Downhere Wins 3rd Juno!

Wow!! We were pleasantly surprised and honoured to receive our 3rd ever Juno in Vancouver for our album "Ending Is Beginning". Past albums, the self titled "Downhere" and "Wide-Eyed and Mystified" were the other two wins. The Contemporary Christian category has only been getting stronger every year. This year the other great Canadian artists we were with were Starfield, Article One, newworldson and Life Support. So if you haven't yet, check out their music!!

Winning a Juno in the Contemporary Christian category is an interesting thing. There were 32 awards given out tonight so we were just one in a long list and I'm sure we were one category that most people had no clue about. As we approached the stage to receive our award I heard one guy say to us as we passed, "Go Christians." That ensured I had a smile on my face the rest of the way up to the stage if I didn't already! This was the Juno Gala Dinner and Awards so people are generally eating or drinking while they hand out awards. If you are not well known (like us) it can be difficult to hold attention. So we gave our thank you's, some people listened, heck Sarah McLachlan, BNL and Feist were in the room maybe listening and I find that to be pretty cool! (sidenote, I hung around like the fan that I am after the dinner in hopes I'd see Feist, but no luck!) Then after we finished our thank you's they took us to a media area where there was one guy from a Christian radio station in Lethbridge Alberta who knew who we were and cared and about 30-40 other media folks who had no clue and didn't care at all. Kind of funny when they are asking if there are any more questions and while no one responds I'm just waiting for someone to say, who are you guys anyway??

All that to say we had a great time tonight. It was laid back and fun. We got to hear some great music and were able to get a glimpse of all the great things happening in Canadian music right now. I'm proud to be a part of it.

Looking forward to being at tomorrow night's live broadcast!

Glenn

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Cambridge Songwriting Competition

This fine city I live in has always seemed lacking in the arts. Or maybe I just don't know where to find the art in Cambridge. My high school had a great music program and there does seem to be a few art type cafe's around but overall it definitely does not have that "creative" feel to it.

Instead of complaining about it I thought I needed to get involved to find out more about the scene and hopefully be able to be a part of it in some fashion. So I'll be helping out in the judging of the 1st Annual Cambridge Songwriting Competition. Here's a link to their Facebook page too. If you are from the area check it out, come be a part of it! I'll be there to judge on April 15th, come out and say hi!

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Final Thoughts on Hero

In case you didn't read my first or second post on Hero, it's a book written by my friend Fred Stoeker and his son Jasen. Here's a brief description from Amazon:

You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat–blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.

But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory–and you can be among them.

What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith–men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?

As I was finishing Hero I started to have some interesting thoughts. First of all I'm a blessed man as I met my wife at age 15 and was married by 21 so a book about being a single male may not sound like it would be applicable for me. I do however have lots of single guy friends and two boys of my own that I have been entrusted with to raise. It was my boys I was thinking about as I read about Jasen having his first ever kiss on his wedding day. It was my boys I was thinking about as I read about Jasen being made fun of for excusing himself from class as they watched a PG13 movie. I read Jasen's story and couldn't help but keep thinking, is this how I need to raise my kids? Is it worth the social pains and awkward questions they would have to endure?

I already posted this but it's worth mentioning again. Here's what Rose, Jasen's wife, said:

"but because Jasen had been pure, he could offer me this one place of perfect security in my life where I knew I'd never be compared to another woman. What a gift - one that few women will receive from their husbands."

Do I love my boys and my future daughters-in-law enough to at least teach this to my boys? To encourage them to be somewhat of an outcast at school and in their social circles? To be so dramatically different in how they approach this "sex-soaked" world? To make their search for a wife even more difficult if they hold her to these same standards? I trust that God's plan is best and this seems to be very much His plan. Because of my love for my kids and their future spouses I need to do all I can to teach them how to live according to God's purposes in all aspects of their lives. I obviously can't control what my kids will do but my responsibility lies in teaching them and praying desperately that they will respond to God's call in their lives.

To check out more of Fred's books follow this link. I think my favorite book of Fred's from that list would have to be Every Man's Marriage. Check them all out.

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Eating Bugs

I ate some bugs yesterday. Just some ants and scorpion. Also had some beetle juice. So did Sherri. Here are the pics to prove it. It was pretty tasty!!

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Leave Every Girl Better Off For Having Known You

As I mentioned in my last post I wanted to write more about the book Hero that I read over the weekend. This is an important book for males of all ages who are in a dating relationship or are looking to be in one. It asks, are you leaving every girl you have a relationship with better off for having known you?

Authors, Fred and Jasen Stoeker are father and son. Fred is known for his best selling Every Man's Battle series of books. A series of books devoted to maintaining your purity. I believe this may be Jasen's first author credit but he sure brings an incredible story and example for us all to see.

Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book.

Fred speaking of his son Jasen:

"He took on the truest mark of manhood early on and never looked back. What mark? His complete willingness to embrace social pain for a higher cause."

This higher cause was his love for the Lord and for his future wife. Because Jasen loved his wife so much before he even knew who she was he was able to give her a rare gift.

From Rose, Jasen's wife:

"but because Jasen had been pure, he could offer me this one place of perfect security in my life where I knew I'd never be compared to another woman. What a gift - one that few women will receive from their husbands."

This quote just seemed so true!

"Without a doubt, the biggest danger of sex outside of marriage is not the risk of an STD or a pregnancy, but the illusion of closeness and intimacy that comes with it."

A good portion of the book is devoted to breaking down some of the most common lies when it comes to sex outside of marriage. Here are a few of those myths that I'm really glad were tackled in this book.

Myth - I was born sexual, and I have to express that, whether single or not. I'm just wired that way and it's unfair for God to ask otherwise.
Myth - I need to date a lot now so I know what I want in a girl and how to win my bride when I meet her.
Myth - Good sex is key to developing good romance, and the more sex you have, the more you'll know whether she's marriage material.
Myth - A physical connection brings out the emotional connection. Setting boundries on the physical inhibits your relationship from growing.
Myth - I'm afraid I won't be a good kisser when it counts, and what about the rest of my skills? If I don't practice beforehand, I'll embarrass myself on my wedding night.

In my last post Jennifer made a comment wondering if this book would be appropriate for her 18 year old. To that all I can say is I wish I had this when I was 13!! YES! YES!! This book is especially great for boys in high school. Tackling this in a youth group would also be a great idea. If the church could turn out men that looked like this we'd be living in a better world!

GL

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Sexual Purity - "Hero" The Book

Over the past two days I spent eleven hours driving, visited seven cities, rushed through five airports, crammed onto four planes, and played two gigs. It sounds busy, but there were actually lots of times where I was just sitting without much to do. These are the times that allow me to get my reading done. This time it was a brand new book entitled “Hero” by my friend Fred Stoeker. I want to say much about this book so this will be the first of maybe 3 posts about it.

This book “Hero” subtitle: “Becoming the Man She Desires” is a very special book. Written by Fred and his son Jasen with some powerful excerpts from Jasen’s wife Rose, we are offered a glimpse into a Godly family where the men truly are heroes. As a father to two boys this book has provided inspiration and guidance for how I’d like to raise my boys and see my future family tree.

You may have heard of the book “Every Man’s Battle” that Fred wrote back in 2000. Or you may have heard of the “Every Man” series as there are now many other books that have since followed. Fred is, I think, the first person I heard to speak out about the battle us men have to fight for sexual purity. It was so refreshing and freeing to first read Every Man’s Battle. In a time where the internet, television, movies and all of culture have made staying pure feel impossible for men, Fred has offered his story and Biblical principles as a great example to help us continue to win this battle every day. I don’t believe this is a battle we can one day say on this Earth, “I won, I did it!” This is a daily, sometimes hourly battle that is made up of hundreds of victories and Fred, with the help of his other co writers, has offered many tools to aid along the way.

I’m certainly no book reviewer but I’d like to share some of my highlights from the book.

Immediately in chapter 1 I had welled up with tears. I think as I age I’m getting softer! This is a good thing. The beautiful picture of a wedding and marriage that is painted directly from the lives of Jasen and Rose is alone worth reading. You can’t help but be brought to tears when you see truth and beauty so clearly. All I could think was, yes! Yes! This is exactly what God wants for His children!! This is how it’s supposed to be. I couldn’t wait to read on to see how they got to this place.

Chapter 2 provided somewhat of a foundation for the rest of the book. Fred compared today's sex-crazed culture to that of the Baal-worshiping Canaanites. Even God's chosen people the Israelites eventually bowed to the Idol. The similarities are so close they are scary. I won't go into all of them but the one that stood out most to me was the link between today's abortions and the Canaanites child sacrifice. It seems like a stretch when I just type it here but as Fred provides background and context you may be surprised. The Canaanites sacrificed their children to Baal as an act of adoration. Our culture adores sex and ourselves so much that we are willing to sacrifice our children in order to appease our desires.

You can see why I had no trouble plowing through the book in two days. I'll share some of my favorite quotes in my next post.

GL

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Guitar String Jewelry

I recently did a post about the guitar string jewelry my wife and I make out of used Downhere strings. Ever since I keep getting questions about an online store. Well it's officially up and running! You can find our jewelry at:

gslavender.etsy.com (Think Glenn, Sherri Lavender or (G)uitar (S)tring (L)avender)

The inventory will constantly be changing so check back if there's a specific type of bracelet or necklace you are looking for or leave us a message on our store telling us what you're interested in and we'll do our best to make it happen!

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Michael Tait New Lead Singer For The Newsboys

"After 22 years and more than 2000 shows, newsboys frontman Peter Furler will no longer front the band in concert. Michael Tait will be touring with the band as lead singer with Peter making special appearances throughout the year."

Full article.

The Beatles minus Lennon = No Beatles
Led Zeppelin minus John Bonham = no Led Zeppelin
Queen minus Freddie Mercury = definitely not Queen
The Newsboys minus Peter Furler and Phil Joel . . . I will certainly miss the Newsboys!

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