Our Heads Are Spinning...And Oh My, Omaha!

Ahhhh. The Heartland.

Had a lovely day in Omaha, NE, yesterday. The core of this fine nation. The heartland of America. We worshipped among the "Big Red nation" last night with an over-packed house on the outskirts of the city (granted, it's not too far to the outskirts of this sprawling metropolis!) with, once again, some really hungry people. We use the phrase a lot (hungry), but what I mean is they seemed to appreciate the chance to gather as His people in the city...and I don't know, maybe stuff like the Indescribable Tour doesn't hit Bellevue, NE, that often. So they came early, sat outside and filled the place an hour before the night began, and they went for it...went for Jesus...and though I'm not sure the Passion Movement has a strong foothold in Nebraska (yet!) I'm pretty sure we heard a resurgence of the party clap! After a brief hiatus (Saginaw is not down with the clap as of yet, but that's OK, you guys have become special friends anyway!) some of you Passion people must have been back with us in Omaha. As Matt would say, "Nice one."

Chris, Matt and I connected with beautiful people during the day, new friends in a community called WordMadeFlesh who are living among the poorest of the world's poor in the name of Jesus. They live among the brothels of India and the slums of South America (and other places) because that's where the heart of God is. You should check out what God is doing through them. Stirring. Hopeful. The stuff of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And what a week. On our day off Wednesday at the lovely Fairfield Inn (and Suites!) in Davenport, Iowa, we received the news that sixsteps made off with a ton of nominations for this year's Dove Awards. Crazy stuff. If you haven't connected the dots yet, sixstepsrecords and Passion are one and the same, the label being an extension of our Passion family and a way to broadcast these anthems of His fame far and wide to as many people as possible. Our aim has never been dollars, nor acclaim, rather our road is a determined path of excellence, desiring to serve His emerging Bride with songs of hope and redemption. So, as a radio interviewer asked me yesterday, how did you and Chris take the news?, I responded, Well, we looked at each other across the room at the (aforementioned) Davenport Fairfield Inn (and Suites) and said, 'What?? Crazy!' Then we walked across the street to Panerra Bread and had lunch."

Oh, I don't mean we took it lightly. We were floored... honored to be recognized, not by a "distant industry," but by many other servants on the music side of things who have become our friends as we have walked together over the past few years in label world. But though we grabbed the headlines, our eyes are on Jesus. That's why it was fitting that the announcements reached us on the road...the glamorous road of Fairfield Inns, and bus rides through the night and separation from families we love...for what? For the chance to turn up the volume of His song together with His people, and for the sake of the "least and last of these" in the whole world. Thank you GMA friends for your kind gesture. With you, we want it all to make His name great in this generation.

Long Blog, I know, but it's the weekend and you have extra time to read, so let me just add that your excitement/anticipation/please hurry up I can't wait feeling about/for the Passion 06 CD [Everything Glorious] will be met by much happiness! The mixes are sounding great, filled with the intensity and exuberance of an army running after Him and to the world. Keep praying as we finish the job! More to come.

Louie