Rest & Recuperation

We spent the past week in Nashville, TN.  I'm going to be honest...at first I didn't like it because one of the first places we went to was downtown on Broadway Avenue.  It's a very touristy place and as I was driving down the street there were huge signs for these bars and different types of music coming out of each place. Right away I got bad vibes.  I was thinking how all these people in bars are trying to work so hard and make a name for themselves and lifting themselves up to be successful. Now I understand in the music world you need to put yourself out there but I just sensed a lot of selfishness leaking out of each of those venues.  I went on a run a couple days later and a song on my ipod came on called "The Reason I Sing" by Jimmy Needham. It talks about going back to the reason of singing/performing is for the Lord and it reminded me of the heart of why people should want to singing and become "famous" to make famous the Name of our awesome God.

Anyway, with that being said we had a lot of time to rest and be still in Nashville because our shows weren't until the end of the week. It was great because we just came off of the two busiest weeks of our tour and needed it. We were able to spend time with Phil, a friend of Sarah's, and got to know his roommates too.  They're all Christian guys who went to a small college near St. Louis and turns out one of my classmates form high school went to college with them too. Small world! I love little connections like that.  They were flippin hilarious and really fun to hang out with. All very talented musicians with part time jobs.  There was one day where we stayed up until 4 a.m. just jammin' and worshipping the Lord.

Jammin'

Jenny & Tyler playing @ the International
Justice Mission Rally we went to

One night Phil invited us to go see some live music at a local venue and it was one of his professors who was playing that night.  It was really good quality music. VERY talented people and a lot of fun.

We stayed at Jenny and Tyler's house which was a very cute house in eastern Nashville.  If you haven't ever heard their music you should check out their website. They are some of the kindest people I know and have beautiful hearts filled with the love of Christ and their music is also beautiful and filled with Truth. I've been listening to their music for a couple years now and Sarah's been following them pretty steadily too.  It was a huge blessing staying at their house.  They were gone though so we were more so house sitting for them which still worked out really well. Here's the link to their website: http://jennyandtyler.com

This was at the coffee house in Smyrna.
They're using an old piano
for the coffee condiments table!

We had two shows booked for Nashville.  Both were at coffee shops.  Unfortunately the Friday night one didn't end up working out but the guy took us out to eat japanese anyways. Ha.  He was about our age and he shared his story of how he kind of had his "rebel years" but how Christ took hold of his heart and is transforming him.  I love hearing stories of people who it's a black and white sort of thing where God just flips their life around where it's so evident that Christ is at work. On Saturday we were in a smaller town called Smyrna and it was really great.  The owners are Christians so we were able to speak Truth openly and sing Christian songs. The place wasn't packed but it was great and we were able to have some really great conversations with the people that were there which is one of the main things what this music tour is about anyways.

Right now we're in Chattanooga and we have today off. We're staying at a pastor and his wife's house.  They have a house church that we played at yesterday.  Their backyard is so peaceful and beautiful.  The view is breathtaking.  I went for a run this morning and it's REALLY hilly here.  It was a good run though.  Sarah and I have caught colds so we're just been resting and are trying to recuperate before we play at a school and ex-convict ministry this pastor does.  God has blessed us way more than we deserve and His goodness just keeps on being good. What an awesome, steady, unchanging God we serve.

Beautiful Backyard

Soli Deo Gloria