Where things are at…

Hey blog readers… thought I’d share more of an update on whats been going on lately in my world. This week has been pretty crazy checking in on the GMA’s… basically a week where every Christian artist, record label, booking agent, promoter… etc is in downtown Nashville hanging out. Highlights of my week… seeing Kiwi band ‘The Lads’ play (if you haven’t seen them for a while you should check them out… their target audience is now ‘tweens’ and they do a great job! They even made me ‘do actions’ on stage… so embarrassing!!!), running into Liam Renton from Brisbane’s 96.5 and hearing about all the great artists he’s smoozed his way in with to get interviews with, seeing awesome Irish band, Bluetree play… then tomorrow night I’m going to the “Lords Awards” as my mate, Brian Wurzell calls the ‘Dove awards’. Should be fun!

Band stuff
Alabaster Box are going good. This month and next have been the quietest months I think we’ve ever had in the bands touring history – apart from when Naarah was preggo. I think the economy crisis has really taken a toll on American churches which ultimately affects whether external ministry groups are brought in. June onwards however is possibly the busiest its ever been. For fun I plotted out our map of where we will travel this summer – MAP. Then there is a chance of a tour to Calgary, Canada too… that’s a LOOONG way from Nashville. They guys also just released their latest song to Aussie radio – Fearlessly Stumble. Hear it here.

Remember my party with a purpose last year? We raise money for wells for Sierra Leone… just the other day I got a call from our contact in New Hampshire who’d just received a call from a village in Sierra Leone where a well had just been fixed. The people were celebrating and rejoicing. Get this… this was the first time this village had had clean water in 30 years! Isn’t that just wrong!!! Makes me embarrassed to even just think of the water I’ve left undrunk in bottles of water or the times I’ve left the tap running too long. Spare a thought for Sierra Leone. It is currently listed as the poorest country in the world.

We are praying about this… but as a band Alabaster Box and I are considering going to Sierra Leone sometime. With knowlege comes responsibility. The need is so great. Feels almost impossible to turn a blind eye and disregard it. God has given us a voice and an audience… in light of the world we can make such a difference in an economy in Africa. Our partners in SL are Christians from Living Water International… so not only are they providing literal drinking water…. but water of life… Salvation.

Last week I shared this with a couple of friends… feeling a little stressed by my day I decided to go for a walk. Normally I run to clear my head… but today my legs were too sore (had this crazy thought to do lunges and squats at the gym the day before… seriously they are from the devil I can barely walk today!!!) So… I walked down to this little walk track behind our estate. As I got close to the bushland I could hear kids playing in a running creek. I never realised but there, just maybe 20 metres away from the track was a flowing creek! For me, it was like finding an oasis in the desert. Nothing more refreshing then hearing water rushing through a rocky creek bed – ok… maybe waves crashing on a beach… but in Tennessee that is NOT going to happen. I’m not sure if the creek is normally dry and that’s why I hadn’t noticed it before… but the thought occurred to me that so often we race through life and not stop and realise God is their revealing himself to us daily through his glorious creation… even if there are a few wait-a-while bushes trying to stop you from getting there along the way! It was a really sweet little adventure with God and me.

Have you stopped today to find some living water? It’s such a precious time. Next week I’m flying home to Australia to take a little time off, enjoy the waves crashing on the beach and see my family (and work on an Aussie tour for Alabaster Box!). Very excited about that!