A Bazillion Things You Can Do

Saturday, July 26, 2008 - Comments 0

Dave and JJ Heller sent me an email this morning. I wasn’t expecting anything from them so it was a pleasant surprise. If you’ve not heard of JJ Heller you are missing out on some great music (you can check out their website at http://www.jjheller.com or download their music from iTunes). I first met Dave and JJ when they played for a chapel service here at Remuda Ranch. Immediately I fell in love with them and their music—it fits my style of creative folk/rock.

But that’s not what this blog is about.

In the email Dave had attached an unmastered cut of a new song they had recorded (co-written with Andrew Osenga from Caedmon’s Call). That in itself was cool enough—I figure I’ve got it made if recording artists are sending me their music before the public gets it—next thing you know the Jonas Brothers are going to be asking me to appear in their next movie on Disney Channel… But what was even better was that the song was written with the True Campaign in mind! Here’s what Dave wrote:

Hey Travis,
JJ and I just wrapped up tracking for our new record. I wanted to send you a song that will be on the next record that we co-wrote with Andy Osenga. While we were writing it I had the True Campaign in mind.

I’ve attached the unmastered version for you listening enjoyment. I look forward to hearing what you think.

Dave H.

After hearing the song I was so encouraged that I thought I would share the lyrics with you:

True Things
I am not the clothes I’m wearing
I am not a photograph
I am not the car I drive

I am not the money I make
I am not the things I lack
I am not the songs I write

I am… who I am
I am who I am

There are true things inside of me
I have been afraid to see
I believe, help my unbelief
Would you say again what you said to me
I am loved
I am free
I believe, help my unbelief

I am not the house I live in
I am not the man I love
I am not the mistakes that I carry

I am not the food that I don’t eat
I am not what I’m above
I am not my scars and my history

To your love
I’m waking up
In your love
I’m waking up

© Copyright 2008 by JJ Heller.

What an encouraging and truth-filled song. This song is on JJ’s new album Painted Red which will be available August 15 for free download via her website. To hear and download the song for free see the instructions at the bottom of this page.

But, again, that’s not what this blog is about.

This blog is about the need for people like you to get involved by using your skills, talents and influence to make a difference in our culture. Dave and JJ are doing it with their music. Another friend, Kellie is doing it through her blog (http://www.coffeegal.blogspot.com/). On her site she has been taking each “True-ism” from our True Cards, journaling her thoughts and getting feedback from her readers. What a great idea and an excellent way to put these truth into action.

If we are going to make a difference and challenge the culture, it’s got to be fueled by people like Kellie—and you—emailing your friends, blogging your thoughts, and telling those around you what is true about beauty and identity. So what can you do? Here are a couple of ideas:

Copy and paste this link (http://www.truecampaign.org) into an email message and tell at least 10 friends about the campaign.

Read the True Stories on the Speak page and then write your own testimony of how you have lived with lies and how you are trying to live with the truth. When you get it done, send it to us at . We are working on getting these posted as well as a way to add comments to this blog.

Add our link to your blog or MySpace page. Join the True Faced group on Facebook or start your own group. Click here to download a button for your site.

Read one of our Recommended books, journal your thoughts and send them our way. Who knows what impact your feedback will have...?

Contact the Junior High, High School, College and Women’s Ministry leaders in your church and tell them about the True Campaign. Better yet, download some of the True Cards from the Believe page, print them out and give them to these leaders.

Use your talents to express how you want to live out the True Pact through art, music, graphic design or other expressive means. Send these to us.

For more ideas, click here.

There are a bazillion things you can do, most of them better ideas than these.

We’ve got some big things planned for the True Campaign but we will make no lasting impact on this culture if you don’t join us. Will you?

Travis Stewart
The True Campaign

JJ and Dave have graciously made this song available for download on our site now! You can hear it by clicking here. To download the song right-click on this link or on the image below.

Your Name:	Your Email:

A Bazillion Things You Can Do

Join the Campaign!