From Shelby, Michigan, 2nd Chance Music emerges to bring a clear gospel message in song. Warren, Becca and Kelsey Wentzloff have toured the Midwest for over three years, sharing their original and inspiring music at churches, festivals, fairs, outdoor worship services and jail ministry. They are very active in the Decolores, and Emmaus movements as well. "He'll Never Love You More", their first release, has been well received in the Christian community with their mix of country, folk, rock and contemporary style music 2nd Chance Music appeals to a wide audience as they perform with a musical background that includes guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion and the occasional addition of accordion or mandolin. Sometimes soulful, sometimes folksy with a touch of mountain music, 2nd Chance draws the listener in with their wonderful melodies and memorable lyrics. "Easy to listen to; easy to understand; beautiful vocals; always sharing the love of Jesus" are comments most often used to describe their unique sound.
He'll never Love You More ....I overheard someone lament," Don't they know Jesus will never love them more than He does today?" and I knew that message had to be shared in song. The music is very mellow, with a Latin influence and an awesome piano solo by Simon Flores, Jr. On one occasion, this song was used as a theme song for a men's retreat. I was brought to tears as I listened to 70 plus men singing it accompanied by three acoustic guitars.
A Father's Prayer...... On that sunny morning, Sept. 11, I listened to a television commentator report how many children had lost their fathers in the devastation at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and in a grassy field in Pennsylvania. I cried through the entire writing of this ballad which actually formed in less than an hour. This is my tribute to Todd Beamer and all the other fathers that perished that day.
Grandma's Favorite Story ....As a small child, Kelsey's favorite bedtime stories came from the book of Luke, as the Bible gives the story of our Lord's birth, death and resurrection in these chapters. She also loved stories about her older siblings. I wove the two thoughts together and even included some of their names in the song.....Rachel is my oldest child; Rebekah and Hannah are two of my granddaughters. I am very grateful to Ed Taylor, our lead guitar/sound engineer, for enlisting his friend Bob Hoppa to add a mandolin on this cut. It gives the music a nostalgic, mountain flavor that fits the country/bluegrass tone of the song. Adding Kelsey's vocals seemed the icing on the cake.
Come Follow Jesus....This is a very common theme through most of my writings, the action of getting up and following His word, His lead, His offer of peace and salvation. I really enjoyed the accordion lead by Warren as the three-quarter tempo of this song is a perfect match to his musical invitation to get up and dance.
Come Walk with Me........While painting a trailer bed for a parade float our group used one year, I looked up from my task and glimpsed our Lord strolling down the path to our Christmas tree farm, Serenity Trees, here in Shelby, MI. The late afternoon sun illuminated His white robe with a soft golden glow. I only saw the vision for one brief shining moment yet it will remain in my memory for a lifetime. The idea of strolling along the shore of Galilee, sharing thoughts with Him as the apostles did, developed into this soft-tempo song. Again, Ed Taylor mirrored my emotions exactly as he created a captivating guitar lead that leaves you with a sensation of floating up into the skies.
Coming Home ....Several years ago, two young orphaned brothers were tragically killed in an abandoned building in Chicago. Homeless and unwanted in this world, the Lord showed me how they would be received in the next..."In My house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you" John 14:2. The easy country/bluegrass melody of this song is always a special favorite with children in our audience. Thanks again to Ed and Bob as they added so much to the final cut.
Create in Me.....When my son was about nine years old, he bought me a prayer journal for Mother's Day. The journal, My Daily Partner, suggested Psalm 51:10-12 for a daily meditation....."Create in me a clean heart, Oh God". This lively, country tune evolved from that daily meditation. Thanks again to Ed Taylor whose guitar lead brings a sparkle to the music.
Hard Time.......Rev. T.D. Jakes gave a stirring message once about how hard it is for folks to lay down and let go of the familiar when they know God is offering them something new. Rev. Jakes admonished his listeners how you "gotta leave the old before you can come into the new". Warren grabbed his bass and I picked up my acoustic and we played around with a blues riff till the song burst forth with all its high energy and kickin' back beat. Makes you wanna dance, rejoice and shake off the "old" so you can come into the new! Ed was a pure joy to work with as he and Warren made it all happen musically.
Forever.....Psalms 13 and 14 have sustained me many times in the storms of my life. Like David, I have wearied and sorrowed alone until I sought out the Lord. "How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? forever?...The fool hath said in his heart there is no God..." As we were recording the vocals, I wanted to track a harmony vocal as well as the lead vocal. When we listened to the playback---we could hear a second line of harmony! It's beautiful, right on pitch, adding depth to the vocals------but it's not me. Listen for it and maybe you, too, will hear that sound of "angels" singing along that day in the studio.
Mary, Mary....I love to garden, especially flowers. It is a form of relaxation, a stress-reducer, a time to sort out my thoughts and on some occasions a time to diffuse. Too often, I found I was getting very short-tempered with my loved ones and heading out to the garden, tearing up weeds with a vengeance. One morning as I whacked away at the weeds, the Lord gently asked me what I was growing in my heart. The children's nursery rhyme floated through my mind and I began to question what "contrary" was doing in my life's garden. I determined to seek advice from the "Master Gardener" and this song with its play on words blossomed.
Resurrection Song...When my older children were first learning scripture verses, it was such a struggle. I noticed they learned all the fast food commercials and the Barney songs with no effort at all. Music! It was the music that helped them remember. I began to add music to their memory verses and this song came about as I added verse upon verse, line upon line, precept upon precept, until they totaled seven scripture verses.
Every Valley...Isaiah 40:4-5, 1 speaks of God's presence in all we do, wherever we go. It assures us that He is faithful to comfort us in all things, at all times. The easy country melody of this song prompted one listener to remark, "If John Denver wrote gospel, this would be one of his tunes". I like that comparison as I always enjoyed John's earlier hits. The message and the melody of this cut stays with you in a comforting way.
Shield Me...This ballad reminds some listeners of Merle Haggard's style of story songs. Born out of grief and maturing into the understanding of God's mercy and grace, this is my lament as David did in the Old Testament. Just get honest with God how you feel because He knows before you speak what your thoughts are. Saying them out loud helps us, not Him. He sends me back to the Psalms again for the reassurance of His faithfulness. Psalms 3:3 states, "But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter of mine head". Ed Taylor comes through again with a guitar lead that captures the emotion of this ballad.
Picture of Peace...While watching my grandchildren at play one summer evening, I glanced over at my daughter and her husband as they quietly visited with one another, making plans for the next day of our visit. The love, peacefulness and joy of that evening were best expressed in a folk style format. I read once that our mind does not process words but the picture of those words. Scripture tell us to renew our minds, so I decided to carry a picture of peace in my mind.
Track List:
1. He'll Never Love You More
2. A Father's Prayer
3. Grandma's Favorite Story
4. Come Follow Jesus
5. Come Walk With Me
6. Coming Home
7. Create In Me
8. Hard Time
9. Forever
10. Mary, Mary
11. Resurrection Song
12. Every Valley
13. Shield Me
14. Picture of Peace
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