Growthtrac insidetrac, Life Changing Marriage Resources

Catching Up with Michael W. Smith

I know, I know. We're supposed to be about marriage. We'll, it's fun writing about my favorite music; besides, Christian music can make a huge difference  in your marriage, adding worship and spiritual intimacy to your relationship!

Read More: Why Music?

One of our friends Michael W. Smith celebrated his 30th # 1 single this week as "Here I Am" (from Healing Rain) securing the top spot on R&R's Inspirational Chart.

While his music is celebrated at radio, “Smitty” continues to perform before crowds in sold out venues nationally and internationally. In October, he travels to Brazil and Europe for several events where ticket sales reflect a tremendous fan base.

Looking for a great worship album? Check out Worship Again, one of my favorites (Thanks, Bob!)

Read more from Michael on Growthtrac!

The Fish 95.9

Jeff Deyo New Release

"Surrender" to release August 2nd!
We're excited to announce the upcoming release of "Surrender", Jeff's first live record since Sonicpraise in 2000! As expected, Surrender is 100% worship and 100% passion!!! It was powerfully recorded together with 23,000 passionate worshipers at the Parachute Festival in New Zealand ("Middle Earth" for you Lord of the Rings fans) in January of this year. It was an incredible blessing for Jeff and the band to participate in such an amazing festival and to have been able to capture on CD all that God did in those powerful, worshipful moments. Get it Here!

Concerts

I had an opportunity to see Michael W. Smith's Healing Rain concert this past Wednesday.  I'd been struggling with the cost of the tickets which were almost $100.  There were three artists in all with Watermark, Selah and then Michael W. 

Michael W. played with his band for almost two hours. Amazing to watch a guy in his 40's still jump around the stage with the enthusiasm that he does.  I especially enjoyed watching a young woman in his band who sang backup and played violin beautifully.

I left the concert filled up with the awe of watching a man honor God with his gifts and talents.  He made a comment during the concert that has stuck with me - "Worship is a lifestyle."

I couldn't agree more in that I go to church and can be disappointed by the music selection or the sermon. This song didn't speak to me or that message was lukewarm, etc.  This past year I was challenged by a sermon where the pastor said, we can choose to be entertained each time we come here or we can chose to worship God in our attitudes and the words and music we lift up to Him.  This is a place and time to bring praise to God, not to be entertained.

I feel worship has become more of a lifestyle for me this past particularly in the music I chose to listen to. I find myself closer to God, my husband and family when I fill my days with worship and praise music.  Worship music in on in the car, in the bathroom, in my office and in our living room.  It fills our lives now and helps keep me more focused on a daily basis.

Top Dove Awards

The Christian rock group Switchfoot won artist of the year at Wednesday's Gospel Music Association awards show, one of four honors bestowed on the band during the night.

Casting Crowns won three awards - group of the year, pop/contemporary recorded song ("Who Am I"), and inspirational recorded song ("Voice of Truth") - while lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall won individual honors for song of the year and songwriter of the year.

• Song of the Year  Who Am I Mark Hall
• Songwriter of the Year  Mark Hall
• Male Vocalist of the Year  Jeremy Camp
• Female Vocalist of the Year  Nicole C. Mullen
• Group of the Year  Casting Crowns
• Artist of the Year  Switchfoot
• New Artist of the Year  Building 429
• Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year  Wire Third Day
• Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year  Undone Mercy Me
• Praise & Worship Album of the Year  Arriving Chris Tomlin
• Worship Song of the Year  Blessed Be Your Name Matt Redman

Are you in to Christian music? You should be. It's all about spiritual intimacy.

Chris Tomlin makes Radio History

One of the premier songwriters of today, sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records’ Chris Tomlin, makes radio history with his first two radio singles from his current, widely acclaimed recording, Arriving, as the album’s sales continue to soar.

Known for writing Forever, We Fall Down, The Wonderful Cross, Famous One and more anthems sung by millions of people each week in churches around the world, Tomlin’s radio single Indescribable, which held the No. 1 position on multiple charts last fall and was released July 21, 2004, continues to be one of the most played songs at Christian radio.

If Chris Tomlin is not in your library, you're missing out. For more Chris Tomlin music, also check out the Passion, live worship albums. Excellent.

• Read our Exclusive Interview with Chris

Tri-Headline Spring Tour 2005

Fernando Ortega, Bebo Norman, Sara Groves
For the first time ever, three of the industries favorite singer/songwriters, Curb Records’ Fernando Ortega, Essential Records’ Bebo Norman and INO Records’ Sara Groves, join forces for a national tour. 

The 25-plus-city tour launches April 21 in Chattanooga, TN and hits such major markets as Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cleveland, Albuquerque, Ft. Worth, Colorado Springs and more.

 

Must-Have Worship

Just when I thought I was living a full worship life...

A friend in my small group (thanks Bob!) lent me his copy of the Michael W. Smith Worship DVD.  This is the same friend who turned me on to John Tesh's worship DVD. (I guess I've been living a sheltered life!)

Anyway, the more you watch this, the more you're drawn in to this awesome worship experience. And in 5.1 Surround Sound, it must come pretty close to "being there". 

Highly recommended. Get it and crank it up.

• Growthtrac Music

Passion: How Great Is Our God, Releasing April 12

(Nashville, TN) March 8, 2005 – sixstepsrecords announces the release of their eighth Passion project, Passion: How Great Is Our God, April 12.  Following seven critically acclaimed Passion recordings that have sold well-over one million units, the highly anticipated CD features brand new music recorded live from the main stage at the Passion 05 gathering held Jan. 2-5 in Nashville, TN.

Passion: How Great Is Our God captures the heart of Passion 05 and its 11,000-plus attendees with 13 live tracks, including songs by David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall and Chris Tomlin, among others.  The album also features Chris Tomlin’s No. 1 radio hit, “Indescribable,” along with five brand new Passion offerings...

If you don't have a Passion album in your worship collection-- get this one!

• Growthtrac Music...
• The Passion Network site

Don't Miss This!

Okay, I know -- another worship music post. Give me a break, this is one of my favorites!...

I discovered "John Tesh Worshipper" a few months back listening to the Worship at Red Rocks CD and while speaking with John during a recent interview.

Most of the these are familar covers -- nothing new. What sets this album apart is the awesome, spirit filled worship service, led by gifted worship leaders and musicians. It's soul stirring.

And then I saw the DVD. The video will blow you away! The energy and emotion is electrifying, experiencing the love and power of God in John's outstanding arrangements.

Don't miss this -- get the DVD or watch it for Free on PBS this month. 

• Worship at Red Rocks Broadcast Schedule

Worship 101

Exclusive Interview with Darlene Zschech
At a church Small Group conference several years ago, Darlene Zschech was my introduction to worship. Shout to the Lord was the anthem of my "new believer" years.

Check out my interview with Darlene. What a privilege to meet face-to-face this world acclaimed singer, songwriter worship leader --  and the person behind the music that taught me to worship.

• Check out Darlene's website