Happy Holland

What's Holland, MI got that most other cities don't? Miniature windmills, snowstorms, tulips, and apparently, a whole lot of happy people. When the town was listed as one of the happiest in the United States, ABC News ventured to find a reason for all the smiles. After all, we are talking about Michigan. The answer they found was quite beautiful. Check out the video below:

What a refreshing example of local churches truly playing the role it should be playing within its cities. To bring Christ's love to every home! The Bible is very clear that kind actions alone cannot save the human soul (Ephesians 2:8-9). But in it, God also declares that faith without actions, is flat out phony (James 2:7). Well, the citizens of Holland, MI are reaping what they are sowing (2 Corinthians 9:6): joy.

Gungor Explains Gungor

Forget "The Michael Gungor Band". Seriously, they're so over. No, don't worry, we're not talking about their music, just their name. So they're making the switch to...: "Gungor". I like it! Hoping the new name (and their new music) catches on. Check out the promo video for their new album, Beautiful Things, which comes out next week, for a full explanation:

BONUS: Click here to download the beautiful "Song For Haiti", written and performed by Michael and Lisa Gungor

A Message From Haiti

Pastor Carlos Más is the lead Pastor of Refuge Orphanage and ACB (Children of Bethlehem Association) in Sorocaba, Brazil. Due to his renowned experience in the medical mission and social causes arena, he was invite to visit and serve in Haiti this week. These are his thoughts and reflections after the trip, with some of the pictures he took. Continue praying and donating:

I returned to Brazil today. It was a time of a lot of work in Haiti; the country is destroyed, there is hunger and thirst!


I worked with a team of Brazilian Doctors of AME in cooperation with “Ação Global”, in a camping area set up in a Evangelical Church and also in the Hospital Gerla in Port-au-Prince, where 20,000 people affected by the earthquake are being treated in Hospital Tents of several countries. It is very sad what we saw there. I do not know how the country can he reconstructed, but I know that it is a great opportunity to rebuild in the right way. I do not know how to describe the human and spiritual misery of these people used to voodoo practices.

I know that God did not only bring me there to see these days and serve for a bit.

I want to start a project to help in the reconstruction of Haiti; I specially want ACB to get involved with the AIDS work. Thousands of children died and thousands are orphans. They are in the streets, with friends, or simply in the camps. We need to do something for them and for this generation that is now marked. Before my trip to Haiti, I started some contacts cooperation with the Mission Viva in Costa Rica.

God help us to join hands together for Haiti. Please thank all who were praying.

God Bless You

carlos más

Picture Haiti

Haiti's devastating earthquake on January 12th has quite simply, turned the nation upside down. And as images and videos of the nation are sent throughout the world, relief and donations have come pouring into America's poorest nation. Below is a few of the image galleries that have captured both the most heartbreaking and most beautiful moments of the tragedy:

The Boston Globe:

more pics from The Boston Globe

Samaritan's Purse:

more pics from Samaritan's Purse

Time Magazine:

more pics from Time Magazine

BBC:

more pics from BBC

Red Cross:

more pics from Red Cross

Here's a small list of the many organizations assisting in the Haiti relief efforts:

• American Red Cross - donate
  
• Compassion International - donate
  
• Samaritan's Purse - donate
  
• Vision For Israel - donate
  
• World Vision - donate
  

Who Cares?

Interesting information about the relationship between giving and nationality, religion, and wealth. Very well put together! It's a product of work by Mint.com & WallStat.com. Thanks to GivMusic for the find!

God Of Second Chances

It's no secret that some of the best worship songs have yet to be completed. But is there a more touching way to find that out than on a moment such as the one captured on this video?

Carlos Whittaker is a passionate upcoming recording worship artist who was just trying to shoot some footage for his new song. Danny is a homeless man with a killer freestyle timing for reggae toasting and a humble heart. They met on a windy morning, making music, and worshiping God together. Touching + awesome. Thank you God for giving us all, endless chances.

Lisa Chan - Think Of Me

Great wake-up call video featuring a song by Lisa Chan (author and pastor Francis Chan's wife).

Changing Christmas

Traffic jams, shopping stress, mall rushes, visiting relatives, wrapping gifts...too much to do, not enough time. Or money. Has the Christmas season lost it's original purpose? Has the story of Christ's birth been forgotten and replaced with a gift exchanging holiday without real meaning? Ok, maybe that's pushing it. After all, even though exchanging gifts during Christmas is not a tradition originated by the early church, it is one that has always blessed many (check out this Relevant Magazine article for more on that). But who hasn't wondered whether everything we do during this time of the year are really contributing to celebrating the coming of our Savior? While many of us are out buying and receiving gifts, millions of people around the world continue to starve for the very basic needs.

But it doesn't have to be a downward spiral, specially if it's up to the folks from Advent Conspiracy. "It takes a lot of patience to say there's a different way - Christmas doesn't have to be like this," said one youth pastor who joined the movement. The idea is simple: spend and rush less, so you can give gifts that are more meaningful to those you love, and give more to causes around the world. Check out the video:

And the fight doesn't stop there. The group is also hoping that Christians will stop spending so much time trying to force the secular world to remember the 'reason for the season'. As a pastor from Portland explained on this Yahoo article, "Christians get all bent out of shape over the fact that someone didn't say 'Merry Christmas' when I walked into the store. But why are we expecting the store to tell our story? That's just ridiculous." In other words, it's our job to tell the story of Jesus, not theirs. So instead of protesting the world for being the world, let's spend more time being the church we are called to be.

So this Christmas, ask yourself. Are the traditions you are holding on to helping spread the true story of Christmas, or the story of consumerism? Hopefully, more of us will do as the shepherds did after they saw Jesus, and tell all we know about the Savior Christ:

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:16-18

Your Voice vs. Extreme Poverty

"This generation can end extreme poverty. Are you in?" That is ONE's new campaign slogan calling out 20somethings and college campuses to join a movement that can truly make an impact. Now they've teamed up with Relevant Magazine in hopes that young Christian believers will stand together and join the fight. And all they are asking for is your voice. Simply visit this page and submit your email and zip code to receive ONE's email notices letting you know when extreme world poverty-related laws are being voted on or discussed in Washington. The idea is to give you an opportunity to voice off your opinion on the bills and laws to your local representatives and senators. Using the masses to influence the "influencers" of our world... The goal is to gather 35,000 new voices by the end of this month, and you can help them reach it. This alliance is only part of Relevant's new movement, RejectApathy.com. Visit their site for more news and stories on social justice, poverty, protection of innocent lives, etc. Check out the video below:

Yank The Chain

Ah...Christmas shopping is on! So what is the first thing you think of when you purchase a shiny new gift? If you answered "hmm, I wonder if there were any slaves involved in the making of this product", then we've got just what you need! From the creators of Call + Response, comes: ChainStoreReaction.com. The best and quickest way to bug those big scary corporations until they give you the answer you need. The website has pre-written emails requesting answers from these corporations about their stand on human trafficking and forced labor slavery. All you need to do is select a brand, fill in some minimal information about yourself, and click send!


Why go through the trouble? It is estimated that 27 million people are currently slaved in some way or another around the globe. There are more slaves in the world now than in any other time in history. So what can one little American consumer do about such a huge problem? To quote from the movement's founder Justin Dillon, "we are the last link the supply chain...How do we affect that? You just yank them. You yank the chain if you are at the end of it." Two minutes of your time could make a difference

Bluetree - God Of This City ... the story

Bluetree's God Of This City was perhaps one of the biggest worship songs of 2008, especially after being covered by Christ Tomlin. But the true story behind the song travels back further then last year. And originally, it has less to do with your city than you might think. The band's frontman, Aaron Boyd explains:

Thanks to Sarah Boor's link on the You Recommend section of our page!

the girl effect

Well girls we’ve told you before…but we’ll do it again…it ALL can start with you. During ROOTED’s new series SELFLESS, something continues to stir within my gut. Yes, I said my GUT! As I sat in bed last night I thought about the moments that we have to change through our closest friends, our neighbors, strangers, and enemies through the love of Christ and therefore being SELFLESS….and I found myself saying - We just don’t’ have time to worry about the “What-if’s”. Our time is now. I ran across this campaign that a friend of my posted a while ago, and I thought I would post. We have the chance to change a girl who can change a village or your school or your office or your home. Will you be a part of the girl effect? Will you be SELFLESS by starting with this campaign and branching even farther beyond it…

Shad - I'll Never Understand

Shad is taking off right now, and if you aren't going to join him, he might just leave you behind. But behind the London, ON rapper stands a deep history of art, poetry, redemption, and justice. His family who is originally from Rwanda were exposed to one of the most tragic genocides in recent history. And on his first album, When This Is Over, Shad joins his mother, Bernadette Kabango, to tell this story:

Few songs can capture pain and forgiveness so delicately and explicitly. Bernadette's poem is truly beautiful, and the last lines are just enough to take your breath away:

I untied the chains
Painfully
Purposefully
Knowing the one who said to do it
Seventy times seven
Totally understands the depth of my pain …

The reference to Matthew 18:22 is touching. Only those who truly understand Christ's forgiveness for us can forgive such horrific actions. No wonder Shad is so talented and real. He got it from his momma.

Shad's new album, The Old Prince, is out now! Check out this interview for more on the song:

I Saw What I Saw

Sometimes I wonder if people really forget about the suffering of others. Because when you really see that suffering up close, you must do something about it. Do we choose to ignore it? Choose to forget it?
Sara Grove's video for I Saw What I Saw from her last album (Tell Me What You Know) tells this story so beautifully:

By the way, her new CD, Fireflies and Songs is out next week on 11/17.

W.A.I.T.T - A Hillsong United Movie

When is the last time you went a whole week without hearing or seeing something related to Hillsong United? Well, that won't change anytime too soon. In fact, this time. they are coming to you. More specifically, to a theater near you. After years of worship CD after worship CD, the iHeart Revolution climaxes on Wednesday, November 4th at 7:30pm sharp, with the release of their very first motion picture, We Are All In This Together. Think you can catch the release on another night? Wrong. It will be shown one night only, one time only... Check out the trailer:

The plot is still a little cloudy as far as I can tell, but it seems to be part concert, part call-to-action documentary. Definitely worth getting excited about, and hopefully meaningful enough to inspire us to get off our butts and live our faith with love and compassion. (More on that coming soon to Rooted...).

Looking to go watch this flick? Check out this list of theaters showing it near you. Rooted will be out at a few local theaters, so let us know if you are coming out too!

Leeland "Follow You"

This video gives some background on the new Leeland song, "Follow You", off of their new album, "Love is on the Way".

Just an awesome expression of Christ's heart for the broken, poor, needy, and the "least of these"; furthermore, it is a reminder of OUR calling to follow Christ's footsteps of love, mercy, grace, generosity, and giving ALL of ourselves. Reminds me of Christ's example: He came into the world, into the corners of the Earth to find us, the lost sheep, and we in turn need to do the same for the lost. Go out into the world, and meet people wherever they're at.

"... When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." Luke 12:48 NLT

Albertine

The lyrics “I will tell them, Albertine” play over and over in my head after hearing Brooke Fraser’s song – Albertine, from her fairly recent album entitled “Albertine”. But what went through my head was, what/who is Albertine, and why would she tell the world? Well after watching Brooke’s music video of Albertine the lyrics began to compose a story. A story depicted as a representation of children and people across the world that are crying out for help. I would like to believe that we all have the same heart beat…one that beats to help people. Even though each of us have a different story of how they get there. Some who may travel to many nations and see deception and poverty, others who live in cities where rape and violence is surrounding them, some who are just broken for people but can’t explain how or why, and some who have been told from people like Brooke Fraser and need to help.

I think the one of most impactful lyrics in this song is … “Now that I have seen, I am responsible…Faith without deeds is dead” … and even more so awakening. Many of us have earning desires and much compassion to reach the homeless, sick, lonely, hungry, poor, and needy, but what are we doing? I think it’s a vital time to finally just get up and do something about it, especially at our young adult age. And even more so, maybe if we just start telling the world about children like Albertine we will realize that we all bleed red and just maybe we won’t look at each other’s color, race, religion or status and start to reach out and void the needs that are just creeping through our world, nation and even our hometown.

Mute Math + Worship ?

If you're a fellow Mute Math fan, then you already know about their new album (Armistice, which we'll review soon). Actually, you're probably clapping along to Spotlight right now, aren't you? But are you sure you've got all of their music?... Most people know that some of Mute Math's members were part of a previous band called Earthsuit, which broke up in the early 2000's due to a lack of success (they were way ahead of it's time to be appreciated...seriously). But the questioned remained... what did these guys do in between their Earthsuit and Mute Math days? Would you dare to guess,... worship? During that time Paul Meany (Mute Math's lead) was the music director at Victory Fellowship in Louisiana, and with him came Greg Hill (guitar) and Darren King (drums). If you're getting as excited as I got when I first heard that, it gets better. They recorded an album, called Elevator Music, and yup, it's as good as it sounds. A few of the songs are not original, but the arrangements are incredibly Mute Math-like, or in other words, awesome. Meany does his raspy soulful runs, King tunes his snare supper flat, and Hill adds just the right dash of minimal distorted solos. Yup, sounds like Mute Math.

You can listen to several tracks from the album here, or purchase it here. It's been said that the proceeds from the album go to Katrina relief efforts but I'm checking to see if that's still going.

Don't forget, you can vote for this album on the pool to the left of your screen for a chance to win a free copy of it at Rooted!

Listened to it already? Help us rate it:

Benin Water Well

In the words of Zion Christian Church's Mission Pastor, Dave Lomasney, "look what you did Zion":

Thanks to the donations and volunteer work/time of many, Zion, in partnership with GAIN, was able to donate a well to some of Benin's poorest. It's always awesome to see that the seeds we planted are so gracefully used by God. More than 1 billion people are drinking contaminated water right now. What can you do to help?

Invisible Children - The Rescue

Brand new movie from Invisible Children. Via Hillsong United's I - Heart blog.. all 30 minutes of it:

The Rescue: Full from Invisible Children Europe on Vimeo.