About the Author

 Who Writes This Stuff?

 
 
My name is Adam Osterloo. My wife and I live in Northern Alabama with our son. We own a small business servicing work trucks and trailers. I'm a multi-instrumentalist specializing primarily in piano/keyboards. I have a degree and background in audio engineering, and I am also a part-time Worship Ministry Coordinator at our church.
 
Writing isn't necessarily a passion of mine, but I enjoy thinking and learning, and I thought you might want to think and learn along with me.
The inspiration for these posts comes from the music we sing in our weekly worship services. When I stepped into the leadership role of the worship ministry, I was inspired to introduce new music to the church.
 
As is often the case, musicians (myself included) spend much time rehearsing the mechanics of the music we play (notes, rhythms, tempo, etc.) but don't always learn the lyrics and what the song is about. Vocalists might do so more naturally because they focus more on the lyrics. But, even then, sometimes the focus on melody, tone, timing, tempo, etc might override the need for understanding or knowledge of what we're singing a
bout.
 
I tell my team often that we cannot lead people when we aren’t willing or able to go alone. That is why I write these. I want to help my fellow musicians and vocalists in the ministry, as well as anyone else who wants to better connect with the music we're singing and playing. After all, what is a worship service led by people who aren't worshiping? A concert.

Popular Posts

Jesus Is Alive

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 As I write this, it's the day after Easter. He is risen. He is risen indeed! "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" ( John 20:19 ESV ) Can you imagine the startling nature of Jesus simply appearing to you? No wonder he said, "Peace be with you!" In his human body, bones, and flesh, he appeared to the disciples many times after the resurrection. On one such occasion, Mark records the Great Commission. "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" ( Mark 16:15 ESV ) As we see in Acts, the apostles established the church on the foundation of their eyewitness accounts of Jesus's ministry, death and resurrection, and his appearances to them. As Tim Keller once said, "On one hand, the resurrection is a fact to be believed. On the
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Awake My Heart With Gladness

In Catholic circles, this coming Sunday is referred to as Passion Sunday. It precedes Palm Sunday by one week, signaling the coming end of Lent and helping to focus the church on the work of the Cross. You might ask, “I’m not Catholic so why are we talking about what the Catholics do?” Well, I’m not Catholic either. But I do believe that as we approach Holy Week, it is good to prepare our hearts for this very special church season and focused time of remembrance. This hymn, written by German clergyman Paul Gerhardt in the mid-1600s gives us language to do just that.  “The cross is the suffering love of God bearing the guilt of man’s sin, which alone is able to melt the sinner’s heart and bring him to repentance for salvation.” Billy Graham.  As we prepare for worship on Sunday morning, let us apply the work of the Cross to our hearts, and awaken "with gladness"! Awake, my heart, with gladness– see what today is done! Now, after gloo
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There Is A Fountain

While living under the spiritual care of Rev. John Newton, William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) wrote “There Is A Fountain.” It was first published in 1772 and has since found its way into more than 2,440 hymnals, surpassing John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” by over 1,000 hymnal publishings in a similar time frame. Born to John and Ann Cowper, he descended from the British aristocracy. His father, John, was chaplain to King George II and nephew of the first Earl Cowper, and his mother, Ann’s bloodline can be traced back to King Henry III. Sadly, his mother passed when he was just 6 years old, and he was sent off to boarding school soon after. This tragedy would become the catalyst for a life-long battle with deep, destructive depression. Despite a very promising legal and political career path, roughly 26 years after his mother’s passing, his mental illness drove him to a failed suicide attempt that would then land him in an asylum for 18 months. That time would set about a spiritual renewal
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