About Matthew

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. I grew up with many dreams and ambitions. As I reached my later high school and early college years I began to realize how empty most of those dreams were and for that matter, how empty most of the world's dreams were. During this time I began to write songs to express what I was feeling and how my world outlook was changing. This period of artistic expression culminated with a show I produced with a friend that included collections of these songs and thoughts.

Around that same time I began searching spiritually. There had to be meaning for life. I was quickly realizing that the world and all its glitter didn't truly satisfy and knew there had to be somthing deeper, if only I could find it. I began frequenting book stores and camping out in the Philosophy/Religion aisle. I would spend hours a day reading everything I could get my hands on. The teachings of Buddha, the Koran, Astology, etc. I was determined to find answers. I had purposely steered clear of the Bible because, as far as I was concerned, I had been there and done that. I grew up going to church now and then and visiting Christian youth groups, so I thought I already knew what the Bible could offer me...(I later learned I was wrong).

As I ventured deeper in my quest I became more frustrated and disheartened. It seemed there really were no answers and that I might as well just give up and go out with a bang. Then one night, late in the summer of 1995, I was out walking the streets, searching, and I wound up in a music store. While perusing the books documenting the mostly sad outcomes of the lives of many of the famous artists, someone approached me and asked if I was a musician. We began to talk and he invited me to a special church service specifically for artists. Church I had done, but the artist thing got my attention, so I took his card and moved on.

I didn't go to the special service. I eventually did go to church with him, however, thinking if I at least went once we'd both be satisfied and that would be the end of it. It wasn't. He continued to call me and invite me to other events. He was a decent enought guy, so I talked with him but didn't commit to anything. Until finally, Christmastime rolled around. He called and invited me to a Christmas party. I was pretty bored, lonely and despondent by this point and was up for just about anything. So, I asked if there were going to be any women there (my mind was NOT on spiritual things at this point). He chuckled and said there would be all kinds of people there and that I should come. So, I went.

I quickly forgot my less noble pursuits when I arrived at the party and met some genuinely great people. You didn't meet people that had this kind of spirit every day. In talking to many of them, I realized that they shared a common bond regarding God and the Bible, but it wasn't weird or unusual, no glassy-eyed hypnotists. It was just an integral part of their lives.

This intrigued me, so I stuck around longer than I had originally planned, and made a new friend who lived in the apartment where the party was held. We shared music and talked about spiritual things into the wee hours of the night.

A week later the guy who first invited me out to church called and invited me to a New Year's Eve party that the church was having. So, seeing as the Christmas party was such a hit, I went to that too.

That weekend I went to church again with all of them and something hit me this time. Something that at least made me want to keep coming. So I did.

(TO BE CONTINUED)