main cow pic

12.23.09

the big jump

Filed under: life — 3:40 pm

I’ve spent nearly every free moment of december plowing through this thousand page manual.

the gospel according to Dreamweaver

And let me assure you that it’s twice as boring as you would imagine.  Maybe more.

But it’s time to finish my new website!

iWeb (the program used to create this site) has been good to me – everything mac does is great and easy to use.  But now I’m excited to take things to the next level.  And since I’m the most annoying combination of controlling and unskilled, I decided to buy Dreamweaver CS4 – AND “the missing manual” to jump into the deep end of web design.

My experience so far:

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But against all odds, things are beginning to come together.  I hope to launch a brand new version of aaronniequist.com – along with a free 5 song remix EP called “With Broken Wrists: The Alberta Remix” for download – by the end of January.  Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted!!!

merry christmas, friends.

12.11.09

we’re part of the Resistance

Filed under: God's movement,music,willow,worship — 4:12 pm

Of all my opportunities to lead worship throughout the years, last weekend may have been my favorite experience yet.  Really.  We began Willow’s “Just Christmas” series (three weeks of telling stories and looking at ways to serve and bring justice into the world) with something called “The Resistance Ache Experience”.

As you listen:  It’s about sixteen minutes long with three stories in the middle.  But make sure you get to the end. . .my mother-in-law brings the preaching thunder!  It’s also better if you can listen on headphones rather than computer speakers.

The music was good and the stories were inspiring, but it moved me deeply for two reasons:

(1) The entire service focused on joining God in what He’s doing to love and rescue this world.  We weren’t talking about buildings or membership or offerings or anything about willow. . .just serving and loving our neighbors.  I can get really cynical sometimes, but hearing stories of how normal people feed the hungry, mend the broken, love the forgotten, etc. move me every time.
I want to be more like them!

(2) This song, “The Resistance”, is as personal a song as I’ve ever written, and it was profoundly humbling to get to share it.  There were multiple moments when I just threw my head back and sang at the top of my lungs (even though Sharon was the one performing it. . .I hope I didn’t distract her!).  You can learn more about the song HERE, or read the lyrics below…

12.08.09

the Congo Benefit Project

Filed under: God's movement,music — 4:21 pm

Congo Benefit Project

A couple months ago, a mutual friend connected me with Justin Lavik and Ken Wystma to hear what they were doing to serve the Democratic Republic of Congo.  After hearing their heart and plan for approximately one minute, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  The Congo is currently in the worst humanitarian crisis since WWII, with 5.4 million people dying over the last ten years.  My mother-in-law just returned from a ministry trip there and told us absolutely heartbreaking stories.  How can this be happening on our planet in 2009?

And so yesterday, World Relief Next released a CD/DVD set of original music called “The Congo Benefit Project” where 100% of sales go directly to fighting for those caught in this crisis.  I’m humbled to have my song “Here Are My Hands” a part of it.

You can learn all about the project HERE and follow Ken’s blog HERE.

Please buy one…or ten!  Not only is it a way to use your money to make the world better, the CD
is actually full of great music.  Really!  I get so tired of most christian music, but this feels fresh and passionate and all about God’s burning heart for the world.  A couple of the tunes are already making their way into heavy rotation on my itunes.

So please spread the word – both about this CD and what is going on in our world.
We can do something. . .

The Making Of the Congo Benefit Project: In The Studio from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.