I have written this bio to tell God’s involvement in my life. Maybe by telling you what God has done for me, I can help you see what God is doing for you and in you.

I come from a family of singers. From an early age I remember family reunions filled with singing and it seems like just about every time the extended families were together, there was singing.

Dad sang in a quartet with his brothers and still loves to sing. Mom taught us to play the piano and to enjoy music. Mom sings with the angels now, but I’m confident she’s still singing alto.

All of my siblings learned to sing parts in the same way I did – by listening to our parents sing with the church and at home. My brother, Warren, and I have competed in several barbershop quartet combinations and have earned a few medals along the way.

My wife, Laura, and our three boys, Nate, Jake, and Gabe (who are triplets) all love to sing as well. We sing together at home or in the car, and with our congregation – a congregation that is full of singers.

From the time that I was in middle school, I had an interest in the physics of sound. As a result of that interest, I have been building speakers for music and home theater systems for years as a hobby. During my college years, I first majored in Music Theory & Composition, then switched to Sound Recording Technology. Although I only use them as a hobby, I still enjoy both of these things immensely.

I have recently become convicted that I have too often failed to use the gifts or interests that God has given me to show my love for Him and His children. The gifts that our Father gives us should be as natural to use as are the various parts of our physical bodies. For me, singing is practically as natural as walking. I don’t have to concentrate on it all that much because it just happens rather naturally.

On the flip side, being an encouraging presence to other Christians requires so much concentration, I frequently trip and fall and produce the opposite result. It isn’t that I don’t care about encouraging others, but I find that it’s easier to express my concern for others and my love for God through singing.

When we use the talents that God has given us we will find our place in the body of Christ, allowing it to resemble more fully the true nature of Christ.

I thank God for music, and I pray for the wisdom to know its true source.

Joel Guyer