Travel day!!

My wife and I were the last ones to arrive at the airport. The rest of the gang was there. There was “Redbird” with her “friend.” How cute! There was “Running Feather” with her mom and her boyfriend, “the Rev.” There was also “Chicken on Bikes” with her fresh new haircut. Nice! “The Diva” came walking up with her brother and nephew. She had baggage issues to resolve. BTW… Her brother (my bass player) and his wife just had a new baby. Congrats!! Then, of course, there was “The Well.” I’ll call him that because he’s so deep. Seriously, he really is a deep brother. But you wouldn’t believe it unless you get to know him. Besides, his musical skills run very, very deep. I am still amazed that this fantastic drummer and percussionist is traveling with me as a vocalist. WOW!!

As we were getting ready to head to the concourse, I predicted that 4 people would shed tears before we got to the plane. I was really close. By the time we were parting company, “Running Feather,” her mom and my wife were all dropping tears.

We landed in Philly for a six-hour layover. A wonderful friend who has connections with the airline we were traveling met us with a long-distance flight package. Nice stuff!! Thank God for wonderful Christians all over the world. We went to TGI Friday’s for lunch. Then headed to the gate for a four-hour wait for our departure. Good time to take a nap!

The music industry can be so enticing and deceptive. As an artist it is easy to become consumed with ensuring that the performance is right… making sure that your next outing is better than the last… improving your skill. But, without realizing it, this can crowd out what the focus really should be.

First, I need to be focused on my relationship with God. I have to maintain a clear and growing relationship with God. When I step on stage, what the audience should actually see is the result of my relationship with God. If the image I present on stage is the image of a very spiritual, Godly person but my life doesn’t truly match it, then I am a hypocrite. Of all the things that God dislikes, scripture implies that hypocrisy is at the top of that list. Hypocrites actually end up in Hell – and I do mean the literal “Hell.” So, my relationship with God has to be in tact so that what comes across on stage is the natural offshoot of that relationship.

Secondly, I need to be focused on shining a light, spreading some salt, sharing a testimony and modeling a love that will draw people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is important that I remember that I am a worship leader first and foremost. While I have the privilege of being an artist, my greatest artistic ability is leading people into the presence of the Lord through the tool of music.

Now, “Running Feather” is knocked out in her seat with her pink blanket. “Red Bird” and “The Well” are stretched out on the floor – dead to the world. “Chicken On Bikes” and “The Diva” are in one of the restaurants chatting and laughing. They can’t sleep for some reason. That’s not my testimony.

While we are waiting for the plane… I think I’ll spend some time reading my bible – getting a fresh word from the Lord… then, I’ll take a nice long nap!

Next post will be from Europe.