christmastime is over and the holiday decor has been shelved (theoretically).

the question is, what is the first album you reach for after the christmas carol playlist is ceremoniously deleted from your iTunes?

(and, yes, i know some of you are still listening to christmas music. that doesn’t count)

so, let’s hear it. what’s your first post-christmas music?

there’s still time to give to the Gospel For Asia Christmas gift program, whether it’s $1 or $15,000.

so, i’m sure the vast majority of you already saw this on mr. mundy’s lovely & newly themed blog, but it was too mind-blowing for me to pass up.

now all i need is an iphone…and a trip to south america.

ht:mr. mundy

here @calvaryhanford we have officially launched version 1.0 of our iOS app.

so, if you’ve got an iPhone, iPod Touch or even an iPad, head on over and grab it.

thanksgiving is gone.

which means that we who have been listening to Christmas music since october can come out of hiding and play our favorite carols as loud as we want.

it also means that it’s time for my favorite Christmas tradition.

enjoy.

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(as always, you’re more than welcome)

thanks Lord.

hope everyone has a wonderful day with family.

and thanks mr. feil for the photo.

last january i went with a small team from @calvaryhanford to do some work in lima, peru and iquique, chile.

we’ve had a relationship with our friends in peru for many years, so it was great to see them again. because of our bond in the Lord, it feels like a home away from home.

but iquique was new. we hadn’t been there, nor had we met the people. we’d only communicated over email. and by ‘we’ i mean the one guy who speaks spanish emailed over and would translate the responses from the pastor.

before the trip, one of my travel companions had found this video and sent it around. it was the very group of people that we were about to meet and spend a few days with.

i remember it being very interesting to watch the video and try to figure out who was who.

now, it’s even more interesting to look back and know these people and remember that we spent some wonderful time of ministry and fellowship together, especially over meals like this one.

i had forgotten about this little film for many months until i accidentally came across it again today.

i’m excited to go back to iquique again at some point in the future. and, hopefully, we’ll rock a meal or two just like this one.

see?

awesome.

remember positive post tuesday?

do you know about positive post tuesday?

(google readerers, come on over for a proper view)

i’ve been noticing something occurring more often on twitter:

There was a problem connecting to Twitter.

more and more i’m seeing the distribution of free christian music online.

this is something that makes my heart happy. and, while there isn’t a huge number of outlets or artists that are giving away free stuff, the number is growing.

it seems as though the artist-to-consumer culture is changing bit by bit to be less WE MAKE, YOU BUY and more relational between musicians and their fans.

yes, they still make and we still buy, which is necessary if we want our favorite musicians to keep writing songs and playing shows, but there’s also a growing element of sharing between the two parties.

these days, i’ll often see an artist is sharing something with his or her fans and then the fans reciprocate by sharing some free advertising and promotion for them in return.

within the Christian community, i think this is one of the healthiest things bands can do.

it’s no secret that it’s very difficult to maintain a living as a performer, especially in the Christian music industry. i understand and agree that a Christian artist should be compensated for their craft and their service to we who desire music. it’s wrong when the Christian community tries to gouge musicians.

but alongside that, i’m reminded of this:

matthew 10.8b – …freely you have received, freely give.

anytime i see someone on twitter promoting an artist for their generous gift of free music, i’m blessed and reminded of the words of Jesus and it excites me that Christian artists are living this out. because it’s hard for a career musician to give things away, whether it’s a free ep, a full album, a live stream of their concert or anything else. it’s a sacrifice. it’s easier to charge.

i guess all of this is summed up by this point: it’s very gracious when they give because they don’t have to.

so, to any band or artist out there that’s ever made the choice to give something away for free, thank you. it’s a very cool thing you did.

blessings.

it’s tuesday. be positive.