My Spiritual Journey

[jbsmith]

Rammy:

I only have the “Closer” CD with You raise me up on it…

i thought that was his debut…but i guess that is wrong…how many does he have out?

He has two studio CDs and two live CDs. His debut CD is self-titled.

 

[Rammy]

jbsmith:

He has two studio CDs and two live CDs. His debut CD is self-titled.

:bigyikes: 4…that is three more than i have, and two mre than i was aware of…

Oh i am so behind…

As for the You Raise Me Up…wow, i can hear Josh singing it, and i can still hear Amber, my 7 year old singing it at prayer time, as i snuck a peek through the door way. Arms all up in the air, swaying like the breeze, singing to her big brother in heaven.

so prescious it was.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

this is her two years ago…so age 5, shortly afte Wills death. We went to his High School theatre to see his teacher…she was like family…and Amber ran in as usual…“Willydog, were here now, you can come home now!”

Every day after school, we’d go get him…too tired to run to get the bus, and we’d go retrieve him…she was stunned when she realized she would not see him there again…and she prayed to him right there…i took a picture right away!

 

[beckyann2597]

jbsmith:

I’ve only been to rock concerts. I wanted to see Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman when they came to Norfolk, VA (Only an hour from me) two years ago, but they both sold out within hours of going on sale. Needless to say, I missed those concerts. However, I did see “Miss Saigon” and Verdi’s “Otello.” (I know, they’re not really concerts, but it’s similar.)

My favorite musical in Les Miserables. In high School I did musical theatre and I was Lady Larkin in Once upon a Mattress and Maria in West Side Story. I was training to be a professional Mezzo Soprano, but I became pregnant when I was 18 and my dreams of stardom were set aside to be a mommy. I have auditioned for professional theatre since then, but I live too far away from both San Francisco and Sacramento to do it on a regular basis. My husband is a musician. He does the music ministry at church and directs his own chior. He plays guitar, and even though I don’t play, I have studied music and want to start playing the guitar. I mean we have it around the house–so why not! In my husband’s church chior, he was lucky enough to have two sisters volunteer. One was the lead for the touring broadway show through Germany of “Madam Butterfly”. It was really neat to meet such nice people who were so talented. they have since moved to San Francisco to have an easier go at a career.

I love musical theatre and when we move back up to Sacramento (someday!) where there are more theatre arts, I want to do adult roles in children’s theatre with my daughters. I know my oldest would love to perform, there is just nothing here to perform in! Its kinda sad really.

I used to sing at church with a band of friends and family (I sometimes think I married into the Von trapp family) doing contemporary Christian music, and I miss it, but we moved away from family and so now I on childcare duty and my husband does the music ministry (although I do help him write a psalm or harmony from time to time).

jbsmith:

As far as rock concerts, I’ve seen the secular rock band Garbage. I was right up at the front, in the mosh pit. Yes, I moshed. (That was several years ago, when I was able.)

I’ve also seen a lot of Christian pop/rock bands in concert. I’ve seen Audio Adrenaline, (Mosh pit, at the front, moshing.) Jennifer Knapp, Third Day, Rebecca St. James, Skillet (moshed), Rachael Lampa, Michael W. Smith, Nicole C. Mullen, and Pillar (moshed again).

I can’t count how many Dave Matthews band concerts I have been to, and I especially like U2 in concert. Pretty much, growing up in Sacramento, we spent every weekend at a concert–either at a local club watching a local band play, or at an arena watching a big band play, so I have been to a ton of secular rock concerts.

I have never been to a Christian Rock concert, but I want to go. I have to tell you that I really didn’t take religion seriously until after I was a mommy, and by then I didn’t get out as much.

jbsmith:

I want to resume singing lessons as soon as I’m physically able. As far as guitar, I’d love to learn.

You should really keep up with it. Music is such a joy in my life-- I can’t imagine life without it. You should totally take up the guitar or the piano. As a kid I studied piano, and I am sure you know from singing lessons it is a handy thing to know as far as reading music and studying theory. Guitar is a bit different, but I want to learn it just because it is so portable.

Talk to you soon–Rebecca

 

[Tonks40]

Oh my goodness, another singer on this board!! Amen, brother (from another fellow singer)!! :clapping:

Obviously, you must be a tenor or a baritone in order to sing those high Josh Groben-notes! And you must have a lot of power in your tone! I really admire that!

 

[jbsmith]

Tonks40:

Oh my goodness, another singer on this board!! Amen, brother (from another fellow singer)!! :clapping:

Obviously, you must be a tenor or a baritone in order to sing those high Josh Groben-notes! And you must have a lot of power in your tone! I really admire that!

Cool! What style do you sing?

Yes, I am a tenor. Actually, I’m a high tenor. My voice teacher told me that I’m almost, but not quite, a countertenor. She told me she could get me to sing countertenor with practice, though. There have been times when I’ve found it easier to sing female parts than male ones. However, I can sing baritone as well.

 

[jbsmith]

My favorite musical in Les Miserables. In high School I did musical theatre and I was Lady Larkin in Once upon a Mattress and Maria in West Side Story. I was training to be a professional Mezzo Soprano, but I became pregnant when I was 18 and my dreams of stardom were set aside to be a mommy. I have auditioned for professional theatre since then, but I live too far away from both San Francisco and Sacramento to do it on a regular basis. My husband is a musician. He does the music ministry at church and directs his own chior. He plays guitar, and even though I don’t play, I have studied music and want to start playing the guitar. I mean we have it around the house–so why not! In my husband’s church chior, he was lucky enough to have two sisters volunteer. One was the lead for the touring broadway show through Germany of “Madam Butterfly”. It was really neat to meet such nice people who were so talented. they have since moved to San Francisco to have an easier go at a career.

That must have been outstanding for him to have those women on his choir. I would love to become involved in regional theater. There are several here in my area. I was going to audition for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” last year, but the onset of my health problems prevented it. (By the way, I love drama as well as singing. I’m just as happy singing or acting on a stage.)

I love musical theatre and when we move back up to Sacramento (someday!) where there are more theatre arts, I want to do adult roles in children’s theatre with my daughters. I know my oldest would love to perform, there is just nothing here to perform in! Its kinda sad really.

I used to sing at church with a band of friends and family (I sometimes think I married into the Von trapp family) doing contemporary Christian music, and I miss it, but we moved away from family and so now I on childcare duty and my husband does the music ministry (although I do help him write a psalm or harmony from time to time).

It is sad. The arts are important. They add a lot to life and to the culture at large. It would be great for you to become involved again. Do you miss it badly? I do. I want to get back into it so bad. It’s great that your family is so talented. I don’t know where I received my talent. No one in my family can sing or act. And they freely admit it.

I can’t count how many Dave Matthews band concerts I have been to, and I especially like U2 in concert. Pretty much, growing up in Sacramento, we spent every weekend at a concert–either at a local club watching a local band play, or at an arena watching a big band play, so I have been to a ton of secular rock concerts.

Yes, I’ve seen several local secular bands as well. But only one famous secular band. garbage is talented, but lately they’ve been getting pretty vulgar. I don’t know if I would go see them now or not.

I have never been to a Christian Rock concert, but I want to go. I have to tell you that I really didn’t take religion seriously until after I was a mommy, and by then I didn’t get out as much.

They’re unique. Much like a secular rock concert, but with prayer, devotion, and maybe even a sermon. Entertaining and worshipful at the same time. The next time a good one comes to your area you should go.

You should really keep up with it. Music is such a joy in my life-- I can’t imagine life without it. You should totally take up the guitar or the piano. As a kid I studied piano, and I am sure you know from singing lessons it is a handy thing to know as far as reading music and studying theory. Guitar is a bit different, but I want to learn it just because it is so portable.

Talk to you soon–Rebecca

I can play the piano a little. I stress “a little.” I took one semester in college and was actually progressing quite well. I was learning fast. I’d love to continue studying it. Of course, I’d also love to get a new band together. It would be great to do that again. I’d love to sing lead on “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence. That song is so spiritual to me, even though the band didn’t intend for it to be.

 

[jbsmith]

:bigyikes: 4…that is three more than i have, and two mre than i was aware of…

Oh i am so behind…

As for the You Raise Me Up…wow, i can hear Josh singing it, and i can still hear Amber, my 7 year old singing it at prayer time, as i snuck a peek through the door way. Arms all up in the air, swaying like the breeze, singing to her big brother in heaven.

so prescious it was.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

this is her two years ago…so age 5, shortly afte Wills death. We went to his High School theatre to see his teacher…she was like family…and Amber ran in as usual…“Willydog, were here now, you can come home now!”

Every day after school, we’d go get him…too tired to run to get the bus, and we’d go retrieve him…she was stunned when she realized she would not see him there again…and she prayed to him right there…i took a picture right away!

What a beautiful story and a beautiful picture of your daughter praying. Thank you for sharing it. “To Where You Are” is also a beautiful, inspirational song.

 

[Edwin1961]

Jeff,
DId you know that Rachel Lampa is Catholic. You can’t tell by her music because if she started singing ‘truly Catholic’ songs on her CD’s, she probably wouldn’t have a record deal. I also heard that Kathy Troccoli is Catholic too.

Any more news on your father?
Have you opened the package I sent you? I put some music CD’s of Catholic Centemporary Artists in there for you.

 

[Rammy]

Ok Edwin…my daughter just chimed in reading over my shoulder…

“Mommy…he’s gonna get a love zap”

translation: When you do something that makes God proud of your actions, we feel his love and cheering in our hearts…

hence the “Love Zap!”

 

[jbsmith]

Edwin1961:

Jeff,
DId you know that Rachel Lampa is Catholic. You can’t tell by her music because if she started singing ‘truly Catholic’ songs on her CD’s, she probably wouldn’t have a record deal. I also heard that Kathy Troccoli is Catholic too.

Any more news on your father?
Have you opened the package I sent you? I put some music CD’s of Catholic Centemporary Artists in there for you.

I had no idea that either one of them were Catholic. Do you know of any other Contemporary Christian artists who are Catholic?

I opened the package and I’ve listened to some of the CDs. They’re pretty good. Thank you.

There’s nothing new to report about my father right now. His condition is the same.

 

[jbsmith]

Edwin,

 Check out this link:

 [crosswalk.com/community/chat/1129980.html](http://)

 It's an interview Rachael Lampa did a couple years ago.  In the interview, she talks about her faith.  Apparently, she's charismatic Catholic.

 

[beckyann2597]

jbsmith:

It’s great that your family is so talented. I don’t know where I received my talent. No one in my family can sing or act. And they freely admit it.

The Family I married into are the performers. My mom has old newspaper clippings of her in High School drama productions, and she is certainly a character, but she cannot sing a note. My oldest brother has an artistic eye and fancies himself an independent film maker, but he only makes horror films, so I refuse to watch them. My sister sings too, but I had training and so my voice is stronger, but she has a really nice sound. my youngest brother is a professional athlete and coach ( He is getting his masters degree now so he can teach soccer at a JC, his dream job, but he trains several competitive teams and is the assistant coach of a university team) and he cannot sing at all…or dance really…He knows how bad he is and he jokes about how “good” he is with us all. He sings loud and proud and off key whenever possible. We have a very self depricating humor in our family, so to us it is very funny. My husbands family is the Von Trapp family. You can’t have a family party without atleast 3 guitars everyone singing along for 2 hours.

 

[Rammy]

beckyann2597:

The Family I married into are the performers. My mom has old newspaper clippings of her in High School drama productions, and she is certainly a character, but she cannot sing a note. My oldest brother has an artistic eye and fancies himself an independent film maker, but he only makes horror films, so I refuse to watch them. My sister sings too, but I had training and so my voice is stronger, but she has a really nice sound. my youngest brother is a professional athlete and coach ( He is getting his masters degree now so he can teach soccer at a JC, his dream job, but he trains several competitive teams and is the assistant coach of a university team) and he cannot sing at all…or dance really…He knows how bad he is and he jokes about how “good” he is with us all. He sings loud and proud and off key whenever possible. We have a very self depricating humor in our family, so to us it is very funny. My husbands family is the Von Trapp family. You can’t have a family party without atleast 3 guitars everyone singing along for 2 hours.

Oooo, kitchen partiers…so cool! When’s the next one scheduled, i need to gas up to be there on time!!!

kidding, but it sounds wonderful…

 

[jbsmith]

beckyann2597:

The Family I married into are the performers. My mom has old newspaper clippings of her in High School drama productions, and she is certainly a character, but she cannot sing a note. My oldest brother has an artistic eye and fancies himself an independent film maker, but he only makes horror films, so I refuse to watch them. My sister sings too, but I had training and so my voice is stronger, but she has a really nice sound. my youngest brother is a professional athlete and coach ( He is getting his masters degree now so he can teach soccer at a JC, his dream job, but he trains several competitive teams and is the assistant coach of a university team) and he cannot sing at all…or dance really…He knows how bad he is and he jokes about how “good” he is with us all. He sings loud and proud and off key whenever possible. We have a very self depricating humor in our family, so to us it is very funny. My husbands family is the Von Trapp family. You can’t have a family party without atleast 3 guitars everyone singing along for 2 hours.

That’s great. It must make family functions fun and interesting.

 

[jbsmith]

Edwin,
Just FYI, I looked up Kathy Troccoli. She is Catholic. By the way, I looked up Josh Groban and he is too. That explains the spiritual element I've sensed in his music.

 

[jbsmith]

I have an update on my sister Ginger. She never went to the Catholic parish. She kept procrastinating, and I had afeeling she wouldn’t go. She emailed me yesterday and told me that she went back to her Southern Baptist church yesterday. Apparently, they were quite friendly and welcoming towards her. This bothers me. She’s learned a lot about the Catholic Church and its historic doctrines. I’m wondering about her salvation if she returns to the Baptist church.

 

[Dorothy]

jbsmith:

I have an update on my sister Ginger. She never went to the Catholic parish. She kept procrastinating, and I had afeeling she wouldn’t go. She emailed me yesterday and told me that she went back to her Southern Baptist church yesterday. Apparently, they were quite friendly and welcoming towards her. This bothers me. She’s learned a lot about the Catholic Church and its historic doctrines. I’m wondering about her salvation if she returns to the Baptist church.

Jeff, just keep praying and trust the Lord. She is in my prayers too.

 

[jbsmith]

Dorothy:

Jeff, just keep praying and trust the Lord. She is in my prayers too.

Thank you for praying for her, Dorothy. I will continue to do so as well.

 

[beckyann2597]

jbsmith:

I have an update on my sister Ginger. She never went to the Catholic parish. She kept procrastinating, and I had afeeling she wouldn’t go. She emailed me yesterday and told me that she went back to her Southern Baptist church yesterday. Apparently, they were quite friendly and welcoming towards her. This bothers me. She’s learned a lot about the Catholic Church and its historic doctrines. I’m wondering about her salvation if she returns to the Baptist church.

Sometimes people can hear without listening. Your sister might have been told or read about the truth of the Catholic Faith, but whether it sunk in or not is another thing. We cannot fault her if she did not take that information into her heart and if she truly doesn’t understand it as the truth. We just have to pray that God’s Grace opens her heart to the Truth.

 

[Tonks40]

To go back a couple of posts:

jbsmith:

Cool! What style do you sing?

Yes, I am a tenor. Actually, I’m a high tenor. My voice teacher told me that I’m almost, but not quite, a countertenor. She told me she could get me to sing countertenor with practice, though. There have been times when I’ve found it easier to sing female parts than male ones. However, I can sing baritone as well.

Awesome! I’m an alto by trade, but have sang tenor (in high school) and usually do second alto when called upon.

I bet you sang some pretty good duets in your life! It’s so hard to find a male to sing a duet with the appropriate harmonies (I’m a harmony-freak).