Lately a few of us in the band have been bummed about our weight.  I (Dale) for one really can’t fit several of my jeans and shirts and was recently at my top weight I have ever been in my lifetime.  Ashley just delivered our second child and wanted to get back on track.  It was at this point that I realized we needed to do something.  So Shine Like Stars is participating in a “Biggest Loser” contest.  We believe God made our bodies to be respected and for the next several months up till June we are going to get back into good habits.

It’s funny how we as the Church can condemn the smoker for not taking care of their body and then someone can shove down 8 donuts without anyone saying a word.

Seriously, I can down bowls and bowls of chips and queso and no matter how bad it is for me, nobody thinks to challenge me to more.

This is our Before Picture

So for the next several weeks Shine Like Stars is participating in a weight loss challenge. (See before picture above)  The top three “losers” for each week will be posted along with the top 3 overall  “losers.”  This is a percentage thing but at the end of this I would love to tell you how many pounds we’ve collectively lost.

This is meant to be fun and hopefully you guys can help cheer us on.  Maybe we can carry our good habits into our Summer tour?  Maybe…well, it could happen!  We hope this June we can tell you our band is full of losers!  Wait…um…is that right?

Oh to embrace our son for the first time. I will soon.

Amen and Amen,

-Dale

Our Happy Christmas Photo shoot.

I have found myself staying up late spamming my friends trying to get them to “like” our video then fretting as we began to fall behind and eventually into last place.  I had been so focused on that one big break  I had forgotten why we do what we do.

I set out to start “Shine Like Stars” in 2004 because I felt a strong call on my life to write songs for God’s Church.  I thought I could give voice to the yearnings of the worshipper’s heart.  I thought I could teach theology.  I thought I could help people worship God in a new song.   Sometimes I lose my way and find myself with a secular mindset.  Surely God has created me as an ambitious, driven musician and He can use that for good.  However, when it becomes more about my  own glory I must pause and reevaluate.

One of our friends, Nate,  in the competing band, Of The Rescue recently has had some very serious health concerns..  Wow.  What was I thinking?  When I should have been praying for Nate I was fretting over votes.  Also, we are having to monitor my unborn child every week for some possibly worrisome complications and I care about a concert?

God caught hold of my heart, through scripture and a gentle prodding from the Holy Spirit.  It also helped that my friend, Matt from Of the Rescue actually voted for our band as well.  Talk about convicting!

When it comes down to it, if God wants our band to go further, He can do it.  If not, we can continue to bless our home Church and  tour until he says no more.
Please pray our main focus always stays on our Lord so we can continue to serve Him and fulfill our purpose as a worship band.

thanks,

-Dale

PS- Congrats to Of the Rescue, Bayless and Break the Fall for doing an awesome job! Way to go guys.

Just wanted you all to know some awesome tidbits about our Christmas EP: “Happy Christmas.”

#1. Suzuki of Wichita is underwriting the project.  They are paying for the costs so we can do something really awesome with it.  They are an amazing business and a great support to our music.  Check them out for parts, service, new cars and used cars.  You will love their people and prices.

#2. HALF the proceeds of the physical sales are going to the “Walking in the reign” ministry in Balan, Haiti.
This is one of the poorest cities in the Western Hemisphere! How awesome that God could use us for this cause.

#3. They are only $4 each so you can buy a bunch for stocking stuffers as well as gifts.

#4. We are doing a special concert on December 2nd for our CD release @ Mead’s corner.   You will not want to miss this.  Let’s just say it will be unique.

Also we are excited for Sunday September 11th where we lead worship at the very first service for City Life Church.

Stay tuned for more stuff.

Saturday night we led at Church Anew in Derby, KS.  It felt like we were around our family.  People shared yummy food with us and rocked out with us as well.
Sadly, some spooky looking rain clouds moved in and we had to finish early.  Hopefully someone will talk them in to having us back soon.

Today we played at BIKER Sunday in Andover Kansas.  This event is put on by Hope Community Church and they really care about these bikers.  They love them and continually do things to show said love.  Also the bikers were all really nice to us.

Finally, I just think it’s kinda cool that at every event we played at this week, there were people smoking.  While, I don’t think smoking is okay, I think it’s awesome to have people at Church events that feel comfortable enough to come even though they smoke.  It just means people are doing their job at being welcoming.  KUDOS to you, Church!

Once we had some water and some lunch we started to feel better.  Of course my car broke down making everything a little less easy.

Ekklesia was wonderful.  We felt so much love as we said our good byes.  It really is an amazing service and with the right effort could be an incredible blessing to the un-churched on the east side.  The entire band will be continuing with us as we move on to our next adventure.  We are going to be planting a Church in the heart of Wichita and we couldn’t be more excited.  It will be called “City Life Church” and Casey Casamento will be the awesome lead pastor.  I will function as the worship pastor.  Hopefully God will use us to reach some people who might never enter a Church building.  yay!

Several friends had to help us get our instruments and merch back to my house, while I waited for a tow at Eastminster.  It was beautiful to have so many people come to our aid.    I got home exhausted around 9pm.  Long day but a glorious, rough, wonderful, scary and beautiful one too.

We are playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday next week.  Hopefully we will see many you then.

Love and smoochies,

-Dale

A big thanks to Seth for getting this website up and going again.
This website should be a great place to get news about SLS, download chord charts, see when we are leading worship near you and a bunch of other stuff.

We certainly have a lot coming up.  We are leading worship one last time at Ekklesia this upcoming Sunday June 5th.
That day we are also playing at a floating stage at Wichita’s riverfest.

On June 10th we are playing at Mead’s corner with Of the Rescue and First and Foremost.  June 11th we are playing at a great Church in Derby.  June 12th we are playing something called Biker Sunday in Andover, KS.  There is more to tell you but for now I will just say stay tuned.

-Dale