Idag har jag haft en riktigt skön slappedag, idag på förmiddagen så tog jag det bara lungt och lyssnade på lite musik på spotify. Jag tycker att det är helt fantastiskt att man kan få tillgång till så mycket musik. Det enda negativa med gratis Spotify är att man måste stå ut med lite reklam då och då. Nu finns det en liknande tjänst för filmer som heter Voddler, men jag har inte fått tag på någon invite, men det är definitivt något som jag vill ha. I eftermiddags så kom Hanna en vän över och lite senare så kom Anna en annan vän. Dom stannade hela eftermiddagen/kvällen. Det är alltid roligt med besök. Nu börjar det närma sig natten och jag funderar på om jag för en gångs skull ska se till att komma i säng tidigt, men jag tvivlar att jag som är en nattuggla ska lyckas sova redan nu. Som vanligt så vill jag lägga upp en video, idag så får det bli en låt med Aaron Shust.

Aaron Shust: “To God Alone”

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Ha de!

Tudo bem, também concordo que o mercado cinematográfico brasileiro é meio ruim, e se colocar o cristão ainda é que a coisa fica feia mesmo, mas deixando o preconceito à parte, uma boa indicação (no contexto brasileiro cristão, claro) de um filme daqueles para ser lembrado: As Estrelas Me Mostram Você.

As Estrelas Me Mostram Você

O filme que foi lançado recentemente em DVD pela Gospel Goods, tem por gênero o que poderia ser considerado uma comedia romântica cristã, voltado para a famílias e seus valores e focado no meio jovem, onde se concentra a historia do filme.

A História

O filme acontece na região sul do país, com a velha formula: jovens no ultimo ano colegial, problemas familiares, futuro profissional e um amor verdadeiro. Um amor entre duas pessoas de mundos completamente diferentes, mas que encontram algo em comum. Em uma trama envolvente, recheada de emoção e incertezas, Vitor e Julia irão superar suas diferenças olhando pra o alto. Irão saber que as estrelas mostram muito mais do que um lindo céu: “As Estrelas Me Mostram Você”.

Sobre a trama, o filme gravado nos estados de Santa Catarina e Paraná e contou com mais de 80 profissionais envolvidos na execução do projeto. Foram 3 anos de trabalho e um resultado que irá surpreender a todos. Um dos aspectos a ser levado em consideração é a trilha sonora, composta por grandes nomes como Thousand Foot Krutch (This is a Call) e Aaron Shust (My Savior, My God).

We’re so excited to have Aaron Shust, Chris Sligh, and Meredith Andrews here this weekend!  It’s Chris Sligh’s 2nd Annual Back to School Tour – The Stimulus Package, and Aaron Shust is headlining!

Aaron called The Pulse this week to talk about the concert.  With his amazing voice, talent, and musical ability… have you ever wondered why he decided to go into Christian music rather than secular?

You can catch the concert this Sunday (Sept. 20) at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd.  The doors open at 6:30pm and the concert begins at 7pm.  Here’s what Aaron Shust hopes the concert will be like:

*picture via aaronshust.com

Shame.

It is the one feeling that can keep us tied to the past…to horrible habits…chained down to a master who is wholly satisfied with our inability to see hope from the bottom of the hole that we have settled into.We all have things in our lives that we think back on that cause our faces to flush instantly. 

I know there are quite a few “rabbits” that I have been chasing around in my mind only to wind up smack in the middle of my past self’s realities….  Suddenly, my heart is racing, my face is hot and I am literally looking around to ensure that the other people nearby weren’t able to watch the movie that just played out in my mind…that no one else knows what it was that I did before I became the me they now know.  Then the voices come in – I can hear their heels in the halls of my heart as they make their way to parts of my mind that are vulnerable…to the sections of me that will believe the lies they bring when they scream them out at me.

“Stop trying to fight it. You know that you are still that person. Just give in and go back.”

“If people knew what you did, they would never like you.”

“If your friends had any clue how messed up you were before the you they know now…you would be all alone.”

“It’s your body. Do with it what you want to.”

“You deserve the right to be who you want to be.  Why spend so much time fighting what feels natural to you?“

“There is no way that God can love you with all that in your past.”

The reality of it all?  I am an addict.  I lived as one, locked in the closet of denial and shame for many, many years.  Then one day, God gave me a choice: out myself and my lies to everyone around me…or He would.  I chose to do it myself because, well, I suffer from control addiction above all else!!  From the moment that He allowed His holiness to hover in front of me while asking me to walk a blameless path, I began to struggle with those voices in ways that words can barely describe…but shame was the thing that kept its hands on my throat and its heart beating for mine.

It took me 2 years to actually get clean…but praise to the Lord, He saved me from that pitfall and I have many years behind me without the use of chemicals to get me thru.  I stopped counting time awhile ago as I found that THAT was an entry way to my enemy’s tactics…trying to trip me up with how long I have been on the straight & narrow…and just how quickly he could help take it all away from me.  I had a wise woman listen to my story and tell me “Stop saying you will never do it again.  THAT is what is tripping you up – as soon as you give satan a timeline, you give him the win.  Just take each moment for what it is…a moment.”

So why have I shared all this?  I promise, I have a point.  Yesterday I had the chance to hang out with some great friends…and last night, after everyone was gone, I remembered their smiles, their laughter and the truth behind their eyes…and I was overcome with the reality that I could have missed out on any of them simply because of a path called “Addiction”.

The one driving emotion that keeps addiction rolling is shame…and shame keeps you locked in a cycle because it reminds you how horrible you are…and how little you can do about it.  It can shatter your life into pieces.  It takes the fragile, glass bottle that is your life and starts to invade it.  Soon small spider cracks can be found and then, in one swift move, it can knock your life to the ground, breaking it into thousands of jagged shards.  I know…I have been there.

But from one cry sent upwards, those pieces can be used by the One who created them…by the One who loves your soul and cares about your life. (**Pause Playlist at bottom of page before pushing play**)

Aaron Shust has an amazing voice…and an amazing truth comes from his heart:

I pray you will give God the chance to show you a glimpse of the artwork He can make from your life…your ups and your downs.  I can say that because as I sit here, I know the depths of my lows and the places I was headed before He reached out for MY hand.  I was at death’s door, happy to let it ALL go for the thing that allowed my mind and heart to go numb from the pain of my life…barely able to think, much less able to believe that one day I could be living life, sober…and FREE.  Ernest Hemingway has a quote that really grabs my attention because of the Truth that lives within the simple words: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” 

Although I will always be an addict when it comes to certain aspects of my life, I can be fully strong where I once was weak because He can use it.  You can be strong where you are broken too.  Really.

Feel free to let me know if you need help finding help off the road you are on…or if you just want prayer.

Looking up as always…
~Bina~

Andrew recently sat down with Christian music’s “Artist of the Year” to discuss a more affective matter – adoption. Joined by his articulate bride and Show Hope spearhead, the Chapman’s spoke about Maria’s lasting legacy through Maria’s Big House of Hope, China’s new six-story facility that will take immediate care for orphans deemed “special needs.” ( See video here.)

Andrew also reviewed the controversial new record by complicated songster, Derek Webb, as well as four-star releases by Aaron Shust, Melinda Doolittle, Jason Crabb, Melinda Watts, Project86, Ginny Owens and Skillet’s upcoming “Awake.”

Check out his special “Redirecting the Spotlight” podcast with Travis Cottrell, a recap on a LIVE confrontation on the “fashion” of social justice by authors Donald Miller and David Dark, and read other recent article by visiting Andrew’s “Words” page here.

Third Project Pure Excellence For “Old Soul” Worship Leader
It’s barely been two years since Aaron Shust swept the 2007 Dove Awards with a trio of wins including “Songwriter of the Year” and “Song of the Year,” two trophies generally awarded to veterans, not a new artist releasing a worship record off a secular label. But considering the previous year saw the worship leader’s “My Savior, My God” nab the No. 1 spot on every Gospel chart imaginable—and stay there—the reward seemed reasonable.

Nonetheless, every blockbuster has to have a follow-up. And rarely is it as impressive, as Shust’s 2007’s effort Whispered and Shouted proved. Thankfully, Take Over is everything his sophomore release could have been, both from a commercial vantage point and in lyrical quality.

Squashed between anthemic corporate sing-alongs “To God Alone” and “Forevermore,” “Come and Save Us” is the singer/songwriter’s hardest-hitting song to date. Propelled by the urgency of his message as well as gritty guitar riffs, driving snares and one killer bass line, Shust produces the same commercial mega-draw as Chris Tomlin, but with a darker tint.

And that “dark” vibe carries throughout the entire record. It’s the same element that causes Sara Groves to stand apart from, say, Natalie Grant. Both perform incredible songs, but the delivery is different. Just like Groves, it sounds as if life is lived a bit deeper in Shust’s catalog than in most modern worship libraries. Frankly, he’s got more soul. With an effortlessly warm baritone, he exhales each lyric, covering an entire arena with one breath, floating the power ballad “Stars Will Fall” much like Coldplay’s Chris Martin carries “Fix You,” but without the need for excessive reverb and delay.

Similarly, closing hymn “Carry Me Home” allows the old soul’s voice to nuance each and every space. It’s sad but hopeful, melancholic but realistic. Bittersweet, but oh, so lovely—the latter, a remark worthy of Shust’s entire third effort.

CCM Magazine, August 2009
AaronShust.com

New Featured & Free Song: “Forevermore”

Words and Music by Aaron Shust, Jason Ingram, Brett Rutledge and Justin McKay

Fresh from Aaron Shust’s new record, TAKE OVER, which releases August 4th (NEXT WEEK!), check out the new worship song “Forevermore.” Shust, known for the song “My Savior, My God,” debuted it last week at the Worship Leader Magazine’s National Worship Leader Conference to an overwhelming positive response. “Forevermore” is featured now at GreatWorshipSongs.com as a free download. This offer is only available for a week so make sure you take advantage of it today.

Click here to download “Forevermore.” Click here to visit AaronShust.com to pre-order Take Over.

Connecting with Aaron Shust: “Forevermore”

Aaron Shust stopped by the GreatWorshipSongs.com studio a few weeks ago and we captured on video some tips for playing a few of his songs. Join us for the teaching of “Forevermore” by clicking on the image below. Get ready to learn a great song.

By Mac Powell, Laura Story and Shawn Lewis

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Every Tuesday new albums are released for public consumption and today is no different. Well, it is a little different. After all, it marks the release of Glory Revealed 2, a rustic worship record led by Third Day’s Mac Powell and featuring top names in Christian music, such as Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, Amy Grant, Brandon Heath, Natalie Grant and many more. The record features two GreatWorshipSongs.com writers Aaron Shust and Laura Story. Story’s contribution to the album also included co-writing “Praise the Lord,” captured as a duet between her and Natalie Grant, and featured now at GreatWorshipSongs.com as a lead sheet and chord chart.

Make sure you check out Glory Revealed 2 here and purchase a copy.

Who doesn’t like music?

As a Catholic teen, music is an important part of worship for me, as I’m sure it is with all my fellow Christian teens. Whether it be the Sanctus hymn at Mass or the references to God in You Found Me – The Fray, holiness is very present in many songs (though not all ).

To the point of this blog: I just wanted to share one of my all-time favorite Praise songs – My Savior, My God by Aaron Shust. The chorus proclaims the simple truth of what God is:

My Saviour loves, my Saviour lives, my Saviour’s always there for me. My God He was, my God He is, my God He’s always gonna be.

Now here’s where it starts to get a little, shall I say, strange. Perhaps surreal is a better word. As I listened to this song, my vision began to fade. Out of the gloom I distinctly saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus moving towards me, and the sweet abode of His Sacred Heart opened up to me. I felt Him drawing around me, protecting me and giving me peace. Then the vision ended as quickly as it came.

I know. Whoa.

Now, it all seemed pretty real to me. Real enough to get me thinking about the power of music in the worship of Our Lord.

So now, o blogo-verse, respond: what music fills you with the Spirit?

The Image of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Morning all!

Last day of my vacation (this time round) and I’m really enjoying the gorgeous weather we’ve been having in the Midwest. I did a lot of cleaning today, listening to great NEW Christian music, yeah, yeah, and now, I’m blogging. My girlfriends were teasing me yesterday about my trip next month up north. They’re of the belief that a significant other might pop the question while we’re on vacation. I hope not. This leads me to the blog question(s) of the day:

Please vote and comment, let me know what you think. *sigh* Go ahead and laugh but I’d appreciate feedback here. The Bible says we need to cast down vain imaginings (2 Corinthians 10:5). I’m not sure if anticipating the future counts as a vain imagining or not but if it causes you to be in fear or have anxiety, it can’t be God’s best for your life. The morning certainly just got a lot drearier. More thoughts next post.

Currently reading:
“The Shabby Chic Home” by Rachel Ashwell, 2000.

On Synergy:
Aaron Shust, Avalon, Britt Nicole, Hawk Nelson, Jaci Velasquez, Joy Electric, Matthew West, MXPX, Newsboys, Plumb, Rachael Lampa, Rebecca St. James, Sixpence None the Richer, tobyMac, ZOEgirl.

Aaron Shust did three things this morning to start off his day.

1. Poured himself a cup of tea

2. Grabbed his video camera and his guitar to record a song from his new album (expected to be released in August)

3. Leaked it on the internet and started letting people know about it

Aaron Shust is one of my favorite Christian artists and Greatworshipsongs.com is one of my favorite sites for free sheet music and MP3s.  Right now they are featuring a new song by Aaron called “To God Alone.”  It’s a song based on the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria.  To God Alone be the Glory.   The song is easy to play, a bit mroe difficult to sing, and you can learn it here:

To get a free lead sheet and MP3, sign up here:

http://www.greatworshipsongs.com/

Greetings and hallucinations!  

Thanks for stopping by.  I am constantly trying to find a way to make the blog short and to the point so that you can get over to other worship pastor’s blogs to see what they did on Sunday.  If you guys have any ideas on how to make my blog the best bang for you view (this is free afterall) let me know.  Please don’t forget to comment.  I do my best in trying to return the favor if you have a blog or facebook page.  You can see those other worship pastor’s blogs by going here:  www.fredmckinnon.com 

Here is how the downbeat happened today at Evangelistic Temple, Palestine, TX:

Walk In: Agnus Dei – Michael W. Smith

Greeting: Dr. Barry Roberts  

Dr. Barry Roberts, Pastor of Evangelistic Temple, Palestine, TX

O Praise Him – David Crowder

Our God Saves – Paul Baloche

This morning, Dayne Weber lead this one.  He knocked it out of the park.

My Saviour My God – Aaron Shust

I am always the one to start this one.  Not usually a problem, but my cat stuck her claw into my ring finger on my fretting hand yesterday and it’s super sore. It’s right where the string and my finger make contact.   Anyway, I made it through and my solo was on the opposite end of suck!  So a good day for me.

Prayer/Offertory

Majesty (Here I Am) – Delirious (We did the PK7 version)

For those of you wondering, PK7 was the band at Promise Keepers 2006 led by Curt Coffield.  I really like their version of this one.  You can go here and listen to it:

http://www.thejesusunderground.com/p-PRO56.html

Jesus Lover of My Soul – Hillsong

Our version of this one is more R&B.  

Sermon: Dr. Barry Roberts

Altar/Closing:

Amazed – Lincoln Brewster

We did have a small issue with a keyboard that decided not to power up.We reshuffled Danna’s Korg Karma for Vicki’s  Korg X-50 before the service started.  Other than that snafu, things flowed well and someone came forward for salvation.  Praise God!  That’s why we do what we do.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

BRAD

Band:

Darren Goodman – Lead Vocals

Dayne Weber – Lead Vocals (Our God Saves)

Danna Hafner – Keys/Bgvs

Cavin Dorsey – Bass/Music Director (or DJ, it depends on what he says in our Avioms)

Vicki Stringfield – Keys

Jason Stringfield – Drums (Metro Gnome’s buddy and pal!)

Johnie Adams – Acoustic

Terry Garner – Acoustic

Brad Hafner – Electric

Metro Gnome – Timekeeper (Everyone who has Avioms bestest friend!)

Today is my birthday.  I’m 39, and no, I’m not holding.  I’m proud of each year’s milestone.

This was the view when I walked out of the house:

Not a cloud in the sky…such a difference from the last three days of dark, rainy gloom.

Although it’s a chilly 63 degrees, I couldn’t help but be filled with the joy that is supposed to be a part of “my” day.

Chicky and I went to church.  There were quite a few empty seats because of Spring Break.  There were people missing from the praise team as well.  However, the worship leader was one of my favorites.  He did a fantastic job!  God was surely in that place as we lifted our voices to Him.

The songs were especially meaningful to me given the rough few days I had last week.  Here’s one of the songs we sang:

Aaron Shust – My Savior My God
From the album Anything Worth Saying

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus:

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

The sermon that followed was quite powerful.  It was taken from 1 Corinthians 20-31 and focused on how God uses the weak to serve Him.  My pastor used the example of David and Goliath to illustrate his point.  Most people have heard the story, but if you haven’t, I invite you to open a Bible and read about it in 1 Samuel 17.  The pastor also told a story about a young man at a college who was moved to repentance…not by an Olympic weight lifter who won the gold medal who was serving the Lord, but by a man, crippled during the Vietnam War and wheelchair-bound, whose face reflected a peace in his knowledge of God.

The weak, not the strong, was used to move the young man to repentance.

I often feel like the weaker person when gathered with others.  I lack confidence in social situations and now, with my uncertain employment, am beginning to doubt myself there as well.  Even in my weakness, God will use me to glorify Him.  There is such joy in that.

One of the most inspiring moments during the sermon came when this gentleman…certainly not a spring chicken…declared that each morning when he gets up, he is excited and curious about how God will use him that day.  I wonder…do I wake up with that attitude?  To be an instrument of God, one only needs to be clean (Jesus washes away our sins) and available.  Perhaps my job loss is making me available to hear God’s voice…His will for my life.

Things to ponder…

Rooster called me after I had gotten home from church.  He’s away with the church youth group…on a mission to fix up the facility where they will go for summer camp.  The group is going to Atlanta tomorrow (Monday) to play WhirlyBall.  Just the fact that he remembered to call me meant the world to me.

I don’t know what I’m doing the rest of the day…taking it easy, working on the sock that hasn’t seen any action since early last week (understandable but still sad).

Another year older.  I’d like to think another year wiser, but I’m not so sure.  Perhaps just another year as thankful.  Thankful for last year’s blessings.  Thankful for each new day and the potential to be used by God.

I found this on a Pittsburgh radio station’s website.  The artist is Aaron Shust.  Enjoy Steeler fans!

“Burgh Boy”

We just finished our second week of the year but it feels more like a month.  Let’s see…  What all have we done????  Let me list a few things…

1.  Recorded three new worship songs and starting transcribing the sheet music.  “Show My Love” from Ronnie Freeman and Tony Wood.  “God is Moving” from Jon Abel, Chad Cates and Lee Black.  “This Is Our Song” from Jeromy Diebler (FFH), Carl Cartee and Jason Ingram.  Look for these soon on GreatWorshipSongs.com.

2.  Partnered with Travis Cottrell to release a live DVD featuring, of course, Mr Cottrell, Beth Moore and Max Lucado. By the way, good luck Travis on blogging more this year! We’ll be recording the DVD Jan 24 and 25.  Release date to be sometime in April or May.

3.  Approved the final master for Worship Arising, a compilation featuring Aaron Shust, Laura Story, Carl Cartee, Jon Abel and Andy Kirk.  This record, which I refer to as a worship resource, is enhanced with PDF lead sheets and song devotions/stories per song.  LOVE IT!  Look for www.worshiparising.com coming soon.  Hopefully, this will become a popular site to discover new worship songs for FREE.

4.  Finished mixing the new Carl Cartee live worship album Everything You Do.  Mastering will be next week and then we’ll release March 17!  Finishing up artwork now!

5.  Preparing to host an evening for the Re:Create worship conference Feb 4.  We’ll be dinning at Safire in Franklin, TN and enjoying live music from Travis Cottrell, Aaron Shust, Carl Cartee and Chris Sligh (American Idol, Brash recording artist and writer of “Here Comes Good-Bye,” the new single from Rascal Flatts!!!  CONGRATS CHRIS!!!!). And yes, this is a closed event…

WOW…  09 is going to be more than fine!!!!

Oh…  We have a FaceBook page…  Search for us!

John

Our Un-Rappers reflect on the miracle of that we celebrate—when Jesus was born on earth. God Himself in the fragile body of an infant entrusted to the clumsy hands of humanity.

EVERY TIME I READ THE GOSPELS REGARDING JESUS’ BIRTH, DIFFERENT THINGS STRIKE ME ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE BEAUTY OF THE EVENT. WHAT HAS STRUCK YOU ABOUT CHRIST’ BIRTH THIS YEAR?

What strikes me about the birth of Christ is the humility of it all. From our perspective He was born into the most humble of all circumstances. But what occurs to me this year is that no matter how He came it would be humble for Him. The way it happened communicates better to us (which is probably the reason), but in reality, even if God had come as a King, it would most likely be a very humble circumstance (from His perspective). He came from the glory of the heavens to Earth, which I would imagine to be a huge step down.—Adam Smith of This Beautiful Republic

That the wise men were keen to what was going on.  They weren’t even from the area, so they weren’t influenced by local tradition.  They were intense scholars, and they traveled from a LONG way off, came prepared with gifts fit for a king and then dropped to their knees, I imagine, without hesitancy.  Today’s skeptics could learn from them. I could learn from them.—Aaron Shust, recording artist

I think the thing that always impressed me is that there had to have been so much drama surrounding that birth socially. I think it’s downplayed and not focused on, but in our society, everyone deals with and is strongly affected by drama. These two were un-wed and she was still a virgin. No one believed them, everyone shunned them. They went on and endured it because they were convinced it was God’s doing. There’s much more to say here. Sermons come from these topics.—Ben Olin of This Beautiful Republic

I guess I always marvel at who God chooses to carry out his most important plans. It’s never the people you’d expect. Mary wasn’t some super spiritual saint (or at least the Gospels don’t reveal that about her). She was a young girl going about her life when God came calling with a scary but very exciting task. That always is so inspiring because really, she’s a lot like us. And yet she took a huge leap of faith, not to mention potentially compromised the good thing she had going with Joseph, to do what God called her to do. And she was the mother to the Saviour of the world—how cool is that?—Christa Banister, author

This year, thinking about Christ coming to earth to die and thinking about the sacrifice that God the Father made has struck me.  I don’t have any children, but I have nieces and nephews that I love very much. If I knew that someone must die, it would be much easier for me to do it myself, rather than sending my son. Giving up a son must be much more difficult to do, than giving up yourself. But I think that shows the immense Love that God the Father has for us, that his only-begotten Son would be sent for our transgressions.—Jon Dunn of Demon Hunter

It is so great how God can use the same Scripture to speak to us in different ways!  This year, I was drawn to how God chose to tell the shepherds first about the birth of His Son.  Of all the influential and important people He could have gone to, He chose to speak to the lowest members of the community.  This is just a beautiful picture of how this miraculous birth happened for everyone; regardless of their background.  I love how the shepherds first responded with fear and then changed to excitement and praise towards God.  They left praising God for all they had heard and seen (Luke 2:20 NASB).  I pray that many will read this amazing story and like the shepherds, praise God for this amazing gift of love!—David Frush, recording artist

The story of His birth never gets old.  The simplicity of it amazes me most.  God used an ordinary girl to bear the King of Kings.   Not in a huge fanfare, but in a simple manger.   What an incredible picture of humility… shown by the all-powerful One!!—Chris Clayton, recording artist

Ah, who can fight the temptation of looking for those presents tucked away around the house?  For some of our Un-Rappers, peeking at presents is a Christmas tradition.  For the record, when Amy discovered her cache of loot one year, she also received a Princess Jasmine (and Aladdin) doll, just like Franny.

HAVE YOU EVER PEEKED AT YOUR PRESENTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS MORNING?  IF SO, WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER?

One Christmas, I think I was 6 or 7, I did wake up before everyone else. It was glorious. It is actually my favorite Christmas memory. Very quietly I walked out of my bedroom and into the living room…and beside the Christmas tree was a huge plastic toy box in the shape of a football (they still make these) and my toys were all wrapped inside it. I took out all the presents and pretended that the football was actually a spaceship. It was big enough to crawl inside of. It was only intended to be a container for all the toys I was getting…but it turned out to be my favorite toy of all. I must have blasted off all over the galaxy before I remembered that I wasn’t supposed to be looking at the presents yet! I got out of my football toy box/spaceship…put all the presents back…crawled back in bed and impatiently waited for everyone else to wake up…and yes, I acted surprised to see all the gifts.—Gabe Martinez of Circleslide

Oh my gosh. I peeked EVERY year. I got very good at taking the tape off and putting it back on unnoticed. I’m still the master. One year I freaked because I was getting a Nintendo 64 with the big bazooka looking gun. It was bad. I shot down airplanes daily.—Ben Olin of This Beautiful Republic

Once, as a young kid, I peeked in my mom’s closet and saw that she had gotten me the Jasmine doll I wanted (from Aladdin). I was happy, but I immediately felt remorse! Not worth it! No peeking, kids.—Francesca Battistelli, recording artist

Yes, and I still do. I am horrible about secrets. My wife quickly learned when we first got married that she could not set out wrapped presents for me under the tree. It drives me nuts to not know what is under them. Yes, I am a grown man who tares the corners of packages to get a look at what might be inside, and yes, I shake packages to try and figure out what is inside. It’s horrible. I can’t keep a present secret either. When I go Christmas shopping as soon as I get a present, I want to give it to the person right away. It is a compulsion of mine; I can’t keep wrapped secrets. Is it worth it? Yes, and I will continue to snoop through my own house when my wife is not home to try and find the hidden presents. –Jon Dunn of Demon Hunter

I did! I actually stumbled upon the stash of presents in my parents’ closet. I don’t regret it one bit. There were so many times that my parents would see commercials for gifts they had already bought me and ask me what I thought about that for a present. If I didn’t know I was getting it, I might have said something like “No thanks” or “I don’t really like it” and could have possibly hurt their feelings, but knowing they had already bought it made it easier to be like, “Yeah, that would be a great gift.”—Drew Worsham, illusionist

It totally was NOT worth it. I was all stressed out because I had to act surprised and I was worried I wasn’t convincing enough. Then I realized that one of the gifts I knew I was supposed to be getting (since I’d already seen it) wasn’t in my pile of stuff. I started to look around for it and say things like “I think I saw one more gift I was supposed to open but I can’t find it now… has anyone else seen it?” Of course, my mom had it and pulled it aside to test me and watch me squirm since she knew I had peeked at all my gifts beforehand. It was her elaborate sting operation and I was busted. It was the least fun Christmas I’ve ever had. I don’t even shake boxes anymore, so I guess I learned my lesson. –Jason Gray, recording artist

I have definitely peeked at presents in the night before Christmas morning. My parents (Santa) used to put out our toys without wrapping them, but we would always sneak in and see them before they woke up on Christmas day. Because of that, they started individually wrapping all of our gifts. It wasn’t quite as exciting to stay up until they went to bed just to see a bunch of wrapped-up presents, so we stopped doing that.—Josh Wilson, recording artist

Once.  It was not worth it.  I felt like I stole a gift away from my parents.  The joy they would have had in watching my surprise was taken away…by me.  Plus, then I had to WAIT to play with it.  It was a little red doctor’s bag that had a toy stethoscope and the little thing they hit your knee with and about 10 other ‘doctor tools’.  It was awesome.  And i hope my parents don’t read this.  I never told them I peeked. Hopefully I was a good actor.—Aaron Shust, recording artist

Nah, I never peeked at my presents.  Weeks before Christmas, I usually just found the place where my parents hid them and took full inventory on the number of presents.—Adam McInnis, recording artist

I have never peeked at my presents before Christmas morning!  As a matter of fact, growing up, my mom always told me where the presents were hidden so I could never “accidentally” find them.  She told me if I ever looked and ruined the surprise she’d give all my gifts to my older brother.  ”How would she know?” one might ask. Well, I was afraid that if I peeked and tried to act surprised on Christmas she’d know I was faking it and well…let’s just say my mom’s a woman of her word!—Scott Taube of Philmont

Yes… and it was socks! That’s what I get I guess.–KJ-52, recording artist

An undeniable part of the Christmas tradition involves gift giving and receiving, so we asked our Un-Rappers what was one of the best presents they gave someone else to, uh, unwrap.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BEST PRESENTS YOU’VE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE?

Wow.  What makes a present good?  I’d like to think thoughtfulness, not necessarily expense.  My parents had an old antique TV tray they wanted me to paint something (anything!) on.  After much thought, I chose to paint our old Pennsylvania home where my brother and I grew up and that my parents owned for 27 years.  We had millions of great memories there before they sold it to move south.  I made a snow covered, night scene, and their tears upon opening it made the days it took to finish worth every second. —Aaron Shust, recording artist (Whispered and Shouted)

I crocheted my Nana and Papa blankets this year.  I think that is a pretty good handmade gift.——Joy Whitlock, recording artist (God and a Girl)

When I was 10, I didn’t have any money so I gave my mom a booklet that I made filled with coupons that she could redeem throughout the year like “One Free Car Wash,” “Clean My Room Without Being Told Twice,” “ Free Hugs and Kisses All Day.”  You know, that kind of stuff. Looking back, it was pretty cheesy but it meant a lot to my mom, and I’m pretty proud of my 10-year-old creativity!–Drew Worsham, illusionist

Two years ago I gave a friend a handwritten cookbook when he moved out on his own with easy-to-follow instructions!——Joel Bruyere of Thousand Foot Krutch (“Jingle Bell Rock” on X Christmas Complilation [Tooth & Nail],The Flame In All Of Us)

I think the best gift I’ve ever given was more of a prank; I told my mother I wouldn’t be home for Christmas and she was really sad about that.  But I actually bought a ticket home and walked into her kitchen when she was cooking dinner one night –the look on her face and the fact that she pointed a knife in my direction because she didn’t know who was in the house–was priceless!—Adam McInnis, recording artist (Wherever You Are)

A Coach purse for my wife. Those things are like get out of jail free cards.–KJ-52, recording artist (“It’s Christmastime” on X Christmas Complilation [Tooth & Nail], The Yearbook)

It felt really good to get my mom something really nice one year.  I saved up and got her a bracelet from Tiffany’s.  This year, my wife and I are going to get livestock in all our nieces’ and nephews’ names through Gospel For Asia.  We hope villages throughout Asia are blessed.—Joey Witham, recording artist (Great Homesickness)


It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!—The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

Go pick yourself up some free Christmas music from Aaron Shust and Chris Sligh at
http://aaronshust.blogspot.com/