I've changed a lot spiritually over the years, and I've made many stops
along the way: atheist, Metropolitan Community Church, Self-Realization
Fellowship, Christ Fellowship of Love, The Church of Shirley MacLaine—
;-), and last but not least, Trinity Episcopal Church. However, my official
position is there is truth in all God searching. Our democracy, properly
understood, protects all religious practices.
I learned in an ethics class taught by Paul Eisenberg in the 1960's
that even if God exists, it is still an ethical (philosophical), rather
than a theological, question what the significance of that fact is.
Here they are: lyrical musings and amusings on the topic from my several
different points of view.
I guess I really was into the depths of atheistic cynicism when I
wrote Jesus told us, momma—which is no excuse
for sacrificing meaning for rhyme.
People like Excitement and mystery, in fact, it
was performed at a dear friend's wedding in 1993.
I did literally open the Bible one night to Matthew 4 or 5, and The
Baptist came out.
The Lord is my Shepard is a setting of the 23rd
Psalm to music.
This song was performed at Metropolitan Community Church a couple
of times. Open up your heart and change your life is
a testimony. One woman told me: "I always cry when I hear you sing."
I think she meant it as a compliment!?
My meditation in the Self-Realization Fellowship inspired God
make me strong.
He came to us is kind of the life of Christ in one
song. A former organist friend of mine said, "But what is the season
of the song? Every song needs a season." Tres amussant.
Paramahansa Yogananda is an ode to the founder and
guru of the Self-Realization Fellowship. Many times his thought and
presence has guided me through difficult times.
Written in my last year with Christ Fellowship of Love, What
is a friend? reflects in a new way the sentiment "What a
friend we have in Jesus."
I wrote The Jesse Tree Carol at the request of Rev.
Bill Chapman, former rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. It was performed
on the Second Sunday of Advent for twelve years. Not a bad run!
Ron Cioli died in 1993, and I wrote and performed
this musical eulogy at his funeral at Trinity Episcopal Church.