Monday, December 21, 2009

Rejoice EP Now on iTunes!

Hello Friends!


We hope this update finds you well and enjoying the season that we celebrate the birth of the God-Man, our Savior, Jesus Christ! The three of us have always loved Christmas (who doesn't), but Christmas music is another story.Those old, beautiful Christmas carols that were really like Christmas themed hymns have always been favorites of ours. But all the songs about Santa and reindeer and presents and the Grinch and Frosty and chestnuts and sleigh bells and... well you get the idea. Those songs have always bugged us. Not only are most of them on the musical level of Barney and Friends singalong songs, but the lyrics are NOT about Christmas! So when we decided to record a Christmas album, we knew we were not going to record sentimental mush. We chose the beautiful old Christmas hymns. People don't write lyrics like that anymore. But rather than record the same arrangements that have been done countless times, we wrote brand new arrangements. For me, the new music for these songs has made the lyrics come alive. Sometimes you get so used to hearing the same thing the same way for so long that you stop paying attention to what the song is actually saying. We hope these new arrangements make these songs feel fresh and new to you. We hope the lyrics penetrate your heart and set your focus on our God who came to visit us. Our God who came to save us. Our "God with us". "Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to thee!"


Many blessings to you and your loved ones this Christmas season!

Andrew, Christin and Kaitie

~Truth Bomb

Monday, November 16, 2009

Thank God!

Hey Friends!

I love this time of year! Every year, by the end of summer, I am so ready for cooler weather! Florida summers are intense! And this year was especially hot...and long. But that's over now and I'm enjoying the need of a jacket in the evenings!

And Thanksgiving is coming!!! I love Thanksgiving and Christmas! I have so much to be thankful for, but it's so easy to get used to the blessings I have and feel like I am entitled to more. I don't want to have a pity party, I want to have a Thanksgiving feast! I have been trying to focus on the little things everyday that I am thankful for. Hearing a favorite song come on the radio, having fun playing Mad Libs with my siblings, a good meal, a good book, a nice customer at the restaurant I work at, the sun shining just so on a palm tree that's swaying in the breeze. "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows," James 1:16,17. So what are you thankful for? It doesn't have to be big. What made you smile today? What gave you a moment's peace? What warmed your heart? Give thanks to your Father who gave you these things. He never changes. He is always good.

The other day I was reading the book of Habakkuk - which is a gloomy little book near the end of the Old Testament. I don't know the historical context of the story, but I do know that the book is made up of a few of Habakkuk's prayers and God's answers to those prayers. In the end, Habakkuk closes with this proclamation of faith in God no matter what happened: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength...." Habakkuk 3:17-19. How powerful is that? Habakkuk didn't even have any "things" to be thankful for, but he still rejoiced in God his Savior!

I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving and find many reasons to give thanks and praise to God this year and every year!

Rejoicing in my Savior,
Chris

Sunday, October 4, 2009

October Update

Hello Friends!

I apologize for a lack of HTML in this update and for the fact that it's been way too long since we've kept in touch with you all! I wish I could blame it on being crazy busy with really great things, but that would only be a very little bit true. We are currently working on a Christmas EP that we are REALLY excited about, but most of our time has been stolen due to the three of us (as well as the rest of our family) being completely under the weather for the last couple months. We have run into a bad bout of flues and colds since early August and have still not recovered. So this e-mail is to inform you that we have very little to inform you of :).

We will be up in southern Georgia on October 30th and 31st, so if you would like us to play a concert or lead worship for your church or event in Georgia, North Florida, or South Carolina, on or near those dates, shoot an e-mail to our manager, Mark Boyce (AKA Dad) truthbombmanager@yahoo.com.

Pre-production demos for the Christmas EP sound really good (if it's all right to say that about your own project) and we have begun to lay down final tracks for the album! Please pray that we will be able to finish in good time as we have run into many delays due to sickness. We have been immensely blessed to have this project sponsored in part by our friend Chris Giordano from The Coffee Spot (House of Praise) in Holiday, FL! Thank you Chris!

And thank you for reading this e-mail and supporting us!

Blessings to you,
Christin and Truth Bomb

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Big News!

Hello Friends!

We have some big news that we are so excited to finally get to announce!! Tomorrow, July 21st, we will be digitally releasing the Hourglass EP on ALL of our web sites! We have found a really great company called Bandbox that many artists are now using to sell their music on-line. With Bandbox we will have a little store on our web sites where you can instantly buy and download the Hourglass EP or individual songs from the album! The track listing for the Hourglass EP is:

Truth Bomb
Pray For You
The Hourglass Song
Shining Light
Times Like These

We are so thankful to you for being patient as the release of Hourglass has been repeatedly delayed. But the wait is over and tomorrow - for the first time ever - anyone, anywhere in the world will be able to purchase our music!

As a side note, earlier this year Andrew was having some health issues that were becoming very concerning and kept us from finishing the album on time. We have been extremely thankful to discover that Andrew's health concerns were not nearly as severe as we had feared they were! His symptoms had initially seemed to be hinting at a heart condition, but it turns out it was asthma! He has been treated and is feeling much better now! Praise God!

So we have much to be thankful for right now. And we are! We hope you enjoy the new music! And if you do, please spread the word about it!! Write a review on your blog, post our Bandbox store on your Myspace page, web site or blog, tell your friends, your pastor, your worship leader! We don't have a record label promoting the music for us, which means we need YOU to help us get the word out! There's only so much we can do to get the music out there.

As always, we are so grateful to you for your support of our ministry! Please keep us in your prayers - we can use all the help we can get!

Blessings to you,
Christin, Andrew and Kaitie
~Truth Bomb

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Scenic Route

Hello Friends!

My goodness, it's been an insane year so far! A part of me wants to just fast forward to next year when (I hope) things will be a little more organized and normal, but really, that's not what I want anyway. I remember reading a story as a kid about a boy who was given a golden ball (I think) that had a silver string coming out of it. Anytime he wanted to fast forward to a "better" part of his life he could just pull the string and he'd be there. Finally, when he is old, he realizes he doesn't have much time left to live and he wishes he could have all those moments back that he had been so eager to skip when he was young. I don't really want to be like that. But it is tempting sometimes to wish away the time, isn't it?

I was thinking last night about a great song called "Scenic Route" from Jars of Clay's latest album. The song is about two people (presumably a husband and wife) who take the scenic route home so they have more time to work things out and really get to know each other. It seems like God works that way a lot too. He holds time in His hands and He could easily skip through the tedious things in life, but instead He seems to enjoy taking us on the scenic route. It's the times that we feel like we're running around in circles and getting nowhere fast that we really get to know God better. Those are the times we stop to ponder where we are really headed anyway.

For 4 years we (as in Truth Bomb) have been pushing ahead, breaking new ground, making progress. And now for this fifth year I think God decided we would take the scenic route. We need to learn a few things about Him and where He really wants to take us. And the scenic route is the best way to get there. Even if it's not as fast as the Interstate.

One of the many stops we have made on this route so far was actually at Amway Arena in Orlando for the American Idol auditions last week. Andrew auditioned for the show and he didn't make it through, but God made it clear to him that his calling is to lead God's people in worship through song no matter where he is. Even if it's the parking lot of Amway Arena at the break of dawn. He'll have to tell you the story himself sometime. I wasn't there. I only heard the stories. But even I was encouraged by what took place in that parking lot.
Here's to taking the long way home.
Many Blessings,
Chris

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Blessings

Hey Friends!



I hope you enjoyed your extra long weekend! I've always felt it's a bit strange that Memorial Day is a celebratory day when it's supposed to be a day to remember our fallen soldiers. I think for most of us, we don't have any family members that have given their lives for the sake of our country so we feel a bit detached from it. I suppose that's normal, but it still makes me feel sort of bad. I have two cousins in the Air Force and one in the Marines and I am thankful none of them have had to serve on the front lines yet.



This year we actually did have something to celebrate on Memorial Day as it was my oldest sister's birthday. And the sun finally shone that day! We had a storm sitting on top of Florida for about a week and so the sun had barely shown it's face all that time. It was a good weekend.



On Saturday, we also had our CD release show for the Hourglass EP at The Coffee Spot in Holiday, FL! We worked so hard on that album and I am so glad it's finished. Well, at least the music part is done. Now we have to create new layouts for our Myspace, Web site, etc., take new pictures and release the album digitally. So we've really only finished one aspect of the project, but that was the hardest part. I really can't wait until you guys can hear it. I hope you like it. It makes me a bit nervous releasing new music because I never know if people will like it. I'm always hoping we don't disappoint people. But even if we do, we took what God gave us and did the most we possibly could with it. As long as He is pleased, that's okay. And surprisingly, I really do mean that. As long as God is pleased, it's all okay. Soli Deo Gloria.



I was blessed at our CD release show. Then again, I am blessed every time we play at The Coffee Spot. The family that owns the place have become very good friends of ours and so their company alone is enough to make it a great night. Then Mom, Dad, Sam and Faith surprised Andrew, Kaitie and I with a big cake that said "Congratulations Truth Bomb Hourglass EP". That was better than any award or prize anyone could have given us!



Thanks for reading!



Chris

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Bloggers Block

Hello Friends,

I think I have been suffering from blogger's block lately. Every time I try to write a blog, I sit at the computer staring at the screen trying to figure out what to say. I believe it is Twitter that has ruined me. My thoughts are only 140 characters long these days ;-).

So, it's been over three years since our first EP Can You Hear It? was released and we are finally about to release our second EP, Hourglass. Starting our own studio was probably the best decision we've made since deciding to start a band! Andrew really loves engineering and production...and he's good at it too! I am proud of him for all the work he has poured into this album. I can't wait for you guys to hear it!

The first weekend of this month we played in three different states in three days, which was a first for us. It was so much fun! I expected to be tired and ready to go home when all the shows were over, but instead I wanted to stay on the road. It was sort of our first taste of life on the road and it went well. Now I'm itching to go back out! Unfortunately, we don't play out of state very much because the costs are so much higher when you have to stay in hotels and use so much gas.

Okay, I wrote a blog. And it's longer than 140 characters. Mission accomplished!

Until next time,

Chris

Friday, March 6, 2009

The Hourglass Tour!

Hey Friends,

We've been cooking up LOTS of plans the last few months and now we're on the brink of putting these plans into action. We are VERY excited about all we have coming up in the next few months.

First, this month we'll be playing several shows throughout Florida to kick off The Hourglass Tour! The first of which is this Saturday at Bethany Temple Church of God in Tarpon Springs, FL. This is a FREE concert so please come on out and join us for the first show of the tour! And if you live too far away or just can't make it, I have great news. The concert this Saturday night, March 7th, will be broadcast LIVE at http://www.bethanytemple.org/ at 6:30 PM EST!

Second, we are still hard at work on the Hourglass EP and plan to release it digitally in April worldwide! The specific release date is top secret information at the moment - only God knows when it is! As soon as He clues us in on His plans we will definitely let you all know! We would really appreciate your continued prayers for this project. Things are coming along well, but it's going to be tough to get it done in time for the second leg of The Hourglass Tour.

And that brings us to our Third bit of news. We are booking several shows in the early part of May in GA, SC, NC, TN, etc.! In our four years as a band, we have only played in Florida and Georgia, so we are REALLY excited about bringing our music to these other states! We are also talking to several churches as far west as Texas about bringing The Hourglass Tour out there this summer! If you are interested in bringing the tour to your church or venue, send our manager, Mark Boyce, an e-mail at truthbombmanager@yahoo.com. And yes, Mark is our dad!

Also, another way you guys can help us out is to tell your pastor/worship leader/youth pastor, or whoever is in charge of booking bands at your church, about our music and ministry. And if you want to take it a step further, you can then e-mail our manager with the contact info for that person so we can follow up. The biggest obstacle for independent bands is obscurity. If you have told, say, your youth pastor about us and then our manager calls him up, he will now know who Truth Bomb is and that there is at least one fan in his youth group. He'll already have a reason to book us. And of course, telling your friends and family about us is awesome! That's probably one of the biggest ways we gain new fans.

And last but not least, we now have a Facebook fan page, so go become a fan of Truth Bomb! We are also on Vimeo and 12seconds and we will be posting more video updates soon. Thanks so much for reading! Hope to see you soon on The Hourglass Tour!

Blessings to you!
Andrew, Christin and Kaitie

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

January 22, 1973

Hey Friends,

Tomorrow is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. For 36 years now it has been legal to kill unborn children in America- the land of the free. I have always been pro-life- completely opposed to abortion- but I have also been apathetic for about as long. A passive pro-lifer, if you will. Last summer, I was reading my church's young adult blog (http://www.rightthinkingrightliving.org/) and saw a banner for Abort73.com. I watched a video on the front page of the site and it showed what abortion is. I had heard what abortion is, but I had never seen it. Now that I have seen abortion, as Sara Groves says in one of her amazing songs...

I saw what I saw and I can't forget it.

I can't forget. And I can never be a passive pro-lifer again. I sort of wish I could go back to my state of ignorance. Abortion is such an enormous problem, such a controversial topic even in the church, what can I possibly do? But that's the wrong question, isn't it? The true question is, "What can God do through me?" And the answer is..."Anything".

So please join me in my quest for justice for the least of these. We can't do much on our own, but with God, all things are possible. Abort73.com is the most comprehensive resource on abortion that I have ever found. I believe educating America on the truth of abortion is the best way to turn the tide on this gruesome, "American freedom". Slogans don't prove anything. See for yourself what abortion really is, http://www.abort73.com/.

For His Kingdom,
Christin

Sunday, January 4, 2009

First Blog

Hey Friends!

Welcome to the Truth Bomb Blog! This is Chris here. I'm trying to figure out how everything works on this site so hopefully I don't accidentally delete this blog before I post it!

Well, I hope you all had a great Christmas and your new year is off to a good start! I always love it when the new year rolls around. There's something fresh and exciting about another year coming. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll have seen or experienced by the time 2009 comes to a close. And that is exciting to me.

Coming up on January 23rd, Truth Bomb will be four years old! I can't believe it! My life has revolved around this crazy, music-making monster for four years. It has been a very interesting journey. On January 23, 2005 we played our first song for our small church congregation on a Sunday morning. The song was called "Today" and that was the last service ever held at our church. We were bewildered, wondering what God's plan could possibly be in closing our church, but we felt He had given us "Today" to share with others. And so to other churches we went, playing our music and playing covers of our favorite worship songs. And we have not stopped. We keep on going and I sometimes wonder how or even why we do so. I can only say that God started this thing and He is the only One keeping it going. And that's really the only way I want it.

We've been cooking up lots of plans for 2009 over the last couple months and I am getting excited! The Hourglass EP will be released this Spring and the two first singles from the EP ("Pray For You" and "Times Like These") have already been picked up by several radio stations around the world! We were surprised to have so many stations willing to play us even though we are an independent band and our recording and production budget was next to nothing. That kind of stuff just isn't supposed to happen to indies and we are very grateful to God for opening that door for us.


Now that we have our own blog, I plan to start blogging more often. Thanks for reading! Until next time!


Blessings to you!

Chris