More to come on the Fine Arts Summer Academy:  Upper Division that begins on Saturday, June 21st!

Please check here daily for blog entries relating to this event.

Directions to TBN Studios from I-65 in Nashville:

Continue North on I-65 and take Exit 8, Saundersville Rd exit.  Turn right at the end of the exit ramp.  Turn right at Gallatin Rd/Main Street.  TBN Studios will be on your left at 1 Music Village Blvd., Hendersonville, TN  37075.

Doors open at 7 p.m.  Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.  Christmas attire is suggested, but not necessary.  See you there!

Hosted by Winchester, Oregon based Christian radio network K-LOVE and scheduled for January 21-26 of 2009, the Friends & Family Music Cruise is open to the public but tickets are selling fast—so to reserve yours today, or to find out more details about this great opportunity, please visit the Premier Christian Cruises website.

Violinists and string quartets interested in participation in these Master Classes must be enrolled in one of the Academies, and submit an audition tape of the piece they wish to perform. May 15th is the deadline for receipt of audition recordings.

For more information, or to enroll, please visit the FASA Website.

I relate it to the recent Grammy Awards, when a particular rock group approached the stage to receive their award, and the members of said rock group were attired in a melange of casual wear, or what those in the know might call “rags.” Benjamin pointed out that the people with them wearing suits and tuxes were obviously the business people of the group, i.e., the manager, the producer, and the valet attendant. How did he know that those other people were clearly not in the band? Because of their look. Tuxes and suits just don’t say “cool rock band.” On the other hand, you take one look at the four scruffy-faced, greasy-haired, shabbily-dressed, and generally disheveled fellas on stage and you know, instantly, that they are “rockers” and they are cool. Likewise, you can take one look at our dusty truck, and know, instantly, that we are… tired and dirty. But COOL tired and COOL dirty.

Like I said, though. It wasn’t that our noble minister of transportation was dirty, per se, but that it began to deliver prophesy. At first it began with simple Holiday pleasantries.

Merry Christmas. Then, Merry Valentine’s Day, followed by Merry Easter (a little odd, I know, but one can’t expect a trailer to understand the commonly accepted usage of Merry versus Happy. It’s a miracle that it can form words at all). But then, spreading holiday cheer just didn’t seem to be enough. Notice the next line.

“Easter Now, Apocalypse Later.” I’m sensing a fiery sermon coming on. As to what it might say next is anyone’s guess.

“You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered.” Ez 21:32

or worse,

“Free Merchandise Inside. Act Now!”

There’s something unappealing about driving around spewing damnation from the back of your trailer. Soon, all the other trucks are honking at you, and little children are crying. And you’re just trying to pick up the dry cleaning.

So it was off to the car wash. Actually, we can’t pull this thing through a normal car wash, No, we have to stop at the “TRUCK WASH,” out by the weigh scales, off remote exits of the highway where normal civilians dare not venture. Apparently there is only one truck wash in each timezone, and if you’re lucky enough to find it, you wait in line for several hours or several days, subsisting on Slim Jims and boiled peanuts, which are the only things available at truck stops. To pass the time we play games like “waiting patiently” and “tag”.

2:07 pm - Tag commenced

It’s a proud moment when the head worker, or “workerhead,” waves you into the inner sanctum. There, men in hazard gear proceed to power spray and soap up your vehicle, while you stand by on the side, trying to look knowledgeable by nodding your head in an approving manner. I actually watched as one worker power sprayed the fender of a truck clear off, while the driver stood there gently moving his head up and down in agreement.

Finally, the workerhead gives the signal and, like a proud new daddy, you are allowed to drive your glistening vehicle back onto the dusty roads, where dirt is immediately attracted to the still drying surface, thus ensuring the livelihood of the truck wash workers. It’s a beautiful cycle really. Someone should institute vehicular baptism. Cleansed once and for all.

How absolutely delightful was the concert you performed at Christ Community Church!! Hearing you in person has greatly enhanced the music for me. I felt that I was able to meet and know you better than just hearing your music from a CD. As I write I am listening to the music and have been for much of the weekend since the concert. You have encouraged me, at 52, to strive for excellence. This is one of several things that God is using in me to stir me via His Spirit. I am most grateful to Him thank He chose to use such wonderful music from lovely people.

May the Lord Jesus under gird and use you to help even more.

David, Ruston, LA

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I attended your concert at Christ Community Church in Ruston, LA last Friday, and wanted, first, to say what an incredible blessing your music is. I was moved from tears to laughter, and left praising God.
Second, after hearing your song based on the tragedy occurring in Sudan, and felt inclined to refer you to, and make a pitch for /Share International, Inc.,/ an ministry to the Turkana people of northwest Kenya. (I believe the founder of the ministry, Dr. Sammy Murimi may have spoken to you about it.). The Turkana people are an impoverished, desert tribe located just south east of the Sudan border, where S.I. has been planting churches for over 10 years and has been used mightily by God in reaching these wonderful people. You may check out their website at http://www.shareinternationalinc.com/.
I had the privilege of  going on  the 2004 S.T.O.R.M.project  and can say from first hand experience that the ministry is doing an amazing job there. It is extremely well managed, and it’s money and resources are very carefully administered. Unlike many ministries, there is a low administrative overhead, with the monies actually reaching those in need. You can also ask Dee Alexander; He went with them in, I believe 2002. If you want to go on a summer mission trip to Africa, definitely check out there Short Term Out Reach Mission (S.T.O.R.M.). It WILL change your life and I suspect, your music and worship!

Respectfully,

Dean

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If you happened to be there, leave some comments below!

Blessings,

AMB

And this year, for the first time, there’s an Academy track for everyone, from children 4 years old (the Mini-MusicFest) all the way up to college sophomores (the Upper Division).

So hurry over and sign up! It’ll be a event you’ll never forget.

Through all these varied terrains there is one thing that I continually see. And that is the back end of our trailer trawling behind the truck ahead of us. It’s like that garden gnome on the Travelocity commercials - always the same gnome, just different locations.

Driving through Eastern North Carolina

It’s in all my pictures. Like the guy who can’t take a picture without his thumb being in the way. It’s etched in every memory I have of our trips. They’ll say to me, “Remember that church out in San Diego?” And I think, “I remember the trailer on the way out.” I have spent many, many hours staring at it. I know all it’s scratches and scrapes. I know the way the trailer door buckles in slightly. I sometimes see faces in it.

Traveling through West Texas at sunrise

It’s become like the Star of Bethlehem to me. I follow it on good faith, unceasingly. When it takes a wrong turn, I take a wrong turn (note that the Star of Bethlehem never took a wrong turn). When it makes an illegal U-turn at a busy intersection, I usually wait until it is safe, then make an illegal U-turn (which the Star of Bethlehem would NEVER do).

Crossing California’s Mojave Desert

And like the Star of Bethlehem, it brings good news. It is a symbol of all that we do, everywhere we go. Of everything that it takes for us to perform, bringing music to you and glory to the Lord. From sea to shining sea.

Somewhere in the middle of a torrential downpour

But I digress. What I’ve found is that most people find a few things in their lives that bring them comfort each day, whether it is sitting down with the Bible in your favorite chair, or watching Fox News, or stroking your pet dog. But on the road, constancy like this can be a difficult thing to attain. What I began to notice was that the AMB had found two places of constant refuge throughout the United States.

I realized quickly that these two places have become their “homes away from home,” destinations they look towards eagerly, longingly, on our lengthy excursions. All of this was foreign to a Yankee like myself, who’s used to Dunkin’ Donuts and IHOP (that’s international fare), though I do admit, the fire burning at the Cracker Barrel is often a welcome sight. I firmly believe that if the Annie Moses Band were to stop frequenting the Cracker Barrel, multiple locations in multiple states would quickly find themselves bereft of business and stocks would plummet.

So it is that we stop, sometimes 6 or 7 times a day, at these two businesses, warming ourselves by the fire, filling our bellies with southern cuisine, treating ourselves to iced teas and frozen coffee drinks while stretched out over comfortably hip furnishings, checking our email. Here we find refuge from the confined capacities of our vehicles. If you frequent these places, we may just run into each other one day. If we do, I’ll have a tall medium roast, black.