Journal entry for: 7-10-2001

Hello Everyone,

      It has been a long time and I apologize. My computer has been "on the fritz" as they say, for some time, so I'm typing at a friend's place now. As most of you know, we're currently in the process of writing for our new record. It's been a lot of fun to write as a band and in the studio; Things we've never before tried. We're getting some really cool and interesting things, and nothing like what we have expected so far. We all seem to enjoy playing instruments that we really don't know how to play, and writing songs on them!

      Malcolm has been a real joy to work with again this time, as well. He has a new house in upstate New York where we have been doing this record. He lives on the third floor, we live on the second, and we record on the first floor and are slowly creeping into the basement. It is a beautiful place, Kingston, we usually start our mornings by walking or jogging down to the Hudson River and taking in the breath of a cool New England Summer morning. I've been reading Steinbeck's "The Winter of Our Discontent" and this town reminds me of his New Baytown in that book. We'll try and see if we can get some photos up of this studio soon, but I think the digital camera is beyond hope of any more solder-resuscitation, so who knows...

      Some of you may also have heard that our Fall tour with Bebo Norman fell through. We were bummed, because we'd been looking forward to getting to know him and his gang better. However, we feel this has kind of been an answer to prayer, as well. B.J. is getting married in October, Mark and Mike are already married, and there have been a lot of other opportunities, musically, relationally, and spiritually, which we have all been having to put off for the last few years to tour, and so we have decided to not really tour this Fall and pursue some of those other interests. We will finish the record in New York, and then tour again when it comes out in February. We'll do a few shows a month, but no formal tour. We are really excited to have this time to try some other things, and hopefully find again what it was that we loved about being on the road so much a few years ago. We have already outlasted most of the other bands who started with us, and we feel a little breather can really help us to continue to be a growing and engaging band in the years to come. Thank you so much for your prayers and your understanding as we take this time to rethink and recharge. We are really looking forward to the things that the Lord will be doing in us and through us in this different time.

      Well, that's about it for the band. As for me, I am struggling, fighting, winning and losing, changing, but not fast enough, and looking for glimpses of glory and love wherever I can find them. I've rediscovered reading and found some good new records. I've been in quite a slump for a while, pretty much overcome with sadness and fear, and the Lord has been, and still is, faithful to overcome that, to overcome ME, and make a beautiful thing out of this piece of trash I know I am. I'm writing some things that are exciting me. And I am living, crashing into every hard, sad, good and beautiful thing in my path, or near to it, and God is doing good things! I seem to try to get in the way more often than anything else, but He has promised that He who has begun a good work will be faithful to complete it, and sometimes I can't see it at all, other times I feel it rumbling like an earthquake deep inside of me, pushing me forward to try again and again. Ah, and someday we will reflect His Glory in every move of every muscle driven by every thought or instinct, and, by His grace, we will get it all right!!! Praise God! And pray for me, as I pray for you, and we wade through depths and shallows alone and together. Thank you, we'll see you all again soon. God bless...

Grace and Truth,
Andrew