Me singing "Watch the Lamb" by Ray Boltz. This track was recorded in my bedroom in the Fall of 2001. 

"Watch The Lamb"-Originally performed by Ray Boltz

"Lead Me"-Originally performed by Sanctus Real

Me singing "Kentucky Rose" by one of my all time favorite artists and musical heroes, Michael W. Smith. This song was recorded in the Spring of 2001.

Ok, first things first...I hate the way this song turned out. From the horribly uneven mix to the MANY sharp and pitchy notes. Nevertheless, I wanted to share this song as it has always been a favorite of mine and I always have a blast singing it.

Next up...I've always been a sucker for "story songs", songs that tell a story and are usually sad or tragic in nature but ultimately uplifting. This has always been one of my favorites as I can strongly relate with the symbolism,the setting...and thanks to my Dad, the central character in the story. This song really resonates with me on many levels.

Finally...I can't help but think of my Dad, Johnny Norris, when I hear this song. Dad and I have definitely had our differences over the years, but he is one of the Godliest men I know and his unwavering faith is an insiration to me and all who know him. 

I wasn't raised in a Godly home, and Dad didn't surrender his life to Christ until I was about 15 years old. I had been a Christian for several months when Dad started coming to church and I will never forget the day he went forward at the end of the service and committed his life to Christ. Dad's conversion is one of the greatest examples I have ever PERSONALLY seen of God's power to transform someone's life...and it had a profound impact on me as a young Christian.

Dad surrendered to God's calling for him to preach a few years later and has been Pastoring for almost 20 years now. Dad is very much like the title character in this song...he is incredibly loving and compassionate, he genuinely loves people and has NEVER met a stranger...and if ever placed in the same situation as Kentucky Rose, I fully believe that Dad would lay down his life to save another. THAT, my friends is what truly loving God is all about.

Dad, this one's for you.

"Kentucky Rose"-Originally performed by Michael W. Smith

Me singing Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Newsboys. This track was recorded in the Spring of 2001. I used an echo effect in an attempt to give the track an ethereal quality...instead, it just sounds like I'm singing into a tin can. lol

I have always loved the Hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" and when I heard Newsboys' brilliant reimagining of it, I instantly fell in love. I love how the new verses(I say new, but the song is actually about 18 years old!lol)really convey our brokenness and helplessness and emphasize our need to "turn our eyes upon Jesus". 

I pray this song ministers to you like it has me for the past 18 years. 

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

"Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"-Originally performed by Newsboys

Me singing "Where There Is Faith" by 4Him. This track was recorded in the Fall of 2001. I'm a Tenor...but I'm NOWHERE even CLOSE to being in the same league as Andy Chrisman from 4Him, so I had to sing this song in medium range. I've never liked the way this turned out and I think it's mainly due to the downtuning...the song just seems to lose some of it's power and urgency in a lower register...but that's just MY opinion. ;-)

Nevertheless, I love the lyrics and the overall theme of the song. I fell in love with this song when I first heard it back in 1990(or was it 1991?) when I had the privelage of seeing 4Him's first performance in Brevard, NC. 

"Where There Is Faith"-Originally performed by 4Him

Me singing "A Little More Like Jesus" in the sanctuary of Cashiers Baptist Church. This track was recorded in 1996. Brent Bourgeois was half of the "One Hit Wonder" duo, Bourgeois Tagg, famous for their 1988 hit "I Don't Mind At All". 

Brent went on to pursue a solo career in Christian Music and back in 1994 he released what is, for me, one of the greatest Pop albums ever released. Brent is an AMAZING songwriter and it's a shame he never received the recognition as a solo artist that he deserved. Brent's solo career never really took off, but he went on to become a HIGHLY sought after songwriter and producer in both the Christian and Secular markets. 

I love that such a slick, intricate and buoyant Pop song can convey such a simple yet profound message...we should all strive to be "A Little More Like Jesus". 


"Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."
 -1 John 2:4-6 (NIV)

"A Little More Like Jesus"-Originally performed by Brent Bourgeois

I will never forget September 19th, 1997. Mondays were always very exciting for me because that is when I received my weekly issue of The CCM Update, a weekly publication, similiar to Billboard Magazine, that gave us Christian Music fans a weekly update on the most recent news in Christian Music and provided up to date music reviews and airplay charts across various genres and formats. It also included exclusive pre-release CDs months in advance, many of them were special editions only available to retailers and those closely affiliated with the Christian Music industry, not that I'm gloating or anything. ;-)

Anyway, on this particularly brisk Autumn afternoon, I rushed from work to the Post Office to pick up my weekly edition of The CCM Update. I frantically opened the mailbox and there it was, my weekly "fix" of music industry joy(I felt very much like Ralphie, rushing to the mailbox to retrieve his Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Pin). As I hurried out of the Post Office, jumped into my truck and tore open the packaging, my heart sank from my chest all the way down to the soles of my feet as I read the breaking news...just a few days prior, one of my biggest musical heroes had been tragically killed in a freak car accident. The brilliant, ragamuffin genius, Rich Mullins, was no longer with us and was now singing "Awesome God" in the very presence of his creator.

I have never cried at the passing of a musical legend, but as I sat there in my truck, parked in front of the Post Office...I openly wept as if I had lost a loved one. There will never be a greater singer songwriter to grace the face of this earth...ever...period. Rich had the amazing ability to write songs about the struggles of life and being broken underneath it's wheels, songs about yearning to have a deeper walk with our Creator, songs about having a deep longing to shed this corrupt flesh, songs about loving our fellow man unconditionally,  and then turn right around and pen some of the greatest worship songs the church has ever sung. Rich was far from perfect and was well known for his struggles, yet he had an insight into what it means to be a broken man serving a Holy God that no other songwriter has even come close to capturing. Rich's honesty and integrity deeply moved me and had a profound impact on my love for music and the many ways it can touch our lives...and I will forever be indebted to Rich for daring to be open and honest about his struggles and then daring to put them out there for the world to hear via some of the greatest songs ever written.

Rich, I still mourn over the countless amazing songs that were still rattling around in that heart and mind of yours that never got to see the light of day...but I look foreward to hearing them for the first time, with brand new ears as we sit at Jesus' feet in Glory. 

Thank you Rich...this one's for you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Mullins

"Hold Me Jesus"-Originally performed by Rich Mullins

One of my all time favorite songs by one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters. Amy has always had the ability to write songs that made me think she had stepped inside of my heart, looked around...and then wrote a song about what she saw.

This song, now more than ever, is very, very dear to me.

"I Will Remember You"-Originally performed by Amy Grant

Because I meant what I said...when I said "I do".

Babe..."I will always love you...through anything".

"When I Say I Do"-Originally performed by Matthew West

While my main musical passion is definitely Contemporary Christian Music, I have always had a deep, passionate love for some of the great old Hymns of the faith. The lyrics are often overflowing with great doctrinal truths(something sorely missing in today's Contemporary Christian Music)and were often very emotional and moving with haunting lyrics and melodies that burrow deep down into your heart and mind and seem to never let go...I guess that's why these amazing songs have lasted the test of time and will no doubt be sung by countless generations to come. I pray we never forget these beautiful musical treasures.

My first major introduction to the classic Hymns was through my dear Granny, Edna Smith. I will always carry with me very fond memories of sitting in the living room of her tiny little trailer as we listened to these amazing songs...and I used to love to hear her sing along. My Granny endured great struggle, sorrow, pain and suffering in her lifetime...yet she still held strong to her faith for she knew that someday "we'll understand it all by and by". I can still see her sweet face as she would sing along to songs like this one, with tears streaming down her face and yet somehow, a great look of peace in her eye...you could tell she related all too well to the sorrow spoken of in these songs, but she could also relate to the joy and peace spoken of in them as well. This song was one of her all time favorites, and I suspect it was because she could relate so well to the heartache and hope found in it's deeply moving lyrics.

Granny died when I was 14 years old, just a few months before I gave my life to Christ. We were never as close as I wish we had been, but I thank God for the time we shared together...for her great faith was my first real taste of what it means to TRULY be a follower of Christ and seeing that faith lived out, even in the midst of great sorrow, left an indelible mark on my life. I wish she could have lived to see me give me life to Jesus...but then again, who knows...maybe she did. =)

I love you and miss you, Granny. I look forward to the day when we will sit at the feet of Jesus and be able to look back upon this earthly life with brand new eyes, and see clearly, for the first time, why God allowed us to go through the trials and tribulations we experienced down here...and when we do, I suspect we'll have an overwhelming desire to thank Him for these trials as we realize how much He used them to teach us, mold us and draw us closer to Him.

Granny...this one's for you.

Heavenly Father, though we may not fully understand why you allow us to endure great pain and suffering in this life, I pray that you will help us to look at these trials as a blessing and not a curse...for even in the midst of the storms of life, you are completely in control and you are working all things together for both OUR GOOD and YOUR GLORY...and therein do I rejoice. 

"Farther Along"-Acapella Cover

Amazing Grace is not only my all time favorite Hymn, but in my opinion, it's one of the greatest songs ever written...period. 

I normally don't like cover versions of beloved songs that deviate from or "mess with" the original arrangement, but in this case I must make an exception...Chris Tomlin's reworking of this beautiful Hymn is VERY well done and manages to make the song even more intimate and relational than it already is somehow. 

"Amazing Grace(My Chains Are Gone)-Originally performed by Chris Tomlin

My anthem...

Recorded on my iPhone in the sanctuary of Cashiers Baptist Church. May 8th, 2012

"Nothing Is Wasted"-Originally performed by Jason Gray

Once again, the amazing Jason Gray hits another one out of the park with his insanely brilliant lyrics that beautifully explain the difference between a relationship with Christ and just being "religious". There is a MAJOR difference between the two, folks, and I pray that if you've never truly experienced a personal relationship with Christ that you will surrender your "religion" to Him today and enter into an intimate, life altering relationship with the Creator of the Universe.



"More Like Falling In Love"-Originally performed by Jason Gray

Regret is such a horrible, vicious thing......so be sure that those you love the most know just how much they mean to you, for only God knows when one of us will draw our last breath.

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
James 4:13-14

"If Tomorrow Never Comes"-Originally Performed by Garth Brooks

This is a cover of the song "Dear Shame" by one of my all time favorite bands, the Newsboys. This is my first attempt at recording using the GarageBand app for iOS and was recorded on my iPhone

. This is a VERY rough demo and is incomplete. So far, all I've laid down are my vocals and multiple percussion loops. Hopefully I will learn to navigate my way around GarageBand and get this finished eventually, as I still need to lay down a bass line, synth and guitar parts. However, I am just a vocalist...not a musician(save for drums/percussion), so attempting to create a song from the ground up using GarageBand is proving to be a rather arduous task...but I'm having a blast trying to figure it out. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this very crude demo! =)

"Dear Shame" Cover

One of my favorite modern Hymns, Stuart Townend's "How Deep The Father's Love For Us". 

"How Deep The Father's Love For Us"-Acapella Cover

"When All Is Said And Done"-Originally performed by Geoff Moore & The Distance

One of my alltime favorite Hymns/Worship songs. This is a very rough demo recorded in one take. I should have a final studio quality version up soon as we continue working on these tracks in the studio. 

Chris Tomlin is hands down my favorite Worship "artist", and he really knocked this one out of the park. I just pray that in some small way I can do this powerful song justice. 

Amazing Grace(My Chains Are Gone)-Chris Tomlin Cover(work demo)

I am a Conservative Evangelical follower of Jesus Christ and I have a deep passion for music that began when I was a very young boy growing up in the 70's and 80's. My love of music first became a passion when God used the power of music as a tool to bring me to a saving knowledge of Him. My Passion transformed into a ministry when I first sang publicly back in April of 1994 at my home church. 

I am a firm believer in the power of music to affect change in one's life and attitude and I'm an ESPECIALLY firm believer in it's ability as an incredibly powerful vehicle for the life changing message of the Gospel of Christ.

Music has always been a massive part of my life...it courses through my veins...and while I'm far from being a great vocalist, I'm just thrilled that I can use my gift to hopefully encourage others and point them to Christ.

I once heard Kevin Max from dc Talk make the following statement...I don't know if it's an original quote or if he was quoting someone else, nevertheless, I have always LOVED IT...

"Music can take words to places that mere words cannot go".  

Amen.

Matt Norris

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