In Nashville

I am sitting in a coffee shop with Lara right now in Franklin, TN. We are both typing away on our laptops. Just finished a couple meetings here and co-wrote most of the day today with Jamie Moore and Sam Mizel. Sam used to tour with Matthew West in his band. Sam is an incredible writer who comes up with inspiring ideas super quick. I have written with Jamie a couple times before and just found out that Jamie is a Dove Award winner and a Grammy Nominated writer for the song "Made to Love" that is recorded and co-written with Toby Mac and Aarron Rice. I asked Jamie today why he never told me before about these awards and he looked away with a smile and said..."Grammy and Dove awards mean nothing......you still have to come into work the next morning." What a lesson that was for me about humility.
The rest of the week is booking up quick. I will be traveling around the town with my manager Phil and meeting with Word publishing, a record label and an agent. And we will squeeze in time to record the demo version of the song that Jamie, Sam and I started today.
What a great feeling to be alive and healthy enough to do these things on a daily basis. It truly is a blessing to feel healthy and everything that happens from here on out is icing on the cake. It is difficult to take life for granted these days.
I will try to include videos for you in the future of some of our time in the studio. I am gonna try to bring in a video camera in the studio so that you can see some of the writers I am working with and introduce you to some of the people I have been hanging out with in Nashville. Stay tuned. I hope to be more interactive with you in the coming days and weeks now that I am not stuck to the couch in between treatments playing XBox. As much fun as that was..... Its time to get out and do work!
Lets Do Work!
The Lord is good.

back home

Just arrived home from the latest tour with Chapter 6. I will be home for 2 days until I drive to Nashville for a week. It will be great to be there again and I am hoping to start where I left off when I was in the middle of chemo. September was the last time I was able to drive there. I postponed most of my trips at the end of the year so I could rest up and recover from treatments. My work outs are back at full force and my energy is slowly coming back to normal. After our concert last night it was great to meet a young lady who had just finished chemo. What an amazing connection the Lord has provided me to connect with other cancer survivors. I think she was more of an inspiration to me than she knew. As soon as I walked on stage it took no longer than 5 seconds for me to spot her as a recent cancer patient. She had the biggest smile the entire concert. She knew as well as I did how to enjoy every breath. Can't wait to meet others at future gigs.

it's cold and nasty

I spent most of my winter last year in LA and this weather is just not fun. I checked the temp. in LA and it's 80 degrees and sunny all week.
I am just finishing up a short tour with Chapter 6 in Michigan. I think most of the schools around here are cancelled today because it's so cold. We will be performing at Western Michigan University tonight and it should be a good time. Hopefully the weather will not keep away the fans at our concert tonight.

Job

I have been reading the book of Job the past few days. If Job only had to go through chemo and radiation he probably would have been a happy man.
Here is what I read and what I would like to pass on to you.....

(NIV)
Job 11: 13-16
"Yet if you devote your heart to him, and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by."

1 more

My last radiation treatment is tomorrow. 1 more and then Lord willing I am done with treatments.
Thanks to everyone on this blog for cheering me on from the sidelines. It has been a blessing to read your words of encouragement throughout our journey.
Lara and I are excited for what the Lord has ready for us. We don't know exactly what it is yet but we are working on listening to His voice.

busy Christmas and new year

I know I haven't blogged in a while. I have been super busy with radiation every day, 2 trips to the ER, and 3 trips to Illinois in between radiation to visit with family for the holidays. It's been a little too much.
Only 2 raditation treatmets left. Tuesday will be my last day of radiation. I have become so used to driving 2 hours a day for radiation and I don't know what I will do with myself when it's all finished. I haven't had much time away from medical professionals in about 8 months. It's almost like I am about to be released from the prison of cancer.
I am with Lara at her parents house so I should stop blogging and spend time with them. We are opening Christmas presents tonight with the Moffetts.
God is good and we are thankful for our trials.
Happy New Year!