Hey 'Catters,

          My name is Steve Beisser. I used to belong to this group under a few different names... some of you will remember me, others might not. Anyway, I am here for a specific reason...

    I want to ask the forgiveness of the group for the ways in which I probably offended people in the past with a very narrow and hurtful attitude towards life, specifically in the practice of my particular faith, which at the time could have rightly been called fundamentalist Christianity. I have gained so much more insight into God's grace and mercy toward me that I now realize how little of it I shared with others. I have grown in my understanding not only of faith, but of the true and proper way in which my brothers and sisters throughout the history of the church have lived that faith. I have chosen the Mudcat name 'FriendOfFrancis' as a tribute to a recently discovered hero of mine, Francis of Assisi. He was a man so in love with Jesus that he literally divested himself of a fortune in inheritance and family status and lived as a beggar, serving others meekly and with humilty without complaining. I would like, as best I know how and by God's grace, to be your humble friend and servant in helping us all to learn from each other and appreciate the precious gift of music that God has given us. Thanks for your time. Be blessed.

In Him,

Steve
FriendOfFrancis