Monday, September 28, 2009

Hey Guys! The Hope Tour Rehearsal...what an experience! Wednesday and Thursday of last week Fireflight worked extremely hard from 4 P.M. to 11 P.M. rehearsing for the Hope Tour! The rehearsal was held in Nashville at a place called Soundcheck...a studio designed specifically for rehearsals and where the majority of mainstream artists also do their rehearsals! The studio rocks...memorabilia from some of the greats was everywhere! I was like a kid in a candy store! Fireflight practiced one of their new songs...scheduled to be played on tour! I love it...can't wait to see how the peeps respond to it! The cut is titled "Desperate" and has a very cool "sassy" attitude! Now...let me tell you about one of the coolest parts of Fireflight...they answer all of their Myspace and E-mail messages...mostly from youth and 5-10 a week whom are seeking spiritual advice/counsel. They have been talking with one youth for over a year now and we spent some time last week trying to discern what we can do to "be Jesus" to that young person! I'm so excited to be a part of that aspect of the ministry...as well as...The Hope Tour kicks off in Arkansas this Friday and includes 25 shows in the month of October! :)) We will have a member of Dawson McAllister's Ministry on board our BIG BUS, yeah it's still BIG but I'm definitely getting use to it now, traveling on the tour with us! They will be dealing with youth at the shows who are requesting help/hope! I have been informed that it is very possible that I may also be called upon to assist! Please pray for our Myspace/E-mail ministry as well as each show and the ministry of each bands music and poetry! You can check out Dawson McAllister's Ministry at: www.dmlive.com We left Nashville Friday for Du Quoin, IL...a show scheduled for Saturday with Pillar, KJ-52, and 7 other bands! Saturday was a long day waiting to go on right before Pillar, with a 1 1/2 hour rain delay...but Fireflight blew it up...they are on such a sweet roll! Before we did anything else Sunday morning, I led us in an hour devotion which focused on our view of God! A.W. Tozer says, "It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous and inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is. ...What comes to mind when we think of God is the most important thing about us." It was a very powerful time together...as we continue to get to know each other better! Can you imagine what they are thinking now that they've experienced Williams for over a week! lol-hhf We traveled back to Nashville Sunday afternoon...the weather and day was so beautiful! Back in Nashville I experienced yet another "Walmart parking lot adventure"...oh yeah! I slept well...the bus bunks are really very comfortable...seriously! We awoke to an absolutely beautiful day in Nashville! It is so good to choose to see and experience "the beautiful" God has gifted us with! He is not only the lover of our souls, but a giver of great and mighty gifts! :)) My love to all and thanks to those of you who continue to pray for me! Consume His love! Williams out!


Thursday, September 24, 2009

How The Journey/Adventure Began!

Hey Guys! I know...I always use the word "guys" to describe everyone, but please...just love me for who I am and I'll do the same! Anyway...what a ride this has already been! It all began last Saturday when My Woman (aka: Momma-T), Em, and Jerm delivered me to Glenn and Wendy's house in Central Florida! One gaze at THE BUS, and all I could think of was...it looks bigger than a Greyhound with a 16' trailer in tow! I didn't let on that I was intimidated...not to My Woman, Em, Jerm, Glenn or Wendy but on the but inside, freaking out is probably a good way to describe it! We said our good-byes (hugs and kisses, no real tears...it seemed we all knew this was my God ordained destiny), and then Glenn took me on a test run which went much better than I had already attempted to imagine! :)) We (myself, Glenn, Wendy, Phee, and Ken-Fireflight's sound guy), left Central Florida around 6 P.M., me behind the wheel! Justin, Jess (Justin's Wife), and Dawn were scheduled to fly into Oklahoma City the day of the next show on Monday, September 21! Within minutes, a lengthy time prior to me becoming comfortable with keeping THE BUS within the lines a PO-PO (yep a POLICE OFFICER), pulled in behind me and must have followed us for 5 miles...all the time me thinking...great...pulled over within 5 minutes of being behind THE WHEEL, yep it's real BIG too! He never stopped us...but oh what a mind game! We then made our first stop at Trucker Haven...we have to gas up at truck stops because THE BUS is so BIG, you can't maneuver it about at a regular gas station! Another new learning experience...oh yea...but we got it done! We then traveled from Florida to Georgia to Alabama to Mississippi, mostly in the dark...very interesting to say the least! Glenn (as well as others), and I talked about everything (well, a lot), which included my understanding of why I was now a intimate part of their family and ministry! It was a simple yet lengthy process....maybe 15 years...which concluded with God's voice clearly saying NOW GO, and with the faith HE PROVIDED ME, I went! And wait till you hear where I went...we decided to stop in Mississippi at approximately 6 A.M., as we had traveled through considerable inclement (yeah bad), weather! God was good though...I didn't wreck us! lol-not Next...a check mark on the bucket list! Nothing more appropriate for a Buckethead than to put another check on the bucket list! Now remember, we've stopped to sleep...but where did we sleep...a Walmart Parking Lot! I never knew how much that meant...to sleep in a Walmart Parking Lot...still don't totally...but check it off the bucket list! lol Up and back on road by 5 P.M. after a hearty meal of chicken stripes from Walmart...oh yeah! Now remember, we're still two states away from our destination! We then traveled through Arkansas and arrived in Oklahoma City safe and sound! I drove all the way...WOW! We must have pulled into the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds around 2-3 A.M...and what do I have to do next...back the BIG BUS (trailer in tow), up near the stage...oh my...but it went really smooth...so this is what all those boats I use to back up was preparing me for. :)) We got some shuteye (that's sleep, dowee)...but I was up and ready for the show by 10 A.M. Of course they didn't go on until 7:30 P.M. and the weatherman was predicting heavy hail right in the middle of Fireflight's set! Can you imagine the weatherman was wrong...they ROCKED Oklahoma State Fair...probably 400 in attendance...pretty good for a Monday night! The audience was amped and loved the show! After we loaded back up, we headed straight for Nashville! I drove approximately 12 hours...well...including a couple of stops for Java (no Dunkin though...just hard core trucker coffee)! Arkansas & Tennessee are beautiful...but I'm reminding everybody up here that we live in a Tebow-Nation! :)) Oh Yeah!!! We arrived in Nashville about 12 Noon on Tuesday...and the rest of they day was pretty much a blur for me...I slept! I'll start with the Hope Tour Rehearsal on my next blog!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hey Guys! Don't have but a sec...we're off to a Tour Rehearsal in Nashville! Just wanted to say that I do miss guys! I am having an absolute blast...up all night...sleeping "some" during the day, and getting to know my Fireflight family better! I would ask you to continue to pray for me in the following way...1) when provided the opportunity I would be able to provide them with quality spiritual counsel, 2) that I would keep them safe as I drive them from show to show, and 3) that God will provide the needs and desires of those of you whom I have left behind! Update to follow! My love to all! Williams out!