So, let me just start out by saying this is HUGE for me! I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about what I’m getting ready to tell you. This is something that has been on my heart for a REALLY long time, and it’s still hard for me to believe that I’m making the necessary moves to get this going. There’s no better time for me to get this going than right now, so we’re going for it! So with no further delays, here’s the news…

I, Harry Walls, IV, is making the preparations for my first real, live, professional CD project! I am in the very beginning stages of pulling this all together, but I have some people in mind and some things already moving and ideas flowing. I’m currently working getting all the ideas in my head down on paper so I can share it with other people. If you are out there and feel like you want to help me, I’m open for suggestions and ideas. If you want to be a part of this project, let me know and we can sit down and talk.

Obviously for me, this is a BIG deal and I’m looking for serious help. God is moving my heart and I’m following His lead in my life. I have prayed much about this and feel like this is the time. I’m asking for prayer and support from all my friends. Keep checking in, for I’m sure to give more details. Be blessed and have a great 4th of July weekend!

Well, it seems like I’m starting off July with a bang! June was the my best blogging month ever and I have all of you my friends and family to thank. I thought I’d keep it going with something that happened last night. My wife and I and my good friend Brittany Howard and Smitty went to see Square Peg Alliance at Grace Community Chapel last night. Most of the gang was there. Ben Shive, Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn, Jill Phillips, Andrew Osenga, Randall Goodgame, Jeremy Casella and Eric Peters. If you don’t know who these people are, and you like great songwriting, click on the name of the group. That was the best 2 hours I had spent in a while. I even got to meet Ben Shive and Andrew Peterson after the concert was over.

If you’re not familiar with SPA, they are singer/songwriters from the Nashville area that have created a community to write and they travel together and do these concerts. If any of you came to the Story:Song:Life concert back in February, that’s where we got the idea from. They shared stories and amazing music throughout the night. At the end of the night, they all stood on the stage and we sang ‘It Is Well’ together sort of in memory of Rich Mullins. Peterson shared a story of a concert that he had gone to and he said that Rich Mullins would frequently end his concerts with that song and at the end would say “Now THAT’S Christian music!” So that’s what we did. What an awesome time!

So the second part of this dual blog came on the way home from the concert. My wife asked me what was my excuse for not following my dreams. We currently don’t have a job and can do whatever it is that we want. Also, Britt and I had worked to make SSL come together and our goal was to start a similar community and we just kinda left it at “Man, that was a fun concert!” But she hit me in the face with that question on the way home. What’s stopping you from following your dream? What’s stopping you from making a CD? What’s stopping you from creating a community of singers and songwriters? I realized that I make excuses for not doing the things that I want to do. We weren’t originally talking about our dreams, which was really funny. She had read an article about “What story is your fat telling you?” Some sort of way that’s where we ended up. Anyway, at the end of the conversation, I decided that I can’t continue to make excuses for not doing the things that know I’m supposed to do and want to do. So the first thing I am doing is writing this so all of you can keep me accountable for doing what I say I’m going to do. I will appreciate your prayers and even emails asking me am I doing what I say I’m going to do (you know, like accountability or something ). So that was my night and it took me a while to get to sleep, and now I’m up ready to get going. So I guess this means that I’m launching the writing recording process as well as currently (even as I write this) talking to Britt about getting Story:Song:Life rolling forward. Keep your eyes and ears open. This could start moving fast…thanks again, to my wife.

So, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not the best with transition periods, but they are needed. I’m stuck in the middle of a huge one right now and I’m trying my best to stay focused on who God is and letting Him be the God that I’ve come to know and love.  It seems so difficult sometimes, but it’s all part o the learning process. In other news…

Spring Wildflowers is going great! What an interesting class. I didn’t think I’d like it at all. To some degree, I still don’t but I’m learning more than I thought I would. I’m glad that this is only 3 weeks long because I’m not sure if I could deal with it for longer than that.

We are waiting to hear about what our next move is as far as where God is leading us to be leaders. Instead of completely focusing on not knowing what’s next, I’m trying my best to enjoy where I am right now. I have 4 weeks left at this church that I have come to love so much and it’s hard thinking about leaving.

The school year is over and it’s tough saying goodbye to people that you’ve spent all that time with throughout the year. There were a few tearful goodbyes and and many see you laters. I’m excited about what’s next, and I’m happy to know that I have made some friendships that will be sure to last even though our time at school together has ended.

I guess I should go and try to get some things done. I’ve got an amazing person coming to take over this position as worship leader and I want to make sure that she has everything she needs to succeed. I’ll be sure to let you know what the next move is when I find out myself…

So I was just thinking about this while I’m sitting in this class. I, like most of the universe, watched as Barack Obama was inaugurated this morning. I listened to what he said in his speech. I had a warmer seat than the 2 million people that were out there listening to him. The first thing I’ll say is what a historical time! I still can’t believe it to some degree. This is something I never thought I’d see, and am glad that I was available to see it. I think about my grandparents who lived when the fight for equality was even more real than we know right now. I can’t wait to see what the new editions of the history books and how they include such a thing. With that all being said…

A lot of promises were made this morning. I wouldn’t have expected anything else from the new President of the United States. If he can do HALF of the things that he is working toward during his time in office, I’d say WOW! He has a pretty aggressive plan. And like we do in this country, we will hang all our hopes and dreams on this one person. In reality, he doesn’t have much choice but to fail. Not because I don’t think he can do it, but there are so many expectations and he is not going to be able to meet them all. Personally, I pray that President Obama will have success in his time. I don’t envy him at all and don’t want his job.

What am I trying to say? I’m saying that we are all getting ready to put a trust in a man who is going to put us all down. He may not do it right away, and some of us may never feel like he can let us down. But let me tell you, believe it or not, Obama is human and will let us down. With that in mind, I can’t totally put my trust in him. He gets much respect for who he is and I’ll always give him that. But when it comes to who I put my trust in, I’ll trust God my Creator every time. He created Obama. He created me. He created any of you that may read this. He’s the only One that can take care of us as a people and a country. Are you giving him the trust that He deserves? Or have  you thrown your trust at ‘change’? I plan to stick with the One who’s been the same from day one and won’t change forever (Hebrews 13:8).

So, this year has already brought challenges in my life. I expected it to, because life always brings challenges. I didn’t think that I wouldn’t get through 10 days before things started to happen. Oh well, that’s life I guess. I think that God is getting me ready for something big…something I haven’t quite imagined yet. I don’t really know WHAT God has for me right now, but he doesn’t do anything half way. Here’s what I do know. I’ve been called to lead people in worship through song and I’ve been given a gift that I cannot take for granted. I know that if I’m going to do what it is I want to do I have to just step out and start doing it. I am preparing myself to move forward. I don’t know what that means quite yet, but I’m writing again. I’m even going as far as starting to set up possible opportunities to sing. For those of you that know me, this is a big deal. I don’t normally just promote myself. I don’t really know how to do that.

Anyway, I’m asking for your prayers as I attempt to step out of a comfort zone that has been there for a really long time. I’m quite scared, but I want to be obedient to God. Pray that I can listen to God AND respond the way I’m supposed to. That’s been the big issue for me. I have been running from some things because I’m scared of the outcome because I can’t see it. I need to start following God’s lead. Believe it or not, I’m not that great a leader…

I am called to lead people in worship. I am called to minister to people through song. I am called to be a servant. I am called to be a leader. I am called to help people unite their hearts with Christ. I am called to help people turn away from the distractions of life and focus on the God that saves and sings over us.  I can’t do any of that while I’m looking backwards and holding on to my fears. I can only do that if I turn around and begin to move forward. So lead the way, God, lead the way…