August 3, 2010 - New Releases

August 3 Releases

July 27, 2010 - New Releases

July 27 Releases

"Blessed and Cursed" Releases Tuesday!

         What a powerful movie! Deitrick Haddon does an amazing job of delivering this powerful and moving message . Along with Haddon, the cast of all-star gospel musicians gives this movie a depth through music that otherwise would not be there.  
        The theme of this story is simply an expansion of the title: people have the power to bless or curse others around them. The story-line follows the main character, Dwight (Haddon), who is given the position of music minister at the church of a powerful bishop. Dwight's music ministry initially takes off, but jealousy in the church results in betrayal and eventual dismissal for Dwight. God still calls him to a life in music ministry, but this ministry is quite different from anything he expected.
         How often in our lives do we feel God's calling for a specific ministry, but it ends up in betrayal and confusion? This movie reminds us that God is always in control, even though His plans may not be in line with our plans or expectations. The message of this movie brings to mind the truth of Jeremiah 29:11: 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD.' Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

Anita Renfroe - Big Ol' Sweet Tea

Its been a wild decade for Anita Renfroe. She went from a stay at home mom to a YouTube comedic phe-mom-enon..…but Anita Renfroe doesn’t mind. With her unique brand of estrogen flavored musical comedy and blend of sass, edge and slightly offbeat takes on All Things Female, audiences at her comedy concert tours, viewers of Good Morning America appearances and the YouTube masses who enjoyed her William Tell version of everything a Mom says would say that Anita just tells it like it is. Some would say she just says what everyone else is thinking, but won’t say out loud.
Anita Renfroe’s brand new DVD “Big Ol Sweet Iced Tea” does just that – making people laugh with her off-the-wall insights, music and her trademark pop culture parodies. Filmed in her hometown of Atlanta, GA before a sold out crowd, “Big Ol Sweet Iced Tea” released July 20, 2010.

Anita Renfroe Live DVD Highlight from Marko Visual on Vimeo.

July 20, 2010 - New Releases

July 20 New Releases

Francesca Battistelli - Beautiful Beautiful

If you have never heard of Francesca Battistelli, then let me enrich your life today. Francesca appeared on a national Christian stage back in 2008 with her hit songs "Free to Be Me" and "I'm Letting Go" from her album My Paper Heart. Since then she has gone on to win and receive recognition for various awards like the Dove Award for Best Female Vocalist of the year, best song of the year, and even a Grammy Nomination for Best Gospel Performance. Even with all this success in her music career, Francesca maintains a down to earth sense of what is really important in life.
Her love of music was active long before she became a recognizable name in the Christian music industry. Francesca grew up with a passion for music: at 15 she was a part of a small all-girl mainstream pop group. When that stage in her life concluded she found her passion for music could be applied with her heart for youth ministry. Francesca shares, “It was there where the Lord really captured my heart for Christian music. I started playing guitar and really longed to bring something authentic to the scene that even non-Christians could listen to.” Francesca set out to write “soulful pop music that someone pops in in the morning and says, ‘Now I can start my day, I feel encouraged.’” From my experience with her music, her songs hold meaning and important lessons from God's Word, especially for young girls. They are also just fun to sing along with!
Her new song "Beautiful Beautiful" is one she co-wrote with renowned producer Ian Eskelin. This song talks about second chances and the opportunity to begin each new day with a fresh start.

(I apologize profusely about the quality of the video. It was the only one that I could use that was of the music video. If you can't stand it, try listening to it on Francesca's YouTube page www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbCfyZHSQbE)

July 13, 2010 - New Releases

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The Afters Visit!!!!!!

(in pic from left - Matt, Me, Josh, Josh of Baker Book House)

This morning I got a phone call from one of my music companies about a band that was in the area and on the way to Baker. This was not just any band- it was The Afters! Well, at least Josh and Matt of The Afters, along with John, their agent, and Vanessa. You know, it's always fun to meet artists in person, but it's even more fun when it's out of the blue! They were very friendly and down to earth, talking about their new album and taking a tour of our store. You know they must spend a great deal of time together when all the guys showed up "accidentally" matching! They were in town to do interviews with WAYFM and WCSG, our local Christian radio stations. Their next and third album releases September 14, so be watching for it! Here is the story behind the new single that is playing on the radio now!

In Memory of Walter Hawkins (May 11, 1949 - July 11, 2010)

On July 11, 2010, Walter Hawkins went home to his risen Lord and Savior. Bishop Walter Hawkins was one of the most beloved pastors and figures in contemporary Gospel Music today. In the Forty plus years of his career, he has created one of the most prolific and outstanding catalogs of hit gospel recordings and published songs that continues to inspire people and musicians.

July 6, 2010 - New Releases

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Hillsong - Beautiful Exchange

For a limited time only you can listen to 6 of the brand new songs from the new Hillsong Live album, "A Beautiful Exchange." Song 1: You Song 2: Open My Eyes: Song 3: Forever Reign Song 4: The One Who Saves Song 5: Like Incense - Sometimes By Step Song 6: Greatness of Our God

June 29, 2010 - New Releases

June 29 Releases

Michael Essex and Vision Visits!

On Saturday night we had the honor to have Michael Essex and Vision in our store for a time of fine music and fellowship. This is one amazing group from the area, in and around Grand Rapids. Two members of their group were missing who are both their regular sopranos, and just to show you the amazing talent of those of the group, the altos stepped up the challenge and sang in a different range. Michael Essex and Vision are a group of people who love the Lord and gifted with great voices to praise his name. They honored us with many small samples of their CD and their new album coming out next month! They have such a unique and diverse sound that the many small samples gave a great view of the possible range of music. One way I would describe them would be to say that they have a great energy and life in their music.

June 22, 2010 - New Releases

June 22 Releases

Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Trailer

On December 10th, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER returns to the magic and wonder of C.S. Lewis' beloved world - via the fantastic Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader. In this new installment of the blockbuster The Chronicles of Narnia motion picture franchise, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their cousin Eustace and their royal friend King Caspian, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to the Dawn Treader. As they embark on an incredible adventure of destiny and discovery, they confront obstacles beyond imagination.

June 15, 2010 - New Releases

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This Week: Southern Raised and Michael Essex & Vision Concerts

2010 Christmas Choral

2010 Christmas Choral

Check Out This Awesome New Release!!

Ashmont Hill - Your Masterpiece

“Our Dad instilled in us from the beginning the need to be a church without walls,” says April. People from all walks of life make their homes and peaceably coexist in diverse communities like Ashmont Hill in the inner city of Boston, Massachusetts. “We actually love all types of Christian music,” says Phil Thompson, who formed Ashmont Hill out of Jubilee Christian Church, with sisters April Joy Thompson and Deborah Bullock, along with Deborah’s husband Will Bullock. “We grew up on The Winans and Commissioned, Me and April were BeBe & CeCe growing up.” “But we also grew up on Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant,” echoes April. “And since then . We love listening to Hillsong, Nichole Nordeman, Natalie Grant, Leeland—we love Leeland!”

"Show My Love" is from Ashmont Hill's Your Masterpiece project (released May 25, 2010). This song's chorus says "I am glad cause I let go and give you everything I am to show my love." To me that is a powerful statement that can be divided into three parts. One is "let go". If a person lets go they acknowledge that they can't control life or a situation, and stop trying to. For many this is a scary thought, but here it is a gladly done. Letting go takes a lot of trust. The second part of "give you everything" is the part where we are giving that trust to someone else to take care of. Now I don't know about you but for me this is really hard to do, because I want to do it and be thanked. This situation, sadly, leaves no place for God. The last part "to show my love" drives the issue home. Here trusting is the same as loving. This makes sense, because how can you love someone if you don't trust your heart to them? To quote another song "more of you and less of me, Lord."

June 8, 2010 - New Releases

June 8 Releases

June 1, 2010 - New Releases

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May 25, 2010 - New Releases

New Releases May25 2010

Introducing forever Jones

The family group called forever Jones has their debut album releasing in 2 weeks. Here is a sneak preview to their amazing sound on their album.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him (Psalm 127:3). While some may gloss over this declaration in the book of Psalms in passing, this verse is at the very core of the Jones family, known musically as forever JONES.

Early in their marriage, Dewitt & Kim Jones were given devastating news. A bout with toxic shock syndrome at age 18 had resulted in Kim being diagnosed with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and the young newlyweds were told they would likely never have children. The doctor prescribed medication for Kim, but she made a decision not to take it, but rather to completely trust God with her life and for her healing.

Now, after 31 years of marriage and miracle after miracle, Dewitt and Kim have 5 children and recently welcomed their first grandchild. Indeed, “children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” It wasn’t until Kim was holding her fourth newborn in her arms that she was told the condition she had been diagnosed with was known to completely sterilize 99% of the women who have it. “I looked at my miracle Judah and my 3 other kids at that time and said, ‘God, you gave me a miracle,” Kim remembers. “I didn’t even realize how big of a miracle it was.”

To learn more about this amazing group go to: http://foreverjones.emigospel.com/biography/

Music This Weekend

Check Out The Awesome New Artist

Petree "Memory Lane" Music Video from Dream Records on Vimeo.

The Message of the video is only apparent if one watches the entire video. The message of the concesquences of actions done and not done. How often in life do we decide not to do something? Do we ever wonder what life would be like if we had choose to act? Not every decision we make will be huge life altering, but as in this video, sometimes the simple actions that we do in life have life altering effects.

As Robert Frost puts it:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

May 18, 2011 - New Releases

May 18 New Releases

May 11, 2011 - New Releases

May 11, 2010

May 4, 2010 - New Releases

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New MercyMe Release

MercyMe releases tomorrow with their 7th album release, The Generous Mr. Lovewell.

“The album, “The Generous Mr. Lovewell,” revolves around a fictional character we created who reminds us that we simply need to love others well,” explains MercyMe frontman Bart Millard. “For some of us, it means that we need to put hands and feet on our ideology and rhetoric. For others, it means that we need to continue in doing well, but to not stop there. We need to let people know why we are called to make a difference. Our prayer is that this album would mobilize the body of Christ to encourage people in word and deed.”

Introducing Carlos Whittaker

This is an exert from Carlos Whittaker's blog (www.ragamuffinsoul.com)

Save Us From These Comforts – Danny’s Story

POSTED ON 18. DEC, 2009 BY LOSWHIT IN MUSIC

Save us from these comforts.
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

This is one of my favorite choruses on my new album. It brings out strong reactions in people. I’m finding 2 reactions the most popular.

1. What? Really? C’mon. You don’t really want to sing that.

2. Oh my God. This is the chorus that my church has needed to sing for years. I can’t sing it enough. BREAK US LORD!!!

Through my conversations with the reactionaries I am finding some things to be consistent. Those who are comfortable in their faith really aren’t hip with too much disturbance and disruption in their mojo. If things are good. If things are stable, why ask God to save us from these comforts? And those who are desiring something…”more”…from whatever it is they are searching for, are singing this chorus until their voices give out. This chorus is taken from a book of Puritan prayers. Those guys wanted something extra. Something I don't quite understand. Or didn’t. Until I met Danny.

Danny is a homeless guy in Atlanta who happened to walk up on me while I was shooting the EPK for my new record. I was singing the song…God Of Second Chances.
Danny walks up…kneels down…starts crying…puts his hands up in the air…and…

If you listen carefully at the end you hear me saying this to Danny.
“Keep trying to make it man.”
He looked me square in the eye…cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face…and said, “Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.”

Save us from these comforts.

Break us of our need for the familiar

Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

Carlos

April 27, 2010 - New Releases

New Release 4-27-10 Pg1