“I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free. This freedom that you (God) give me allows my heart to dream.” I grew up in a musical home. My whole life, my mother filled our home with the most fantastic music. She played by ear and with such emotion and beauty. And she could play anything! Just name that tune and she would start playing a gorgeous version of it. From the standards...
“Let It Begin” written by Gretchen Keskeys and co-written and produced by Ian Eskelin, will be released February 2025. It is an album created in a prayer. I write most every day. Anything and everything God puts on my heart, healing I see and experience, writing inspired by scripture and the Holy Spirit. My files were filled with songs, some just started, some complete, some just an idea. I wanted to take my very...
Not only are the words in each song God-breathed, but this music embodies a classic style that invites you to gather with family and friends and feast with the Holy Spirit. You will grasp resilience in this album Gretchen Keskeys dedicated to her mother, Amy Bjork Harris. As I sit and listen to these songs of faith, I understand why she states; "Her faith is now my faith" From the first selection, Sought and Saved,...
[caption id="attachment_589" align="alignright" width="300"] In Bethlehem outside the Church of the Nativity. I couldn't go inside because I didn't have the proper covering. Typical teenager! But I enjoyed visiting with some friendly Israeli soldiers, who were everywhere.[/caption] I had visited Israel as a teenager with my parents. And although I found it very interesting and it even made me feel this Jesus Christ I had heard about throughout my life could actually be real, I...
I've been thinking a lot about the word "unity." We hear it often, it seems to be everyone's goal today, but how is it ever achieved? I started thinking of it in terms of my own family. When there is a disagreement, a bitterness, a hostility...
This is a recent story from Charisma Magazine about my testimony, family background and ministry. All glory to God. I think it was well written and I am grateful! If They Only Knew You A simple prayer started it all. It was a prayer of compassion. While Gretchen Keskeys was watching a television episode of A&E Network's Intervention, the overpowering pain and self-destruction of the show's real-life addicts moved her. They were lost, trapped in lives they...
I recently watched the great film "Harriet" about legendary Harriet Tubman. I had read about her in high school history but hadn't given her too much thought over the last few decades. Since watching the film, I can't stop thinking about her. What I particularly loved about this film is that they focused on what gave her the power, the ability, the drive, the courage, the heart to do the amazing things she did...
Those who live on the street are not a new thing. Growing up in the 60's and 70's, we called them hobo's. A good example of one is depicted in the film "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" played by Nick Nolte. I lived in Hollywood in the 80's and 90's and they were there. I worked at Sunset Gower Studios at Sunset Blvd. and Gower St. as a production assistant on Days of...
It is astonishing how easy it is to believe lies. Most of the true problems of my life have come from believing lies. As a child I believed I was ugly and unlovable (I was slightly chubby -I look back at photos of myself as a child and I was actually pretty - but the taunts stuck in my mind and magnified over time.) It seemed my whole childhood was full of pain because...
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Brooklyn Tabernacle in NYC. It was such a powerful experience that I wrote a song about it called: Praise Be To You (that will be on my upcoming album.) I was so moved by the power of the Holy Spirit as a huge gathering of every race and background all in one heart poured out praise and worship to Jesus Christ. THIS is...