Shane & Shane Speak with XM 32 - The Fish!
by Diana Hong
photos courtesy of shaneandshane.com.

Shane Barnard and Shane Everett are two Texans who happen to have the same name, attended the same university and both are being used of God to create worshipful albums. Carry Away, their second album together, contains several pieces that focus on the brilliance of God. Here's what they shared about their albums, ministry life and family.

The Fish: As of now, you have two records, The Psalms and Carry Away. Can you tell us a little about them both?

Barnard: The Psalms CD was independent and that was one of the things the Lord used to get us into the whole world. I don't really know how they're ever gonna end up. We just kind of have these songs that are pretty much blatantly from the Lord. We're not master songwriters but usually, on a weird supernatural whim, one spills out every so often and then we just kind of go and whatever comes out, comes out. The Psalms developed a trend and used a lot of things in my life, personally, to open the floodgates of the insight of the Psalms. Some of them were just memorized scripture but we decided to go down that road and do a CD that was based on the Psalms. Carry Away is more of our mission statement to music. It's more of our heart, what we want to preach and carry forth with our ministry; wanting to put God's word to music. It's something God is really bringing alive in our hearts - that He is better. There is fullness of joy in His presence. Compared to the world, He is absolutely brilliant.

The Fish: Both of you are gifted guitar players and your website says that you're praying about an all acoustic CD. Why now, and, what put that desire in your hearts?

Barnard: I think that the desire has always been there. We're not really acoustic freaks, actually, and the deeper we get into talking, you'll see that. One side of us never even thought about doing an acoustic CD, but at the same time, we've always tossed it around. We usually went the produced route just because we have friends who play instruments and it's more fun. At the same time, we just got a studio in the past year that we've been hacking away at and that's probably been the main reason it's available to us. Now, we don't have to spend a whole lot of money and we can take our time and just hang out there, so that probably made it more feasible in the middle of other projects.

The Fish: You had a tour in August. What was your vision for that tour?

Everett: I think, it's pretty much the same thing with everything we do. Just that in some crazy weird way, that we may shout the glory of God in all that we do. That people might get a glimpse of His goodness and that He might show up in a way that peoples' lives are changed. That people would be saved, the body would be encouraged, and that we as a ministry team would be able to enjoy the Lord on the road, and, that in everything we do, we would shout the goodness and greatness of God and say Jesus a whole lot!

The Fish: Waiting Room Ministries is a ministry that you are both a part of. Can you share with us a little more about what your heart is for that ministry and maybe what you think God wants to do through it.

Barnard: We get a lot of questions about Waiting Room Ministries. Initially, we set it up inside the confines of a few friends who really love the Lord and wanted to go hard after Him together. It's more of a mini-family church set up for accountability and fellowship, while we're doing what we're doing. It almost requires you to set that up. Doing what we do, you have to take the steps to find accountability and fellowship or it won't happen. One really good friend, Keith Robertson, goes around and speaks and we play the music. We've also been talking about doing retreats and other things God's laid on our hearts.

The Fish: How does God keep you humble and on your knees?

Barnard: I think of David and the brokeness that He kept before the Lord by the grace of God. Not that we don't struggle, Our industry and artists might think they deserve better travel and better accomodations because a song might be more popular than somebody else's song and now you're more "spiritual" so you deserve more. But it's really hard for me to flash and flaunt my gifts because I just can't. If I read scripture at all, I can't walk off a stage proud- even if my flesh wants to go there. I can't because I read what happens to those people in the Bible. There is something phenomenal that happens to the lowly on this earth and the rewards that come with intimacy and humility. We just know the rewards of God are a lot better than selling millions CDs or tasting the approval of man. We can't do anything with depth or meaning or sounding good without the grace of God. That's just the truth.

The Fish: What role do the women, especially if you're married, in your lives play in your life and ministry?

Everett: I guess I have to answer that one, Shane Barnard is not married. My wife has been especially great on the road. She brings insight and accountability into my life like no one else ever could. That is huge and boils over into every aspect of my life. It's kind of like a mirror where you see yourself. On the practical side, she helps with products, like another pair of hands. On the spiritual side, she's a helper and a sounding board in every area.

Barnard: I love you mom! You're my favorite mommy! My mom helps a lot with our online store. She's great and Everett's mom helps us a whole lot too. They're awesome!

Listen to tracks from Carry Away on XM 32 - The Fish! To read more visit their website at www.shaneandshane.com.