You're Blessed?

Morning, faithful blog followers. Sorry so absent. I'm up early enough to see the sun rise...well, I have a massive row of town-homes blocking my sunrise, but the sky is no longer black...and thought I'd share my morning reading with you.

I love the sermon on the mount, it's rather incredible in my opinion. I simply read through the beatitudes this morning, or as Eugene Petersen calls the section: You're Blessed. Most of the them, while incredibly insightful (insights from God Himself) seem to make obvious sense, such as, "You're blessed when you care...you find yourselves cared for." But the last one always gives me pause. Check it out:

"Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even! -- for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

Wow. Whether you're ridiculed by someone who doesn't believe what you believe, whether a fellow Christian makes you feel like a spiritual goodie-two-shoes because of how you believe, or you just get blindsided and don't know how in the world to classify it or why it even happened...take comfort in Matthew 5:11-12. Heaven may be applauding!

Early In The Morning

Good Morning! Well it's early for me. I woke up and turned my alarm off and came downstairs before the house got active. I fixed some Cafe Du Monde coffee in my french press, sat in my man chair, and read a little bit with Yo-Yo Ma in the background and the rain falling outside. Nice.

This tour has been a bit physically draining, what with the travel taking place after the show's ending in vans, grabbing a hotel around sunrise oftentimes and catching a few hours sleep before checkout. My aging body doesn't like that. I turn the big 3-4 this month, which I never thought would be a benchmark, but for the first time I won't be able to ask myself, "What was Jesus doing at my age?"

Anyhow, speaking of Early and Jesus, I read a bit in Mark 1 today. I had planned to read more, but recalled something that Charles Shepson referred to as "Walking through the Bible" I believe. Instead of reading the Bible all the way through once per year, he'd read until something tugged at his heart, stop, meditate on that, and that was his reading for the day. Sometimes 3 chapters, sometimes one verse. Sometimes it took him 2-3 years to read through.

Mark 1:32ff (MSG) "THAT EVENING, AFTER THE SUN WENT DOWN, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, THE WHOLE CITY LINED UP at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word. WHILE IT WAS STILL NIGHT, WAY BEFORE DAWN, HE GOT UP and went out to a secluded spot and prayed." (emphasis mine)

I never realized the timeline that preceded the story of Jesus' early morning. He was up late. I've never healed anyone, but if I had a show one night where a whole city lined up to meet me afterward, I might plan on sleeping in the next day.

Not Jesus. He placed a high value on waking up WAY early to talk to his heavenly Father.

The NFC North Tour

So we were in Green Bay last night and finally got most all the kinks out out of the show. Our apologies to the first 3 shows in PA, MD and NC. We played Green Bay last night, Madison tonight, Duluth and Brainerd, Minnesota the next two days.

The Auditions have been fun! We had Caroline Deason from North Carolina come to the Raleigh show, she played acoustic guitar during Matchless (that's the contest song) and twas a lot of fun. We don't provide a comfy soundcheck for the contest winners, it adds to the excitement. Tonight, we'll have Andy Boettcher play and sing...he doesn't know that he'll be singing yet...but he will. We've had a guy audition for drums, which would be a lot of fun too. So keep those auditions coming and tell your friends about it too!

I had a nice morning this morning, we arrived in Madison around 3am and I slept til 10:15, had a leisurely morning sitting by the window, letting the warm sun stream in, had some coffee, read the Sports page of the USA Today, Romans 2 and another great chapter from David Nasser's Glory Revealed. Went for a run, grabbed a bite to eat with Nate at Yola's, turns out that the owner is a pastor and the girl working there was coming to the show tonight, so we got her tickets and she got us free dessert. The barter system is alive and well in Wisconsin.

First two nights

So I'm blogging on my iPhone. So it'll be short. The first two nights in Washington PA and Laurel MD were challenging to say the least but God was glorified none the less and a total of 55 children were sponsored through compassion international which means their lives will be forever changed and the cycle of emotional, economical and spiritual poverty has been broken for them! 125,000 children made commitment to Christ last year through Compassion: indescribable!

We had a technical nightmare or two this evening occur on stage: my favorite of which was when the live version video for To God Alone that was playing for our last song reset right in the middle of the song and started over!! While we kept playing! So instead of seeing how God can take our struggles and our broken lives and turn it into something beautiful... The concert members in Maryland only saw the struggles depicted...twice. If you wanna see the whole thing click here.

Now we're driving to Raliegh. We should get in around 5am. That's rough man. Pray for Nathan: he's driving.

Back To School

Remember how before when I was leaving for the Glory Revealed Tour I said I would blog a lot? Yeah. that was awesome. Sorry about that. I twittered a lot! and now I have one of those new fangled iPhones, so I should be even better.

The Back To School Tour with Chris Sligh starts today. We actually had rehearsals yesterday here in Nashville. They went well, a little longer and more complicated than anticipated, but we survived. Duffy, my bass player from antiquity, and my new guitar player for this tour, Nate Betingfield just spent the night here in Nashville and we have bus...van call at noon and we'll hit the road for the first show tomorrow night south of Pittsburgh (Little Warshington for yunz Burghers)

So that brings me to my fear. I have been BLESSED to have traveled the past few years with some of my heros in Christian music, (enter name dropping section here) and even when I've gone out on my own, we've traveled on a bus, which places our lives in the hands of a well rested, professional driver while we sleep. I actually woke up this morning and thought I was in Pittsburgh (which would be awesome, cause I'd try to weasel into the big game!)

But in light of the present economy, we decided to keep our costs down for this tour by driving vans so that ya'll could enjoy the concert experience for as inexpensive as possible! And I'm thrilled about that: I think it's gonna be a great evening (here are the list of dates to see if we're coming near you) But I DO appreciate your prayers for us as we travel and drive ourselves to each next show right after the previous show is over (we're driving at night mostly and hauling trailers...scary). My mom reminded me today that Paul spent many sleepless nights in his travels (II Cor 6:5) and I read this morning in Psalm 56:8 "You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights...each ache written in your book"

So we may look a little haggard up there on stage, but we're looking forward to coming, so come on out and join us! I'll try to keep you posted.

This week:

9/11 Washington, Pa (Alliance Church)

9/12 Laurel, MD (1st Baptist)

9/13 Raleigh, NC (Christian Comm Church)

General Admission at the door or VIP Tickets available (VIP includes ticket, CD, t-shirt, early venue admission for seat selection, preshow acoustic concert plus meet and greet)

GLORY REVEALED STARTS TODAY!

Getting ready to pack for the first leg of the Glory Revealed II Tour!  The bus leaves tonight and we'll be hitting a few cities around the Southeast!   I understand it's mostly sold out already, so hurry up if you want to come!  I'll be on the road with Mac Powell, Laura Story, David Nasser and a bunch of other good people!  

I'll try to keep the twitter updates as well as this blog coming!  Stay tuned!

Name the Twos

Had to scold Daniel this morning.  Again.  I would not call this the terrible twos although he is definitely testing his boundaries.  Every time he crosses a line and disobeys us, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the Good News.  What a privilege!

Disobedience is usually followed by a warning and then a spank on the bum/2 minute time out if he repeats the offense.  But what a beautiful thing it is afterward to be able to sit and talk him through what just happened.  

Our neighbor has a support beam under their deck that is about a centimeter too short.  It swings free.  (thank the builders for that one)  It just got discovered (during the episode of the great burning bush) and is getting taken care of...but Daniel was pushing on it this morning.  Sarah told him to stop and not to do that again.  Well he did.  Spank.  Time Out. Tears. Dejection. 

When I spoke to him about what happened he told me that he wanted to push the beam.  I heard words of Truth for my own life come out of my mouth as I said, "Sometimes we have to obey even when we don't understand why."  How often has God led me down a path I didn't like, and I grumbled about it?  Or fought in the opposite direction like Jonah?  Too often.  

I asked Daniel once today (different infraction) if he knew why he got spanked.  

   "Is a con-se-kense," he whimpered. 

   "Yes, buddy, it's a consequence for not obeying."

   "Daniel need tell Mommy sorry."

   "That would be very nice to do."

He's two.  But it's not terrible, it's wonderful.  Lessons of sin and grace and consequence and unconditional forgiveness are happening every day all around him...and TO him!  He's already told me, "Jesus have ow-ee on hands and toes" and "Jesus died on cross so I can go Heaven"  and two nights ago he had a dream that Jesus was in his room and called him over and Daniel gave him a big hug.  :D   I don't know what God is doing in my little boy's life, but I'm grateful that He is. 

Take the time to see the Gospel at work in your everyday lives, whether it's your kids or your own.