48 Hours

In response to the recent tornado in St. Louis, I'm feeling like I need to do something. So let's partner together and help out the victims. For the next 48 hours, 100% of the money paid for my new tracks will be given directly to those in need.

So how's this work? YOU NAME THE PRICE you'll pay for the music & make the DONATION!

You're getting FREE MUSIC and helping families in these difficult times.

Simply click the link below and you'll have the chance to NAME YOUR PRICE.

Let's ease a little bit of the pain felt by so many over the past week!

Peace,
Ross

The Valley

A couple months ago I was humbled to play violin with Stacy DuPree (Eisley), Darren King (Mutemath), and Jeremy Larson, as we filmed a live DVD for a side project. It was an awesome opportunity and we all had a blast!

Here's a video of Stacy (in the middle) performing a stripped down version of The Valley (the title track of Eisley's newest album).

Enjoy!



Peace,
Ross

A note on reading Love Wins (by C.S. Lewis)

As many of you know we've been going through Rob Bell's most recent book, Love Wins, with a chapter-by-chapter approach to discuss, debate, and continue the conversation. And though today's post isn't on Chapter 4, it is something I think we should all digest and consider as we continue the dialogue. Its a great piece from C. S. Lewis on how we read and understand. It will hopefully make the future of these posts more civil and grace-filled.

"Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. All contemporary writers share to some extent the contemporary outlook – even those, like myself, who seem most opposed to it. Nothing strikes me more when I read the controversies of past ages than the fact that both sides were usually assuming without question a good deal which we should now absolutely deny. They thought that they were as completely opposed as two sides could be, but in fact they were all the time secretly united – united with each other and against earlier and later ages – by a great mass of common assumptions. We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century – the blindness about which posterity will ask, “But how could they have thought that?” – lies where we have never suspected it, and concerns something about which there is untroubled agreement" -C.S. Lewis

[you can read the entire piece here]

Peace,
Ross

The Civil Wars (Live in St Louis)

On Saturday night I caught The Civil Wars in St Louis at The Old Rock House. It was an incredibly intimate show, and The Civil Wars put on a mesmerizing performance. I've never heard vocals blend and move and dance like these 2!

Here's a couple quick videos I was able to get from the show. Enjoy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Peace,
Ross

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter!
-Ross

Good Friday

I Am Judas

That's right. I said it. I am Judas.

I have betrayed Jesus. Maybe daily.

I have sold Him out for comfort, personal gain, laziness, you name it.

I read this, this morning (and in light of it being Holy Week) I found it very appropriate to blog:

Here's what the Bible says about Judas:

"He was personally chosen to be an apostle by Jesus.
He spent 3 1/2 years traveling with Jesus.
He saw all the miracles of Christ in person.
He watched as Christ healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons.

In terms of experience with Jesus, whatever you can say about Peter, James and John, you can say about Judas.

On top of all this, he handled the money, which is most of the time the most trusted one in the bunch. No one suspected that Judas would betray Jesus, which tells me he was a believer.

His life was changed.
He knew Jesus personally.

In a dark moment of his life, he made a mistake. A big one. He sold Jesus out for 30 silver coins or so. The moment he knew what he had done, he felt remorse, and he killed himself...What is interesting to me is that in the upper room where Jesus and his disciples shared their last supper together, the 12 disciples all talked about how they were so great. Peter left the room and denied Jesus three times. Judas left the room and sold Jesus out for 30 coins.

One committed suicide, and one went on to build the church as we know it today.
Both Peter and Judas committed the same sin."

READ THE ENTIRE PIECE HERE


So, from 1 Judas to another, feel free to discuss, debate, and reflect. Its the right time to do that!

Peace,
Ross