Quick Guitar Lesson…

I found these little lessons from Orianthi Panagaris. I picked it up really quickly and I think you will too. Let me know how it goes for you!! (KIDDING…this girl is an absolute shredder)

Switchfoot: Two (of many) Reasons I Like These Guys

Also…this video for some reason had me laughing pretty hard. Apparently they stopped off in Memphis at a Coffee Shop and found this here NordicTrac. HA! The phrase that abides is…’Don’t HASSLE the DASSLE’. Just say that out loud without trying to laugh at the way it sounds. Anyways, These guys are top shelf musicians, anthropologists and people!

Audrey Assad || Little Light || Song for Kate McRae

My dear friend Audrey Assad is a Nashville based singer/songwriter/worship leader and is exceptionally gifted when it comes to those things. I’ve had the chance to become friends with Audrey through a mutual friend/sonwriter named Matt Maher.

Last night, Audrey tuned into to our Global Night of Prayer for Kate McRae. As we were praying together, via the web, Audrey just sensed that God was giving her the words to a song for Kate. It was a song of hope and prolific for that matter. She penned the words last night during our prayer, but, did not have the melody. We prayed that God would give her a strong melody to accompany these beautiful, hopeful lyrics. I got a text message this morning that the ‘worktape’ was finished and in my inbox.

When I got back home I gathered Promise and Lindsay (who’s one of our temporary roommates). The three of us sat in our living room as tears filled our eyes because we knew that God had given little Kate and the McRaes a song of hope specifically for them. I immediately email the song to Aaron and Holly. I soon got a call from Aaron McRae about the song. He was without words.

From Aarons words, ‘Kate had just come out of the MRI and we were all celebrating the victory that she was moving her right side. We then got the email with the song, called all the family in the hospital to come and listen. We all gathered around Kates bedside with tears in our eyes and listened to the song with Kate.’

I’m reminded through the situation with Kate that when we just step up and use our God given talents/abilities and be faithful with them God will use us! Let Audrey’s Song be a reminder to you to get creative, be a blessing and let God use what He’s given you to be a blessing to people around you. Just so you know…you’re gonna start hearing a lot more about Audrey Assad VERY SOON! She’s singing a song that she wrote called ‘Wintersong’ on Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas record that is sketched to release in October!

Here are the Lyrics to Audrey’s song called ‘Little Light’:

Little Light

Audrey Assad

Look at all the angels watching you
They’re singing songs that we have never heard
Their voices ring like bells over the mountains
Oh, if only we could hear their words
God is near, little girl.

Your eyes are brilliant,deep sky blue.
Your quiet wisdom is an evening song.
The angels must be breathless at your beauty
Like the world catches its breath before the dawn.
God is near, little one.

And Jesus bends to hear you breathe;
His tender hands are holding you tonight.
His heart is ravished when you look at Him,
and oh, the endless mercy in His eyes;
God is here, little light.

Michael Jackson – The Death of A Legend

I’m a pretty big Michael Jackson fan. The reports today of his cardiac arrest and his death are heartbreaking. He’s an entertainer like no other and has a songwriting ability that only a few have and a voice like no one in history. I know some people that have worked with him and they say he was an unbelievable musician and quite a guy.

Whether you think he’s weird or great, he was an epic talent and that’s undeniable. Truly this historic day is a sad one for those of us that appreciate great artistry!

Are you a fan? What is it about M.J. that you really dig? Seriously, how big of a bummer would it be to have lost the King of Pop today?

Bonus Video: You Won’t Relent

Here’s to a great day! I feel like this song is the way we need to start everyday. Being reminded of Gods relentless love towards us and making the confession that ‘our hearts are His’! Anyways, enjoy this tasty little treat as Audrey Assad and Ryan Axtell bring the love. Check out this scripture that the song comes from in Song of Solomon:

Song of Solomon 8:6-8

⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy ^[a] unyielding as the grave. ^[b]
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. ^[c]

⁷ Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.

A Spring Sunday @ Cornerstone – Worship/Audrey Assad

From time to time I want to post some of the music that we’re doing at Cornerstone. I know, for me, since Jarrett Stevens canned 7:22 @ North Point (only kidding jarrett), I’ve been hard pressed to find music online that we (as a team) can go and get creative ideas from week to week. Anyways, yesterday was a special day here at Cornerstone. A really good friend of mine from Nashville name Audrey Assad was here and helped lead music in our gatherings all day. These are a few of the videos from yesterday.

This first video is a new tune Audrey wrote called ‘Love is Moving’. WOW! If you don’t watch anything else on this post…watch and listen to Audrey’s song. Hopefully some of these videos will serve as a resource to inspire and encourage your ministry or life.

It’s A Wrap – Brayline, Chris Sligh and Meredith Andrews…

We had a great time with Chris Sligh, Meredith Andrews and their band a couple weeks back here in Arizona. We played with them at a fundraiser event in Tempe, AZ. They’re all great people with amazing Kingdom-Minded hearts. A real good time hang with them. These are some photos taken by Whitney Law, from O.C., she got some great photos of Brayline.

Brayline w/American Idol Chris Sligh and Merdith Andrews!

My band, Brayline, will be sharing the stage with Former American Idol sensation Chris Sligh artist
of the hit single “Empty Me” will headline an all-day
concert on the lawn NEXT Saturday, February 28, 2009:

Grace Community Christian School
1200 E. Southern Ave.
Tempe, AZ

Show starts @ 11am.

Opening for Sligh will be contemporary Christian
singer/songwriter Meredith Andrews, the well-
known local band Brayline, and the GCCS Chapel
Band, making this a full day of Christian music
artistry and fun for every one to enjoy.

Tickets are $15 dollars Pre-sale online or $20 at the door. Get your tickets at the following link. Show starts at 11am, It’s a daytime event… http://www.gccsaz.org/index.php

Also, if you email me brian@braylinemusic.com and send an email subject line ‘MEET AND GREET’. I’ll send you an email back for a ticket into the ‘meet and greet’ with Chris, Merdith and Brayline after the show. Who wouldn’t want to meet Chris Sligh, right? HA! You’ve got to email me soon though and I’d recommend you get your ticket(s) online and tell your friends about this opportunity. You have to have a ticket and the email I send you back to get into the Meet and Greet…

Are you coming?

Alternate Arrangements…

While sitting in ‘Sweet Tomatoes’ with Ryan, Jason, Matt Maher and Kenny Butler, earlier this week, the dialogue was started about songs we think could work acousticly. We then talked about songs that really maybe couldn’t be changed from their original format. We all had a few thoughts and then the legendary Matt Maher (if you don’t know who Matt is…he wrote the song ‘Your Grace is Enough’…no Chris Tomlin didn’t write that…the genius Matt Maher did…give him credit!) just mentioned that the Hillsong United tune ‘Break Free’ was one of those songs.

Well, later in the week we just could not refuse the chance to prove Matt Maher wrong. So we did and here’s what we came up with for it. Also, don’t forget to watch the bonus video of the acoustic version of ‘Your Grace is Enough’. I’ll just say in advance, you won’t be able to ‘get enough’ of this goodness. Let me know what you thought…leave a comment!

FOR ONE OF MATT’S BRIGHTER MOMENTS:

A Christmas Present…

My good friend and workmate (not to be confused with playmate), Ryan Axtell, has recorded a couple FREE Christmas tunes and is making them available as a gift to you for the next couple of days. Ryan is an EXTREMELY talented songwriter/worship leader/arranger/flautist(not really on the flute thing), but, he will bring some diversity to your Christmas with the free downloads on his site. Click the pic above and download away. Make sure to leave him a thankful comment too.
PS – his dad plays a MEAN Honky-Tonk piano and also is the puppet man. No joke Steve Axtell makes the puppets that you see on Vegietales, Terry Fater (americas got talent…remember him?). Check out his site at AXTELL.COM and see his muppet making there.