What a week.  It’s been a weeks of highs and lows.

It’s been a busy week as we have rehearsed for the fall leg of the New Hallelujah World Tour.  Yesterday we hosted my dear friend Tony Dungy at the Rally For Rocketown.  And over the weekend we lost a beloved member of our family – Deb’s Grandmother Kate Washburn.

Kate was an amazing example of a Godly woman who loved the Lord and her family with all her heart.  Even at 96 years old she could command a room with her quick wit and charm.  Kate was a beautiful woman inside and out and I can only imagine that the property value in heaven went up the day Kate entered the gates!  We all look forward to being with her, again, and Praise God for his promise. 

The rehearsals for the tour have been great.  I’m taking out a bigger production than normal and with bigger productions comes more “moving parts”.  Keep us in your prayers as we throw a thousand pieces together and hope that they all land in the right order!  I couldn’t be more excited about the artists traveling with me.  Matt Maher, Meredith Andrews and Phil Stacey are absolutely some of the finest young artists I know.  You’re in for a treat!

And the last, but certainly not the least, was the Rally for Rocketown.  We spend a year planning this event and it was absolutely off the chart.  The event – to benefit Rocketown of Middle Tennessee – featured Coach Tony Dungy, Coach Jeff Fisher, Martina McBride and Vince Gill.  There were many, many other celebrities on hand like Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton, Titan great Chris Sanders, from the Nashville Predators Jordan Tootoo and Dan Hamhuis and others.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

As great as the event itself was - - the highlight for me was that, at Coach Dungy’s request, we headed over to Rocketown after the event.  The place was packed with kids.  Some of these kids couldn’t believe that someone like Superbowl Coach Tony Dungy would drop in to see them.  Bear in mind – many of these kids feel like they're just a number at school and their family life may be nonexistent.  Imagine the impact of someone like Coach Dungy telling them they’re loved and they’re important.  It was a blessing just to watch.

The funniest part of the Rocketown visit was when a kid – maybe 12 or so challenged Coach Dungy to a little game of dodge-ball.  Being the sport he is – Tony jumped right in and gave those kids an experience they’ll never forget.  The man is a true Champion in ever sense of the word – well in every sense except at dodge-ball.  His enthusiasm was no match for the aim of an expert 12 year old dodge-ball player!

You’ll be able to see highlights of this event a week from Sunday on NBC as SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL will do a feature on Rocketown.  We’ll keep you posted and send out reminders.

All that to say - - what a week.  God is in control.  He’s still on the throne.  And I’m convinced more than ever that we serve a God who loves us more than we can even imagine. 

Thank you for your prayers for me, the band and the crew...for our families...and for what God might do at the concerts.  I love you all.....

Smitty