On the way to Dixie, Part 2

After what seemed like an eternity playing word games, monopoly, singing show tunes, Disney tunes and writing a new song, we're finally here. Nashville looks much like any major city at night - busy, big and lit up like Christmas.

Our hotels are AWESOME (the shampoo smells like cinnamon) and we're completely blessed by our fan and friend, RT, for providing them for us. The kind of nonsense, flee infested hole in the wall we were willing to settle for was unthinkable to her and we will forever be grateful. The next cd is FREE for you, RT! And, as promised, a concert in your living room. ;)

Also, our 15 passenger van was lent to us by the Williams family up at God's Mountain and it totally rocks! It's a bit beat up here and there, so it's perfectly suited for goofballs like us. Feels like home, really. Thank you Johnny & Pam!! FREE concert for YOU!

In the morning, breakfast, quiet time and practise before our meeting at 10am. Please pray for clarity and for the palpable presence of the Holy Spirit as we explore whatever options are available here.

For now, bed. I am properly tucked into my covers and my iPod is qued to "Rainstorm."

1, 2, 3, go.

On the way to Dixie, Part 1

We've been on the road for 5 hours, but are still only 1 hour from Kansas City. LOL So far, I've forgotten my wallet, miss-remembered where I left it and had to settle for my passport, which has my maiden name on it. By the time I realized I needed my marriage license to prove who I am (for the hotel rooms gifted to us under my name), we had spent 1 hour simply traveling to my house in the middle of nowhere w-burg. Fail, Sarah. Seriously.

And I would like to personally thank everyone who bought our merch at the last few concerts, because the money from the merch box is officially covering my personal expenses in lieu of my debit card (in my wallet) until I can pay it back. Thank you, cd listeners and shirt wearers!

Predictably, Joel was the first to pollute the air in our confined space. He ruins seat cushions. I should know, he's my brother, and I'm telling you ... cat pee does not have the staying power that a Joel gas bubble does. He should probably see a doctor.

That's all for now. Scott L is driving and we're sinking into the  inevitable lull of all road trips with Switchfoot serenading us. More later.

mortar ministry

We leave for Nashville tomorrow. No one is really very sure what to expect. It's been a rather strange summer, full of unexpected ups and downs. Being invited to meet with a respected management company in Tennessee is definitely an up, but time will tell if it can counter-balance our downs, of which there have been many this season.

Some of us are ready to crank it up a notch - to settle in and get serious about our ministry, ultimately pursuing it full-time to the ends of the earth. Others of us are happy with it the way it is. Some are desperately trying to juggle one or more other ministries, afraid of the imbalance that may come if one of them grows by even the smallest fraction, resulting in some kind of weird, unconscious growth sabotage in order to protect oneself from stress or from having to quit something.

It's hard to tell where you're needed most. And seriously, how can a rock band make that much difference in the expansion of God's kingdom? It's just a support role, isn't it? We're mortar and the other ministries are the bricks, right? And with less and less people valuing a song at even $.99 or a performance at production value, how can any of us expect to last very long with families to take care of and bills to pay?

Maybe this is how God wants it to work. We give it our best shot until we break or can't afford it anymore, then get out of the way and pass the torch to the next group in line. Maybe, if we're honest with ourselves, we want this to last for our own glory and not for God's.

Until we know the answer to that, we will keep opening doors to opportunities we believe God has given us (like this one in Nashville) and try not to kill each other waiting to survive or suffocate.

Mostly it's just me who wants to kill everyone. Probably because boys are smelly. Ooooh, did I mention how THRILLED I am that my sister-in-law is coming to Nashville with us?? I <3 her anyway, of course, but I'm so glad I'm not the only female. With Fabreeze and hand-wipes in our arsenal, we will not be dominated!

Test 123. Trying to post from my phone. This is weird ...