All I Held Onto was recorded at Bias Studios in Springfield, Virginia in 2003. It was the first time I had ever been in a real recording studio and I was, to say the least, very giddy. And very nervous. Thanks to the generosity of some great friends (whom I will never be able to fully repay), I was able to spend enough time in the studio to record 17 tracks! At the time, I probably thought I needed to shove everything I had on the album because I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance. :)

The title of the album is taken from the track “I Surrender”, and the album itself is broken up into 4 sections by 3 interludes.

The 4 tracks of the 1st section revolve around identity: who am I and what is my place in the world and in the Church? They all, in some way, ask the question, “Why are things messed up?” and they all end up answering pretty much the same, “I am”.

The 4 tracks of the 2nd section deal with issues of the will: “Sam”, in the quest to “comprehend” God and the realization that in order to obtain peace our will must be surrendered; “Moriah” in that all of us, like Abraham, are at some point asked to sacrifice our Isaacs on the altar of God’s purposes; the section ends with “I Surrender”, which is a prayer and declaration of faith in God’s plans and not our own way of interpreting them.

The 3 tracks of the 3rd section are meant to communicate the brevity of life: a song written for a baby dedication, a song written for the passing of a friend, and a message of invitation to make life count and taste and see the Lord is good.

Finally, before the reprise of “I Surrender”, the final section’s 2 tracks sum up the two great loves in my life: my wife and God.