Post by Chad Houck, GivMusic Blog Contributor: Chad is the co-founder and director of World Wins International.  You can follow Chad and his family on their travels at http://share5.org.

I was recently reading a blog post from a gentleman named Lee Bezotte.  He was describing an experience that he recently had (with his six year old son in tow) that regretfully is both symbolic of a growing tendency in our society and an unfortunate consequence of our own insecurities combined with a slightly skewed view of reality.

In his post, he mentioned visiting a handful of churches in his community on a weekday with the intent of inviting the pastors and staff to a workshop on social media.  Stepping out of the social web space and into the physical world, he was shocked at how inaccessible these churches really were.  Some were locked down and empty mid-week, with nary a person to be found.  The most poignant, however, was the church that had grown so large, so popular, and possibly so controversial in its community that the staff “greeted” them… from behind a wall of bulletproof glass.

Like so many things in life can, reading his post has caused me to have a recently heightened awareness of my own speech and actions.  Last month, for instance, my family and I had committed to walk in the shoes of, or more accurately the lack of shoes of another, during a local TOMS Day Without Shoes event. The day of the event came, and we were surprised by the unseasonably cold 44-degree, rainy weather which caused the turnout to be much lower than we anticipated.  I remember considering whether or not this small gathering could really make a difference to anyone, and whether my family and I should just “pack it in.”  My answer came in the form of a small, enthusiastic group of young students.  Barefoot and smiling, they gleefully marched out into the cold and rain to chant “surrender your shoes” to the unassuming downtown businessmen we passed by on our march.  These young people were willing to undergo a little discomfort on behalf of children they likely will never meet so that others might hear their story . More importantly, they simply did what they said they would do.   Chalk up one more point for third graders.

I was watching the Amazing race on Hulu last night, and following the wrap up of the episode, I jumped to the behind the scenes clips of the different contestants.  Of particular note, the one comment that caused me to back up and watch it twice was that of former Miss Teen USA contestant Catie, talking about how truly generous she was.  After running down the list of all the things she’d “do” if she won the $1 Million prize, she sums up her interview with this statement:

“If I could, I’d just give everything I have to someone less fortunate than me.  That’s how nice of a person I am.”

-Seriously.

The bottom line: sometimes it is very easy to sit back and talk about what motivates us, what moves us, or who we are when we are separated from actually having to walk it out.  It is almost as if we are seated securely behind bulletproof glass, insulated from the reality of the world outside.

Unfortunately, all to often we allow our very lives begin with “If I could…”  We don’t hold ourselves accountable enough to realize that there is actually nothing stopping us from doing exactly what we say we can’t.  Catie- not to pick on you, but WHATS STOPPING YOU?  And for the rest of us, WHAT’S STOPPING US?

We must reach beyond ourselves to make a difference.  Are you behind the glass and just don’t realize it?  How do you deconstruct the bulletproof barrier that is separating you from the very people you say you want to help?

The answer, simply, is action.  Walk your talk.  If you say that you are concerned about the needs of the homeless, call your local homeless shelter today and ask them how you can serve them and those they serve.  Take a dozen pair of clean, new socks to somewhere that homeless stay.  Add a few PB&J’s.  Stay and talk.  Start small.  It will grow.

You say you have a heart for the elderly?  Hit your favorite search engine for a retirement home near you then go down to volunteer.  Take a board game.  Ask someone there to teach you how to knit.

Want something simple and inexpensive to do with your friends or your kids? Make blankets for hospitalized children through your local chapter of Project Linus. Here is a simple video how-to, and your local chapter can tell you what size, style or age range blankets they are in greatest need of.

Whatever it is, most importantly, lets bring integrity to the words we speak.  Lets get out from behind the safety of our comfort zones and get our hands dirty by being involved in the world around us.  For that matter, if we’re getting dirty anyway, lets get in all the way up to our elbows!  Armpits anyone?

WORLD VISION AND MaxxLIVE PRESENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH RUSH CONCERTS

APOSTLES OF COMEDY 2010 TOUR

Apostles of Comedy Pump It Up For Audiences

Ready to Take The Stage Again Following Their Sold Out 2009 Tour

Nashville, TN – Good news for fans of APOSTLES OF COMEDY! They’re back on the road with an all new show that promises to be a hilarious continuation of the 2009 tour. You can bet that AOC tickets are going to be a big item and with only 4 shows to kick off the 2010 tour tickets will go fast. Critics and audiences agree that the 2008 and 2009 Apostles of Comedy tours were two of the biggest comedy shows out there. Answering the call for premium “Christian” entertainment, the Apostles of Comedy will take the stage again with Award – Winning Jeff Allen – Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 , Anthony Griffith – Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Tonight Show, HBO, Co medy Central, The Bernie Mac Show, new to the show are Daren Streblow – tapped as one of the funniest clean comedians on the road today, Greg Lee – The George Lopez Show, The District, Interviewing God. Apostles of Comedy’s expanding success is parallel with the enormous need for good clean comedy that is faith-based with a meaningful message.

Apostles of Comedy; a company founded in 2007 by executive producer Lenny Sisselman, who has over 30 years in the business producing big act comedy shows, and veteran filmmaker and President of Epiphany Productions, Mitchell Galin.  Acknowledging what they felt was a void in the marketplace, Sisselman and Galin looked to create a world class comedy brand that the whole family could enjoy together.  In the summer of 2007, they produced the first full length Christian Comedy feature. The film featured Jeff Allen, Brad Stine, Anthony Griffith and Ron Pearson and combined live performances with documentary footage.  Apostles of Comedy began touring in the fall of 2008.

“Apostles of Comedy fulfills this growing need in which the whole family can enjoy a show together.  These comedians express their faith by making people laugh,” explains Galin. ” While Apostles of Comedy may be imbued with faith and inspiration, it never loses its edge, which makes it relevant to today’s audience.  According to recent figures, the potential Christian audience accounts for approximately 35% of the U.S. population.”

Tour dates:

May 20, 2010

Journey Fellowship

16847 IH 35 North

Selma, TX

May 21, 2010

The Oaks Fellowship

777 S. I-35 E.

Red Oak, TX

May 22, 2010

Crossroads Community Church

8901 S. Shields Blvd.

Oklahoma City, OK

May 23, 2010

Grandview Assembly of God

12400 Grandview Rd.

Grandview, MO  64030

Tickets: General admission $16.00 – $13.00 Groups 15 +

Purchase tickets online @ www.itickets.com or call 800 965-9324

Visit www.apostlesofcomedy.com for upcoming tour dates and information on how fans can win an opportunity to meet the Apostles of Comedy.

About World Vision:

World Vision; a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Visit www.worldvision.org for information on how you can sponsor a child.

About MaxxLIVE:

The MaxxLIVE touring team has produced thousands of live concerts and brings this noted experience to every new tour. Professional audio, video, and lighting designers work with clients, creating unforgettable fan experiences. MaxxLIVE has proven their commitment to designing “smart” live solutions, and making sure they deliver on time and on budget. Maxx understands that building fan relationships in today’s music business is paramount. They have focused resources and built solutions toward those goals. For more information, visit them at www.maxxproductions.com

Media – Apostles of Comedy tour

National tour publicist: Rhonda Boudreaux

913-780-4035

Rdboudreaux1@aol.com

Chris and Conrad are planning a free tour for their fans! Check out the tour dates in the widget above to see when they will be in your city. No need to purchase tickets this time, just show up, the show is free! Don’t forget to check out the Free Download tab to download your copy of “You’re the One”.  

Want to share this GREAT music with your friends??

1. CLICK ‘Get This’

2. Select the Social Network of your choice or E-mail.

3. Then, share the free music and fun with your friends!

This post is written by guest blogger Nathan Sutliff blogger at of ContemplativeCreativity.com specifically for GivMusic.com.  Nathan’s desire is to start or continue the conversations between church, culture, technology and media that are happening and should be happening today. He is the Worship Arts Pastor at Grace Church of the Nazarene.  You can follow his thoughts and experiences at his blog or on twitter @Natedog27

It was in 1877 that Thomas Edison developed Edouard-Leon Scott’s phonoautograph – designed to visually depict sound – into his famous phonograph capable of playing back recorded sounds.  The medium for early recordings was primarily cylindrical discs.  It wasn’t until Emile Berliner invented a lateral-cut disc in 1888 that the earliest predecessors of what we know as our vinyl records  was conceived.  And it wasn’t until 1918 that the lateral-cut disc became the dominant recording medium.  They reigned supreme as the medium of choice until roughly the 1980’s  (I mean who really thought the 8-track was going to take off? It had about as large of impact on music as the Beta-max had on video).

So why the history lesson? Well if you are like me you may barely remember the existence of vinyl records before the advent of the walkman, compact-discs, and the digital age of music (some of you may very well remember and for that I am sorry to point out your age).  The other reason is that vinyl records are making a comeback.  Audiophiles, hipsters, and technology fearing holdouts are not the only ones buying records today.  In fact with the advent of music downloads we have seen the decline of CD sales and increase of vinyl sales.  Record labels are noticing and it is becoming easier and easier to find mainstream and not just independent artists still pressing runs of vinyl.

Because of the lack of sales for so many years after CDs came to dominate the market, it can still be tricky to find retailers who carry a wide selection of vinyl.  Thank goodness for independent record store owners who have kept the medium alive.  Which is why Chris Brown (nope not that one) thought to begin celebrating the rich culture surrounding these great independent record stores in 2007.  Thus we have Record Store Day (the third Saturday in April).  It’s not a marketing plan to garner sales rather it is a celebration of the love of music and the art of music.  It is a celebration a music and community, something that is largely lost in the digital seek and download scenario.  The record store use to be a community hub to discuss and find new music as well as other people with similar music tastes (did you really think High Fidelity and Empire Records were just hollywood movies romanticizing the ethos of independent record stores?).

Around 700 record stores in the US and 100 around the world take part in the festivities with live performances, special releases, meet and greets, collectors packages and more.  The biggest surprise this year is the record label giants that are particitpating (Warner Bros., Columbia, Universal and more).  Find a participating Record Store DayRetailer Here.  Follow Record Store Day on Twitter @RecordStoreDay for more updates and goings on.

If you are new to the old idea of vinyl records I encourage you to participate in one of these wonderful celebrations of a music culture.  It will not only benefit local businesses but help revive the community aspect of music that has slowly been declining.  If you are close to the Nashville area check out The Great Escape, Third Man Records (where members of the Raconteurs will be preforming), and United Record Pressing (though not technically a record store or involved too much with Record Store Day, it is historic record pressing facilities like this that really make it all possible).

So in the words of Corinne Baily Rae “Put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down.”  Go enjoy the day celebrate music and pick up a vinyl record to start or add to your collection.  The warm crackle of the needle hitting the vinyl is a comforting to the soul as a fireplace after a cold winter’s day (not to mention the fact that the audio on records isn’t completely compressed to oblivion due to the stupidloudness wars so it has warmth, depth and dynamics you can’t find anywhere else).

I love free stuff, and I especially love free coffee from Starbucks. Free becomes even more enticing when it’s used to benefit or bring awareness to a cause. That’s why I became ecstatic today when I learned that  Starbucks decided to give away a cup of coffee to all customers who bring in their own reusable travel mugs. The promotion is valid on brewed coffee of any size up to 20 oz, and will run all day.

This whole campaign is part of Starbucks participation in The Big Picture Project. With the catch phrase “One person switching can save trees. Together we can save forests”.  It’s true, one person can make a difference and the short filmStarbucks released displays a surprising example. Their short film features thousands of New Yorkers trading in their paper cups for reusable travel mugs. You will have to watch the video for a surprising reveal when thousands of cups of  coffee are grouped together all in the name of green.

How will you make a difference today? Visit Starbucks website today and make your pledge.

This post is written by guest blogger Brittany Trotman editor of BeautyGirlMag.com specifically for GivMusic.com. BeautyGirlMag.com believes that every female should look and feel her best, but we also believe in the really important things like giving back and serving our communities. When we find great products that are fashionable and also help support a cause, we can’t help but to spread the word!

Here are our top picks from shoes and shirts to jewelry and handbags that will add to your new spring wardrobe!

She Dances

She Dances is a non-profit organization “whose mission is to provide healing, hope, and a future for girls who are victims of human trafficking. Through safe homes, raising awareness, and the arts, they strive to create a movement of freedom.” Currently, She Dances is providing a safe home for girls in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The girls who arrive at the home are provided with education, mental therapy, spiritual renewal, and most of all, rescue and freedom from abuse and exploitation. When purchasing a She Dances T-shirt, your money will go towards the organization’s efforts in raising awareness and providing a safe home for these victims.

Purchase a She Dances shirt here.

TOMS Shoes

The simple TOMS Shoes have become a fashion staple to many Americans, but to orphan children in other countries, it is simply a protection that they’ve never had. For every pair of TOMS that someone buys, one is given away! By purchasing a pair, you are directly helping their efforts in Ethiopia. Podoconiosis, a disease that plagues those who are barefooted, can be prevented just with a pair of shoes. Check out this shoe from the new spring line!

To buy a pair of TOMS shoes, click here.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.  Founder, Nancy G. Brinker, promised her dying sister, Susan, “to do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.” The foundation has contributed to the many victories over the years, such as more early detection, more research, and more survivors. The Susan G. Komen Store donates proceeds of all purchases to fight against breast cancer. Be sure to check out the many products that are offered, such as water bottles, accessories, and clothing. Below is a fashionable leather wrap bracelet that is a great addition to your spring accessories.

Purchase the bracelet here.

Sseko Designs

Sseko Designs was created to help women of Uganda pay for their college tuition and also help the “overall economic development of Uganda.” Students in Uganda must wait nine months after graduating high school to attend college. This time is intended for them to earn money for their tuition.

The Sseko Designs sandals come in a variety of colors and patterns and are perfect for spring and summer. Not only are these sandals stylish, they are also very versatile because the straps are interchangable! Buy one pair of sandals and have the option to buy many patterns! Each girl has a story. Check out the class of 2010 here.

Purchase Sandals here

Change.org

Change.org serves as a platform for social change, whether they are raising awareness for certain issues such as women’s rights or signing petitions for providing a homeless shelter in Colorado, they are making a “change” in America. One issue they are passionate about seeing a change in is the issue of human trafficking.

Every week, they provide a Red Light Special, which showcases products that go towards human trafficking surviors. “This soft felt zipper bag is the perfect size to keep together small items like toiletries, jewelry, or crayons while traveling. The soft colorful felt and sleek, modern design mean that it will be loved and appreciated by kids and grownups alike.”

When you buy this bag, you’ll be supporting the human trafficking survivors in Nepal.

Buy this item here.

Global Good Partners

Global Goods Partners is a “not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering women, alleviating poverty and promoting social justice. ” GGP partners with communities in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. They provide these partners with access to the United States markets to sell their products and also with “technical assistance to build sustanable livelihoods.”

Burmese women living in Thai refugee camps are making an income by making beautiful hand woven scarves. The proceeds from these scarves enables them to provide their families with health care, education and other necessities. So add some fashion and compassion to your wardrobe with a trendy two-tone scarf.

Purchase the scarf here.

Invisible Children

The nonprofit, Invisible Children, gives women who are war victims in Uganda a second chance at life and a way to make a living through MEND, a rehabilitation program. “MEND is designed to seam a personal connection between products and their makers, while repairing the lives of women in distressed regions of the world,”  as stated in their mission. The women craft these trendy bags and sell them around the world. The unique thing about this program is that Invisible Children actually provides you with the name and story of the woman who made your bag!

Purchase the a Mend Cinch Bag here.

]]> http://www.givmusic.com/2010/04/givback-product-talk-with-beautygirl-mag/feed/ 1 http://www.givmusic.com/2010/04/free-download-from-downhere-2/ http://www.givmusic.com/2010/04/free-download-from-downhere-2/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:07:29 +0000 Tianna Calcagno http://www.givmusic.com/?p=1629

Free music! Yes! Yes! Click the Free Download tab above to get your copy of Downhere’s song “My Last Amen”.  They are currently on the road with their spring 2010 tour, so don’t forget to check out the tour dates above to see when they will be in your city.

Want to share this GREAT music with your friends??

1. CLICK ‘Get This’

2. Select the Social Network of your choice or E-mail.

3. Then, share the free music and fun with your friends!

[PROMOTION ENDED]

That’s right, it’s tour announcement and FREE music download time again! We are stoked to see Kutless and Chasen hit the road with the It is Well Tour. Be sure to check out the tour date listed above to see when they will be in your city. Don’t forget about the FREE download! Just click on the FREE DOWNLOAD box in the widget above to get your copy of Kutless’s song “You Save Me”.

Want to share this GREAT music with your friends??

1. CLICK ‘Get This’

2. Select the Social Network of your choice or E-mail.

3. Then, share the free music and fun with your friends!

Yes, you read that right… Twestival! Don’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about? Think Twitter meets Festival = Twestival. Today more than 200 cities around the world will come together to rally for one cause, Education. Run 100% by volunteers around the world with 100% of all ticket sales and donations going directly to projects. Taking the concept of tweet-ups, (meetings and events) @Amanda Rose founded Twestival in 2009.  On 12 February 2009, the first Twestival Global was held in 202 international cities to support @charitywater. The event successfully raised 250k+, which resulted in more than 55 wells in Uganda, Ethiopia, and India.

Today, Twestival will benefit another organization, Concern Worldwide. Concern was founded in 1986 to meet the needs of people living in extreme poverty. Where exactly will this years Twestival funds go? Directly to Concern Worldwide’s education programs. Each city and school hosting a Twestival event was given the opportunity to select an area of education to support for fundraising to go towards Concern’s education programs. The 40-year-old non-profit works in all areas of education, including educating new teachers, furnishing classrooms, providing uniforms, providing buildings, and meals for students who otherwise would have have access to these resources. Read more about Concern Worldwide here.

Want to Get Involved in Twestival?

Tweet. Meet. Give.

Post by Chad Houck, GivMusic Blog Contributor: Chad is the co-founder and director of World Wins International.  You can follow Chad and his family on their travels at http://share5.org.

In 2007 my wife and I had the pleasure of taking a two week trip to Ghana, West Africa to do some speaking.  On our arrival, we asked about the possibility of hiking Krobo Mountain, the area where the tribal natives used to live.  The first mile or so was fairly flat, but I had heard that the terrain at the top was a bit more challenging.  I debated if my Asics running shoes were appropriate, or if my Asolo waterproof cross-hikers might be the better choice with their more aggressive tread.  On the day of our hike, I noticed two of our guides had only leather strap sandals with flat, smooth soles.  One person was wearing the same shoes they had worn to church, yet I was the one who felt overdressed.

Last week I was down in Mexico on a missions trip with an American team of High School students.  We were doing construction work, so in the morning, I got up, crawled out of my sleeping bag, and laced up my Vibram-soled steel-reinforced work boots to hit the job site.  After a good hard day of kicking shovels and dropping hammers on my feet, I returned to the campsite and slid my toes out of my boots and into a pair of slightly more comfortable Converse All-Stars.  Later that night, I ditched my Cons for my Crocs sandals to trudge to the shower.

Before you label me a “retifist” (a person with an irrational shoe fetish), allow me to share what has my soul all fixated on my soles.

While the African instance stuck in my head for a while, the Mexico scenario didn’t so much as make me even bat an eye until earlier this week.  That is when I saw a day on my calendar that I had committed to “take a walk” in another’s shoes.  Technically, it would be more accurate to say that I had agreed to walk in their lack of shoes.  April 8^th is the date for the TOMS Shoes national “One Day Without Shoes” campaign, and a day that both my wife and I, despite a corporate shareholder’s meeting and a handful of appointments, will go through with nothing on our feet.  It is the day where we will make an effort to better grasp how the less fortunate in this world live, work, and play – barefoot.

In many developing nations, both children and adults must daily walk many miles for water, food, or medical attention.  Adults may suffer scrapes from work in the fields.  Some children are not allowed to attend schools for lack of footwear.  Others simply can’t attend because of sickness and disease resulting from infected cuts on their bare feet.

In Ethiopia today, approximately one million people suffer from a disease known as Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring, yet completely curable disease caused by walking barefoot on volcanic soils.  The sharp clay cuts the soles of the feet, impregnating them with small pieces of silica and causing lymphatic disease and severe, incapacitating swelling.  Prevention is as simple as a pair of shoes coupled to some basic hygiene.

So what can YOU do about it?  Start with awareness and ACTION.  Join me by going barefoot on April 8^th, whether for an hour or the day.  Go to the One Day Without Shoes website and educate yourself, then either join an event in your area or host one of your own.  You may even want to buy a pair of TOMS shoes to slide your tired, bare feet into at the end of the day.

Last Christmas, TOMS provided over 37,000 pairs of shoes to children in Ethiopia to help prevent Podoconiosis.  They were able to do so because of 37,000 people that either bought or gave TOMS as gifts during the Christmas season.  For every pair of  TOMS they sell, they give a pair away, One for One.  Perhaps they should be your next pair of shoes?

Don’t have the dough to go out and buy you and a your new friend on the other side of the world a new pair of kicks?  No worries! You could always offer him or her a pair of your gently used ones by donating them to Soles 4 Souls (www.Soles4Souls.org), a charity that is giving away a pair of new or gently used shoes every 9 seconds.

Find a shoe drop-off location near you at http://www.soles4souls.org/about/locations.html