Jars World : Bios : Libby's views
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Thier Story
a view by Libby
Jars of Clay - "Landscape and groundcover"
Jars of Clay has been called a phenomenon, a bridge between the church and culture, and a record label sales rep's job security. All are very reverring references. But I think Jars are really just four talented guys who stepped out on a cloud of faith and allowed God's grace to catch them and carry them a great distance. They are the envy of many artists still looking for that big break; but they themselves are possibly envious of the "hoe hum" nine to five... for most of Jars short history has been spent on a bus traveling from show to show. But these "rolling stones" (sorry, bad pun) have indeed gathered some moss... a mountain of moss in the fans and many new believers who owe at least a part of their newfound walk with Christ to the ministry of Jars of Clay.
Jars of Clay - "Preparing the soil"
Once upon a time there was this Toad the Wet Sprocket t-shirt bestowed with secret magical powers. :) Unbeknownst to them, college CCM majors wearing this shirt were granted the power to lure other CCM majors into stimulating conversation with them... Such shirt sparked the introduction of Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell. It seems the story unfolds on a dormitory floor at the college of Greenville in the state of Illinois. Charlie and Dan began writing some songs with friend Matt Bronleewe. But music was not their only passion. Their love for art extended to interior design as they wallpapered their dorm bathroom with 1970's orange flowers and duct tape... exhibiting cutting edge versatility in several artistic genres. *wink* :) Some of Charlie's and Dan's musical experiences had included several pre-college bands, leading youth worship music, and even some high school saxophonics (C). When CCM major Stephen Mason entered Greenville, he was helpless against the power of that magical Toad shirt. He was hopelessly drawn in the midst of the trio who obviously shared a love of "croaking" and "crooning". And then there were four! ... and the rest as they say... is HISTORY. Four clay jars who in the past four years have learned that cracks and chips can only be mended by perservering with faith in a living God. Jars fans that have followed the changing seasons of the past four years have backed a winning team, but have also shared some bumps and bruises. But God has been faithful to these guys, even from the beginning...
Jars of Clay - "Adding some nitrogen-packed fertilizer"
The need for a moniker transported Charlie back to a verse in 2 Corinthians he read in high school. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." (4:7) The infant band not only adopted the name, but held it as a clause to live by and minister from. A clay jar is fragile and breakable, thus seeming of no value, but God has placed his treasure inside it. A human being can crumble and shatter along life's path, but we can hold God's holy spirit through Christ within us. Well to me, that 'bout says it all... And the music is just the added bonus. But Jars' "bonus" has guided many Christians through rough spots in their lives and offered a stepping stone for the non-Christian to reach for God's treasure. Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Matt Bronleewe, and now Stephen Mason recorded some songs for studio classes and then cut a 9 song demo which they sent to a Gospel Music Association band competition held each year. This demo was entitled "Frail", to reflect man's utter brokenness without God. Out of 200 some bands, they were chosen to compete in person against 10 other finalists in Nashville. In the blink of an eye, they won the GMA Spotlight competition, sparked record label interest, and they "loaded up the truck and they moved to Tennessee... N-ville... that is... Line-dancing Schools... Country Music Stars!" :) Matt Bronleewe had made the decision to remain at Greenville, where he continued his education and married. The need for a second guitarist prompted Charlie to contact his boyhood friend, Matt Odmark, who was then studying at the University of Rochester and serving as a church youth leader. After weeks of life changing prayer, Matt joined the others in Nashville where they played, supped, and worked together while deciding on a record label. Essential was chosen because it offered Jars decisional freedom and a close-knit atmosphere. In May of 1995, the album "Jars of Clay" was released. The Jars admit that one of the most stressful times in their relationship revolved around the production of that album... but stress often provides growth... growth for Jars' faith in Christ and also for their album. For on Sept. 4, 1996, Jars celebrated their one millionth self-titled album sold and less than a year after that, Jars celebrated their two millionth album sold. "Can we say Double Platinum?" :)
Jars of Clay - "Pruning and root maintenance"
Jars took the songs from their self-titled on a seemingly endless tour... only squeezing in a few months to compile their second album, "Much Afraid". Jars self-titled produced four Christian Hit Radio Hits and the mainstream success of Flood carried the name Jars of Clay to radio stations around the world. Jars has toured with PFR, Michael W. Smith, as well as Sting, the Samples, the Gufs, Matchbox 20, Sarah Jahn, and Plumb. This list may appear a but incongruous (?), but God has given Jars amazing opportunites to present their music and ministry in many sorts of venues and with many different artists. Jars have gone "where no man has gone before"... well not exactly... but let's just say "where few Christian artists have gone before." Jars music is comfortable yet provoking; it is inviting and warm, though skilled and perfected; but it is also amazingly inventive and fresh. All these descriptions, with God's grace, have helped to "seal" Jars' success in venues with Joan Osbourne as well as Bill Graham's Crusades. Pretty "amazing grace"... huh?
Jars of Clay - "Bearing fruit"
With the release of Jars' newest record on Sept. 16, 1997, Much Afraid has now carried Jars at least twice across the U.S. this past fall and is soon propelling them across the ocean to England, Germany, Australia and Singapore. Much Afraid achieved Gold status less than five weeks after it's release and debuted it's first week at number 8 on Billboard's Top 200. Much Afraid's message of hope in Christ is only a song away, for each song offers a tapestry woven with challenge and grace of a life shared with Our Savior. Jars' music not only offers a sense of peace and encouragement to the challenged Christian, but also reveals a window of opportunity for those who have never received God's gift of salvation. It's hard to comprehend the way God chooses to use a song to influence a person's life... but Jars themselves have been blessed to see some of the fruits of their labors through personal contact with their fan.
Jars of Clay - "A Personal Influence"
After thinking about Jars' biography, I didn't want to stop there. Anybody can gather facts they've read or heard. But what makes Jars... Jars? What makes them different? For instance, have you ever noticed the utter ease in which we refer to a man as a jar? Why are you here at the Jars World website and not "tubthumping" somewhere else? Please forgive the analogy. :) When you hear Dan or Charlie recite 2 Corinthians 4:7, a jar takes on a new shape: a human hopeless without God's entrusting power. A thank you note inside Jars of Clay Platinum says, "If there is one thing that we can say we have seen be consistent in the midst of all the inconsistencies of the past year and a half, it is the covenant that God made with this group when He named us Jars of Clay.... God's commitment to showing us a little clearer how fully He is God and how utterly we are human. "So a "Jar" is a jar, breakable, but yet redeemed! That is a wonderful reminder for me at times when my steps are unclear. Since I don't know Jars in a personal way, I can only write what I think about a band I respect. Even though listening to music has always been important to me, for some reason 80's music didn't quite meet my expectatations. I love the more acoustic bands of the 70's (anybody ever heard of America? ... umm, I didn't think so. :) It was a similar quality that first drew me to Jars of Clay. Even though their sound bought me, their words awoke a heart that had long been sleeping. It's amazing how God slips in a jolt just when you need it the most. God used Jars as my jolt. I was pretty fortunate to help a local promoter with all the prep for last year's Jars concert in my town of Augusta, GA. I had met Jars briefly at two previous shows, but never had the opportunity to tell them the effect their music had on my life. But this time... I just spilled my guts to Dan and Charlie... never realizing that a "Hey, How're you doing!" might be the MORE appropriate way to start a converstation. :) But I felt totally comfortable around these guys. I felt like I knew them... but I didn't. And I seriously doubt they'd remembered EVER laying eyes on me before. My point... they were reachable, they were open, and they listened. I wonder if they ever get tired of listening... listening to strangers who "act" like they know them. Nowadays, it only takes the click of a mouse to learn if a band member just celebrated a birthday, was in the Boy Scouts, or just streaked his hair. (hah!) :) The music world is much more open now and Jars have ALWAYS been very available to fans through their website, through e-mail, and in person at their concerts. Because Jars has invited us to indirectly share their lives and career, we as fans, have also shared in their successes and some of the chances that have slipped through their fingers. We even feel some of the pressures of their decisions. This public invasion of privacy has got to create a funny feeling in the pit of the stomach's of those who are "out in the open." Millions of instant friendships, gobs of adoring fans... I could never have dealt with success as well as these guys seem to. And they are still smiling! :)
Jars of Clay - "Landscape and groundcover"
Jars of Clay has been called a phenomenon, a bridge between the church and culture, and a record label sales rep's job security. All are very reverring references. But I think Jars are really just four talented guys who stepped out on a cloud of faith and allowed God's grace to catch them and carry them a great distance. They are the envy of many artists still looking for that big break; but they themselves are possibly envious of the "hoe hum" nine to five... for most of Jars short history has been spent on a bus traveling from show to show. But these "rolling stones" (sorry, bad pun) have indeed gathered some moss... a mountain of moss in the fans and many new believers who owe at least a part of their newfound walk with Christ to the ministry of Jars of Clay.
Jars of Clay - "Preparing the soil"
Once upon a time there was this Toad the Wet Sprocket t-shirt bestowed with secret magical powers. :) Unbeknownst to them, college CCM majors wearing this shirt were granted the power to lure other CCM majors into stimulating conversation with them... Such shirt sparked the introduction of Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell. It seems the story unfolds on a dormitory floor at the college of Greenville in the state of Illinois. Charlie and Dan began writing some songs with friend Matt Bronleewe. But music was not their only passion. Their love for art extended to interior design as they wallpapered their dorm bathroom with 1970's orange flowers and duct tape... exhibiting cutting edge versatility in several artistic genres. *wink* :) Some of Charlie's and Dan's musical experiences had included several pre-college bands, leading youth worship music, and even some high school saxophonics (C). When CCM major Stephen Mason entered Greenville, he was helpless against the power of that magical Toad shirt. He was hopelessly drawn in the midst of the trio who obviously shared a love of "croaking" and "crooning". And then there were four! ... and the rest as they say... is HISTORY. Four clay jars who in the past four years have learned that cracks and chips can only be mended by perservering with faith in a living God. Jars fans that have followed the changing seasons of the past four years have backed a winning team, but have also shared some bumps and bruises. But God has been faithful to these guys, even from the beginning...
Jars of Clay - "Adding some nitrogen-packed fertilizer"
The need for a moniker transported Charlie back to a verse in 2 Corinthians he read in high school. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." (4:7) The infant band not only adopted the name, but held it as a clause to live by and minister from. A clay jar is fragile and breakable, thus seeming of no value, but God has placed his treasure inside it. A human being can crumble and shatter along life's path, but we can hold God's holy spirit through Christ within us. Well to me, that 'bout says it all... And the music is just the added bonus. But Jars' "bonus" has guided many Christians through rough spots in their lives and offered a stepping stone for the non-Christian to reach for God's treasure. Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Matt Bronleewe, and now Stephen Mason recorded some songs for studio classes and then cut a 9 song demo which they sent to a Gospel Music Association band competition held each year. This demo was entitled "Frail", to reflect man's utter brokenness without God. Out of 200 some bands, they were chosen to compete in person against 10 other finalists in Nashville. In the blink of an eye, they won the GMA Spotlight competition, sparked record label interest, and they "loaded up the truck and they moved to Tennessee... N-ville... that is... Line-dancing Schools... Country Music Stars!" :) Matt Bronleewe had made the decision to remain at Greenville, where he continued his education and married. The need for a second guitarist prompted Charlie to contact his boyhood friend, Matt Odmark, who was then studying at the University of Rochester and serving as a church youth leader. After weeks of life changing prayer, Matt joined the others in Nashville where they played, supped, and worked together while deciding on a record label. Essential was chosen because it offered Jars decisional freedom and a close-knit atmosphere. In May of 1995, the album "Jars of Clay" was released. The Jars admit that one of the most stressful times in their relationship revolved around the production of that album... but stress often provides growth... growth for Jars' faith in Christ and also for their album. For on Sept. 4, 1996, Jars celebrated their one millionth self-titled album sold and less than a year after that, Jars celebrated their two millionth album sold. "Can we say Double Platinum?" :)
Jars of Clay - "Pruning and root maintenance"
Jars took the songs from their self-titled on a seemingly endless tour... only squeezing in a few months to compile their second album, "Much Afraid". Jars self-titled produced four Christian Hit Radio Hits and the mainstream success of Flood carried the name Jars of Clay to radio stations around the world. Jars has toured with PFR, Michael W. Smith, as well as Sting, the Samples, the Gufs, Matchbox 20, Sarah Jahn, and Plumb. This list may appear a but incongruous (?), but God has given Jars amazing opportunites to present their music and ministry in many sorts of venues and with many different artists. Jars have gone "where no man has gone before"... well not exactly... but let's just say "where few Christian artists have gone before." Jars music is comfortable yet provoking; it is inviting and warm, though skilled and perfected; but it is also amazingly inventive and fresh. All these descriptions, with God's grace, have helped to "seal" Jars' success in venues with Joan Osbourne as well as Bill Graham's Crusades. Pretty "amazing grace"... huh?
Jars of Clay - "Bearing fruit"
With the release of Jars' newest record on Sept. 16, 1997, Much Afraid has now carried Jars at least twice across the U.S. this past fall and is soon propelling them across the ocean to England, Germany, Australia and Singapore. Much Afraid achieved Gold status less than five weeks after it's release and debuted it's first week at number 8 on Billboard's Top 200. Much Afraid's message of hope in Christ is only a song away, for each song offers a tapestry woven with challenge and grace of a life shared with Our Savior. Jars' music not only offers a sense of peace and encouragement to the challenged Christian, but also reveals a window of opportunity for those who have never received God's gift of salvation. It's hard to comprehend the way God chooses to use a song to influence a person's life... but Jars themselves have been blessed to see some of the fruits of their labors through personal contact with their fan.
Jars of Clay - "A Personal Influence"
After thinking about Jars' biography, I didn't want to stop there. Anybody can gather facts they've read or heard. But what makes Jars... Jars? What makes them different? For instance, have you ever noticed the utter ease in which we refer to a man as a jar? Why are you here at the Jars World website and not "tubthumping" somewhere else? Please forgive the analogy. :) When you hear Dan or Charlie recite 2 Corinthians 4:7, a jar takes on a new shape: a human hopeless without God's entrusting power. A thank you note inside Jars of Clay Platinum says, "If there is one thing that we can say we have seen be consistent in the midst of all the inconsistencies of the past year and a half, it is the covenant that God made with this group when He named us Jars of Clay.... God's commitment to showing us a little clearer how fully He is God and how utterly we are human. "So a "Jar" is a jar, breakable, but yet redeemed! That is a wonderful reminder for me at times when my steps are unclear. Since I don't know Jars in a personal way, I can only write what I think about a band I respect. Even though listening to music has always been important to me, for some reason 80's music didn't quite meet my expectatations. I love the more acoustic bands of the 70's (anybody ever heard of America? ... umm, I didn't think so. :) It was a similar quality that first drew me to Jars of Clay. Even though their sound bought me, their words awoke a heart that had long been sleeping. It's amazing how God slips in a jolt just when you need it the most. God used Jars as my jolt. I was pretty fortunate to help a local promoter with all the prep for last year's Jars concert in my town of Augusta, GA. I had met Jars briefly at two previous shows, but never had the opportunity to tell them the effect their music had on my life. But this time... I just spilled my guts to Dan and Charlie... never realizing that a "Hey, How're you doing!" might be the MORE appropriate way to start a converstation. :) But I felt totally comfortable around these guys. I felt like I knew them... but I didn't. And I seriously doubt they'd remembered EVER laying eyes on me before. My point... they were reachable, they were open, and they listened. I wonder if they ever get tired of listening... listening to strangers who "act" like they know them. Nowadays, it only takes the click of a mouse to learn if a band member just celebrated a birthday, was in the Boy Scouts, or just streaked his hair. (hah!) :) The music world is much more open now and Jars have ALWAYS been very available to fans through their website, through e-mail, and in person at their concerts. Because Jars has invited us to indirectly share their lives and career, we as fans, have also shared in their successes and some of the chances that have slipped through their fingers. We even feel some of the pressures of their decisions. This public invasion of privacy has got to create a funny feeling in the pit of the stomach's of those who are "out in the open." Millions of instant friendships, gobs of adoring fans... I could never have dealt with success as well as these guys seem to. And they are still smiling! :)
