by Angele Tanyeri
The Collyde Summit is a gathering of passionate believers in the NY, NJ, and PA area, who love Jesus and are convicted to become world changers. Collyde turned out to be a life-changing experience for me! To gather and worship in this way was profound. It also gave me a chance to ‘collide’ with individuals I may not have had an opportunity to meet otherwise.
by Elise Daly Parker
So for pretty much the 30+ years my beloved and I have been married, we have been “working” on our finances. Initially, it was just a matter of trying to be responsible with our money and not get in over our heads with debt. Truth be told, our success was short term. Some of this was circumstantial – unanticipated life and salary changes threw us for a loop. But, really? We overspent.
by Kathleen Whittam
There is a nickname for people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter--a ChrEaster. My mom has long been a fan of the Christmas cactus, a plant that, oddly enough, blooms around Christmas as well as Easter. I started calling them a ChrEaster Cactus.
By Beth Stiff
I wanted to start from the beginning...
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.~ Genesis 1:1-2
My focal point was going to be on the three words God says over and over again in the first chapter of Genesis: “…it is good."
He looked at all He created and said it was good. ~ Genesis 1:31
Starting from the beginning sounded like a good plan because I’m currently reading from the Book of Genesis and those three words jumped off the pages as I read. If we believe everything He said as truth, and he says those three words several times, I’m thinking those words are rather important. [Continue Reading...]
by Elise Daly Parker
Even if you don’t go for a big New Year’s Eve celebration, the New Year can mark a fresh start, a new beginning, a shift in focus. It’s a good time to take a look back at the past, and consider a vision for the year ahead.
Many people choose a New Year’s resolution or two… [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
This month we are excited to share with you some music matchups!
Oftentimes, it’s difficult to find new music to enjoy so we are offering up some suggestions based on the albums we’ve reviewed this past year.
by Denise Trio
On August 19, 2014, Amy Grant’s newest album, entitled In Motion: The Remixes, was released. As the name suggests, the album contains remixes of her greatest hits that were released two decades ago. The six-time Grammy winner delivers these signature classics with new life from multiple producers including Chris Cox, Tony Moran, Moto Blanco, 7th Heaven, and Dave Aude. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
When people ask me about my heritage, I proudly proclaim, "I'm Italian." I've got an Italian grandmother whose meatballs would put an Iron Chef to shame. My family is big and loud. We are proud to be Italian. I'm also part Irish. After listening to Rend Collective, a folk-worship band from Ireland, I quickly identified more with my part-Irish roots. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
The David Crowder Band began in the 1996. The band’s raw creativity and talent revolutionized the Christian music industry. However, in 2011, the band announced they would end their 16-year streak of funky, original, and powerful worship music. Fans of the legendary band will be thrilled to know that Crowder is back on the scene with a new album.
In his first solo album, Crowder continues to deliver what his fans have come to know and love about him. Neon Steeple was released on May 27, 2014, by both Sparrow Records and sixstepsrecords. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
In a world where lately, worship music seems to have all been molded from the box of pulsing pads, driving guitars, catchy hooks, and loud drums, All Sons & Daughters provides a fresh take on what is quickly becoming commonplace. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
The newest Passion album was recorded live in January at the 2014 Passion Conference in Atlanta and Houston. It is full of the much-anticipated worship songs that listeners have come to expect from the yearly conference that gathers 18-25 year olds and their leaders together. This deluxe edition includes a DVD with song videos and a sermon from Louie Giglio, who founded the Passion Conferences in 2000. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
This isn’t your mom’s worship music. But I bet she’d like it!
We Are Young & Free is the debut album of the next big thing out of Hillsong Australia. The new band, called Young & Free, recorded this album live in April 2013. Just a few short months later, when it was released, it took the worship industry by storm with it’s electro-pop worship songs. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
The music of City Harbor delivers exactly what a world searching for consolation needs--comforting words to listeners everywhere. Circles of Faith was thrilled to preview the duo’s debut album, which releases on February 4.
We couldn’t be more excited about this fresh, new music. [Continue Reading...]
By Denise Trio
For overplayed Christmas music that would make even the jolliest listeners into Scroogy humbugs. So today, I will present a roundup of five great Christmas albums. These records are from a variety of artists, filled with their unique renditions of familiar Christmas songs that are also blended with original songs that stay true to the artists’ individual styles. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has just alerted us that we’ve reached our cruising altitude. You’re now free to move about the cabin,” the flight attendant chirped over the loudspeaker in our tiny airplane heading from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to Nassau, Bahamas.
What seemed like less than five minutes later, I heard her voice again announcing that we had begun our initial descent and anyone moving about the cabin had to return to their seats with seat belts securely fastened. Our flight time that August morning lasted a total of 26 minutes. [Continue Reading...]
by Denise Trio
Mandisa, who was nominated twice for a Grammy and competed on American Idol’s fifth season, delivers her fourth studio album entitled Overcomer.
It is appropriately named not only because Mandisa did not win American Idol, but also because she has overcome harsh feedback and negativity with her positive and empowering albums. On this album, her songs, saturated with biblical truth and God’s promises, boast synthy, pop, and dance-infused beats and instrumentation that support memorable and singable melodies. Vocally, she is impressive and inspiring, with her gospel roots evident. [Continue Reading...]
The Shanes have done it again.
Shane Barnard and Shane Everett have become famous for their acoustic-rock based songs, featuring killer harmonies. They released their eighth full-length record, Bring Your Nothing, on May 14 of this year. It was uniquely written, born out of the songwriting classes that they teach at Oaks School of Leadership in Red Oak, TX. Each week, Barnard challenged his students to write a song based on the weekly Bible-based topic. He joined them in their songwriting challenge… the result, Bring Your Nothing. [Continue Reading...]
The Great Awakening played through my car speakers on a rainy Monday morning driving to work. Then again, it continued serenading me on an average Wednesday evening on the way to church. Additionally, it welcomed the start of the weekend one warm Friday afternoon.
There are few albums that I can listen to at any time of the day and in any mood. The Great Awakening from Leeland is one such album. [Continue Reading...]
Zion is here.
Before you crack open your Bible and search fervently for the meaning of “Zion,” let me clarify. Hillsong UNITED has released their newest album, Zion.
Hillsong is a mega church based out of Sydney, Australia, with campuses around the globe, including London and New York City; UNITED is the worship band birthed from Hillsong’s youth ministry in the ‘90s. Now, they tour globally, leading worship with their original songs that are relevant to churches and Christians around the world. [Continue Reading...]
All Sons & Daughters, Season One
I sat and listened one morning to sweet melodies and heartfelt prayers sung by two voices in beautiful harmony as I spent my quiet time with the Lord.
The voices belonged to David Leonard and Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters. This duo, based out of Franklin, Tennessee, began writing and leading worship songs at their home church, Journey, in 2010. They signed with Integrity Music, a worship label, later that same year.
The music of All Sons & Daughters, categorized as indie worship, was birthed out of the heartbeat and environment of their home church, as they added words and melodies to the cries, prayers, and praise of their community. Their songs have also become relevant to congregations outside of their Nashville suburb.
It feels natural to sing along with All Sons & Daughters in moments of deep sorrow yet can be pleasantly enjoyed while going about the mundane activities of life.
Their songs comprise the perfect soundtrack for this journey called “life.”
Leonard and Jordan’s voices blend beautifully with accompaniment by gentle piano, simple guitar, melodic strings, and easy rhythms. Some of their songs, such as All the Poor and Powerless, Brokenness Aside, and Reason to Sing, are honest confessions of doubt and brokenness, but also serve as a reminder of God’s promises of restoration, healing, and faithfulness. Other songs, like Let It Shine, I Am Set Free, and All Praise to You, are proclamations of freedom found in Christ and a rally cry to worship Him. Alive and Oh Our Lord are the most upbeat songs on the record and joyfully exclaim the life we have in our Lord.
All Sons & Daughters offer their music freely as part of their mission.
In an age where piracy is rampant and artists hold tightly to their creation, All Sons & Daughters acknowledges that their purpose is not merely fame and fortune, but to chronicle the journey that we are on as sons and daughters of the Most High God. This is evident, not only because of soulful words that they have set to music, but also because they make these lyrics and chord charts available on their website for worship leaders and musicians to use freely.
All Sons & Daughters has also released four EPs, or mini albums: Brokenness Aside EP No. 1 , Prone To Wander: A Collection of Hymns EP, Reason To Sing and their latest, The Longing, released on September 25, 2012.
To find out more about All Sons & Daughters visit their website.
A native of New Jersey, Denise Trio is a full-time worship leader, mentor, designer, and blogger based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL. She wants to use her voice to inspire others to seek healing and pursue restoration of broken relationships. Follow on her blog Blond Moment of the Day or on Twitter.
by Denise Trio
I’ve found that in life, I also get a burst of energy when I can see the “finish line.” I am project-oriented. I like to work hard, knowing there will be a time when I am finished and I can look back and appreciate what I’ve done. It’s satisfying and fulfilling. Catching sight of the finish line gets me pumped.
