This is a video shot by Jordan Mitchell (@jordanpmitchell) of a new acoustic demo I recorded a little while back. This one will probably make it on the next album.

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Lyrics:

Always at arms reach
But never had
Souls search without ceasing
And never have

A love like the dreamers and writers say

The paradigm of 'what is mine I can never have'
And thoughts and fears and doubts and tears of the unknown and unsaid

I wanna love like the dreamers and writers say

I want fact and fiction in a grand collision
To become a world of one
Where my expectations and motivations
Can coexist with reality under the sun

We can love like the dreamers and writers say

Here's a video shot by Daniel Roth (@drothjr) in Tuscaloosa, AL. This is from the album, Where Fears Are Gone, I released in December 2010.

BGV: Sarah Holsombeck
2nd Guitar: Justin Cross
Cello: Lori Cheng
Bass: Jordon Holsombeck

Enjoy.

-CB

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New song shot by Jordan Mitchell (@jordanpmitchell)

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Lyrics:

My fear is this
That I will end up like the rest
Put my love in the grave
Put to death all the things that keep the soul awake

Like driving around at the break of dawn
With the heat in the floor and all worries are gone
We were racing time like we didn't care to lose
And in that moment every passing second felt new

We were all just conquerors
In a world that was all our own
Into the wild we were running
With our heads full of big dreams and rock bands
I know I'll love my friends to the end

Now we're all gone
To our separate ends of the world
A swift wind brings us home
Let's unite for a night that will be all our own

Several weeks ago I picked up a leather-bound journal I received as a gift years back. I remember being excited when I got it, thinking that I was going to record every thought I had in its "raw form." I also remember the day I wrote the last entry. That day was the end of a lot of things and the beginning of, in many ways, a completely different life. When I started reading the words I wrote just a few years ago, I was full of mixed emotions. I remembered joyful times but also some really dark ones. I was so thankful for how far the Lord had brought me. I wanted to go back a several years and beg myself to see certain things that I was so blind to at the time, to remind myself of the truth that could have been much more evident in my life...

That truth is the Gospel, and recently a friend of mine gave me a gift that celebrates it. It's a Puritan prayer book called The Valley of Vision. He gave it to me with the intention of encouraging me in my own faith but also for the purpose of being a catalyst for new music. Well, he succeeded in what he set out to do in giving me that book. This song is a result of a couple of the prayers.

A paradox is something that seems self-contradictory, absurd or even backwards but holds some kind of truth. Hence, "to be high is low and to be low is high," etc. Jesus taught things like, "to be first is to be last...to die is to live." To an outsider of the faith, this probably sounds crazy. But this is the beauty of the Gospel. In Ephesians 2 we see that the grace we receive is by NOTHING we can do. In every other relationship, the love and connection we have is based on what you do for each other, how you express yourself, and so on. Jesus died and rose again and gives us his grace as a GIFT, so that we have new life through faith. Now here lies the major paradox...

God became man for the sake of a worthless race. We didn't deserve God's love, he didn't need us, and we can't add to His infinite glory, yet He gave us a new life through His Son Jesus. Praise God that his salvation is not based on what we can do to live righteously. I can rest assured after reading who I once was, that I am saved not by my own doing but by the sweet grace of Jesus.

I hope this video found you all well and in some way encouraged your heart.

God bless,
Chase

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Lyrics

I was blind to the truth that was right in front of me
Kept tellin' myself lies to try to keep my sanity
Who was I kidding?
Only myself

When I read the pages I wrote in youthful ignorance
I hang my head 'cause my belief was in some pseudo-bliss
Who was I kidding?
Only myself

Let me learn from the paradox that is Your truth
To be loved in Your eyes is by nothing I can do
To be high is low and to be low is high
In my death I know I'll find the sweetest life

I'll find Your light in my darkness and then...
...Your joy for my sorrow, Your grace for my sin
My soul will rejoice and my spirit will be free
When I trade my lies for Your truth
Oh Lord, I see Your glory

Let me cling to the paradox that is Your truth
This unearned grace I receive by nothing I can do
To be high is low and to be low is high
In my death I know I'll find the sweetest life

Dear friends,

As the summer begins I want to touch base with you all. I have been deeply encouraged since the release of the album back in December. Your support is appreciated more than you will ever know. I don't say that lightly. 

I wanted to make sure we all stay as connected as possible, so here's a couple ways we can all keep in touch.

• Facebook
• Twitter

I have begun a whole new season of writing since the last project was completed, and I am excited to start sharing some of that material in its raw form with you guys. I'll be doing this through the blog feature on the site, so be sure to check back for demos, lyrics, and videos of new material.

In addition, this summer has brought with it some great opportunities that I want to be able to share with you all. I have the privilege to serve in a local church as an interim worship leader for the youth, which entails a trip to Costa Rica. I'm incredibly excited about leading musically and look forward to seeing how God reveals his power in all nations, including Costa Rica.

I hope you're as excited as I am about moving forward into something new!

God bless,
Chase