"The Gift"

It was cold. We knew it would be, but reality tends to sit in a little deeper than expected when the moment you have been preparing for actually arrives. The clock on the dash said 4:45am - we'd been driving for over an hour. Driving never seemed so difficult being on the closing end of a gig at 4:45am in the morning - but for some reason, the fact that our day was just beginning made all the difference...

We pulled up to the Dallas Convention Center and began looking for the stage that our hosts had set up for us the night before. Three times, four times, fifth time full circle - the location of our event eluded our vision. We had made lap after lap around the center looking for this spot - but found nothing to fit its description. It didn't help that our guide was still asleep at home courtesy of an alam clock set wrong.

We parked our vehicles and trucked by foot through the cities old cemetery which had grown concrete life around it that never slept. After crossing the headstones and climbing a few hundred steps, we found our stage of glory. It stood all of about 4inches from the ground and covered a space of about 10ft by 14ft. It was located near the entrance of the Convention Center which had accumulated a crowd of about 50 homeless bodies waiting for the days events to unfold.

We found our way back past the dead remains to our illegally parked vehicles to begin the dreaded unloading process. This part of any gig is always dreaded - but 30 below can make anything worse. We piled as much as we could on our four wheel cart and our 2 trustworthy furniture dollies - and proceeded to push them about 100 yards to our destination of the day. Back and forth, trip after trip, we lugged our instruments and our sound equipment to the stage. Each trip at least one of us was approached and asked if we needed help - by those who needed it more. Kindly we declined and they went on their way.

As we prepared for the event, lining the stage with our gear, the homeless bodies that had gathered began to speak - to encourage us and lift us up with words of thanks. Even before we hit our first note, they were fans - simply because we were there. As the sound of drum beats began to fill the "cement jungle" - the bodies became intrigued. As soon as Cody finished his set up and sound check , a crowd of spectators had already begun to form. Among the ocean of sounds surrounding us - waves of bass notes started to flood the spaces in between. The sounds of "Sweet Emotion" began to echo from Kyle's bass. At the drop of a hat - the bodies were hooked. They wanted more - they needed more.

David started warming up his fingers on his guitar, chilling the air just a little more with his sound check. Everything began to come clear as the sun began to rise, adding just a little warmth to the day. By the time we got set up, about 150 bodies began to fill the pre-set lines for those in need. All kinks out, we began our full sound check. After about a minute of sound checking, Cody had already broke 3 sticks. The cold bitter air was so thick it had brittled the wood of the sticks to their core. How much more brittle were the bodies before us?

We finished up with our sound bytes, but the bodies wanted more. They began to compliment us, begging for more. Due to the scheduling of the day, we weren't to play until 9am. It was hard to say no at the time, while looking into their eyes of need. It was our gift to them - but it would have to wait.

Our time spent leading up to us playing was filled with a lot of thoughts and emotions. As the lines began to grow, our emotions took us over. The realization that more and more were coming in hit our souls hard. We stood back as we saw the crowds begin to love on one another. Some obviously acquainted by previous engagements - some just meeting for the first time. They were holding conversations with each other - as friends; as family. The volunteers began to register those there for items such as clothing, bedding, toiletries, and food items. The convention center was set up with several stations where those there could get medications, vaccinations, hair cuts, and entertainment. The bodies waited patiently. Never arguing; simply waiting.

The time had come for us to take the stage. After being led in worship by an east Texas youth band, and led in Christmas carols by an amazing Choir made up of 12-16 year olds, we hit our first note. From start to finish, our momentum was strong. Our playing was tight. And our hearts were out for all to see. Gods love began to pierce the cold air, and started to warm those that started gathering in front of us. A crowd of about 120 had formed, rocking out with us. Their curiosity got the best of them and before too long, they were bobbing their heads, and loosing themselves in what God ordained to be a very humbling, heart felt time of serving.

Music dripped from our fingers. We laid it all on the floor in an honest effort to share who we were with the crowd. We had played these songs a million times - but it seemed as though they had been written for this day alone. Every note, every lyric - they all connected. Notes were played with an entirely different feeling - and the lyrics were sung with a completely different story. We marched to a different beat that day - we had to. Each song drew us closer with the bodies. Each story we told linked us to those who stood listening. They responded each in a different way as to say - that's my story you are telling. Each one different - every one the same.

Then it happened. As if it had always been - and we never saw the change. The bodies had faces. The faces had eyes; smiles; souls. For the first time that day - the bodies were people. It was so easy to dismiss them as numbers early in the day - and it was better that way. Now they all had names - they all had stories - they all had hearts; and their hearts took a toll on ours.

We had come to give the homeless bodies a Christmas party. To give them "things" they otherwise didn't have. We never expected to encounter people.

Things are fragile. They can be lost, stolen - forgotten. A whirl wind encompassed our thoughts. Why were we here? Doctors were giving "things" - as short lived as those things were, they would leave with these people and stay with them a short while. How long would the music last? A week? A day? Or would it even last them till the night? We had to give them something they could keep; something they could call their own. So we did.

We stepped out on faith. The connection between us was strong. They had trusted us into their world - they had let us share in their life. Would that connection be enough to share our life with them?

As the music faded - and the veil was lifted - we opened our hearts and told them about the wonders of God. There were no fancy words. There was no worship band to set the mood. The lights were not dimmed. We told about God for who He was - and who He would always be - and as graceful as we could - we proposed. We presented the ultimate gift...eternal life.

Without hesitation, hands began to raise all around us. 5, 10, 15, 20...all around us - choices were being made, lives were being changed. We closed our set out with worship to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords - and then we left.

There was a different air about the place as we stepped off stage. What once was a cold concrete jungle was now a warm sanctuary filled with the presence of the Almighty. All in all, there were approxiamtely 8,000 homeless people in attendance. There was no way to know how many people accepted Jesus that day. All we knew for sure was that God was made real - and that we were yet again humbled to be a part of His great commission.

We packed our things and rolled back to our vehicles. In the time between, we met face after face that was once attached to the bodies we had so easily dismissed at the start of it all. The faces now had names. Joe, Greg, Thursday, Akisha – and the names had life. We were told how much we were appreciated. All the way from the simple fact that they never heard live music anymore – to the start of their new lives because of our endeavor – we were appreciated.

We came to give – we never knew we would leave with so much…

We encourage you – find a way to give from your heart this season. Give in a way that will make a difference. Meet the need of some one this season – and give in a way that will affect you.

More so - take more opportunities to give the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ. It's a gift that keeps on giving, and Christmas is not its bounds.

God's word says in Psalm 40:10 "I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly."

We challenge you to fall suit. Do not hide God. Let your life shine with His goodness and grace – abounding in love – forever.

Have a Merry Christmas, and we'll see you at the show!

The Boys

"When the music fades, and all is stripped away - and I simply come. Longing just bring, something that's of worth - that will bless Your heart. I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself, is not what You have required. You search much deeper within - through the way things appear - You're looking into my heart. I'm coming back to the heart of worship - where it's all about You, it's all about You Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it - when it's all about You - it's all about You Jesus..."