Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Summer days and updates....

Hey Everyone, So now you have experienced first-hand one of my struggles: procrastination. I have been meaning to update this blog and unfortunately have not until now. So...... here we go.

Updates Updates Updates! We've been hard at work writing songs, letters to churches, making phone calls, and trying to book fall dates. One date we're really excited about is on August 21st, we'll be opening up for grammy nominated artist After Edmund. And I know what you're thinking, "grammy nominated artist? I've never heard of them." Well, whether you have or haven't, they write some great songs. Check them out at (http://www.myspace.com/afteredmund) We go on at 6:30 that night, so come and bring your friends and family for a night of music and fun. Now if you can't make that day, don't worry :) we'll be playing the very next day (the 22nd) for a family festival in marrietta. The time for that is still to be announced, but keep checking our myspace for addresses, times, and more details. Speaking of the myspace......

Wake Today is getting a new myspace. Thanks to our good friend and talented designer, Jo Albright, the WT myspace, will be re-vamped and completed by the first week of august. You can go there now and see the progress (http://www.myspace.com/waketoday). We will also be launching our new website sometime this fall, so keep an eye out for more details in the near future.

In closing of this long overdue update, I want to remind us of the words of Hebrews, chapter 12, as we endure these trying times and see lost jobs, dwindling hope, hard hearts, disbelief, and opposition. ".....let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." And as we run with perseverance, let us be reminded of the finish line spoken of in 2 Peter chapter 3: "...according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." Though we may struggle in this life, a glorious day is coming, the day of eternity with our King, the Creator of all. All that we know will one day pass away and a new earth and a new heaven will be our home. A perfect home for those who follow Him and have placed their faith in Him, with no more hardship, no more tears, no more death, only perfection made by our Savior that we may enjoy Him and life with Him forever. Take heart in the promises of God, they are a firm foundation in these fragile times. You have our prayers. If you want to know more about how to be a part of this glorious eternal gift of life from God, email us and we'll do our best to respond quickly and share that truth with you.

We love to hear your comments, questions, and thoughts, so please feel free to send us an email at waketodaymusic@gmail.com. We'll do our best to respond. Have a great night my friends, it is approaching 3:10am and I have to up in a few hours to go to a wedding. Oh, the benefits of being a night owl.

-Jonathan Ray

Thursday, June 18, 2009

My new place.....

What do you guys think of our band's brand spanking new home?
I think I might put in a home studio.....

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Awesome Video: Check this out!


Monday, June 1, 2009

So it's June...

Well summer is officially here even though it feels like winter in the building I where I work. Nothing really new happening with Wake Today. Your encouraging reviews of our songs on iTunes has been so encouraging. We appreciate you guys! I also want to thank everyone who has supported us in thought or prayer over the past months. We love you guys and want to write songs that will encourage your hearts. I've been writing a few songs lately and it's been a breath of fresh air for me. Sometime I over think what I do and lose the recklessness, the honesty, but I've been going back to square one with songwriting. I've really have been trying to write truth and the love of God in every song I have the privilege to write. So far it's been hard work, but definitely rewarding.

I wanted to share with you guys a few verses that have been encouraging/challenging me:
(1 John 3:19-22 ) "Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him."

"Even if we feel guilty...." Thats where it's at isn't it? I know for myself, the truth is in my head, but my heart straggles behind. My flesh fights so hard against the truth, against God's love. Sometimes i feel guilty even though I know that Romans 8:1 says that there is no more condemnation for those in Christ or (in 1 John 1:9) if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This battle against our feelings and condemning enemy must be fought with truth and prayer, otherwise our roller coaster lives will feel like a losing battle instead of a joyous celebration of the love of Christ as we live to make His name great. If you've been sinning, humbly approach our God of grace and confess and celebrate His forgiveness. We've been forgiven! We've been given life from the Creator of the universe! What a blessing. Thank You God that you are greater than our feelings. We want to be more like Your Son, Jesus, and share Him with the world around us. Jesus, You are the hope of nations. I am so grateful for Your love, goodness knows I don't deserve it.

(If you don't know this God but want to know more, email me, I'd love to talk with you. A relationship with Him is the satisfaction you've been searching for and so much more. waketodaymusic@gmail.com)

Comment and leave some thoughts. I'll leave you with this weeks on-the-spot haiku.

A lightning rod says,
oh, how blessed i am to live,
life above the clouds.


JRay

Thursday, May 21, 2009

numero uno!

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is having an awesome week! This is the first post (obviously) of many to come in this blog. We decided to keep everyone in the loop about everything from band news to new songs to how my child book writing career is going (very slowly in case you were wondering. Although i think my first book title is a winner: If You Give A Badger A Bracelet. It should be out as soon as someone gives me some money to write it!) So, here are a few things that have been going on with us!

#1 We're on iTunes! and Amazon and Digstation and quite a few more! So go on and pick up your copy for $6 and leave us a review! We'd definitely any appreciate any thoughts ya'll have! (The iTunes link is on the right side of this screen.)

#2 We have a new blog up! and your reading it.........

#3 New myspace is on it's way! in case any of you we're wondering.

Anyways, thats about it for right now. I'm gonna leave you with this weeks original and completely on the spot haiku:

badgers seem to mock
my lack of creative talk
the space man is Spock


Peace,
jonathan