Albums, Art, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Podcast, Poetry, prayer, worship

An Unabashed Soldier

The Cenacle

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ~ Ephesians 6:12

You see, as New Testament believers, our fight is never against people, but against principalities and powers. Thus, we should be waging war in the Spirit through prayer against this perversion that has blinded so much of our country and our leaders. ~ Jon Courson

I see our society as indicative of a serious moral issue. We can candy coat it, we can spin all kinds of worldly scenarios, but inevitably it’ll come down to our lack of moral fiber.

Other than being an example, I don’t see any other way of making a dent in our world’s decay. Lately I seem to return to the idea of being bold in our response to damning situations, because I know from experience how easy it is to just walk away without making waves, without making a statement …but that’s probably the only way (baring an act of God) that any change can happen.

Father, embolden me to be a proud, unabashed, soldier for you!

Pray on,
Eddy

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Mannerism, music, Photography, Video

Bridging the Gap (with More Love)

The ever widening chasms between each of us seem to grow daily as we continue to establish barriers between what we call acceptable, and what we deem objectionable. In doing so I’m afraid we’re dismissing an important narrative to our happiness. The moment we start to discount our differences, is the moment we start to cheat ourselves out of the things that can make our lives richer. Our ingenuity illustrates our individuality. We’ve got it all messed up. In our quest to get on with each other, we’ve told many people to get out. Instead of drawing the world a little closer we are drawing divisional lines in the sand. We’re not closing gaps, we’re creating gaps.

Discounting our differences, devalues our dignity.

When we close our ears and eyes we are missing the beauty of an extremely diverse world. A world that was created for our benefit. It was created out of love for us. All of it’s beauty and splendor was designed by our Creator, for good! So what does it say when we turn from His ideals, from what He deems good for us, from His loving vision of our lives (Ephesians 2:10)?

Diversity does not demand division.

We bridge the gaps by putting aside our differences, by opening our eyes and ears to new and different sounds and sights. When we open our mind to new ideas evolution can occur. The natural flow to a united and loving world begins with a judgement free view of life (Romans 12:16). Thankfully we don’t all lookalike, and soundalike. That would be pretty boring don’t you think? Well thinking everyone should think alike is the same thing. It’s a very narrow view of a very panoramic creation.

So I spend my days first trying to identify, and then trying to bridge these gaps. The inspiration comes from my never ending idealistic dream of a loving united world. One that cares for others more than themselves. One that truly finds more satisfaction in the act of giving than in receiving (2 Corinthians 9:7). A world that differs a great deal from the one I currently seem to live in.

My platform for such change has always been music. I find enormous joy in touching the hearts of others through poetry and song. A tough message can be much easier on the ear when it’s riding the the crest of a memorable melody. or being propelled along by an irresistible rhythm.

Come, let us walk together
Come. let us walk hand in hand
Cone, let speak with one voice
Come, let us walk in the light of love

~ E.M. (‘Come. Let Us Walk’)

My plea is one of compassion. If we start with a loving approach to our differences I believe that we would see and hear things with a new found appreciation. I invite you to join me in opening up a new world of inspiration. Pray for a cleansing view of the world. Ask God for new ears and eyes that would lovingly see and hear the beauty of diversity. That fresh mindset will bridge gaps both small and large over a period of time. A period of time when we can draw closer as friends and families… as our Creator intended.

Pray on,
Eddy

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Albums, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Evanesce

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I really enjoy writing as a way to serve creation. I find myself almost daily moved to share the beauty and diversity that’s on display. For me, the satisfaction is in the communication, the entertaining, lifting or enlightening possibility… if only just for a moment.

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Albums, Art, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Poetry

There’s A Lot of You In Me

What are you curious about?

I’m curious as to how the world became so adverse to diversity. We live in a world that’s comprised of different views, different, likes and dislikes, lets call it different colors. And it’s all this diversity that creates all the beauty that surrounds us. If you start to pull the various colors out of the rainbow it’s not as brilliant anymore. My prayer would be that we’d find a connection to what we have in common, and relish in our creative differences.

Dig Love album cover.
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Albums, Art, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Cowboy in the Badlands

How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?

I’ve always had an affinity for the old black and white westerns from the late fifties and early sixties. So I’d like to think that being a cowboy in the badlands might describe who I am. After all what I do, will always speak louder than what I say.

You call me cowboy
You call me cowboy in the badlands
In the desert; in the barrens; in the wasteland
~ E.M.

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Albums, Evensong, music, new release, New Single, Newsletter, Podcast, Poetry

How Well Do You Know Za?

I’m dropping another single from the Trio album this month and wanted to share a little background on it’s conception.

The song has a metaphorically smiling lyric that prayerfully will challenge the listener a bit. The title was actually from a magazine article that I had stumbled upon. When I first saw it, I immediately recognized a lyrical idea that could be light in a comical sense, but at the same time thoughtfully spiritual. History has demonstrated to me on more than a few occasions how wonderfully guard-dropping this approach can be.

I’m always looking for a way to stir up the listener’s imagination, and hopefully conjure up some emotional response from them. In this case, maybe even some abstract thinking.

Musically the composition was once again a reaction to the Blicher, Hemmer, Gadd album called Omara, which dominated my playlist throughout the early months of 2022.


Lyrics:
Early in the morning, any time of day
Any time’s a good time, any kind of way
I can take it cold, any time at all
It goes down easy, in the local church hall
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

If I had my way, I’d always have more
More than may be normal, a note of folklore
Some cry, ‘oh no!, you can’t do that!’
Preaching to the misfit, like some green-eyed cat
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Oh won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

Don’t give me substitutes, don’t give me theories
No hypothetical miniseries
Just give me a slice, a verse or two
Yeah, I’m a greek guy, but any version will do

I go traditional, I go New York
I go with fold it, or a knife and fork
I don’t go judging, so don’t judge me
Just offer me a bite, and let my manna be
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

© 2022 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Album: Trio
Video Credit: E.M. | Pizza by Alfredo (dafont.com)
Available on the platform of your choice.
YouTube Link

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Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, Video

How Well Do You Know ‘Za?

‘Za is the fourth single release from December’s Trio album. A sparse reimagining of the tradition trio setting.

This song has a metaphorically smiling lyric that should challenge the listener a bit. The title was actually from a magazine article that I had stumbled upon. I immediately recognized what I wanted to say, or maybe play with is a better explanation. I’m always looking for a way to stir up a listener’s imagination, and hopefully conjure up some emotional response from them. In this case, maybe even some abstract thinking.


Lyrics:
Early in the morning, any time of day
Any time’s a good time, any kind of way
I can take it cold, any time at all
It goes down easy, in the local church hall
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

If I had my way, I’d always have more
More than may be normal, a note of folklore
Some cry, ‘oh no!, you can’t do that!’
Preaching to the misfit, like some green-eyed cat
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Oh won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

Don’t give me substitutes, don’t give me theories
No hypothetical miniseries
Just give me a slice, a verse or two
Yeah, I’m a greek guy, but any version will do

I go traditional, I go New York
I go with fold it, or a knife and fork
I don’t go judging, so don’t judge me
Just offer me a bite, and let my manna be
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?


© 2022 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Album: Trio
Video Credits: EM | Pizza by Alfredo (Dafont.com)
YouTube Link
Website

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Albums, Art, Art Work, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, Video

For the Love of Art

We are by nature creative beings. We’re wired to be imaginative, to be innovative, and to be resourceful. Regardless of what we do for a living, we’ll do it better if we’re thinking as a visionary.

The title of this song was inspired by a random magazine article entitled For the Love of Vinyl, It grabbed my attention immediately and I found the lyric to be an easier than usual creation.

I had just read an inspiring Rich Kirkpatrick blog on our need be creative so I found myself within the creative flow very quickly.

We are created in the image of our Creator… so dare to be a dreamer.


Lyrics:
Life is a bohemial existence
With a disregarding tenet or two
With non-conventional thoughts and reason
And behavior that some might misconstrue

Life is a juvenescent sandbox
Where building roams beyond confines
Where boundless minds can wander
Coloring where there are no lines

Welcome to the splintered aggregation
Where odd resolve to get even
Curious for the love of art
And the courage to brave the unbelievin’

Life is a poetic string of ramblings
Written in the margins of the day
Multicolored snap-shots in couplets
A work of acrobatic wordplay

Life is a whimsical pallet
Daring you to conjure the extreme
Releasing your inherent rhapsody
For the love of art must venture to dream

For the love of art; write the unspoken
For the love of art; paint the unseen
For the love of art; voice the unheard
For the love of art

© 2022 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Album: Trio
Video Credit: E.M.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/RZZURiRreqs
Available at http://www.eddymann.com

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Art, Art Work, Gifts

Surf Trees

Surf Trees are spiritual to me. I often walk the beach and absolutely love to wander upon them.

Surf Trees are spiritual to me. I often walk the beach and absolutely love to wander upon them. I’m always surprised, and inspired when they cross my path. Nature never disappoints. To the discriminate eye they are a unique wonder and blessing.

This particular grouping was spotted during a pre-dawn walk in Melbourne Beach, on the east coast of Florida. Though the sun had not yet risen, first light was highlighting a whimsical nature at play.

Product Details: Bring the print to life with hundreds of different frame and mat combinations. The framed prints are assembled, packaged, and shipped by an expert framing staff and delivered “ready to hang” with pre-attached hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails. Prices vary by size and frame.

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