DANA KEY GOES HOME

     What will I remember most about Dana Key?  First of all, I will never forget the strong, evangelical Christian message, he and partner Eddie DeGarmo presented over the years through their songs.  They encouraged their listeners to own their faith in Christ, grow closer to Christ, and share Christ with others.  Songs like 'Casual Christian' and 'Rock Solid'  sought to build a vibrant, unshakeable faith.  With 'Boycott Hell', the urgency of saving souls was portrayed.  'Six Six Six', the first Christian video on MTV, warned of the Antichrist.  DeGarmo and Key also built the self-esteem of folks up, with tunes like 'I'm Accepted'.  Eddie and Dana also sang songs on topics such as teen suicide, premarital sex, and violence in schools.  They encouraged Christians to look out for one another if they were heading down a dangerous path or were discouraged.  As a teen and even into my thirties now, these songs have helped shape my faith, likely more than many sermons I have heard.
     When I remember Dana Key, I will also remember his incredible guitar work on songs like 'Hangin' by a Scarlet Thread' and 'Let's Get Upset'.  The man could really rock!  DeGarmo and Key's last studio album TO EXTREMES (1994) rocked harder than ever.  This was a band that had opportunity to go mainstream but did not want to compromise or water down their message.  Dana and Eddie, usually backed by Tommy Cathey on bass, and Greg Morrow on drums, knew how to put on an entertaining show and minister the Gospel.  There was always great anticipation for a D and K show!  Along with Petra, and Whitecross, these guys were heroes to me. 
     Dana defended Christian rock against critics in his 1989 book 'Don't Stop the Music'.  DeGarmo and Key helped upstart bands such as dctalk, Audio Adrenaline, and Big Tent Revival, by letting them open for them. 
     Dana released two solo albums.  The first, THE JOURNEY, traced the life of Christ in song.  The second, PART OF THE MYSTERY, included the songs 'Dear Mr. Clapton' about Eric's child's death, and 'Liar, Lunatic, or Lord', asking the listener to choose which of the three they thought Christ was. 
     Since they disbanded around 1995, D and K played a handful of reunion shows, including one at Cornerstone Festival's 25th year Anniversary in 2008.  Dana was currently pastor at The Love of Christ Church in Memphis, TN (http://www.tlcmemphis.com/).  He leaves behind a wife, and three children. 

     Thank you Dana for helping shape who I am today and what I believe.  If you're not familiar with DeGarmo and Key's music, check them out on itunes or youtube. Pictured above: Dave Alward, Dana Key, Mark Alward (my bro), and Eddie DeGarmo at Kingdom Bound 1994.
     My favourite DeGarmo and Key albums are 1987's D and K, 1989's THE PLEDGE, 1992's DESTINED TO WIN: THE CLASSIC ROCK COLLECTION, and 1994's TO EXTREMES.
     I believe I saw D and K about four times between 1989-ish and 1994, and I saw Dana solo in Paris, Ontario circa 1994.  Memories I will cherish for sure!

THE REST OF HEALTH

     I just finished reading my autographed copy of David and Sonya Cameron's THE REST OF HEALTH.  He is a family physician, while she is a liscenced marriage and family therapist.  I had the pleasure of attending Emmanuel Bible College with Sonya!  Are you feeling stressed out?  Having marriage problems?  Difficulties with co-workers?  Wondering who God is and how He relates to your everyday life?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you.

     I liked this book because it does not minimize the problems we encounter in our daily lives, and frankly it does not give overnight solutions to them.  Much of the advice given, and many of the strategies presented, have to be worked hard at, and applied over and over.  Afterall, anything worth having isn't come by easily.

     I will touch on a few of the more interesting concepts to me in the book.  The Cameron's examine fifteen faulty thinking patterns we can fall into and offer healthy alternatives.  I studied some of these in an anxiety group I attended not so long ago.  Examples of faulty thinking include: negative filtering, thinking in extremes, pessimistic predictions, imagining a disaster, taking things too personally, and assuming emotion is truth.  I find the whole topic of faulty thinking fascinating.  There are some patterns I know describe me to the full.  There are some I thought I had, but now realize I don't.  As well, there are some I likely have, but am too blind to see it!  The book is worth picking up for this section alone.

     David and Sonya also write about the importance of physical health, exercise, and what one eats.   They offer some specific advice on these topics and show a direct relationship between our physical health and mental well-being that works both ways.  They also write about the importance of setting boundaries.  Are you the type of person who can't say no to others, to the point of burnout?  No worries, this book will show you how to break free of that!

     A final topic of interest to me was that of apology and forgiveness.  This is a very personal topic.  Resolving conflict in relationships is vital to our overall health, but so rarely done properly it seems. I have a lot to learn here.  David and Sonya walk the reader through steps to healing that both acknowledge the wrongs committed and the effects they had, and release the offender and victim from guilt and shame, so both parties can move on, and even potentially reconcile in many cases. 

     The Cameron's present all of these concepts and more, through the story of a fictional couple, Mike and Sara Forrester, which is effective.  My only beef with the book is minor-some of the humour is fairly corny.  I have been accused of the same though!

     For more on the book and the Cameron's, visit http://www.truefoundation.com/ and http://www.therestofhealth.com/.  Also, visit a bookstore near you and get your copy today!

DEAR JOHN

     DEAR JOHN, like THE NOTEBOOK, is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks.  Amanda Seyfried, who plays Savannah, and was in MEAN GIRLS, and is also in CHLOE, which I have yet to see, was mainly what drew me to rent this movie.  At times I loved her character as she is cute, down to earth, and good hearted, and at one point I despised her character.  Watch the movie and you can likely figure out at which point that was.  Channing Tatum plays her love interest, John.  While some male heartthrobs irritate me, such as Josh Hartnett at times, Tatum does not in this movie and acts quiet well and has good chemistry with Seyfried.
     DEAR JOHN examines long distance relationships brought on by one partner being in the military.  Long distance relationships of any kind require a reliance on strong communication and going through frequent bouts with loneliness.  Doesn't sound like much fun, eh?  The benefit though is a strong relationship if one perserveres.
     This film also looks at people who are not considered normal in our society-particularly the autistic and the obsessive, reclusive types.  The fast pace of our lives and our uncertainty on how to interact with these folks often leads us not to.  This movie shows healthy ways we can be involved that are beneficial to both parties.  Patience is key. For more on autism watch the special features on the dvd. 
     I give DEAR JOHN four out of five stars!

GETTING AN EDUCATION

     This BBC film was nominated for three Academy Awards this past year: Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.  It came out in 2009.  When I rented it, I was thinking it would be in the vein of the Poison Ivy movies, ie a teacher-student fling.  I had not done a lot of research on it, and it actually turned out to be quite a different movie than what I had expected it to be.
     Carey Mulligan plays Jenny, a cute school girl who falls for a man more than twice her age, David, played by Peter Sarsgaard.  She is bored with her daily routine and going to school.  She needs a change. She wants to break away.  David is able to offer her travels, cultural experiences involving exposure to art and music, money, and attention.  He seems like a great guy, but there is more than meets the eye. You'll have to watch the movie to find out what that is, if you haven't seen it yet.
     This movie is a good examination of older guy, younger girl hookups. What is the draw for each party involved? What needs are being met on both parts? The movie allows you to draw your own conclusions about the morality of the actual relationship.
     The topic of education could also be studied using this movie, which is based on a memoir.  How much value is there in formal education? How could school be made more relevant to everyday life and peak the students interests and engage their passions? I think the movie shows that there are some lessons you can not learn in school. Life outside the brick walls has to teach you them. And you may have to learn the hard way. 
     Emma Thompson holds steady as Jenny's headmistress, while Alfred Molina is good as Jenny's dad, Jack.
     This one is on the slower, artsy side of things, but i'm giving it a 3.75 out of 5.

BROOKS AND DUNN-THE LAST RODEO: My review

     Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have been making country music together as a duo for a couple decades, and racking up over twenty number one's in the process.  They can sing about having a good time in a bar, and matters of faith equally well, and perhaps that has been part of their draw.  We are all 'saints and sinners' depending on the day or the hour.  There is a certain realness to their songs.
     THE LAST RODEO tv special aired this past Sunday night on CBS from 8-10pm est.  It was actually filmed though in Las Vegas shortly after the Academy of Country Music Awards.  As with any tribute show, this one had its' share of hits and misses.  Chick magnet Keith Urban gave a solid performance on 'Brand New Man' with its' religious lyricism.  Brad Paisley in a trademark white cowboy hat, did justice to the upbeat"Workin' on my Next Broken Heart'.  Carrie Underwood donned a nice silver dress and covered 'Neon Moon' which she said she'd been singing since she was eight years old.  I particularly enjoyed Taylor Swift's performance of 'Ain't Nothing Bout You'. She came out in a sparkling purple dress and was certainly not lacking in the energy department. I hope she records this one! Swift has a likeable, innocent personality.  I loved it when she tossed her guitar and took to the mic. 
     Other performances left me unmoved at times.  Darius Rucker's 'Hard Workin' Man' fell flat for me, but it was superb compared to Jennifer Hudson's awful take on 'Believe'.  Sugarland attempted to be artistic with one of my favourite Brooks and Dunn songs 'Red Dirt Road', but it was so slow it was almost depressing.  No one dared touch 'My Maria'.  I would have liked to have heard someone do "You can't take the Honky Tonk out of the Girl'.  I love that vid by the way!
     There is no doubt Brooks and Dunn influenced those who came after them.  They have set records that will be hard to beat as well.  Best of luck with your solo careers after one last tour together guys!

NEVER GIVE UP

     I received this Joyce Meyer book from my dad this past Christmas. NEVER GIVE UP came out in 2008 and is published by Faith Words.  I used to watch Joyce on tv more frequently and generally liked what she had to say. 
     This book is a must read for anyone who is going through, will go through, or even has gone through difficulties of any kind, whether the troubles be of a financial, relational, emotional, physical, psychological, or spiritual nature.  I like the book because unlike some prosperity teaching it starts with the premise that we will all go through troubles and can't just wish them away.  They are a part of life for believer and non-believer.  Troubles can be persistent. They are not easy to work through.
     I appreciated Meyer's honesty in revealing some of the difficulties she has had to work through over the years.  These include suffering abuse at the hands of her father, and facing ridicule as a woman trying to enter the ministry.  While she does not go into too much detail, she gives enough that she seems just like the rest of us trying to work her way through this thing we call life. 
     Reading this book you will learn the importance of properly using God's Word, purposely thinking in a proper manner, and defending yourself against the devil's attacks.  She assures the reader that rewards will come for our diligence and faithfulness, but they may not come in the form we desire them to or at the time we think they should.  Bravo Joyce! 
     This book could be used in so many ways really-to fight self-doubt, self-pity, depression, the list goes on.  Whether you are a post-secondary student, a middle-aged parent, or a senior citizen fighting loneliness you will find helpful tips in this book. It's easy to read and encouraging!

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI'S PAPER HEART

     Looking at, and listening to Francesca Battistelli's MY PAPER HEART-DELUXE EDITION (Fervent, 2010), it is hard to believe that Contemporary Christian music was once dominated by female vocalists old enough to be my mother or grandmother and would likely appeal to them more.  Names such as Evie, Sandi Patti, and Twila Paris will sound familiar to some of you.  Francesca brings a hip, contemporary, fashionable sound and look to the CCM genre, and the girl can sing, which doesn't hurt either.  In fact, she was this year's FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR at the Doves.  Style-wise, this album will appeal to fans of artists such as Natalie Grant and Miley Cyrus.

     There are several bouncy, upbeat numbers. 'Free to Be Me' is about discovering one's destiny: "Cause I got a couple dents in my fender/Got a couple rips in my jeans/Try to fit the pieces together/But perfection is my enemy/On my own I'm so clumsy/But on Your shoulders/I can see/I'm free to be me."  'Unpredictable' is about not putting God in a box and thinking we have Him and what He has in store for us, all figured out.  'It's Your Life' reminds us that it really does matter how we live as Christians: "It's your life/What you gonna do?/The world is watching you/Every day the choices you make/Say what you are and who your heart beats for/It's an open door/It's your life."  Balancing this out, is the ballad, 'Behind the Scenes' which features this confession: "Things aren't always what they seem/You're only seeing part of me/There's more than you could ever know/Behind the scenes/I'm incomplete and I'm undone." 

     Francesca shines on the simple, yet beautiful, worship track 'Forever Love', as well as on the soulful pop track 'Blue Sky'.  'Beautiful, Beautiful' is a good, powerful ballad in the vein of AVALON, about God seeing the best in us, and His ability to transform us.

     A couple of the weaker tracks in my estimation are, the title track, 'My Paper Heart', which has weak, cheesy lyrics, and, a somewhat lacking cover of Brooke Fraser's 'Lead me to the Cross'. 

     This deluxe edition includes bonus tracks from the Dented Fender Sessions.  A stripped down version of 'Free to Be Me' with a country feel to it, works well, while a piano based take on 'I'm Letting Go' doesn't work so well.

     Overall, I'm giving this project an 85 percent.  Visit http://www.francescamusic.com/ for more info!

The Midget, the Speck and the Molecule

The Swirling Eddies are certainly one of the more unique bands in the history of the genre of music that is known as Christian rock. They are a side project of Terry Scott Taylor of DANIEL AMOS and LOST DOGS fame. Taylor writes all of the songs on the Eddies latest release, 2007's The Midget, the Speck and the Molecule, released on Stunt Records. My favourite Swirling Eddies tune from past projects is 'Hide the Beer, the Pastor's Here', in which the singer doesn't want his pastor to find out he's human and has flaws.

The latest Eddies project begins with the snarly, guitar driven 'It all Depends'. It is reminiscient of DANIEL AMOS' Kalhoun-era material. The subject of the song is perspective, as evidenced by this lyric: "Well they took away dear Jesus and they hung Him on a cross/Some say He won in the end/And some say He lost." This is followed by the title track, which is a slow, alternative rock number, I take to be about conscience, and whether we heed or ignore it: "Ah, turn back baby, turn around/The bridge is out and you will surely drown."

It's hard to tell whether the next song, 'Madonna Inn', is supposed to be humorous, meant to stretch the boundaries of what is permissable in Christian music, or is merely a story song. You won't hear these lyrics on the Christian top twenty at any rate: "Baby, let's drive to madonna inn/I've saved up my dough/Just so you'd know/You're my lady madonna/I'm your holy joe/We'll do everything righteous that your mama calls sin/At madonna inn." To be fair, Taylor frames the story in the context of a honeymoon. 'My Cardboard Box' finds Taylor frisky again, this time as a homeless man: "Come home with me sweety/Cos I like you lots/My place gets a little cold/Might wanna double your socks/And I will warm you with my lovin'/As the temperature drops/We'll make it toasty as an oven/In my cardboard box."

If you've followed Terry Scott Taylor's music over the years, you know he writes a lot tongue-in-cheek, and can be quite entertaining. Such is the case with the quiet 'Snow in a Can': "Candles for romance/Canned music for mood/Sex in a pill, and tan in a tube/For winter a heater, for summer a fan/Instant coffee and cameras, sea-monkeys and tang/Is just some of the stuff which I think is grand."

The Swirling Eddies have cooked up a real treat here on The Midget, the Speck and the Molecule. Some listeners may be offended by mild cursing. 77%.
For more on the Eddies visit www.swirlingeddies.com or www.danielamos.com

John Schlitt Live in Cambridge!

 

On November 22, 2009 my wife Lauretta and I went to our first ever John Schlitt solo concert at Silverheights School in Cambridge, Ontario. John was the lead singer for the bands Head East and Petra. I had seen Petra a handful of times starting with the Beyond Belief tour and ending with the Farewell tour in 2005. Through my teen years up to the present, John has been one of my spiritual heroes.

The show got underway just after 7 pm, with a three piece worship band from the church (thelifecentre.ca). A young gal with a pink guitar was accompanied by a drummer and another guitarist. They led us in two loud worship numbers, the first of which was a Hillsong tune. There were about one hundred people in attendance, of all ages, which was nice to see.

John Schlitt came out around 7:15 wearing a black sportsjacket, a black t-shirt from 'Not of this World Clothing', and a pair of blue jeans. He definitely is looking older, and now wears glasses, but he looks in better shape than on the Farewell tour, trimmer and more muscular. He performed with tracks and guitarist David Teems, who would also be in his fifties I would guess, and may be working on a book on Schlitt's life.

Schlitt opened the night with the song 'Gravity' which speaks of God keeping us grounded despite all the different directions the world can pull us. The song also served to warm up his voice which he said had been tested on this Ontario tour which also included stops in Barrie, Bradford, and Burlington.

Next up, was 'God is too Big' from his second solo disc 'Unfit for Swine' from 1996, which was his foray into alternative rock. Schlitt told the story of how he had high hopes for the song at the time, but some radio programmers had complaints that it sounded like Schlitt was singing 'God is Stupid' and the song got pulled from rotation. It makes for a good story though. Schlitt had a boy around eight years old join him on stage to yell 'God is too Big' on the chorus. Quite a treat for the boy and his parents!

'Show me the Way' from his first solo disc 'Shake' from 1995, was next. It is an adult contemporary ballad with the same message as Amy Grant's 'Lead me On' or Smitty's 'Place in this World'. Two songs from 'The Grafting' cd, 2008, were next. The first was 'The Grafting', a song very close to Schlitt's heart, as he has five grandkids via adoption. He is so thankful the mothers did not choose abortion. The song also talks of how God grafts us into His family through the blood of Christ. 'Only Men', another ballad, speaks of the fact that there is only one true God to be worshipped. Schlitt said back in his early days with Petra he was in Europe and couldn't believe how Christians were made fun of over there. He said fast-forward to today and it's happening over here. He believes North America is the last bastion of Christian freedom. He said the Bible doesn't call Christians to be doormats. The way Schlitt reads the Bible, his Jesus didn't walk around in slippers and let people walk all over Him. Christians shouldn't be 'fluff and puff' people. Jesus got angry when people turned His Father's house into a marketplace! Schlitt also said he was not a big fan of President Obama's policies.

It was a real treat when for tracks six and seven Schlitt reached into the Petra catalogue and did 'Just Reach Out', and their signature song, 1990's 'Beyond Belief'. The crowd really came alive, including myself, during this one. A couple of times during the show, he pointed at me (we were in the third row), and I was apparently looking pretty excited, and wearing my 'I'm a Pethead' t-shirt. Schlitt stressed the importance of growing after we become Christians. We will never be perfect, but we should grow. Next up was the popular worship chorus 'Trading my Sorrows' from II Guys from Petra, which in my eyes was Petra's fourth worship project. Schlitt ended the night with 'Inside of You', which speaks of the wonders God can do in each of us. Schlitt encouraged those who did not have a personal relationship with Christ or had fallen away a bit, to talk to him afterwards or to to one of the pastors.

After the concert some of the people from the church laid hands on John and David, and a prayer was offered for their ministry. I should add that David was a great guitarist/sidekick. I was able to shake hands with John after the show and finally after all of these years got a picture with him thanks to my beautiful wife Lauretta!

THE END OF RELIGION

My latest read was "The End of Religion" by Bruxy Cavey. He is the teaching pastor at The Meeting House in Hamilton, which is affiliated with the Brethren in Christ denomination.

Using just 117 pages, Cavey makes some great points. Here are some of them:

1. Over the ages, religion has been the cause of many deaths and wars. Islam is violent, but Christianity is itself guilty of the Crusades and more!

2. Jesus did not come to give us religion (rules, regulations and rituals). He offers relationship.

3. If we truly want to be fundamentalist, we would follow Jesus' lead and show a lot more grace/mercy to others.

4. God does not call us to accept a set of doctrines. He requires a belief/faith/trust in Him. This is an interesting point. How important is doctrine? I know we as evangelicals stress doctrines such as the Trinity, etc.

5. It should be love not law motivating us to follow Christ.

6. Jesus had a lot to say to the 'religious leaders' of his day. They thought they knew it all, but were way off on some things. Their beliefs were oft incomplete or totally wrong.

There were a couple times in the book Cavey got quite liberal in his comments. But nothing that made me put the book down.

I recommend this book to Christians and seekers alike. It will give you a new perspective on religious institutions and the person of Jesus.
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Yet another Gaither video performer has died. Roger Bennett, former pianist for the Cathedrals, and most recently of Legacy Five passed away a couple days ago. He was 48 and leaves behind a wife and kids. He had battled leukemia. This leaves Scott Fowler and Ernie Haase as the only living members of the last Cathedrals lineup! For more info on Bennett see singingnews.com

THE PROVERBS IN CONCERT

Back when i was much younger and attended Houghton Brethren in Christ Church in Frogmore, there were two musical groups I especially enjoyed when they came to do special music. One was the Nations Quartet and the other was the Proverbs. This past Saturday, Lauretta, Rachael, and I had the privilege of seeing the Proverbs in concert after all these years, at Burns Presbyterian in Feversham, about five minutes from Osprey School where Lauretta teaches. The church is tiny and quaint. There were only about 30 people in attendance, but the church looked fairly full due to the small sanctuary.

The current members of the Proverbs are Dave and Kathy Daw, and Neil and Karen Prins. Karen is Kathy's sister. Nowadays the Proverbs perform accompanied by soundtracks, but back in the day they brought instruments. Dave and Kathy continue to run Summit Sound studios in Westport, ON.

During the first set of music, Kathy Daw, who has been Female Vocalist of the Year for the Canadian Gospel Music Association several times, spotted Rachael. Rachael was easily the youngest person there. Kathy came down off the stage and said Rachael was brave for coming and then went to the merch table and gave Rachael a free copy of their newest cd "Release". That was cool! Later, i bought two more newer cd's of theirs.

Nowadays musically I would classify the Proverbs as a mix of easy listening and country. They performed many selections from "Release" including "Angels in the Room", and "Rest in Me". Another notable tune they did was "Who's Gettin' Ready?" which reminds us that Christ is coming back one day. Their stage presence was quite good, turning towawrds each other while singing sometimes, and at times coming off the platform to be closer to the audience. I missed some of the second set including a sermon/talk as we had to take Rachael downstairs as she was becoming too rowdy.

I had the pleasure of talking to Kathy for quite awhile. She noticed i was wearing a Petra shirt and told me her son was in Black Talon, a group that opened for Petra on their farewell tour, which was neat. Will we see a Proverbs/Black Talon tour one day??? Kathy also said there may be a reunion concert of people who have been with the Proverbs over the years. It would likely take place in Kingston. And apparently the Tomen's from the Nations are back in London and doing something musical with Ronnie. I hope to find out more info on this.

Let me say that Dave and Kathy Daw are genuine people. I got to talk to both of them, and also had a nice chat with Neil Prins. Dave Daw is the only original member of the group, dating back 40 years now. On Sunday, the Proverbs were to do two shows at a Presbyterian church in Waterloo, where current Feversham Rev Dr. Dwight Strain used to work.

If you would like more info on the Proverbs, check out theproverbs.com.

HIM

Long, long ago a Christian metal band sprung up on the music scene and they were called Stryper. They wore yellow and black spandex outfits and had big poofy hair. Well, many years have passed since then and now lead singer of the band, Michael Sweet has released a new project called "Him". Put simply, it is a collection of new arrangements of old hymns that have been sung in churches for years.

The overall tone of the album is worshipful. Only a minority of the tracks are actually upbeat in tempo which may surprise some longtime fans. "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" is here called "Alleluia", while "I Surrender All" goes by "Surrender".
Perhaps the most beautiful track is "Take my Life" which runs over five minutes in length. Even included is the Christmas classic "Oh Holy Night". You'll be hard pressed to find a better version out there than Sweet's!

The hymns of course are rich in lyrical content. On the first track "Calvary" Sweet sings: "And mercy there was great, and grace was free/And pardon there was multiplied to me/There my burdened soul found liberty oh at Calvary". Musically and vocally I recommend this cd to fans of Bon Jovi and Def Leppard's slower material.

I do not believe you can order this one from the Christian bookshops. However, it can be ordered via Michael's website at www.michaelsweet.com, as my brother Mark did for a Christmas gift for me. Thanks Mark! Should you order it, it will be well worth the wait!

NEWSBOYS GOING PLACES!

The Newsboys are no strangers to the world of Christian rock. They are a veteran band that has survived numerous member changes. Their latest project "Go" will be the last album to showcase the talents of bassist Phil Joel, who has been with the band for many years. He is leaving to pursue other interests and spend time with his family.

"Go" is an album full of fun dancy, pop beats that will keep your toes tapping. Heck, even Lauretta was bouncing around to it the other night when i had it on in the kitchen area. Sorry, no video of that!

Evangelism is the theme of the track "The Mission". Praise is directed to God on "In Wonder" and "I am Free". Lyrically, once again the boys are aided by Steve Taylor, who is witty and packs a lot of truth in a few words. Check out these words from "Secret Kingdom" for example: "This here comes in/Like brick to glass/Like grace to sin/Gonna kick down walls like West Berlin/Shout an amen/Hug it out, then/This here's gonna light a fire/Gonna pink slip preaching to the choir/Gonna send us hobbits outta the shire/Here's the theme song/Get your ring on/That there's still propagating waiting on a rooftop/Our journey's just begun/".

Particularly catchy is track 7 "Your love is better than life" which is kind of clubbish i would say. And if you want to hear something unique, hear the boys sample Evie on the last track! You've not heard anything like it.

All in all, this one's a winner and the Newsboys show no sign of slowing down, though touring as a foursome now.
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Lauretta and I watched "Dreamer" on the weekend. This one stars Kurt Russell and Dakoda Fanning. It is the story of a down and out injured horse and its' journey to wellness. It is also the story of the bond between people and horses. This movie is quite clean, and could just as well have been put out by Disney. I particularly enjoyed Kris Kristofferson's character. He was solid in this movie, as a long-time horse-owner, father, and grandfather. I have no problems giving this flick a 85 percent, though slow in spots.

STAND

Christian pop music has few names as recognizable as that of Michael W. Smith. He got his big break back in the day as Amy Grant's keyboard player. Since then he has recorded an impressive catologue of records that speak of day to day life from a Christian perspective. He has enjoyed success in the mainstream market with hits such as "Place in this World". He has shown himself to be a worship leader in more recent years.

Smith's new album is entitled "Stand". More than one reviewer has given this album less than favorable reviews whether it be for simple lyrics, or a 'rushed feel' to it. Apparently Smith only had forty days to complete it. He had been busy working on his movie "The Second Chance" so the story goes.

This album is part pop album, part worship album, and that may frustrate some listeners. Overall though after a couple listens thru i feel it works for me. There are a fair number of catchy tunes including the outreach numbers "Come to the Cross" and "Be Lifted High". The core of the album though is tracks 6-9 where the theme is no question that of God's grace. Included is a cover of part of Keith Green's classic "Oh Lord You're Beautiful" and part of a Hillsong's number "The Stand".

Other notable tracks include "How to Say Goodbye" co-written by Amy Grant, and "Escape your love" a love song complete with harmonica that may remind some listeners of the old secular tune "That's what friends are for".

While "Stand" does not feature Smith's most creative work of his career, it does seem to me like a sincere album and worth checking out, if you haven't already.
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On a completely different note, here is my review of the movie "Dirty Love". Yes, it's one of those dvd's you can get in the $6.88 bin at Walmart! It stars Jenny McCarthy (she also wrote the movie) as a lady who walks in on her partner cheating and has to go on from there. She searches for love thruout the movie, aided by her friends including one played by Carmen Electra. Electra's character is very street in this movie, and very foul-mouthed just to warn you. The movie as a whole, especially the first 40 minutes is quite rough which is unfortunate because as it picks up there is a lot of great comedy, and their is a touching ending of sorts, though not built up as much as it could have been. One likeable character in the movie is played by Eddie Kaye Thomas, who plays Finch in the American Pie movies. I thought his character portrayal in "Dirty Love" was quite good. In conclusion, this is definitely not a family movie.
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Not sure why there is a big space between here and the comment option, but oh well, i think it's something about this post.

HEAD EAST
My brother got me a gem of a present for Christmas this time around. He actually found a copy of "The Best of Head East" at Sam the Record Man in Toronto. Head East is the secular band that John Schlitt sang with before he joined Petra in 1986. I really didn't know what to expect when i popped this disc into my player this morn. Musically, i would compare Head East to a mix of old DeGarmo and Key with more vocal harmonies. Vocally at times i was reminded of Rush, and of course Petra.

Lyrically the songs speak of string-free relationships, drinking, and good times. But that is not all. "City of Gold" seems to ponder another place. It is a good precursor to Schlitt's Christian works. Thruout the album one gets the sense that Head East were a bunch of guys out to have some fun while playing rock and roll. The lyrics and the delivery of them are good-natured and the overall theme of the album seems to be something like the following: We're all in this life together. Might as well enjoy it to the full. Yes, heartache occurs, but good prevails in the end.

Overall, i give the album a 75 percent, with 70 being average. It is a solid collection of old-time rock and roll that will for the most part leave you in a good mood.

AUNT DARLENE

As many of you know my Aunt Darlene recently passed away after battling heart problems for nearly three decades. When she died she was only 58. I have buried three grandparents, but man, this was a really tough one.

You had to know Aunt Darlene. She was the 'life of the party' at family functions when i was little. She had an infectious smile and people just wanted to be near her.

I was so glad we got to see her in the hospital in London the day before she went under with morphine. She told us she was ready to go and when i asked her what she was looking forward to most, she said seeing Jesus, as her eyes lit up.

Don't take your loved ones forgranted. Treat them well. Focus on their good qualities. You really never know when you could lose a brother, a sister, a parent, a good friend. Death is no respector of persons.

RETURN TO MY ROOTS

This past Sunday we ventured to a different church than usual. We are in the process of trying to find a church that has kids Rachael's age and that we feel comfortable with. As most of you know, I was raised Brethren in Christ. My home church was in Frogmore, near Tillsonburg.

Sunday we headed to Stayner BIC church about half an hour from Flesherton. I had not been there for probably fifteen years or more. I had last went up with an old youth pastor. The church is quite nice, bigger than i expected, and has padded seats! I would say about 150 were in attendance this particular morning. The senior pastor was away, so the youth pastor was in charge and spoke. His name is Dave Hamill. Both Lauretta and I know him from EBC, and she used to see him at youth events. He spoke on OBEDIENCE-what is is, how to do it, and the benefits of it. His presentation was good, including use of a film clip and modern translations of Scripture.

The worship team was also bigger than i thought it would be, complete with drums, bass, and acoustic guitar. Songs included "Come Thou Fount" and "Lord I lift your Name on High". Rachael seemed to manage fine in the nursery. Only near the end of the service did a worker bring her to us, saying she was asking for "mom". I am proud of Lauretta for leaving her in the nursery, even though it was hard.

I saw the fathers of a couple EBC'ers i know-Howie Scheffer, and Ryan Brown, so that was neat. We want to go again to this church when the senior pastor is speaking.

ADD TO THE BEAUTY
Sara Groves is not just a singer, but a communicator of relational stories. Her songs on 2005's ADD TO THE BEAUTY deal with the intricacies of human relationships and the vertical-horizontal relationship between Creator and creation.
The best musical comparison for Groves would be perhaps, Canadian songstress Sarah McLachlan, or some of Dido, or Jann Arden's work. The disc is full of light pop sounds of a soothing nature. CCM magazine picked this as the best of '05 and it would be hard to argue with that assessment! In an age of manufactured music stars (of which i admit i like my fair share), this is a breath of fresh air.
The opening track 'When it was over', finds Groves singing about conflict and offering this solution: "Love wash over a multitude of things/Make us whole." 'It's Going to be Alright' is co-written with former WhiteHeart member Gordon Kennedy. On it she sings the following to someone going through a dark time: "I did not come here to offer you cliche's/I will not pretend to know of all your pain/Just when you cannot, then I will hold out faith for you."
ADD TO THE BEAUTY was produced by Brown Bannister who has worked with the likes of Petra and Amy Grant. On a final note, Groves bears somewhat of a resemblance to country artist Sara Evans in this album's photoshoot.

STRYPER REBORN
Back in the 1980's if you were to ask a non-believer to name a Christian band, they would probably say either Petra, or Stryper. Each of these groups received flack from the church for using worldly music to spread the Message. Stryper was also criticized for their outlandish attire. Nevertheless, they rose to prominence with albums such as TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL and IN GOD WE TRUST. But, by the 90's, around the time of their AGAINST THE LAW disc, the guys were drinking quite a bit, and they more or less called it a day, except for doing a couple new tunes for a best of project.

Fast forward to 2005 and Stryper is back with three of the four same members. The new member is bassist Tracy Ferrie, formerly of WHITECROSS. MSNBC.com named REBORN one of the best albums of 2005.

REBORN begins with two cuts that speak of the transformation needed for one to be truly free. On 'Open your eyes', they sing: "Open your eyes, loosen the vice that constrains you/Open your eyes, burn the disguise that you wear/Open your eyes, break the unfaith that controls you/Open your eyes, truth will be there". Lest the band be accused of not being specific enuff about the object of their faith, read these words from the song 'Passion': "Jesus Christ I want to serve You/I want what You want for me/Sacrifice-I don't deserve You, thru Your passion I am free".

The album concludes with a rocked up version of 'Amazing Grace', followed by a re-make of 'In God we Trust'. Stryper will be at a couple of festivals this summer and are booking a church tour.

NO GREATER LOVE
When Greg Xavier Volz left Petra in the mid 80's, it was not the end of his musical career. In fact, he continues to record solo material to this day. Last year he released two projects, one of them being NO GREATER LOVE. The musical styles on this cd are not ones that are popular today. On some cuts, i can hear echoes of old Randy Rothwell material, he being an Integrity worship leader. At other times Volz serves up Caribbean type fare, that puts one in mind of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't worry be happy". The album is nicely added to by some classic guitar work by Will McFarlane.

The title track is up first. It is a classic bluesy rock number with a short lyric: "No greater love has any man than this/That he lay down his life for a friend/But Jesus laid it down for all the world to see/So that many would believe that He died for you and me/This is the greatest love that the world has known/that the world has known".

Thematically, the songs fall into the categories of praise and exhortation. On 'Shout Aloud', Volz offers this praise: "Jesus Christ has set me free, by the blood He shed on Calvary/He is worthy, I will praise Him." On 'Walk, love, do', he exhorts believers to "Walk humbly, love mercy, do justly."

It's good to hear the former voice of Petra still at it. It's a shame his music is not widely distributed though. To order Volz products call Match Made in Heaven Music at 1-800-445-8404, or visit www.gregxvolz.com.