I played “There is a Reason” this morning at Alison’s parents’ church. I enjoyed it.

I’ve said many times before that I believe a church is usually a terrible place for a rock and roll concert. In a traditional church building sound bounces all around, so drums are a mush, lighting has to fit in weird angles, pews make for awkward seating. There is often a cross or crucifix or a bunch of banners; things to take the focus away from what’s being presented and put it on other things.

But all those things are why sometimes I really enjoy just walking up with my guitar and singing a song.

The band at their church had in-ear monitors, digital drums, headset mics, that sort of thing. They asked if I wanted to use any of it and I said no.

In this kind of room, you don’t really even use the sound system that much. You just sort of step back and sing and play. The sound carries. You don’t need a monitor, the sound just swirls around you.

I love the feeling of being exposed in this way. Of having nothing between me and the congregation. It’s like I’m almost in the audience to my own performance. And so for a split second, I can focus on that cross, too.

We’re staying with Alison’s folks for a few days here in Durham, NC. They have a ton of books, all over the place. I love it. I never bring anything to read, I just peruse until I find something interesting, and I’m rarely disappointed.

Last night I found G.K. Chesterton’s “The Ball and the Cross” which I had bought a few years ago. I was really into it, probably halfway through, brought it on a plane and left it in the backseat pocket. Whoops.

I picked it up to start over last night, thrilled that I could finally finish (from the beginning) this book. And I made the mistake of reading a bit of the foreward.

So here’s my question: Why do the people who write forwards always give away everything in the book? I don’t like it. They should be at the end, like bonus features on a DVD. If you like the book then… “yeah! there’s some more stuff about it right here!”

Just my two cents.

Oh, also, if you didn’t read the interview I linked to a week or so ago, Infuze magazine is running the same interview again. CLICK HERE to read it.

The festival I’m playing on Sunday, in Cary, NC, just announced some good news and some bad news.

The good news? The festival is now free, and Glen Phillips gets to play longer.

The bad news? Marc Cohn and Mat Kearney won’t be there anymore.

The schedule has changed a bit, but my 6:00 slot is the same. Hope to see you there!

So I’m kind of excited. This weekend I’m playing a solo set at a festival where a few other friends will be playing as well. Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Alli Rogers… Should be a good time.

Oh, and Mat Kearney’s headlining so Cason, Will, Tyler and Paul will be there. Good times.

And it’s in North Carolina the day after my wife’s high school reunion so my family will be there with me.

There was something else…

Oh yeah.

Glen Phillips is playing.

And Marc Cohn.

I mean…

Marc Cohn.

I can’t wait.

CLICK HERE for info about the festival. CLICK HERE for the good reason behind the festival.

Well… That went a LOT better than I’d expected. I’d say it was actually one of my favorite Caedmon’s shows yet. It wasn’t “perfect” but it was a lot of fun. The crowd was absolutely amazing and they let me feel really natural while singing the songs I wasn’t as comfortable with.

Josh was here and, once again, saved the day with his ability to play any instrument at any minute in any key on any song. He’d just sense what wasn’t working and fill those holes.

We also played Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, Josh took the second verse, and it was really fun. I imagine it won’t be the last time.

Still haven’t heard from Cliff and Danielle yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.

So thanks to all of you for your prayers and encouragement, and THANK YOU to all the folks at the show tonight. I had a blast and you guys were great. (Except for the clapping…)

I’m in Salem/Roanoke, VA today with Caedmon’s. We go on in about two and half hours. If you’re not aware of this, there are typically three singers in the band, a married couple, Cliff and Danielle, and then me. I probably sing a quarter of the songs at this point.

Well, Danielle probably just went into labor with their new baby girl. So she and Cliff are both in Houston.

And I have to sing lead. For the whole show. I am not excited about this.

You see, I’ve been in this band for five years now, but I’m still sort of the new guy. I feel bad that people are coming to see a certain band and instead they get me.

Still, we ran through all the songs and I think it will go pretty well. Rehearsal/Soundcheck was a bit grueling, but it calmed my nerves and I think we’ll have fun.

This scenario has played itself out, in various forms, I believe seven times now. Two of which featured my in-laws in the audience. Tonight will be the second of those.

So I’m going to call them and see if we can have dinner. Then we’ll play a show, for better or worse. Please keep Danielle, the baby, and their family in your prayers this weekend. And maybe throw a bit in for me tonight…

I’ve only met Shaun Groves two times, both at the Nashville airport, but his blog is one of the very few I read every day. His son Gresham is in the hospital while Shaun is heading home from a weekend of cancelled shows to be with him. They could use your prayers. (CLICK HERE to read Shaun’s blog.)

I’ve been sitting here playing chords, generally in the key of C, on the guitar for over an hour now. Trying to figure it all out.

Life gets so busy sometimes. Most of the time. Almost all the time. And then you get these moments where it stops. You look at the horizon for a minute or two. You’re hopeful for what’s over one direction and terrified of what’s looming in the other.

The pace of this career I’ve chosen can be a cruel one. It has so many rewards, the friendships, the music, seeing the world, good reviews, encores. These things are pretty cool, I won’t lie.

But the flip side is the time away from your family, the eyes and ears that are always alert for a song (often at the expense of the moments you should enjoy), and the constant fear of the whole thing falling down. There is occasionally money, but it comes in tides, not in direct deposit every two weeks.

Late last year and early this year I took a few months to just write. And write. And write. For the new Caedmon’s Call record. And the record is selling well. The highest-charting record I’ve ever been a part of, to be honest. And I have my name on most of the songs on that record, so taking that time to write was a good thing.

But the money that crosses the counter when somebody buys the CD has to go through about seven different hands before it ever gets to mine. It will take about a year from the time the songs were written to the time when it will pay the bills in the house where the writing took place.

I’m well aware that security is an illusion. There is no safety in this world. None at all. There is only safety in the hands of God. I say it again: There is only safety in the hands of God. I believe that more firmly than I believe just about anything else.

Still, sometimes the illusion would be nice.

Had a great time with Andy P and the boys today. That record is really sounding amazing and I was glad I was home for a few days and able to be a part of it.

So I’ve got an idea I want to throw out. The Fall touring season hasn’t filled up like I’d hoped and I’m looking at a couple of fairly empty months. And because I planned on being on the road, an empty studio.

I often work on records for bands where I’m all alone. I get the songs with drums, bass and vocals and I do the guitars and background vocals. I record the parts, give them their hard drive and that’s that. It’s a lot of fun, it’s stuff I feel I’m good at and I really enjoy it.

Do you guys think this is the kind of thing I could offer here on my website? If you’re in North Carolina are doing some songs on your Garageband and you’ve got things you’d like some help on. You’d send me MP3s of your song, or a DVD of the files in the mail. I do the parts and send them back to you. Keep it really affordable and simple to do.

Do you think people would be interested in this? Would YOU? How would I market it? I’d love to hear your input.

P.S. I’ve gotten a few emails about this, and I realize I need to make this clearer. This would work on any format, not just GarageBand. I use ProTools, you can use Nuendo, Logic, DP, whatever. They all use the same audio files. Hope that clarifies. Thanks!

A nice interview I did a few weeks ago showed up yesterday (CLICK HERE to read). He asked some good questions and got me thinking. I appreciate that.

I just got to the studio and am going to pay some bills and take care of random stuff for a little bit. Andrew Peterson and the Captains Courageous are coming over a little later and I’ll be playing guitar on their new record. I think Ben’s going to play some B3 over here as well, which is always a joy to hear.

The past few days I’ve been doing soundscape instrumentals for some websites. Just me and my imagination. It’s been a LOT of fun and I plan on doing quite a few more. Maybe my next online EP will be an ethereal instrumental experiment…

Well, I should probably get to work.