January 2009 Offering Of The Month:
"On Broken Wings"
Written by Rev. James Martin and Edward Jerlin
© 2009 Everlasting Arms Records & Publishing - All Rights Reserved
Greetings and welcome to a new year.
For those of you who may not be aware, Pastor Jim passed
away last month after a several month battle with cancer.
There is a small tribute to him here.
"On Broken Wings" is in my opinion, one of most beautiful,
inspiring and poignant songs that Pastor Jim has ever written.
Since the beginning of time, man has been fascinated
by birds and their ability to fly, to defy gravity...
Jim has tapped into that, into man's desire to fly...
The lyrics are Jim's as is most of the melody;
I helped with the musical arrangement, trying to
bring across a feeling of flying and even soaring at times...
I had planned to hold this song back until the release of the album of the same name,
but with Jim's passing, it seems appropriate to share it at this time.
This song was shared during Pastor Jim's memorial service
earlier this month at Redeemer's Church in Littlestown, PA.
Pastor Jim's recorded voices were heard singing,
along with my live piano and some of the backing tracks.
This song was supposed to be included on the first Everlasting Arms CD,
but I couldn't get the feel right --
back then, I was using a drum machine and synth bass sounds
that just did not "swing" and "lilt" enough to do the song justice.
The arrangement required a very delicate touch from both instruments.
Jim and I agreed that it would make a great "anchor" track
for the next CD, which we eventually named after this song.
Jim's concept was that the theme of the album and its sub-title
should be called "Songs of Healing".
"On Broken Wings"
On broken wings, Lord, am I,
but through your love I can fly!
Help me fly; mend my broken wings,
through the Lord, who is Christ the King.
Lift me up, and set me free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
I really know I can't survive,
without Your help in the night.
Others promised, but they never called.
Only Christ dared to give me all,
to mend my life, and set me free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
So gather round, and be free,
not only now, but eternally.
Find the Lord, and embrace the life,
that will free you, so you can fly.
Lead us home, and set us free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
It is hard to believe it's been a month already since Pastor Jim's passing.
Even before then, I was debating with myself as to whether
I would commit to the Monthly Offering idea this year;
it seemed at times last year that it was running me,
rather than me running it.
Kirsten convinced me to commit to it for 2009,
so I am renewing my commitment to it for another year.
As for the future of Everlasting Arms...
Meredith, Kirsten, and I are committed to recording and sharing the remainder of
Pastor Jim's music over the next few years, however long it takes, God willing.
We're thankful that his vocal tracks have for the most part been completed and
are awaiting the completion of the musical accompaniment and backing vocals.
There is enough music to fill at least another three CDs, along with a potential
Christmas CD that is currently written, though recorded only in demo form.
In addition, there is a veritable plethora of poetry that Jim has
written -- prolific writer that he was -- that I would love to eventually set
to music, God willing, as has been done with Rapture, though I seriously
doubt that I'll ever have the time to complete it all this side of heaven.
I certainly would like to try.
It has been pointed out that I have a hard time keeping my focus on *one*
project for any length of time, instead flipping from one project to the next,
cherry-picking whatever song I feel like working on at a given moment...
A buddy of mine has joked that he's looking forward to the year 2016 when
we release six CDs in one month as they all get completed at the same time.
We had plans to unveil Rapture during the first quarter of 2009;
I was supposed to spend most of my year-end vacation working on completing it.
Pastor Jim's passing on Christmas Eve altered that plan and has caused us to
re-dedicate ourselves and re-focus our efforts on finishing On Broken Wings
before working on any other recording projects.
I will miss having Jim's feedback and guidance during this process,
in addition to his friendship and musical ideas to riff off of...
We were an unlikely musical partnership when we first met...
A 20-something prog-rocking keyboard player/drummer,
and a 40-something folk-singing strumming pastor.
But I firmly believe that the Lord placed us in each others' paths.
We soon found that we filled in each others' gaps...
He was the Word Man, the Lyricist, the Lead Voice, the Melody Maker,
the Vision Caster;
I was the Music Man, the Arranger,
Provider of the musical and technical nuts and bolts.
Our wives added a woman's touch, filling in both our gaps,
keeping a couple of dreamers in line and grounded.
Jim was known to break out into song at the drop of a hat, at any moment,
over the phone, out on a walk, at the diner we'd often go to...
There always seemed to be melodies going on inside his head.
It seemed that sometimes Jim could hear things the rest of us couldn't...
He once postulated to me that sound goes on forever,
that the air molecules continue to collide,
even if we can't hear them...
I love the thought of that...
The last time I saw Jim, I tried to broach the subject gingerly and tenderly,
probably coming across a little clumsily,
"So what are your thoughts about the music?"
He looked at me and smiled and said,
"My thoughts are your thoughts now."
I waited.
I wanted more from him...
Ideas, details, more melodies, direction, wisdom,
*VISION* that he always had but I seemed to lack...
Instead, in just six words...
I received some incredible gifts...
Love...
trust...
permission...
a legacy...
and with it, a great responsibility...
which I hope to carry out to the best of my ability,
with the Lord's help.
Rest in peace, Jim.
My friend, mentor, inspiration, musical partner, pastor.
You're one of the first ones I'm looking for when I get to the other side.
I love you.
Written by Rev. James Martin and Edward Jerlin
© 2009 Everlasting Arms Records & Publishing - All Rights Reserved
Greetings and welcome to a new year.
For those of you who may not be aware, Pastor Jim passed
away last month after a several month battle with cancer.
There is a small tribute to him here.
"On Broken Wings" is in my opinion, one of most beautiful,
inspiring and poignant songs that Pastor Jim has ever written.
Since the beginning of time, man has been fascinated
by birds and their ability to fly, to defy gravity...
Jim has tapped into that, into man's desire to fly...
The lyrics are Jim's as is most of the melody;
I helped with the musical arrangement, trying to
bring across a feeling of flying and even soaring at times...
I had planned to hold this song back until the release of the album of the same name,
but with Jim's passing, it seems appropriate to share it at this time.
This song was shared during Pastor Jim's memorial service
earlier this month at Redeemer's Church in Littlestown, PA.
Pastor Jim's recorded voices were heard singing,
along with my live piano and some of the backing tracks.
This song was supposed to be included on the first Everlasting Arms CD,
but I couldn't get the feel right --
back then, I was using a drum machine and synth bass sounds
that just did not "swing" and "lilt" enough to do the song justice.
The arrangement required a very delicate touch from both instruments.
Jim and I agreed that it would make a great "anchor" track
for the next CD, which we eventually named after this song.
Jim's concept was that the theme of the album and its sub-title
should be called "Songs of Healing".
"On Broken Wings"
On broken wings, Lord, am I,
but through your love I can fly!
Help me fly; mend my broken wings,
through the Lord, who is Christ the King.
Lift me up, and set me free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
I really know I can't survive,
without Your help in the night.
Others promised, but they never called.
Only Christ dared to give me all,
to mend my life, and set me free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
So gather round, and be free,
not only now, but eternally.
Find the Lord, and embrace the life,
that will free you, so you can fly.
Lead us home, and set us free!
On broken wings, I would fly!
Through God's grace, fly so high,
with a power which never ends,
in the Lord who lives again,
I can fly!
It is hard to believe it's been a month already since Pastor Jim's passing.
Even before then, I was debating with myself as to whether
I would commit to the Monthly Offering idea this year;
it seemed at times last year that it was running me,
rather than me running it.
Kirsten convinced me to commit to it for 2009,
so I am renewing my commitment to it for another year.
As for the future of Everlasting Arms...
Meredith, Kirsten, and I are committed to recording and sharing the remainder of
Pastor Jim's music over the next few years, however long it takes, God willing.
We're thankful that his vocal tracks have for the most part been completed and
are awaiting the completion of the musical accompaniment and backing vocals.
There is enough music to fill at least another three CDs, along with a potential
Christmas CD that is currently written, though recorded only in demo form.
In addition, there is a veritable plethora of poetry that Jim has
written -- prolific writer that he was -- that I would love to eventually set
to music, God willing, as has been done with Rapture, though I seriously
doubt that I'll ever have the time to complete it all this side of heaven.
I certainly would like to try.
It has been pointed out that I have a hard time keeping my focus on *one*
project for any length of time, instead flipping from one project to the next,
cherry-picking whatever song I feel like working on at a given moment...
A buddy of mine has joked that he's looking forward to the year 2016 when
we release six CDs in one month as they all get completed at the same time.
We had plans to unveil Rapture during the first quarter of 2009;
I was supposed to spend most of my year-end vacation working on completing it.
Pastor Jim's passing on Christmas Eve altered that plan and has caused us to
re-dedicate ourselves and re-focus our efforts on finishing On Broken Wings
before working on any other recording projects.
I will miss having Jim's feedback and guidance during this process,
in addition to his friendship and musical ideas to riff off of...
We were an unlikely musical partnership when we first met...
A 20-something prog-rocking keyboard player/drummer,
and a 40-something folk-singing strumming pastor.
But I firmly believe that the Lord placed us in each others' paths.
We soon found that we filled in each others' gaps...
He was the Word Man, the Lyricist, the Lead Voice, the Melody Maker,
the Vision Caster;
I was the Music Man, the Arranger,
Provider of the musical and technical nuts and bolts.
Our wives added a woman's touch, filling in both our gaps,
keeping a couple of dreamers in line and grounded.
Jim was known to break out into song at the drop of a hat, at any moment,
over the phone, out on a walk, at the diner we'd often go to...
There always seemed to be melodies going on inside his head.
It seemed that sometimes Jim could hear things the rest of us couldn't...
He once postulated to me that sound goes on forever,
that the air molecules continue to collide,
even if we can't hear them...
I love the thought of that...
The last time I saw Jim, I tried to broach the subject gingerly and tenderly,
probably coming across a little clumsily,
"So what are your thoughts about the music?"
He looked at me and smiled and said,
"My thoughts are your thoughts now."
I waited.
I wanted more from him...
Ideas, details, more melodies, direction, wisdom,
*VISION* that he always had but I seemed to lack...
Instead, in just six words...
I received some incredible gifts...
Love...
trust...
permission...
a legacy...
and with it, a great responsibility...
which I hope to carry out to the best of my ability,
with the Lord's help.
Rest in peace, Jim.
My friend, mentor, inspiration, musical partner, pastor.
You're one of the first ones I'm looking for when I get to the other side.
I love you.