A few months ago, we were on our way to an outreach, and were running really late. DJ Havcutz, being the nosy guy that he is, saw some people bringing some music equipment into our church and decided he had to know why. He introduced himself to a woman name Naomi Williams, who was heading up a rehearsal session for a project called SHIPS. Naomi is a writer of music and author. Havcutz discovered that Naomi had recently written a kids book series discussing real issues of faith, and she had also composed some music to go with the books. That particular day, she was rehearsing her band as they were preparing to record the songs. Left without a studio to record in, Naomi was interested in speaking with our beloved Havcutz and later, we all met to talk about how we might be able to help her see her vision come into fruition. The first couple of meetings and rehearsals we had were tough. On our side and hers, we were all extremely limited on time and resources. The thing is though, when you walk in faith, and not by sight, the Lord always puts things in your path that you never expect to be there. So as time has progressed in the project over the last few months, the Lord has provided Naomi with the missing musician elements and He has provided us with the time - something that was lacking on both sides at the start of this venture. To be perfectly honest, we've had much easier recording and editing sessions. Working in music as a ministry and not a business takes it's toll - usually on resources. We're not the studio facility we used to be. So recording a large array of live instruments and properly mixing them in a "classroom" turned studio is very hard! But God is good. He allows us to get to certain points in our faith where we are tested, and when we get to the place of our limits, He waits. He waits to see if we'll force the issue with our own brute strength, or if we'll do what He wants, and call out to Him for provision and ability. Candidly, this is a new thing for us when it comes to music. Typically, we know what we're doing and we do it very well. Our experience and past projects speak for themselves, but the mode God has us doing music in these days, forces us to rely on Him. It's been frustrating, scary, and amazingly exciting all at once. Now, we are just about ready to track the vocals for this project. Again, this will be foreign territory for us as we are recording a young girl with little experience, who will be singing incredibly difficult music. But God's will be done, and if the last few months is any indication, God's will is for the project to be completed and bring glory to Him! We're just excited to be a part of it! The music that Naomi has written is some of the best Christian music we've ever heard! As she is a composer by trade, her classical/rock/funk fusion fueled by the Holy Spirit is genuinely something we've never heard before. Keep us in prayer! We've all worked really hard thus far in faith that God would be glorified. We hope that the completion of the project indeed is a sweet smelling aroma

Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate contemporary praise/worship music – to an extent. It’s been a battle. Since I’ve rededicated my life to Christ I’ve yet to hear something that both musically and lyrically had it going on in the realms of praise music. Many people have a hard time with me making that statement, but it is what it is. I’ve attended a ton of conferences, workshops, and outreaches in the last 5 years and have heard the same few songs played the same ways at all of them. My personality is a unique one. I need change. I’ve simply been bored with the style praise/worship music available. I appreciate the lyrics (as most of it is scripture which you can’t be mad at) but need to FEEL the music. It seems that music writing in praise music has gotten predictable, tonal creativity has gotten stale, and unique arrangement has simply left the building. I’m a fan of old music. I like Motown records. I like songs Quincy Jones produced. I like songs Prince wrote. I like solos Jimmy Paige played. I like adlibs Bootsy Collins threw down. Growing up around the people I did, and having the musical influences that I do, praise music to me is missing something! The last thing I want to feel is that praise music has become vain repetition. So we're looking to add some change...

I’ve actually been praying on this for a long time. I thought something was wrong with me – I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t appreciate the music so many others were raising their hands to. God finally gave me peace – and an assignment. And so to silence my own complaining I’ve decided to be obedient to God’s command and work. We're now working to remix some of the worship classics the Calvary movement has grown quite familiar with. We’re hoping to get a bunch of these finished up in the next couple of months if the Lord wills, but we'll have some sneak peeks coming soon.

Please keep this project in your prayers. As we’ve had the chance to play these out at several outreaches, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Yet still, we work with limited resources, no budget, and intense demand, so we just hope we can operate within God’s timing and will and all will be blessed. So – enjoy!