Normally I start out my updates with an apology. Typically that
apology will include the following: Lack of current/continued updates, busy walking the dog, flying somewhere, drinking coffee... let me just cut to the chase, because I obviously have plenty to talk to you about :).
I have been convicted lately about some things. Im convicted that
sometimes I'm ok with reading just a quick little verse from the Bible here or there or shooting up a random prayer... typically only around meal time. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sold out Christian and I am passionate about Jesus Christ!! My greatest joy is to be able to take the stage/platform with my brothers in Christ and sing (in my case, drum) about the Lord. But In the last few months, the guys and I have been digging much deeper as a group. We've been digging deeper into who we are as men, why we do what we do, and what our calling is. We started out by meditating on the book of Romans chapter by chapter and
discussing the words of inspiration written there. Beyond that, God
has been moving in our hearts more vigorously than I have ever seen or felt.
This chapter that we as Kutless are moving into is something that we have been praying about for some years now. I know that we have already gotten the word out that we are finishing up the last stages of our new worship record, but I don't even want to call it that. I would rather call it an exaltation record. To Exalt the Lord is to show a feeling or state of extreme happiness! The Bible says in Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him." As we continue to grow up as men and take on the responsibility of "feeding the flock" and in preaching His word, we are exalting Jesus Christ because it is our calling.
We have been praying for years now because if God was calling us to do another worship record, there could be no tolerance for vanity in any way. Strong Tower is a special record that so many people can relate to and understand. We wanted to make sure that our own pride wouldn't get in the way if we tried to copy it and unjustly make another worship record. God has moved in such cool ways in order to show us to get in the studio and hit the record button once again. On Easter morning of '09, Jon Micah was at an Easter egg hunt with his family so his son Caleb could run around and find the painted little treasures. He was in line to grab some food from a potluck style spread and ran into a familiar face. It was a buddy of ours, Dave Lubben. Dave has lead worship at some evangelical crusades that we have played at, and we would cross paths from time to time. This time was different. Because of they're "running into each other", Dave ended up co-producing our new record at his farm house outside of Portland Oregon!!! God just set everything up in His perfect timing.
This is something that I'm sharing because I want to see you, the core group of fans that have stayed by our sides through member changes, hair style changes, and quite honestly, watch us grow up, be in on the scoop of what we want to see happen. All we are doing is trusting in the Lord day by day for what He has planned next. Our hope is that this record can bring inspiration to individuals. Individuals from all walks of life and in all types of circumstances. I believe music is powerful, some even say that it is the world's unifying language. But worship, adoration, exaltation to the King of Kings though music is a spiritual language that brings rest to our minds and peace to our hearts. Laying our sorrows at the foot of the cross, not worrying about tomorrow, and to give those things weighing you down on the Lord. As the world crumbles around us, "On Christ the rock which we stand, all other ground is sinking sand!"
Our new "Exaltation record" is titled "IT IS WELL" and will be released on October 20th 2009. Please keep us in your daily prayers that we can be courageous in our ministry and that walls would be broken down for multitudes to turn to Jesus.
With all my Love,
Jeff Gilbert