This is the August 9, 2004 edition of Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine!, a contemporary Christian & modern Worship music newsletter distributed to Christian and Worship music enthusiasts via the World Wide Web.  If you would like a FREE subscription with the latest issue sent to your inbox each week, e-mail glory2gloryezine@....

In some good news this week, former CREED founder professes his faith; Republican National Convention to feature Christian artists; former DCTALK members write new book; JARS OF CLAY performs in South Africa and Europe; new “Greatest Hits” projects from SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER and AMY GRANT; artist birthdays; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; upcoming new album releases; You Know You’re In The South In August When…; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:
The much-awaited release of the home video of The Passion of The Christ is set for August 31st.  On the same date, the much-anticipated music project also hits store shelves--The Passion of The Christ: Songs album feature artists who were moved to write and record new songs after seeing the film.  The line-up includes performances by the trio of THIRD DAY, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, and MERCYME; duets by KIRK FRANKLIN with YOLANDA ADAMS and BEBE WINANS with Angie Stone; P.O.D.; MXPX; and BIG DISMAL. 

Also former CREED’s Scott Stapp wrote and recorded the project’s first single, "Relearn Love."  In an interview with Christian Music Today, Stapp will most likely shock many of his mainstream music fans with a public admission of his faith.  “Oh, I'm a Christian.  I was a Christian in Creed, but nobody ever asked me,” Stapp admitted.  “But do you know I was never asked in 10 years if I was a Christian personally?” he added.  “We were only asked if Creed was a Christian band,” Stapp said.  The frontman for the multi-Platinum selling band also remarked he was waiting to confess his Christianity when he was in the right place in his relationship with Christ:  “It's just crazy how things have come full circle for me as a solo artist.  I kind of look at everything that happened with Creed as a preparation—me going through things to get my life ready for God's plan.  It's been a journey and a learning experience.” <><

The Republican National Convention is set for August 30th. through September 2nd. at New York City's Madison Square Garden.  Unlike the recent Democrat Party’s national convention, which featured mainstream artists Patti LaBelle, John Mellencamp, the Black Eyed Peas, and Willie Nelson, the GOP gathering will be treated to performances by Christian artists MICHAEL W. SMITH, DONNIE MCCLURKIN, JACI VELASQUEZ, and the BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA.  For exact schedules of appearances, see www.gopconvention.com. <>< 

TOBYMAC and MICHAEL TAIT of four-time Grammy Award-winning band DCTALK have written a new book.  Under God tells the stories of men and women of faith who forged our nation through unforgettable accounts of both famous and little-known Americans.  The authors also examine “the dark side of America’s legacy” in hopes that a new generation can avoid “repeating the sins of the past.”  Now successful solo artists, McKeon (TobyMac’s real name) and Tait have sold more than 7 million albums and more than 1.5 million copies in their Jesus Freaks five-book series.  For more info, visit www.UnderGodTheBook.com. <>< 

Dove and Grammy Award winners JARS OF CLAY has embarked on their first international tour in South Africa and Europe.  Band members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark, and Charlie Lowell played concerts in three of South Africa’s largest cities, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Durban.  Later this week Jars will fly to Europe for gigs at two of the continent’s largest Christian music festivals, Sweden’s “Frizon Festival” and The Netherlands’ “Flevo Festival.”  While in South Africa, the band appeared on an episode of Project Fame, a South African reality television series that is described as “a cross between Big Brother and American Idol.”  For highlights of Jars of Clay’s TV appearance on Project Fame, go to the show’s official website, www.projectfame.co.za. <>< 

Integrity Music is hosting a three-day retreat for “aspiring” as well as “experienced” worship songwriters.  From August 16th. through 19th. an “all-star faculty” from Integrity will teach and conduct worship in small groups and general sessions.  Instructors and performers include Worship leaders PAUL BALOCHE, DON MOEN, Reuban Morgan from HILLSONGS AUSTRALIA, TOMMY WALKER, ROSS PARSELY, and JOHN CHISUM.  A registration fee of $475 includes eight meals, three nights lodging, and instructional materials.  To register online, visit www.integritymusic.com/forms/seminars4worship/register.html. <><         

SOUNDBYTES:
World Vision International, a Christian relief and humanitarian organization, is partnering with THIRD DAY to offer their latest CD, Wire, for free with a donation of $20 or more.  For more info, visit www.wvi.org. <>< The Best of Sixpence None the Richer releases on October 26th.  The album features 18 SIXPENCE classics including covers of "There She Goes," "Dancing Queen," "Don't Dream It's Over," "I Need Love", original composition "Breathe Your Name", and two versions of "Kiss Me" (in English AND Japanese!) <>< AMY GRANT’s mainstream fans will probably rejoice with her Greatest Hits 1986-2004 CD and DVD due out on October 12th.  This 20 song Pop collection includes two previously unreleased tracks and Adult Contemporary radio standards “Lead Me On”, “The Next Time I Fall”, “Baby Baby”, “Every Heartbeat”, and the cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” <><

ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:
Tues., Aug. 10th.--Charlie Peacock
Wed., Aug. 11th.--Dave Clo (All Star United)
Thurs., Aug. 12th.—B.J. Aberle (Plumb)
Sat., Aug. 14th.--Ben Cissell (Audio Adrenaline)
Sun., Aug. 15th.--Jamie Slocum
Mon., Aug. 16th.--Brian McSweeney (Seven Day Jesus)

UPCOMING SOUTHWEST U.S. CONCERTS:
8/11 - The Swift--Crossroads Christian Church, Arlington, TX
8/12 - Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, & Sanctus Real--Country Woods Baptist Church, Jackson, MS
8/18 - Building 429--Household of Faith, Gonzales, LA
8/19 - Casting Crowns & Starfield--Oakland Heights Baptist Church, Longview, TX
8/20 & 8/21 – “Rock the Desert” w/Jars of Clay & Casting Crowns--Midland, TX
8/21 – ApologetiX--West Ouachita High School, Calhoun, LA
8/21 - Mars Hill--Word of Truth Church, Many, LA
8/23 - Tree63 & Building 429--AE Wood Coliseum, Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
8/23 – Switchfoot--Jones Performing Arts Center, Arkadelphia, AR
8/27 & 8/28 – “Irrepressible Hope - Women of Faith” w/Natalie Grant & Laurie Hickson-Smith--American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
8/27 & 8/28 – “Promise Keepers” w/Brad Stine & Salvador--SBC Center, San Antonio, TX
8/28 - Audio Adrenaline--First Bossier Church, Bossier City, LA
9/01 - Jeremy Camp & Sanctus Real, Ark. State University, Jonesboro, AR
9/10 - Bebo Norman, Jason Morant, & Bethany Dillon --First Baptist Church, Ruston, LA
9/11 - Jars of Clay--Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater, Mandeville, LA
9/14 - Jeremy Camp & Sanctus Real--Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, LA
9/15 – “Saw You At The Pole” concert w/ Across The Sky & Silars Bald--North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
9/18 – downhere--Galloway Memorial UMC, Jackson, MS
9/18 - Steve Green--First Baptist Church, Shreveport, LA
9/26 – “ShoutFest ‘04” w/ Rachael Lampa, Tait, Jump5, Seventh Day Slumber, Petra, & KJ-52--Buhlow Lake Recreation Center, Pineville, LA (2:00 pm)
10/03 - Jeff Deyo--Bethesda Community Church, Ft. Worth, TX
10/16 – “Vertical Fest” w/ O.C. Supertones & Superchic(k)—Convention Center, Pine Bluff, AR
10/16 – Amy Grant--Beau Rivage, Biloxi, MS
10/17 - Tammy Trent--Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, LA
10/22 - Tinman Jones--Hot Springs, AR (venue TBA)
10/23 - Gaither Homecoming Tour--CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA
10/26 – Avalon, Mark Schultz, & Matthew West--Civic Center, Lake Charles, LA
10/30 – “Heritage Fest” w/ Fusebox & By The Tree--Heritage Baptist Church, Texarkana, TX
11/04 - Phillips, Craig, and Dean--First Baptist Church, West Monroe, LA
11/06 - Big Daddy Weave & Geoff Moore--Parkway Baptist Church, Clinton, MS
11/13 – Selah--Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, TX
11/18 – Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, & Chris Tomlin--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS
11/21-11/23 - Among Thorns--Alexandria, LA (venue TBA)
12/9 - Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, & Chris Tomlin—CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & DVD RELEASES:
8/10/04--

• Allan Hall (of Selah)--House of a Thousand Dreams (Curb Records)
• Todd Smith (of Selah)--Alive (Curb Records)
• Nicol (Smith) Sponberg (of Selah)--Resurrection (Curb Records)
• Fernando Ortega--Fernando Ortega (Curb Records)
• Watermark--The Purest Place (Rocketown Records)
• Bebo Norman--Try (Essential Records)
• 12 Stones--Potter's Field (Wind-Up Records)
• Brian Doerksen--Today (Integrity Music)
• Mourning September--A Man Can Change His Stars (Floodgate Records)
• Shawn McDonald--Simply Nothing (Sparrow Records)

 
8/24/04--

• Casting Crowns--Live From Atlanta (Beach Street Records)
• Ray Boltz--The Unchanging Story (Spindust Records)
• Everlife--Everlife (Crowne Music Group)
• Fortitude--Fortitude (Word Records)
• Joyce Martin--Diamonds on a Dusty Road (Spring Hill Music)
• John Tesh--Worship At Red Rocks (Various Labels)
• Tim Hughes--When Silence Falls (Worship Together)
• Further Seems Forever--Hide Nothing (Sparrow Records)

Chuck’s Chuckles:

You Know You’re In The South In August When…

• The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
• The trees are whistling for the dogs.
• The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
• Hot water now comes out of both taps.
• You can make “Sun Tea” instantly.
• You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
• The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
• You discover that in August it only takes two fingers to steer your car.
• You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
• You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
• You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
• You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• The potatoes in your garden cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt, and pepper.
• Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.
• The cows are giving evaporated milk.
  

© August 9, 2004; Glory2Glory Productions; Chuck Halley, publisher; Monroe, Louisiana.  All rights reserved.  No part of this e-zine may be reproduced without prior written consent.  Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals because we value each subscriber and respect their privacy.  Start spreading some good news by forwarding this issue to five friends who have an interest in contemporary Christian music & Modern Worship!