TobyMac This is not a test CD review

About TOBYMAC:

Toby McKeehan(known professionally as TobyMac) is a husband, father, performer, songwriter, producer, and businessman.  Growing up in the northern Virginia suburbs adjacent to Washington D.C. helped instill his love for rap music.  While attending Liberty University during the mid 80s, Toby met Michael Tait and Kevin Max Smith and these three friends formed the Grammy winning, platinum selling group dc Talk.  Toby began his solo career in 1999 with his first solo album, Momentum, releasing in 2001.  Momentum has been followed by four additional studio albums, Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight(2010), and Eye On It (2012), along with his first live album, Alive and Transported (2008).  This Is Not A Test is his 6th studio album to be released.  Starting with dc Talk, and then going solo when the group disbanded, Toby still clings to such rootsy notions as hard work, persistence, patience, and - perhaps most relevant of all - the power of music, which he insists is still what keeps him going.  "It's the truth," he says.  "I still believe that a song can penetrate a heart.  I believe God can use a song to open someone's mind and heart."  

Sharing from my heart:

I've always been a huge fan of TobyMac so I was super pumped when I got asked to review his latest CD that's being released today August 7th, 2015th (my grandma's birthday)!

I listened to the whole CD and really liked the whole thing, here are a few thoughts about several songs that spoke to me and my family.

Like a Match is a catchy tune that will get you pumped up.

This is not a test is definitely my all time favorite song on the album, the music was techno hip hop which is what I'm into right now, unless it's worship music.

Lift you up had some soul and funk mixed together which made for a really cool song.

My teenagers really enjoyed the song Backseat Driver and even thought it would be a great song to dance to, they're hip hop dancers if you didn't already know this.

This Is Not A Test  (Deluxe Edition) 

1. Like a Match

2. Backseat Driver (featuring Hollyn & TRU)

3. This Is Not a Test (featuring Capital Kings)

4. Lights Shine Bright (featuring Hollyn)

5. Til the Day I Die (featuring NF)

6. Feel It (featuring Mr. Talkbox)

7. Move (Keep Walkin’)

8. Love Broke Thru

9. Beyond Me

10. Love Feels Like (featuring dc Talk)

11. Undeniable

12. Lift You Up (featuring Ryan Stevenson)

13. Fall

14. Beyond Me (Phenomenon Remix)

15. Like a Match (Garcia’s Remix)

S O C I A L • C O R N E R

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER 

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE CHANNEL - Includes a 3 part video series for the song Feel It (see link on the Feel It giveaway below) 

VEVO

iTunes - 

FEEL IT GIVEAWAY (Feel It will be the 2nd single released from the new album

Now, for the fun part, another giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading,

 

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Sole Hope shoe cutting event

As most of you know, adoption and other cultures are near and dear to my heart because of my sweet children.  They've really opened up my world and helped me see outside of my little Oklahoma box.  One of my best friends, Christy R. has helped open my world up even wider by sharing with us about Uganda and the many needs they have for things we take for granted like shoes and fresh water.  Christy adopted a little guy from Uganda about 2 years ago and we took care of their house while they lived in Uganda for 8 weeks.  Christy just led a mommas on a mission trip back to Uganda and one day they worked with Sole Hope at a jigger clinic.  If you don't know what jiggers are then you're like me, I didn't have a clue. 

A few of the moms that went on the mission trip.

What are jiggers?

 Jiggers are sand fleas that infest the feet of people that don't wear shoes.  The jiggers are horrible, they burrow inside the skin and lay eggs that have to be removed with a razor blade or sharp pin.   

Why Sole Hope?

WARNING: Some pictures are graphic 

When the mommas got home from Uganda they wanted to share and educate on the horrors of jiggers.  They shared that at the clinic they had over 150 people come to be treated, Sole Hope is the organization that treats them.  They wash their feet, take some medical info, work on the feet and last but not least they give each person a new pair of shoes so hopefully they won't be re-infested. The sad thing was this time they ran out of shoes so of the children didn't get to leave with shoes on their feet.  After going through all the pain of digging the jiggers and egg sacs out then they could possibly have to do it all over again.  The mommas shared with us how we could help.  We can cut of the upper and side parts to the shoes out of denim fabric.  Then, they ship that to Uganda and they have employees that sew those onto old tires that are used as the sole of the shoe.

 Digging the eggs sacs out of a child's foot.

 Waiting in line

 Washing their feet

Running low on new shoes

 Thank you Kerry B for all the great pics

This child was so thankful and excited to have new shoes!

What can I do?

There are many ways you can help but one way is to host a shoe cutting party.  Everyone needs to bring some scissors, willing hands and a $10 donation (this helps pay the shoe makers).  Here's a link with more info 

Thanks for reading,