201 Friends.

My MySpace page just hit 201 Friends.

I'll be uploading a rare live track or two before the big fall tour, but I'd rather not do it before I get 300 Friends. If you're a MySpace member, send me a Friend Request, and maybe send a Bulletin out to tell your Friends about my page. If you're not a member, just send me an email from the "Contact Us" section of my site and I'll send you an invite. The sooner I hit 300, the sooner I post the track. How fast can we get there?

On The Road Again: Baltimore, MD

Last night I played at Dundalk EPC to a mixed-age crowd, of which at least ¼ was over the age of seventy. I’m continually amazed at the ability of hymns to bridge generation gaps. The pastor was surprised to see that they had quite a few folks that don’t go to their church come out to the concert, particularly since his promotional plans fell through due to an unexpected trip and a few helpers dropping the ball. He asked a few of them how they heard about the concert. They said they heard about it on the radio. He found that odd, considering he hadn’t contacted the local station to announce the concert. Yes, they said, we heard on the radio that Michael W. Smith was coming to Dundalk Presbyterian tonight. Oh Michael, our comically boring similar names will result in many more hijinks throughout the years.

There was an ice cream social afterwards in the basement fellowship hall. I passed on the deliciousness because I hadn’t had dinner and my momma raised me right (though, on second thought, maybe the double fudge cookie dough Blizzard I had earlier in the day gave me pause). I did get to meet a few people and thank them for coming to the concert though. Thanks to Darian for inviting me to play.

I got up this morning and was on time getting up, on time for my rental car return, on time for my flight, and just generally on time. Southwest, however, was not on time. Consequently, I missed my connecting flight in Raleigh/Durham and am stuck in the airport until 4:50pm (my original flight was to be at 12:50pm). I asked Southwest to at least buy me a grilled teriyaki chicken sandwich with fries and a pickle spear, and they obliged. After that satisfying meal, I took a seat by a gate adjacent to the one I’m to fly out of (there were more seats, which allowed me to spread out a bit). Not five minutes after a sat down, a woman approached me and said “Excuse me, are you Matthew Smith?” It was a very good family friend that I nevertheless had not yet had a chance to sit down and have a conversation with. We talked for about a half an hour before she had to catch her flight to Baltimore. It was a wonderful time that came seemingly out of the blue, but of course was ordained by a sovereign God who cares for his children. This leads me to a few conclusions: 1) The circumstances that led to this “chance” meeting were so varied and nuanced (flight timing, length of meal, unusual choice of seating, me pulling one of the books Bob gave me out of my bag though I had no intention of reading it for at least another fifteen minutes, etc.) that I must conclude God holds a frightening amount of control over this universe and over me. 2) It would only be frightening (in the unhealthy-fear sense, rather than the reverent-fear sense) if God were not good. I continually try and remind myself that God is both completely sovereign and completely good. Forget one of those and you end up with a terribly warped view of God.

Thank you Lord, for you love your children, and hold us in the palm of your hand.

(A friend of mine recently had an airport story of his own.)

Listening:
Beck – Guero
Waterdeep – Everyone’s Beautiful
Mute Math – Reset
Moby – Hotel:Ambient

On The Road Again: Washington, DC and Laurel, MD

Friday night I arrived in DC proper (or “The District” as people around here call it), and made a quick journey through the harrowingly narrow highways to one of the most breathtaking neighborhoods I’ve ever been to. This sounds funny, but the only thing I’ve ever seen like it is the outside of the Huxtables’ house on The Cosby Show. Rows and rows of beautiful old townhomes seemed to spring out of nowhere, one of them being my destination.

I was greeted by Laura, the woman who invited me to play, as well as a bunch of other young DC professionals who are a part of a new Anglican church in the area. People scurried around making sure everything was ready for the concert: white Christmas lights were hung up for mood lighting, homemade cheesecakes and fresh coffee were set out (and, proving they were Anglicans, bottles of Bailey’s and Kahlua were present as coffee mixtures), a small PA system was plugged in and soundchecked, and 50-60 chairs were lined up in tight rows anticipating a fairly large turnout for a house concert. Overheard conversations were peppered with transcendent truth, as brothers and sisters gossiped the Gospel to one another like a secret so exciting it must be shared.

This turned out to be one of the best concerts I’ve ever played. Sometimes the atmosphere, the excitement in the room, and other, even more intangible factors come together to make a show special. This was one of those nights. It has happened before, but one of the factors is usually the presence of the band, so I was shocked and delighted to know that it is just as much the audience as it is the music that can make it happen. I quizzed them on late-night jogging (they confirmed my observations as being part of a larger trend) and talked about the solid (yet still thoroughly mysterious) truth of the freedom bought for us by Christ.

After people went home (or, I suppose, went jogging), Laura, Jake (whose odd but endearing sense of humor made the evening’s announcements much more memorable) and I went to the condo in Chinatown where I was staying. After moving my things in, we took the elevator to the rooftop, joining some of their other friends. Wine was poured and conversations were savored as we looked out across the night skyline from the heart of the city. We said goodnight sometime after two, and I fell into bed, exhausted after a long but rich day. Thanks to Laura and all the Anglican folks for an incredible evening.

I awoke at half past nine the next morning, and going against the District’s strict cultural mores, went jogging in the broad daylight. With my iPod teaching me How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, I ran past monuments and towering buildings of power, their ideals etched in stone without, greed and corruption rotting them from within. In a high-powered city full of lies, I became thankful for pockets of truth found in communities like the one I had briefly glimpsed the night before; knit together by the bonds of love, the fabric of weakness strengthened when dyed by the blood of the Lamb.

I briefly considered a detour into the Mall area to see if there was a movement I could believe in, but instead, well, I went to Starbucks. A quick stroll later and I was back at the condo, just long enough to check in with my wife on the phone and take a shower before rescuing my car from the rare-but-dreaded Saturday parking meter.

I traveled north to Gaithersburg, MD, meeting Bob Kauflin from Covenant Life Church for lunch at a great Memphis-style barbeque place. I joked that when he comes to Tennessee, we should go out for crab cakes. Bob is involved in the work of Sovereign Grace Ministries and has a heart for using musical worship to teach the church. I met Bob for the first time back on the original Indelible Grace tour in April 2002, and his work towards cross-centered worship music has been of great benefit to many churches. We talked about music, the role of pastors in worship, church life, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, the Emerging Church movement, the calling of the church in serving the poor, and more. I enjoy spending time with Bob and hope to have the opportunity to hang out more in the future. He ended up giving me an armful of books and CDs, including one I began today, the awkwardly-titled-but-exciting Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church by D.A. Carson. So far it has been a very interesting read; I’ll let you know what I think of it when I’m done. Unless I forget.

You can click on the Worship Matters link under “worship” on the side column of this blog to subscribe to Bob’s weekly worship newsletter (if you are reading this far past the posting date, Bob told me he hopes to begin blogging soon; the WM link will be deleted and a link to his blog will go under “blogs worth reading”). You can also listen to Bob’s talks on worship at Southern Seminary’s Institute of Christian Worship lecture page.

Saturday evening I played a house concert in Laurel, MD for a dozen Orthodox Presbyterians. Their attentiveness and engaging questions were very much appreciated. Thanks to Anthony for inviting me and Jim for opening his home. By the end of the concert, I had almost lost my voice from the long day of activity, so I spent a quiet evening back at the hotel. Today I am in Baltimore, and I’m heading off to Dundalk Presbyterian soon for the last concert of this run. Thanks for reading.

DC and Laurel setlist:
And Can It Be
O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile
His Love Can Never Fail
Thou Lovely Source of True Delight
All I Owe
Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder
Jesus I Come
What Wondrous Love Is This
My Lord I Did Not Choose You
Free Grace
***Q&A***
Come Ye Sinners
Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners
On Jordan's Stormy Banks
Be Thou My Vision

Listening:
U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Christopher O’Riley – Hold Me To This
Christopher O’Riley – True Love Waits
Sovereign Grace Music – Awesome God (children’s music)

On The Road Again: Dumfries and Alexandria, VA

Just checking in from the road; I’ve been sitting at a Panera Bread all afternoon catching up on email and doing the tedious, yet strangely settling, tasks that go along with being on tour.

I flew in to DC on Wednesday (my first flight ever on Independence Air), grabbed a rental car, and promptly got lost in traffic. Thankfully, my wife helped me get back on track using Google Maps (oh Mapquest, why did you mislead me?), and I was soon in Dumfries, VA for a house concert. Folks gathered for pizza and subs beforehand, and we moved to the dining room (with nice reverberant hardwood floors) for the concert. Most seemed unfamiliar with the songs, but patiently listened and sang along when it came time. I headed to my hotel shortly after 10pm, and at 10:14 pm I saw a jogger running happily down the sidewalk. Strange. Thanks to Clint from Pillar Church for bringing me in and for the brunch and conversation at Cracker Barrel the next morning.

Dumfries setlist:
And Can It Be
Jesus Everlasting King
His Love Can Never Fail
O Come And Mourn
Thou Lovely Source of True Delight
All I Owe
Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder
Jesus I Come
What Wondrous Love Is This
My Lord I Did Not Choose You
Free Grace
**Q&A**
Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners
Come Ye Sinners
‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Be Thou My Vision

Yesterday afternoon I arrived in Alexandria, VA and met up with Doug (the promoter) and his wife and joined them and another couple for dinner at Carlyle Grand Café. Three words: Pecan-Encrusted Trout. Two more words: cous-cous.

I started the concert at Alexandria Presbyterian a little late (sorry folks), and had a good time (I was melting on stage for the first few songs, and a fan magically appeared to cool me off—thanks Magic Fan Guy!). Afterwards, I hung around the CD table talking to people while we all munched on baked goods. Driving back to the hotel, I noticed another jogger—this time at 10:48pm. The plot thickens.

Thanks to Doug and everyone who helped last night, it was truly a joy. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

Alexandria setlist:
Come Ye Sinners
And Can It Be
O Come And Mourn
His Love Can Never Fail
Thou Lovely Source Of True Delight
All I Owe
Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder
Jesus I Come
What Wondrous Love Is This
My Lord I Did Not Choose You
Free Grace
**Q&A**
Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
On Jordan’s Stormy Banks
Be Thou My Vision

I love this area of the country, with its beautiful homes and kind people, but I am concerned about the joggers. You see, it seems that DC commuters work very long hours, augmented by a few hours stuck in traffic every day, so the only time they have to get exercise is late at night. I wonder when they sleep?

Listening in iTunes: Jars of Clay – Furthermore: From The Studio