Rain Barrel Line Up

At the crack of 7:30AM I left the house to go get a subsidized rain barrel for my yard. I was hoping to get a couple but didn't organize myself fast enough to enlist the help of neighbours. The deal is you can get one from the region for only $30 but only 1 per family/household. First come first served. Anyway, below is a quick little video of the line up Dad and I had to wait in to pick ours up. It was HUGE!!! Our town is crazy about rain barrels I guess!!

The nice thing was we spent the day out in the yard trying to get things looking good. We finished cleaning up and I saw some dark clouds coming so I thought I might be able to get the down spout in place before the rain started, then I would catch myself some rain. I was totally soaked by the end of it but we now have ourselves a full barrel of rain water which we can use for our garden.

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Free Show in Nashville

Our label Centricity Music is putting on a free showcase this Monday night in Nashville so if you are anywhere close come on out and enjoy a free night of live music!

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DYB & Impact Brass Anniversary

This past weekend I spent Saturday in what felt somewhat like a time warp. I attended the 25th anniversary of the brass band I played in as a teenager. I was able to participate by playing in the Alumni Band as well as watch and listen to the current band. When I was involved it was called the Ontario South Divisional Youth Band or DYB. Since then the Ontario South Division of the Salvation Army has changed which in turn required a name change of the band so now it is the much more sleek sounding "Impact Brass".

The photo above is from our trip to England. I'm the guy standing in case you can't tell.

This was the first real "anniversary" type thing I've attended where I'm starting to realize how much time is passing. I guess this kind of thing is only going to happen more often and more rapidly as I age.

I started playing cornet at the age of 5 and come from a long line of brass players. My Father plays the euphonium, Grandfather played the cornet, my Papa on my Mom's side played tenor horn, my Great Grandfather played tuba and I think it may go on beyond that but we've kind of lost track. So playing in the brass band was something I just did as a kid and it seemed like the normal thing to do. This was where I really learned how to be a musician, what melody was, how to play with others and how harmony parts fit in within music. The years I developed this the most was while I was a teenager. The strong music program at my high school really helped round out my musical abilities - writing, singing, guitar, bass and even some percussion. But it was the DYB that really challenged me in my principal instrument to reach towards my full potential. I still miss those days of reading and playing challenging music with a big band like that. When everyone gets it right there is a sense of accomplishment as well as the journey that a well crafted piece of music will take you through. These are all such great things for a kid to experience.

Beyond the music there is of course the camaraderie of the band members which will last a lifetime. There is something special about making music together that creates a bond. I think it has something to do with the need to give of yourself to allow the others to play their part and shine. There is always give and take in music whether it's a brass band or a rock band. This giving of ourselves brings us closer to what I believe God's purpose is for all of us which is why I think it is so rewarding.

In the alumni band I sat next to an old friend whom I haven't seen in maybe 12 years or more. We used to sit next to each other in the "good old days" so it was really great to have him playing next to me. Although we did both mention how we wished another cornet player was sitting up there with us. (Rod!) Then I looked over my music stand and all the old familiar faces were in all the old familiar places. Almost all anyway. One old friend has passed, some have moved away and some just couldn't be there. I understand it'll never be what it was but all the same it was great to see everyone as well as play together once again.

Lastly, I was very proud to see how the band is doing today under its current leadership. Impact Brass is such an appropriate name as the kids playing there now will come to realize as they move on and look back on their time there. I hope all the best for them and maybe one day I can continue on the tradition and send my boys in with whatever brass instruments they end up playing. (Cornet of course, it's the coolest.)

Since I'm on the topic I thought I'd include this old video of my Grandfather Norman Lavender (on the right) and my step Grandfather who we call Grandpa French (on the left). Grandpa French by the way is 94 now and still up and about, still driving a car and exercising daily.

GL

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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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