This summer we took my parents to a family reunion in Oklahoma. The clan was honoring my dad, or "Uncle Johnny" as he is known to the Oklahoma relatives, and my Aunt Billee this year. They are the last remaining siblings and this was a good chance for all of us to get together and celebrate their birthdays.
While we were there, we got to spend some time with one of my second cousins, Joel Lindsey. Joel's mother Reba was one of the sweetest, kindest, and most thoughtful persons you could ever imagine. Her dad and my dad were brothers. She passed away a few years ago and she is dearly missed.
Joel is an amazing person and one of the most talented guys I know. He is a songwriter and currently lives in Santa Barbara, California but also spends a good deal of time back in Nashville where he is also in the music publishing business. He has written over 1,000 songs, mostly gospel and has won several Dove Awards, the gospel equivalent of a Grammy. Several of his songs have gone Number 1, been song of the year or album of the year. And, he is a cancer survivor!
One evening we had the pleasure to hear him play on the old family piano. Years ago, he wrote a song especially for the family entitled "Hefton Hill" and it relates to his grandparents and their old home on the hill, the same hill that we met on during the reunion. It is a touching and moving song about his childhood days and the pleasures of summers on Hefton Hill. We all have so many memories there.
One of our favorite songs that he has written is "Calvary Answers For Me". The words are so powerful and truly make you think about what Christ has done for us. You can hear the song performed by the Perrys in this clip from YouTube. Hope you enjoy it.
Note: You will probably have to pause our play list (on the right side of the blog) before viewing the video.
