Songs of Truth

Hello Friends,

Who has slacked at this whole blogging thing? ME!! I do have an excuse. The whole wedding and honeymoon thing took up a lot of my time. Do you forgive me? Well you better.

The wedding and honeymoon were all perfect and amazing. Tanya looked FREAKING beautiful. I did cry when she came down the isle:') There will be pictures soon. If you are in California and want a sweet photographer for an event I say go with Bobby Brown! He was amazing!

Now on to the music side of my life. I am embarking on a new project. It is still in the writing and dreaming stage. I hope for it to be more than a record, but rather a community effort. It is going to be called "Songs of Truth." It is going to be a record for my church, Water's Edge. The record is going to have two phases, actually it is going to be two records. The first record is tentatively entitled "Songs of Truth: The Prelude." This will be a live in the studio recording done by myself in my home studio. It will be me, my guitar and two microphones. The plan is to record about 10-12 songs and tell the story and heart behind each song. This will be a very raw and honest record. I think I have most of it written, but I am not sure yet. The plan for getting this first record out is to give it away for free on line through NoiseTrade.com. The recording will cost me nothing so I figure I want to give it away for free:) It will only be available in digital format. This is where the community aspect comes into play. These songs will first be released in their youngest simplest form. There will be no bells and whistles on them. I hope to use this blog, or create a new online forum where people can comment on them. Everything from the melodies, to the words, to the theology that is being sung. This will help me see what does and doesn't connect with people and it help me sharpen my craft. Some songs may be rewritten or scrapped all together. Who knows?! Maybe new ones will be written along the journey.. time can only tell!

The second phase of the record will be a full band record. It will be called "Songs of Truth." Here the bells and whistles will be added. I plan on recording this record mostly on my own but will welcome the help from my friends from church and around the country. I will most likely have it mixed by the guy who did my last ep. This leg of the project does not have a time line yet. It will take a while to get the songs put together with full arrangements and to raise the funds to pay for the gear I may need and the mixing end of it. I am not sure if this will be available digital and hard copy. This one will most likely not be free. (Unless someone wants to donate about $3,000-$4,000).

So friends, I invite you along on this journey. It is has been stirring in me for a while. I appreciate your prayers as I try to find new depths of creativity that still allow songs to be sung by God's people when we gather corporately to give Him thanks for the blood of his Son. More details will follow...

Blessings,

Anthony

New Song Leak #3

Hello Friends,

This is the final New Song Video Leak. This week it is "God of Redemption." The new EP is released next Tuesday! Enjoy!

Hello Friends!

Thanks to everyone who watched last week's new song leak. Here is # 2. Blessings.

Hello Friends,

Here is the first installment of the new song video links. This song is called "Common Ground."

Enjoy!

Post Sinus Surgery

Hello Friends,

I want to thank all of you for your prayers since my surgery. I has been three whole days now since I went under. I got home on Thursday at about 1:30 then had to go to the ER at about six that evening. I was bleeding a lot from my right nostril. My doctor met us there and pulled out some big blood clots and all was good. Other than that I have watched hours of crappy TV and been in and out of sleep. Tanya has been amazing and has been taking great care of me and my nose. Today I am hoping to get out of the house for an hour or two. My voice sounds hilarious right now. I have to talk in this weird upper nasal/ falsetto sounding moan. I have been using more hand gestures than words. The pain has not been too bad. Last night was really the first time I had pain since I had the surgery. Again, thank yo for all the prayers!

Blessings,

Anthony

P.S. remember to be looking for the new song leaks starting this Tuesday!

Go and Dance

Hello Friends,

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. Please forgive me:) This post is very special. On June 3, 2009 God called home a beautiful young lady named MaKenzie Stocker. I did not know Makenzie or her family very well. However, the few nights I stayed with them a few summers ago was a great time. They are amazing people who love Jesus with all they have. It was no wonder Makenzie made a lasting impression on so many people in her short 18 years she danced on this earth. Yes, I said dance. Makenzie was a gifted ballerina. That is what she did. She danced for thousands of people through out her life, but her dad, Todd, said it best, "Makenzie danced for an audience of one."

Makenzie loved Jesus and all she wanted was for others to love him as well. That is how she lived her life, as one big inviting dance with Jesus. She is now in heaven where we all will be dancing with her someday. Please read the letter below that I sent to the Stocker family.

Dear Stocker Family,

Hello, my name is Anthony Celia. You may not remember me. I stayed with your family a few years back for a few days when I visited Houston with Jon Jordening and some other Concordia students. I have since graduated from Concordia and I am serving as the worship leader in Frisco at Water’s Edge with Mark Schaefer and Patrick Miller. I heard about Makenzie last week from Nathan Huse. I am continually lifting your family up in prayer as you continue through this incredibly hard season of life. Here is the reason for this letter.
As so many people have been expressing, your daughter was a very bright and special light for Jesus in this world. The few short nights I spent with your family I could see that there was something special about her. Today I watched her celebration service on the web. That was an amazing time of worship of what Jesus had done in Makenzie’s life. The stories and smiles shared were all testimonies to her victory over sin and death because of Jesus. I loved watching the part where you both got up to speak. I could see that you were hurting, but joyful all at the same time. It was a very moving moment for me.
Right after I watched it I was lead to pick up my guitar and continue worshipping. I started singing a song I had started writing the day before. Now, the story of how the song came to be is kind of important. I have been super sick the past few days with a bad sinus infection. The last thing I wanted to do was sing, let alone try to write. But yesterday afternoon I just felt the urge to pick up my guitar and this song came out. I was pretty happy with it, but I was not totally satisfied with the chorus. It went, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, I sing for you my king.” It was nothing special but I really liked the melody. I was messing around with different words in the place of “sing” all night but nothing made a lasting Impressions… tell now. Fast-forward 24 hours. I just finished watching the service and then picked up my guitar. I never really use my songs in personal worship time, so that is why this is so weird. But out came the song from the day before and out came the word I was looking for.

DANCE!

Bet you didn’t see that coming☺ I started singing, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, I’ll dance for you my king.” I just felt the spirit move through me and tell me that was it and to record it right away and send it to you. Seriously! And I don’t use the term “the spirit told me” lightly or often. As I look back on the past few days I see that God wrote this song in honor of your daughter. It is not much. It was recorded in about an hour in my bedroom with my guitar, my computer, and my sweet, sweet sinus infection. But for what it is worth I hope you enjoy the song. Feel free to share it, or keep it for your selves. I believe that God will/ is using Makenzie’s life in great ways even though she is now truly home. May I have your permission to use this song in public and share your daughter’s story if the occasion arises? My self and my church will continue to lift your family up in prayer. May you continue to cling to Jesus! Never let go! He is good, and he is faithful. Your daughter has inspired me to live my faith out in a more passionate way. I know I am not the only one she has inspired.

Blessings,

Anthony

So friends, I encourage you to dance. Dance however you have been gifted to. If you are good at art, use that art to glorify Jesus, if you are good with numbers, do it for Jesus, if you are good with people, do it for Jesus. Whatever you do, do it for an audience of One, Jesus Christ.

I have posted the song on my myspace and facebook pages. You can also go here to see a live version I did at Water's Edge a few weeks back. Please stop by and listen to it and pass it on, pass on Makenzie's story.

Blessings as you dance,

Anthony

John Week 5

Hello Friends,

I apologize for the lack of a blog last week. I was crazy busy getting services together for Holy Week at Water's Edge. I pray your Easter celebration was one of just that, a celebration! All of the services at Water's Edge where amazing! The 2004 Easter service had 35 souls in attendance. This year we had over 600!!! On top of that Good Friday was 460! Numbers are not the only thing we care about, but it is amazing to see how God's word does not return void. The band rocked it big time at all of the services. Anyways...

With all of that excitement over the weekend I laid low yesterday and worked on some new songs. They are turning out really good.

Today I am wrapping up my John study. Today I am looking at John 21: 15-25. This is the last section of the book of John. First, I love the title this section is given. In my Bible it reads, "Jesus talks with Peter." I want to emphasize the WITH. He does not yell at him, or talk down to him, but talks with him. With out understanding the past few chapters this idea does not make as much of an impact. A few short days before this, Jesus, had been brutally murdered. Not only had Peter witnessed the whole thing, Peter even denied that he ever knew Jesus to save his own butt. Imagine your best friend, the person you admired the most was being murdered in front of your very eyes. While this is all going on you are asked by the angry mob if you know the man they are killing. In fear and out of self interest you say, "No way, I have no idea who that guy is!" Not once, but three times!

After your friend's heart has stopped beating...
and while people are trying to wipe up his blood..
you are left there with the guilt of betraying your closest friend...
Imagine the guilt...
and shame that is eating you alive...

How can you ever be the same?

This is what Peter had experienced. This is why the fact that Jesus talked WITH Peter amazes me. This section of scripture occurs after Jesus had resurrected. Jesus is appearing to his followers after they had all left him for dead. I think it would have been really easy for Jesus to bring the beat down. I imagine Jesus, God, had a pretty good and fair reason to be pretty disappointed with his friends. I know I would have. But, in the true Jesus fashion Jesus decides to show mercy, compassion, even forgiveness to Peter.

Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Could you imagine the pain this must have brought Peter? Really Jesus, you know that I denied you, not once but three times. Rub it in why don't you. Not once, but three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him! This part of scripture always confused me. I use to think Jesus was just rubbing Peter's mistake in his face. But this is not what he is doing at all. Jesus knows what Peter has done. The forgiveness and freedom come in Jesus' response to Peters answer. Peter says, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love love." Then Jesus says this, "Then feed my sheep." Peter, must have looked pretty confused at this point. He was probably thinking, "Jesus, I just failed you. When the hard stuff came at me, I ran away. Now you are asking me to take care of your people?" I would have said something like, "Jesus, you have been through a lot the past few days. You might want to take a nap then re-consider what you are asking me to do."

Jesus tells him three times, "Feed my sheep." Are you catching on to the three theme? Three times Peter denied Jesus, three times Jesus has asked Peter to feed his sheep. Jesus is actively showing Peter that his betrayal is washed away. He is saying, Peter, you are forgiven, not only that, but now I am asking you to continue the work I have created you to do in my name." Jesus knows that Peter messed up big time, that when things got tough Peter's first instinct was to watch out for his own butt. But Jesus sees past that and encourages Peter to move on and continue serving him.

This is amazing to me. How many times in our own life do we feel we are not worthy to go to church, let alone think we are good enough to do Jesus' work? We are all Peter at times. We all think about our selves more than Jesus or others, but Jesus is continually coming to us and saying, it is ok, feed my sheep.

Forgiveness is great. But Jesus doesn't just stop there, he always encourages us as well. With forgiveness comes freedom to be who you were truly created to be. With forgiveness Jesus showed Peter who he really is and what he was suppose to do in the name of Jesus. With forgiveness you and I are being shown we are more then selfish lazy jerks. We are loved by Jesus. He is asking you to feed his sheep. Please, believe that. Believe that you are loved and made for a purpose. May you find that love and purpose in the resurrected savior Jesus. Please join with me in feeding his sheep.