Jeff Arrandale Blog – Encouraged
August 15, 2011
Today is the day that He has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! I hope you are encouraged and as joyful as I am. I know what life is like and how it can get us down from time-to-time (i.e. what recently happened to the value of my 401k), but remember, our happiness, our joy should not come from things, or people, a time, a season, a place, a feeling, etc. Those things can all be good, but first our joy should come from the Lord and when it does we can be joyful in all situations whether good, bad, pained, shamed, happy, or sad. This joy comes from the peace we take in His refuge. It’s a peace beyond all understanding. It’s truly a blessing. I pray that whatever your situation is right now you have peace and joy that comes from the Lord.
Exciting stuff has been happening since I last spoke with you. First, I was able to take some time off from writing and performing outside the church to enjoy my daughter’s senior year of softball. In Iowa the girls play a summer season – May through July. I needed some time to recharge after a hectic winter, including the time in the studio, and sitting at ball games in the warm Iowa early summer was what the doctor ordered. God blessed us through her play and interaction with the coaches, players and other fans. As the only senior, she really stepped up as a leader for a young team. We were amazed at her maturity, her selflessness, and her encouraging attitude. One thing she really latched on to, and it’s a good reminder for all of us, is the fact that her school activity became her mission field. We couldn’t be prouder of her if she was 1st team all-state, or if the team won a state championship. Note: They finished 20-14, which was quite a turn-around from the prior year. God is so good (all the time!).
The recording project is progressing. There has been a lot of post-production activity like engineering, editing, and some additional recording of backing vocals. The final mix and mastering should be coming soon and I’m looking forward to the release in the coming months. Those of you who subscribe to the newsletter will be first to know of the planned date. I’ll soon be working on details for the release party/event. I couldn’t be more excited and expectant of what God’s going to do through it. Look soon for video from the recording to be posted on the site.
Though I continue to rehearse and perform with Certainty, I recently started rehearsing with a new combo called the Two Matt’s Band. Matt Wetzel is the bass player who has good jazz-type chops, and Matt May is a young, up-and-coming percussionist. Both are, first of all, humble Christ followers, second, good guys, and third solid performers. I like the way this group is able to perform the newly recorded material with a similar feel as what will be coming out on the record. At some point we hope to add a lead-player and/or keyboardist who can augment the foundation this little group lays down.
I have gotten back to performing with a busy August. On Saturday evening, August 6th, I performed with the Two Matts Band at Spirit Midwest (www.spiritmidwest.com), a local Christian music festival where over 50 bands and acts performed. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this being the first time out for the new group, but God is good (all the time!).
Leading up to the date, Matt Wetzel informed me he’d never been able to play scheduled outdoor gigs before because it always rained. Thankfully, not this time. The crowd enjoyed themselves during our time with them and they joined in as we worshipped the Lord. I’ll soon post pictures from the event and also the link to an interview I did with my friends from livefromthepath.org.
We next play on Saturday, August 27th in Granger, IA at an event called Praise Fest. All are looking forward to it (join us in praying that it doesn’t rain again!).
I performed with Certainty at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, August 12th. Performing at the fair was something we’d been looking forward to for some time and was a ton of fun. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, the crowd was big, and they responded well to our brand of rockin’ worship.
Leading up to this event, Ben, Certainty’s lead player, was told of a fan from a rural area North of Des Moines who listed Certainty as one of her favorite bands. We’re not sure where she heard us. Ben heard from a friend that she’s learning to play guitar, but her family isn’t able to afford to purchase one for her. Ben was able to work a deal with a local guitar shop for a beginner. He also gave her an Our Praise CD and Certainty tee-shirt. She couldn’t believe it. We are told she’s already written a song with the guitar and she was at our performance at the fair.
Other than the worship, the highlight of the performance had to be when I did a quick promo of some of our merchandise, which featured a Certainty CD on a stick! Kent, our drummer, had attached a CD to a long stick and he waived it in the air as I talked about it. Hey, it was the fair. Everything seems to be on a stick there.
My next performance with Certainty is on Friday evening, September 2nd for Meals from the Heartland (www.mealsfromtheheartland.org) at HyVee Hall in downtown Des Moines. This is the second year we will have played at this event.
Dear God in heaven, creator of all things, redeemer, and friend, thank you for the many blessings You’ve given. Your goodness and kindness is immeasurable and your faithfulness is like a mountain. Thank You for the peace and joy that comes only from You. Thank You for this foundation on which I have built my life. Let the talents you’ve provided be an encouragement to others and may I point them not to me, but to You alone for You are worthy of all praise and everything good comes from You. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.
Be joyful in the Lord!
Jeff
Jeff Arrandale Gallery – Iowa State Fair
August 15, 2011
Photos from the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12, 2011.
View other Jeff Arrandale photo galleries HERE.
Jeff Arrandale Gallery – Spirit Midwest
August 15, 2011
Photos from the Spirit Midwest Music Festival on Aug. 06, 2011.
View other Jeff Arrandale photo galleries HERE.
Jeff Arrandale Calendar Update Aug 15, 2011
August 15, 2011
The following dates have been added to the Jeff Arrandale Calendar.
For additional dates and details, visit the Jeff Arrandale Calendar section.
Subscribe to Jeff’s e-mail Newsletter to be notified of his latest news, events, and website updates.
| Date | Venue | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday
Aug 27, 2011 |
Praise Fest
Granger, IA |
2PM
|
|
Friday
Sep 02, 2010 |
6PM
|
Lee Gibson Video – On A Night Like Tonight
August 14, 2011
Lee Gibson performs his new song, On A Night Like Tonight.
Lee would like your help in selecting the songs for his new upcoming CD. Please leave a comment below and let him know your thoughts on this song.
On A Night Like Tonight – Lee Gibson ©2011
On a night like tonight I don’t need whiskey
But a woman in love – who surely does miss me.
With a heart that beats strong For a man such as I
That’s all I need on a night like tonight
On a night like tonight I don’t want the crowds
Just you, me, and a far away place To hide out
Turn off the phones And Turn down the lights
That’s all I need on a night like tonight
On a night like tonight you’re all there is
It’s in the way you whisper to me
The way you kiss my lips
There’s not another that makes me feel the way you do
On a night like tonight – there’s only you
On a night like tonight when you’re not around
And I’m on a bus coming back from some other town
I’m all alone and not feeling right
Well, that’s gonna change on a night like tonight.
On a night like tonight you’re all there is
It’s in the way you whisper to me
The way you kiss my lips
There’s not another that makes me feel the way you do
On a night like tonight – there’s only you
On a night like tonight – there’s only you
Every night’s like tonight – there’s only you
Chris West – Surprise Trilogy 2
August 3, 2011
This is the second album of three in the Surprise Trilogy series. The Surprise Trilogy is a project that Chris West has been working on since mid 2008. The initial idea was a more organic, straight ahead follow-up album to his funky/acid jazz first release, Jazzmanic.
As he was slowly recording the songs for consideration (recording 2-3 songs at a time, once a month), he realized he had written a lot of songs over the years, and wanted to record them all, if for nothing else, to archive. Eventually, Chris decided to record and release them all as The Surprise Trilogy.
Notable guests on Surprise Trilogy 2 include saxophonist Jeff Coffin, trumpeter Rod McGaha, and Nashville based Halfbrass. Track 8, Rude Awakening, features Chris’ saxophone quartet.
Be sure to read Jack Silverman’s article about Chris West and Surprise Trilogy 2 featured in the Nashville Scene.
Visit the Chris West Store to listen to Surprise Trilogy 2 and other recordings in his catalog.
