As the plane landed a smile was forming on my face. I was back in Guatemala for the 3rd time. With only 2 years of college Spanish I was ready to face the cultural barriers that would lye ahead. In Guatemala no one cared what clothes I wore or music I listened to. No one cared what kind of car I drove or if I went to a certain school. I was a gringo who had come to their country to learn and be a part of their culture. On the first part of 2 week trip I spent most the time in Amberes. Amberes is a small agricultural town that exists in the mountains an hour and half from Guatemala city.

The people in Amberes and most of Guatemala are poor; well below American standards. You often will see little kids working and selling fruit or helping out with the family store. The families often live together in small houses made up of 2 or 3 rooms with most of the house outside. Often I think of a house without carpet and drywall. The walls are often metal or concrete with no carpet on the floors. It barely feels like your inside. The sounds of the night creep through like your sleeping in a tent and the appearance of spider is too common.

Not a single family takes these houses for granted. They may not have much but they would be the first to offer you a seat at the dinner table or bag of fruit from their trees. Their love overflows like I imagine the love of Christ overflowed in the early church.

I was in town for the first part of my 2 week trip to be part of the Dia de la cruz weekend. Dia de la cruz is the day of the cross and an important holiday in Guatemala. On the day of the cross Danny Cassler (national product lead singer) and I carried a wooden cross 3 miles in a parade through outskirts of Santa Rosa Cruz. The sight of the cross brings a smile to these peoples faces. I noticed that the elderly had a special reverence to the cross. They waved and smiled with the enthusiasm of a kid at a candy store. These parades are no short event either. They tend to last 2-3 hours with a lot of stops and waving. As these people see the face or a white person they wonder immediately why your in Guatemala. They hope you are they to love and appreciate their culture.

The country of Guatemala is like a second home for me. The people remember me from the year before. They are excited to see me again and every day I am there. They invite me to their homes and are patient and my Spanish is not the best with them.

Besides being a part of Dia de la Cruz weekend Enoch Magazine had the chance to film a documentary about the Guatemala way of life. We hiked 6 hours into the jungles of Guatemala where the people live with no electricity and no water. There lifestlye is so different from the one I am used to. Look for these videos to come out in the next few months.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4

A small kitten met me in my driveway yesterday morning, purring and rubbing its head against my leg, tiny hipbones protruding from its back. I picked it up gently and held it to my chest, rubbing its ears. His belly was tight, his fur matted and dirty, covered in fleas. My husband stood on the porch, locking the side door, shaking his head. “We’re not keeping that,” he said quietly over his shoulder. I set it down and climbed in the car. As we pulled away it watched us, meowing softly.

I think about wild dogs, about Francis of Assisi, about lady poverty, his bride. St. Francis of Assisi had a pack of dogs that lived with him and the Catholic Church said that his bride (what he was married to in life), was poverty. He went to lonely places, asking God for enlightenment, nursed lepers and begged at the church doors on behalf of the poor. I think about the birds, the legend that all went to his voice and not one flew away, that he tamed a wolf; that at his death he thanked his donkey for carrying him and helping him throughout his life, and the donkey wept in return. And I think about Nicholas of Myra, his Turkish gold divided in three, tossed through the window of a house where a father too poor to pay the dowry for his daughters slept. He began at the height of persecution, fought against Arius and pagans; gave away his inheritance in secret.

What makes you a saint - to do what you think is right in your heart, to do what you think God is telling you? I want to live right, to give away what I have, to speak truth, to seek justice and mercy, to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. I don’t want to be canonized or have a day attributed to me. I just want to take care of the needy. I want to be able to take care of the needy. I need time. I need money. I need to stop making excuses.

I think about the children of the Recife, Brazil flabella – skinny, untamed hair, dirty faces – running up the street to meet us, selling flavored gum, pulling on our hands, begging for money. I think about the Mexican highway, the dirt and sand flying behind our car swirling around the children as they picked up aluminum cans, waving as we passed. I think about the African children sleeping in doorways, their faces covered in flies, bellies protruding with hunger. I think about my purpose, that I can’t get my heart to understand that it isn’t all or nothing. I don’t have to trade. I don’t have to have one or the other. I can be whole and give all I have. I can keep my life and still give it.

I think about the animal shelter, the sound of a hundred animals calling out in fear, in hope. I think about their faces, their sad eyes. Is life in a cage better than a life alone? I think about the dog I watched running on the street, darting between cars; about the bird I left to die on the sidewalk, its wing broken, one of its legs missing. I could have done something for that dog. I could have done something for that bird. These animals, these children are the reason I was put on this earth - to be a mother to the motherless.

The kitten is waiting on the porch when we get home. My husband shoots me a look as I fill a bowl with water, fill another with food. I sit outside as the kitten eats eagerly, purring and shaking. I watch the birds on the power lines; watch my dog fall asleep at my feet. I think when the Lord gives us a burden, he starts us with something we can handle before he gives us the task we were born to do. All the animal shelters are full and I cannot bear to let this tiny, needy thing suffer on my porch, starving for food and starving for love. I know I will be in Africa soon. Until then, my burden is a small kitten sleeping soundly on my lap, hoping I’ll bring it its next meal.

After learning so much about the state of the world, I started to feel heavier. My heart was heavy, my mind was heavy. Every day there was another story about the cost of the war, about the cost of healthcare, the economy, and bailout of the banks, the auto industry, the unemployment rate and the housing crisis. The word recession became a whisper, then in weeks a full-blown discussion. Stock prices fell to record lows. Then natural disasters started to happen – floods in South Dakota, ice storms in the Northeast, brush fires in California. I started to think maybe we’re seeing the beginning of the end.

I became afraid of losing my job, losing my already depleted 401K, losing my home. I thought about selling some of our stuff to increase our savings, thought about what items in our budget we could scrap, if we could sell a car. I thought about getting a second job and vowed to not buy anything new, save our groceries which I bought on sale. I was already planning on growing a mini garden this summer, but started to think about buying a couple of chickens for eggs. This is what fear does to you – makes you think ridiculous things, makes you do ridiculous things.

A few years ago my husband and I bought a home in a working-class neighborhood that was on the verge of being “transitional”. Neighborhoods around us had already been “flipped” and young couples and yuppies had remodeled every home on their blocks. We liked the idea of buying in a neighborhood that wasn’t trendy yet – we could afford our home, fix it up and in a couple years when the gentrification moved our direction we could appreciate the rising values of the neighborhood.

But with an almost transitional neighborhood comes crime. Our home was broken into and we were robbed - twice in two weeks. We lost about eight thousand dollars worth of jewelry, electronics and house wares, as well as our sense of safety. After the first time it happened, I was afraid, but the feeling subsided as days went by. The second time it happened I lived in fear for months, unable to leave my home at night. What if the person came back a third time? What if we were home when it happened? What if they tried to hurt us? What if? What if? What if?

If there is anything I learned from being robbed it’s that living a life in fear is no life at all. I have to have hope and my hope is not, and cannot be, in the things of this world. It changes too much, things go sour quickly, and people are not always truthful or do the right thing.

I know the picture I am painting is incredibly bleak, but there is another side to this story. For every little bit of bad, there is always good and more of it. For every eight people that are unemployed, there are ninety-two that still have their jobs. For every one foreclosure, there are five hundred plus homes that are still in good standing. For every bank that has failed there are five more going strong. For every evil done, there is a happy ending as well. The man who broke into our home eventually turned himself in, confessing to multiple crimes, including the ones done against us. It just goes to show that the Lord can use anything for His glory.

I know that so many people are living in fear right now – worrying about their jobs, their family, their homes, and their future. I know that with the daily headlines you can’t help but wonder if there is any reason to hope. Christ says in the book of John, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness.” He also said, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Even though I still feel scared and worried at times, my hope is in the Lord. It’s in his goodness, his grace and the simple fact that this world is temporary. All that was stolen from us were just things and I can’t take them with me. It’s not easy to rise above fear or to take stock in what really matters. Choosing God’s love and hope over feeling scared is a daily struggle.

Believing in God does not exempt us from bad things happening to us. It does not exempt us from feeling fear. Instead it fills our hearts and minds with light in order to become like Him. Being like Him is living in perfect love, and perfect love casts out all fear. His promise is that what the world gives us and what he gives us are not the same – the world gives us fear, but God gives us love and light and that gives me hope.

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Carlos Salazer, the lead singer of Before There Was Rosalyn, and the author of the self published book Sage Willow.

Enoch Magazine ) first off bro, thanks for spending time with me. its great to talk with you. Can you tell me a bit about who God is to you and what he has brought you through?

Carlos Salazer : no problem brother, it’s a pleasure. I remember being very young and my mother teaching me to pray and I always knew there was something or someone out there who was bigger than everything else, and as I was growing up there was always that voice calling me to my God, and I fell completely in love with Christ through his words in the Gospels, and since then, (and even before then) He has been at work within me to become a better person and has provided strength when I had none, which happens quite well. I went through many things as a kid that I felt would be the end of me, but that it’s those things that now allow me to minister to kids suffering through the same ordeals with a kind of honesty and hope that can’t possibly be faked. I just pray the Lord leads, and I do the best to follow.

Enoch Magazine ) thats pretty cool man. So, a lot of people clame to know the truth. Especially in terms of God and interpretaion of the Bible. How do you stay centered and level headed in the midst of so many voices around you?

Carlos Salazer :I look to Christ. So many people claim to have a hold on things, and even in the church there is so much division between brothers and sisters that only helps to widen the gap between any potential believer and their faith, that it really becomes a sad thing. At the end of the day, I rely on the words of Christ himself to guide me home. Someone once said “a little theology leads you away from God, and a lot more leads you right back.” I think it’s human nature to want answers and I believe my God encourages to reason with Him and one another, but there comes a point when it seems like some Christians are so bent on simply proving they’re right about some particular thing that it overshadows the work they are supposed to be doing, and it’s easy to fall into that mindset, and I constantly ask the Lord to keep me in check when it comes to that. I also have some amazing friends like the folks here in Houston at Anchor Church who are always there for encouragement and support and my dear friend Tucker actually who is one of the best at knowing when the Lord is trying to tell me something, and of course the dudes in the band serve that purpose too. We just concentrate on the sense of unity and love, which are the core of our faith, and that is something that no matter who you are, and what you might believe, can be very hard to argue with.

Enoch Magazine ) yeah man, thats awesome. I can agree with that. Being in a band, do you or your mates ever encounter “persecution” among other so called believers?

Carlos Salazer : I think more than anything we encounter difference of opinion. There’s a lot of people of who don’t believe that Christ is in this kind of scene and we are out there trying to show them that He very well is. This is a new generation who is seeking God in a much diferent way than their parents an grandparents, and even their pastors are used to. Some kids don’t even realize they’re searching for God until they are exposed to some kind of ministry, and that’s what we want to be. Not everyone agrees with this type of outreach, but we know the Lord has always been one to go where not many will, and we want to be the vessels He uses. I think one of the more saddening and heartbreaking things we have witnessed has been other bands who are so bold in their writing and stage presence when it comes to the Lord, but don’t actually take the time to say anything to the kids who so desperately want some kind of interaction or just an exchange of words. I think that’s so vital and important to any outreach, and we strive to keep that alive with the friends that we meet.

Enoch Magazine ) yeah, things have changed a bit. Do you have any peers that you look up to?

Carlos Salazer : Most definitely. I think my good friend Brandt Russo is one of the most inspirational people I know. I really admire him and his ministry. As fas as musicians in the ministry, the boys and lady in Flyleaf have had a huge influence on me over the course of the last six years. Since the day we met, they’re humility and boldness for the Lord has always struck a cord in me and inspired me to long for the same. And of course in the heavier scene, Josh Scogin and Dallas Taylor are to be named as my two biggest inspirations when it came to bringing a positive message as the frontman of a band. Those guys have always stood out to me because they aren’t afraid to step out of the box and be bold for what they believe in, and I could only hope to one day have someone say the same of me. In the scene right now, I think there’s a lot of inspiration and boldness for the Lord that is still continuing to rise, led by such great dudes as Sleeping Giant and For Today.

Enoch Magazine ) back to our previous topic.. you know man I’ve seen a lot of bands that just get up on stage and mention something about God, the crowds go crazy. it seems like some bands/people just want to get a reaction from some Christians. What are your thoughts on this? (oh yeah dude, the people in flyleaf are pretty rad!)

Carlos Salazer : Well I think that what a man believes, that’s what he is, and you can’t really separate that from your actions. I’d like to think that bands mean well when they mention the Lord on stage, but so often it seems like that’s as far as it goes, and its a sad thing in my opinion. I see a lot of bands who start off with such a thirst and hunger for the word and the desire to spread the gospel, but it seems they reach a point when their career status forces them to be more politically correct and their ministry kind of sits on the back burner. I also hear a lot of bands (who are believers) trying to make the distinction between being labeled as a “Christian” band a “band full of Christians” and it saddens me to see that completely, because I think it’s garbage to make excuses for something you claim to believe in so passionately. I’m reminded of a great friend of mine, Tony Hart who owns the 7 venue in Douglasville, Georgia, who once said to me ” when I walk down the street, I want people to say, there goes a man who loves God.” We were kind of on the same subject and we agree that being labeled a Christian, whether in a music scene that will one day fade away, or in daily life, or any aspect of existence for that matter, is in no way offensive nor can it be seen as any kind of hinderance to anyone who craves for that relationship with Christ. I do think that as a Christian band, you’re held to a higher standard in the sense that people often search for a way to discredit you, but it comes with the territory. The Lord said ” to whom much is given, much will be required of,” but its certainly worth it, because the Lord’s yoke is light.

Enoch Magazine ) Being that your an author like myself, do you have any plans for a second book? and what is the response been to your current book?

Carlos Salazer : Oh most definitely. I have ideas that have been haunting me day and night for years haha. As a matter of fact, I didn’t plan on Sagewillow being my first published work. I have another novel that was supposed to be done before that and I always planned to pursue a publishing deal with it, but when it came talk to the publishing agent, I went ahead and sent Sagewillow instead because I felt it was time to tell that story. It held so much emotion with me and resonated such a personal and vibrant cord with me, that I just thought the timing was right and I wanted to share it with the world. The reaction from Sagewillow has been overwhelmingly positive by its readers and it has really warmed my heart to hear so many great things about a work I hold so close to my heart. It hasn’t yet reached the wide market I hope for it since it’s self published, but I’m hoping to find the right literary agent to help me pursue that endeavor. I most definitely plan on writing more, and like I said, I have manuscripts that need finishing and the road is sometimes the perfect place to do that.

Enoch Magazine ) yeah man, the industry is changing a lot and its hard to find anyone to give you the time of day. Carlos is was awesome talking to you, do you have any last things you’d like to add?

Carlos Salazer : I would just like to thank you for your time and its been fun. And to anyone reading, I would just like to encourage you to search for the truth, and if at the end of the day our beliefs differ, I still hope that we can end the night with a hug and maybe a bear claw, because those things are awesome.
And If you ever need anyone to talk to about anything, feel free to get in touch with me. I love making new friends.

Find him at: http://www.myspace.com/solrac2

Growing up my Dad listened to Oldies and my Mom listened to Country Music. It was an ongoing battle for which one I hated more. Then one summer I started liking country music. This was weird because I don’t know very many punk rock kids who like country or would admit to liking country. Being an avid MXPX fan for the past 14 years, excitement and curiosity came over of me as I learned that Mike Herrera, the singer and bass player of MXPX, was releasing a country album. I had no idea what to expect.

The album is self titled Tumbledown. With a quick listen, the songs seem to have a reoccurring theme of lonely nights and lots of drinking.
Maybe these lyrics were inspired from personal experiences? After all, Mike has spent most of his younger years on the road. In track 7, “Came here to fight,” the meaning of Tumbledown can be derived with the idea that “life gets ya down…to make it through you gotta drink and fight… then when it seems you’re out of gas you get back up.” Its important to note that Mike plays guitar on this album This album was also produced and recorded at Mike’s own Monkey Trench Studios, where he also did On the Cover 2. The first track “Lets drink” is the anthem for the record. Every time I hear it I feel like it can only be enjoyed with a cold beer in hand. My favorite lyrics are in track 10 when Mike sings “My Daddy was a pistol and I’m just a son of a Gun”. When the album spun its last track I was left with an urgency to head to the nearest country bar.

Through the years, Mike has been a part of many side projects and its easy to see how this could become your favorite. If you a fan of Johnny Cash, Dick Dale or Strays Cats, then add this cd to your collection.

By the end of the trip, we had met with almost everyone you could think of: Housing Coordinators, Substance Abuse Councilors, Street “Celebrities,” Homeless people, Drug Dealers, CEO’s, Pastors and Street Ministers. We learned that the first real need for Skid Row is to assist those who are already down there working everyday to make a difference in people’s lives. Most of them are under funded. Nevertheless, they have dedicated their lives to assisting the poor and the addicted, so they know what works and what doesn’t.

Meeting Patrick and his crew was a particularly interesting experience. As we’ve always said, our plan for Skid Row was to have “no plan.” We wanted to see how God would lead us once we set foot on the streets. But as we got out of the car and stood on the streets all kinds of stuff happened: threats to harm us, burn our car, and a woman crying and asking for new pants cause she had just urinated on herself.

We left soon after that, overwhelmed with emotion and a little fear. But later that night we regrouped, prayed, and Uli searched youtube for anyone that was connected to Skid Row. That’s how we found Patrick.

Uli found his website (www.jonahproject.org), called him up and told him our situation. He agreed to meet us the very next day and take us into Skid Row. This video shows the time we spent with Patrick throughout the week and specifically the very day we met.

*Editors Note*
It’s important to note that not only was Patrick the guy that brought us in to Skid Row, but he also brought us in WITH the camera. It was his confidence and familiarity with San Julian St. that allowed us to openly film on the streets, despite those early threats of violence.

“Antennas Up,” as heard on their new self-titled album, may be one of the most unique, talented, and fun bands to hail from the Kansas City area in a long time. And it’s about time.

It’s almost hard to believe now, but there was an era when Kansas had a killer local music scene. Think back to the nineties. Everyone should know who “The Get Up Kids” are, right? Anybody remember “Ultimate Fake Book?” And even though “The Urge” was from Saint Louis, Kansans loved the group as one of their own.

I hate to sound like a cranky old man, but times have changed since then. Much of the Midwest music scene is composed of uninspired rehashes of emo and hardcore bands whose styles could be considered new and exciting ten years ago, but are in the process of being phased out. Many talented musicians in the Kansas City area have been imitating their favorite scenester bands for far too long, without trying to bring anything different to the table.

Not so with “Antennas Up.” These guys have delivered a 33-minute album of a lively, guitar-driven modern funk that starts and finishes strong, albeit with a mid-point hiccup. The opening track, “Break Me Down,” starts out fast and (playfully) furious, and keeps the speed up through the first four or five tracks.

The pacing is great. The three-minute-something average for each track suits the songs well, and tunes like “Don’t Wait Up” are interspersed with little breakdowns that let listeners know that “Antennas Up” can play their instruments. These extended riffs never go on for too long, so casual listeners won’t get bored with extended musical sections.

But something happens over the course of middle tracks “I’m a Spaceship,” “5p4c35h1p,” and “On the Line.” Time goes by slower, and not for the better. None of the tracks are particularly sluggish on their own, but the phrase “I’m a Spaceship” is repeated over, and over, and over again on the first two of the above-mentioned songs. Then, the final phrase, and chord progression, of “5p4c35h1p” become part of the chorus for “On the Line.” This all creates a feeling of an overlong eight-minute track on an otherwise efficiently flowing album.

“Antennas Up” recovers nicely by the next track, and the group wisely finishes things out by noticeably changing things up on the last two tracks. The verses of “She’s Evil” are the only on the album to contain straightforward, punk drumming, with a chorus change-up. Then comes the closer, “PSA,” with some Middle Eastern/South Asian sounding riffs thrown in the mix.

All in all, “Antennas Up” proves a welcome addition to the Midwest musical landscape, and gives hope that the Kansas City music scene could once again aspire to greatness.

Check them out on Myspace

“For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead” (John 20:9).

After three-and-a-half years of walking with Jesus, hearing His claims, observing His power and attesting to His deity, the disciples still did not understand that He must rise from the dead. They had heard all the right information, but it had gone in one ear and out the other. So it should come as no surprise when we discover the disciples completely shut in together, doors locked and boarded, ready for Hurricane Katrina. John explained:

“In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).

Their focus had become the here and now. Their perspective was limited. Never mind the fact that Jesus had explained multiple times that this would happen. Never mind the fact that they had seen dead men rise. Never mind the fact that the disciples always saw a consistency in what Jesus claimed and in what they observed. Yet, none of this made any difference in the fallout shelter. Their focus was limited. They couldn’t see past their own reality. All they knew was that this Jesus whom they followed for three-and-a-half years was now dead—really dead. After all, John had observed the whole ordeal at the foot of the cross. And now that Jesus was gone, fear surfaced—fear of the Jews—the guys that Jesus constantly ticked off. What hope could be found in such tragedy? What courage could be found in the face of such fear? What would it take to bring the disciples to their senses?

The disciples needed a change of perspective. They needed something to believe in. They needed the manifest presence of Jesus to eradicate their fear. And that’s what they got.

From Fear to Boldness in 3.5 Seconds

“Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19b-20).

I love that phrase, “Then Jesus came.” His coming changed everything. Through one little turn of events, the disciples were radically transformed from a cowardly, cuddled-in-a-tub bunch of spring pansies, to a dynamic, fearless force that awakened the known world to the power of the life-changing message of Jesus. These eleven men became fearless mouthpieces for the Gospel and carried the message of the cross from continent to continent. They were now witnesses to the resurrection—the seventh sign—the culmination of Jesus’ work on earth—and their fear was at once eliminated.

The fear that had once paralyzed them was now driven out by His very presence. Don’t believe me? Look what happened a few months later in the book of Acts. Peter and John endured imprisonment and a ruthless beating for preaching the message of Jesus. Following the brutal attack, the men were threatened to speak no longer in the name of Jesus. Their backbone became obvious as they responded,

“Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19b-20).

No longer do we find Jesus’ disciples boarded up in a dark room stocked with batteries, Spam and bottled water. The risen Christ dispelled the fear that had once consumed them. The risen Christ radically changed their perspective. And their actions that followed are perhaps the greatest argument for the resurrection of Christ.

Their perspective had changed. They had seen the risen Christ. Cowering in a corner, the disciples experienced the actual presence of Jesus, and it changed the way they perceived everything. Everything that Jesus had taught them now came into crystal clear focus. And now they were willing to die for Him. More than that, they were willing to live for Him. They were willing to live every moment of the rest of their lives for Him as they took the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the planet. The fear that had once limited their perspective and led to a mistrust of all that Jesus had claimed, was at once dispelled by His presence.

As a boy, I followed my dad on numerous adventures. None that were actually dangerous, but I had watched enough movies to magnify what little danger that did exist into full-blown fear. Fear that was needless and pointless. Fear induced by my limited perspective. Always my biggest enemy. Always my biggest challenge. But on each and every adventure, Dad always came through. He always led me home. He always dispelled fear by his presence.

So, why should we continue to allow our limited perspective to paralyze us into fearful living? Why do we live as if the presence of Jesus is beyond our reach, reserved for the Billy Grahams of the world? Why are we content to live this way? If the risen Christ has appeared to you, if the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in
your heart, don’t continue to live in fear as if He hasn’t. His presence is real. His presence can and should be experienced everyday of our lives. He is faithful. He never disappoints. He always comes through. He’s alive and well. He is the risen Savior. Allow the permeating presence of Jesus to dispel the fear that so easily discourages, sets back and paralyzes.

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment” (1 John 4:18).

After being unemployed for a year and a half, and spending my life savings on an online ministry magazine, I finally received an album that made it all worth it. Mercury/Militia Records sent Enoch Magazine a self titled debut album by a band called The Urgency. This record is the kind that stands out for the month, the year and maybe much longer.

I was moving across country when I first heard this album. I had rented a 14 foot Penske truck, and Nate had agreed to split the driving from Charlotte NC, to Portland OR. Somewhere in Nebraska at 2 am, Nate put in the Cd. The sound immediately gave me visions of a mad man dressed in a St. Pepper’s coat wringing the life out of a microphone. As the song expanded, this mad man walked from table to table in a pizza parlor, kicking over bottles and wrecking everything. For some reason, this music video image came alive to me. Perhaps the long St. Pepper coat represented “power” and “control,” while the destruction of the pizza place meant “fun” and “carefree.”

I’m not a music snob or a qualified Cd reviewer, but I know what’s awesome. And when I walk into a circus, I know how to have a good time…so listen up: This amazing new band, The Urgency, is like no other. Even though everyone will try to compare them to other bands, it should be noted that The Urgency has done what other bands haven’t. They have taken pieces from every notable band in the last five years, and successfully merged it with the classic sounds of the 80’s. (Please Note: not “the 80’s,” but the CLASSIC SOUNDS of the 80’s…as in melodies and creativity). I know every myspacer is trying the synthesizer- beat game with Ray-Ban sunglasses on, but unlike those kids, The Urgency gets it. Instead of copying other bands and genres, they built the perfect summation of everything that’s hot in the last 20 years. Many will compare the singer, Tyler, to Sting and The Police, and they should. He does sound like Sting; but his sound is classic and unique, so the Sting comparison hits on different levels. But if it were up to me, I’d say The Urgency is a mixture of The Police, Anberlin and Iron Maiden…with a hint of Boston and Dragon Force.

PS: Tyler or anyone else in the band who reads this…we’re gunning for you with cameras in hand. So, hopefully we can hook up in a city and do an interview with you guys. Until then, I hope all your wildest dreams come true.

I’m sure all of us have seen countless religious stickers too, which is not a bad thing. I never really think too much about them, but I started to see one bumper sticker more than others it seemed lately. I started seeing the “COEXIST” one everywhere. It’s normally blue, and has a bunch of religious symbols that resemble the letters that spell out “coexist”. Well I started thinking about it, and at first I was like, “that’s not possible: I believe that Jesus is the way to heaven.” So what is this guy with the bumper sticker thinking? Maybe he is just playing the odds and putting bets on everything hoping to catch a piece of something. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. So over the next couple weeks, I began paying attention to Christians who would react to this sticker, complaining about how wrong it was.

I heard people saying, “How dare they even think to put the cross next to any other symbol!” and “Guys, we should be calling our pastors about this.” Instead of agreeing with them, I began to ask a few why they were so mad. Every response was some variation of, “other religions are wrong, so why should we have to coexist with them?” They were missing the point of it all, and it drove me crazy. They missed everything about loving one another as yourself, kindness, and understanding. I’m not saying every religion is right, but what I am saying is that if you ever want the opportunity to share with someone the love of Jesus, you must be first be open to hear what they believe in and what matters to them. Look at the life of Paul in the New Testament; he knew exactly what all the other religions were doing in that time, and what they believed. It’s not about who is right, and who is wrong. It’s about showing people love and respect for what they believe in and what they are passionate about. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with them, just respect them.

I decided to look up the meaning of “COEXIST” and what it means for owners of the ever-popular decal… and I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. One explanation stated “COEXIST is a way to demonstrate your support of religious freedom, tolerance and understanding.” Now I don’t think that’s very evil, it actually sounds like something I would love to have for what I believe. Another was “to encourage others in a greater religious understanding of other’s distinctive faiths, beliefs and practices. To promote friendship, goodwill and mutual trust among them.” Again, I am not seeing anything too scary evil or making me want to call my pastor and get him on the lookout for these crazy people.

If Christians believe in love, then we have to love everyone, even those who believe in different gods. Because honestly, why would anyone want to hear about our God and beliefs, if we don’t even care enough to care about theirs?

On “The Hazards of Love,” Portland’s The Decemberists deliver a new collection of the folk tale stories set to music that fans of the band have come to expect. And this time, they have some new tricks.

The songs on “The Hazards of Love” all tell one long story. While the acoustic folksy sound that The Decemberists are most recognized for dominates the album, “Hazards” also includes some very heavy, distorted, arguably metal riffs from time to time. The album feels more like a rock opera than, say, “The Crane Wife,” The Decemberists’ last full-length acoustic folk release.

The heavy element may distress fans that don’t like it when their bands try something new, but its inclusion is, in my humble opinion, justified.

“The Hazards of Love” really pushes previous Decemberists experiments a little further. “The Crane Wife” included two somewhat multi-part stories via tracks “The Crane Wife 1& 2,” “The Crane Wife 3,” and “The Island.” With an hour-long album completely dedicated to just one plot on “Hazards,” the band can spend entire songs on single characters.

Most characters are “played” by vocalist Colin Meloy, while female vocalists Becky Stark and Shara Worden guest star as the story’s female protagonist, Margaret, and an evil queen. The heavy musical elements are useful for listeners who want to keep the characters straight without sitting down and reading all the lyrics. A metal guitar riff accompanies the queen’s spoken parts. Another villainous character, “The Rake,” tells the story about how he murdered his children through Meloy’s vocals set to a head-banging beat.

The story can best be described as bizarre. Lyrical wordings are unusual as well. Consider “Don’t you lift a finger. Don’t you snap and jaw. Limber limbs akimbo rest until rubbing raw.” Or “Father I’m not feeling well, the flowers me you fed tasted spoiled for suddenly I find that I am dead.” And of course, “The prettiest whistles won’t wrestle the thistles undone.”

The lines collectively weave a tale about a girl name Margaret who aids an injured fawn, which then morphs into a human man. They fall in love, get naked, and Margaret gets pregnant. The evil queen is none too happy about this. The fawn man owes her his life. “This is how I’m repaid!” The queen shrieks. So she helps the Rake kidnap and imprison Margaret. Will there be a happy ending for poor Margaret and her fawn lover? You will just have to listen to “The Hazards of Love” for yourself and find out.

As well you should. While the lyrics and plot seem strange compared to just about anything else, they are standard Decemberists fare. The guest vocals are incredibly beautiful, and Meloy’s performance is as strong as ever. The instrumentation is rich, textured, and varied. When it’s all put together, these guys sure know how to tell a good story.

With bands that have been around for a long time one never knows what to expect with a new record. With a new label (Epitaph Records) and a new record New Found Glory are back better than ever. When I first received a copy of the new record titled, Not Without a Fight, I was in love with the artwork. With a war motif and a fight theme throughout the lyric book it gave me a sense that New Found Glory was ready to take me on in their own UFC fight.

The opening track , Right Where we Left Off, is so powerful you can’t wait to hear the rest of the cd. It’s a great name for an opening track. I will note that Jordan’s vocals are sounding better every record. The whininess that we came so familiar with on their first few records has been thrown out the window and a new powerful vocal presence dominates this album. Listen to Your Friends, track 3, tells a story of waking up in an emergency room not realizing where you are or what happened exactly. My favorite track is Truck Stop Blues, track 5. I can relate to the lyrics talking about long drives and telephone calls. Anyone that’s ever spent some time on the road will appreciate these lyrics. Not to mention its one of the faster tracks on the album. The production on this album gives every instrument a chance to breathe. A little known fact is that Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 helped produce it. Overall I chalk this album as the best punk rock record of 2009!! If your love their old stuff than this is the album for you!!

After making changes to their line-up, Hopeless Records up-and-comers Anarbor are back for round two. Their latest offering is ‘Free Your Mind’, a 7-song EP, showcasing the new Anarbor sound, after parting ways with their female bassist. I’m not sure if this is going to make me see them differently as a band, as I found the inclusion of a girl in the old Anarbor line-up as possibly the most awesome thing a band could have, as I expressed in my last review. But these boys, who are close to leaving their teen years, as guitarist Adam turns twenty this week, seem to keep me happy nonetheless.

I heard a rough copy of their track ‘Where The Wild Things Are (Monsters)’ on a Hopeless Records summer sampler, and comparing that to the polished version on the EP, the loss of the female vocals in the choruses seems to make the track lose some of it’s harmonies, but still manages to keep my head bopping.

‘The Brightest Green’ already has flavor, with a video for the song featured on the Anarbor MySpace. It’s one of those songs that is so catchy that you feel like you’ve heard it somewhere before.

As a young band, breaking onto the ‘scene’, I suppose you could call it, Anarbor are easily making a name for themselves, I’ve already seen photos of people in alternative clubs in Australia showing off the new EP and everyone I’ve shown their music to has liked it. I’m just hoping that the commercial radios won’t pick up to much on this band and play them to death. I’m not ready to hate them yet.

Go and grab a copy of ‘Free Your Mind’, fresh off the press from Hopeless Records. Oh, and happy birthday Adam, you’re now an adult playing in a band of teenagers.

Yesterday my Dad went out to check the mail. When he got back inside. He walked into my room and said with enthusiasm “Decyfer Down!” Yes, I was sent a pre-release copy of the new Decyfer Down album, Crash. It wasn’t a full packaged release but I was still pumped as ever. The first thing I want to note is the band has has been forced to fight through some changes. Original front man Caleb Oliver had to leave the band due to personal reasons, which knocked new front man TJ Harris in his place. Other reviews of the album suggested that the band went in a completely different direction. Allow me to elaborate on what I think they mean by that.

The band is still heavy and hard rocking, but with TJ Harris one could get a sense of Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge or Chris Cornell from Audio Slave and Sound Garden; Which is cool. However there are a few songs on the record that I think needed to be left alone, for example the song crash. Its a great crowd pleasing song, but that was a song that has Caleb Oliver’s vocal tone all over it, and it needed to stay that way. I also think songs like Ride With Me are mere fillers for a record because if the simple fact that so many bands have songs like this. The sound has just been overdone.

What I love about this record is all the behind the scenes work. The band worked with John Cooper from Skillet, and I think his wife Corey Cooper even appears on a song. (I could be wrong, but very nice anyway guys) And they even worked with producer Paul Ebserold, who has worked with huge acts such as: 3 doors down, Saliva and Sister Hazel. This album is a huge stretch and it might take a few listens for fans to get used to the new sound. I feel that old and new fans will be singing along again with this band very quickly.

God has proven His words true in the daily operation of His ministry on Skid Row. I don’t think a day has passed when someone hasn’t approached us asking “What must I do to be saved?” As we abide in Christ, plant seeds, water, and rest in Him, He brings in the harvest. Everyday precious souls are coming to us ready to repent and give their lives to Jesus. Just today, before we could even get the front door rolled up, someone came running up in tears wanting to repent and give their life to Jesus.

A few weeks back a gang member freshly released from jail came into the church and asked for the pastor. He said “I just got out of jail 10 minutes ago and am part of the largest street gang in L.A. I have determined not to go back to my prior lifestyle and am ready to repent and give my life to Christ. Will you pray with me?” After making sure he understood what repentance and giving his life to Jesus meant, we prayed. It turned out he has four brothers, who along with their father are all pastors and had been praying for him, their lost brother and son. Yes, “the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!”

I pray that we will all be encouraged by the referenced Scriptures and turn our focus 100% to Jesus Christ and abiding in Him. Then, just be about the Father’s business - planting and watering, and watch God bring in the harvest! I am happy to announce that we have had the blessed experience of witnessing many souls ushered into the Kingdom of God. And I am just as happy to say that it has had nothing to do with us! All the glory goes to God. What a wonderful pleasure it has been to seek after the face of Christ and abide in Him and watch God produce the fruit!

With the Jonah Project only opened a little over a month, we were able to baptize seven recently. We performed our baptisms in the back of a pick up truck in a horse trough, right in the street. This is a powerful expression of what God is doing in people’s lives on the streets of Skid Row. Please join us in rejoicing as God is changing lives and setting people free! Also, please watch the following heart touching video of Dennis. Dennis is a 74 year old man who had been addicted to crack for over 20 years and was miraculously set free by the power of Jesus Christ! Dennis was one of the seven people baptized on Skid Row

As the Managing Editor of a Magazine I get a lot of cds in the Mail. Many times these cds become part of the ever so terrible Roadside Records. A little while I received Fireworks Debut Album - All I Have is my Own Confusion , on Triple Crown Records, in the mail.Ii am always excited for releases on Triple Crown Records because they seem to be a label that is consistent with quality music.

A first listen tells me this album was produced and mixed with care. With a quick look at the lyric book I realize that its produced by Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory. As a die hard New Found Glory Fan, no wonder these guys rock. The record starts off with the energetic punk rock song Geography,Vonnegut And Me. The song instantly leaves you wondering what will come next. The gang vocals on track 3 leave you wanting to see their live performance. On the song I Support Same Sex Marriage the beginning guitar line draws your ear to a refreshing sound of movement with a chorus that gets you nodding your head.A grin encompasses my face as the album plays on.

I most note the artwork can give you a quick chuckle. Throughout the lyric book there are pictures of a man wearing a wolf mask in different locations. It makes me want to try that wolf mask on. My favorite part of the artwork is behind the cd in the jewel case there is a small quote under each song title that sums up the song of the experience relating to the song. The quote under I support same sex marriage says this “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. This makes me wonder exactly where the influence from that line came from. As a Christians I completely can agree with him that there are some crazy Christians who don’t practice what Christ actually preached. Overall if you love Pop Punk then give this album a chance!!!

Nate Smith was the original guy we had planned to interview the band, but he had a last minute scheduling issue. So Nate flew to Guatemala to do missions work, and we had to recruit Joel Maslin to do the interview. Joel was first featured in our original Skid Row trailer and has since been a part of all our Skid Row trips. MXPX was very patient with us and all three members did the interview, which was really cool. So stay tuned (or sign up on our e-mailer) as we will be making more videos from this event.

The culture of music became a defining role for me, as it is for many others. It wasn’t merely the sonic element or the agression, nor was it the shelter it provided socially. The culture of underground music infected my infrastructure, illuminating an idea of community, as well as bringing light to an aspect of truth. That exposure (where ever one may find it) takes hold and becomes a catalyst which drives people to try and become a part of what fascinates them. I eventually did what so many other kids do, I joined a band. Fast forward 10 years and the desire, or "dream", has become a reality. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become that cliche cynic, although it’s important to ask where it comes from? The cynicism developed over the years because I am constantly reminded of the ideals, the community, the soul, and the beauty that is consistent, still providing the strong under current that keeps this passion so exigent with the passing of each generation. It plays out over and over again because of what it becomes in those who fall victim to it; the influence and spirit of community. Each generation grows, and in its wake leaves the products and artifacts of each revolution. Each generation takes part in the creation of the next.

This brings me to the result. The band I’m in, Mae, has decided to give over all profits from digital downloads to humanitarian and charitable organizations that focus on education, art, global poverty, and the environment. The first organization is Habitat for Humanity. Mae is sponsoring a house that is being built for a single mother and her three children. We will continue to partner up with other organizations over the course of this year. We’ve been asked many times why we chose this approach for the year. The answer can be found in our desire to use our music in a way that benefits the community. The community of our fans, our local community, the international community, and the global community. The three of us in MAE have felt the impact of music first hand, over and over again since we can remember. The respect we have for what music can do is placing upon us the responsibility to use whatever influence we have to encourage our fans to engage in their community. One way to encourage our fans to engage in their community is to engage and actively participate in ours. We want to eradicate the barrier that can exist between fans and performers. We need to present a level playing field and get back to what made music so important–being a part of something together and making a change together, no matter how small or large the change may be. By inciting action in one community, and then from that one into another, the focus emerges and the rolls shift. What was started by one person with an idea now becomes it’s own organism which spreads and influences change and new ideas. Our goal is ambitious, but it was born out of the simple recognition of the influence that can be built through the combination of music and community.

However, we unexpectedly ran into a lot of legal problems with the House of Blues. They stalled our first interview for 45 min and and then refused to allow us in the venue with video cameras. We literally were walked in and out of the venue multiple times as security and management stumbled over their pride, rules and professionalism. We finally had to get the tour manager for the whole Take Action Tour to come out and plead our case.

This type of “dark” resistance comes upon us from time to time. As I was being escorted out for the 3rd time, Nate turned to me and said, “You think we need to throw up a prayer?” I was so preoccupied with cameras, security and time schedules that I had completely forgotten about praying. So as I was being dragged back to the box office, I prayed that God would handle business. Usually my prayers don’t get the “VIP” treatment, but thankfully this one did. By the time I was dragged back to the main entrance, I was mysteriously turned around and escorted back “IN” to the venue. They finally gave us the passes we were supposed to get an hour ago and everything was cool. Well, not totally…The final “you one this battle, but we’ll be back” rule they threw at us was: You not allowed to film on their premises. So that’s why these videos are filmed outside and on tour buses, (which makes them cooler anyway).

Nate Smith was the original guy we had planned to interview the band, but he had a last minute scheduling issue. So Nate flew to Guatemala to do missions work, and we had to recruit Joel Maslin to do the interview. Joel was first featured in our original Skid Row trailer and has since been a part of all our Skid Row trips. MXPX was very patient with us and all three members did the interview, which was really cool. So stay tuned (or sign up on our e-mailer) as we will be making more videos from this event.

Let me start off by saying, that I’ve followed the music of Falling Up since their very first record. Back then they were doing back flips off each-other and bringing a certain amount of energy and stage presence that most bands couldn’t. That’s not to take away from any other band who bring a great live show though. Over the years the band has gone through plenty of line up changes, which I think causes a sound change in their music.

Falling Up has always been a band in my eyes that never went along with the trends in the music industry. To me they’ve been trying to bring the 80’s back, but who knows. The sound of the new album Fangs, Released on BEC recordings March 24th, closely mirrors their previous album. What saddens me is that on the first 6 songs I could barely make up what lead singer Jessy Ribordy is saying. Which mainly could be because I didn’t have lyrics available with my download from Itunes or maybe because the lyrics could not be found online. And I’m not saying that’s anyones fault, but a lot of times Ribordy’s voice seems canned. During these first six songs I found the different musical layers amazing because when you throw on headphones you can always hear something new. The next half of the album gets somewhat heavy and progressive with very well polished guitar riffs. After track 6 Jessy Ribordy’s voice clears up and sounds great.. Strange how that works out. In the long run, I would love to see the band break away from a lot of the SCI-Fi sounding stuff and make a balls to the wall rock record. I’d buy this album if you are true music lover, strictly for the musical aspects of the album.

From the beginning vocals of Max Bemis (Say Anything) and Chris Connelly (Saves the Day) I’m drawn into a lyrical story of 2 genius singers. Each song could easily be labeled as a Say Anything Or Saves the Day Song. Throughout the album Max Bemis brings about an anger amongst him while Chris Connelly’s vocals soothe a listener’s ears. The album was recorded last fall at electric Ladybug Studios in Northern California. It’s also important to note that Max Bemis met his fiance while recording this album. After a few listens through track 2 , If I could make you do things, stands out. The vocal lines are sung back and forth between the 2 singers. As a listener you feel that you have the privilege of a listening to a private conversation between Max and Chris. Max actually compares this project to falling in love for the 2nd time. He wants the listener to look at the record as songs about 2 people starting a romantic relationship.

The artwork is a combination of 60’s psychedelic mixed with a 4th grade trapper keeper doodling. Track 8, Wowee Zowee, is a perfect mix of the 2 songwriters ability. You hear a Saves the Day bass driven verse with a powerful, angry Say Anything chorus. On “Try Not to Save Me” they come together with a perfect harmony you’ve been waiting the entire album to hear. As the album nears close to perfection there is one track that makes you wonder what they were listening to the day they recorded it. Track 12 is a weird funk song that doesn’t seem to fit this collaboration. Overall if you a Save the Day or Say Anything fan then this album is a must own.