Shocked to hear from me so soon? Me too, but I vowed to be a better blogger! Last night I joined Kevin Williams and Randy Tolleson at an 'SOS" campus outreach at Mississippi State. This is a monthly deal that features us doing some cool cover songs as well as a set of worship tunes. The speaker is the always funny and always insightful Gary Permenter (www.www.garypermenter.org).
While our crowd was low (due to a change of dates), we had a great time. We did a cool 'rendering' of Finger 11's "One Thing" that capped off the night. Gary's message really hit home to me, as he was sharing how God has called us not to 'comfort' but to a life of service. For some, their service might be in the center of the spotlight of major events on a global scale. For others, it may be out on the fringes, serving those who society deems 'unloveable'. Wherever we are called, the key is to follow the leading of Holy Spirit to your particular place of service.
This really resonated with me. I love big shows and lights and sound and all, but I'm equally at home in a coffeehouse or even a living room. I fully expect this year to contain both kinds of events for me and Project Onefifty.
But I think the MS State guys have got it right in that they are answering 'distress calls'. I never want to be guilty of trying to mandate my own brand of morality, but I pray that my music is laced liberally with truth and grace, and delivered with love.
This week is filled with wrapping more recording projects and then I'm back out with Kevin Williams and the boys in a week-long event in Brandon, MS (with a one night service at the Church at Trace Crossings in Tupelo).
I've begun recording demos for a follow-up project to my "Spheres of Influence" CD (released way back in 2004). It's still amazing to me how SOI is still reaching new folks each and every day. But I am incredibly excited about this new project. More than just a music CD, it will include a companion book, a DVD, and what I hope to be an amazing live event, with great production elements that will make you consider some of the Big Questions but in a fun and inspiring way.
OK, enough hype... thanks for praying!
Love you, gang!
GV
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Return of the Slacker!
Ok, it's true... I have been a 'blog slacker'. But the dog didn't eat my laptop... I really have been busy! And for that I am very grateful!
I was on the road this past weekend with my longtime drummer buddy and fellow 'Spring Hillian' Jim Pollard. We were playing a D-Now student event at a camp near Paducah, KY for our mutual friend Rob Perry (www.robperryministries.org). Joining Rob in the band were another long-time buddy Larry Shaw on bass, a newer friend Billy Smith on BGVs, and their young tech guru Nathan Daniels.
It was a great weekend, but Rob was one of the folks who shamed me into getting the blog current (he said he'd read my last entry 'Tupelo Honey' more than a few times).
So, here's a month-by-month (!) sampling of what's transpired since January 21st...
January
21-23 Session for Birmingham worship leader Billy Smith at Bates Brothers Recording(www.batesbrothersrecording.com)
24 Radio interview on the Preacher & the Doc show WXJC AM, Birmingham, AL
26-28 Student retreat with Kevin Williams in Brandon, MS (www.kevinwiliams.org).
28 (pm) Concert with Glenn Garrett in Huntsville, AL (www.glenngarrett.com).
31 FBC Jackson, TN with my drummer buddy Glenn Williams and bassist extraordinare Chris Kent
February
4 Played at the Bluebird Cafe for my pal Jim Pollard (yes, it was Super Bowl Sunday, but we had a great time!)
11, 18 Helped lead worship at my church, the People's Church (11th Spring Hill campus, 18th in Franklin)
20 My son Colin's 11th birthday!! Woo hoo!
21 Writing and demo session with local songwriter Melody Morris. I also played at Lyric's that evening with Melody.
22 Played guitar with Camp Kirkland and the Nashville Praise Symphony (www.nashvillepraise.org) on the General Jackson Riverboat. This was a fundraiser event for a international mission organization called the HopeHouse International (www.hopehouseinternational.org). Lee Greenwood was just one of the luminaries who performed that evening.
23-25 Another Kevin Williams weekend! Friday at the Church at Trace Crossing, Tupelo, MS; Saturday night a student event in New Hope, MS; Sunday morning BACK at Trace Crossing, and finally a student gig at Mississippi State University in Starkville... whew!
28 Wrapped the month playing once again over at FBC Jackson
March (we're almost there!!)
2 Started the month playing a showcase for Sony writer Ben Caver. Ben is a B'ham boy who seems to be on the rise! Be watching for Ben the next months and years... he's really good!
4, 11 Played at the Spring Hill campus of TPC
9 Worked with country artist Shane Prather up in Hopkinsville, KY
And all through February and March I've been working on projects for Jen Timmerman, Melody Morris, LifeWay (more about this later), and Prism Music.
Tomorrow I'm on the road to Starkville for Kevin Williams and the following week I'm again out with KMW for a week-long revival at FBC Brandon, MS.
I will make every effort to keep you up date, because the next few months are shaping up to be very, very, VERY busy!! Thank God!
Thanks as always for your prayers and your support. There are some really exciting things on the horizon, and I'll be filling you in over the next few days and weeks.
God bless!
GV
I was on the road this past weekend with my longtime drummer buddy and fellow 'Spring Hillian' Jim Pollard. We were playing a D-Now student event at a camp near Paducah, KY for our mutual friend Rob Perry (www.robperryministries.org). Joining Rob in the band were another long-time buddy Larry Shaw on bass, a newer friend Billy Smith on BGVs, and their young tech guru Nathan Daniels.
It was a great weekend, but Rob was one of the folks who shamed me into getting the blog current (he said he'd read my last entry 'Tupelo Honey' more than a few times).
So, here's a month-by-month (!) sampling of what's transpired since January 21st...
January
21-23 Session for Birmingham worship leader Billy Smith at Bates Brothers Recording(www.batesbrothersrecording.com)
24 Radio interview on the Preacher & the Doc show WXJC AM, Birmingham, AL
26-28 Student retreat with Kevin Williams in Brandon, MS (www.kevinwiliams.org).
28 (pm) Concert with Glenn Garrett in Huntsville, AL (www.glenngarrett.com).
31 FBC Jackson, TN with my drummer buddy Glenn Williams and bassist extraordinare Chris Kent
February
4 Played at the Bluebird Cafe for my pal Jim Pollard (yes, it was Super Bowl Sunday, but we had a great time!)
11, 18 Helped lead worship at my church, the People's Church (11th Spring Hill campus, 18th in Franklin)
20 My son Colin's 11th birthday!! Woo hoo!
21 Writing and demo session with local songwriter Melody Morris. I also played at Lyric's that evening with Melody.
22 Played guitar with Camp Kirkland and the Nashville Praise Symphony (www.nashvillepraise.org) on the General Jackson Riverboat. This was a fundraiser event for a international mission organization called the HopeHouse International (www.hopehouseinternational.org). Lee Greenwood was just one of the luminaries who performed that evening.
23-25 Another Kevin Williams weekend! Friday at the Church at Trace Crossing, Tupelo, MS; Saturday night a student event in New Hope, MS; Sunday morning BACK at Trace Crossing, and finally a student gig at Mississippi State University in Starkville... whew!
28 Wrapped the month playing once again over at FBC Jackson
March (we're almost there!!)
2 Started the month playing a showcase for Sony writer Ben Caver. Ben is a B'ham boy who seems to be on the rise! Be watching for Ben the next months and years... he's really good!
4, 11 Played at the Spring Hill campus of TPC
9 Worked with country artist Shane Prather up in Hopkinsville, KY
And all through February and March I've been working on projects for Jen Timmerman, Melody Morris, LifeWay (more about this later), and Prism Music.
Tomorrow I'm on the road to Starkville for Kevin Williams and the following week I'm again out with KMW for a week-long revival at FBC Brandon, MS.
I will make every effort to keep you up date, because the next few months are shaping up to be very, very, VERY busy!! Thank God!
Thanks as always for your prayers and your support. There are some really exciting things on the horizon, and I'll be filling you in over the next few days and weeks.
God bless!
GV
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