Off the Charts

Last week our dear dog Spike went on to rest in peace. There is no doubt that he was one of the world's most unique and special animals, and that is what made him so lovable. Spike spent nearly all of his 16 years with us - traveling from Oklahoma to North Carolina, going on countless family vacations (Spike "loved" camping), cheering me on during Little League games, putting up with (or being put up with) our cats, birds, and other dogs, and teaching us about patience, good humor, and love.

Spike was not your typical pug. He acted like such a tough guy - didn't like to be picked up, not too big on cuddling, and would certainly never wear any doggie clothes. However, underneath all of that was a loving and loyal friend. One fall afternoon many years ago, one of our other dogs escaped out the front door and started trotting down the street. I took off after him so that he would not get lost or hit by a car, and it wasn't until I caught him and started my way back to the house that I realized Spike had followed right on my heels step for step the whole way. I'm pretty sure he thought I needed chasing after for protection too.

As he aged, he showed his softer side a lot easier. He went form alpha male to generally pleasant, then back to a grumpy old man, and finally spent his last few years as a wiser, slower, and more peaceful friend - a grandfather pug. He lost most his teeth, then his hearing, then his sight, then most the use of his back legs. But boy did his nose still work...and his bark. He knew within seconds when I would walk in because he knew the familiar scent of his boy. No matter how tired he was or how much pain he may have been in that day, he always got up to say hello and spend some time with me. At the vet's office on one of his last visits, my mom saw a chart comparing dog years, cat years, and human years so you could see just how old your animal was. Spike was off the chart. Apparently the makers of the sign underestimated the courage and stubbornness of our Spike. We know now that he is no longer restricted by the pains of old age, but back to being his rambunctious, curious, and pugnacious self.

Spike, you stood by me through elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and even marriage. You brought me up well, with the help of my parents of course. I will never forget you. And it is true, in more ways than anyone else could ever know, in loyalty, humor, quirkiness, stubbornness, barking, begging for food, friendship, love, and being a superb man's best friend, you were off the charts.

A (New) Song: O That I Had A Thousand Voices

As I mentioned last month, I've started a new project entitled A (New) Song. The goal is to take hymns - favorites and the unfamiliar - and "update" them in some way. This could be as simple as keeping the existing melody and making it sound more modern by smoothing out or adding chords. It could also mean, as in the case of this month's hymn, keeping the words and rewriting an entirely new melody and chord progression.

This month's hymn is "O That I Had A Thousand Voices."

It was written by Johann Mentzer (1658-1734), a German pastor and theologian. The Trinity Hymnal places Psalm 126:3 on the hymn page: "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

You can listen below as well as find the chord charts. It is also a free download on myPureVolume site. God bless.

Real Key:

Capo Chords:

The Arm of the Lord is Not Too Short

One word to describe this weekend: AWESOME. The mountains alone make me smile, but when you add in family, friends, music, and glass bottle Cheerwine, I get this goofy grin not even a UFC could knock off my face.

First, a huge thank you is in order to Son's Light Ministries, Holmes Convocation Center, and Selah Media Productions. The amount of time and effort they put in to the Festival is beyond comprehension - but it sure did pay off. A huge thank you also to everyone at the coffee house Saturday night and to all who came by and said hello at my table yesterday - I wish I could thank you each by name, but for fear of leaving someone out just know this means you!

Leading up to this weekend, most of what crossed my mind as I started preparing was fear. Fear of not being in perfect health, fear of not remembering songs, fear that the songs weren't even good in the first place, fear that I was being called to something I shouldn't have been, and the list goes on. What gave me comfort (mostly spoken by my wife) was the reminder that the arm of the Lord is not too short. No matter what, the will of the Lord would be done. There is nothing that any of us could do to thwart His plans. Each and every soul that came together this weekend was purposed, and I pray it was all for the glory of God.

I had a blast, and I hope you did too. It was good to hug old friends and shake hands with the new - next time you'll get a hug too. I will post some pictures of the event soon. In the meantime check out the music of everyone at the event:

Josh Wilson

7-Miles

Marshall Daniels Band

Jonny Diaz

Seventh Day Slumber

Peace.

High Country Praise Festival 2011

A new show has been added!!! On September 4th I will have the honor and privilege of being the opening act at the High Country Praise Festival in Boone, NC. Every year thousands of people gather at the Holmes Convocation Center to worship God and hear the Word. There is a lot of great music, motivational speakers, food, games, and more. Tickets are only $5, so if you don't have any Labor Day weekend plans, this might be the place for you. You can buy tickets here.

It is an event sponsored in large part by Son's Light Ministries, a group of folks that have been kind enough to support me in ways too many to count. They are doing great things for the Kingdom, and so I hope you check out the website or even pay them a visit at the coffee house in Boone. It's like Cheers...even being there once everyone is sure to know your name and be glad you came.

If you make it out on Sept. 4 be sure to come by my table along the outer ring of the Holmes Center and say hello. Even if you don't, say hello anyway in your prayers.

A (New) Song

I have started a new project entitled A (New) Song. It is essentially a collection of hymns that I have retuned, smoothed out, or otherwise updated. As a worship leader, it is important to be sensitive to the needs and preferences of the congregation and the worship team, and over the years that has meant lowering the key of some songs or writing out chords (and capo chords) to more difficulty harmonized hymns or even scrapping the original melody and transplanting the rich lyrics into a new melodic soil. Each month (around the 2nd Sunday) I will be posting a (new) hymn to my PureVolume website. Along with a recording, there will also be chord charts posted both here and the PV site. And the best part is, they will all be available as FREE DOWNLOADS. Please take the ones you like and share them with your congregation. I'm very excited about this ongoing project and hope that you join me in worshiping and playing - and maybe even suggesting a hymn or two you'd like to hear updated!

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth."

--Psalm 96:1

Change and the Unchangeable

Life brings us changes on a regular basis. Sometimes the changes are small, like your favorite television show moving to a new night or another traffic light. But sometimes the changes are big, like moving to a new state or a promotion or a new member of the family. We find ourselves in a constant state of inconstancy. So where do we find stability? Who or what can we count on to help maintain our equilibrium? Or for Inception fans - what is our totem?

If we are to believe Hollywood, the answer would be ourselves. We are told to seek what we want, be ourselves, follow our hearts. Though it's hard to admit sometimes, my heart is not made of the most reliable stuff. I am fickle and inconsistent.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who

can understand it?"

--Jeremiah 17:9

If we are to believe our nation's leaders, the answer would be the government. Through programs and agencies our needs will be met, our routines regulated, and our safety made certain. But no amount of rules or committees could ever account for all of our trials and triumphs in this life. The leaders change, the beliefs change, the country changes. The government is made of fine men and women, but even the finest still have fallible hearts.

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot

save."

--Psalm 146:3

If we are to believe science, the answer would be the laws of nature. Gravity, inertia, angles of deflection - these things remain unchanged from the world around them. But will gravity always stand by my side? How are the raging seas of my soul to be calmed by mathematical formulas, theorems, and postulates?

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and

served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever

praised. Amen."

--Romans 1:25

There must be something greater. The things of man simply do not offer hope of the disordered becoming ordered again. Even nature, over which we have almost no mastery, does not provide us with comfort or hope for wrongs to be righted. At a time in my life when many things are changing and I'm surrounded by a lot of newness and unknown, there is but One who can provide peace.

"People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the

oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his

purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he

confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two

unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,

we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us

may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an

anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

--Hebrews 6:16-19a

This has been of great help to me. I hope it is for you as well. And here is one last bit easier to memorize that I hope you can keep with you throughout every step of your day:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

--Hebrews 13:8

PureVolume Site Launched!

Just a quick music update here. Starting today I have a new PureVolume site that is going to serve as my musical home base. I will still be frequenting this blog as well as my SoundCloud site (linked to your right), but the PureVolume site provides a much better online presence and musical community.

Right now both albums "Diary of a Sinner" and "Home" are streaming in their entirety as well as a few available for MP3 download. Leave comments, be my friend/fan, check the events and blog, and join the fun!

www.purevolume.com/michaelkuehn