Coming this week to Baker Book House - ICRIS and friends!

Check out West Michigan's Christian rap artist, ICRIS as he does an acoustic set here at Baker Book House. Hear his amazing redemption story of how God can bring healing and a purpose to anyone. ICRIS's music is more of an outreach ministry to those both young and old. He isn't afraid to talk about the hard issues of life that many ignore or don't know how to help or relate to those struggling against darkness. Since ICRIS lived in darkness, he can relate and be the light of Christ with people. Music is said to be the language of the soul. Where words fail, the music carries true. I can always feel the Spirit move when I see ICRIS live.


So if you like good rap music and an amazing message, then I shall you see on Saturday!


Icris Print

March 29, 2011 - New Releases

Here are the releases for March 29, 2011 of Mary Mary, Emery, and more!
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Hello Fear - Kirk Franklin - A Review

This has to be one the best albums that I have heard yet this year. The music was well made, well produced, and well written. This album when I listen to it seems to flow from one song to another and at the end, the sense is one of completion.

      This Kirk Franklin album is a little different from all his previous album. The album begins without an upbeat, foot tapping song or an engaging story, but the beginning song "Hello Fear" has a lot of heart and describes the entire album. Kirk Franklin has shared his experience of his fight against fear. The album reflects on the struggle that many of us go through. Kirk Franklin changed the way we experience gospel music back in the earlier 1990's, when he mixed in the hip hop sounds with gospel music. I was expecting to hear something along those lines of intensely upbeat praise music. I was happily wrong and right, because the upbeat song "Today" that possess what one would expect from Kirk Franklin is on the same album of the lyically reflective song "Everybody Hurts." This album is more reflective and smooth R & B much of the time, but maintains the unique sound that is Kirk Franklin.
      When I first heard this album, I just wanted to share it with everybody that I saw. His song "I Smile" is one of reasons. It is really interesting to me because he describes bad things happen in an upbeat rhythm.  The song that tells us that even when bad things happen, we should still smile because of Jesus's joy in our hearts. I love how almost all the songs describe a silver liner in life that is the joy of Christ Jesus.
       Also on this live recorded album (and by "live" I mean that it was real backup singers and real instruments used), there are other artists featured of Marvin Sapp, Beverly Crawford, Rance Allen, Marvin Winans, John P. Kee, Isaac Carrie, and Mali Music. I love how Kirk Franklin was able to have the gospel legends and the new, talented Mali Music together on the same album. This is a multi-generational reaching type of worshipful album.

           Please enjoy the first single from this album below and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the album as much as I did.

March 22, 2011 - New Releases

Here are today's new releases of David Phelps, Caemon's Call, Kirk Franklin, Shawn McDonald, introducing Ryan Stevenson, and more below!
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A Shine of Rainbows - A Movie Review

A Shine of Rainbows gives life to a wonderful story of belonging, home, and family.
      Tomas, a shy eight-year-old orphan, is adopted by Maire McDonald, a beautiful woman bursting with life. She brings him home to Corrie, a remote island off the coast of Ireland, where he meets Alec, her reticent husband, who cannot hide his disappointment. 
       Maire shares with Tomas the classic and whimsical folklore of the island, the secret of the seals, and other wonders; mainly, that you can find hope anywhere if you really look. In this rugged and enchanting world, Tomas thrives and Alec begins to see in Tomas what Maire always has. But when tragedy strikes, Tomas is faced with his greatest challenge. He'll lose everything unless he can find and share the hope that's inside of him.
      What makes this movie great is the use of colors. The colors are a hint to the emotions of the shot. When there is many bright and vibrant colors, the emotions of happiness or light heartedness are present. When there is darker hues, the emotions are sad or more subdued. The movie is well done with excellent acting, gorgeous transitions, and the plot was well thought out. And for those who have a hard time with other accents, don't worry the Irish accents used are very easy to understand. It was a movie that brought laughter, smiles, and tears. I know that many will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

March 15, 2011 - New Releases

Here are today's new releases of Arkansas Mass Choir, VaShawn Mitchell, Tribute to George Younce by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, The Color Morale, and more!
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Make Your Move Concert - A Review

Last night, Sunshine Community Church rocked out the Make Your Move Tour with Travis Moore, Tenth Avenue North, and Third Day.
      Travis Moore is new to the stage, but not new to music as a songwriter for many well-know songs. He rocked out with his great guitar playing and his catchy lyrics. Any drawbacks, I would have to say was with his last song, "Jesus Rode the Subway," that I had some issues with the lyrics. Now this is a purely bias reason as I am someone who uses public transportation and it annoys me when assumptions are made to the types of people who use public transportation. However, the meaning was clear that God loves everyone even those who others turn away from.

1.       Tenth Avenue North gave an expected awesome performance. They rocked out with their worshipful songs, playing the songs form their new album The Light Meets the Dark as well as "By Your Side" and "Love is Here." The audience was treated to a new song, "You Don't Owe Me Anything." It was another meaniful song  of theirs that points to a God who cares inspite of us sinners. Many times last night, they were called men of God by others and I would have to agree. Any drawbacks was the sense of rushed between songs, but maybe this is because I have recently enjoyed their new project release, Tenth Avenue North Live: Inside and Inbetween. The DVD provides music videos, concert videos, and anointed song parables.

      Third Day came out with a bang as they rocked this concert in their 20 or so year as a band. Band members like bass player, Mac Powell and his heartfelt devotional talk, would come out on stage and speak to the audience. This interaction presented a sense of community between the vocalists and the listeners. This sense was even stronger when the band played among the seats in the center aisle. All night Third Day had been playing songs from their two newest albums and favorite songs of the past. So when they opened it up to request a funny thing happened that made the concert perfect. In one of the songs, Mac Powell had forgotten song of the words to the song. It reaffirmed that some songs are not dependent on the artist but are timeless in the hearts of the listeners. The audience was treated with a sneak peek to a new movie "8 Days in Utopia" where "Born Again" will be heard. This movie will be good, so look forward to seeing it in theaters this summer. Any drawbacks would be the time spent in the middle of the aisle where not everyone could see, but I guess if one is going to put that much effort into moving locations to make it worth while as they did.

       It was a great night that had incited an enchore performance of Third Day coming back out for two more songs. YAY!

Rising Stars is stellar! - A Review

So I sat down to watch this movie pretty skeptical about it, and I was pleasantly impressed with it. Lately, I have seen many movies that I have just found lacking something. Some have had a great story ideas, but either the transitions were cliche, the acting just not there, or the delivery is awful. In many cases one can overlook the lacking production, but thankfully here I did not have to as this movie was filled with talent both in front and behind the camera. 
      Imagine a singing competition and a film competition all in one TV show. The beginning introduces the three finalists in the singing and three finalists in the film categories. The finalists travel to a fine arts school, where the film finalists will create a music video of the singing finalists. Sounds musically exciting right? Well, the teen finalist come from diverse backgrounds, and all possess different personalities. These differences invite some challenges for the kids to overcome in order to win as they have to work together. And if we can more drama, there is this producer who will do anything to succeed. Just how far will these kids go to succeed? For what reasons do these kids want to succeed? This is another great movie about how life is not just about destinations, but also the journey of how we got there.
      Though this movie is not a movie about God, it is one that asks some important questions of how we live this life. This would be a great movie to share with those would normally be turned off by any movie labeled as "Christian". This is a positive movie for the whole family to enjoy as I have done with mine!

Here for You is Passionate!

     I have to say that I simply love the Passion Conference that happens every year. In some way it reaffirms the thought of a powerful God moving and active today. I mean how else could a gathering of so many Followers of Christ be able to come together and make such beautiful noise together.
     This musical experience begins with a great song by Chris Tomlin called "We Are Here For You." It is the kind of song that compels one get up and worship. By saying that we are here for the LORD, it gives purpose in everything we do. Life isn't all about us; it is about HIM. The next song, "Symphony," continues on this thought of life all about God with the entire creation glorifying its Creator.
     The Passion Conference is not just with Chris Tomlin but also features gifted musicians of Christy Nockels, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, and featured in the song "Shadows" with David Crowder Band is Lecrae!
     As with Passion's Awakening released last year, don't be surprised to be soon singing these anointed songs in your church's worship! One might wonder if Here for You is as good as what Awakening was. I would have to say that that is a tricky question, because Here for You is the next step in this journey that we call life. Personally if I could combine the two projects on one compilation, because I would say that they are both that good.
     At the heart of it all, Passion exists to see a generation stake their lives on what matters most - the fame of the One who rescues and restores and our opportunity to amplify His name in everything we do. 
     CHECK OUT THIS PREVIEW TO THIS NEWEST PASSIONATE MUSIC

March 8, 2011 - New Releases

Here are the new releases for today!
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March 1, 2011 - New Releases

Here are the new releases for March 1, 2011 of Francesca Battistelli, WOW #1s, and more!
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