Contend Earnestly: December 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

If you are in a crunch and you need some gifts here are some quick music ideas. I have recently bought all three of these and they are all very well done. I highly recommend you buy them for someone else or treat yourself with a little love this consumerism time of year...I mean Christmas.

The Merry Way: Deput EP is a short 7 track CD that shows off the voice of Brittany Alvis and musical talents of her husband Mark Alvis. These two, although I personally don't know them, are apart of my Soma family in Tacoma.

Grace, by Joe Day from Mars Hill has some fresh songs and some songs I've had for years in my library, but are remixed very well.

The Story: Vol 1 is by far my favorite album of the year. It combines a bunch of talent out of my family in Soma. The skills of Aaron Spiro, Trevor Davis, Brittany Alvis and Holly Campbell are amazingly displayed. I can't recommend this album enough. And, when you buy it, listen to it all the way through without skipping songs or pushing shuffle...just sit back and hear the Story of God displayed through song. Stunning.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Story: Volume 1

In Tacoma, a group of musicians and songwriters formed around the Story and wrote songs in response to what they had experienced during their time together. The songs they wrote and shared with each other were beautiful, powerful, and life-changing. They showcased these songs live at a monthly songwriter showcase in Tacoma. These events became an important time each month in our city as crowds gathered to hear these new songs that touched on eternal truths. The songs weren’t preachy or churchy, but were written from the heart—exposing weakness, need, grace, and hope.

This offering represents our first effort to record and share these songs—these stories—with you, your families, and friends. We hope they will encourage you as much as they encourage us. Any money made from the sale of this music will go to fund future recordings and new churches being started. Thanks for helping us continue on this amazing journey. There are more songs where these came from, so keep your eyes and ears open for the future...

creditsreleased 19 December 2010
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Produced by Buddy Ross
Executive Producer: Aaron Spiro

Mastered by Chris Greely at Solid Rock in Portland, OR
Mixed by Buddy Ross except Isaiah 60 mixed by Chris Greely and Good, Right, Perfect mixed by Buddy Ross and Chris Greely.

The Story of God narratives can be found at