Change Me God (Let It Be Revival)

“Let it be revival, Let it be awakening…”

Surprise, we are ALIVE!

Ok, so we haven’t been performing much lately. However, we have been busy in other ways. In the past, we’ve experienced so many benefits that touring offers…the thrill of travel, new places/eateries, potent ministry opportunities, making lifelong friends while doing something we love. But during this last year we have embraced life at a slower pace in Pennsylvania. New careers and lots of kids (with more on the way) have a tendency of shaking things up – and in our case, in the best ways possible. True, there’s lots to miss about being on the road but there’s also lots to love about our current situations.

While the pace of REILLY was slowing down we noticed God using one new particular song in our set to connect people with Himself. It seemed like it was ‘of God’ and beyond us. And that was completely exhilarating. Because, there’s nothing better than being caught up in something greater than yourself and your limitations. To see God moving in others’ lives (through you) is one of the greatest privileges of being his sons and daughters. Soon we noticed some of you asking for chords to play this song at your church and small group. And you were asking for the recording and we sadly had to tell you “we haven’t recorded it.”

It didn’t take long before we realized that we should make this song available to you. We’ve felt this way before about songs, but for me, this was different. The best way I can describe it is that – I (we) just wanted to simply bless people with this song. Not impress you. Not progress the band. Just simply bless you and offer a song that might help you connect with your God and Father. Now, I’m not saying that our motivations have been horrible up until now – so if that’s what you’re thinking then do us a favor: stop polishing your halo and chill. All I’m trying to say is that our motivations can rarely be 100% pure all the time. And this song just really began a work in me – a hunger began in me for people to connect with God through what we do on stage – more so than ever.

The heart behind this song is revival. Our world needs revival. Our nation needs revival. Our counties and neighborhoods need revival. Our high schools need revival. And revival starts one heart at a time. Revival starts with you and me. This song “Change Me God” is about surrendering to the supremely glorious and uncontainable worth of God. It’s about dying to self in order to truly live. It’s about walking in the freedom of who Jesus made me to be. It means truly striving for God to be the center of all I am and all that I do.

I’m really excited to offer this song and video to you of “Change Me God” because I’m really not concerned with how ‘popular’ this song becomes… or how many ‘likes’ and ‘view counts’ we get, or the ‘radio play’ and ‘gig requests’ and the other countless, small-minded things we artists can be distracted by. Is this song for everybody? Most likely, not. Will this song connect people with God? Hopefully, yes. And that’s what I’m really excited about.

I guess you can say I’ve changed over the years. Or more precisely, that God has changed me.

Download your free copy. Share it if you feel led to: http://noisetrade.com/reillytheband/change-me-god-let-it-be-revival

Watch the video too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70WcWMekxc

The Latest

Keep yourself up-to-date with the band by following REILLY at http://www.facebook.com/REILLYmusic

Guess Who’s Getting Married?

Congratulations to our drummer and good friend Jordan Lenhoff for his recent engagement to Linda Gross! We are so excited for Jordan and Linda and the plans God has in store for them as a couple. They are planning a wedding for this summer.

As Jordan is stepping into this new season of his life he has decided its time for him to leave Reilly. We are sad to lose Jordan, but are totally supportive of his decision and wish him the very best in his upcoming marriage and new job at a local hospital.

God brought Jordan into our lives at a very crucial juncture four years ago. We had our first national tour lined up and Jordan, a recent graduate from Berklee, hopped on board and quickly learned all our music. He even transcribed each part from “Let June Decide,” which we were impressed with because none of us can read drum music! Jordan is a seriously gifted drummer and has served Reilly with excellence, precision and skill.

More provoking than Jordan’s skill, however, is his passion for Jesus. He is a humble man who loves God. He serves with consistency and makes his church a priority. After shows it was not uncommon to see Jordan pulled off in the corner praying with a teenager or sharing the gospel (or just in the corner because he didn’t care to be in the spotlight). He never saw Reilly as a platform for himself but was eager to serve the Lord with his gifts. These qualities have been a provoking example. They have made Jordan a dear brother to us and know they have prepared him to be a great husband.

Jordan has two more shows with us, April 5th in Langhorne, PA and May 11th in Salisbury, MD. Please come out so we can send him off properly.

Reilly Rocks the Lakes

This past Sunday we had the privilege of playing in Buffalo NY for Rock the Lakes, which is a Billy Graham event featuring artists and a strong gospel message brought by Billy’s son, Franklin. We’ve played a lot of large festival stages but this was our first time playing in a baseball sports arena.

We got to sample Buffalo’s famous wings. Dan got to meet Hall of Fame quarterback, Jim Kelly. Jim put Dan in a headlock because Dan asked his wife for a pic instead of him as a joke. It’s all good though ‘cause Jim’s a Reilly fan now.

Most importantly we felt honored to be a part of an event that was clearly gospel-motivated. Before the event started all the artists met with Franklin Graham as he led us in prayer for the event. His encouragement to us all was not to try and be cool on stage, but to exemplify Christ and call people to trust in the Savior.

Here’s a short recap video. Check out 2:20 to see Reilly rock’n the Irish jig.

Reilly Rocks the Lakes

This past Sunday we had the privilege of playing in Buffalo NY for Rock the Lakes, which is a Billy Graham event featuring artists and a strong gospel message brought by Billy’s son, Franklin. We’ve played a lot of large festival stages but this was our first time playing in a baseball sports arena.

We got to sample Buffalo’s famous wings. Dan got to meet Hall of Fame quarterback, Jim Kelly. Jim put Dan in a headlock because Dan asked his wife for a pic instead of him as a joke. It’s all good though ‘cause Jim’s a Reilly fan now.

Most importantly we felt honored to be a part of an event that was clearly gospel-motivated. Before the event started all the artists met with Franklin Graham as he led us in prayer for the event. His encouragement to us all was not to try and be cool on stage, but to exemplify Christ and call people to trust in the Savior. Amen.

This past Sunda…

This past Sunday we had the privilege of playing in Buffalo NY for Rock the Lakes, which is a Billy Graham event featuring artists and a strong gospel message brought by Billy’s son, Franklin. We’ve played a lot of large festival stages but this was our first time playing in a baseball sports arena.

We got to sample Buffalo’s famous wings. Dan got to meet Hall of Fame quarterback, Jim Kelly. Jim put Dan in a headlock because Dan asked his wife for a pic instead of him as a joke. It’s all good though ‘cause Jim’s a Reilly fan now.

Most importantly we felt honored to be a part of an event that was clearly gospel-motivated. Before the event started all the artists met with Franklin Graham as he led us in prayer for the event. His encouragement to us all was not to try and be cool on stage, but to exemplify Christ and call people to trust in the Savior. Amen.

New Album’s Cover Art

Here is our new live album’s artwork from bassist/graphic designer Matthew Bomberger!

Earlier this year in March 2012, we live-tracked our worship leading and concert performance at the Vision Conference in Lancaster, PA. We are happy to announce that 11 tracks from that day are being released as our first ever live recording project! This is a live record and it’s raw and real.

It’s due out this October and you can pre-order now and see the track listing by going to our online store here: http://reillystore.bigcartel.com/

Thanks! We are excited for you to hear this!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Got Bus!

Anyone who follows us on Facebook, gets our fan emails or has gotten an update at shows knows that, with the generous love and support of our fan family, we got a *major upgrade* recently in the form of an omnibus 🙂

What a difference a tour bus makes! It’s major.

With a growing band that includes 3 kids and the occasional special guest, to say we’re grateful for a new spacious ride feels like a bit of an understatement. Let’s call it grateful plus a little extra. A far cry from the 15 passenger van we began touring in, our bus affords us room to stand up and walk around, recline seats, store gear, spread out baby car seats and even… wait for it… still stalling…………… enjoy bunk beds!! Boo ya.

Over the past few months, we’ve been blown away at how much God has appointed just the right people with just the right skills (and heavy duty tools!) to help us gut seats, build bunk bed frames, and install a fully functional chill space. It’s a vivid example of His faithfulness, and that things come together as, and when, God ordains them.

We could not have gotten our bus – and the extreme bus makeover-renovation-facelift – without you. Thanks for every single donation to our Baby Needs a Bus campaign. We believe God is calling us to continue 100% in our music ministry, and this bus enables us reach more people, further and together with our whole band family.

To think: Vera and Suki were just itty bitty babies when we filmed the campaign video in early 2011. And now? They’re walking around telling us how much they love the bus. Ok, it’s more “ba ba ba ba” but it translates!

From all of us in the REILLY band family, thank you. We thank God for you. An upcoming design touch in the bus is a thoughtfully prepared donor wall. Your name will live in our bus with us! We’ll see each name, pray over them and be reminded of how much in most important kingdom-building family together – God’s family!

Why Church History Keeps Me up at Night

A pivotal pulpit in the Reformation (St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, Switzerland)

The band likes to pick on me for my interest in church history. On tour, some nights when it’s my turn to drive a late-night shift, I’ll pop on some church history lectures to keep me awake. The running joke is that it puts them to sleep. It’s a win-win!

While Reilly was in Europe last summer I read a biography on Martin Luther, which was neat to read while being so close to the birthplace of the Reformation. We got to visit Zwingli’s church in Switzerland too, although I still know very little about Zwingli.

What I do know is that Zwingli didn’t agree with Luther (although they wished they had) on the presence of Christ at the Lord’s Supper. He drowned some Anabaptists, which is the tradition I grew up in. And he was killed in battle (Luther suggested it may have been divine judgment for a minister wielding the sword). Zwingli is on a list of bios I want to read. If you know a good one, please share it with me!

In college, I studied in Rome for 10 months, which is where part of my fascination with church history began. Go there. You’ll understand what I mean.

There is much that intrigues me about church history. The doctrines of grace that are so central to my relationship with God seemed so fuzzy to the church fathers until Augustine. Many Christ-followers, in the early church especially, were willing to lay down their lives as martyrs for their faith. They knew that this world was not their home and were “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb 11:10)

I’m by no means an expert in any of this… it’s way too vast. And that’s the very thing that attracts me to it. I don’t feel like I’ve “got it down.” As easy as it is to look back and see the many terrible mistakes and sins of the past, there is still so much to learn.

Sure, Christians throughout history had their blind spots. But I imagine we do, too. I wonder, could a Christian living hundreds of years ago speak more clearly into my blind spots precisely because they weren’t raised in the suburbs, living in comfort, and breathing postmodernism?

Call me crazy… it’s the sort of question that keeps me up at night.

– Matthew

Zoe Clothing Company

Last year at Creation Festival West in Seattle, Washington, we met some amazing people from ZOE CLOTHING COMPANY. They design and manufacture cool clothing and have a great heart too. We quickly hit it off and they became the provider of tee shirts for our Skillet, Tenth Ave North and Reilly “Asian Confusion” video. (Just youtube it 🙂 )

Anyway, here’s the thing with their clothes:

1) They have really cool looking designs and
2) They have a sweet message to them.

I highly encourage you to do some Christmas shopping for your friends (and yourself) online by visiting www.zoeclothingcompany.com

We also gave them our CD to give away with each order too because we love them so much! Spread the word!!

Cheers
Dan