HOPE - The joyful anticipation for good from God in EVERY area of life.

Dear Friends, I am so excited that this project saw the light of day. I remember walking around my apartment almost 20 months ago, humming the melodies to songs that would later comprise Hope's Anthem the album. And to see the overwhelming support from all of you is more than I expected. The emails, messages, reviews, twitter and Facebook comments blew me away! THANK YOU for supporting me.

The Dream
Recording this album was the dream of a lifetime. I remember as a kid, going down to the basement of my childhood home and playing albums from Bebe and CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman. I would always dance, and singing along, hoping and wishing that one day I could be on a cd just like my heroes. When I was teenager, I used to check the Billboard charts on a regular basis and became very intrigued by the whole process of the music industry. But what started out as a simple childhood longing has now become a reality thanks to all of you.

The Team
None of this would be a reality if it wasn't for the Bethel Music admin team. Joel Taylor, director of Bethel Music came at such a pivotal time. He pushed me, encouraged me, challenged me, and most importantly SIGNED ME! :) Our interns and team, Walter Serafini, Shannon Clark, Aaron Shreve, & Samuel Claridge did such an amazing job on the web content, promotion, publishing, etc. On the creative side David Molnar Photography and Breezy Baldwin on artwork made the album packaging something to be proud of. Last time these two worked together it was on the Newsboys last record. So I was more than honored to reunite this amazing duo on my project. I had one goal in mind for the look of this album and they more than helped me reach my goal. I wanted to look back at this packaging 30+ years later and think…"Man, i looked HOT back then!"

The Writers
I was privileged to work with some AMAZING people from start to finish. It takes so much preparation and work to release a full length LP and it first starts with the writing. Brian Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, and Christa Black-Gifford were my lyrical mentors when we first started. I can honestly say these three saved me from making so many classic immature mistakes. Now that doesn't mean I still didn't and don't make a some of those…but they are fewer and farther between. Christa was instrumental in helping me finish writing Hope's Anthem. In fact, that song would not be the powerhouse that it is without her. And with Brian's knack for sweet and workable melodies and Jeremy's lyrical prowess and scrutiny these three have become the voice of wisdom when I go to write a song. They are and will forever be apart of how I think and approach writing.

There were several other writers and musicians that helped contribute to this project like the infamous Charles Jones who came up with the killer melody for "I Just Want You More" , the ever so syncopated John-Paul Gentile who co wrote "Shepherd" and "I'm Free" and Luke & Lydia Hendrickson who helped put the soul in "Bridge", and others whose key words and phrases help perfect each song.

The Producer
My producer and band were outstanding! Jeff Schneweiss (former lead singer of Number One Gun) came on as the producer and helped facilitate the overall direction and feel for the record. His strong yet laid back approached gave the musicians and I room to be creative and really create what i know to be a memorable record.

The Band
We started recording in March of 2011 at the Soundhouse in Redding California and the recording was smooth and pretty seamless. I was a little worried by the end of tracking that maybe we missed something major, because of the lack of major conflict.

My all-star band comprising of Daniel Mackenzie, Brandon Aaronson, Luke Hendrickson, John Hendrickson, & John-Paul Gentile(Read album credits for who played what on which track) were the real shining stars of the whole project. Their brilliance and musical intuition helped us capture some amazing moments and helped us avoid some major pitfalls. What was cool about this talented group of musicians was that fact that I had cultivated a strong friendship with each of these individuals in seasons past, long before this project commenced. So when I hear this album, I hear friends having a good time.

The Vocalists
I was blessed to have 4 powerful vocalist featured on my album. Leah Mari, Steffany Frizzell, Sean Frizzell, & Melissa Casey. I didn't know doing vocal work in the studio could be so fun. We had such an amazing time down in Chico with Jeff the producer doing layering and coming up with harmonies. Steff and Sean(Brother and Sister team) are like white chocolate. Their voices made this record epic! Steffany is a genius when it comes to harmonies. The layering on "So Good To Me" prove that. Steff and Jeff really went to work coming up with amazing ideas for my album. My favorite background vocal moment on the album was when we put Sean on the second verses to echo those two phrases "I've found…" & "Your heart…" I melt EVERY TIME i hear it. It takes me back to better days, i.e. the 90's, when R&B music was good. Leah Mari showed us her impeccable tone on several tracks. She helped bring out the country in me on "I'm Free" and made "Shepherd" feel so easy and flawless. Melissa Casey strong voice shined through on "This One Thing". I don't normally like vocals on verses, but her unique tone complimented mine so well on the more pop tracks like "Deep Cries Out". All in all, I was happy and impressed with the vocals. Though there were some songs where I was sick and don't feel like it's the strongest representation of my voice.

The Meaning Behind The Music
Here are the stories and the meanings behind all the songs on Hope's Anthem:

Deep Cries Out - This song was mostly a prophetic/spontaneous moment that happened at a baptist church in College Station Texas. People always ask me what it means, and to be perfectly honest i don't fully understand the song myself. When I began to sing prophetically I listen first, then try to understand later. I do know that three themes ring strong with me when it comes to this song. Ezekiel 47, a commitment to going deeper into the River of God's presence. Psalm 42, Deep calls unto deep…the longing for God's presence, & Romans 8, the spirit and creation is groaning and waiting for us to realize our sonship. I sometimes get flak from the worship critics and the worship elite(and yes…they do exist) about the tag, "If he goes to the left, then i'll go to the left…" But that line was a prophetic song I sang over a church in Ashland, Oregon. I prophesied in song that wherever the Spirit and the river of God moved they would go with him and know times and seasons. I had them do a line dance so to speak as a prophetic act of what God was doing in their midst. It was a powerful word for that congregation and region and I stand by it. Even if it feels kiddy or cheesy, or as one critic put it "….it belongs on a Veggie Tales soundtrack". I would feel honored for "Deep Cries Out" to be on a kids album.

Side Note: I don't know why we adults think we have outgrown some of those simple lessons from sunday school or think that children's ministry is trite and of little value compared to our big important meetings and conferences. Jesus wanted the children around and didn't shove them off to simply be with boring adults. We could all stand to sing more children songs from time to time. I believe the deepest truths are embedded in the simplest lyrics, supposed folklore and myths, and whimsical child fantasies.

This One Thing - This song was not easy to write. It took the course of a year to finish. I probably have 15 different versions of this song. It's like what Matt Redman says, "Songwriting is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. And though some of my songs came almost all at once and could qualify as true lyrical signs and wonders, even those took work to structure. This One Thing was tuff to pin down. But with the help of some co-writers, and a couple of critiques from friends, this song has now become my favorite song to lead(outside of Hope's Anthem) It's a simple Psalm 27 anthem. But with a sweet groove behind it! I hope to write more pop-groove anthems like this in the future. :)

Side Note: I've read recently some reviews that kindly put that this album has nothing new to say. But I would like to respond by saying, You don't reinvent the wheel…you just have to find a way to make it better. Psalm 27 is in so many worship songs, that it's easy to feel tired with it, but i felt like we did it in a new way, that people could appreciate and see a new side of it.

We Believe - This song is my heart. I wrote it in my bedroom as declaration about God's never ending love for cities. I believe this is a corporate anthem for cities and nations to be healed and restored. I see stadiums gathered and people chanting the chorus as a promise for their region. I don't know if i'll ever live to see this but I feel like this will happen.

Side Note: I don't fully know theologically where I quite stand on eschatology or what not(actually i do, but i don't think people will like it so i stay relatively quiet) but i believe that there will be "Sheep" and "Goat" nations as Jesus described in Matthew 25 and the determining factor on what nations are "Sheep" will be Free Will coupled with our ability to deliver the good news of the kingdom to all the earth and bring healing and reconciliation to numerous countries. I believe the standard of a transformed nation is not everyone being perfect, but that people in every sector of society will have the desire to Love God well.

Hope's Anthem - This song came to me as a gift. One night when it began to come, I called a friend and said i've got something major here. I don't know what it is or what it will be, but it's gonna be huge. Every other song on the album(with the exception of So Good To Me) was written after Hope's Anthem. This song marked a shift for me as a writer, every other song I wrote before didn't come close to the same authority and skill. Christa Black came alongside me in this season and offered to mentor me as a writer and really helped make this song what it is. Hands down it's my favorite song that i've ever written. My whole life's message summed up in a five minute song.

So Good To Me - Cory Asbury, a worship leader from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City and I wrote this song back in 2008. It remember vividly how this emerged. I had just started as a prophetic singer for Cory and Matt Gilman's team and on my first night we sat in the briefing room at before a worship set. Cory had the guitar and started playing these chords, i remember no one could stop laughing the whole briefing, we just started singing and rapping and making stuff up and some one suggested we just start the worship set off like that. Well, we didn't start the set off like that, but on that particular worship set we decided to sing through Psalm 40 and when it came time to go into it, Cory started playing those chords and melody and before long most of the hooks that are now apart of the song came out spontaneously. The whole prayer room was dancing all over the place. I had not seen so much joy and laughter in my season at IHOP-KC than in that moment. It was explosive! Then Cory went on to record it on his project "Holy" and when it came time for my album, I knew i had to put it on. It was such a huge hit at Bethel and people requested that I put it on the album. So we changed it up a bit and did it. :)

The Lord Is My Shepherd - This was the easiest song I've ever written. My friend John-Paul brought this irresistible August Rush-esque guitar melody line to me, and as I listened I felt the classic Psalm 23 and i wrote it in about 30 minutes.

I'm Free - I was in the shower and i was in a particularly gospel/church shouting mood and the song came to me in about an hour. People either love this song or hate it. But i personally enjoy it. It takes me back to some of my roots. Though the song turned out more country than gospel, it still causes me to remember old skool church and tent revivals with foot stompin', & hand clappin'.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Like many of the others, this song came out spontaneously at Bethel Church. Lydia Hendrickson was leading worship and she started singing what is now the verse and I remember feeling this surge coming from the inside of me, I did not know what was gonna come out, but as i opened up my mouth the hook "You're like a bridge over troubled waters" came out. And i knew that this was a song of intercession over Japan. It had only been days before that the massive tsunami happened and our hearts were heavy because of the tragedy. I knew that this song we were singing was releasing hope miracles and breakthrough all across that region. We sang spontaneous songs of intercession and declaration over Japan for over an hour that night, i'll never forget it. It's the moments like that night that make what I do as a worship leader all worth it. Connecting with God's heart and then prophesying what he tells us over the cities and nations of the earth.

Side Note: It's amazing to me how many people in our generation have not entered into the power and reality of corporate worship & intercession. I think it's time that we not only rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David, but help give the church a vision of heaven by restoring night and day worship and prayer to our cities and communities.

My Great Reward - This was another one of those songs that took awhile to write, i went through a couple of different choruses. I was even privileged to write with a well known Nashville country music/pop songwriter on this song. And though I didn't keep any of his ideas, it was an honor to even be in the same room. If you ever meet me, ask me about how the nashville songwriter and I had to push a disabled woman in a dead electric wheelchair up a long steep hill that night. It was pretty crazy! I love this song because it's God centered and it feels like a early 90's Babyface R&B groove, What more can i say. The bridge line came as a prophetic song at Bethel back in 2009. I remember hearing the melody and words being sung to me in my head. Such a surreal experience. It felt like i was listening to a beautiful love conversation happening in my head between the Godhead.

I Just Want You More - This song holds special place in my heart because of the people who took the time to help me write it. First is the infamous Charles Jones originally from Houston Texas and now from LA. He is one of the sweetest and humblest men of God i know. He carries such an infectious joy and presence about him that you never leave Charles without getting touched by God. He flew up to Redding, took time from his busy touring schedule and sat down on the piano and wrote the melody and music for Chorus and bridge. Then several months later I was in Knoxville TN visiting Will Reagan from the United Pursuit Band and he helped me come up with the verses that night in his studio. Will is one of my favorite worship leader/songwriters out right now. His honest lyrics, raw passion and great voice easily set him in a class on his own. The amazing Christa came later and helped me tie up loose ends lyrically as well. This song was perfect to end the album because it just carries such a strong worship presence is a simple heart cry for the "More" of God.

The Spiritual
Some one once told me that Love is NOT love until it "Hope's" all things. See I had been in a season of time where I was really coming to grips with God, about places in my heart where there was despair and barrenness. My heart was slowly drowning in hopelessness concerning God's promises over my life. This song, now known as "Hope's Anthem" was and is my prayer and my groan to God. Hebrews 12 became my favorite chapter that year…especially the phrase that he is "the author and the FINISHER of our faith."

Growing up a church kid, i always knew the God loved me and that he wanted to fulfill the desires of my heart. But i did not possess Hope in the waiting. For many years I felt semi-orphaned by God. I felt He was there to meet my spiritual needs, but in my day to day, I did not feel the joy and HOPE of God flowing through my life.

A few prophetic friends began to speak into my drowning existence. They called me forth in bright radiant Hope. They prophesied that I was a "Hope Bringer", a "Hope Craftsman", even a "Hope prophet". I began to climb above my depression and hopelessness and see myself as one who shined with the presence of God.

A spiritual deepening began to happen and is still happening to this day. My roots began to be firmly planted and the revelation that I kept coming face to face with was the face of Jesus as the man of Hope! I am sold out to nothing else, than to see the full manifestation of Hope restored to our generation.

The Future
I believe it's time to dream dreams and see visions again. To imagine a better future for ourselves and our families. To rest in the goodness of God and to be carriers of his mercy and grace to the world. Some friends of mine tell me that all of our hope needs to be placed on the physical return of Jesus Christ. And while I agree with them and believe that he is coming back for a bride, I do not think that we can afford to hold to any end time world view that causes us to check out of society, thus robbing our children of their inheritance and future. Whether we live in the generation of the Lord's return or not, let's promise to Hope in God, Hope in People, & Hope for cities and nations to be healed. We cannot live for anything less.