Poster Post

I found this poster for the "Battle of the Bands" competition on the official "Mrs. Hyatt's Music House" Facebook page:

Just FYI!

Check This Out...

Yesterday was Jed's birthday; go see "Jed's Story" to read about how we celebrated.

Big Happenings

I know, I haven't posted in forever, we've been kinda busy lately...
  ...Which leads to the most exciting news by far, Sunny and Brandon's wedding.

I'm sure those of you who follow Sunny's blog have already seen her latest post, but of course I must chime in.

It was truly a happy event, one that has been prayed for and, might I add, highly anticipated! I praise God that

they both seek to honor Him in their union, and I'm proud of them both!

  Me and Blane jr. were asked to play at the reception, and we were able to record most of the songs we did. Here's one; Carolina In My Mind by James Taylor. (I will post more as they become available to me)

  On another note, we were able to compete in the "Battle of the Bands-Unplugged" here in WNC, and we made

it into the finals! We'll be playing along with several other bands on June 1st at the 9th annual Jamfest at the WNC AG Center. 10:30 am., be there or be square!

  On another-nother note, we've done a few videos that I haven't posted, so here you go:

We did this one at the reception:

Have a blessed week, internet people!

"But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me." - Psalm 13:5-6

Four Whole Years

I totally forgot, while writing my last post, that Sunday we celebrated our church's fourth anniversary! God has definitely used our little fellowship to benefit us all. I know that it has benefited me. After lunch, we all returned to the sanctuary where me and Blane Jr played a few songs:



After that, we scrunched together for a picture and had a time of sharing about the blessings the Lord has brought us through our fellowship. It has surely been a blessed time!

"I was glad when they said to me,

'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"

- Psalm 122:1

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near"

- Hebrews 10:24-25

Update

Well, it seems I fell off the face of the earth sometime around last monday. But never fear, for I have returned!
Actually, what happened was that the Wretched Brothers were preparing for a weekend full of "gigs". Amazing,
is it not? Friday, we were able to play at Creatures Cafe, which is a Christian cafe in downtown Asheville.

We played for about forty minutes, but here is a short clip captured on a short camera...



But before that, we were invited to do a brief "interview" and play a few songs for their radio station, called 95.7 "The Choice". (Once again, short clip on short camera)



We were also asked to play a song for a celebration on Saturday that was given by the Fowler Family's (and
ours) adoption agency, Grandfather Home, to honor those who had adopted, and had been adopted, this past
year. It went very well, although no clips were taken. B)

Lastly, our church hosted an early Thanksgiving dinner yesterday evening, having invited people in the
surrounding neighborhoods the previous Sunday, and we were the entertainment! It was a grand time, with
plenty of pumpkin pie, and a gospel message into the bargain.

So, our weekend flurry of fame is ended, and we continue to pray that our music would be used by God to draw
people to Him.

(I will try to have my usual weekly exposition up tomorrow)

Another One

Today I turned seventeen. At 2:23 pm, to be precise. Sunny baked a carrot cake, we had ravioli, and all is well
with the world. B)
  Anyway, this year has been a good one. I feel like I have matured more not only as a young man and a
christian, but also as a musician. This month marks a year since the Wretched Brothers became the Wretched
Brothers, and next month, a year since we opened our youtube account. This was the year I started writing
songs and singing them. Because of these things, I now know more than ever that the music I make must
glorify God and point people to the truth if it is to be worth anything. My music has a purpose, and for that I am
thankful. I don't know what God has in store for me next, but what I witnessed firsthand this past year is His
faithfulness when I am unfaithful, and His blessings when I obey Him. One thing that was certainly a blessing
was being able to get my Learners' Permit (which also borders on miracle territory, if you ask me!). This is
definitely an important step to becoming a man, and again, I am thankful for for it. Of course, I am grateful for
my family and church family, who have continued to support, encourage, instruct, and love me. This has been a
full year, a gift from God. I can only imagine what He has planned for the next one!

(And now, just for fun)

Hip Hip Hooray

Just a quick post to say that I am now a "Limited Learner's Permit"-driver-person! Yes, we went to the local
DMV office at two o'clock, waited until four fifteen (sheesh!), and I finally got to take the test. It was actually
quite easy, and was completed within fifteen minutes. And now I get to zoom around the countryside (with a
licensed adult, between 5 and 9), so take this as a warning, all ye who travel in the Asheville area!

(Expositional post shall be deposited into the numeric data mass that is the internet on the morrow.)

Zoom zoom.

Done Driving!

Yes, I finished my last day of driving yesterday, and I now have my Driver Education Certificate, which I need to
be able to get a learner's permit. Monday went very well; we went over to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock where there are very curvy roads. I actually like curves far better than intersections and parking lots! B)
  Yesterday was good too, but more challenging, as I drove on I-40 over to Waynesville at high speed, with large
trucks aplenty! Once in Waynesville, I was charged with a task: go to Walmart and find (and park in) a parking
space at the "Outdoor Living" entrance. Well, I got in the parking lot alright, but getting in a space was another matter entirely. All in all, I had to pull in and out two times before, on the third try, I finally got it! I say again, I like curves far, far better than parking lots at this point. But of course I'll try and navigate whatever comes!

Scripture Sunday - Psalm 103:2

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits"

We bless God by speaking of His glory and His mercy, His power and strength. We bless Him by singing His

praises (even if your voice is not-so-angelic). We bless Him by recalling the many mercies He has shown us,

and the many blessings that He gives us daily. The very act of breathing is a testimony to His mercy and grace, because we do not deserve to breathe the air that He has made; we do not deserve to see the morning day

after day. And this is because of the guilt that we all, as descendants of Adam, are born with. Yet how richly

has He shown "His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"!

  Therefore, let us remember all the benefits that He has given, and still gives, to us. Let us go to His Word

and see what He has done in times past, and look forward in faith, blessing His holy name. 

PS: Yesterday, I was able to drive with an instructor, and actually managed to drive on the interstate! That right

there is proof positive that God still works miracles! B) Anyway, I'll be going again tomorrow and Tuesday, so

I would covet everyone's prayers for safety, calm nerves, and especially that I don't make any stupid mistakes!

We're Back

Yes, we survived the trip! And it was a good one, with lots of good food and fellowship. The memorial service
went very well, with an excellent sermon by our cousin Mark, who is a pastor up in St. Louis. The whole event
was a fitting tribute to a woman who loved and served God.
  This has been just a quick post to say that everything's peachy, God is good, and I am tired.  B)

Update And Songs

As some of you may have seen on Sunny's blog, our grandmother's health has been going downhill for the
past few weeks. I am sorry, but mostly glad to report that she left this world at 3:30 a.m. this morning, and is
now in the presence of her Savior. Praise the Lord, for He is good.
  We will be going down to Florida on Friday, and the funeral will be on Saturday. Please pray for all the
family involved, as it is still hard to see a loved one leave.

  The songs that Blane and I recorded this week are amazingly appropriate, I think, as they are about the
sufficiency of Jesus' blood to save, and the brevity of life. Enjoy.

Make-Up Monday - 1 Samuel 15:22

"And Samuel said,

'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams."

To obey is better than sacrifice. How many of us, when God tells us to do something that we don't like, seek to

do some work that is more "palatable" to us, under the false idea that God will overlook what we didn't do,

because we did something else that was "just as good" in our own eyes? Nothing can replace plain obedience to

God's word.

  In this chapter, King Saul is told by God to destroy the Amalekites completely, not even sparing the animals.

Yet Saul feared the people, and allowed them to spare some of the animals to use for sacrifices. God set up the

sacrificial system to point to Christ, and it was the appointed way of worshiping Him before Christ came, but

Saul used it, and the will of the people, as an excuse to disobey God's command.

  God rejected Saul as king because of this, because Saul rejected His word. Let us make no mistake, the Lord

is a jealous God, and He expects His people to give Him alone the praise He deserves, and to obey His voice.

All the more reason to fall on our faces and worship Him, because we do not do what we ought, and yet He

bears with us. Praise the Lord, for He is good!

(I have returned alive and well from a week of driver's-ed, thanks be to God, and am now an official person-

-who-knows-how-to-drive-but-can't-yet!)

Scripture-Less Sunday, and a Song

Well, I have no clever exegesis this afternoon, but I have a new song:



I am going to the first day of a weeklong drivers-ed class tomorrow, at Asheville Christian Academy-- So all
of you in the Asheville area may want to stay off the road for a while... ;D  Anyway, I would greatly appreciate
prayer as I'm going through this transition in my life.
  On a different note, go read Psalm 103, and really meditate on it. Pray over it. It does a body (and spirit) good.

Scripture-Less Sunday

I would love to have some clever, pre-written, edifying post up here, but alas, my brain is pure mush. So don't,
I ask, judge me too harshly when I turn out nothing but a new website on my sidebar! (If you must know, I
completely wore myself out bike riding after supper, collapsed on my bed, and so have been in a foggy daze ever since.) As for the site, it happens to be The Daily Spurgeon. I have seen it before, but never thought
to put it on my list. It's a collection of excerpts from Spurgeon's sermons, in a daily devotional format. Well,
until next time, here's praying for Grace, Peace, and the Faith to serve our King!

Scripture Sunday - John 8:44, Plus a Treat

Well, we're back! As hoped, we did have a very good time enjoying fun & relaxation with family. There is a
slideshow going up on the family blog soon, so I won't post any pictures. ;) Anyway, here is this week's
installation of Scripture Sunday:

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

I believe it's safe to say that all of us have had, or will have, "epiphanies" relating to our Christian walk. Moments when God allows us to see something that we didn't see before. Well, this is one of mine. In 

temptations to sin, the battle is in the mind, and Satan will use every trick he's got in order to make the sin look

good. But then we remember that he is a liar!

  Does he whisper that you are too sinful for God? It is a lie - Jesus came "not to call the righteous, but sinners".

(Matt 9:13)

  Does he promise pleasure and fulfillment if you give in to the desires of your flesh? It is a lie - Sin's pleasures

are fleeting, and they bring only corruption and death, while "the pure in heart, they shall see God", who is our

ultimate fulfillment. (Heb 11:25; Jas 1:15; Matt 5:8; Col 1:16-18)

  Does he tell you that you need not seek God's will in all things, saying, "Surely, He will overlook such small,

innocent indulgences!"? Once again, this is a lie - Every facet of our lives is to be "a living sacrifice" to God,

and He will by no means overlook any disobedience. (Prov 3:6; Col 3:17; Eccl 12:14)

  The enemy is cunning, and he will not hesitate, if the opportunity is given, to try to deceive us. Yet we take heart, knowing that we have the truth, and the truth will set us free!

And now, the afore-mentioned treat, fresh out of editing. Thanks to Blane for handling all the technical stuff.

     

To The Beach!

Yes, once again I have no Scripture Sunday... *Sniffle* ...I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.

Anyway, we are going to Isle of Palms tomorrow, along with two aunts and an uncle (on my mother's side).
It is sure to be a wondrous time, filled with game-playing, bike-riding, frisbee-throwing, and all sorts of
vacation-y stuff!

The Wretched Bros. recorded again today, and if this song makes it through editing, it'll be quite a treat.

That's all for now, I will have at least one SS ready when we get back on Friday, I promise.  B)

Grace & Peace!

We're Back...With Puppies And Music

Yes, we have returned from Florida! And a belated happy Resurrection Sunday to all you internet people, too. (He Is Risen!) There will most likely be a post about our trip on the family blog sometime, but suffice it to say
that we had a very good visit, and a well-needed one at that, as my uncle and two aunts are scattered from
Florida to Washington! B) And of course, we picked up a new puppy on Monday, he's a Golden Retriever/White
English Retriever mix named Titus:

He's settled in quite well here, but he and my dog Adrian still have to get used to each other...

By the way, here are some more songs we recorded before I left:

And now, a special Resurrection Sunday song performed by Blane Jr.

Anyway, I'll be getting back into the swing of things by this Sunday, so tune in for the next Scripture Sunday!

Quick Update, Plus a Treat

I know, I have no "Scripture Sunday" today. Well, the reason is that we're leaving for Tampa in the morning for
a rare get-together with my Dad's family, and so we've been kind've busy today... We'll be getting back late on
Resurrection Sunday, and we don't have a laptop, so I probably won't get any posts up during the week.

And now for the treat: A new recording by your favorite band...



Thanks to Spencer for letting us record this great arrangement!

Happy Birthday, Church! (And New Music)

Sunday marked the third-year anniversary of our church (that started in a living room), and God has indeed
blessed it abundantly! Everyone got a chance to share a testimony about the church, and I believe those
recordings will be posted on Blane's blog sometime. Anyway, I chickened out, so I might as well say
something here, cloaked in the comfort and anonymity of blog-land...


At the church we attended previously, we were different. We all sat together during the service, and I didn't
participate in any classes or youth group, or anything like that. I had a few good friends, but I was still different. The long and short of it is, I have benefited amazingly from being a part of this body, because
instead of being discouraged from being a mature person firmly rooted in Christ, I am held to a much higher
standard. (And a biblical standard, to boot!) The friendships that have grown, and the new friends that I have
made here, always encourage me to press onward in obedience to Him.
Of course, I am thankful that Elders Philip and Blane are seeking to teach from the Word rightly, and that
though they are men that will fail (as do we all), I have seen that they truly have a heart for God, and I have
full confidence that they will lead this body of believers as the Scripture teaches.
And above all I give praise to the One who, by His free grace, took us all "out of darkness into His marvelous 
light". Without Jesus Christ, we are nothing. If we do not continually proclaim Him alone, and strive to love 
each other as He has commanded, we have no business calling ourselves a church.
(Sorry, I got a little Paul Washer-y there...)

So I want to thank all of you people in this church, for realizing the need to go back to the Bible, to daily 
reform our families, our church body, and our lives. 

Switching gears now.

Before all the testimony, The Wretched Brothers Band, along with Sunny (of Star Hill yore) and
Daniel (on piano), went up to play Indelible Grace's version of "Beneath the Cross of Jesus". We'd practiced
the week before, so by the power of God, we actually sounded put-together!



We also played a special song Blane Jr wrote the day before, commemorating the birthdays of Elder Philip
and Sunny's birthdays. You can check it out with the lyrics on Blane's blog.

After all that, we all got together for a church-wide picture:

 "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to
  mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about
  by every wind of   doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the
  head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint
  with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow
  so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16

Home Sweet Home!

I bet all you dear Internet people think I have simply fallen off the very edge of the world, but that's just
not true. You see, about a month ago we had some guys come and look at some (you guessed it) mold
under our floor that came from a refrigerator-water line leak, and they thought it was...

Anyway, to make a long story short, we've been out of our house for the last month, and we just got

back today to an empty house, because we had taken all the furniture out of the kitchen and living
room so the flooring guys could replace part of, and refinish, the floor.
God has been so faithful in this, and He has provided for all our needs abundantly!

I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule soon, but until then, Remember that God is faithful! 

P.S.- Everybody remember to pray for Tim and Allison Meredith, who have visited our 

church once, as he has recently had a stomach aneurysm. He is in critical care at the hospital,

but has improved as of late. He was not expected to survive the ambulance ride.

They have a bunch of young kids, and of course, it's been difficult for all of them.

(EDIT 10/4/12: Tim has since made a miraculous recovery, returned to his family, and visited our church again,
which was a huge blessing. Praise God!)