IRAQ

    "THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH"-Tertullian
    
        

I truly would like to write about something relevant to SFA or anything fun about performing. I want to but I can't. Instead, I gotta write about a great crisis continuing in the Middle
East, particularly Iraq.
        Our Christian brothers are being killed, their churches destroyed, forced to renounce Jesus or flee before losing their life. These are cries I expect to hear from ancient times, times removed. Me, here now and in my comfort, can't imagine this is actually going on. 50,000 people hiding in the mountains, some of the children already dying of thirst. Hundreds of Christians being killed in cities as ISIS moves in every day.
             The religious leaders have cried out for assistance, but the Catholic Church and other entities have no army or means to help. Many organizations have done what they can, but widely the Christians in Iraq feel abandoned.
        Their strength can be an inspiration to us all. As much as I say I would die for Jesus, I likely will never have to make such an act of faith and couldn't pretend I know the terror of that moment. I feel helpless, so helpless and angry that those with the power to stop the genocide do not.
      Political feelings aside, whether you agree with the decision to go into Iraq or not, the United States created this vacuum of power when we pulled out before establishing a strong government system. We needed to create a stable and well-equipped power that would not fall to the horrific radicals like ISIS. We are now responsible. We have a situation now and the greatest thing we can do is pray and let the world know we stand by our Christian brothers.
           The truth is Christians are being persecuted all over the world as well in the Middle East. Many are giving the ultimate sacrifice, and their act of Faith can sustain ours in any time of doubt. I look to them as my heroes.
          In closing, please read some stories let everyone know the plea of the Christians.

http://www.catholic.org/news/international/middle_east/story.php?id=56477
http://www.vom.com.au/news.asp?pid=1&id=1466
http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/christianity-as-we-know-it-in-iraq-is-being-wiped-out/
http://www.christianpost.com/news/thousands-of-christians-fleeing-northern-iraq-following-isis-convert-or-die-ultimatum-123587/
I wanna take the faith and vigor of the martyrs into all my days. Approach every situation to spread the Good News with that same intensity.
WE ARE NOT HELPLESS BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD GOD WHO HEARS OUR PRAYERS.  PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.

THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN!

Well it's been a few weeks but I am back! I want to talk a bit about the classes we have coming up. It is a full semester of musical theater classes once a week for 12 weeks. This is your chance to get PERSONALISED attention! No matter what level you are on we will meet you there and help you to improve beyond that point. Our goal is to prepare you for future auditions, show you how to be the stand out in an audition room, help you to improve in your weaker areas whatever those may be, teach you important thongs every actor, singer and dancer needs to know, to help you in areas YOU feel you need to improve in, etc. We want you to get out of these classes the tools necessary to be the performer you have the potential to be.
   The nature of theater is that you can always learn something new. It doesn't matter how many shows you've done, how many years you've danced, how many voice lessons you've taken, there is always something that can be taught. There is no one that knows it all. We know what we've learned over our many experiences acting, dancing, singing, performing, directing, producing, etc. And we want to share what we've learned with all of you interested in what we have to offer and in doing all you can to further what you love! We have many methods that we've perfected over the years that are unique to our company. Often times the fact that we are young holds others back from auditioning for our productions or taking part in something like these classes we are offering but age is no indication of what someone may have to offer you. Never give up the opportunity to improve your your craft! So please take a look at the info for our musical theater course this semester I promise you you won't be disappointed!
    The whole 12 week course is $180.00 per student and there is a discount for every sibling. There is a $20 discount if you pay up front and we do offer payment plans that work for any income. Classes are Tuesdays from 6-8pm starting September 9th and will be at Dave Phillips Music and Sound in Allentown.
   There are very few places where you will find such a personalized class for such an affordable cost! Consider taking the course, We'd LOVE to work with you!!!!

To sign up email Gibs7usa@msn.com or call 610-417-2189

You can find more info at www.singforamerica.com

New beginnings..... Well almost

Just so you all know I was not cleared to play football this upcoming year at Muhlenberg College. I was going to redshirt but the college would not extend my scholarship past 8 semesters. Rather than take out a 25,000 dollar loan for one semester I will differ my enrollment to spring instead. I was all geared up for starting college but I'm kinda happy for a few reasons #1 I'll be able to straighten out my finances enough to graduate without any debt, #2 I will be able to finish writing our show "THE END" without distraction #3 I can LIFT AT COREXCELL and get that last bit of explosion I need!!!!!!

Please Say some prayers I am able to see the path God wants me to go

We had an SFA show today. It was for a group that we haven't performed for in years but when we came in they greeted us like we had seen them just yesterday:) It went well and the group was a great audience!  We performed some new songs which is always fun! One of them was an a cappella mash-up of  "Clarity" by Zed and "Take it All Away" by Owl City that Taryn, Teara and I performed; the other one all five of us sang, it was an oldie called "Beach Baby" by First Class. First time songs don't always go that great but today neither of them were too shabby haha!

We read the script for A Little Princess yesterday. It is definitely going to be a challenge because it is part real and part fantastical.... but we are always up for a challenge! There will be more about that soon:)

Also, we decided to hold the classes on Tuesday nights. They are going to be awesome!!

Forget. The. Odds.

     The day I truly apply and believe the words I write today nothing will stand a fight. It is the day I will allow God the make me a channel of His peace without my own vanity and inhibitions denying Him.
       Confidence..... the key to making anything we dream possible, the pathway to success. It is to believe if I do my best it will be good enough and whatever comes of it will be for the best. See, the problem comes in right here. So we hear be confidant, but confident in what? Ourselves? Because I am not as good as the next guy. I'm not as big, or smart, or run as fast, or I don't have the means he has to succeed so how can I believe I will make it. I won't make it, if I believe my ability to accomplish my goals relies solely on my own talents and situation in life. We are confident in ourselves as children of God, made in His image with a mission He had for our lives before we even existed. Have pride in our name whatever baggage or pain it carries. I am a Gilbert and that is the best thing in the world for ME to be. Pride in our town, I am from Easton and I wouldn't want to have any other city claim me, I will represent for it. Pride in our entire identity, but a selfless pride from which springs joy and certainty.
           Confidence never feels failure because it knows it gave its all and after that it can rest easy. My confidence comes not from any talent I seem to have but from where I came from. Confidence knows no doubt because the very worst that could happen doesn't scare it. No matter what it knows, God will provide if it believes in Him and believes in itself. Therefore it cannot fail! I am me so I can achieve my dreams because they are my own and if I fall flat on my face I'll keep getting back up til I can't anymore. Confidence is relentless, the unsure don't "commit"  for fear of not accomplishing their task. They fear their worth comes from their ability to succeed but the confident already know their worth as isolated from from accomplishments and make it a responsibility to attain their vision.

         There is a rampant lack of confidence because we don't understand where our worth comes from. Our clothes, money, job, degree, looks, talents, social status are in NO way related to our worth. SMH. They are meaningless. We are made to feel this way, but the truth is we are all unique and when we die nothing we did on this earth will matter except the chain of lives we have touched while we were here. Everything else will pass away and anything we did for our own gratification will become worthless as our tombstone is etched. Confidence comes from realizing what matters in life.
       Confident is not cocky. Cocky believes he is better than another person; believes his worth comes from his abilities and his are more impressive than yours. Cocky is lazy for it thinks it doesn't need to get better. Cocky is easily hurt and disrespected because it places its worth only on itself.

  Confidence is tempered with great respect and humility. It understands, because of the nature of where its worth comes from, that each of us are equally made in God's perfect image. How can confidence therefore disrespect another human being as they are then denying their own worth? Humility comes to understand that truthfully we are nothing without He who created us. What we accomplish, our talents, everything we do can never make us better than another human being. More talented, more fun, smarter, more holy; our attributes don't increase the amount of love God has for us. He already loves each of us perfectly.
 
   Wake up and feel thankful that you are you.
   Believe your best is good enough.
   Move mountains.

   YOU ARE YOU AND YOU CANNOT FAIL FOR ALL SUCCESS NEEDS IS ALL YOU GOT.
  

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

MUSIKFEST

     I hope everyone from the Lehigh Valley and beyond has been enjoying our lively, one of a kind Musikfest, the largest free music festival in America. We most certainly have been soaking in every minute of it that we can. As we all get older and our paths slowly start to fork more and more until the group of kids we remember growing up with is spread out across the country, the world even, we don't get as many chances as any of us would like to see an old friendly face. Musikfest falls at a perfect time and has such a good atmosphere to do just that. It is a great place to reconnect with people, enjoy the summer, watch a very entertaining street show or two, and of course listen to the beautiful universal language that is music.

 
    Now of course we have our complaints, mostly due to the change in ambiance since the shift of some of the fest to the ArtsQuest(South) side which is a twenty minute walk from the historic Bethlehem(North) side. Unfortunately many people don't make the walk. The paid concerts are on the South side so more of the local teenagers stay on the North side, and the shops don't end up getting the business they used to when it was all in one location. Also this year we have not been too too thrilled with the entertainment. No one has been unpleasant, but there have only been a couple of real ear catchers. Which is why why when I come across a gem it is my mission to share:) 
 
    I'd like to share with you two exceptional artists. One is a man named Seth Glier who we saw performing early this year at ArtsQuest. He has a rich, soulful sound and we were so excited when he said he would be back for Musikfest! He's performing on Sunday between 12 and 2:30 on Main Street and is definitely worth checking out. The other is a new discovery, (don't you just love those) who we just saw yesterday. His name is Adam Web and he performs with a violinist Nyke Van Wyke. They are really phenomenal as well.

 
    Please check them both out and listen to their beautiful music. As artists and musicians it is our duty and immense pleasure to support our fellow performers. So learn about them, buy their albums, try to make it out to see them somewhere. If any readers today are artists then you know how every single supporter truly means the world.










Here are the links to their websites: www.sethglier.com       www.adamwebmusic.com


Now get out there and eat some funnel cake!

Arrival

Im BACK        Yeah...... ^ it's that serious^.

    On vacation after Tarzan I truly felt drained, we had the time of our lives in true gilbert fashion but man opposite of my personality I was so blah sometimes.Some mornings I felt like just laying down all day and in the car I was just falling asleep every time we drove. I just couldn't shake the fatigue.        

          

     Even all that being said I'm happy that one of topics which ripped me out of my stupor was planning SFAP's future!  It's funny because everyone said how we needed a break after Tarzan to get away but honestly I wanted to get away from the day to day busy work to fully focus all seven of us, including my dad, on the road to reaching our incorporation's goals. We are the at the most exciting yet tedious point in this company's growth and every little decision,every single day, is a leap for success or a failure. So after a few weeks of planning we are prepared to make some huge announcements! SPREAD THE WORD!
     (first big thing -here is the new Sing For America Productions Newsletter it was emailed to our thousand contacts and former castmembers, it will be available in hard copy and online!)

Sing for America News!

Welcome to Sing for America Productions inaugural Newsletter!

...where were we last month? ..where are we going this month?

Here you'll find show announcements, class offerings, schedules, and much more!

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Personal Training in the performing arts!

September 8 - December 1, 2014

Dancing, Singing, and Acting: Each student chooses his primary focus area.

Innovative Performance Coaching to meet your personal needs in a small group setting.

12 week course/ 2 hours per week/ $180

Time and location to be announced soon - stay tuned!

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Upcoming musicals!

The End?

An Original Musical

October 16 - 19, 2014

Details to follow!

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A Little Princess

december 17-21, 2014

Auditions: September 15th &16th

Details to follow!

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Seussical the Musical

April 15-19, 2015

Auditions: February 2015

Details coming soon!

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Summer 2015 tba!

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The Sing For America Handbook has arrived!

Learn what it means to be a part of the Sing For America family. Inquire for your copy.

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Sing for America is now Offering Full Costuming Services!

*Meeting Personal Needs *Timely *Affordable pricing

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Internships

The Field of Entertainment Management and Marketing are exploding! Today's entertainers must promote themselves. Learn how under Bruce Gilbert, M.B.A. and the SFAP Team with our new Entertainment Management Internships. Inquire for Interview.

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Read SFA Blog * Visit Facebook Page * SingForAmerica.com