Opus 14: Daddy Daughter Dance
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Financial Redemption
It’s 4:45 a.m. I can’t sleep…I’m too excited. Why? Financial redemption.
Miriam-Webster defines “redeem” as, “to buy back; to get or win back.”
I’m talking about buying money back. But why is this keeping me awake, and what does this have to do with faith?
In December, Becky and I became sales agents for United First Financial. We sell Money Merge Accounts (MMA), which basically gives you access to a piece of software that guarantees to help you pay off mortgages in as little as 1/2 to 1/3 the normal time, saving thousands of dollars in interest and years of payments. When we first looked at the program we were quite skeptical of the claims and wondered if it was a scam, but we found that the program holds up under the most ardent analysis. The FDIC not only said that it was legal, but it also said that banks do the same thing only in reverse.
When we ran an analysis for out situation, the software guarantees to help us save over 14 years of payments and about $180K of interest. We were floored. That didn’t factor in any upcoming pay raises, tax returns, gifts, etc. It also did not factor in any commission from sales that we make. And the really incredible thing is that you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket, you don’t have to change your lifestyle or cash flow, and you don’t have to pay extra payments every month to do it.
When we ran an analysis for some friends last night, it promised to save them about 20 years of payments and about $250K of interest. They got nauseous thinking about it. I doubt they slept much tonight either!
Now, what does this have to do with faith?
Yesterday, in church, our worship music leader (Tim) mentioned that the church was struggling to pay the salaries and the bills, which is understandable in a new church plant. Well, we want to give so much, but things have been tight around our house until now. We’ve sold three MMAs so far, and we’re awaiting our first commission check. We’ll be able to increase our giving now!
But that’s not what’s keeping me awake. My fellow believers, including my friends last night, who use this program will have their houses paid off in the next 10 years, instead of 30 years; this obviously means they won’t have monthly mortgage payments. What if the entire church (I’m referring to the members) were completely debt-free in ten years? How much more could folks then give? What an incredible prospect!
Every time I think about it I get excited, and when I’m this excited I can’t sleep. Reminds me of our childhood vacations to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We would all get in the car and leave at 3 a.m. Trying to sleep was pointless then, and it sure seems pointless tonight!
Getting Back To Work
I took a break from recording over the holidays, especially as Becky and I spent considerable time helping to plant a church in our small town of Arlington. Part of my contribution has included singing in the band, along with some keyboard playing. I don’t think I mentioned this before but I’ve been singing in churches and schools pretty much my entire life. I just choose to focus most of my composition and recording time on piano works. I do plan to eventually record some songs, and I may get some other folks involved on vocals as well.
As for upcoming releases, I just finished recording 3 piano works and will begin the process of cleaning them up. I hope to increase my output by recording several at a time. We’ll just have to play it by ear. (Pun intended…ba-Dum-dum!)
Joy In The Journey
Ok, I stole the title of this article from the musician, Michael Card, but it is so appropriate. Why, you might ask, am I joyful? Very simply this…I am overwhelmed with a deep sense of God’s pleasure.
God has brought Becky and me into the life of a church where the Bible is opened and examined with humility and sincerity; where the people genuinely love each other and pursue unity as Christ prayed in John 17; where Becky and I are actively using our varying gifts and talents; and where our children are being led to know Christ and serve Him along with friends from their school and community.
All this at just a stone’s throw away.
I’m speechless.
John Albert Thomas began composing original, melody-based piano works when he was 12 years old. His compositions have the simplicity and thinly-layered delicacy of Mozart, combined with a contemporary sound reminiscent of Enya, George Winston, and Jim Brickman. In 1995, John graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, with a bachelors degree in Music Theory and Composition. Upon graduation he moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he now lives with his wife, Rebecca, and their four children. John has released several solo piano albums, and continues his work on future projects. 
