Adore

I know it's not December yet, but I am talking about Christmas anyway. Because in the Duran household, Christmas starts when I say it does (which is usually October 1st... don't judge me...)
I have begun to work through my annual list of "must listen to Christmas albums". So far, so good. I've even added to it. The latest cd to serenade my eardrums is Chris Tomlin's Adore. Man... It's got some great songs!

The best of which is the title track.

A lot of Christmas songs have traditional verses with the artist writing a modern chorus. Adore is different in that it takes the chorus of an old hymn, changes the melody and adds in modern verses. It's not a flashy song with bells and soaring guitar solos. It's a reflection on the Christmas season... and a great song of worship.
Soothing is probably the best way I know to describe it.

Give it a listen. Hopefully you dig it as much as I have been!

Politics

What a weird election! Not only is this the longest election in Canadian history (by something like 7 days), it also feels like the most discussed. That's weird to me. I was raised that you keep your political opinions to yourself. I can see why. Sharing them seems to cause nothing but fighting!

Facebook is full of examples. I've seen posts with upwards of 4k angry comments complaining about this party or that party. That's not even touching on the actual conversations that I've been a part of or listened in on. People really get worked up about this sort of thing!

It's also frustrating how confusing it's making the election. It's hard to get a grasp on what party to vote for when there are 5 million voices all screaming what they think. It's really taking the "fun" out of the election. Sure discussion is important, but there isn't a discussion. It's a yelling contest.

What I am most discouraged by is the fact that all the whining and complaining and opinionating wont end on the 19th. No matter who wins, Facebook will have plenty to say about it on the 20th!

Singing

Singing is really really hard. I have huge amounts of respect for people that are able to get up on stage, sing and put on a killer show. I struggle to maintain the right key let alone project and turn on the stage presence.

Then there's this person.

I don't really know what category they fall under... but hopefully you enjoy this video either way.

Worship Tunes

I had the chance to play on my church's worship team on Sunday. Playing music is awesome in general, but worship music just has that extra something too it... probably the worship aspect. That's my guess.

It's been about a year since I was on a team. Man, have I missed it! Working together as a team to arrange the songs, practising them like crazy and then playing them on Sunday morning is just... awesome!

Anyway, I've discovered a couple of new favourite tracks that I thought I would share.

Kari Jobe - Hands To The Heavens

Really cool song. Saw her play this one at Wonderjam this year and fell in love instantly.

Revelation Song - Candi Person Shelton
We play a couple of Candi's songs on Praise and Worship Sunday, but I hadn't been introduced to her cover of Revelation Song until Sunday. I dig (which I guess goes without saying as I wouldn't have put it on this list if I hated it...)



Chris Tomlin - At The Cross
The chorus of this song is so poetic. "Where your love ran red and my sin washed white". I know that's Christianity 101, but still, such a great way to phrase it!

Beyond The Mask

I'm pretty hyped for this movie. I know, I know. I say that a lot... but I get hyped for a lot of movies!

This one has a lot of promise. Good early reviews (although God's Not Dead had the same thing...), great looking trailer and it's written by Paul McCusker (he has worked on Adventures in Odyssey for years).

It's premise is what has me intrigued. From IMDB -

A British East India Trading Company assassin seeks to redeem his past by thwarting a plot against a young nation's hope for freedom.

That's right, it's a Christian movie about an assasin who is trying to prevent a plot involving the revolutionary war in the U.S. How is that going to play out!??! I guess we'll have to see this weekend.

It hits select theatres Friday, hopefully I'll be able to catch a showing and report back next week.

Have you had a chance to catch it yet?

Kingdom Bound 2015 ~ In Pictures

I've talked a lot before about my love of concert photography. Big concerts have a lot going on. There are countless great shots to get in all the chaos of lights, people and sound.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Kingdom Bound 2015.
I'm a little mad that I didn't get more of for King & Country. I wanted to enjoy the show (which I did) with my eyes and not my lens. In retrospect I succeeded... but missed out on a lot of cool pictures.

Aside from that... enjoy the shots!

For King And Country 

Michael Tait and Newsboys... but mostly Tait...

Kutless (who didn't perform Sea of Faces...)

A crowd rocking out to Disciple. Really dig anything with hands in the air. 

I know it's not the fanciest photo, just love the lighting/ crowd.

Casting Crowns. This captures the sea of faces (mmmm) watching the show.

My friends in AFT rocking out!

I'm not sure if getting that much lens flare is good or not... but I like it. That's all I care about.

Not a great picture for being close, but again, that lighting!

Did I mention Kutless didn't do Sea of Faces?

For King & Country

I was hanging out at Kingdom Bound last week. It's one of my most favorite events to do at LIFE. You're surrounded by some of the biggest and best in Christian music for 4 days in a different country. It's just so cool!

The first year I came, I saw a band called for King & Country on the"Park Stage." That's where up and coming bands play, usually rock. They weren't really a rock band, but man, they were so good. I actually felt bad for them. They put on this amazing show and there were only about 20 people watching.

That must be discouraging.

You take all of this time to write songs, record them, fit them into a live set and then hit the road to tour them... and 20 people half listen at a festival.

It would certainly discourage me.

Fast forward a few years and now they are opening for a bigger band. Their on a bigger stage now, more musicians. Good on them.

Wednesday night they opened Kingdom Bound as the headliner. Wow. I've never seen anything like that in my life. 6 drum kids. SIX. Chimes, a glockenspiel, two horns, cello, guitars, bass, everyone doing vocals... oh, and by everyone, I mean the 7 members. That's right, all those instruments are getting played by 7 people. It must be exhausting for them to run around between them for an hour!

Anyway, all of that wall of text to say this - Don't get discouraged.

I imagine at some point they thought "this music thing is really hard." They could have folded right then and there. But, they knew what they were capable of. What they were called to. They stuck with it. They've "made it." If we throw in the towel, we'll never get to see what God had coming our way. What his master plan was.

Also, go see for King & Country. Seriously. Just do it.