CMI - FAQ

Bill Petty

"Wonder"

Where do I start? Bill Petty and the name of the CD project is called "Wonder". I enjoyed the entire album. Every single one of the 10 tracks displayed some very intense, God inspired, songwriting skills. Wonder revels in the awesome love of God and our utter unworthiness for a single bit of it. Yet, in the entire project, Bill Petty shows the unfathomable Love of God, through His Son, Jesus, that we can be made worthy of it all. "Wonder" is a perfect title.

Even though the entire CD is a blessing to listen to, there were a few tracks that absolutely floored me. "I Am Here" is one of a couple that stands out.

On my screensaver, I have this reminder from Isaiah Chapter 30:15 God tells us;

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength".
Petty writes:
"In the stillness I pray, Let me follow Thy way and this humble heart be Yours.
Let Your spirit shine through in all that I do, in Thy love my faith is sure."

It is truly that simple. There is no complicated hoops to jump through for our salvation. But the children of Israel did not listen then, why do we not listen now! Pray that the Lord open your heart, know Him in your heart, not just in your head. Praise His Holy Name!

I think my favorite track is "You can Always Come". It is a very complicated message from Jesus to YOU! "Hey, it's me, I hope you get this message....the pain you feel's not letting go. Just in case your listening, I love you. So, when your ready...You can always come home." We do not ever think of the hurt we cause Jesus when we disobey or sin. It is so hard to imagine what He feels like when we turn away from Him. Petty not only provides a biting perspective, but it a conviction many of us do not want to hear.

There is nothing that God can not forgive. Don't you wish you had a loving father like that here in this life? The thing we need to know is that we DO. Jesus is alive! He is inviting you to come follow Him. His assurance of peace and safety is unfailing. If you listen to "You Can Always Come" and not be convicted of Gor's love for you -- then I really don't know what else I can say to you.

The other tracks are wonderful, inspirational and as in "I've Been Redeemed", actually fun to listen to. 'Redeemed' is a down home Gospel song that sounds like it came straight from a Gaither Brother's tour.

I promise you will enjoy "Wonder". Bill Petty supplies 10 cuts that are true to the title of the project.

I was talking to Steven Coy Cook (one of our CMI Indie artists and special friend) on the telephone this moring. He mentioned the name of Shelly Wilson to me and said I "gotta hear this one". I have never taken music referals seriously. I don't dismiss them out-of-hand, but one man's treasure is most likely another man's junk. I am a man - I know this is a genetic fact. I checked her page out anyway.

I thank the Lord I did. I spend a lot of time on Indieheaven. There are a lot of great unsigned artists there. It is a community of support and companionship between artists, writers and musicians. As a CRW (Christian Radio Weekly) Indie Reporter, it is a good source for new music also.

All this to say, I may never have found Shelly Wilson, if I had not been refered to her page by Steven. I do not know why her music is not on the top charts. I spent time listening to every single track she has up on the site. This girl is great! Not only the musical singing talent, but the writing gift, the production efforts of the tracks ... A+ all the way.

Most times, there are a few great tracks on a project, and the rest are ok or "nice" songs. In the case of "In The Midst" there is not a "B" side cut on the entire project. Every single song is A+ material. Her "Long as I've Got Kind Jesus" is only the beginning of a talent on loan from God! I actually enjoyed a couple others even more. Check out her website and click on, "Joyful, Joyful" and "Safe In His Arms". I have never hear Joyful, Joyful in quite that way before.

Soulful, bluesy, spirit-filled - or should I say Spirit posessed!! Shelly is absolutely amazing. I actually went back later this afternon and listened to them all again. I am listening to them again as I write this review.

Shelly Willson is no "Wanna be" artist. She is off the charts in style, and talent. Watch Shelly, as God blesses her in her career, you will see her name right up there with the mainstream stars of CCM.

As I write this, I am trying to come up with who she sounds like. Every track is different. Each has it's unique style. She sounds like - well, Shelly Wilson! Similarities stop there.

May God continue to bless this woman in her music ministry. It is not often that I get excited about a performer. But I am going to keep my eye one this one.

Shelly Wilson

"In The Midst"

Shelley Jennings

"Redeemed"

It is one thing to have a gift. It is yet another to have a gift from God. And finally, it is even a greater achievement to be a good steward of those gifts. Shelley Jennings has accomplished all of these things in her CD project "Redeemed".

As I listen to "Come Back" - to the wanderer and the ones they left behind, I am struck by the line in the chorus, "My friend His love's enough to cover you." Even though many of us have known the love and the peace of our Lord, we stray. Satan distracts us, tempts us, fools us with false promises. He creates ways to make us question God and His Truth. We need to know that God is on our side and His Truth is infallible, reliable, and never falters. Whereas, the liar makes promises and tells us things that are not worth the paper they are written on. Come back! His love is sufficient. I would only wish someone would pray that song to me, when I feel alone and separated from God.

What a beautiful, sincere voice, we hear in Shelley. She sings of truth, the depth of our fears. It is as if she placed her hands on us, and was able to transform our darkest fears into her music. She then prays over us with "Change This Heart" and disolves our pain into victory in our surrender to Christ. I hear my trials, my struggles and my spiritual battles in her music. She sings about me, she sings about you. She sings about the simple truth that we are resolved from these conflicts by the Blood of Christ. It is really that simple. It really is.

Although there are many beautiful, and talented Indie artists, many seem to confine their entire project to one style. Most of the songs, as well as the lyrics, have a certain "sameness" to them. That is not to be critical at all. However, "Redeemed" displays a musical diversity that borders on complete. From the tender, peacful "Invitation To The Thirsty", to the powerful strength of "Change This Heart" and gutsy "Redeemed".

You need to get a copy of Shelley Jennings CD "Redeemed". If I had a way to guarantee your satisfaction, I would. But it really would not be necessary. Buy it, not only for the spiritual content, but the range of talent that shines on every track. I challenge you to find a cut that you will not listen to in it's entirety. In one listen, you will be singing along with "I want to be more like you Jesus", and isn't that what we all want?

Finally, a personal note to you, Shelley. "My Prayer For You" should be a love song that is prayed every night to each other in a marriage. If every marriage were based on the lyrics of this song there would be no divorces. There would be no inhuman expectations from each other that only end up in dissapointment. The strength of a marriage would come from the place that it was intended. The cornerstone of life, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
:

'Cause when the night takes over day
Jesus will always be your only way
His hand will calm the fears
that cloud your soul....

That you'll bring honor to his name
That you will know Him well
and make Him known
This is His plan - this is my prayer for you
This is His plan - this is my prayer for you
This is my prayer for you

We have a couple of Indie artists that are featured this week on Christian Mix Inet. The first is a young lady that we have been introduced to before. When her sophomore project, self-titled "Sharmane", was released a last year, we jumped on the tracks "Stories" and "Lamb of God".

Now comes a new effort by a beautiful talent, in voice and presence, called "I Surrender". Even though I enjoyed the previous tracks we played immensely, I think Sharmane has matured in her stylish vocal presentations

Sharmane tells us that the current single release of "I Surrender" can be downloaded from her site at http://www.indieheaven.com.. All proceeds from the download will be donated to St. Judes Hospital, through November 24th.

and her writing gift. "I Surrender" contains lyrics that embody the prayer we all have, but fall short of, and that is our surrender to Christ. "I Surrender" completes her mission statement of being a "spiritual champion for faith and family". Our desire to become a champion of faith most certainly includes our surrender to the truth of Jesus Christ.

It is a struggle to commit to surrender, when we are bombarded and distracted with 'life'. It is hard to "swim" when you are busy "drowning".But once we understand that God is the Father of all life, we can begin to shed the heavy chains that cause us to stray and stay from the full graces and love of God. We can not "make it on our own". Only through God, through Jesus Christ, can we enjoy the freedom that He wants us to enjoy. We don't have to do it alone. God wants to be with us every step of the way. But we must invite Him to take charge of everything in our lives, and surrender it all. Sharmane, through "I Surrender" allows us to humble ourselves and close the gap of sin that holds us back.

"Let Go, Let God" has become rather cliche in Christian circles. But the timeless truth of that cliche is certainly worth merit. It is easy to be credible when you sing about the Truth. I am reminded of the joke; If you ever want to make God laugh, tell him YOUR plans for your future.

I did not even consider listening to this track when it was presented as a CRW (Christian Radio Weekly}artist to be considered for airplay. But I was encouraged to hear it out. I thank you Lord for allowing me to do just that. Glenn Green has lyrical and musical "hooks" through out the song that pull you past the cliche and enforce the Truth of just what the title claims. "Let Go, Let God" is lyrically strong, great to listen to, with good production, and hook after hook. I look forward to listening to the entire project.

In the lyrics we see words that embody the struggles we all fight with. The reason we fight is - we think we can do it better.

Green Writes:

Are there days when you feel like your rising-star left without you?
The American Dream doesn't hold everything you had planned
Are you buying what's selling, yet with all your treasure left with nothing?
Always missing that one thing

The truth is, these are OUR plans, our dreams, our determining the terms of our our life. Unfortunately, it is not always God plan for us. This always results in failure. But God is there to pick us up and brush us off. Ready for a brand new day, in His Grace, Love, and Wisdom.

Let go and Let God, may be cliche, but it is truth. Listen to Green's track with that same title and you'll understand.

Just how do you review a pianist, instrumental project? This is a difficult review to write. But I want you to know about Steve Sensenig.

Let's start with the fact that Steve Sensenig plays keyboards. His latest project is called "Ivory Worship". Reviewing an instrumental project is very difficult, because you cant comment on captivating lyrics, chorus 'hooks' and the like.

But I will tell you this much about "Ivory Worship", and my getting to know Steve Sensinig, I have learned the technical verbiage to explain a point that I want to make. As I relaxed and listened to "Ivory Worship" I noticed that I did not fall asleep. Seriously! Instrumentals, especially piano, are very relaxing. With relaxation, comes sleep. (At least to me). What I realized, while listening, I did not fade away to that place where you go just before falling asleep.

Listening to Steve's familiar hymns was exhilarating, and relaxing at the same time. Kind of like a good sermon at church. A good speaker will keep your attention, hanging on every word he says. All in the anticipation of what he is going to say next. Listening to Steve Sensenig's "Ivory Worship" was just like that. The style of his performance was simple and intimate, even though the other end of the keyboard spectrum is more of a virtuoso style, Steve was pleasant to listen to.

Put Steve's CD into your car stereo on your way home from a stressful day at the office, and you will be pleased with sweet sounds of familiar hymns. They are interspersed with "Worship Movements" that Steve uses to tie the tracks together with. Even if traffic is backed up at your turnoff, you will be relaxed, and a lot easier to live with. The music on "Ivory Worship" is a good way to unwind with reverence and prayerful praise.

One interesting note to share with you about my first introduction to Steve was my desire to know what he did for a real job. Many independent artists are not afforded the luxury of doing music for a living. I will be honest, after hearing him play the piano, I was whole-heartedly expecting him to tell me was a longshoreman, or a professional wrestler. I am serious. I just expected that kind of a response. The contrast is just as bizarre as some of the professions that many artists have in real life. Here is Steve's response.

"Actually, I'm very blessed to have a "real job" in music. During the school year, I'm an accompanist at Appalachian State University (yes, the same AppState that beat Michigan in football last month!) in their school of music. During the summer months, I am the music director at Blowing Rock Stage Company, a nearby professional theater.It's a lot of fun, and I am very blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love to do!"
Not everyone is afforded a gift for music, and have the honor of doing it for a living. Steve has had some touches in the limelight too. He has played keyboards for the likes of Phillips, Craig and Dean. So listen to his project "Ivory Worship". It is no chopsticks, which is all I can play. And I have a keyboard too!

At the same time you are convicted and sentenced to death by sin, Brad Reynolds shows you the way out of our death row sentence. As Paul writes in Romans: 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

It is one thing to preach and write lyrics that convict and condemn. There are a plenty of those out there. These songs leave you in utter despair, with no hope or light at the end of the tunnel, (bad sinner!! shame on you!!) Brad Reynolds completes the entire cycle of our life with the conviction of our sin, then providing the way to escape the bondage of that sin through Jesus Christ and the sweet promise of Salvation. Reynold's has accomplished the fulfillment of what Christian music should be.

The cliche of the "spirit is willing - but the flesh is weak" is made brand new in the spirit of this project. "In The Real World". We strive for perfection, to be Christ-like, but fall so damning short of it. Sadly, deafeningly, we hear the crash of our efforts to try to be worthy of God's love and grace. But this is the real world. There is no perfection. There is nothing within our control that will bring us any closer to God. At the very best we can do - is try our best, commit and surrender to Christ, and let Him take over. Brad gives you that hope in the track "Hallelujah!"

The reality of the flesh is sin. Sin IS "In The Real World". Sin stares at us. Tempts us, torments us, all in an effort to separate us from Christ's love for us. Sin attempts to discredit God. But if we challenge ourselves to be true to the simple truth that God is our Father. Some songs tell us about letting go - let god. This is a truism. But, as any good father would do, Our father in Heaven knows when to let go of us. He knows that we need to make mistakes, bad choices, and sin. It hurts Him terribly to see us go through all the trials and tribulations of life. It cuts God deeply when we deny His advice and turn away. God wants us to ask questions, learn and test His truths. "In The Real World" ask the tough questions with the title track,

The entire CD is an achievement of not only a Spirit filled song-writing talent, but proof evident; when you let God take control of every aspect of your life, you end up with a worshipful, encouraging, and uplifting experience with new blessings in every song. Brad Reynold's connects with the listener in songs like "Anyway", which explores the truth of Christ's command to love your enemies. Can you love someone that believes in a woman's right to choose?

Listen to the entire CD "In The Real World". You will not be disappointed, and you might just find yourself walking a little closer to God.