"Seth Abram"

So if you haven't seen or heard yet, after much consideration, thought, & prayer I've decided to use just my first & middle name for my music career.

For some of you, You're maybe thinking "ok, cool, whats the big deal?", others are thinking "you can't drop Bible!"

I've gotten a bunch of opinions already; some agree, some disagree.

So for those who don't like it or don't quite understand where I'm coming from I want to sort of convince you, but more ask you to trust me & listen as I do my best as I convey how I came to the name change.
And for those who don't really see any problem with it or understand it already, my hope is that I can gain your trust & respect even more as I describe a little of how I believe I'm called into the music industry.

There is soooo much behind this decision the more & more I think about it, so I will do my best to just stick with the name thing.

First off, my whole life from Christians & non, Ive gotten caught up by my name so many times. Middle school, high school, visiting my brother at college, & to this very day Christians say things like "whats your real name?" Or when I first met my wife she was upset & thought
who's this worship leader think he is with the totally lame stage name?"

Or every job I've ever had hearing from non Christians things like "oh you must be really religious" or "Oh you've got a whole lot to live up to." They all honestly think they have to stop being themselves, put on a face, be decent around me or not swear.
I've seriously hated it. It's made it so hard for me to get across the point that in no way am I better than them, with their stereotyped "pure & quiet church boy who doesn't do anything wrong" idea.

I want you to hear me correctly.

I really do love the name on my driver's license. It really is Bible! And I'm so happy, honored & privileged to carry on the great name! But when attempting to influence the masses, I believe a last name like mine can be a stumbling block. Maybe not for everyone, but I don't want people to look at my name and immediately dismiss my music because it reminds them of something they are really uncomfortable with, or don't believe in, or even hate because of the way too many so called followers of the One who wrote the Book come nowhere near close to living in love like it says to.

Please stay with me.

I am in no way scared or ashamed of the word Bible. I know God said that if you're ashamed of Me, I'll be ashamed of you. I'm not dropping my last name for music because I'm worried about people making fun of me for being a sold out believer of the risen Christ. I am not ashamed of the Gospel who is my entire life. I'm dropping it for other reasons, & here are a 3:

Reason 1-

I really don't want just my name to speak for who I am. I don't want the people I meet & the people who see my name to have a speed bump to get over. I want my actions & what I say (on twitter/facebook/my blog/ in my lyrics) to speak for who I am.

Reason 2-

With humbling striving to follow my best alongside Jesus in how He impacted the world around Him, the apostle Paul spoke to how I similarly believe I am to live also in the music world- "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win the Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in it's blessings." -1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Reason 3-

Lastly and most importantly, I'm doing this because I've prayed about it with my wife & personally many times & firmly believe it's what the Lord is telling me to do as He leads me into the music industry as a whole, rather that just a fraction of it.

My strong hope is that my music & life would be truly encouraging & inspiring to fellow Christians, but honestly, I'd rather turn away a bunch of them with my decision than not be able to reach a few people who don't know Jesus & the life of freedom & purpose & meaning & satisfaction He offers. "But when the teachers of religious law who were pharises saw Him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat with such scum?" When Jesus heard this, He told them,"Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." -Mark 2:16-17

So friends, now I'm asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust in who you've seen me be in past faithfulness to Christ. I'm asking you to trust who He is in me as I seek Him with all that I am. And more than anything, I'm asking you to pray for my wife & I with this crazy adventure we've said yes to jumping fully into as we move ahead in His grip into the music industry desiring first to please the Maker of music.

I'm so very encouraged by you all with your incredible support & love.

Thank you thank you thank you,

Seth Abram