Journal entry for: 3-29-2000

Hello again,

      There has been quite a bit going on lately with us, but I'll try to keep it quick. First off, we'd like to announce that we have added a member to the band. Cason Cooley is now joining the band on piano and keyboards. Some of you may have met him with us through the past couple of years. He has toured with us since the beginning running sound and doing our road managing. We invited him to play piano on the record and he has since joined the band. So far it's been a wonderful thing. He has added a new dimension to the sound of the band which we're really excited about. His first show was this past weekend at Dordt College in Iowa and he did a great job.

      Second in the news, our new record is very near completion and we now have an official title and release date. The album will be called "Coming to Life" and will be in stores on June 20. It has been so exciting to see some of the reactions that we have been getting with our friends and people who we work with. We really can't wait for you to hear this new record. I believe that all of you who were praying for us during our time in New Orleans will see that prayer paying off, at least in our lives, through the process of making and soon touring this record.

      Anyway, that's the big official band news. Personally, this has been a great time for all of us as well. B.J. and I spent some time back in Illinois, which as you know, we love. Mark got to spend some good time with his fiance, and Mike with his wife. Cason's just been kicking around here in Nashville. Case and I just got back from a bible study tonight which is always nothing short of amazing. Tonight we went to a place to hear an author, Tim Keller, speak. It was a pretty intense time, for me spiritually. He was talking about how we all have a "center". Something that we dream about, something that we fear losing, something that if we didn't ever get it, we'd feel like trash. He was saying it could be money, success, love, anything. I realized that for me, it's the desire to have a wife and a family. If I don't ever get that, I, in my current state, would feel like a failure, like I've never really existed. He ended up tying all of this into the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke, saying that we as a church tend to be like the older brother. Our "center" needs to be on Christ, not just our intellectual faith, but our hearts. It's not enough for me to believe in God, while I'm really truly trusting that a wife and family will give me purpose. Only God can do that. I still don't exactly understand how to go about doing that, and if any of you have any suggestions, let me know. I'm going to be studying more from this guy, so I'll let you know as I figure it out. I wish I could express to you what exactly he said, and how powerful it was, but I can't. I'll try to get some info on how you can get to hear what we heard tonight.

      All that to say, life here in the Normals is pretty exciting right now. We're looking forward to this new record, and we're looking forward to continuing to see what God has in store for us. Mark's got 79 more days til his wedding, so he's looking forward to that! Anyway, thank you again for your prayers and your continued encouragement. Muchas Gracias.

Grace and Peace,
Andrew