"There Is a Reason" is not a bad song. Millions of believers cling to Romans 8:28. Is that a bad verse? If every artist who tweaked a song for better airplay apologized, who would not apologize? I really liked Overdressed. It had your fingerprints all over it, and I mean that in a good way--your Rabbit Energy did well. Theodicy is HARD, whatever your stand. That's where you discover what your actual foundation is. As for me, there is One Who, on a coming Day, will dry every tear (Rev. 21:4). Only when the first things pass away will we be even close to getting the answer to "why."
Thank you, John. That's very kind. I do really love that record, too. I agree with you 100%. I think my regret has been that (A) I knew my posture in writing the song, and (B) I've lived more and have seen people hurt, have been hurt, and have hurt others by the careless use of those truths. The scripture being used to wipe aside the pain, as if knowing we're on our way to the hospital should make the ambulance ride not hurt. I don't think this song is the meanest kid in the gang, but I know I would write a very different song today. Thanks for your kindness, man.
Well, I'm ... thankful.. for this. I sort of missed Caedmons from 2003-2008 so was fun just recently to discover these albums when the re-release of the self-titled stuff was happening. Bummed I missed out then. I don' think There is a Reason is awful - so much of music is the meaning hitting at just the right time in life, so who's to say it wasn't just what someone needed at that time?
That said, it's also refreshing to see you not 'hate' it, but just reflect on your motivations being a bit off perhaps.
I love this so much. Thank you for sharing your ever-growing, striving-for-faithfulness heart. Love the new music, love the new writing. You are loved.
I'm glad you wrote it. My wife and I had four miscarriages before our daughter was born and we spent a lot of time praying and hoping for a healthy pregnancy. By the miracle of modern medicine, our fifth try worked and we now have a wonderful 16 year old daughter (and a wonderful 14 year old daughter because of the same miracle). When our oldest turned 1, I made a video slideshow for my family of her first year and used There is a Reason as the background music. It fit what we felt.
I understand that we had been blessed and its easy to say there is a reason when the thing you hope for come true and we don't always get those things. It can also be used to say get over the awful thing that happened because God has a reason. But the song gave us plenty of joy looking back and seeing God's hand through our pain to a brighter day.
I've been back and forth with this song over the years during different times of suffering. Sometimes I've found it encouraging, and other times I've hit skip. I love the notes that play right after the phrase "there is a reason." They seem to have a disonnance that does some of the work of saying true things to yourself even when they don't feel true or comforting. As a person who's tempted to wallow, I need those reminders sometimes. And the fact that they're on the same record with songs that say more comforting things seem to balance out the "get-over-itness."
I do appreciate your apology though, as well as your increased sensitivity. When we know better, we can do better, right? I'm thankful for your heart here, and that you've been able to keep making awesome stuff.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I spent most of 1998 to 2009 frantically moving around the country. “I’ll be home soon” was a familiar soundtrack in my drives. I think I wore out the radio on my car. Simple put: my favorite song you’ve written. Might be nostalgia.
The songs that take me back and help me reflect and inspect have my greatest respect. Similar: Matt Wertz’s Behind a Smile. He doesn’t play it much.
I rediscovered your music thanks to The Rabbit Room and Leonard the Lonely Astronaut in the early 2010s. When I started listening to that album, I realized your voice sounded so familiar. It hit me that you were lead singer of a band I loved as a teenager in the late 90s: The Normals. Thanks for writing honest, impactful, beautiful music that has stuck with me for decades.
"There Is a Reason" is not a bad song. Millions of believers cling to Romans 8:28. Is that a bad verse? If every artist who tweaked a song for better airplay apologized, who would not apologize? I really liked Overdressed. It had your fingerprints all over it, and I mean that in a good way--your Rabbit Energy did well. Theodicy is HARD, whatever your stand. That's where you discover what your actual foundation is. As for me, there is One Who, on a coming Day, will dry every tear (Rev. 21:4). Only when the first things pass away will we be even close to getting the answer to "why."
Thank you, John. That's very kind. I do really love that record, too. I agree with you 100%. I think my regret has been that (A) I knew my posture in writing the song, and (B) I've lived more and have seen people hurt, have been hurt, and have hurt others by the careless use of those truths. The scripture being used to wipe aside the pain, as if knowing we're on our way to the hospital should make the ambulance ride not hurt. I don't think this song is the meanest kid in the gang, but I know I would write a very different song today. Thanks for your kindness, man.
Well, I'm ... thankful.. for this. I sort of missed Caedmons from 2003-2008 so was fun just recently to discover these albums when the re-release of the self-titled stuff was happening. Bummed I missed out then. I don' think There is a Reason is awful - so much of music is the meaning hitting at just the right time in life, so who's to say it wasn't just what someone needed at that time?
That said, it's also refreshing to see you not 'hate' it, but just reflect on your motivations being a bit off perhaps.
I love this so much. Thank you for sharing your ever-growing, striving-for-faithfulness heart. Love the new music, love the new writing. You are loved.
I'm glad you wrote it. My wife and I had four miscarriages before our daughter was born and we spent a lot of time praying and hoping for a healthy pregnancy. By the miracle of modern medicine, our fifth try worked and we now have a wonderful 16 year old daughter (and a wonderful 14 year old daughter because of the same miracle). When our oldest turned 1, I made a video slideshow for my family of her first year and used There is a Reason as the background music. It fit what we felt.
I understand that we had been blessed and its easy to say there is a reason when the thing you hope for come true and we don't always get those things. It can also be used to say get over the awful thing that happened because God has a reason. But the song gave us plenty of joy looking back and seeing God's hand through our pain to a brighter day.
I've been back and forth with this song over the years during different times of suffering. Sometimes I've found it encouraging, and other times I've hit skip. I love the notes that play right after the phrase "there is a reason." They seem to have a disonnance that does some of the work of saying true things to yourself even when they don't feel true or comforting. As a person who's tempted to wallow, I need those reminders sometimes. And the fact that they're on the same record with songs that say more comforting things seem to balance out the "get-over-itness."
I do appreciate your apology though, as well as your increased sensitivity. When we know better, we can do better, right? I'm thankful for your heart here, and that you've been able to keep making awesome stuff.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I deeply appreciate your heart and how God has moved through you (even in your stressful circumstances) to minister to others. I was a wandering college student who grew up in Houston, working at churches in Houston, College Station, San Antonio, and China during those years when Overdressed came out. The song "There is a Reason" brought me comfort and encouragement in the midst of those wanderings while facing great discouragement after a breakup that would eventually loop back around to marriage at the right time.
Truths can be used tritely, but I thank God for your efforts, brother. Your music turns me back to a place of wonder and gratitude of Jesus' love for us– no small feat for a pastor in Seattle after some 20 years of ministry. The Lord bless you.
I spent most of 1998 to 2009 frantically moving around the country. “I’ll be home soon” was a familiar soundtrack in my drives. I think I wore out the radio on my car. Simple put: my favorite song you’ve written. Might be nostalgia.
The songs that take me back and help me reflect and inspect have my greatest respect. Similar: Matt Wertz’s Behind a Smile. He doesn’t play it much.
I rediscovered your music thanks to The Rabbit Room and Leonard the Lonely Astronaut in the early 2010s. When I started listening to that album, I realized your voice sounded so familiar. It hit me that you were lead singer of a band I loved as a teenager in the late 90s: The Normals. Thanks for writing honest, impactful, beautiful music that has stuck with me for decades.