Our Little Corner
Wilde Assembly
Vibey, hopeful, and stirring, Our Little Corner EP is six cover songs recorded by Ethan Wilde Clark…
and produced and performed by Ethan and Madeleine True Clark under the name Wilde Assembly.
These are two of my favorite artists and people. Yes, I am biased, they are my kids.
At my house, songs, artists, and albums are discussed at any hour of the day, often passionately. We are a musical family. If you happen to visit in the evening you may hear Madeleine playing her piano in her room, her voice faintly mesmerizing us with its beautiful rich tone through the walls.
Amazon boxes show up regularly at our house as Ethan has ordered some new piece of gear for his bedroom studio from which between the hours of 2 pm and 5 am you will hear bass, drums, guitars, synthesizers, and every other instrument imaginable from his ever-growing library sounds. And then he finally started to add his voice, and it’s smooth and perfect.
This album is hours, days, and months of Ethan and Madi reimagining and finding fresh expression and interpretation of six really good songs by artists like, Regina Spektor, Tom Odell, Billie Eilish, and K.S. Rhodes
I love the creative and developing style as Ethan in particular grows in his craft of song production and as both grow as songwriters. This album is a melodic mixture of organic and digital instrumentation and its brilliant!
Enjoy, share, and follow, this is just the beginning.
Francois Du Toit | The Mirror Bible
Francois Du Toit | The Mirror Bible
I am often asked what I am reading. Over the last year, I could have answered with many amazing books like McVey’s Beyond an Angry God, Vallotton’s, Destined to Win or McKee’s, Story, but I have given one reply, The Mirror Bible.
I have spent many mornings laughing and crying my way through the thrilling gospel of Jesus written down by my new friend Francois Du Toit.
Francois breathtaking paraphrase translation and brilliant commentary on the New Testament has been a constant empowering companion. The revelation of God’s grace is stunning and pure. The scriptures insight into my oneness with Christ is transformational!
We are co-revealed in Christ! Co-crucified, co-included in His death and resurrection, co-buried, co-quickened, co- alive, co-seated “with Him in His executive authority in the Throne Room of the heavenly realm” (Eph. 2:6 Col 1:1-4 The Mirror).
I recommend the Mirror translation to anyone with a heartbeat. Blessings!
For more information on Francios or The Mirror Bible, you can go to www.mirrorword.net
A Warning and an Invitation: By Allen Arnold
For months I prayed,
and wondered, and talked with Karen about who I should ask to write the forward to my new book, Untamed, A Fools Guide to Surrendered Faith. Even though we have yet to meet face to face, Allen Arnold was the person I kept coming back to. I was thrilled when he said yes. Years ago, Allen, a complete stranger at the time, tracked me down just to encourage me. “It’s a really good book,” he said over the phone. You see, my new book, Untamed, is a revised edition of my first book, Surrendered & Untamed. Allen had found my first book in a church bookstore. Then he did something rarely done at the time, he bought it.
In our first brief conversation, I knew Allen and I were chasing after the same thing – the wild God stories. The ones filled with adventure, and faith, and risk, and trust, and miracles and… We want to capture the story, we want to share the journey. We want to partner with the Storyteller in a way that encourages and empowers sons and daughters to live the greater works life Jesus promised.
Allen is an amazing storyteller, a good writer and a catalyst for many other storytellers who wish to be good writers. Over the last few years, Allen and I have developed a friendship. I have grown to trust his insights and am thankful for his gifting and grace. He has been so encouraging to me and I am incredibly honored in how he has helped to introduce my new book.
I’m looking forward to the day we share stories, face to face, over strong coffee…
Forward by Allen Arnold
I know this may look like an ordinary book…but it really should come with a warning label in bold letters that says: Untamed will disrupt your world in the best of ways.
My friend Jason Clark is your warrior poet-storyteller for this not-safe yet good journey. Though I’ve not yet met him, I feel a deep bond. Primarily because his life and words have drawn me exponentially closer to God’s heart. Okay, that and the fact that we share a love of strong coffee, spicy food, and 80’s television shows.
My copy of Untamed is dog-eared, tear-stained, and almost completely highlighted in neon orange. The first time I finished the book, I felt I’d been simultaneously struck by lightning, embraced in a lover’s touch, and feasted at God’s banquet table. The stories stretched my faith, quickened my pulse, and increased my hunger to live a far more untamed and reckless life for God.
Perhaps most, Jason helped me grow in my understanding of what it means to live as a son of God. The thought that my Father has rescued me not just for service and productivity but for presence and intimacy…well, that changes everything. As Jason says, “It’s personal friendship with our Creator that satisfies our souls and makes us whole.”
This book is also an intimate invitation that should come signed with these handwritten words: Untamed will disrupt your world in the best of ways.
God first led me to this book when I wasn’t looking for it. He somehow did the same for you. I think it’s because God knows once we experience untamed intimacy with Him, we’ll never be satisfied with small dreams, safe faith, and simple prayers. That is the invitation.
The world may call this approach to living reckless and foolish. But really now, is there any better kind of fool to be?
—Allen Arnold, Ransomed Heart Ministries
Untamed, A Fools Guide to Surrendered Faith, released this week! You can check it out on my website and buy it where books are sold. It captures some of my wild God stories and I pray it encourages and empowers you in yours.
Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing – overseeing the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But that doesn’t really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series “Once Upon a Time” and is passionate about helping storytellers tell better stories from an awakened heart.
The Presence: Episode One, Breakthrough
Just before Christmas, I was to Co-produce and co-host a TV show called, The Presence.
It has been an incredible experience in every way – from working with the executive producers, John and Heidi White, to the whole production team, to creating with my brother, Joel Clark, who co-produced and directed, to hosting with Sallie Mosely. Add to that an opportunity to sit with my revelatory hero friends the
I would like to introduce you to the pilot episode of The Presence entitled Breakthrough. I pray it blesses!
THE PRESENCE: episode one, Breakthrough
“The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His holy presence.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Can you imagine a life spent hosting the goodness of God? What would happen to our lives and the lives around us if we were more aware of His Presence?
The Presence is an organic television series that highlights men and women from all walks of life who are daily experiencing the wonder and friendship of the Holy Spirit.
The pilot episode of the 12-part series, hosted by Jason Clark and Sallie Mosely, features Father Richard Frechette, a medical doctor, priest and hostage negotiator in Port Au Prince Haiti. Jonathan and Melissa Helser, international worship leaders who are part of Bethel Music, are also featured in the pilot episode.
To keep up on the show or to order DVD Curriculum or music from the first episode you can go to www.freshwaterworship.com
AWAKE
I know I am a little biased, but I truly believe Joel’s book is breaking ground in the world of publishing.
It is filled with links to a video that takes you deeper into the stories. In a couple of years, I believe we will see a whole lot more of this book format. Beyond that, the message is brilliant, the journey mesmerizing – you won’t be able to put it down!
Below is the review I wrote for the jacket. I have also added a couple of videos. The first is the trailer – you will probably love the music for this one. The second is for all those who have heard me tell the story of my brothers crane jump. Enjoy, then go buy the book HERE!
My Review – “I spoke with a warlord, traversed Antarctica’s wilderness, prayed with a slave, covertly filmed a protest in Tiananmen Square, laughed with a girl, and cried with an orphan after an earthquake devastated Haiti. I fell in love, had my heart broken, and encountered an even greater love. Joel masterfully tells the story – his, yours, and mine. His writing stirs the reader to dream. His wild adventures awaken a hunger to have our own. Inspired, humorous, and packed with revelation, Awake is just what the title promises, a full-on invitation to dream, love, and live our own story – a story that can change the world.”
Fathers and Sons / Culture of Honor
Karen and I were flying into Redding CA on a small twenty-something seat airplane.
It’s the largest flying vehicle into Redding. Redding is the home of Bethel church and for Karen and me, it has become a city on a hill; a place where the hopes and dreams of radical believing vagabonds’ have found a home. Bill Johnson is the father there…
“I think that is Danny and Sheri Silk sitting behind us,” Karen whispered into my ear. As I started to turn around to confirm, she grabbed my arm, “Don’t be obvious!”
So I casually bent down to check the bag stowed under my seat. Then I casually turned my head. Danny Silk looked me straight in the eyes, smiled, and then went back to playing what appeared to be one of those bubble games on his iPhone.
“Yep, it’s them,” I whispered back to my wife, smiling. “And he likes those bubble games.” This was awesome, I like those bubble games too!
“Should I introduce us?” I asked.
“No, they have probably traveled all day and are too tired for talking.” She said. That’s crazy, I thought. I had traveled all day as well and I wasn’t too tired to talk.
I mentioned this to Karen. And then I told her it probably wasn’t possible for me to just sit and ignore the Silks for the next hour. Karen and I have been married 16 years, so she knew I was telling the truth. She smiled and said, “OK.”
I haven’t met Bono yet. So I am not going to say that meeting Danny and Sheri Silk was like meeting Bono. But I imagine it would be close.
Both Danny and Bono have had influence; I discovered God in the melody and rhythm of Joshua Tree, and I was forever changed. And while Bono helped me define my musical DNA, Danny helped put vernacular to the spiritual. Through Danny’s book “Culture of Honor” and his teaching, I’ve discovered, in greater measure, my heavenly Fathers heart, and I am forever changed.
Danny is a spiritual father. I don’t know if he would call me a spiritual son but that’s OK. Dads can choose to father just as sons can choose to be fathered. One doesn’t determine the other. I chose to allow Danny’s book and message to father me. I chose to be a son.
A father is someone who releases identity. I actually know a lot about this. My own dad is top five in world history. And my heavenly Father is the cat’s meow!
Danny’s book “Culture of Honor” did this. It revealed identity. Danny gave vernacular to my journey. More than that, his writing helped to settle the insecurity experienced on the journey. You see, Danny revealed my heavenly Father in a new way and the better you know your heavenly Father, the surer you are as His son.
Danny and Sheri were flying in from Hawaii. They gave no impression that they were too tired to talk though we didn’t harass them long. We didn’t want to overwhelm them with affection, nor did we want them going to bed later conversing about “those crazy people on the plane.”
Plus, Danny was one of the key speakers for the Bethel conference/school we had traveled so far to attend. In fact, the next morning he found and offered us his reserved seats on the front row. He even remembered our names, which is something I can’t imagine Bono doing.
We had several more chances to talk with Danny before the week was up. I was able to tell him how his book impacted me. I was able to hear his heart for rising up sons who become fathers.
Karen and I returned home determined to no longer be vagabonds and set free to live as a city on a hill. We came home as a son and daughter who are becoming sure in our heavenly Fathers love – as a son and daughter who are aiming at top five all-time father and mother.
If you haven’t read “Culture of Honor” yet, you should.
Surrendered and Untamed: Book Review
S&U Review by Glynn Young – Faith, Fiction, Friends
Faith has been described as a journey, a challenge, a life, a lifetime, a pilgrimage, a battle, and a lot more things as well, but I’ve never heard it described quite as Jason Clark describes it in Surrendered and Untamed: A Field Guide for the Vagabond Believer. Jumping off a cliff. Skydiving. Death. “Only dead men can experience the resurrection, baby!” Financial death. You and your family are down to your last $200 – and you give it to someone you don’t know who has an emergency room bill. Skiing down a suicide slope with the wrong ski on. Talking to God, and God talking to you. Audibly. And a lot.
What is this? It’s faith like I’ve rarely seen it, experienced it, lived it. It is what Clark, a speaker, writer, musician and a lot of other things, too, says we are called to do and to be – that we fully experience God’s character and love and joy. Surrendered and untamed. And Clark is a Canadian. Aren’t Canadians supposed to be calm?
Using a combination of Biblical and personal stories, Clark embarks upon a wild ride, a wild ride called faith. This isn’t John Eldredge and Wild at Heart; far from it. This is a call to be whom we are designed to be, to live our faith as God wants us to live it. You want to say whoa! Slow down! Get real for a minute. And Clark replies: “I can’t explain all of this from a realist perspective; it’s just not there. I’m afraid realism is living in the kingdom of man. While realism can often appear to be to be practical, respectable, and wise, it’s simply unbelief…Believing is living in the kingdom of God…The thinking mind is never to replace the believing heart.”
Clark proceeds to walk the reader through a process of understanding, and the more you read, the more you understand what he’s saying and doing. He’s telling us that God wants us and desires us to live a good story, the point of which is the end: “The end of the story is the joy of greater intimacy with God. It’s the surrendered and untamed existence that God has called all of us to live.”
This is exhilarating and terrifying stuff. Exactly! Clark would say, it’s terrifying and exhilarating because that’s what God is, and that’s the life he wants us to live. Surrendered and Untamed is a crazy book. Crazy good.
Glynn Young – Faith, Fiction, Friends To purchase Surrendered and Untamed, A Field Guide for the Vagabond Believer on Amazon click HERE