Ok, we just couldn’t help it, we wanted to share more photos! Arequipa was a beautiful place, and though a small slice of Peruvian life, we are sure it was representative in many ways of the beauty of Peru. These pics (you can click them for a bigger view) give you a pic of a team breakfast, a big Saturday night concert shot, Tim feeding a fried cuy (guinea pig) who eventually fed us, and Jonadab a boy about seven who love percussion and is holding a little shaker we gave him that night at the concert. His family, and many friends, lost much in the earthquake in Peru last year and so were pleased to give them a drum and a guitar as well since they lost most of their possessions in the destruction.

I would like to take the time to commend our team Tim Thornton, Aaron Strumpel, Tracy Howe, Doug and Rita Roberts, who Robin and I had the pleasure to serve with…it was wonderful to work alongside family.  We would also drop this website address to our new friends there so you can read more and take interest in the work of great people.  In the right hand side of the page you will see more links to others in the area and more…

Hello, everyone! I am typing on a little table in our hotel the last night of our 10 days or so here in Arequipa, Peru. It has been great. Other than the usual stomach adventures we have had no serious obstacles to the work of encouraging the leaders, pastors, and people that we came to serve! Thanks for your prayers.

The picture is a shot of a songwriting session held in this very same room (where I am typing). Though we performed a large concert event, and had larger events during the week, these three songwriting sessions were some of our favorite works of the whole trip because we got to share our favorite Worship Circle encouragement: “You can do it!” In every session, every person–whether from this city or from a village high in the mountains where Spanish is not even their native tongue–wrote a new worship song on their own! This was as important fulfillment to the wishes of local leaders who wanted their people to be empowered to put worship and intercession into their own voice, in their own tongue…fantastic.

We have discovered a few thing while here in Arequipa, Peru. Ostrich and Llama taste good. Volcanoes are real. Don’t drink the water. And, we all need encouragement from time to time.

I say that to build solidarity with you, with Peruvians, with my friends, and beyond. We all need encouragement from time to time. Following Jesus, rather than solving all of life’s problems, does something much richer…it makes life’s problems valuable. It does not, however, make them disappear and this is why it is good to have friends.

I learned a long time ago that it was better to have a friend than to be right. For those of us on our spiritual journey this equates to believing that the deeper value of Christian life is being close to our spiritual family, rather than knowing what to believe or what to do at every moment. This is the difference between a brotherhood and a seminary argument…choose which one you invite to the party.

Our team, Tracy, Aaron, Tim, Doug, Rita, Ben and Robin are teaching or leading worship several times a day, engaging local leaders, and preparing for a citywide concert event on Saturday night. Pray for the good sense to be encouragers and friends to all the good people we meet.

WE HAVE APPROVED SHOPLIFTING! Checking out with a cart full of free items? Yeah, baby! We’ve got that shopping lifting thing working at the Worship Circle Store for free charts, lyrics and tutorials.

Finally! Full albums from the Worship Circle Records catalog are now available for digital download at our store and for the lowest price you’ll find on the internet…only $8.40!

Visit us today to get your downloads of pre-release Fourth Circle songs available for purchase at our store today! The album is slated for March 17th!

Did you know we just opened up our YouTube page?…subscribe!)Here is what we love to do: hook you up with great people! Here are links to the great people featured on the new Enter The Worship Circle album the Fourth Circle!

Aaron Strumpel (Remember him from Chair and Microphone, Vol. 2?)
Tim and Laurie Thornton (formerly, formerly of Newcomer’s Home…now The Blackthorn Project)
Karla Adolphe and Caleb Freisen (both nationally recognized Canadian folks artists, Jacob and Lily)

People, go here and read Seth Godin’s latest post on the future of the music industry, tips for survival for the independent artist and the joy of digital delivery and subscription services!

Tony Vilgiate agreed to bring his camera and equipment down to shoot the recording of the Fourth Circle. This something we have never done before and it really excites us. We, over the next several million weeks, are going to bring you Vidcasts of moments, songs, interviews, insights, etc into the recording of the Fourth Circle and the new Chair and Microphone album. Like never before the Backstage Subscription will become more and more valuable…

Whoo hoooooooo! We wrapped the recording of the Fourth Circle on Friday, and have been in recovery for a few days. What an awesome time! We are preparing all kinds of audio and video clips for our Backstage members and bits and pieces for the world…so hold on…it’s coming. Today is your first treat! The podcast is a clip from the end of this, our first take, of the song “All The Way Home” written by Aaron Strumpel and Robin Pasley. Go Backstage and get the entire take! This is not the track for the final recording and it is only quick mixed, but you will get an idea of some of the really super vibe we have cooked up for you. Enjoy!

Don’t forget we have Gift Cards and Store Specials that can still ship in plenty of time for Christmas!

Hey, everyone! We are packing up the vehicles today to head down into the Black Forest to our recording location for the Fourth Circle! We are all very excited, and if we can just get there without forgetting some critical gear, article of clothing, or instrument we will be tracking new songs by tonight!

The great news for you Backstagers is that we will have pro video camera, boom, and operater their for much of the recording for the first time ever. Not much time today, but I have posted for you a pack of 28 super high res photos we shot on the last day of the Chair and Microphone, Vol. 3 recording with Karla Adolphe, mostly candid, and idea shots for our album cover designer, Luke Flowers, to use…
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