List of songs for listening, 

Anywhere With Jesus   written by Jesse H. Brown / D.B. Towner  Arrangement by Ray Sample / Vil Arreola

This is one of the first songs that my friend Vil Arreola and I arranged.  Vil sat down at the piano and we just were enjoying what we call "jamming" (coming up with ideas for that change the song but leave it recognizeable.)  We both liked the way this one turned out.  In the 3rd verse you will hear a very well known lullaby in the accompaniment as the words of the hymn turn to sleeping when we are with Jesus.  "Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep."  No matter what happens, when Jesus is there, I know I will wake up in the morning, when He brings His mighty trumpet and wakes us all up never more to roam.  Anywhere with Jesus will be home sweet home.

My Friend Jesus Medley 

This is a joyful mix of 2 of my favorite hymns,  "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."  I love the way these songs went together with such a clear message.  Leaning on the everlasting friend.

Be Thou My Vision

This song has always been a special favorite of mine.  The power of the words and the beauty of the melody combine to create a compelling song that really pulls at your heart.

It Is Finished

I remember when I first wrote out the words to this song.  The inspiration came to me from the Desire of Ages on pg. 72. "Often the dwellers of Nazareth heard Christ's voice lifted in song as He worked in the carpenter shop" and when I read that I felt impressed that the Lord was asking me to write.  I sat down and wrote out the words to "It is Finished"  I was at college at the time and I remember calling dad and reading that passage to him and he said to me, "Ray, it sounds like there is a song in that"  I was thrilled to hear and and immediately shared that I felt the same way.  I spent the rest of that day writing the story of Jesus through the eyes of a friend, someone who spent time with him but never fully came to understand why he was on this earth until Jesus was hanging from that cross and he realized that his Savior was hanging there before him.  And when we come to that full realization of our Savior, then when that day comes and he is coming in the clouds of Glory, we can be ready for him, when he opens his arms to us and sings to us, we can be ready to go home.

Let There Be 

I have a dream, to create a cantata based around the theme of the Great Controversy.  Starting with the very beginning with the Creation of this world, to the very end, when Jesus comes to take us home to be with him forever.  "Let There Be" is the start of this vision.  I believe God is giving me the words to write when I am ready to receive them.  He knows when our hearts are ready to be used by Him, and as this song says, we should be asking him to Create a Heart that longs to have him walk with us.  The 3 simple words that spoke things into existence were Let There Be... I believe 3 of the most powerful words spoken by God, our Creator.