How has fatherhood changed your outlook
on life? Superfreak Dad
2000 © Family Christian Stores
How has fatherhood changed your outlook
on life?
I am beginning to imagine the Father's love for me. It's just the amount of things that this little helpless guy doesn't know that I do for him. Those are all the things my parents did for me, and it just makes me appreciate my parents so much more. Then I think it has opened my eyes to how much God loves me, constantly. It shows through to an even greater extent when you're talking about the supernatural. We can't even see those things. I can physically see the things I do for Truett, and he can physically see me. But what God's doing, I can't see even if I wanted to. It's amazing that He's always at work in my life, watching my back whether He's taking me through a painful time or a joyous time. My ultimate good is in His mind. [Writing] the song "Mind's Eye" was the first time that I ever got a picture of being a child in the arms of Abba. When I wrote the lyrics to that song, literally in my mind, I saw myself in God's arms, Him holding me, me looking up at him just chuckling in sort of a father-like way.
How has that impacted your view of fatherhood?
I was at [a friend's] house last night, and he has an infant, and then a child a year older than Truett. Truett would be playing around, but every once in a while he would run and jump in my lap. It was like, you're still here; everything is still good. It really touched me. It was amazing to know that he comprehended that I was his and he was mine. I felt moved and also very proud that he comprehended that I was his guy that he could come to for security.
You've recently tried your hand at writing with Jesus Freaks, the book. How did this project come about?
It really wasn't
the writing, it was more of an idea and working through the
process, who do you go to for the stories, making sure they were
accurate. We had a team, Voice of the Martyrs, which is a
none-profit foundation. They protect and share these stories and
sort of act as a voice, not only for the martyrs, but also for
the persecuted Church, for missionaries who are persecuted.
Really, they supplied the stories. We made sure they were
targeted for our audience. Our goal in taking the Jesus Freaks
theme was that you're just bold at your school, in the work
place, wherever. That is a Jesus Freak; that's how we define our
song. So this is the next level of freakdom. It's people who are
willing to be persecuted and choose to not deny Christ-that's the
ultimate Jesus Freak. We're not all called to persecution, but we
are all called to lay down our lives. Financially, we have chosen
to give 50% of anything that we make off the book to Voice of
the Martyrs and other foundations. It's just a way of giving
back. We didn't make this platform. God laid it on us. Our heart
was to take all that and give it all back to Jesus.
With your plate so full with your home life and the business side of music, what does the future hold for dcTalk?
The future of dcTalk is really in God's hands. We're taking a one-year sabbatical-not from life, not from artistry, but from dcTalk. I think all three of us have things we want to pursue. Kevin has a solo album coming out. Michael has a solo album coming out. I'm still thinking about whether I want to do one. The sabbatical basically started January 1. We're coming together once a month, meeting together, praying together and encouraging each other in our solo stuff. Everything is cool! I'm looking forward to buying a Kevin Max record. I'm looking forward to buying [Michael] Tait record. That's exciting to me, not threatening or insecure. We all love dcTalk records.