order to be a Christian, and I was ok with that. I plugged myself into a church where I found that music, good music, was being used to give glory to God. I had no idea that Christian music didn’t have to be awful and boring to qualify as such. I got turned on to some great Christian bands and artists and a whole new world was opened up to me. I still had a lot of growing to do though. Two and a half decades of living a ‘world view’ had to be ‘unlearned’. I had a lot of questions as to why all the things I had grown up to believe as true were all actually a big fat lie. All the arguments that atheists and agnostics have, I had agreed with. All that questions that cause doubt, I had asked. I missed out on God for 25 years, and I wanted to know why. How did I miss Him for so long? Why was I taught what was false was the truth? I searched and researched, I asked and I asked, and was never satisfied with the standard answers. I wanted to dig deep. I wanted to understand not only what was the truth, but why it was the truth.

God has brought me through a wonderful journey thus far, and has introduced me to some wonderful people who know and love God and His Word. Now, some years later ( I aint tellin’ how many) God has led me to a time and place where I can once again pursue my music and share what I have learned with others.

This is the time, and this is that place … The Land of Coz …

Come on in, look around, listen, learn, and love …

Welcome, to the Land of Coz!