Behind the Song - Unnatural

As always, thanks for reading! I will also likely have a video blog along the same subject as well. This song began decades ago with, as you may surmise, a moment of huge revelation through personal failure. 

I had been working towards advancing in my profession at the time and had achieved what I felt then was impressive success. It was the late 90s and I was playing shows throughout the gulf states. I had been sponsored by a pretty well established label with large plans and felt I was coming of age and unfortunately developing a slight celebrity status. Destruction was looming as pride often does, fortunately no lines were crossed, but the reality of what I could be aside from the grace of God was clear. He brought light, clarity, correction, and redirection. How easy compromise leading to corruption sets it. It was my watershed moment - I cannot not work to build His kingdom and my own at the same time AND any attempt to build my kingdom will leave my frustrated because I am not meant for this place, I have a heavenly destiny.

The song starts almost with whining - I messed up, what now? Then I go to answer the question, remind that where and when I can't, GOD can and IS! Though I hate personal failure, I love HIM there! I also wanted to include the map as well, all very purposeful and vital to the song.

The intro line was the originally chorus and the song moved without much meaningful direction. It played well enough with just and acoustic but was never driven. It was nearly years before I rewrote it to the way it currently.

I was getting ready to minister at an event in NC which had an addiction recover component and I really wanted to use this song so I began to work with it and the new chorus progression came about which gave the song a lot of energy causing me to reconstruct the verses somewhat to fit the new rhythm. I have been told that you can't write songs so revealing because it's too much - but it was my journal entry and I felt and still feel most people can identify with this message. 

It became a household favorite but I was never able to develop it further - I couldn't hear the parts. I would try different guitars, keys, and drums but was never satisfied. I relinquished this song to being only ever an acoustic song and have locked it away as that for years.

You want to hear God laugh? Tell Him your plan. Along came Marko who has been a gift to me in so many ways. During the COVID shut down Marko challenged me to come to his studio and record 3-4 songs and allow him to develop them. We settled on three, this being the first. 

When I heard the unmixed version, I was expecting to be asked to develop a lead guitar line with some riffs and heard this rotary organ. I loved it! I asked him how he thought of it and he said, very colorfully, "you're a musician and you play in churches, you need an organ!" And so it was. Even the touch of the tamborine is just remarkable. The emotion of the song is as you hear it. It starts with almost a whining admittance, it definitely travels through deep confession of the soul, and it announces the only answer, what He did to redeem us, and how I can get my head out of me and into His love for me.

You can enjoy it HERE (or linked below).

Thanks for reading, that's all for now! 

I Did The Research - Did You? Let's Talk About That

"I did the research." The obvious rarely ever is so ... this is a bit of a read so please bear with me ... 

 As a clinician we want our patients to be responsible for their health. I never regard my patients who show up with info regarding their health care with any negativity. Please take accountability for your health. What injects confusion is when the information is considered of higher value than expert medical advisement. THIS IS THE SAME FOR ANY FIELD. 

"What do you do when the experts disagree?" One of my mentors would challenge this question during my formative years - which I think some might say are still happening (at least I hope - does learning end?)

The danger is not knowing when in good faith you are receiving bad information. It may look sciency but it is based on a poorly constructed study, or just plain old "hip-shooting." These can be very convincing, however they lead good intending people to terrible consequences. I have more than I can count treated people who followed the advice of "natural medicine experts" who presented in liver failure or worse because of "natural" supplements.

Do not misunderstand me. I recommend natural remedies and lifestyle disciplines to people initially for many health issues and have a list of natural medicine providers I trust greatly - that I use myself! But when it comes to expert medical opinion and what qualifies as better information, I suggest tipping the hat to those who are LIABLE for their counsel. Your PCP and specialist teams have standards of care we must keep that if we can be held accountable to. Google has no such liability. If it did, it would shut down all medical advice columns. 

Before I get ahead of myself, let me explain the reason why I am diving into these waters. I have quite a few patients who have benefited on GLP-1s such as Wegovy, OZEMPIC, Zepbound, and Mounjaro. It has been a greatly appreciated medicine for those who have failed natural and lifestyle measures and more conservative med therapies. The glycemic control and weight loss have significantly decreased other issues (we call co-morbitites) as well. 

A recent published study suggested that these meds are connected to an increase in Non Arteric Anterior Ischemic Neuropathy (NAIOM). The study conducted by Hathaway et al was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), a very respected medical journal. The original paper can be read at the following link:  

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2820255/#google_vignette

The findings of the research in this paper suggested that GLP-1s are associated with NAION. This is very problematic. If someone were to read this study and interpret the results, they might (and did) incite panic regarding this medication. This is widely repeated online including law firms invitations - a major problem in medicine right now driving the costs - another topic. 

So did you read the article I posted? The entire article? Did you know what you were reading? Do you understand what confidence intervals are? Do you know how to determine the power of a study? Do you know how to determine which level of the evidence hierarchy this study is? In the peer review, do you know who any of those people are? Yet the results of this study, which is pretty recent, are being ran with and as you may know, no news travels like false news. 

A couple of things you may or may not know about research (there is MUCH more):

1. Research NEVER proves anything. It only describes the findings and tries to interpret the results.

2. Good research is repeatable. The method has to be intricately described so that peers can recreate the study exactly as it was done and the results should be the same. 

3. Research is always topic specific. Unexpected results that seem to suggest new association or results against what was expected do not translate as cause and effect no matter how likely. They will likely lead to more research specific to the new information but they are not to be used for cause and effect because the controls in place were not for them, there could be bias.

4. Research is a language to itself. Those, like myself, who use it as a standard have to take very difficult classes to be qualified to properly interpret what is being presented and what it means.

So JAMA is not making a false claim, it is merely publishing the findings of a research group. The research group did not claim that GLP-1s cause NAIOIN, they merely found a connection. The news media and lawyers added the twist of cause and effect which would understandably be seen as cause and effect but no such claim was made by the researchers. 

As is always done in medicine research, this study was evaluated by another group of researchers. Their study can be found here: https://www.ajo.com/action/showFullText?pii=S0002939425000947

They found that Hathaway et al's study participants were from a clinic with patients who had significant diseases not found frequently in the typical patient population so were possibly subject to a selection bias (I will explain). They had a much larger participant population and also referred to another similar study who both found NO association w NAION, in fact, if you review the study quite the opposite. It seems that GPL-1s in healthy people may help prevent NAION. More studies would have to be conducted to consider that. But clearly, AJO's study found that GLP-1s are not associated with NAION and that the study published by JAMA is inferior to the study published by AJO likely because of bias (I am simplifying).

But HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT? Well intended patients get in trouble with this and it can turn into mistrust of the medical system and frustration with treatment. It can also lead to avoidable treatment delay that can worsen symptoms and lead to a catalyst of negative health effects. All because of misunderstanding the point or and misinterpreting the results of very necessary research. 

This is common for medicine and research. JAMA was not wrong for publishing Hathawy's findings. A study by a respected group was done and they published their findings raising concern. This necessitated more studies to be done that were very reassuring against the concern. No one is offended. This is research and vital to our process of medicine. Yet many will read the paraphrased versions of entities with clear bias and mistrust and fear form.

So HOW DO WE FIX IT? Well let's have the conversation! Talk to your providers about what you are finding and listen to their advice. We stay up on this stuff (most of us). Did you know we have to have 200 hours of continuing learning every 2 years? Unlike what is propagated by so many media personalities

- medicine does not prosper by keeping people sick, actually quite the opposite

- medical school does not teach pushing pills and procedures. That is absolutely absurd and offensive. We press natural lifestyle modification always first. But keep in mind, laughter is the best medicine until you break your arm ... 

- nature doesn't make pills. They don't grow on trees. It takes chemicals to hold them together. Did you know thats many of the meds we use are derived from natural substances? 

Your medical providers are much more invested in your health than GOOGLE. Our friends are well-meaning but they can get us in a lot of trouble because a lot of what we call research is really valuing only  what we find that supports what we want to be true.

Consider the following sources for failures of logic and lets have that conversation. What do you need to talk to your provider about?

Also consider my friends, this applies to every study of life, including faith - oh the trouble we can get into. Here are some resources on research and bias:

Critical Thinking Tools - Failures in Logic

I hope this helps, that's all for now

Thanks for reading,

Update! Steep Learning Curve - But There's Great News!

So - first things first - thank you to everyone who is helping us move this thing forward. We developed a pretty impressive group of friends years ago and we had to let this passion go quiet because of a disease situation that almost took one of my kids life. It resulted in giving up my career, moving across the country, and starting again. I'll dive into that more later down the road but the point is, we went from 194k reads to silence for 10 years - and we're back!

Why are we back? Honestly, it's because I feel compelled - we have a message to share and it is not one of redundancy. People need hope. They need to know that there is penetrating life through and available in all situations, especially what seems the hopeless ones. Our unique approach to ministry being accessible, multifaceted, transparent, and practical I feel people need, and compelled to meet that need. 

The writing just started again - suddenly, and with doors opening when I wasn't pushing. So here we are. I left a world of ADAT and inkjet printing with certified letter mailing for copyrights and am now 25 years later re-entering a world of digital licensing. It's something to learn. 

The plan was to release a 3 song EP. I instead released the singles one at a time when the first song Unnatural was completed thinking it might  be a couple months for the other two, hoping I could reorganize them into the EP later. Well, we were able to get them released sooner then expected. My first hiccup was trying to release the 3 singles with the same artwork - and they were stopped - because that is against international copyright laws. So my very first move was to become a criminal - nice. They were however forgiving and patient with me. So then I went ahead and organized the EP as planned only to find out that an EP is 4-6 songs, 3 songs only if one is over 10 minutes long. So that is not going to happen - bummer.

However in all of it, I found out that my songs are also playing on the internet radio - 100 plays just last night! So I decided to give it a listen and this Jango Internet Radio is awesome. Check it out!

Jango Internet Radio

Click here! 

Please click those like, share, and follow lings

As a reminder, I am also on many streaming services - just click here ⇨ Spotify - ITunes - Amazon 

Keep following along with us! Things are happening!

That's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Behind the Song: You Won't Have To Run Anymore

Hey there! This is a new song we just finished the night prior to playing this live set. Not that we just started writing this song - actually I have been working on this one for years. It was originally more of a blues chop song, lots of quick breaks - it just didn't carry the flow and give room for the emotion that I wanted. Yuci and I were working on it and she was like, "Why don't we just air it out a little?"

So we did, she changed the keys from more of a rhodes organ to pads and piano and I went from my tele to an acoustic We had practiced and up until the moment we played this. I had intended on walking over and picking up the acoustic. 

I got caught up with challenging those attending to consider themselves and just plain forgot. I realized once the song started playing what I had done and I figured I would just play what I had. This is how we will play it going forward ... excellent song!

Give yourself some room for some introspection and maybe enjoy it a little. God loves you. Listen, think about it - click those like, share, and follow buttons and ... enjoy!

That's my take on it anyways because I love the song!

Things Are Moving

 Hey! We’re back in the studio. Posted some pics and videos on our FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM & X pages. Click those like and follow buttons - kind of need to build those numbers as the powers that be look close at them, otherwise having to use my personal page which can also keep you informed … but … we have the page and we would like to transition the music stuff over to that.

All three song are now out and available. The YouTube channel has over 200 unique visits to the Unnatural song! Woohoo, hope to see that number continue to increase. The other songs are on there as well - think you will really enjoy them! That channel is automated from TuneCore who we are published with and have no control over it. However you can link straight to our official music on streaming platforms. 

Just click here ⇨ Spotify - ITunes - Amazon 

On another front, another project I have been working is to get my inventory of resources reorganized on our new website. We are closing down the patrickhazard.com site and building the thehazmusic.com page as our central ministry operating page. The old webpage needed major updating, had long since aged out regarding securities etc. We were not in a place to keep it up and people were continuing to download and use the resources so I let it up as our ministry and work has continued. We are now in a place to focus and feel a sense of urgency so we are shoring things up. Ministry resources can be found on our webpage, I encouraged you to look around. 

I have had a goal for some time to organize and make my medical charting dot phrases available for clinicians. I am a fan of getting resources to people who need them and this is a part of that desire. I have over 400 short phrases for exams, plans, documentation, etc and I have excited to say I have organized and posted them on a page on this blog. If you are a clinician looking for some resources for charting, check this out! If you are a med, PA, NP  student about to start on rotations, I have a lot of good resources for you HERE. 

We will continue to organize so things may still move around a little - not quite sure that we have found the best resting place for everything however I am glad with the progress we have made.

If my tools works in your belt, feel free to use them!

So, lots of good stuff happening!

Thanks for keeping up with us. Click those like, share, and follow buttons. Foot traffic helps open doors in the internet world so … thanks!

That’s it for now, thanks for listening

What starts in here will REACH THE WORLD!