Thank you so much for taking time to listen to this album. It is a very personal and probably, my most important album
to date. I’ve spent the last 10 years writing and re-writing, wrestling with and praying about the subjects you
will be hearing. None of them came easily to me and all of them have special meaning because they represent someone I
know and love.
After 30 years in the ministry, traveling to different countries, worshipping in different languages and sharing
with different denominations I have seen and heard things within the body of Christ that have really troubled me
in my spirit. I have seen so many young people leave the faith because they feel a real disconnect between the lives
they are living and the paradigms set up by their leaders. I have sat with men and women of all ages who are going through
really difficult situations, many of whom don’t feel safe to share their experiences within the body because of fear.
Fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of retribution, fear of being invisible, fear of being out-ed. There is so much
guilt and shame being carried around by believers today and many feel they do not measure up to those that seem
to have all the answers or with those who lead such seemingly perfect, carefree lives.
So I wanted to start a conversation. A personal, private, intimate conversation. A conversation about what is really
happening in the church today. Let’s be honest about the sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, rape, divorce,
infertility, addictions, poverty, intolerance, racism, bullying, premarital sex and abortion that so many of us are dealing
with. Let’s talk about homosexuality. Let’s talk about the role of women in positions of leadership. All these
subjects and many more like them need a safe space to be discussed and open hearts and minds to discuss them.
We, the church, must stop ignoring problems we don't feel comfortable talking about. We need to stop giving
people bumper sticker platitudes and start opening our hearts to the cries heard all around us everyday. People
are so tired of those within the church that are judgemental, hypocrital, dismissive and dogmatic. They are tired
of being preached at. They want to be seen and heard, to be held and comforted and spoken with instead of spoken
to. Some need their struggle and pain to be validated and all of us need to be loved regardless of what "sins" we may
be struggling with or what we may be addicted to and even who we choose to love.
Paul said in 1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away
childish things. We, as a body, must be willing to accept that we don't have all the answers. We must all be willing to evolve
in our understanding of scripture, to keep growing in compassion and mercy and always have teachable hearts. None
of us are perfect, none of us know all there is to know so let us learn from one another in humility and with respect.
These songs are my way of getting the conversation started. They are the stories of young women I have mentored, family
members and loved ones I have met over the years and dear, precious friends. These are my songs and their songs; these are
OUR songs. Some may be hard to sing along to, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s time to just listen. To
be the silent shoulder that so many need today in a world that is screaming for attention; a world that cares more about being
right, than being whole.
Some may question why I am doing what I am doing. Some may be offended that I have dared bring them up in such a public
way. Some may believe that I have taken the attention away from Christ and placed it on people. Some may be angry that I do
not agree with their interpretation of scripture. Some may think I have left the faith and backslidden into a "let's
tolerate everything" or "water down the word" mentality. I assure you that nothing is more important to me than the words
of my Master Jesus. In fact, it is my most frequent prayer that we all start doing the works of Jesus instead of just
talking about them.
I can only say that I must follow my heart. I must be obedient to what I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to do and
I humbly ask that you would pray for me. That you would ask Father to reveal His will for my life, that I might serve Him
better and love Him more. We don’t have to agree about everything to be in the family of God, but we do have to love
one another and it was Jesus Himself who prayed that we all might be one as He and the Father were One.
I pray Father's hand will continue to cover you and your family, that His love will fill your lives with laughter, joy,
peace and kindness, that His word will build in you the character of His precious Son Jesus and that His Spirit will lead
and guide you always.
Please feel free to share my music with as many people as you would like. May it be a blessing to you and to others.
Thank you for listening, thank you for sharing, and thank you for being you. I am now, as ever, your friend and sister in
Christ, Pamela.
