Andrew Peterson’s Counting Stars releases today.

After listening to this record (which I got to do for the first time on Sunday), I wanted to sell my house and buy a copy for every person I’ve ever met.

I haven’t done the math on that (not one of my strengths), but you get the idea. You know something is special when you have an immediate, overwhelming desire to share it with others for their good. And this record is so very good in so many ways.

Counting Stars continues Andrew’s uncanny record of hitting me simultaneously like a new piece of art that astounds, while feeling as familiar as the natural soundtrack to my family’s life.

With each successive song-story you find yourself going deeper into the mystery and magic of the world God made, but it is not always “new” ground. It is only that Andrew can call your attention to what you failed to see before, but might if you try (or stop trying). He is not content to let ordinary be bland, he will say something about magic. Here are songs about loving your wife (or husband), looking in on sleeping kids, planting trees, and hope in the night. All told by a wordsmith who is more like a wizard than an ordinary singer-songwriter.

He offers here a humble tonic against ingratitude. A poem for the glory of ordinary chores. A thin place where the wall between the divine and the plain is tenuous at best.

On this record, as you may guess from the title, Andrew again alludes to Abraham. This is one of my favorite recurring flavors of his musical catalog. He makes us feel like we serve and love the same God that Abraham did, not by diminishing the patriarch, but by putting us in our place –surrounded by the love of that same God.

The Magic Hour is one of the songs on Counting Stars, but it also describes my experience of listening to the entire record.

Get yourself a copy here, so I don’t have to sell my house.

Note: Tonight a 8pm (EST) Andrew will be playing a Counting Stars concert live on the internet. He will be standing on the internet, playing. See about it here.

KATIE HERZIG & MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES “WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN” (LIVE) from SITUATION OPERATION on Vimeo.

1. Andrew won a Christy Award for writing the very best Young Adult novel in what is known as the Christian market for North, Or Be Eaten! Bravo! Well done. It’s an amazing book, as is its predecessor, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. His literary career is on the ascent and well-deserved it is. I love his music, but I think he might end up being a better author at the end of the day.

2. Speaking of his music, his new record is available for pre-order now. Go here to see the various ways you can support AP’s work and support your own ears (and heart) by putting your order in today. I just finished watching the video for “Dancing in the Mine-Field.” Another grown-up love song from AP in the tradition of “Don’t Give Up On Me” and others. Having just gone over the ten year mark with my wife, I was moved once again by AP’s gift for song-craft with deep truth. It’s excellent, and only one of the nifty bonus opportunities available when you pre-order. There’s t-shirts, immediate download of the record now, that video, coffee with himself, and I think a lock of his hair. Check it.

Congrats on the Christy, AP, and the new record.

I’m just waiting for your feature film to hit theaters. Your art exhibit? I hate you because you’re good at everything respect you so much.

Disclaimer: AP’s been very good to me -generous. But I was a fan before that and shall remain so until he crosses me to the end.

Here’s a video his label put together to promote Counting Stars. It’s good. Watch it.

I love my wife.

This is a classic. To hear the version of the song to which Andy G “Gully” “Hellsfury” Gullahorn refers at the end of the video, see here.

I like Andy Gullahorn and look forward to meeting him (and his wife) someday, maybe at the Hutchmoot. He did me a solid related to a gift for my brother, where he turned his album cover into a picture of a guy playing cricket (an activity my brother and I have done a lot together). What a swell thing to do. See his alterations here. Click on the first photo to see his cricket knowledge in play. (Note: Not called a “box,” but wickets.)

Plus, unlike the rest of the Square Pegs, (except the valiant Eric Peters), he likes sports. Get his record here and watch the commercial he did for it here.

I am thankful for Aaron, though we have never met. Here’s why:

1. He is an encouraging sort of chap. He comments at the Rabbit Room and always has good things to say. He has encouraged me in my writing. One thing I very much appreciate about the opportunity Andrew Peterson has given me in the Rabbit Room has been connecting with lots of amazing people I would likely never have otherwise connected with.

2. He has the most hilarious comments ever. Hands down. Though Peter B is also very funnyfied (among others). Just browse the Rabbit Room’s posts, especially my (attempted) humor posts and you will laugh more at his comments than what I said. At least I do.I love it when some one totally dominates me in the area of humor and wit. Aaron always does.

3. He has a LOT of talent. He’s a good writer, hilarious, and also is quite a singer/songwriter. His record, All I Want, might be all you want. It’s quite good. I recommend it. You can buy it here.

Tomorrow, you can get a little taste of his humor with his Guest Post: “Exactly 100 Words on Authenticity.”

Be there. I mean, here. Be here. In this area.

UPDATE: There are almost ZERO slots left. Register now, or lose your place forever.

Back-story: The Rabbit Room is a online public house, a website where some Christians (creative types, mostly) meet up and talk about the Story, Story, stories, movies, music, and a bunch of other stuff. It’s supposed to be an Inklings kind of thing (the meet-up for C.S. Lewis, Professor Tolkien and others –but they had a real pub).

The Proprietor of our on-line Rabbit Room is Andrew Peterson (author, singer-songwriter, pro-proprietor). At some point AP asked me to be a part of this thing by contributing a few posts a month. I assume this was to achieve readership among the highly sought after demographic of hillbillies.

Now: AP has long held a desire for the cyberpub to incarnate in brick and mortar. So, while there is no physical RR, there shall be, if God wills, an in-flesh get together of Rabbit Roomers this year.

The get together shall be a retreat/conference type of thing, but since a perfect name could not be agreed upon, Pete Peterson’s working title of “The Hutchmoot” was settled on.

Hutch = A home for rabbits.
Moot = A meet up (like the Entmoot in Tolkien’s LoTR).

So, all that to say this: Why don’t you come and join us? August 6-8. Nashville.

I am actually a bit late in posting this announcement (because I am stoopid) and the thing is getting rather full. So, head over to the Hutchmoot web HQ and see what all the fuss is about.

If you are a hillbilly and care what yours truly is doing there (besides trying to act casual around all the amazing artists) then I’ll be participating in two panel-things. One is on storytelling (because of my millions of books sold –oh, wait) with the a fore-mentioned AP, along with authors Jonathan Rogers, Travis Prinzi, Russ Ramsey, and Pete Peterson. I’ll probably just be fetching sodas and adjusting the air conditioner. The other is called “Strength in Weakness” and is with authors Pete Peterson and Travis Prinzi. I’ll be doing a reading in that one based on the work of Tolkien and the connection of his work with all the bathroom jokes in my writings.

Check out the website.
See the schedule.
Register.
Make travel plans with fellow Hutchmooters here.

I am really looking forward to it, and plan to post more later. Cheers!

Slugs & Bugs – Tractor Tractor from Scott Brignac on Vimeo.

Buy the record here. It’s grand for the kids.

Visit the Slugs and Bugs website to find out more about the upcoming tour, and other factoids.

See the Rabbit Room post explaining stuff, by Randall. (I call him Randall because, well, we’ve never met and he has no idea about my popularity among the “my mom” demographic.)

Today’s song is “The Run Down,” and I am asking you to run down to…

ERIC PETERS

++++++++++with Stacy Grubb++++++++++

LIVE Acoustic CONCERT

FREE [and FANTASTIC]

MARCH 5, 2010 – 7pm

@ United Methodist Temple (directions)- Beckley, WV

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric reading from his childhood Snoopy diary? Look at the pic above.