Muppet Queen

O Holy Nightmare

The Westwinds Top 11 (because it's one louder)

Westwinds Top Worship Tunes of 2009

We get a lot of mileage out of our indigenous worship tunes at The Winds (written by me or others in our band) but there are quite a few we use from the giant pool of resources in the worship music industry that our people love. You may sing some of these at your church.

Honestly, not all of these were MY favorites (some were), but I guess it's not all about me. These are the ones we tried that stuck. People dig 'em.

We got the most feedback about these tunes in 2009 (not necessarily in this order):

1. Life Light Up by Christy Nockels
2. The One by Brian Chandler
3. All Around Me by Flyleaf
4. This is How We Know by Matt Redman
5. God of This City by Chris Tomlin
6. I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin
7. Magnificent by U2
8. Today is the Day by Lincoln Brewster
9. Mighty to Save by Reuben Morgan
10. From the Inside Out by Joel Houston
11. Your Love Never Fails by Chris Quilala

Hannah's Prayer

This made my day.



HT: Cherry Creek Wine/John Burtka

The Winds Wine Video Promo

What Does a Church Have to Do With Wine?

What happens when a vintner, visual artists, entrepreneurs, and an art school director get together and ask the question, “how do we shadow God in the redemption of the world?”

Magic.

Meet the players:

John Burtka is the owner/operator and vintner extraordinaire at Cherry Creek Winery in Brooklyn, MI. He is a dreamer and an artist. He is a Westwinds hero. And, more importantly, he is a Jesus lover.

Kim Hastings is the Executive Director of Jackson School of the Arts. Since 2001, the Jackson School of the Arts mission is to make the arts accessible to Jackson County youth regardless of income. The work of including, finding and providing programs to students not served anywhere else is at the center of the Jackson School of the Arts efforts. Kim is vibrant and committed to children.

I met with John Burtka months and months ago about the possibility of combining his art and my art and both of our entrepreneurial minds to create a wine that was by artists, for artists, and for the benefit of our community. Having worked with Kim on other projects, it seemed obvious to us that the sale of a wine dedicated to the artist should benefit the children who wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to be involved with art.

Introducing: The Winds ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Michigan Shore.

Cherry Creek will be marketing a fine-tuned and lovingly crafted wine in December (a couple of weeks) that will benefit the children of Jackson with 100% of the revenue. Not the profits . . . EVERYTHING. In other words, when a $15.00 bottle of wine is purchased, $15.00 goes to the Jackson School of the Arts.

All wine is crafted, cellared and bottled by Cherry Creek and will be available at Cherry Creek stores in the Jackson area. The process has been amazing for me as an artist. From top to bottom, I am proud of how this wine has been crafted. The finished product is the result of 100's of hours.

I am excited about the label that I created with Speedball ink and a palette knife. The label art reflects the freedom we have in celebrating Jesus and enjoying life abundant.

The mission is summed up in the back label:

Kim “reconnected with Jesus” at Westwinds in the last couple of years. She bleeds compassion for the kids. John and his family have attended Westwinds about the same length of time. When you meet them, you want to be their friend. I’m proud of these people.

Both John and Kim told me today, in their own words, “it’s not about wine, it’s not about art, it’s about kids—giving them hope, opportunity, and an experience they may not have otherwise.”

So, if you drink wine, I encourage you to be looking for “The Winds” in the next couple of weeks at Cherry Creek.

We will have a “Wine Release Party” at the Cherry Creek Schoolhouse Vineyard in Brooklyn, MI on December 18th at 6:30. Come hear original Christmas music and buy some wine for yourself and loved ones.

P.S. Westwinds has a “white paper” on what we believe about the consumption and responsible enjoyment of alcohol that is available in the office for anyone who wishes to have a copy. The paper was written with the input and blessing of our Westwinds friends who are in alcohol recovery programs and lead the recovery groups here at the church.

VOTE on Westwinds T-Shirts

We are making some new Westwinds T-Shirts. T-Shirts help us wear our colors, show our pride, and they are great conversation starters. Here are a list of the TOP TEN T-Shirts I am thinking about making. Please comment and vote for the ones you love . . . or hate.

WE, Oui, Weeeeeee!

All the way home.

Westwinds

Westwinds

Allergic to Boring

iPAC Your Life

Imagination. Permission. Authenticity. Community.

Westwinds

Westwinds

For Those About to Rock

Auntie Em! Auntie Em!

Westwinds

I Know You Are But What Am I?

Westwinds

Westwinds

Turning the Lame Knob to the Left One Weekend at a Time

Keep You Arms and Hands Inside the Ride at all Times

Westwinds

turn up the music

run through the halls

stay past curfew

use your outside voices

touch everything

drink your coffee on the carpet

Westwinds

Standing For, Not Against

Westwinds