“The story of your scar - does not define who you are - a ‘healed’ wound tells your story…” Jules Riding.

A few nights ago I had a dream.

In the dream, a man by the name of Jules Riding (of whom I knew nothing about) was sitting across from me in the Fresh Fm Studios in Nelson. I woke up and emailed this Jules person and two days later, I was interviewing him, just hours before he shot off to begin his New Zealand Tour!

So, who is Jules Riding?

Well, I had no idea!  Look, I had seen him sing some songs at a Music Festival once but that was about it.

I did not know that he was a bit of NZ household name!

Jules Riding is an award winning singer songwriter. He has traveled over 30 countries for more than 20 years with his music, including a 12 month world tour with his wife and children, across 8 countries! He has released a dozen albums including a couple especially for children.

Two of his albums have WON “Gospel Album of the Year” at the New Zealand Music Awards!

Many of his songs have appeared in various songbooks and some of his songs have also been selected for programs taught to kids in the USA. He has even had a song that was chosen as a finalist in New Zealand's most prestigious secular songwriting award - APRA Silver Scroll Award!

Jules Riding was also one of 22 songwriters from 18 nations who had a song selected for a concert in ROME that was to promote world peace. Wow!

Plus,  if all that wasn’t enough, for a starstruck little community radio host like myself, he has also authored a few books, including:-

- 2 volumes of poetry,

- a 40 day devotional study program and

- a self help testimonial/study book called "Brokenheart."

The book, Brokenheart, is all about how one man made it through burnout, overcame depression without the use of pills, and came to terms with a dysfunctional background marked with alienation and abuse.

The book was written in the hope that it would "speak to those who have experienced pain, grief or despair of any kind (most of us), and in particular those who have grappled with dysfunction in their past or struggled with depression, anger and grief."

Here is something else I did not know about Jules Riding...

I did not know the depth of his compassion for those in need of hope, particularly those who are suffering with depression or wandering through life as though in a wilderness. In his new album, titled SCARS, on the track that bears the same name, Jules sings:

"The story of your scar

Does not define who you are..."

He continues with "a healed wound tells your story, healed for, healed for God’s glory..." and so I ask Jules Riding in this episode if there is a message (of hope perhaps?) that he would personally like to convey through this new album, SCARS. I also ask him, "What is your driving force?"

Of course I play a couple of songs too on this episode. I chose two from his CATACLYSM album.

MASKS and BROKEN.

I sincerely trust that they bless your heart abundantly, as you listen to them. May this whole interview, with Jules Riding, bless your heart.

I consider it a privilege to have met this ‘man of my dreams’ (lol) in person and that I get to share him with all of you, right here, my faithful listeners. Enjoy.

You can listen to the entire interview here

For Jules Riding's latest TOUR DATES head to www.julesriding.com/tour-dates/

Blessings, as always,

April May