This past year we have made many new friends made some enemies because of the power of God's Word and have made a new CD "Oddities." The majorities of you, who have written concerning "Oddities," have understood the depth of the project and have been thoroughly blessed. I know this by your emails and letters, which you have sent. However there are others of you, which are still holding on to what Bride used to sound like in the past. You have reflected your disappointment with the lack of heaviness from us on recent albums.

Something that some may not understand is this… Bride is not about music anymore. Bride is a ministry. We will not compromise the quality of music because there is no reason to do such. We will continue to produce high quality albums while being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and following his directions. Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

"Oddities," was completely inspired by the Holy Spirit both musically and lyrically. God's ways are higher than our ways and he alone knows why Bride exists, what our purpose is and what he wants to accomplish through us. Our individual gifts and talents given by God are always on display but God puts the four of us together to create a musical work that he can use for his glory. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" Psalms 61:8 "So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."

Let us look at this from a biblical standpoint. God's concern is his church or his body. God knows the needs of his body of which Jesus is the head. As the needs of the church changes then all associated with ministry changes. The needs of the Children of Israel (the first church) differ from that of the modern church. For a time it seemed that many within the body of Christ was listening to heavy metal hard rock. As styles changed people acquired new and different taste. Music is an evolving door. It seems to spins in cycles like a washing machine. As the needs of the church changed Jesus anointed new ministers of music who prepared the word through song and went out into the world commissioned by God. These bands however had a brand new sound. The body needed new nutrients. Colossians 2:19 "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." Now this is not to say that God has forsaken or abandoned those who would want heavy metal to rise again but the change in music reflects the bodies needs as a whole and God feeds the body with his word. Act 20:32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

The Word of God is Jesus Christ who is the seed of the church. 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever." God speaks to his people in many different ways and one way is through music. If people grow deaf to his voice in one style he will raise up a new style to minister to them with. Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building. According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." So as long as the foundation is Christ God can use it!

It may be a new song but the same spirit. Psalms 40:3 "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

Bride has listened to God's voice throughout these years and has leaned upon his wisdom for guidance. As the winds of change blew we were spiritually sensitive to these changes. Musical taste just like any food preparation must be prepared when things are just right. If a great chef is about to prepare a lavish meal and the recipe calls for a certain vegetable, he looks for ripe vegetables. If that vegetable is not in season he will most likely create another type of meal. A vegetable that is not in season can ruin a great dish no matter who the chef is that prepares it. The meal is better when prepared with the ripest in-season vegetables. Isaiah 50:4 "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Bride is more effective reaching people with the message of Jesus if we write and speak that which is in season. Proverbs 15:23 "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"

Part of the reason we began changing styles is because we felt the seasons were changing. If we had been stubborn and selfish with what God had given us we would have never recorded the "Snakes in the Playground" record. This album came about because of change.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

Bride never knows how a recording is going to sound until it is finished. Throughout the entire recording process we are creating. There is a sense of the out come but our vision is not always God's end result.

Bride has continued in the recording industry while many others have fallen by the way side because God wanted us to be there. God is the message we are merely the instruments, which God plays through. If we as ministers and good stewards of the gospel had not listened to God's voice there would be no Bride today. Our longevity has been directly associated with our faithfulness to him. If we change for better or for worse in the opinion of some of the buying public we still change because we follow God's directions. We will never trust or lean unto our own understanding but will always be ready to receive that which God has prepared for us Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us." Deuteronomy 5:33 "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess."

Bride has endured and has persevered without striving because of our God given ability to become chameleons in our environment and still hold true to the essential letting go of the superficial.

These are folks who refuse to admit that we have evolved according to God's purpose, evolving with popular music. Others have accused Bride of conforming to popular sounds and trends thus compromising the original style and sound. Both of these observations can't be true. We will admit and accept the accusations of being a dark cloud. It normally doesn't rain on a sunny day. The dark clouds gather rain to water the earth. If people gather under the dark cloud they will receive nourishment.

There have been many one-dimensional groups over the years. The fear of change can stagnate and prevent growth in a band. "If you hear one of their albums you have heard them all."

Faithfulness is rewarded. Faith is something not yet seen. Bride has indeed invested by faith into the Kingdom of God. Bride enjoys the adventure and challenge of rediscovering ourself and learning to depend on God even more with each album.

John 12:25 "He who loves his life will loose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." In this situation my interpretation of this scripture is this…{I hate what I can accomplish on my own strength. I hate my own personal goals, desires and wants. I love what God can do through me by his Holy Spirit when I depend solely upon him for inspiration.}

God's orchestration has kept Bride making records throughout the years. Revelations 15:3 "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." I seldom question God as to why he sent me down certain roads but I always ask him to give me a peace and an understanding of the situation.

So rest assure that no matter what style of music Bride writes and records in the future it will reflect the move of God's Spirit in our lives. 1 Timothy 4:9-10 " This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe."

In Christ Jesus,

Dale Thompson