Book Review: Grace, by Max Lucado

This is the 3rd book I've reviewed on the topic of "grace" and it's, without a doubt, my favourite.

I'm a huge fan of Max Lucado, so I entered this review with a bias, but I loved, loved reading this book! Max's writing is theologically and factually informative, which is great, but it's more than that. As I read about the topic of grace, I felt the emotions of grace coming through the pages - generous, abundant, warming, life-changing. The danger in discussing topics such as grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love is that we can forget that these are powerful forces that can elicit powerful emotions in us. Why shouldn't we be moved by reading about God's grace? Isn't it more concerning if we're not moved by the subject?

I highly recommend this book. It's well written, well organized, has great stories, lots of Scripture quotes, and comes complete with a study guide.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Infinitely More singing for Children's Ministry Conference

Next month, we'll be leading worship for Making it Easier to Serve: Children's Ministry Leadership Conference. The day will be filled with workshops on children's ministry for an audience of clergy, Sunday school teachers, and youth ministers from a variety of denominations.

The organizers gave us a lovely write-up on their blog. 

You can read the post HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We've had the most wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

On Saturday, we gathered with my family for an evening of feasting! Three generations laughed, sang, and shared stories. The table was set for 12 but my Mom cooked for 25, so we all went home with bags of leftovers, grateful for so much abundance.

Mom's beautiful Thanksgiving flower arrangement.

On Sunday, we were blessed with a night of beautiful worship at The Gathering. We brought a little sweet table to thank our musicians for sharing their talents on Thanksgiving night, and everyone indulged in cookies, strawberries, and honey-peppermint iced tea. We sang songs of gratitude - "Give Thanks," "My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness," and Hillsong's "Worthy is the Lamb." We continue to be humbled by the faithfulness, talent, and camaraderie of our band.

And today, we rested. We enjoyed the cool weather, the fridge full of leftovers, and the peace of a quiet house.

We are blessed beyond measure. 

Some days, it can be hard to remember that.

I pray we may always live in that space of gratitude.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

We're on iTunes!

Our new CDs are on iTunes! Just in time to get your Thanksgiving soundtrack ...

Click the photos or links below to bring you to the iTunes store.

www.iTunes.com/InfinitelyMore

www.iTunes.com/GeraldFlemming

Allison, by John Viljoen

A number of years ago, I met portrait artist John Viljoen when we were both teaching at the same arts school.

Needless to say, I was more than flattered when he asked me to sit for a portrait. But what I didn't anticipate was the power of joining in someone else's creative process in this unique way. Like working with a photographer, I realized part of my job, the way I could contribute to John's art, was to simply be open and present, living in the moment.

Years later, John gave us the original as a wedding gift. 

He recently posted the photo online, so I thought I'd share it with you. 

It was a really creative time in my life. I had just spent long days in the sanctuary of St. John's Church with Gerald (who was my brand new fiancé!) and our best friends, recording my first CD - It Is Well With My Soul. On the day that John captured the expression in the painting, I had just received my first disc with the almost finished recordings. We played it in the studio, and as I listened, John painted.

When I look at this painting, my mind drifts back to that time,

 remembering the power of creativity and friendship.

For more information on the art of John Viljoen, 

please visit www.JohnViljoen.com

Back to Church Sunday

Today, we played two services at St. John's York Mills to celebrate Back to Church Sunday.

Many churches put on their game-face today, and we were no exception. The music in the morning made use of our talents, the choir, the worship band, organ, and handbell choirs. The sermon was ripping, and the congregation stayed after the service for BBQ and bocce ball. Each group in the church prepared a booth for a 'trade fair,' and Gerald and I even performed a little outdoor concert. So thankful for perfect weather!

At The Gathering, we had a full band, complete with saxophone, violin, and organ. Our pre-service song was our new arrangement of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and our solo was Gerald's new ballad, "Oh My God, I Love You." After a moving message inspired by the book of James, we gathered around the altar for an intimate communion.

One person said to me today, "This feels like Easter." Today was a lot of work for some of us, but it's so worth it with a comment like that. Of course, shouldn't our worship always feel like Easter? Shouldn't we always have that feeling of joy and freedom?

So the challenge: How do we make Easter every Sunday?

Book Review: 1,000 Days - The Ministry of Christ, by Jonathan Falwell

I chose to review this book because I love the starting point: Jesus came to Earth to give us salvation. He could have done that in a day, but instead, chose to walk with us in three years of full-time ministry. If salvation was the only goal, why bother with the three year ministry? What was that all about?

I was hoping this would be an in-depth look at those three years, picking apart the details of Jesus's words and actions. Instead, the book is organized in broad strokes. I think as a "Jesus 101" book, this is great. If you're new to the story of Jesus, this is a great way to get an overview. But for those of us who are looking for something deeper, this book won't provide it. There are some great nuggets of insight in the book, but they were too few and far between to keep my interest.

If you're new to the faith, or not a Christian but interested in the story, check this out. There are also questions for personal reflection or group discussion at the end of each chapter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Angels in the Dust - Our tribute to 9/11

Not long after the events of 9/11, Gerald met a first responder. 

He captured his story in the song "Angels in the Dust" 

and recorded it on his new CD Every Church is a Small Town.

This simple video shares the story of "Angels in the Dust."

Listen, remember, and share...

You can download the song at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

East Coast Tour - Day 32 - HOME!!

32 days on the road:

5 provinces

16 performances

4 denominations

6500+ kilometres

2 ferries

2 new CDs

1 new song written

350 photos

32 blog posts

Countless moments of beauty....

It's been an amazing month. We've been so blessed to enjoy hour upon hour with our beautiful extended family, our generous hosts, and our fantastic audience members.

We're so grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey!

And tonight, we're also grateful for our own bed, 

our sweet puppies, 

and a family to welcome us home...

East Coast Tour - Day 31

We couldn't leave Quebec without visiting the lower part of the old city, so before heading west today, we drove downtown and squeezed in a few more hours of beauty.

The lower part of Old Quebec is definitely, without-a-doubt, our favourite part of the city! The buildings are all dated, and many date back to the 1600's. These streets felt even more twisty and intimate than the upper city. We spent hours drifting through antique stores and art galleries. We watched artisans blowing glass. We ate the most amazing breakfast-for-2 on the most beautiful courtyard patio.

A word too on the wonderful buskers here in Quebec. We've seen guitarists, keyboardists, flautists, and dancers. We even saw an opera singer who was playing her accompaniments on what only can be described as a large music box she had strapped to her waist. The musicians filled every block, but never close enough to be in competition.

So now, I'm writing from Montreal. We've had a little walk, a great meal, and now we're resting in the hotel room.

Second last day, last night of the tour.

We'll be home in less than 24 hours.

Amazing...

East Coast Tour - Day 30

Sunday in Old Quebec!

This morning, I took a bus that could only be equated with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride down to Old Quebec to attend worship at Holy Trinity Cathedral. The service was the well known Anglican communion (service from the Book of Alternative Services & hymns from Common Praise), but there were so many special touches!

The Cathedral sponsors missions to Burundi, so today's message came from the missionary herself, and special music was provided by musicians who had traveled from Burundi. They played guitar, piano, and rhythm instruments. Their voices infused the sanctuary with sounds of praise.

Three young children from the church had prepared a Burundian song to sing after the message. As they started, it was clear that they were shaking with nerves. The Burundian musicians in the pews began to sing along softy to encourage them. As the children smiled at the support, the musicians, one by one, left the pews and stood alongside the children. Their soft voices lifted the energy of the children, and we were all witnesses to the power of walking beside another... without a doubt, the most powerful moment of the day.

The prayers were also incredible in this worship service. This congregation is English, but a few prayers were said in French, and the blessing was given in German. When it came time for the Lord's Prayer, the Dean said, "Please say the Lord's Prayer in your own language." So we prayed in English, French, German, Burundian, and possibly more. I was reminded of the day of Pentecost when the apostles spoke in every language.

The rest of the day was dedicated to enjoying this glorious city. We strolled through alleys of artisans, enjoying the paintings, sketches, woodwork, weaving, and jewellery.

As we took a break on one of the hundreds of patios in Old Quebec, an accordion player filled with air with French and Italian classics, including my favourite, "La Vie En Rose."

We ended the day with an amazing meal, fruity gelato, and a late night walk along the top of the wall that encircles the city.

This weekend has been such a time of beauty. It's been a long month, but we're definitely going home refreshed and feeling relaxed...

New Photos from Old Quebec!

We're having a great day in Old Quebec! 

Taking a little rest now to gear up for tonight, so I thought I'd post a few photos. 

You can see them on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

By the beautiful Chateau Frontenac...

East Coast Tour - Day 29

I woke up this morning to the sounds of Gerald playing songs in the kitchen area of our hotel room. Can't think of a better way to start the day...

It's fantastic to have a few days to just have fun here in Quebec City. We took the bus to Old Quebec, which is one of the most fantastic places in the country. The old city is surrounded by a stone wall, and the buildings within were built anytime between the 17th and 19th centuries. Roads are cobblestone, and lined with restaurants, cafes, artisans, churches, and shops.

We enjoyed hours of exploring, including a wonderful cafe respite of sipping cappuccino and nibbling on fresh-baked treasures.

I've posted a few photos of our day on our SITE and FACEBOOK page. 

It's hard to capture this kind of day in photos - we highly recommend a visit!

Mmmmmm..... macaroons! 

East Coast Tour - Day 28

Hello from Quebec City!

Those who know me well will know that I'm definitely a "night person", so you'll be shocked to hear that we were up at sunrise today! Yes, actual sunrise.

Last night, our hosts informed us that they have a sauna on their property if we wanted to indulge this morning. So we were up bright and early, just in time to see the sunrise over the low tide of the Bay of Fundy. The sauna was a decadent treat, and by the time breakfast was ready, the tide was already refilling the Bay. (I've posted before and after shots on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.) We lingered as long as we could, driving through town and loving every turn on the road. What a gorgeous area!

After a long drive, we've finally arrived in Quebec City! This will be a little vacation on the end of the tour. We'll be enjoying art, music, and whatever adventures we can find in this great city! Stay tuned for more updates, and lots more PHOTOS!!

This morning ...

East Coast Tour - Day 27

Hello from beautiful St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick!

We left Moncton this morning and started the drive south to St. Andrew's, and what a drive it was! The closer we got to the Bay of Fundy, the more beautiful things became.

We stopped for lunch at an unassuming little place called the Bay Breeze. As we walked through the tiny restaurant, we noticed a patio and grabbed a table.

What - a - spot!! The sky was clear and bright blue, and our 180 degree view was the stunning Bay of Fundy. The water was lush and expansive. Sea gulls drifting by and provided a gentle soundtrack. The sun beat down, but the heat was relieved by the gentle breeze.

We couldn't resist indulging in more seafood as we drank in the beauty of our surroundings. By the time our food arrived, we were the only people on the patio, and the silence was golden. It's hard to put the whole scene into words, but it was truly a perfect moment.

The beauty continued as we arrived at our host family's home just outside St. Andrew's. Right on the water, the backyard has a fantastic view of the famous Bay of Fundy tides.

We drove into town tonight for our final tour concert at All Saints Church. We approached the concert with feelings of gratitude for all that we've experienced over the past month. During the intermission, one lady said, "This is exactly what I needed tonight." Moments like that make it all worthwhile.

After the show, we stayed up late, visiting and helping our hosts celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary! We've been blessed to stay with amazing people on this trip.

I imagine we'll do a lot of debriefing over the next few weeks, but for now, all I want is a good night's sleep!

New Photos

We've got new photos up on our SITE and FACEBOOK page!

Click the links above to check them out.

My new Irish penny whistles, from O'Brien's Music Store.

East Coast Tour - Day 26

Hello from Moncton, New Brunswick!

Our ferry crossing was fantastic, and we got on the road bright and early. The weather was just perfect for driving, and with the exception of some construction, we had a great drive.

We stopped at a little seafood stand for lunch and, yet again, I had mussels. I realized that I've had mussels four times on this trip, twice in the past 24 hours! Nothing wrong with that...

We have one more concert left on the tour. I can't believe we're this close to the end of things!

Tomorrow, we sing in St. Andrew's, NB. We were supposed to sing there last year, but we were shut out by infamous Hurricane Irene. Barring all tropical storms and natural disasters, we're really looking forward to tomorrow night!

For tonight, we're settled into a cozy little hotel in Moncton, NB. We're a little tired, so pizza is on the way, and nothing but relaxing is on the schedule for the night....

East Coast Tour - Day 25

For the first time in over three weeks, we're heading west.

We spent our final morning in St. John's visiting family, strolling around downtown, eating mussels, and wishing we had a few more days in the city. Our time has flown by. I always wish Newfoundland was easier to visit, or I wish we were millionaires and could fly in anytime on our private jet. Sometimes you've gotta dream for the impossible...

Tonight, we're on the ferry! I say it every time, but I love being on a boat!!

This will be about a 14 hour trip, so we booked early and got a cabin. When we arrived, we found out our cabin has a window! Score!

So tonight, I'm writing to you from our cozy little cabin on the Atlantic Vision ferry, crossing from Argentia, Newfoundland, to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

We're relaxed, comfortable, and ready for an easy night on the ocean...

East Coast Tour - Day 24

Today was our last performance in Newfoundland for this tour.

We visited the Agnes Pratt Nursing Home and performed an hour of hymns and popular inspirational songs for the residents. It was a great way to finish this leg of our trip.

This concluded our 6 Concerts in 6 Days. We're a little tired today, but our voices are still in great shape. Last year, we started doing a daily vocal warm-up we found online, and I think it's been instrumental in keeping us vocally healthy on this tour.

We returned the Bose system we had rented, but we won't be without one for long. Gerald is completely hooked, and I'm pretty much sold too. It just has everything we need, and it's so easy to sing with.

The rest of the day was just spent enjoying the city. We had an early supper of fish cakes and cod tongues - we're trying to eat as much Newfoundland food as we can! We stocked up on locally made Purity crackers and cookies. And we enjoyed an evening of listening to locally recorded music with our friends.

I can't believe we leave the island tomorrow! 

It's all gone by far too quickly. 

One more concert left!

I've also posted some photos from the past week. 

You can find them on our SITE or FACEBOOK page.

East Coast Tour - Day 23

It was great to have a day when we didn't have to drive anywhere!

We spent the afternoon lounging on the back deck, eating healthy food and enjoying the company of good friends.

This evening, we took the (thankfully) short drive to Mount Pearl to sing at The Parish of the Good Shepherd. We sang there last year, so we knew we were in for a good night.

The crowd was a good mix of friends, return audience members, and new faces. They laughed and sang along, and the whole night had a wonderful feeling.

After the show, we were talking with a longtime family friend and wishing we had time to grab a meal while we're in town. We made a rain cheque for our next visit, and parted ways.

On the way home, Gerald had a late-night craving for bad food, so we turned into the golden arches. Well, while we were in the line-up, who walked in but our family friend? Looks like we would have our meal together after all!

We chatted and laughed and had a great time. It's been a long few days, but we're still feeling strong, both vocally and spiritually.

One more Newfoundland show tomorrow afternoon!

East Coast Tour - Day 22

Hello from my hometown - St. John's, NL!!!!

We arrived early in the afternoon so we could rent a Bose sound system. Even though ours worked perfectly last night, we've been debating buying a new system for a while. We're just at the point we're we'd like something a little larger that can accommodate more instruments and possibly bigger venues. We've had our eye on the Bose towers, but thought it wise to rent before buying, so here we go.

Our venue for tonight was St. Thomas's Church, which was my home church for most of my childhood. Dad was the rector (head pastor) here for many years, and the sanctuary is full of memories.

There's nothing more powerful than looking out at an audience that is full of family, and folks who have known you your whole life.

Tonight felt like a strong night of ministry, and I believe Gerald has completely fallen in love with the Bose (I have picture to prove it - give me a day or 2 to post it.)

Tonight is performance #13 on our tour. Only 3 more to go!

East Coast Tour - Day 21

Hello from Hodge’s Cove!

This morning started as all mornings should: sitting around the kitchen table, playing songs and sharing creativity with our Eastport hosts, Paul and Helena. After leaving their home, we visited retired Bishop Eddie and his wife, Emmie, for a visit that included tea, poetry, homemade muffins, music, theology, and a wicked thunderstorm.

Unfortunately, the thunderstorm followed us for most of the day. But as we say in Newfoundland, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes,” and by the time we hit Clarenville, things had settled down.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to Hodge’s Cove or this area. The drive was twisty and grey, but when you crest the hill into Hodge’s Cove, you know it was worth the drive.

We were set to sing in St. Mary’s Church, one of 5 in a multi-point parish. After a great sound check, and an extra prayer over the sound system, we welcomed a full church for a fun evening’s entertainment. The crowd was with us from the start - singing, clapping along, and just smiling back at us. After, many people stopped for a chat and a word of encouragement, which we always appreciate.

One of the things we’re loving most about this tour is meeting so many interesting people. After the concert, we chatted with our hosts, Rev. Jessie and her husband Danny, about the ever-shifting and challenging dynamics of introducing contemporary church music to more traditional congregations. We also threw in a bit of chat about our favourite tv shows, just to keep it all balanced.

Tomorrow, we head into my hometown, St. John’s! Can’t wait!

East Coast Tour - Day 20

Hello from Eastport, and our craziest tech night ever!!

We said good-bye to our family in Botwood today over Gerald's favourite Newfoundland dessert: the Dockside's partridgeberry kuchen. Native to the island, partridgeberries are bright red, a little tart, and completely excellent on any kind of dessert. We were able to finagle a few jars of preserves from the kitchen, so I started the drive east with a happy husband in the car.

The church in Eastport is just gorgeous! It's a large, cross-shaped sanctuary with amazing hand-cut wood beams. There isn't a piece of stained glass in the whole church. Instead, the colour comes from the beautiful homemade banners that line the walls. We actually included the Easter banner in our "In The Garden" video.

One thing we love about this church is its beautiful acoustic. As we started the show, everything felt great. The sound was tight, and the audience was responsive.

At the intermission, I went back to the CD table while Gerald switched out the cables so we could play a few tracks. And that's when I heard it: thunder-like crashes coming out of our sound system.

We started the second half, praying everything would fall into place, but every few bars we'd hear something very non-musical coming through the speaker. We unplugged the tracks and decided to just go back to guitar. No such luck. The thunder/crashing/horror-sounds continued. We made the age-old joke about the devil being in the sound system and tried to laugh it off, while simultaneously trying not to freak out.

After a few minutes of trying to fix it, we just unplugged everything, and moved right down to the front of the audience. Suddenly, it felt like we were in a house concert. Everything was intimate, and somehow very special. After we finished, people said it was their favourite part of the show. Funny how things happen...

I don't know what we're going to do tomorrow night, but if you're in the mood for a weird prayer tonight, please pray for our sound system!

East Coast Tour - Day 19

And so it begins: 6 concerts in 6 days.

Tonight we returned to the Salvation Army Church in Peterview. When we lost Indian Bay on Sunday, we feared tonight would be (to use the theatre term) a 'dark' night. We were so happy when the people at the Salvation Army said "yes" to the idea of a concert tonight!

We arrived at the church mid-afternoon to set up and have a rehearsal. The first people started to arrive over an hour before showtime! We've never had people come that early! By 7:00 pm, the sanctuary had filled up, and the crowd was ready for a good time.

We switched things up a little tonight and added 2 new songs to the program: "My Heart is the Manger" from Every Church is a Small Town, and our funky new arrangement of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Love that new groove Gerald has created for this classic song!

Every show tends to be a little different, and tonight's was fun and relaxed. The audience was filled with joyful singers, and we truly felt welcomed and loved.

Tomorrow, we head a little further east to Eastport, and my Dad's hometown of Salvage!

East Coast Tour - Day 18

Today is our last day "off" until our final tour concert next week. Tomorrow, we start a run of 6 concerts in 6 days. After that, we have 3 full travel days (including a 14 hour ferry ride!), and then a concert in New Brunswick.

It's going to be a tight, busy schedule, so part of today had to be about resting and prepping:

We took my aunt and uncle out for a birthday celebration lunch at the beautiful Dockside Restaurant.

We reorganized the car, revisited the concert set list, and had a great rehearsal.

And tonight, we enjoyed a leisurely time on the back deck with the family.

Nobody can deny that being on tour is a lot of work, but it's definitely a lot of fun too!

East Coast Tour - Day 17

Monday is usually our day off, and today, we really needed one.

Today has been dedicated to long walks, a hunt for ice cream, and dinner with the family.

I also updated the East Coast Tour photo album on our Facebook page. 

You can visit it by clicking HERE.

Sound check in Corner Brook.

East Coast Tour - Day 16

This morning we sang at the Salvation Army Church in Peterview, NL. After our concert on Friday, the church's music director invited us to perform a concert the next time we come through Newfoundland. Well, we really don't know if we'll be back this way again next year, so we offered to sing a few songs on Sunday morning. You never know what happens when you say "Yes" to something ...

The morning's service was fantastic! It's the 101st anniversary of this particular corps (congregation), so they had a wonderful guest speaker and a full house. The brass band lead the boisterous and joyful singing, and the junior praise team (featuring my young cousin!) stole the show. We sang Just a Closer Walk, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone,) and to honour the anniversary, Every Church is a Small Town.

After the service, everyone kept asking us if we'd be back for the evening service. So before we knew it, we were invited back for the evening, and we said "Yes."

This afternoon, we got the upsetting news that our Wednesday concert in Indian Bay was cancelled. We'd had a great time there last year, and the news was really disappointing. But saying "Yes" was still in our heads. Gerald said, "Maybe the Salvation Army would like a concert that night?" So when we returned to the church, we asked, and they said "Yes!"

So, we'll be singing a free concert at the 

Peterview Salvation Army Church, 

this Wednesday, 7:00pm. 

Come if you're in the area!

Back to tonight: the evening service was epic! More singing from the congregation and the junior praise team, and another fantastic message. We sang How Great Thou Art and Give Me Jesus. In celebration of the anniversary, the floor was opened for testimonies, and the stories began to flow. I could listen to testimonies all night long! The heartfelt messages of God's faithfulness were moving and inspiring. Some people chose to tell their stories through song, shouting out song titles to sing, or simply reading the lyrics aloud.

After the service, we enjoyed the anniversary reception. Nobody can put out a spread like church folk!

Cutting the anniversary cake with the oldest & youngest soldiers in the corps.

East Coast Tour - Day 15

Family day!

One of the best things about being in Newfoundland is being with my family. We see each other so rarely that when we get together, we really try to make the most of it.

Gerald and I enjoyed a relaxing morning of writing songs. As Gerald played a guitar riff, I started to hear a lyric. Of course, by the time he finished working out his guitar part, the lyric no longer fit the melody. No problem - now we have the start of 2 new songs!

The afternoon and evening were dedicated to feasting, laughing, telling stories, and just loving every minute. We went out to my cousin's house where we enjoyed fresh mussels, BBQ chicken, fresh cod, salads, and potatoes that were literally dug from the garden and dumped in the pot. The desserts smothered the table, and the drinks were chilled with none other than million-year-old iceberg ice!

Million-year-old iceberg ice!!

We ended the night with a campfire, complete with weiners and marshmallows. Our trip has been great, but with all the driving and travelling, it's great to just sit in one place for a while...

East Coast Tour - Day 14

Hello from Botwood!

"Where's Botwood?" you may say.

Botwood is a small town in Central Newfoundland that's integral to my family history. It's the hometown of my Mom, Helen, and I spent much of my childhood here, visiting family. We'll actually spend the next few days doing just that.

As we were welcoming people before tonight's concert, the inevitable happened. "It's not hard to tell who you are," I heard. "You look just like your mother."

When I was a child, this was the only thing I hated about Botwood.

Now, I can't get enough of it.

We sang tonight in the beautiful Trinity United Church. Bold stained glass line the walls of the sanctuary, giving snapshots of Jesus's history.

We had a lot of musical folks in the audience, so there was lots of singing and grooving coming from the crowd, and nods-of-approval when Gerald would hit a particularly cool guitar lick.

Our next concert is Wednesday, so we'll take some time over the next few days to squeeze in some good rehearsals before hitting the road. We've had so much driving lately, and so many nights in hotels, that it's been hard to get any real rehearsal time going. My Dad made the best analogy: Like athletes playing road games, we need that daily stretch and play to keep things fresh.

Tomorrow, we stretch!

East Coast Tour - Day 13

Hello from Corner Brook!

It's late here in Newfoundland, and it's been a long one, so please excuse any typos or gibberish. I actually almost titled this post "East Coats Tour"!

I awoke this morning to the sound of a new lyric drifting through the air. Gerald was in the living room of our Rocky Harbour cottage strumming his guitar and working out the details for a new song. We made espresso and sang though the lyric, adding harmonies and polishing the very few rough edges. With a few run throughs, we may just add it to the concert next week.

We really wish we'd had more time in Gros Morne, but we spent the rest of the morning having a little drive, taking more photos, and enjoying a beautiful brunch at the exquisite Java Jive cafe.

The drive to Corner Brook was striking. Hills, mountains, and shade upon shade of deep green.

We arrived at our host home this afternoon, with lots of time for a visit, a rest, and a great meal.

At the end of each concert, we re-evaluate our program. What worked? What could work better? How can we express the message better? How can we add more fun? Tonight, we shifted things around a bit more, and things feel better and better every time. Building a show can get technical, but the goal is simple: How can we create an atmosphere where the audience can emotionally connect with the message?

Tonight we sang for the receptive crowd at St. Michael & All Angels. The whole atmosphere was very relaxed. One person said he felt like the church pews were couches, and we are all in a big living room together. We love that!

We've just finished a long post-concert session of cake and chatting. Looking forward to heading a little further east tomorrow, and seeing some family!

East Coast Tour - Day 12

Hello from Rocky Harbour!

When I realized we had an extra night before our first Newfoundland concert, I decided to take a detour and show Gerald one of the island's (and arguably the country's) most beautiful areas - Gros Morne National Park.

Now, in an ideal world, we'd have a few days to drift around the area, soaking in the incredible beauty, the lingering walking trails, and the host of live music and theatre festivals, but even one night was worth the drive.

We arrived late afternoon (admittedly, we were slow getting on the road after yesterday's epic travel day) and settled into our little cabin. I took a stroll through town and found a great spot on the beach where the tide was out. My camera got a workout as I investigated the tide pools and breathed in the incredible vistas. (I'll post the shots when I get a faster internet speed.)

Earle's restaurant looks like it should only serve burgers and fries, but their seafood menu was extensive and fresh. They literally get it from the fish plant down the road. We grabbed a table on the breezy patio and feasted on Newfoundland delicacies - scallops with bacon, toutons & molasses, moose meat pie, cod fried with scrunchions, and finishing with a homemade molasses cookie.

We're about to enter a busy couple of weeks, so tonight's respite was just perfect. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings...

East Coast Tour - Day 11

It's been a 14 hour travel day. FOURTEEN hours!!! Whew!

We left Halifax bright and early to drive east to catch the ferry to Newfoundland. It was a great day in the car - clear weather, good soundtrack, and lots of laughing.

Driving through Cape Breton was beautiful, of course. We arrived early in North Sydney, so we found a restaurant right by the water. The weather was perfect, so we grabbed a picnic table overlooking the ferries and ordered the special of the day - lobster casserole! Big pieces of lobster swimming in cheese and cream sauce. Talk about a decadent lunch!

In the afternoon we boarded the ferry! I love any chance to get on a boat (I'm like my Dad that way.) We were able to grab a quiet couple of seats by the window, and settled in for a smooth crossing. I got a couple of great photos of the sunset that I'll post tomorrow.

We also met more Christian musicians on the ferry! A PEI-based Celtic family group called The Skys. They're touring Newfoundland for the first time. Lots of great music is about to hit the island!

We're settled into Port aux Basques for the night. Looking forward to every day of the next 2 weeks!

Toronto is our home where we live, 

and Nashville is our Southern home, 

but Newfoundland, well, that's the original.

Halifax Photos!

I've posted our Halifax photos on our SITE and our FACEBOOK page! 

Come check them out...

East Coast Tour - Day 10

That's right - Day 10. We're in the double digits! 

Today was our play day in Halifax! We took a gentle morning to reset ourselves after a busy weekend and in prep for a long travel day tomorrow. Of course, we had the energy to do all this thanks to our lovely espresso maker!

The afternoon was spent drifting in and out of music stores, playing guitars and chatting about gear. Every once in a while, Gerald would find a new guitar riff, and I would find a melody, so I'd pull out my iPhone and hit the 'record' button. When we get a bit of quiet time, we'll pull them out and see what kind of songs may grow...

Since we had a open night ahead, I sat down with the tourism brochures and set about to plan a wonderful Monday night in Halifax.

The first stop was the Just Us cafe. We'd heard all about this company from our hosts in Kentville. The founders started the first free trade coffee industry in Canada! Everyone here brags about their coffee, so we knew it would be worth a visit. The sprawling, cozy cafe was pretty empty tonight, so we enjoyed our espresso and cappuccino at a quiet table by a breezy window. Delicious and lovely!

The next leg of the night was well planned indeed: drive downtown, park the car, find the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse, eat pub food, and listen to great music.

Well, you know what they say about making plans....

We only got as far as parking the car.

Right by the parking lot was the harbour, and we were seduced to the boardwalk. From there, we found a fish and chips stand, with tables sitting right by the boats. The air was clean and easy, and the atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed.

How could we leave that to sit in a noisy pub?

We stayed till dark - chatting, watching the boats, and indulging in fantastic fish and chips. A group of kids (wow, don't I sound old???) who looked prom age headed out on a boat for a night of celebrating. We watched the sky fade and the lights shimmer on the water. We strolled and saw other relaxed families enjoying the pleasures of patios and buskers.

Tomorrow will be a long day with a drive to North Sydney and the ferry to Newfoundland, but it was completely worth staying the extra night in Halifax!

New Photo Page!

I've been posting our tour photos on our FACEBOOK page, but I've also just started a new photo album on our site.

To see the photos from the first week of our East Coast Tour, please click HERE.

Getting some puppy love with our host family in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

East Coast Tour - Day 9

We started the morning back at St. James's Church to sing for the morning worship service. Their summer readings have all been based on Jesus as the Bread of Life, so after Communion, we sang Living Manna and Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone.)

After church, we joined 'the crowd' for brunch. Full platters, lively conversation, and much laughter filled the table.

We said our goodbyes,  promised to return again, and then set off for Halifax.

I've posted photos from the weekend on our FACEBOOK page.

After a bit of a rest (and watching the Olympics closing ceremonies!) we set out for the evening with Gerald's high school buddy who lives here in town. We indulged in fantastic Chinese food, and hit The Company House to catch a line-up of local stand-up comedians.

We'll squeeze in one more fun day here before crossing over to Newfoundland - going to make the most of it!

East Coast Tour - Day 8

We left Halifax late this morning to head to our next concert. I sometimes wish we had a camera in the car to capture our on-the-road vocalizing and rehearsing. We've been using a warm-up designed by Jamie Wigginton in Nashville, and we play it every day as we lip trill, ooh, and mum-mum-mum our way down the TransCanada.

Tonight we're writing from Kentville, about 90 minutes outside Halifax.

There's a group at St. James' Church in Kentville that's planning a mission trip to the Dominican next spring. Sixteen people will spend a week building a house, and sharing skills and resources with the local people. A few church members saw our Bedford house concert last year, so when they heard we were coming down this summer, they thought - Fundraiser!

So tonight, we performed our concert in support of the mission trip. We had a great turnout, and got to hear about the plans for the mission. Gerald and I have never done a mission trip, but the idea of it continues to keep a slow simmer in our brains. There was a great energy in the air tonight, and it was just a wonderful time of music and community.

After the concert, we returned to our hosts' gorgeous house on the lake. A night of homemade bread and stories ensued....

It's late, but we must be up early. We've been asked to sing at the worship service in the morning.

East Coast Tour - Day 7

One week on the road! 

We're writing tonight from Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

We started with grey, rainy weather in New Brunswick this morning, but once we crossed the border into Nova Scotia, the skies cleared and it was beautiful and sunny all the way. We decided to push through and spend the night in Halifax - I don't know anyone who's been here who doesn't love it. I asked for restaurant recommendations on Facebook and received enough to last us a month!

Tomorrow, we head out to Kentville for a concert at St. James Anglican Church. It's been a fun couple of travel days, but we're really looking forward to getting back in the singing groove!

Song Downloads Available Now!!!

You can now download our new albums, 

Infinitely More and Every Church is a Small Town.

Visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca to download individual songs or whole albums. 

Payment can be made with a major credit card or Paypal.

We hope you enjoy the music!

East Coast Tour - Day 6

Writing from Edmunston, New Brunswick!

Today was a long, but clear, day of driving. We knew we were truly east when we started seeing Irving gas stations.

We're tucked into a comfy hotel for the night. Tomorrow will be another long drive, getting closer to Nova Scotia for Saturday's concert.

If you haven't seen them yet, I posted our Montreal photos at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand

If you're not a Facebook member, don't worry - all our content is public!

East Coast Tour - Day 5

What a decadent day in Montreal!

We started with another leisurely patio brunch, sitting under a clear sky, and sipping freshly blended juice. Mine was named Pink Perfection, of course.

We wandered and shopped and eventually landed at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. All the permanent collections are free to the public, so we spent hours drifting through the galleries. Medieval, Impressionism, Modern, Naturalism, Realism, sculpture, stained glass, paintings, and wood inlays, and we barely scratched the surface of this impressive collection.

More wandering brought us back to the hotel and a little rest before heading out for the evening. Gerald was in dining bliss as we found place that served 19 different kinds of poutine, and a Montreal smoked meat sandwich the size of two fists. I indulged in one of their 17 varieties of burgers that include buffalo, elk, rabbit, and kangaroo. I kid you not.

We hit an IMAX theatre tonight to watch The Dark Knight Rises. In an early scene, gunfire rings out. With the IMAX sound, you could hear it ringing around the theatre. I couldn't help but flash back to the stories of the Colorado shooting. You can tell why the patrons would have been so confused, thinking the real shots were part of the film. It was a disturbing thought to experience, recognizing the safety we all take for granted.

After the film, we had a glorious late night dessert at the charming Montreal chain, Juliet et Chocolate. This place is known for their creative chocolate concoctions, and their legendary hot chocolates. Their hot chocolate menu actually reads like an extensive wine list, naming the origin of the coca beans, the acidity of the chocolate, and a host of other tasting details. I had a rich, dark chocolate from Peru. It was like sipping a bowl of thick, melted chocolate. The perfect end to a decadent day.

Tomorrow, we hit the road again in earnest. We have 15 hours between us and our next concert on Saturday, so we'll try to get in a few long drives tomorrow and Friday. I've taken some great photos over the past few days but they'll have to wait til tomorrow to get posted.

East Coast Tour - Day 4

There's few things more lovely than a sunny, relaxing day in Montreal. After the craziness of the past month, the main goal of the day was to eat and relax!

We started with a late brunch at our favourite, Eggspecation, which we later found out has been rated one of the best brunches in Montreal. The bulk of the day was dedicated to strolling and visiting music stores. We played some beautiful guitars, including a little mahogany Gibson that stole my heart.

For dinner, we enjoyed all you can eat sushi, with decadent treasures like wasabi mussels, and eggplant & salmon sushi pizza.

I've also spent a few moments catching up on some online stuff. Be sure to visit our SITE to see the final photos in our CD Recording album. I'll start posting Montreal photos tomorrow.

And if you haven't found us on Facebook yet, come 'like' us and follow all our tour adventures! www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand

Our CD Artwork!!!

Here are the covers for our new CDs!

You can see all the artwork on our FACEBOOK page or on our SITE.

If you're interested in purchasing CDs, please visit our STORE.

Thanks! We're so excited to finally share this music with you.

Downloads coming soon!

East Coast Tour - Day 3

We left Elim Lodge this morning after a leisurely breakfast with the camp director, David Rivers, and started to head east.

After a clear, easy day of driving, we arrived in Montreal!

We don't have any concerts here, but we'll be enjoying a well needed mini-vacation before heading to Nova Scotia for our next concert.

In the meantime, let the fun begin! We took it easy tonight and hit a fantastic little pizza place on St. Denis where I tried (and devoured) an escargot pizza. Yes, that's snail pizza.

I'm a picky eater in many ways, but give me the chance to eat something weird, and I'm game!

New Photos!

I've just posted the photos from last week's Garden Concert. I'll get some tour photos up tonight.

You can see the photos by visiting our Facebook page. 

Don't worry if you're not on Facebook - all our content is public!

www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand

East Coast Tour - Day 2

What a full day here at Elim Lodge!

This morning, we sang for the camp's main worship service. The large sanctuary was packed with campers and folks from neighbouring towns. We sang You Take Me Higher, A Divine Heart Imagined You, and Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone.) 

Before the service, I went out in the field next to the church to do some vocal warm ups. On the other side of the field, a man was doing his own warm up - stretching, push ups, and jumping jacks. I couldn't help but smile at the dichotomy of the images - me in my Sunday best, him in his work out clothes, and both of us stretching our muscles for the big game.

You'll never go hungry at Elim Lodge, and lunch was a feast of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and all the fixings. I think it's a safe bet that most people took a nap this afternoon.

I actually spent the better part of the afternoon sitting by the water and painting. Pure bliss...

This evening, we sang a few songs for the evening service. The preacher wanted to speak on 'healing' so for the song before the message, we gave our testimony about our car accident and sang Healing is in Your Hands. It's been a while since we've shared that story, and it felt good to minister in that way.

It's really been a fantastic kick off to the tour. Tonight, we spent time chatting with new friends at the Snackery and packing up. Tomorrow, we head to Montreal for a much needed mini-vacation before heading to Nova Scotia for our next concert! 

East Coast Tour - Day 1

It has begun!

After months of planning, we are officially on our East Coast Tour!

Today we pulled out of our driveway with a car full of guitars, gear, CDs, maps, clothes, and of course, our espresso maker. Over the next month, we’ll drive 6000 kilometers, sing in 4 provinces, and do our best to eat a lobster or two.

Our first stop is Elim Lodge campground, just north of Peterborough, ON. We came here last year and loved it. They’ve put us up in a little cottage right by the water. Tomorrow, I have grand plans to sit outside and paint a bit …

Tonight was our opening concert. It feels so great to sing our songs, and actually give people the opportunity to take the music home with them!

After the show, we visited the Snackery for late night hotdogs and ice cream.

Tomorrow we’ll be singing at both the morning and evening worship services, so tonight we’re planning songs and getting some much needed rest.

THE CDS ARE HERE! THE CDS ARE HERE!!!!

It’s official:

We are thrilled to announce the release of our 2, 

yes TWO, new CDs!!

Infinitely More contains 10 songs featuring our signature vocal harmonies, Gerald’s ripping guitar, and a fantastic band of Nashville musicians. We wrote 8 of the songs, and also included “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).”

Every Church is a Small Town is Gerald’s debut songwriting CD! This awesome collection of songs, written entirely by Gerald, is a great blend of inspirational anthems and country story-songs.

You can purchase CDs at any of our live events,

or online at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

The CDs are in the oven!!

Well, at the manufacturer...

After a week of 14 hour days - listening to mixes, listening to masters, getting photos, working on graphics, looking at proofs, singing a concert & two church services - the CDs are finally being printed!

We're getting a "short run" which means we'll have CDs to take on our East Coast Tour this month.

This is sooooo exciting!!!!

Here's a sneak peek at the packaging:

More photos!!!

We hit Toronto Beaches today to get photos for our Infinitely More CD artwork.

I took a few shots on location. 

You can find them on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

With our graphics designer, Linda van der Beek. 

The Joy & Challenges of Recording...

The busiest month of my life was January, 1999. Toronto residents will remember that winter as the year the snow was so bad the city called in the army reserves to haul it out.

In 31 short days, I:

• moved into my first solo apartment
• booked and shot a commercial
• booked and shot a short film
• booked and started full-time rehearsals for Tony & Tina's Wedding at Second City
• taught preschool 5 mornings a week
• sang as a soloist for a church choir every Sunday

Why mention the snow? Because, not only did I spend the month walking and taking transit through several feet of it, but the snow banks were so high that all we could move into my apartment was a cot, a TV, and an armchair.

I remember walking down King St. to a dress rehearsal at Second City and feeling incredibly disoriented. "Ah," I thought, "This is what it feels like to be sleep deprived."

I thought of this time period last week, because I found myself overwhelmed at our current schedule and thought, "When is the last time I was this busy?"

January, 1999.

Recording these CDs will probably go down in our family history as one of our greatest challenges ever. Taking on 2 CDs at once is crazy at any time, but add in 3 weeks worth of lost recordings due to studio issues, 2 weeks of laryngitis for me, and all the other things that have needed to be done, and I think it's fair to say it's been a bit wild.

Our days have been filled with long studio sessions, hours of listening to mixes, arranging photo shoots and graphic design, getting everything in place with the manufacturer, mastering the projects, planning our August tour, teaching baby music, and of course, and planning, rehearsing, and playing 2 church services a week. Oh, and did I mention I signed up for an 8-week Musicians Summer School to study music marketing?

Needless to say, we're tired, a little overwhelmed, and a frightfully antisocial.

But I'll also say this: 

We're inspired, excited, and tremendously hopeful 

about the future of our CDs! 

"Every Church is a Small Town" is full of amazing songs played by incredible Nashville players. Gerald really sang the you-know-what out of them, and the mixing created a CD that sounds ready for the radio. I know people will be inspired by Gerald's song-stories of love and hope.

"Infinitely More" is so much larger, bolder, and moving than either one of us ever imagined (asked or imagined?) Every piece - from musicians to harmonies to mixes - has come together to create something that both represents us as a duo, and surpasses our expectations. I feel these songs will find a place in both personal iPods and church worship services.

We're in the final days - a photo shoot today, one more vocal session on Saturday, some more mixes, working out graphics, the final mastering, and then, getting them pressed into actual hold-in-your-hand CDs!

We've been so challenged in these recent months, but I feel confident that we're following God's plan, leaning on His strength, and singing His song.

How can we not feel blessed? 

New Photos!!

We've got new photos posted of our recent vocal sessions, 

and the photo shoot for Gerald's CD - "Every Church is a Small Town."

You can see the photos on our SITE or our FACEBOOK page.

Gerald and our graphics designer, Linda van der Beek, at the tower door of St. John's York Mills Church. St. John's was the inspiration for the title track, "Every Church is a Small Town."

Studio Update!

Today was a big one - 9 hours in the studio!

Gerald started the day and I took the early evening shift. It's been weeks since I've been well enough to record anything, so I was a little nervous, but it all went really well.

I'm happy to say that we've now finished 

all the vocals for Gerald's solo CD!!!

Denny, our producer in Nashville, has all the pieces, and he's already started mixing. By next week, we'll be ready to master.

Now, to turn the focus on completing the vocals for our Infinitely More CD. There's a lot of work to do in a very short time, but everyone is bringing their A game, and it's exciting to see it all come together.

Just a reminder that you still have a few weeks to pre-order the CDs and get free shipping. Visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca for more details.

Friday - back in the studio! 

Canadian Worship Night - The Stories Behind the Songs

When I realized July 1 was a Sunday, I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool to have all Canadian worship music at The Gathering for Canada Day?"

So tonight, that's just what we did! I did some research and found the stories behind all the songs, and gave it out to the congregation.

As my Canada Day gift to you, 

here are the stories behind the worship songs*

 we sang tonight:

*The Gathering often incorporates secular inspirational songs into worship, so for tonight's purposes, Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young are worship writers! 

Heart of Gold

By Neil Young

"Heart of Gold" was released on the 1972 album Harvest, and was a #1 hit in both Canada and the USA. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it #297 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song is one of a series of acoustic pieces which were written partly as a result of a back injury. Unable to stand for long periods of time, Young could not play his electric guitar and so returned to his acoustic guitar, which he could play sitting down.

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

By Brian Doerkson

In the mid-1990’s, Canadian worship leader, Brian Doerkson, and his family were in their lowest place - they lost everything financially, experienced a tremendous ministry failure, and discovered a genetic illness in 3 of their 6 children. In the midst of this time, he took a prayer walk and heard the line, “Come, now is the time to worship…”. He realized that the call to worship sounded in all times and in all places, not just for those who have it all together - we are called to worship even at the lowest  points in our lives. Doerkson wrote the song and used it in his private worship for weeks. Within months of bringing it to his church, it was being sung in churches around the world. 

You Take Me Higher

By Gerald Flemming

Gerald wrote “You Take Me Higher” in 2011 as a congregational song of praise. It expresses the joy and energy of a personal encounter with an all-powerful God. “You Take Me Higher” has been featured in The Gathering’s recent video teaser, and will appear on Infinitely More’s upcoming debut CD.

Hallelujah (Psalm 31)

By Leonard Cohen 

Tonight’s verse text: King David

"Hallelujah" was originally released on Cohen’s studio album, Various Positions (1984). Cohen's original version contains several biblical references, most notably evoking the stories of Samson and the traitorous Delilah from the Book of Judges, as well as the adulterous King David and Bathsheba: “she cut your hair" and "you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you." Tonight’s text draws from Psalm 31 - ironically, a psalm attributed to King David.

If You Could Read My Mind

By Gordon Lightfoot

"If You Could Read My Mind" reached number one on Canadian music charts and was Lightfoot’s first recording to appear on the American music charts, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in January 1971. Lightfoot has cited his divorce for inspiring the lyrics, saying they came to him as he was sitting in a vacant Toronto house one summer.  

Living Manna

By Allison Lynn

Allison wrote “Living Manna” late one night in her parent’s Burlington living room. The song speaks to the wholeness of God, as found through bread, water, blood, and the Trinity. “Living Manna” will appear on Infinitely More’s upcoming debut CD.

Refiner's Fire

By Brian Doerkson

One day, while stuck in traffic, Brian Doerkson felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and ‘heard’ two lines being sung repeatedly - “Purify my heart, let me be as gold…” He rushed to his church, hid away in a back room with his guitar, Bible, and concordance, and began to search through all the references to “purify.”  Doerkson says this about the song, “...singing words like ‘Purify my heart’ is so dangerous and so important. It prepares us to see God. … Our calling and role in God’s unfolding redemption depends on our hearts being purified. And our relationship with God depends on it as well.” 

God keep our land, glorious and free!

Happy Canada Day!!

Lose a Voice - Read a Book...

So, as frustrating as my recent bout with laryngitis has been, I've been reminded by friends and supporters that this is also a time to rest, think, and allow myself some quiet time.

One gift has been hour upon hour of reading. I've started and finished 3 books in the past week!

I've enjoyed all three, so I wanted to share them with you. Here goes:

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL

By Todd Burpo

I will totally admit that I secretly mocked this book for months (which goes against my personal philosophy of not judging a book I haven't read, a movie I haven't seen, or a song I haven't heard, but I digress...) I had so many people recommend it that I finally gave in. And I have to admit, I was moved. I don't know how much of it I can believe, but I do believe that this family had an extraordinary experience, and it's one worth sharing. The book is well written, and I think the discussions it can evoke are worth having.

THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS

By Ann Patchett

I read Ann's book Bel Canto as my 'airplane book' a few years ago, so I was excited when I saw this on the table at Costco. I love books that tell stories from multiple points of view. A theme in a lot of my reading and watching this year seems to be "the power of being loved." This book investigates the consequences of not accepting that love. Great storytelling and writing!

UNLEASHED

(Previously released at THE BARBARIAN WAY)

By Erwin Raphael McManus)

I heard Erwin at this year's Break Forth conference and he was my favourite speaker of the weekend. This book encourages us to rip away at civilized Christianity, and answer the primal call of Christ to "Follow me." What do we do when Christ calls us into risky places? What does a Christian 'barbarian' look like? It's obvious that Erwin is a bit of an adrenaline junky, so it would have been nice to have a few examples of risk taking that don't involve waterskis, ATVs, or visits to the ER. That said, I love this book. It's one of those books that shouldn't be simply read and closed - instead, we should use it to re-evaluate our faith walk and practices.

Every Singer's Nightmare...

Over a week ago, I started to feel a tightness in my throat. I told myself I was just tired and needed to warm up a little more gently, but I was wrong. Before long, I had every singer's nightmare: a lost voice!

I fought it for days - keeping silent when I could, drinking herbal throat tea with honey, breathing through my nose - but it was no use.

By Wednesday night, I was silenced.

On Thursday, I had to cancel a class. I started communicating with Gerald by texting.

On Friday, we had to cancel my time in the studio. Gerald told me I was off the team for Sunday's Gathering service.

On Saturday, I listened as Gerald and Monika rehearsed for Sunday.

And today, I spent the afternoon in a glorious bath of self-pity. 

I was just so frustrated!!! Here we are, recording vocals for our CDs, and I have no voice!! Our schedule is so tight, and we've already been put behind with some technical stuff, and now, I'm completely useless.

So tonight, I sat in the pew while Gerald led worship for the Gathering.

I was tired, but I knew I needed to worship. I opened my hands, lifted my arms, and sang my heart-song to God. I prayed, and listened, and felt the spirit.

I had chosen the songs for the service last week. How was it that I planned "Be Still and Know"? Did God plant that in my heart because He knew I'd need to hear it tonight?

I can't say I'm happy that I'm still voiceless, but I can say this:

Refreshed by worship, encouraged by friends, loved by my husband, and loved by God - 

I feel at peace tonight.

Book Review: The Truth About Grace by John MacArthur

I choose this book to review for 2 reasons: I had heard great things about John MacArthur, and I'll take any chance to read about grace. I finished this book for two reasons: I had agreed to review it, and I hoped I'd learn something about grace.

Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this book, but there were 2 things in the first chapter that, if I hadn't agreed to review it, would have made me put it down. First, instead of quoting scripture, it gave scripture references. Now, unless you have your Bible memorized (which truly, I do not) then you either need to stop reading and look up every single reference, or you need to keep reading and think, "Well, I assume that reference meant something." Either way, you're not getting the most out of the message. Second, even though I feel solid in my basic theology and church terminology, I still felt like he was speaking academically at times. It made me wonder if this was written for a different kind of target audience?

Now, all that said, I think there's actually some great insight in this book. MacArthur is at his best with his play-by-play of Gospel stories, explaining hidden meaning and historical context. His descriptions of common grace versus salvation grace are wonderful, and I found lots of quotes and paragraphs to underline for further reference.

Would I recommend this book? I don't know, but it's a reminder that, sometimes, sticking with a book you don't love can still give great rewards.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Recording "You Are..."

Back in the studio for another great night of vocals!

Tonight we focused on "You Are..." - a song Gerald wrote for me. We played it at The Gathering one night, and Rev. Anne called it a "love song" for God, which was a perfect description. It has a soaring melody, and Denny created a gorgeous instrumental track for it.

So tonight, all I had to do was be in the moment, and sing this beautiful love song. I did three full takes, and then we did a little bit of detail work on the second verse. This verse is thick with emotional imagery, so we wanted to make sure that the performance was really telling this piece of the story.

After I finished my lead, Gerald jumped in the booth to do some lovely harmonies for the chorus. I feel so good about what were able to do tonight. I've been teaching a lot lately and that can be vocally tiring, so we've really focused on Gerald's vocals in the last few sessions. Tonight has left me feeling energized and ready to lay down the rest of these songs!

Next session - Friday!

Recording the Vocals...

We've now got three vocal sessions under our belt. The first one really was an exercise in experimentation - how do we capture the sound we love live in the unique setting of the studio?

This week, we've focused on Gerald's solo vocals. He's done some lead vocals on songs from both our Infinitely More project and his solo CD. He's just sounding great, and the more he does, the better he sounds.

Carmon and Gerald working out parts with guitars in hand...

Recording is such a different beast than performing live. Everything feels vaguely odd - no audience, the mic is different, people staring at you through a window...

And in the worst moments, you can start to feel very self conscious - "Oh no! This is being recorded! If I mess up, people will hear my mistakes... forever!!!!"

We're just trying to be relaxed about things - to remember that this is a crazy time, but a time to savour every moment.

Next week, on to my vocals!