By Memory

For a long time now I have been wanting to do our music on Sunday mornings from memory- which means no music stand. I made this decision a year or so ago after visiting a large church in Atlanta. Having no music stands on stage just makes it look cleaner, there is nothing blocking the worship leader from the congregation, and it's a little more professional. This has always been something I've wanted to do but never made the time to do. Well this weekend I will be at my father-in-law's church, Pointe North in Moncks Corner and I will playing with their worship team on backup guitar and then I will be leading on electric guitar and singing on two songs in the morning and leading the whole evening 5:30 service worship. We also will be sharing our vision for the new church. Their church has a rule of no music stands! At first this was kind of a "aw crap" moment but it has provided the challenge that I've needed to make the jump to no music stand. I spent about 2 hours today trying to memorize all the chords and words to about 8 songs. What's funny is that for 4 of these songs, I've been singing them for 5 or 6 years! It just goes to show you if aren't intentional about things you'll never really learn. On the few that I'm playing with the pointe north band, I am just now learning. They have a rule on their stage that you can have one sheet of paper as a reminder. Well my sheet of paper for the songs I'm doing with their band is completely covered in notes one sided. It's kind of like cheating in french class, you write as much information in the smallest area possible (not that "I" would ever do anything like cheating in French class in High school uh-hmm) But for the songs I'm doing by myself- I will have no cheat sheet Yowzers! Anyway, just a thought about the processes that I'm going through.
Archie

Catching Up

Well we have been pretty slack on the blogging here- But we have a lot to catch you up on. Here are the top 11 highlights (in no particular order:)
1) We got a full price offer on our house, and we close on AUG 29!
2) Our last day at Crosstowne Church was AUG 10
3) Rebekah and I are pregnant due in april, just in time add to the attendance in the new nursery!
4) We have offically moved out of our house and are living with Rebekah's parents in Pinopolis, SC until we pack the moving truck AUG 27-28th.
5) Rebekah's car broke down and cost us $800 (that we didn't have) and by the end of the day God provided a check for $800 out of the blue from a good friend.
6) I am designing South Bay Church's website http:/www.southbaychurch.org (not up yet but look for it soon.
7) Our Faith has been tested in every way possible during this process, we are still trying very hard to raise our own support to do this
8) We have sold most of what we have and are still trying to sell our couch, dining room table, and 98 Chevy Malibu any takers- let me know 224-8114
9) Just kidding about being pregnant- I was trying to make this list exciting
10) Rebekah is scheduled to take the National Board Exam for Occupational Therapy next week on thursday! Please pray for her!
11) We are pulling out of town on Sept 2! We will pass through 9 states to get there, and drive over 2800 miles with our dog in the civic that just cost us $800 and the check engine light just came on again today (did I mention our faith and patience was being tested?) and we will hit touristy spots like Graceland in Memphis (Elvis's home) and the grand canyon along with seeing some good friends on the way out there.

Thanks for keeping up with us. AS we travel out to CA we plan on updating this daily with pics and hopefully video so can know how to pray for and with us. Thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging to us during this, it has been a challenge but one of the best experiences of our lives- I just can't wait to see what God will do with all of this.
Archie