More About Acoustic Window
The Project Itself
This is the first recording I ever worked on with a large group of musicians. I had such great help from some very talented folks, who were a joy to work with. This wasn’t a themed project, just a compilation of the songs I’d written since my previous project (a cassette tape!). So this was my first CD! I know, I’m old. But it’s a sweet collection of tunes, the lyrics of which draw heavily from scripture. And that fact has been the reason I think some have found these songs encouraging. I hope you do too!
We are Convinced
This song started with writing the chorus because of a desire to have the words of Romans 8: 38-39 inside my heart, a part of me. The verses draw from Psalm 46:1-2 and Isaiah 54:10 I never thought a large group would be able to sing this, since the rhythm of the chorus lyrics is varied, unpredictable and not repetitive in any way. But it ended up working with our youth at the church, who were up to the challenge of trying to tackle it. And they did!
Words and Music by Don Lacquement; Vocals- Don Lacquement, Cheryl Nystrom, Bill McCarthy; Acoustic Guitar - Don Lacquement; Electric Guitar- Pete Lukschander; Bass- Jerry Kelleher; Drums-Paul Staples
Are You Hoping
This was a song inspired by some verses in the first chapter of First Peter, a book in the New Testament. I’d always thought that God had extended to us grace in providing Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. Done. Grace given. But this chapter says there’s more, even more grace we can expect. It even says we should set our hope on this grace to come, more grace that’s coming! Really? I tried to capture that in this song.
Word and Music by Don Lacquement; Vocals- Don Lacquement and Cheryl Nystrom Ball; Acoustic Guitar - Don Lacquement; Classical Guitar- Pete Lukschander; Congas- Jim Ball; Finger Cymbals and more! - Shannon Walton
Listen
This song is based on one of my favorite stories of the Old Testament that shows the extent of the love God has, even for his wayward people. It’s the story of Hosea and his wife Gomer. Long story short, Gomer was a wild thing that didn’t like being tied down to one man. She ran off and eventually found herself being sold as a slave. And guess who comes and buys her back? You got it, her husband whom she cheated on then dumped, Hosea. God tells Hosea that is how He feels about Israel. Explore this wonderful story with me. (Hosea, Isaiah 49:16)
Vocals- Don Lacquement; Guitar-Don Lacquement
I Love You
“We love because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19) And we love Him only because He gives us His Spirit to help us do this. It is not our nature to do anything but resist God and deny His rightful authority over our lives. But His mercy and power are extended to us to help change that, day by day.
Words and Music- Don Lacquement ; Vocals-Don Lacquement, Cheryl Nystrom Ball, Allison Nisbet; Guitar- Don Lacquement
In a Glance
This is just full of New Testament references that touch on the subject of the evil and suffering in the world now and the promises of something quite different when God comes to restore all things. I love the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), in which Jesus gives as simple an answer as it gets as to for why there’s so much evil in the world: “An enemy did this.” It helps me constantly remember in the face of suffering and injustice, “God didn’t do this. Don’t even go there Don. He’s the One that’s going to make it right again.”
Vocals- Don Lacquement, Keyboard: Jeff Livesay
Hear My Cry (Psalm 61:1-5)
A friend encouraged me as a writing exercise to find a Psalm that meant a lot to me and put my own melody to it. After a few slight adjustments to the text, this is what came out.
Words and Music: Don Lacquement; Guitar and Vocals-Don Lacquement; Cello - John Gockel
Say My Name
This song explores a phenomena I still don’t really understand to this day. I can have an incredible encounter with God or experience some miraculous answer to prayer, and then two weeks later, be overcome by worry or doubt, as if that event never happened. Why are we so forgetful of the things He does for us? Why can’t we hold on to them and never forget, in a way that changes how we respond to things in the future? In many ways, it’s a determined choice we must make to turn away from some current problem or emotion that’s screaming for our attention, and choose to draw close to Him, to strain our ear for that still small voice, that always speaks a word that will heal us.
Words and Music: Don Lacquement; Vocals - Don Lacquement, Cheryl Nystrom Ball; Guitar- Don Lacquement
Mighty is the Lord
A passage in the Old Testament just grabbed me one day and I realized God did and still does mighty acts of deliverance to save, hoping people will see and realize who He is, the Lord of the universe, mighty to save. No small coincidence that Jesus’ name means “God Rescues”.
Words and Music by Don Lacquement; Vocals- Don Lacquement, Carey Fitzhugh, Billy Winkler; Acoustic Guitar-Don Lacquement; Electric Guitar-Pete Lukschander; Bass-Jerry Kelleher; Drums-Paul Staples
Clap Your Hands
This song was written to be sung in youth worship, to remember that as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Sometimes, we need to get our mouth and hands engaged, in order to get our minds focused enough to remember we serve a good God, who is worthy of our praise, and always wants to make a difference in our lives.
Words and Music by Don Lacquement; Vocals-Don Lacquement,Cheryl Nystrom, Acoustic Guitar- Don Lacquement; Electric Guitar-Pete Lukschander; Bass-Jerry Kelleher; Drums- Paul Staples
Trust in the Lord
I wrote this song in a season when my wife was basically bed ridden with no end in sight to her illness. At the same time I was trying to prepare for and pass my professional engineer’s license exam. So, it was born out of much pain, and confusion, and crying out to God for answers and for help. If you are in a fierce struggle, join in on this one and sing over your soul, then sing to the Lord with me.
Words and Music-Don Lacquement; Vocals-Don Lacquement, Amy Fitzgerald, Mia Fleming, Katherine Lepkowski; Flute-Randy Bly
Mixed by Shannon Walton, Walton Recording Mastered by Mark P. Edmondson, Walton Recording
Cover Artwork and Layout: Diane Hill Turrell, DDH Design