We have kept this pretty hush-hush for awhile, but we are excited to announce the newest member of Particle Blue, Bradley Martin, who will be our drummer! He has been playing with us since the end-ish of last year and we are stoked to have him join us as a full-time, official member. He rocks and can’t wait for everyone to hear him/meet him at our up coming shows.
More information on Bradley to come, but please show him some PB love!!
In other news, this summer, while Ash and Steph are settling in life as new parents (Steph is due in MAY!) we will be getting back in the studio to record more songs. We have two new songs in the works and plan for a third. If you haven’t purchased our EP yet, please have a listen. Every little bit helps.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” – Psalm 23:4
In 2008, my dad was diagnosed with liver cancer. On Saint Patrick’s Day, we found out that the cancer was so severe, that he wasn’t a candidate for a transplant. That was the second worst day of my life. My dad was an amazing man. Strong, fearless, dedicated—he was the ultimate fighter. He was my hero.
But he wasn’t just mine, he was everyone’s and I’m pretty sure he still is.
People take the news of sickness differently. Some fall into depression, some are the positive types and some sit back quietly, unable to soak in the truth—the truth that your hero is going to die. He’s going to leave you. And in such a dark world, that’s a pretty depressing thought, especially when I was just beginning my life. I had so much life for him to be there for, marriage, kids, careers, etc.
While everyone takes news like this differently, I took it horribly. I fell into a pit of depression, a place where I was sure God didn’t exist because if he did, he would have never threatened to take my dad away from me.
But I’m not going to talk about that right now, well, I am, but in a roundabout way. What I want to share, it what my aunt did. Because what she did changed my life.
She ordered these royal blue bracelets that say I DO NOT FIGHT ALONE. And everyone—I mean EVERYONE—in my family had one. From Florida to New York, we all wore them to support my dad, to tell him that even though he was suffering he was not alone. He were there for him. We were there for each other.
In May 2008, my brother got married and all my family came into town and we stayed at a hotel on St. Pete Beach. Everyone wore their bracelets and we looked like some kind of gang of blue bracelets. It was such an awesome feeling, to see so many people who loved my dad and wore those bracelets every day.
In October 2009, my dad passed away. In his casket was a small wicker basket where people could put their bracelets.
I didn’t put my bracelet in that basket. Those words, I DO NOT FIGHT ALONE, became a part of me. A part of my journey, because somewhere along the way, I found Jesus again. I learned to love him and I learned that he hadn’t betrayed me. Not one bit. I learned why this happened. I became born again, along with my then boyfriend/now husband, Josh.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about those words. That feeling of knowing you are not alone. Four years have passed since I got my bracelet and I still wear it every day, and every day I look down at it and think of my dad, but also, I think of how God is fighting with me, not against me. But even more, I am thinking about the others who are going through battles and feel alone, helpless, like they’ve been forgotten.
Today one of my good friends and I were talking about some struggles we’ve been having. I told her how I felt the same way and she said to me: “At least I know I’m not alone.” And I replied, “No, you’re definitely not alone.”
It got me thinking, how many times in life do we think we are alone? That we are fighting this huge battle, whether it be money, death, depression, suicide, divorce. weight loss or even struggling to find someone to share your life with, all by ourselves. I know I did, I still do sometimes. I had a huge family all in the same boat as me but I still felt alone, like I couldn’t talk to anyone because they didn’t understand and also, because I felt like they’d judge me.
I’m in the middle of putting an organization together, an outreach via internet (for now) where people can go and share their struggles and find others that are going through the same thing. If you are interested in being a part of it, or helping me spread the word, please let me know! I’ll also be selling those royal blue bracelets and if you come out to see Particle Blue at a show you can get a bracelet for *free*. There is strength in numbers and there is something so beautiful about knowing that there are others battling beside you.
Because you should never feel like you are fighting alone.
Don’t you love the cool Christmas logo Torrey made? I do. Such a creative guy! This has been an amazing year for us and I know we are excited to see what 2012 has to bring. Here are some fun, random pictures from 2011!
We have some very exciting news to share with everyone. Starting this week, Son Gear—an awesome Christian clothing company—launched something called Artist of the Week. Each week they select a Christian artist to be featured on their website. Also with that, they include a FREE DOWNOAD of one of the artist’s original songs.
Ready for the really exciting part? We are the first band EVER to be featured. If you haven’t heard our music yet, please head here to listen to a sample of DROWNING and get your free download. Because honestly, who doesn’t love free stuff?? Afterward, check out our three song EP and listen to something more upbeat!
Make sure you browse Son Gear’s online store, maybe buy a shirt or two to say thanks! We’d love to see some Son Gear attire out there at our shows. Also, check out their Facebook and support other Christian artists that you might not hear on the radio.
SPEAKING of radio…have you tuned into Lead Me to the Rock—an online Christian radio station—and listened for Drowning? You can also request it too!
Hope everyone is having an awesome Thursday, it’s almost Friday. Woohoo.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
-Psalm 121:1-2
Too often we dwell over the trials in our lives instead of seeing the positives. The last few weeks have been personally rough for me. Josh (my husband, the lead guitarist for those who don’t know) and I are looking for a place to move to, which is no fun at all. Cleaning and packing seems endless. It’s a blessing but still, not fun. Beyond that, the weight of life seemed to come crashing down on me and I felt really lost in the battle field unsure which direction to go. The road seemed too hazy to know where God wanted me. Patiently I stood back and waited…and still I am waiting. (It seems to be an ongoing struggle seeing as Italians are not the most patient people out there.)
The difference between now waiting and then waiting was how alone I felt. As followers of Christ we know to wait for his timing, but like so many, I struggle with wanting his timing to be the same as mine. That left me feeling alone, deserted, abandoned. While I knew God didn’t really abandon me, it didn’t stop that voice in my head from wondering…
But last week I felt pretty crappy and decided to stop at Starbucks for a pick me up. I ordered my pumpkin spice latte (Yay for fall!!) and when I pulled around to the window, the barista told me, due to the storms that just rolled through the power was out and I was the last one to get coffee and oh, another perk, it was free because the machines were down. If you are a coffee drinker like me and love Starbucks, you know who BIG of a DEAL it is because lattes are not cheap. As I pulled away the power flicked back on. Quickly I thanked God—a million times—and started my drive to work. Most don’t know, but I love clouds and the display was beautiful, matching with the rising sun, Chris August on the Joy FM and my pumpkin spice latte. My morning quickly turned around. It reminded me that God hasn’t forgotten about me. Despite the trials and the storms He’s putting me through, that free latte and beautiful display of clouds reinforced how God is there…watching me, helping me, guiding me. And I haven’t finished whatever mission He has me on…the waves are still beating me all around. God has a way of doing the smallest things—like creating a beautiful sunrise—to remind us just how powerful he is. HE is in control.
It made me realize how little time I spend looking at his creation and thanking him. I mean really, when was the last time we looked around us at the beautiful sky, the sun, the creation God made and just relished in the beauty we take for granted? Every day we rise and fall with the sun, but when was the last time you stopped and smelled the flowers? If you don’t live in Florida (Because our fall consists of 80’s and 90’s and beaches until December) fall is rushing in. soon the leaves will change and who doesn’t love fall? A crackling fires, burgundy leaves and pumpkin spice lattes (had to add it!). It’s one of the best seasons and easily the most beautiful—again, if you don’t live in Florida =). I could rattle on and on about fall, but I won’t.
The purpose of this post today was: If you’re going through a hard time, stop today and look at all the light surrounding us. God created it and He is an awesome, powerful God. We serve a God that breathes stars, a God that can change anything in an instant. No matter what trials you are going through know God has NOT forsaken you. He loves you and so do we!
God bless,
Angela
P.S. – Our 3-song EP is now available for download on iTunes, Amazon, Zune and other downloading sources. Let us know what you think and don’t forget to spread the word!
We spend so much time thinking about what others think of us. We try in every way to make others like us. We often do things that weigh on our minds but we try none the less to be what others expect us to be.
I myself have spent so much effort trying to be what others expect me to be. One thing I have realized in my 30 years is that we will never be perfect and we will never satisfy everyone all the time. The only one we should be interested in pleasing is our LORD our KING Jesus. I am sure many of you reading this have been told you are nobody and you will never amount to anything. I want to let you know that in the eyes of God you are more than you can imagine.You are a marvelous creation. I want to let you know that you are loved. Never let anyone tell you how worthless you are because it is a lie. Jeremiah 29:11 says
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
The age we live in expects a standard that can not be reached. A standard of beauty that is completely unreasonable . A manner of living financially that is unreasonable. I have heard many pastors talk about blessing financially. Many say that if you aren’t living the life of plenty then you are doing something wrong. This is a fallacy that is being taught in many churches across the US. This is just absurd because our King wants not that you be rich with coin but rich in love. This is the greatest gift that we can receive or give.
He has a great plan for us. So don’t listen to the negative things people have to say about you , but listen to what the word of God has to say about you. It says that God so loved this world that he gave His only son and that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16
Last night was an incredible experience for all of us. As a worship band, Particle Blue is familiar to the task of leading others in an incredible experience with God. However, the experience may have been felt more by the band as it appeared that Shepherd’s Heart Ministries actually ministered to the band. It was a spiritual experience like no other. We were humbled to see the sincerity of the church as they worshiped Christ. To be used by God in such a powerful way is truly awe-inspiring. We look forward to worshiping with Shepherd’s Heart Ministries more in the future!
Last Monday Josh, my fiancé and the lead electric guitarist, car broke down. Two weeks in a row, on a Monday, when it’s time for me to watch my programs. So when he called last Monday, a few minutes after I’d just spoken to him, the first words out of my mouth were, “If you’re calling to tell me your car broke down again, I’m going to freak.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
And I freaked, but only for a minute, I didn’t want him to feel bad, it’s not like he could control the car. After all, it’s a 1988 Buick LaSabre and we’re lucky the hunk of junk thing is still chuggin’ along.
While I selfishly thought of what I was missing on Monday, because of our transportation mishap, I forget how strangely awesome God is.
Turns out, on the ride home Josh and the tow truck driver had a long talk about God and the bible—and the book of Revelation—Josh has no fear, lol. He invited him to church and listened to his problems financially, and while I’ll never know what really happened on that ride home—partly because Josh forgets right away and then because it’s between him, the driver and God—but I know this…there’s a bigger picture. We hear it everywhere, we see the signs, it’s known, but how many times can you look back and be stunned and say, Wow, God, You are awesome and even though You strike at inconvenient times on my end, it’s the perfect time on Your end.
It goes back to the verses in the bible that talk about Gods timing. He doesn’t do things when we want them, He does it according to his plan. Sometimes it’s years, day, minutes. Sometimes he does things that you don’t want at all—like when a family member is ill or passes away. But there’s a purpose. A bigger picture, and if we can open our eyes and see past the silver lining around our little bubble, we might just get a glimpse of the miraculous things God has in store.
My purpose is, next time something happened that you don’t like—hence his car breaking down and me missing my shows—try and step back and see that maybe there’s a purpose for it. With God there’s always another level as long as you put your trust in him.
I’ll end with my favorite bible verse Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)
We have kept this pretty hush-hush for awhile, but we are excited to announce the newest member of Particle Blue, Bradley Martin, who will be our drummer! He has been playing with us since the end-ish of last year and we are stoked to have him join us as a full-time, official member. He rocks and can’t wait for everyone to hear him/meet him at our up coming shows.
