T-shirts and more!

Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your support and help as we launch this ministry! I've got a couple things I'd like to share with you all!

First- the official BZBand t-shirts are now available for $10. http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/ is where you can view a picture of the band wearing our own t-shirts! :)

Second- This upcoming week we have several things going on. Wednesday night we are leading worship at Calvary Chapel Aurora's wednesday night service. It is going to be really amazing! That starts at 7 PM at the southeast corner of Tower and Hampden in Aurora! http://www.calvaryaurora.org/. On Friday night Ben is leading worship for Calvary's college service "Chosen Generation." You're more than welcome to come to this intimate time of worship! That starts at 7:30 at the same location as the aforementioned Calvary Aurora! Finally, Friday LATE night Ben Greta and Caleb will pull of a three piece band for Friendship Baptist Church's youth group lock-in. It is in Bailey and is slated to begin after midnight which I guess makes it Saturday rather than Friday! Woohoo...we're young!

Third- Just continue to pray that the Lord provides us with opportunities to proclaim His life changing message into hard and broken places. We have some exciting things up our sleeves that the Lord continues to open for us! Thanks again so much!

For His renown,
BenZ

www.myspace.com/benzornesband
http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/
http://us.f581.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

We won...we cried...we...

So it was an eventful day. Wow...how profound. After 5 songwriting sessions...Ben's results came in. I didn't win...but!!!! I was told that it is clear that I have a love for God's word unlike any 20 year old they'd ever met...and I'm not even twenty!!! haha. God had been laying on my heart before we came that I am required by Christ's sacrifice to bodly proclaim His empowering work in our life. But then we found out about a "emergency" back home in Colorado that saddened our hearts. Please be praying for our families as we seek to finish our mission here and get back to our families safely. But finally, we found out that I am the Northeast Artist's Guild National Expressive Arts Conference Champene Vocalist. I am very blessed to be the winner of the vocal competition.

"And when I'm doing well...help me to never seek a crown,
For my reward is giving glory to you!"

For His renown I'll Cry Glory,
BenZ

Our Thursday Evening

The BZB spent the evening with a one Ali Anderson. She's an expert in all things stage communication oriented. We learned how to craft better set lists. How to engage you, our 12 fans. :) And that Caleb should twirl hius drumsticks...sweet! And Greta now has permission to move her feet and to probably sing too. Mrs. Lane heard Manning preach and was really blessed. Mrs. Zornes learned how to write songs with Sue Smith. Thanks so much for being there and supporting the work God is calling us to. Oh and we met all sorts of "neat" people...read in between the lines. :)

For His renown,
BenZ

Thursday Morning and Afternoon!

howdy every body.

This is Caleb writing for the BZBand straight from New Jersy. Today was pretty uneventful(aka-boring.) We went to the church to help setup and wound up not doing anything for about 6 hours. We were able to practice some of our music but all in all we had very little to do.

so thats it.
Bye.

More Pix

David Crowder's Music video.
Us watching Crowder's new video...and laughing...!
Ben and Caleb doing whatever it is we do!

No matter where he lead's I'll cry glory. The t-shirts have arrived!

April 11, 2007

Hey everybody, Ben here…sitting at DIA waiting for a winter storm in Chicago to clear up so we can leave…we were supposed to leave at 9:40. It is now 10:08. Man! Caleb is ill. He feels sick to the stomach. I told him that’s what chipotle does at 3:00 AM in the morning. He’s like really gray. Looks like he didn’t sleep at all last night and being in uncomfy airport chairs doesn’t help. Whatever! Hopefully all this clears up soon and we can head out. I hope. Oh, and this is Mrs. Lane’s second time flying…ever. Pretty exciting stuff that!

For His renown,
BenZ

We had about 30 minutes in the Chicago airport. It wasn't very much fun. Didn't get any lunch. Barely got to use the restroom. The djembe didn't fit in the overhead bin. Etc. So that was our layover in chicago.

BenZ

We finally got to Philly. Our luggage hadn't made it on the same flight we did out of chi-town. So we waited for the next flight from Chicago to bring our suitcases and stuff. They came, we got our rental van. We went to Wendy's (the offical sponser of the BZB).

It is now 10:30 EST and we're just settling into our hotel room.

Caleb wants me to tell everyone that he's not dead. He didn't die either. And he probably won't. And I hope he doesn't because I'm sharing a room with him and it'd be really creepy to sleep with a dead person in the room.

Greta want's me to inform all of our 10 adoring fans, that Southwest airlines needs to patent a plane that has one wing turned up and one wing turned down. So that the plane spirals the entire flight. Kind of like a 3 hour roller coaster. You know, like the paper airplanes.

We had a very enjoyable time hanging out and keeping each other in tolerably good moods.

1 peter 1:13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.

The Schedule...otherwise known as our attempt at order.

This is not super detailed but here's a shot at our schedule for this week!

Wednesday
Wednesday 9:00 AM- flight leaves with Ben, Caleb, Greta, Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Zornes. Pray for safety in our travels and for the people we will cross paths with that we could possibly share Christ with.
Wednesday Noonish-We arrive at Chicago Midway for a two hour layover. Hopefully Greta and I will be able to blog on something we discuss on the flight!
Wednesday 5 PM EST - We arrive in Philly, pick up our rental car and either head to the hotel for rest and relaxation or over to a BBQ for all the Clinicians and Record label people. Somehow we got invited :). We'll hope to update ya'll sometime Wednesday night.
Wednesday Lateish- We will try to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and get some much needed rest. Pray that we get great rest.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Thursday- Most of Thursday will be a lot of workshops, hanging out, getting to know people kind of stuff. Be praying that we make the most of these opportunities.

Thursday 7:00-10:00 PM EST- We will be participating in an "effective stage communication master class." That's the exact title. I guess these artistic people like really long titles. We will be learning how to more effeciently communicate the gospel from the stage. Body movement and posture and all that good stuff. Please pray that we have teachable spirits and humble hearts.

Thursday 11:00 PM EST-Hopefully be getting in bed. Again great sleep will be much needed!

Psalm25: 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Friday- This one's the biggie! This is the competition part of the weekend!

Friday 8:00 AM EST- The day starts with Margaret Becker leading worship and some opening information kind of stuff.

These are the time slots that I've signed up for with the song I'll be playing. (Remember these are all EST times):
Song Writing I: __ (1) ___11:00_____ Time Cannot Remember
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___10:20_____ Awesome Creator
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___ 2:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:50______Glorious King of Glory
Vocal Critique ___ (1) ___ 3:20______ I'll Cry Glory

Also, we're not sure yet when Caleb will be doing a vocal critique but we'll keep you updated. Oh, and he's gonna play either Everlasting God, Here I am to Worship, or Blessed Be Your Name. Be praying that he can do it strong and proclaim the message clearly!

Here's an excerpt from the rules of the songwriting/vocal competition :
"At the end of the afternoon please return to your songwriting/vocal room to determine if you received the highest score in your room. All Room Winners Must Go To Room. #11/#13 for songwriting/vocal finals. Room Winners will be asked to perform live or/play their CD again for all the songwriting/vocal judges to determine the 1st place song/vocalist."

So now we're all clear right!

If you are the winner of any category you get to perform 2-3 songs for all the attendees sometime between 4:30 and 6:30. So, we'll do our best to keep you up to date on whether we get to do that.

Oh and on friday Greta will be going to more workshops to sweeten her already sweet bass skills!

Friday Night- There's a concert that we may or may not attend depending on if we win or not or if we are too tuckered out to do anything but go back to the hotel for a nice relaxing soak in the hot tub!

On Friday, just pray simply for humility. It is such an easy thing to think that I'm the best songwriter or Caleb and I are sweet vocalists, but truth be told we are simply dust that has been created to showcase to the world that Christ is our treasure! Be praying that we simply and effectively communicate to everyone we contact on Friday, that Jesus Christ didn't come and die so we could be comfortable. He died to free us from ourselves and live out His amazing life in our yielded lives.

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Saturday

8:30 AM EST- Jeff Nelson (a worship songwriter, you've probably sung his songs), will be opening the day with a worship service. He's a really humble genuine guy.

Saturday all day EST- We'll be in workshops and other exciting stuff. We may meet with some record labels and A&R people and famous people. Pretty exciting. Pray that we are simply bold and courageous in our stand for truth and integrity in the christian music industry. Pray that we stand steadfast on our convictions and that God uses us to impact the industry. Pray that we are uncompromising!

Saturday 4:00 PM EST- Caleb Greta and myself will get to participate in the NEAG Mass Choir during this concert of praise. The awards for Friday will be given and we'll sent out.

Saturday Night- We'll probably be helping with tear down and saying goodbye's, celebrating all that we've learned. Pray for safety in the tear down phase...and for a servants heart for the entire weekend. I really hope that we can be an example of Christ-like servanthood. And then we'll get back to the hotel and rest.

Pray again for steadfastness for us!

Phillipians 3: 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Sunday

Sunday Morning- We'll be packing up our stuff and checking out of the hotel by around 10:00 AM EST. We'll probably do some sort of sight-seeing. But we're hoping to be really taking it slow and just relaxing for a long day of travel!

Sunday 3:00 PM EST- Check in at Airport...wait in airport for a while...wait to board the plane...wait for the plane to take of...strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!

Sunday 5:00 PM EST- We're supposed to be heading to Chi-town by now. Pray again for safety.

Sunday 7:00 PM CST- Land in Chicago...short layover...head to Denver...yeah man!

Sunday 9:45 PM MST- Home sweet home...the Lord will be our protection and provision! Anyone is welcome to come welcome us home. We'd love to see all of you!

Sunday 10:30 PM MST- Hopefully be headed home for a good night sleep...and then I have to go to work at 8:30 the next morning! I love being a starving artist!

I hope this clears things up...make sure to check the blog often. Greta and I are gonna be amazing bloggers...you guys gotta keep us accountable on that! I'll leave you with such an encouraging and humbling verse. This verse has been opening my heart to some new ventures for the BZB...you'll hear more about that when we get back!

Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing

For His renown I'll cry glory!
BenZ

The BZB heading to the East Coast

Hey everyone, I am so thankful to all of you for supporting us and coming to our worship concerts and buying the CD's and signing up to receive long overdue...email updates!!! So here's the skinny...five-fourths of the BZB is heading to the east coast (Marlton, New Jersey to be precise...it's near Philly) for the Northeast Artists Guild Expressive Arts Conference. Why they didn't choose a simpler name for the conference I have no idea! But the deal is this...I'm gonna be entering the songwriting competition and I'm entering the following songs (unless God says otherwise): I'll Cry Glory, Awesome Creator, Glorious King of Glory, and the brand spanking new song...Time Cannot Remember (this song is incredible, I feel so blessed that God has entrusted this song to me I can't wait for you all to hear it). Also, I will be competing in the vocal competition AND Caleb will also be entering the vocal competition...betwix the 2 of us maybe we'll do well! Anyway, I will be posting our schedule and other nitty gritty details on the blog thingy here, for those of you who have nothing better to do than read blogs all day! Anyway, be praying for Caleb and Greta and Momma Z and Momma Lane and myself as we travel! And check out blog!

For His renown!
BenZ