Advent Video

Here is a video that Christine Sine put together. She has written and posted different advent resources on her blog, godspace.wordpress.com. Christine and her husband Tom Sine direct Mustard Seed Associates. I (Tracy) did a house concert with them in Seattle back in November and it's wonderful to continue developing our friendship.

Back in 2005, I was helping a small group of people a a Presbyterian fellowship in Longmont, CO discover what it meant to reach out into their community and create a worship gathering loving and relevant to young post-moderns who may or may not profess to be Christian. During Advent I was asked to speak, and the liturgical scripture happened to be out of Isaiah 61. So I spoke about restoration and worship (which is usually what I speak about). I have recently been reflecting even further on this chapter, asking my friends what they think keeps us from being the restorers Christ talks about. Anyway, for an Advent devotion on worship, here's the LINK to the article I posted on worshipexplore.com.

Blessings, Tracy

Why start with kindness?

Yes, the CD is up on iTunes. Of course we want it to be available easily, but here's a little info for you...it's a little cheaper if you download directly off of this site, and 100% goes to the people involved in the project. But you know, we're grateful for however people spread the word! Enough about digital distribution...

We are getting ready to send the CD to some friends and different media groups, magazines, etc for review. Brian and I (Tracy) actually burned copies of the CD with several different song orders on them before deciding on this final line up. There are many different things to consider in this final and important step, and actually a challenge I enjoy very much. I think of it the same way I think about facilitating a worship gathering when we gather as people with different perspectives and gifts and try to accomplish what Jesus himself prayed for us, "Let them be One, Father, as You and I are One..." (Jn 17).

Of course, the first track is always a tough one...There are several songs on the album that more fully encapsulate the theme's in Brian's new book, "Everything Must Change," that would have been very appropriate to "warm people up." But a large part of this project is not just Brian's message, it's an expression of Brian as a follower of Jesus and part of what I respect and admire so much about him as a person is that he is consistently kind. So, even though the song, "Kindness" would be the song I would send everyone off with after a worship gathering, I voted to start the CD project with it, in hopes that it would be the filter through which all other things are received and processed. And at the very end, it's a reminder, a hopefully ever present mantra, "We have nothing, if we don't have love."

Blessings, Tracy

Recording Majesty and Power

Aaron Strumpel just gave me (Tracy Howe) this video from our recording time this July in Colorado. When we started recording, we led with "Majesty and Power." Dave Wilton, the sound engineer, set some levels and pre amps for the entire project based on my performance here. We recorded in a very nice home studio my friend designed to double as an office, or apartment, so we recorded with other people in the room...and in the end, I think it added to the energy and live feeling of the project.

The New CD is Here!

We have the new CD in the warehouse and shipped the first batch of orders! I'm so excited. People have already been so encouraging, emailing different ways the project has touched or impacted them. We are doing free shipping in the store through Christmas, so go ahead and order a copy!

Also, I am posting some emails I've received here in the comments, including some other songs in the works from people around the world struggling with and learning to reconcile faith and hope to day to day life and worship expression!

Places to Converse...

We are excited that some people have written about this collaboration and hopefully more will as we count the days to it's release! So we wanted to point you towards some great sites and/or conversations!

Mike Morrell started a great conversation on his site zoecarnate after watching the "Atheist" video.

Jorge Camargo translated "Atheist" into Portuguese on his blog, Travessia.

Blake Huggins offered some reflection on his blog.

And, since the digital release, we found a post on the World of Your Making blog.

Songs For a Revolution of Hope in Seattle

Both Brian and Tracy will be at the Off-the-Map gathering November 1-3. Brian will be a featured speaker and Tracy will be leading a workshop on songwriting. On Saturday, Tracy is partnering with Mustard Seed Associates for a house concert. Here are the details, but space is limited, so please e-mail ahead if you would like to come!

Shafer Baillie Mansion
907 14th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
November 3rd, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Suggested donation: $10

Brian Talks About the Worship Industry

Song Intros From Brian

Here's a six minute video of Brian giving some background on this project and the songs.

11-57 Video Posted

This is a video Aaron Strumpel (project artist, aaronstrumpel.com) put together with clips from our time recording the CD as well as clips from some of his latest travels, to a piece from the new CD called "11-57." The physical release is still set for Nov 1, just two weeks away!

Book Release!

The book, "Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope," has been released! Go to your local bookstores or online book distributors to pick up your copy.