Hi Guys.
I’m writing from a basement in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Trisha is at School of Rock with Hayley and Paramore, across a river from that Manhattan skyline. Jake is back home in Portland, a couple days break from Bradley’s Happy Fun Tour. Renee is settling into her new apartment and I’m guessing the thought of that has you smiling right now.
Where are you tonight? How is life? What is new? I’m nine days into a 23-day adventure with XXXchurch.com’s Craig Gross. Craig and X3 are the real deal, inspiring to me on so many levels. I’ve been here since last Monday, and its been amazing. I am learning so much, meeting so many people, having some great conversations, dreaming bigger dreams.
Craig and I talked for the first time about a month ago. It was the day after I quit my job with Hurley. Craig was out on their Starving Jesus tour and I was grateful just to get an hour of his time. That night he sent me an email, invited me to come stay with him in Grand Rapids, to work on TWLOHA. It was another crazy open door.
So I’m here now and loving it. We just got back from a little Midwest tour. Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky. Too many small airplanes, but it was great running around with Craig. Here’s a couple highlights from the road…
Springfield, Missouri:
Springfield is our nation’s Meth capital. I couldnt get that out of my head all day. We have to do something. We cant just let those kids die. Imagine if we took a bunch of bands, played for free, told these kids that they matter, their town matters, their lives matter, that a better life is possible. Imagine if we showed up with counselors and rock bands and doctors and lovers begging for change.
We beach kids have it easier, our oceans always listening, whispering back in waves that the world is big, horizons always inviting us to dream. I am a kid from those coasts, but there is something about this Midwest. It has my attention. So much hurt here. Too many small towns making big news with broken stories and statistics.
Let’s be part of the solution. Let’s meet them here. Hold me to this: We are going to go to broken places, we are going to learn to love them, we are going to take steps towards meeting needs. Stop the Bleeding Springfield. And a hundred other places.
Waco, Texas:
Waco is the birthplace of Dr. Pepper, and the home of Baylor University. Craig spoke in morning chapel (wearing a green Title, which happened to be the school colors), and then we had a Q&A lunch with a small group of students, which was really cool. I read the story and had the chance to answer some questions about TWLOHA. Craig is friends with Ron Jeremy so he tends to get the bulk of the questions.
After lunch we drove by David Crowder’s house (we’re not stalkers – he’s on tour). Crowder lives in the home that used to belong to the guy who created Dr. Pepper. From there we went to the Dr. Pepper Museum, which was awesome because I really like Dr. Pepper. The museum serves DP in its original blend, with pure cane sugar. Check out Craig’s blog and some photos at [url]http://pure.typepad.com/x3pure/2006/09/3_cities_in_3_d.html[/url]
Here’s an update:
CHANGE:
We continue to support Renee. She moved into an apartment this week and she’s loving it. Plus, she just got a puppy, which she named Johnny, after Johnny Cash. (It’s a good story, I’ll let her tell you.) And Tuesday marked seven months sober. I called Renee when she was in the middle of moving and I wish you could have heard the excitement in her voice.
I met a guy named Jon in New York City a couple months ago. Nicest guy in the world. TWLOHA came up in our conversation and he began to tell me about his sister Jenny, a story much like Renee’s. Jon and I stayed in touch. He continued to tell me about Jenny, the pain in her, in their family, in him. He talked about the moments of hope and the difficult journey to healing, one they’re still walking. I encouraged him to write it down, and you will see that story very soon. Pray for him and Jenny as so much is still broken.
There’s a situation in the Midwest and I hope to tell you more sometime soon. For now, I will simply say that there’s a girl fighting for her life, and your support is helping. I’ve been talking to her mom, and she didn’t know about TWLOHA when we first spoke. She’s been checking this myspace every day, finding hope in your comments.
I had a great conversation with a friend from Teen Challenge last night. I’m hoping to really connect and partner with them. If it’s up to me, I’ll be on a flight back to Springfield, where they’re based, very soon.
Working on a couple others, along those lines, as well. I’ll keep you posted.
CALENDAR:
Tons coming up. Got a call from Willow Creek in Chicago last week, I’ll be speaking there on October 8. Super excited, hoping we can create a really special morning, and hoping to share it with all of you. Here’s a summary of the next five weeks: We go back to Texas Sunday, to Atlanta on Wednesday for Catalyst, Chicago on the 8th, back to Michigan, then home to Florida for a few days. From there it’s NYC, then Peoria, IL for “Stop the Bleeding”. I’ll be back in Grand Rapids to speak at Mars Hill on October 24 and from there I wrap up a crazy month in Cincinnati. Check out twloha.com for all dates and info.
Trying to make it to Nashville sometime soon as well. West Coast too, and I really want to make it to Australia early next year. We’re hearing so much from so many over there. Suicide outnumbers murder in Australia and New Zealand. I want to understand, and I want us to be part of the solution.
A couple months ago, I worked for Hurley and had never been to the Midwest. It’s safe to say things are changing : )
ONLINE STORE:
We just updated the store, and there’s a bunch of inventory now. Also, we’ve made some changes which will make life easier for you. You can now order whatever you want whenever you want, and we’re committed to keeping it in stock. Working on some new stuff too. Thanks for your incredible patience and support over the last few weeks.
In closing, you guys are amazing, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you for making something special. Thank you for loving people. Thank you for embacing stories. Renee’s. Yours. Mine. Thank you for believing that it’s possible to change the world. You help me believe.
Much love to all of you.
jamie