FUNKY MAMA'S NEW ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!!

I could hardly wait until sunrise to post this...

"WORD!" is now ready for download through CD Baby!

Here is the link:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/funkymama4

Please spread the "WORD!" and share this post with as many friends as you can or link up to the download. It was a lot of fun to record and I hope many of you pass it on to your churches and any Children's Ministry workers you know.

Enjoy!

Love, Funky Mama

NEW ALBUM SONG PREVIEW plus some musings on faith...

So 10 tracks later...here we are with the new Funky Mama CD, "WORD!"

It's not available for download just yet, but will be in the next 2 weeks.
Until then...
Here is the next to last track "The Lord Bless You."
It comes from a blessing the Lord gave to Moses. (It's found in Numbers 6, if you have a Bible handy.) That's in the Old Testament, friends. Don't feel bad about using the Table of Contents in the front of the Bible. That's what it's there for!
This is often used as the Benediction (the sending or ending of a Christian service), so it's usually heard more quietly than my version, I'm sure, but I like to leave church with a bounce.



As I said in my last post, each track on this album is inspired by scripture or IS scripture being sung.
The style of this album is eclectic! I have hip-hop tunes, bluesy tunes, rock tunes and tunes like the one above which is just plain fun.

The MUSINGS start here...
I've had one inquiry about this new musical direction,
"What about your fans who aren't Christians? Will they want to listen to this?"

Let's talk about it.
When I had the fortunate blessing of teaching preschool music at Congregation Beth Shalom 6 years ago, I was listening constantly to music in Hebrew, learning the Hebrew alphabet ("Alef Beit Vet/Gimmel Dalet Hai..." I still remember most), and preparing to help with Shabbat singing, I was one of a few Christians in that beautiful place (maybe the only one).  My children also listened to all those CDs in Hebrew and went to many a Shabbat time with me. We were welcomed with open arms and my questions were answered with patience and without judgment. All the teachers there knew I was a Christian, AND they supported my music and who I was in my faith. I respected them and they respected me. It was a pretty easy relationship.
In fact, I can probably attribute the early success of Funky Mama Music to the families and teachers of Beth Shalom spreading the word about me across Kansas City. (And to Ms. Judy~the preschool's director~ who cooked for me herself in my kitchen after I gave birth to my 2nd son and forgot the favorite salad dressing, ran home to get it, came back and served my husband and I a meal while she held the baby. THAT is fellowship and love among sisters of different faiths.)

Do you know that I have texts of other faiths (mainly Judaism) in my home? I enjoy them so much. I believe this type of exploration only enriches my faith as a fully-devoted follower of Christ. I mean, Jesus was Jewish and I want to know the traditions, rituals, prayers, and festivals in which he and his family participated and made the fabric of their lives. His parents' revolved their lives around this faith, so I feel it's pretty important to study!

So, if you are a parent who has liked my music in the past, but isn't a Christian, please consider giving this a listen anyway.
I pray it opens up a dialogue about faith that is grace-filled and loving. I love to know people's stories and this album tells you a little bit more about mine.
Peace.

Dinners will be burned...

So, I write music.
Often, it comes to me while I'm barely awake or I dream it up or I wake up with a melody in my head then start a desperate search for a rhythm to match before I'm able to function like a normal person.
I'm mean, I've burned a dinner or two...or three...being distracted by recording or writing something. Enchiladas have never been so decimated in a pan as when Funky Mama is at the computer with headphones on.
Cookies have deteriorated into a charcoalish abyss in the bottom of the oven.
I should know better than to try and get out what's in my head at any time near 5:30pm.

This being said...
Dinners will be burned at my house soon. I guarantee it.

The reason is because I am releasing a new digital album called
 "WORD!" 
It's my first release in over 3 years with the Funky Mama name attached to it and it's part of a new adventure for me and my business. It will be available only online through CD Baby and eventually itunes.
Let's me 'splain...

All tracks written for WORD! are based on scriptures from the Bible. I'm a Christian. I like to talk about my faith and I especially like to sing about my faith. I've been a worship leader, as well as a worshiper. Christians often refer to the Bible as God's Word or simply, the Word.

I've also co-founded a Bible-based performing arts ministry for children called WordOne Arts and I write music for the ministry that is used in our workshops.
I have always felt Funky Mama was a ministry of its own. I have been so blessed to share my heart with people at my shows and hear their stories. I've been welcomed into homes and families and celebrations and sorrows.

If you know me well, you know I don't really have two separate personas. I'm a mom and Christ follower who happens to be called Funky Mama. I would like for people to get to know me through my music a little bit better at this stage of my life.
Even more than that, I'd like them and their children to get to know Christ.

I realize this CD might not appeal to everybody, but it will to some.
I hope it is received in the happy spirit with which I am offering it!
Bless you for all the support!

"Durp" Dissertation

DURP.
D..U..R..P.
I didn't know what it meant either until I heard it come out of my 4th grader's mouth as he got home from the 1st day of school this week. I thought it might be an acronym or code or something.
So, I asked him the obvious, "Durp. What in the world is durp and why are you saying it?"
Kid: "It means stupid or dumb."
Me: "Oh. Why are you saying things are 'durp'?"
Kid: "It's just a word, Mom. I'm not calling someone a durp! I wouldn't do that. I'm just saying it."
Me: "So I don't need to be worried about this word? You know we aren't going to say it toward anyone..."

Sidenote: The word "stupid" is rarely allowed in our house unless some outrageous action warrants the use of the word to have a teaching moment. Other words not allowed: bored, crap, shut up, sucks, butt, and any commonly-known curse words.  

In our home we have a phrase: It's not what you hear, it's what you say.

My guys hear a lot of words at school and just about everywhere else that we choose not to say in our home. They know a "red light" word--you know, the ones that come on TV and their little heads immediately whip around to see my reaction. I'm glad we've trained them that way.
Word have such power. They can start ridiculous emotional fires in a young heart.

To continue my conversation with my son, I told him it seemed like an okay use of "durp" would be if someone was truly doing something harmful or bullyish to another kid. Use "THE DURP" for good!
Here are some examples:

"Hey, you just told me my signed Billy Butler card was a fake in front of the whole class. Don't be durp!" (This actually happened yesterday, by the way.)

"You sneaked candy from Ms. M's desk. Dude, that's so durp."

So...durp. Now you know. A teaching word.

The note I put in his lunchbox today read: "Watch out for 'durps.' Love, Mom."