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The Road Leads...to iTunes

This is a blog I intended to post over a week ago, but due to the hassles of moving, and not having access to internet for a few days, its taken longer than I planned to get it up. I'm writing this because I wanted to talk a bit about my new record and explain a little bit about why I did it, etc.

Ministry naturally demands sacrifice. In my case, God has called our family to start up a new church in Fort Collins, Colorado. Because of the nature of our ministry, we are giving up a piece of our financial stability. Over the last year-and-a-half, this has led to many conversations about how we might earn a living while also reserving the flexibility to serve the community freely.

One idea Randi and I tossed around was for me to make another record and put it up for sale on iTunes. This was an idea that I was not opposed to, but I couldn’t fully embrace it either. The reason for this stemmed from the fact that I have never wanted to turn my worship music into some sort of commercial venture. In other words, I do not write worship songs with the sole intent to make money. However, I also realize that God has gifted me in the area of music and who am I to question God on a matter like this if He chooses to use my gifts to provide for me and my family.

Eventually I decided that I was not going to go out of my way to write new music for a new record. But if God started giving me new music and giving me inspiration for new songs, then I would take it as it came. And if it reached a point where there was enough material, then I would look at the possibility of compiling it into something I might be able to sell.

Honestly, I didn’t think anything would come of it because for about two years I have had one of the worst creative blocks I’ve ever had in my life. But not long after we decided to move, God began working on me in a different way -- He began to show me what worship might look like in our new church.

There’s a pretty good chance that many of the people attending one of our worship services will have spent very little time in a church. I began asking myself what was possible in the creative realm if I was leading worship for people who didn’t have a preexisting idea of what modern worship music might sound like. What was possible when my own creative process was not bound by the rules of current church culture? Questions like this began to open up tons of creative doors to walk through and explore.

And explore I did. God began to throw things at me left and right, not only in terms of creativity, but spiritually as well, as the last year-and-a-half has been a huge growing process for me. I have wrestled with life’s circumstances more recently than I ever have. As my family and I have been tested in so many ways, I have been forced to re-examine what it means to allow Christ to live in and through me. To re-examine my own identity in Christ, to be reminded of God’s provision and his never ceasing grace.

And the result is the EP that I just released. It represents a year-and-a-half of song writing, formed out of the change in my own life and all the things God has reminded me. It also represents my first effort at creatively stretching myself to the limits. It is not mainstream, nor is it what you would expect to hear in most churches on a Sunday morning, and I am OK with that. It is in every way different from anything I’ve ever done. I wanted to write in a way that the words were simple but represented big truths about God’s grace and our identity that are often overlooked in worship music.

So is this a worship record? That’s a great question. It is my worship, I can say that much. And maybe, at least it is my prayer, that it is your worship as well.

I think Randi already stated this in one of her blogs, but I don’t write music so that I can make tons of money or become a rock star. Let’s just face it, I don't think I'm that good, nor am I skinny enough to wear rocker clothes. But I do believe that music is meant to be shared. What kind of a person would I be to keep what God gives me to myself? So if in the process people enjoy it enough to maybe buy some of it, then that’s great. If you like the record, tell everyone about it. If you know someone else who might like it, point them in the right direction. There is a link at the bottom of this post that will take you to the iTunes store if you want to purchase it. Just know that your money is not going to pay for my new pair of skinny jeans or rock star highlights in my hair. It’s going to support me and my family as we live and minister in Colorado, doing what God has called us to do.

And for anyone who is interested, I will post an additional blog with the liner notes from the album as well as a few pictures from the studio since iTunes does not include the liner notes when you buy the record.

CLICK HERE TO BUY MY RECORD ON ITUNES

We're Finished Packing

Everything is boxed up and ready to move into the U-Haul in the morning.







OK, so maybe we didn't box up Hannah.







We'll relax on Monday.
We leave at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.
We're officially vagabonds until we make it to Fort Collins Wednesday!
And here's a little something to look forward to in Fort Collins on Thursday. Check out these temperatures!

Get a Preview of Chris' New Album!

A few times a week, my favorite musician comes to my house, sits in my living room and puts on a personal concert for me and Hannah. With nothing more than a guitar in hand, the sound of my husband singing fills our home. It’s one of the best sounds in the world to me.

Chris is always writing and singing something new and giving me and Hannah a first listen. Now I’m excited to announce that he’s ready to give others a preview of some of his new songs.

Go to NoiseTrade.com/ChrisFreemanMusic to download two free songs from his upcoming album, The Road So Far. The album is very personal, but it’s one that I feel everyone can identify with on some level while also enjoying the brilliant musicianship.

Later this week, the entire album will be available to buy from iTunes. I have to brag that all the songs were written, produced and recorded by him.

Chris’ goal in making music isn’t to make big bucks or achieve rock star fame. Music is just a natural outpouring of who he is. We believe that music is meant to be shared, which is why he’s made this album available. From our living room to yours -- we hope you enjoy it!

Restored Understanding

I spent a large part of my childhood on two wheels. My worst scraps and bruises came from daring/stupid stunts on a bike. As I have grown bikes have had a different purpose, going from neighborhood ride to mountain biking and oddly enough I'm back to riding around my neighborhood. Bikes have been a source of transportation to the nearest friends house, entertainment, something to fix, but spiritual was not always in the mix. Over the past month my understanding of 'spiritual' has been somewhat expanded, again.

When we were living in Tyler I worked to redo an old Schwinn. I re-greased all of the bearings, polished the chrome, new wheels, new paint job from top to bottom refinished the bike. I did all of the labor because I enjoyed the process and there is something intriguing about bringing life back to an old rusty frame with wheels that aren't true (straight). During the process hours were spent doing fairly mundane dirty tasks. I had to order parts and wait for the delivery like a kid waits for Christmas morning. With the last package arriving on our doorstep containing the wire basket for the handlebars, the bike was finally complete.

Most of you have heard us talk about the bike culture that exist in Fort Collins and after being here a few weeks we found out about the Downtown Bike Show. We rode down and parked our bikes on a post next to the show. Laura went inside to work on her school stuff and I stayed outside checking out the bikes. I walked around for a while and came over to find a guy leaning down looking at my bike. We stood around the next thirty minutes or so talking. We walked around looking at some of the other bikes and I look over and someone else is looking at my bike. We walk over and I meet another guy who thought my bike should have been entered in the show. The three of us talked for a while and then the show ended. Laura and I went home, I admit I was proud my bike was noticed and I felt like I was a part of the bike culture here.

The next week I went to begin work at the Bike Coop, one of the organizations we have planned for months on getting involved in. The Coop does an Earn-a-bike program that people can work 20 hours for a non-profit in the area and receive a bike. Most of the people in the program have no other means of transportation and this earned bike widens their possibilities. They also do bike recycling, breaking down old worn out bikes and recycling the parts. Me and another girl are getting a tour of the shop and around comes the guy that I talked to at the Downtown Bike Show. We get to talking again and he mentions that the guy he introduced me to runs the Bike Coop, small world.

It turns out that the labor of fixing up an old bike and our prayers for the people in the bike culture were spiritually connected.

After living and commuting by bike for a few weeks I've experienced some spiritual understanding by doing something I've done since I was a kid.

The Countdown Is On

Our days are numbered here in Tyler.

Tonight was our last night of Oasis -- after 8 years, might I add.

Tomorrow is Hannah's last day of daycare.

Friday is my last day of work.

Sunday is our last day at Colonial Hills.

Wednesday is Chris' last day of work.

And then it's pack, pack, pack until we move the following Tuesday morning, August 17th.

We're looking forward to what's to come while remembering what's behind us!

Come One, Come All!

Click here to visit our family blog to check out pictures from our recent visitors!