Happy Thanksgiving 2008! I pray you have a chance to celebrate God's blessings with those you love.

+ The River - Jimmie Bratcher
+ Go - Take No Glory
+ My Tainted Heart - Delilah Clark
+ There’s a Light/O Come All Ye Faithful - Darrell Smith

The free Take No Glory album I mentioned in the show is at TakeNoGlory.com!

New music, a remix of old music and a Christmas gem.

+ Stand Where You Are - Motorist Jones
+ Field of Dreams - Merry Lynn Kirk
+ I Will Not Be Silent 2008 remix - Recent Rainfall
+ The Wassail Song - Jim Goodrich

Starting to sense a little Christmas in the air - but then every day is Christmas, isn't it?

+ If You Love Me - Nathan Long
+ Rock of Safety - Bryan Murdaugh
+ Getting By - Tim Be Told
+ Silent Night - Sonic Deviant

Tanned and rested - well, rested at least. Welcome to the relaunch of Ikthuscast, Independent Christian Music: 15 minutes of Jesus twice a week!

+ New Beginnings - Free Reign
+ Prayer Room Floor - Rob Hainstock
+ Beautiful One - 38 Acres
+ Nothing - Scott Wilder

A funny thing happened after I "retired" — God kept sending people to this site and this podcast.

I posted that I was done on Oct. 1, and more people downloaded Ikthuscast in October than they had during September. I presume He was trying to tell me something.

New episodes of Ikthus are on the way. Watch this space. Spread the word (and The Word)!

I don't know what happened, really. I just woke up one morning, realized I hadn't done a podcast for a while, and my brain said, "That's OK, you're done for now."

I suppose I could write about the press of daily stuff — what B.W. Richardson refers to as "the quotidian' — but it's not that. Something inside just shifted and I didn't want to do podcasts. Nothing personal, I just had a "been there, done that" moment, and I don't have anything more to toss out.

Thanks for listening and God bless!

The scripture is 1 Timothy 1: 15-17

+ Whisper - Exit 417
+ Let the Lightflow In - Merry Ellen Kirk
+ Worship You - Rob Hainstock

Are summer reruns OK in podcasting? Originally posted Nov. 5, 2007 ...

+ Without End - Dan Ryker
+ Peace - Thad Helderman
+ Broken Years - One Day Remains
+ King of Kings - A Breath of Fresh Air
+ Precious is the Lamb of God - Dan Ryker

The music is the message ...

+ Flame - Wahba
+ Megastar - Free Reign
+ Hallelujah - 38 Acres

Troy Smith, Shawn Cole and Rachel Keagy: All yours!

+ Take Me As I Am - Troy Smith
+ In the Middle of Nowhere - Shawn Cole
+ I Am Not Alone - Rachel Keagy

Very tasty new music this time around ...

+ New Jerusalem - Delilah Clark
+ The Crowd - Kimia Penton
+ Light Sight - Free Reign

Hi to any and all visitors from Jt's Indie Christian Music Podcast — here's what we have for you this time around:

+ Hear Me Calling - Shawn Cole
+ Surrender - Merry Ellen Kirk
+ Billboard for the Lord - Eddie Darnell
+ Sweet Surrender - Rob Hainstock

I'm playing good Christian tunes while taking a week off from the day job — fun stuff like:

+ Love You Lord - Bryan Murdaugh with Total Strangers
+ Rejoice - Benjamin
+ Righteous Blues - Doomsayrz

A small pile of praise for your Thursday ...

+ Oh I Praise You - 38 Acres
+ Giver - Wahba
+ Write My Story - Air 5

Back in the saddle, refreshed and renewed and with another 15 minutes of Jesus ...

+ All I Need (10,000 Miles) - Air 5
+ Mercy - Jimmie Bratcher
+ Take Me Home - Delilah Clark

And click here to learn more about this weekend's Manly Man Conference in Green Bay!

I've been doing some musing of late about how to reboot my various creative efforts to improve the quality and consistency. The problem is not in your set. I hope to be completing the muse process in the very near future and bear some fruit.

Thank you for your patience, and feel free to browse to make sure you've sampled the entire 82-episode set of 15-minute doses of Jesus, starting from Day One.

Meanwhile, please stand by.

The problem is not in your set. We will resume regular podcasting once we resolve the problem. Thank you for your patience.

Jennifer Avalon, Free Reign, Michael Gomez and Troy Smith:

+ There’s An Open Door - Jennifer Avalon
+ Calling - Free Reign
+ Jesus or Scarface - Michael Gomez
+ Who I Used To Be - Troy Smith

Happy July 4 birthday, Turquoise Rose — and hi folks, here's a dose of freedom in Jesus for Independence Day!

+ Drive - Jimmie Bratcher
+ Still - Recent Rainfall
+ Beauty from Ashes - Turquoise Rose
+ Alive - Leah Martensen

The folks at Liberated Syndication say Ikthuscast blasted through its old record in June, with about a 40-50% increase in downloads from May. It's not a massive audience, but folks seem to keep coming back to see what's new. I feel blessed at the chance to share these terrific artists with you, and I hope you're enjoying these twice-weekly doses of Jesus!

I plan to keep bringing you the tunes as long as talented independent musicians keep praisin' the Lord and making their stuff available for podcasters like me. Thanks for listening and God bless!

Merry Christmas six months early ... for a reason.

+ O Holy Night - New Autonomous Folksingers
+ Carol of the Bells - The Hipcola
+ What Child is This - Cat Jahnke
+ We Three Kings - Motherlode
+ Gloria - Cat Jahnke

The program is Ikthuscast for Thursday, June 26 ...

+ O My Soul - Troy Smith
+ Echoes - Kerri Crocker
+ Jacob, Isaac, Abraham - Jennifer Avalon
+ Color Me - Tenth Hour Calling

It's the first Ikthuscast of the Summer of '08, so we're feeling upbeat and praising Jesus together, with:

+ Sunshine - Free Reign
+ Enter the Mystery - Michael Popenhagen
+ Good Morning - R. Swift
+ Praise the Lord - Rob Hainstock

Oops, I did it again — pay no attention to the guy who says "Monday, June 15" at the start of this show; we all know it's the 16th. Could I have some more coffee, please?

+ Fall Down - Last Day
+ Walk on Water - Offering
+ I Said "You're Lucky� - Sammy Barker
+ The Love You Have - Shawn Cole

Something different this time out: Spotlight on Take No Glory, a talented band of musicianaries. Here's their MySpace page, and here's a place where you can download their latest album, "Wake Me Up," for free.

The playlist for this show:

+ Blameless
+ Everyday Eternity
+ Dream
+ Wake Me Up

The top four tunes of 2008 so far on the Podsafe Music Network ...

+ Light of That Day - Mission 5:16 (#4)
+ Mercy Once Again - Recent Rainfall (#3)
+ Here and Now - Jessica Smith-Wright (#2)
+ Brand New - Kerri Crocker (#1)

A day late but full of good stuff ...

+ Micah 6:8 - Rob Hainstock
+ Milk and Honey - Jennifer Avalon
+ Hallelujah Chorus - Rob Astor
+ All I Have - Darrell Smith

More songs by old friends, or at least by folks who have been on this show before ...

+ What I’m Not - Leah Martensen
+ Make My Heart Your Home - Andrew Thomas
+ You Saved Me - Terrance Damien
+ You Are My Vision - Bree Noble

+ Keeping Hope Alive - Shawn Harris
+ Hear Me Calling - Shawn Cole
+ He Was - Jessica Vasquez
+ Wings - John Johnson

+ I Found My Way - Tony Martorana
+ One Man’s Story - A Breath of Fresh Air
+ Reason to Smile - Bree Noble

+ Wake Me Up - Take No Glory
+ You Are There - Eric Vardeman
+ Not in Vain - Jerimae Yoder

The theme this time is talented ladies sing traditional songs of faith ...

+ Softly and Tenderly - Jilleen
+ Wayfaring Stranger - Miss Behavin’
+ How Great Thou Art - Jessica Vasquez
+ Amazing Grace - Susan Bailey

Launching into a new Monday morning together ...

+ Jesus is the Way - Michelle Gold
+ In the Rain - Tony Martorana
+ Unfailing Love - Shawn Cole

Always great to hear these folks singin' fer Jesus:

+ This Road I Travel - A Breath of Fresh Air
+ Take It Back - Jimmie Bratcher
+ Restoration Song - Recent Rainfall
+ Sea of Hands - Ryan Lamb

As we close in on the end of our first year exploring independent Christian music together, it's interesting to see which shows are downloaded the most often (or maybe I should see which are downloaded the least so I know what to avoid!). I have to admit I don't see a pattern that makes one show more popular than another — or do I? Some of the same names pop up two or three times.

But FYI — and for your listening enjoyment between Monday and Thursday and Monday — here are the five most-downloaded Ikthuscasts as of this week:

Ikthuscast 24: Al Stravinsky, April Start, 38 Acres, Air 5 (PMN Top 4 of 2007 through August)

Ikthuscast 39: Sean Patrick, Ben Vega, Merry Ellen, Lynn Breaux, Jim Goodrich

Ikthuscast 5: Covenant, Sweet Crystal, Tara Leigh Cobble, Miss Behavin'

Ikthuscast 44: Air 5, Bill Tucker, Susan Bailey, Country Drive, 38 Acres (New Year's Eve)

Ikthuscast 27: Air 5, Jilleen, Paul Lisney, Susan Bailey

Coming up tomorrow in #67: A Breath of Fresh Air, Jimmie Bratcher, Recent Rainfall and Ryan Lamb!

If I may be so bold ... we kick off with "Don't You Worry" by w.p. bluhm, followed by:
+ Shine - Kerri Crocker
+ Crown of Thorns - Shawn Harris
+ Your Word - Jessica Vasquez

It was a long hard winter in Northeast Wisconsin — although actually they got more snow in southern Wisconsin. Now, those folks really had a hard time! But now it's time to take care of all that green stuff that's starting to grow outside.

But I'd like to get back on schedule bringing you the very cool songs by the talented musicians who are featured on "Ikthuscast." Stay tuned and keep subscribed!

Another quartet of life-changing messages ...

+ Midnight Shadows - Last Day
+ You Alone - Tenth Hour Calling
+ By Faith - Jessica Vasquez
+ I Wanna Go - Air 5

A shout-out to the American Idols and three great tunes ...

+ Almost Slipped Away - Michelle Gold
+ Grown Up Lullaby - Offering
+ Armour of God - Spiritual House

I'm having a time remembering where I am this week — after getting the date wrong Monday, this time I welcome you to Ikthuscast 62. This, of course, is show #63. I am just an imperfect vessel ...

+ I AM I Am Yours - Sarah Bauer
+ I Heard Jesus - Bill Tucker
+ Where Will I Run - Shawn Cole
+ Be The Clay - Matt Brady

Should I redo the whole show because I say "Monday, April 6" when it's really April 7? Nah, nobody's perfect ...

This time we have a couple of new artists to the show and a couple of familiar friends:

+ Lightning - Spiritual House
+ God Forgive Me - Michelle Gold
+ Hold My Hand - Air 5
+ To Him Are All Things - Katuv

More tunes from some familiar voices ...

+ Coming Round - Redding Brothers
+ Only One Day - Motorist Jones
+ Teach Me Your Ways - Recent Rainfall
+ No Pretense - Jimmie Bratcher

What's on tap this time:

+ I Never Asked You - A Breath of Fresh Air
+ All You Need - Shawn Cole
+ Find Your Power in Love - Delilah Clark
+ Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious - Paul Lisney

Old friends Bree Noble, 38 Acres and Sarah Bauer sing for us!

We're in a blues-rock groove this time around with:

+ Bad Religion - Jimmie Bratcher
+ Liar - Project Damage Control
+ Evidence - Jerimae Yoder
+ Light My Path - Brian Kelley (mellow bonus track!)

He is risen! And here's a great illustration of how the same words can send completely different messages.

The sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of His Resurrection are all wrapped up in this one ...

+ Eyes - Nancy Krebs
+ When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Jilleen
+ The Good News - Cilium Damage
+ Everybody - 38 Acres

Here's a little bit more about Sarah Bauer, whose work has appeared on Ikthuscast 38, Ikthuscast 51 and Ikthuscast 55.

"In God I trust; I will not be afraid, What can man do to me?" — Psalm 56:11

+ Every Day of My Life - Jonathan Roberts
+ Amazing Grace - Dee Dee Downs
+ Clouds - The Redding Brothers
   (and check out the story and song from their scary night in Atlanta)
+ Your Love - Red Runs Deep

Thanks for making Ikthuscast the #9 Christian music podcast at Godcast 1000. In a mellow mood today as Northeast Wisconsin thaws out outside at last!

+ Speak to Me - Bree Noble
+ A Simple Life - Terrance Damian
+ Extraordinary - Sarah Bauer

From Green Bay to Hattiesburg and other points east and west, here are four more tunes by folks who like to sing for the Lord ...

+ Walk Away - Ryan Meyers Band
+ Brand New - Kerri Crocker
+ Power to Believe - Johnny Proctor
+ All I Need is You - Mission 5:16

Kerri Crocker has a new CD, "Reason to Be" — Here's a video from her CD release party of the song "Echoes." Listen for another new tune in Monday's podcast.

It's all about the music, and the music is all about Jesus:

+ "Nails and Thorns," Steven Stewart
+ "Renewed," Delilah Clark
+ "I Wanna Be," Megan Pettingill
+ "Never Ending Love," Matthew Casteel

Dan Ryker sings "Oh My Jesus" ... Susan Bailey turns in "Simon Son of John" (see her sing it below) ... and Cameron Blake finishes up with "Hallelujah." When all three songs are more than five minutes long, it's a fast 15 minutes!

Johnny Proctor starts us off with a sixties-style vibe called "Childlike Faith."

Then Jimmie Bratcher takes us to Matthew 14:29 when Peter finds what it's like to "Get Out the Boat."

I get up the nerve to share a little bit of my music, a song called "My Sacrifice," and then Sarah Bauer finishes up the show with "See Me Through."

I love this song.


We live, we love,
We forgive and never give up
'Cause the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love.

I'm feeling better and ready to jump back into the routine — watch for a new show Thursday featuring the music of Johnny Proctor, Jimmie Bratcher, Sarah Bauer and a youngish man named w.p. bluhm.

I don't know how many folks might come based on this little podcast, but I thought you should know Saturday's Jimmie Bratcher concert at Celebration Church in Green Bay was postponed. The massive snowstorm last weekend forced cancellation of services, and they'd been counting on the Sunday service to promote ticket sales. I'll let you know when it's rescheduled.

I'm feeling better and hope to be back behind the mic soon! Thanks for your prayers.

So here I was, looking forward to doing a couple more Ikthuscasts this weekend and working along doing my thing, which got me home late Thursday night.

It seems I have a touch of stomach flu or something, and I didn't notice how queasy it was making me until I lost consciousness and landed with a thud on the bathroom floor. After a few minutes, I heard shouting in the distance, and as I became more aware again, I realized it was Red yelling at the 911 operator that launching the ambulance was more important than telling the operator what my birthday is. She's very practical that way. She had heard the crash, pushed her way into the bathroom and found me lying completely unresponsive with my head bent over the side of the tub. The poor thing thought I'd had a stroke, which runs in my family.

I'll spare you the gruesome details, but the bottom line seems to be that I had gotten myself dehydrated, and several hours and a couple of saline bags later, I came home for a long wintry weekend of convalescing. The experience has sapped some of my ambition for podcast-producing, so I hope you'll forgive a slight delay. Tank you berry much.

Ikthuscast turns 50 with this episode. In terms of quantity, it passed my other podcast, Uncle Warren's Attic, the other day. Part of the reason is that one takes a little more work, but it's also a sign that I'm enjoying this gig too, and it's fun sharing the work these talented musicians are doing for God.

In Ikthuscast 50:
+ Without End - Dan Ryker
+ Three Chords - The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher
+ You Alone - A Breath of Fresh Air

As an added bonus here's a video of Jimmie Bratcher, who performs Feb. 23 at Celebration Church in Green Bay:

Playing the song "Dance With You" in Monday's show reminded me of this dance skit that a friend sent me one day ... 

Another 15-minute blast of independent Christian music:

Dance With You - Take No Glory
Mercy Once Again - Recent Rainfall
Here and Now - Jessica Smith-Wright

She sang this song at the Cup O Joy Coffeehouse in Green Bay last month - very powerful by itself and even more so with the images.

A good way to get a little praise and wisdom into your daily routine is to spend each month negotiating through Psalms and Proverbs. I start with the chapter corresponding to the date and read every 30th Psalm, then the corresponding chapter in Proverbs. For example, today I'll read Psalms 9, 39, 69, 99 and 129 along with Proverbs 9, which includes the gem in verse 10 (NIV):

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

I've heard that the word for "fear" translates better as "awe," which makes more sense to me, since our God is indeed an awesome god.

Michael Popenhagen performs at Resurrection Life Church in Richland, Mich. From the album "Enter the Mystery" ...

The big winter storm missed Green Bay this time - but we're praying for the folks in southern Wisconsin - 20 inches of snow in some spots! - along with the families struck by the tornadoes down south.

As for the show this time around:
+ Just Like Peter - A Breath of Fresh Air
+ More Like You - Matt Brady
+ Baptism - Motorist Jones
+ I Wonder As I Wander - Motherlode

The first song I ever played on "Ikthuscast" gets its own video from 38 Acres ...

A taste of Sunday morning at Green Bay's Celebration Church. Actually, this is a sample of Pastor Mark Gungor's other gig, a marriage seminar called "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage."

Together again - thanks for your patience!

+ Grab the Truth - Mission 5:16
+ Oh I Praise You - 38 Acres
+ Bless and Keep You - Recent Rainfall

OK, it's hard to get tanned and rested when you wake up Sunday morning and it's 13 below zero, but the vocal chords are rested, the cats have received enough attention, and I'm preparing for a return to the airwaves — err, to the podwaves — as February arrives.

In addition to playing with the kitten, I have been ramping up a venture that involves the ubiquitous Brian Wilson Richardson, whose novel The Imaginary Bomb was the subject of my first podcasting venture the summer before last. The I-Bomb is finally available in print form, and as editor and publisher I heartily recommend you consider parting with a modest amount of money so you can hold this little effort in your own hands. The goal is to publish four different books this year, and this is the first.

Watch for a resumption of podding behavior the morning after the Super Bowl, which proceeds, alas, without my beloved green-and-gold.

Cross-posted to Uncle Warren's Attic

For a variety of reasons, I'm temporarily suspending my podcast activities, but I assure you the passion remains and I don't intend for this to be a lengthy break. I apologize to anyone who looks forward to these little bursts of creativity.

In the meantime, enjoy the upcoming NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. Go, Pack, Go!

Some new voices and a familiar favorite or two ...

+ Light of That Day - Mission 5:16
+ God is Good - John Johnson
+ Silent Night - Aaron English
+ Love of My Life - Jessica Smith-Wright
+ Open The Door - Take No Glory

We launch the new year - with links to the artists:

+ You Are I Am - 38 Acres
+ Communion Call - John Newton
+ Ask Jesus to Wash Away Your Sins - Dee Dee Downs
+ Eyes - Nancy Krebs
+ Declare Your Glory - Recent Rainfall

Happy New Year!

+ Here's Me Letting Go - Air 5
+ Hallelujah - Bill Tucker
+ Amazing Grace - Susan Bailey
+ Billboard for the Lord - Country Drive
+ Hallelujah - 38 Acres

A reprise of some of the best songs that have appeared on Ikthuscast so far:

+ G.R.A.C.E. - Shawn Cole
+ Rocka My Soul - Miss Behavin’
+ I’ll Follow You - Ben Vega
+ Shut Up and Pray - Leah Martensen
+ I’m Amazed - Michael Popenhagen

We celebrate with music and memories - the music provided by:

+ Cat Jahnke - "Rise Up Shepherd and Follow" and "O Holy Night"
+ Motherlode - "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella"
+ Tequila Mockingbirds - "Greensleeves (What Child is This)"
+ Admiral Twin - "We Three Kings"
+ Merry Ellen - "O Come All Ye Faithful"
+ Karmyn Tyler - "Stille Nacht/Silent Night"

Merry Christmas everyone!

And send me a note - or leave a comment - with suggestions for the year-end shows. What were the best songs you've heard on the show since we started this summer?

Just barely still Thursday but I made it!

+ You Always Amaze Me - Jon Weems
+ The Sanctuary (beat mix) - Paul Lisney
+ The Unaccepted Gift - Gary Sundblad
+ Mary Did You Know - Nancy Krebs

Check back Monday morning for the Christmas Eve show!

Whaddaya mean it's Thursday? Oh my goodness!

I took a couple of days off from work this week and, well, sort of lost track of the time. Now, that's what I call an effective vacation! However, it meant waking up Thursday morning and discovering - it's Thursday! And what's Thursday? Lemme see ... lemme see ... something about a podcast ... yeah ... a healthy dose of Jesus twice a week, Monday and -- oops!

I ask a thousand pardons and ask you to watch this space for a new podcast -- maybe even before Friday gets here. Sorry, friends!

+ O Come O Come Emmanuel - Cat Jahnke
+ You Know Me - Michelle Gold
+ One Christmas - Al Stravinsky
+ Medley from “A Guitar’s Carol� - Keith Cooper
+ O Come All Ye Faithful - Jill Parr

This is kind of a "do-over" edition to introduce the artists you only heard without much comment last week in #37 ...

+ Invisible - Sean Patrick
+ I’ll Follow You - Ben Vega
+ O Holy Night - Merry Ellen
+ You Never Knew Me - Lynn Breaux
+ Coventry Carol - Jim Goodrich

+ Radiance - Sarah Bauer
+ Dayenu (It Would Have Been Enough) - Michelle Gold
+ Here’s Me Letting Go - Air 5
+ Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - Miss Behavin’
+ The Word - Tara Leigh Cobble

+ O Come O Come Emmanuel - Merry Ellen
+ Deck the Halls - Jim Goodrich
+ Don’t Fall Behind - Sean Patrick
+ Peter’s Song - Lynn Breaux
+ Silent Night - Ben Vega

+ Jesus Loves Me - Cilium Damage
+ No Way I Am Not Ashamed - Kurtis Parks/Recent Rainfall
+ You’ve Been So Good to Me - Damascus Dawn
+ Do You Hear What I Hear - Jill Parr
+ Capture My Heart - Mustard Procedure