I have to post Wednesday’s blog a day later due to the fact that the evening didn’t end in Dixon Hall until 11:00 pm! The Spirit of God was moving in the hearts of men and women, and when that happens, you can’t ignore it. God is doing big things at SHSM this week ….. and when you see the pics from today, you’ll see the “special guest” that showed up to songwriting class today!

Wednesday I thoroughly enjoyed the group piano class which was taught by Roy Webb. I went from group class right into a private lesson with Roy. I was able to conquer a few areas on the keys, which was very rewarding. In piano lab, Jeff Stice was the overseer, so I was thankful for the opportunity to work with Jeff and have his input. One thing I would have loved this week was to have a private lesson with Jeff Stice! Maybe next year. I also had another private songwriting class. The day went by very quickly. In the evening performance class, I played Roger’s arrangement of Redeemed. I’ve been enjoying the way they have the performance classes set up. They have the vocalists broken into four groups and assign a certain number of piano students to each group to play within those performances. This affords me the opportunity to sit in and hear some amazing vocal students from all over the country – not to mention, the beautiful songs they choose to sing for us! I’m not a vocalist, but I dare say I’ve been learning a lot just sitting in their performance time in the evening – they have a lot to focus on! It’s been truly enjoyable.

Wednesday evening at Dixon Hall almost leaves me at a loss for words. Before the BB’s took the stage, we had a time of worship lead by a few soloists, interspersed with testimony and were blessed by a children’s choir called SingAkademie which performed their own special version of the National Anthem. When the BB’s took the stage, Ronnie was noticeably absent. I suppose some were disappointed, but the Lord had his purpose in that b/c last night was Michael’s night. The guys did an awesome song set and received several standing ovations of appreciation. Michael had several of the artists join them on-stage, as you’ll see in the pics below – it was a lot fun! I’ll tell ya now, I just don’t have the words to describe what transpired on that stage last night. All I can say is, BB fans – Michael put himself out there with the most transparency and honesty that I’ve ever seen from any Southern Gospel artist (I wish everyone could have been there) …. here is a man who is following the call of God, not men. You know he’ll be put down for that. And you know who will do the most persecuting? Those who claim to be Christians. He deserves MAJOR support for being strong enough to stand up and speak out his heart’s convictions. We all know the truth is not always welcome, but that doesn’t mean we stop speaking it. There is a message that needs to be heard …. shared …. and that message is Jesus Christ. When you are about the Father’s business, and having an affect, you will have opposition – Satan does not want this lost and dying world to be saved, he wants to take as many souls to hell as he can and does so with a lot of deception. Every word spoken last night was from the heart and perfectly in-line with what the Word of God teaches – it was truth, and we all know sometimes the truth hurts, but none the less, it is what we NEED to hear. We should be on our knees praying for men like Michael, who feel the burden to speak the truth. They need lifted up in prayer daily b/c they are in a position to make an impact. And I’m not saying you have to be before big numbers to make an impact. God isn’t interested in numbers. But I am saying that they are in a position, being the group that they are, to go places most ppl wouldn’t have the opportunity to be … and so we need to be lifting this “ministry” before the Lord in prayer and praying for Ronnie, Michael and Jim daily.

With that said, I only wish you all could have been there to see Michael’s reaction when Steve pointed out on the right side of the stage, along the wall, a man standing in a white t-shirt and said, “Michael, that man trusted in Christ as his Savior tonight.” That is an image that will forever be burned in my mind. There is nothing to describe the joy of knowing another soul has come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I’m going to post some pics from the night and let them tell their story, but before I do, can I share one story with you? Something I heard yesterday at lunch time that just pierced my heart. There is a family at the school this week that drove down from Alberta, Canada. They came down through Montana, and when they reached Billings the master seal went on their vehicle. The mechanic that looked at their vehicle told them there wasn’t a qualified mechanic within a four hour radius of Billings to repair their vehicle. (Don’t you find that hard to believe? I do). The mother saw this large church building and that there were cars at the church and proceeded to go inside to inquire if she could use their phone to call her husband. This mother was traveling with her two teen children to come to SHSM, and when they crossed the border, they picked up a disposable phone, which she explained didn’t allow them to make outgoing calls for 48 hours (it had to register the info or something?). They were able to receive calls, but couldn’t call out. So, off to the church to use the phone to let her husband know they had mechanical issues and were instructed to nurse the vehicle back home. Stay with me here, I’m almost done. Inside the church, she explained her situation to the church secretary and offered to PAY FOR the call. Now this was a “Christian” church. The church secretary replied, “I’m sorry, our Sr. Pastor is not here right now and he is the only one who has the authority to authorize something like that.” Are you in shock? I was.

Wouldn’t you have left this person use your own personal phone if this indeed was the church policy?!!!! My heart was just sickened to hear that. And ….. it gets worse, the second church also denied the use of their phone. So she thought she would try a “smaller” church. Her third try, she found a church willing to let her use their phone to call her husband and let him know they had vehicle problems – a small, Catholic church came to their aide.

What does that speak of Christianity today? Had we not better examine our hearts and see who or what we are serving? Are we shaming the name of Christ? Do we love and care for one another as a testimony to the unsaved world?

Yeah, I could almost rant on that, I’m so appalled by it. That should NEVER be within the body of Christ.

You may be interested in knowing that it took the three of them 52 hours to get here! How’s that for a trip? They took their “good” vehicle back up to the border where the father was able to meet them and exchange vehicles. The mom said they had to drive their old “clunker” car which should have never made it here, but praise be to God, here they are! The neat thing was as she told this story, there were two sisters from Austin, TX, listening and when she finished, the one said to the other, “That makes our 12 hour trip here look like nothing!” So many neat things going on here at school …..

Well, the late nights and early mornings are taking their toll.  I”m running behind with my bloggin’!  I’ll leave ya’ll with a few pics to enjoy …..

Vice Mayor of Cleveland, TN, Avery Johnson addresses the students Wednesday night.