The TCM Blog

Stopping In To Say...

2011-03-02T15:02:00.004-06:00

Beginning tomorrow, March 3, this blog will be at http://traviscottrell.com/. Please change your RSS feeds. And come see our new home tomorrow!

Woo hoo! Can't wait!

Living Proof Live Rapid City, SD

2010-11-22T10:16:00.001-06:00

Living Proof Live - Rapid City from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Peace Out

2010-11-05T21:04:00.002-05:00

This video is wrought with irony.

Peace Out from Travis Cottrell on Vimeo.

Sibling peace. A work in progress.

A Quick Message To Women's Ministry Leaders

2010-11-03T11:05:00.006-05:00

This is really late notice. But I feel compelled to let you know about an event that is happening next week. It's the 2010 Notional Women's Leadership Forum. This is a training event for women who are in ministry leadership positions of any kind. It doesn't matter if you have 5 or 500 women in your ministry. If God has called you to facilitate ministry for women, this event will be AMAZING for you.

The event is next week, November 9-11, 2010 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, NC. My team and I will be leading the worship all three days. Beth Moore, as well as her daughter Melissa and son-in-law Curtis Jones will be speaking. There will be breakouts of all kinds, where you can focus your learning to fit your specific needs.

I really should have blogged about this sooner. I'm sorry I didn't. But if it's not too late, and this conference fits you, I hope you will make every effort to attend. You can find all of the information you need here.

Anybody out there already coming?

Any Given Tuesday

2010-11-02T09:53:00.001-05:00

I love Tuesdays. On Tuesdays at about 4:00, my two youngest kids come to my office. They both have piano lessons at the church - one at 4 and one at 4:30. While Lily is in her lesson, Levi and I have fun time together (when he was 2 or 3, he called it "boyish" time. I still love to call it that). Then when Levi has his lesson, Lily and I have great Daddy/Daughter time.

These times almost always involve a golf cart and a Dr. Pepper.

Good grief. I love these little people.

Living Proof Live Spokane, WA

2010-11-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

LPL - Spokane WA from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

This Week at Englewood

2010-10-29T18:04:00.003-05:00

Can't wait for this Sunday!

Sunday morning's worship -
When Jesus Lifts The Load
All The Earth WIll Sing Your Praises
Our God
Hold Us Together
Message - Greater Things: Relationships That Matter (John 13:33-35)

Sunday evening's worship -
Forever
When I Think About The Lord
Jesus Is The Lord
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Message - Dr. Greg Thornbury - The Reformation

Carnegie Hall

2010-10-29T09:16:00.028-05:00

I have been putting off blogging about Carnegie Hall for a week now. The whole experience is still simmering in my head and heart. And I'm certain my words and descriptions won't do the experience justice.

From beginning to end, the whole trip was nothing short of spectacular. I'm so beyond grateful to have been given this experience. And let's be clear: this is not how I roll. I don't jet up and sing at Carnegie Hall just any old time. Why I was allowed to, I don't know. Imagine Jethro Clampett being invited to speak at Harvard graduation. Bingo. You got the picture.

But I had SO MUCH FUN. The orchestra played exquisitely. The choir sang...well, they sang every way; powerfully, passionately, tenderly, beautifully. You all know how much of a choir lover I am. I wanted to turn around and watch them the whole night. But I restrained myself. Mostly.

And, Melinda Doolittle? World class, amazing singer. Humble and warm-hearted. Set apart.

We arrived the night before. Pictured below are my friends Daniel and Christy Semsen (they came all the way from L.A. for the concert. Daniel composed and orchestrated the overture, as well as wrote many of the choir charts for the concert.), my intern Bradford and my assistant Kimberly. We were ready for the adventure.

Some pictures of rehearsal:

And after rehearsal, we ate what I'm sure most people eat a couple of hours before singing there:

There's nothing natural about walking down the street and seeing this:

So we had to bring some reality to it:

Ready for the big night:

We are both sneaker kind of people. But we were both a little bit in pride over our shiny shoes.

Speaking of sneakers, Daniel called me 20 minutes before the concert to tell me he opened his shoe box to find this:

So, Nikes at Carnegie it is. Love it.

About 15 minutes before the show, a security guard brought a card to my door. As soon as I saw the handwriting on the envelope, I knew who it was from.

It was my mentor and "worship daddy," Dick Hill. He surprised me and came all the way from Houston to see the concert!

It was by far one of the most heart-warming surprises of my life. He is the best.

It was a beautiful night.

After the concert, we went on a boat ride on the New York Harbor with the whole choir - all 220 of them. It was a blast. And we had some amazing views.

Melinda and I got to drive the boat. Or at least look like we were.

Uh, yeah. Travis, Captain Stubing called. He wants his hat back.

This is what artists, assistants and interns look like after a day like that day:

We were happy. Exhausted, but happy. It was a moment in time I will never forget, and a moment for which I am very grateful.

This Week at Englewood

2010-10-23T19:52:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning's worship -

Come Lord Jesus
My Savior Lives
Be Thou My Vision
God of This City
Message - Greater Things in Worship (Eze. 37:1-14)

Sunday night - Great Things Harvest Celebration (I may or may not be present at some point in a dunking booth.)

This Week At Englewood

2010-10-14T23:07:00.003-05:00

Since I'm gone this weekend, my good friend David Moffitt will be leading worship at Englewood. What a privilege for us to have him with us! David is my long-time friend. We traveled together in college, like 3 years ago. Give or take a decade or two.

I've had the privilege of writing scores of songs with David...Jesus Saves, Your Word Is Life To Me, Alive Forever Amen (along with Sue C. Smith), and You Changed My Name, to name a few. I'm so glad my church family will get to meet him this Sunday.

Sunday morning's worship -
Alive Forever Amen
To Our God
Blood of Jesus Be My All
Fountain of Life
Just As I Am (Response / Invitation)
Message - The Road Less Traveled: Submission (Eph. 5:21)

Sunday night's worship -
Come, Lord Jesus
Sing to the King
How Great Is Our God
Hunger and Thirst
Message - Journey With Paul

I hope you have a great weekend.

This Weekend

2010-10-14T15:37:00.012-05:00

I'm all packed.

I'm going to two of my very favorite places in the world this weekend, and they couldn't be more opposite. I'm heading first to the Blue Ridge Mountains - Ridgecrest to be exact - to lead worship for a Festival of Marriage. Ridgecrest is one of my favorite places in the world. It actually is where I first heard God begin to call me to ministry, when I was 15. This is a great event for married couples...I look forward to it every year.

While I'm there, I'm zipping up to Boone (remember - God's favorite place, where He gets His mail and all) for a book signing at The Cornerstone Bookstore.

The Cornerstone is one of the coolest Christian bookstores I've ever seen. And it just so happens to be in my hometown, where I grew up going to buy things like this:

And this:

And this:

I will be signing books 1:30-3:30 Saturday afternoon.

Then on Sunday afternoon, I'm heading to another one of my favorite places - New York City. Monday night is the big night of the concert at Carnegie Hall.

I'm pretty pumped about this concert.

I guess that makes three of my favorite places in the world in one weekend. Either way, I'm thankful to be alive and serving in the kingdom of God in this generation.

And I'm thankful that you are too. And I pray that no matter where you are this weekend, that you...that we...will all give way to the Spirit of God to teach us, encourage us, and use us to be passionate and authentic storytellers of God's amazing grace. Everywhere we go.

Sincerity

2010-10-12T10:40:00.001-05:00

Me: Lily, how was your class at church?
Lily: Great.
Me: What did you drink to get that big red moustache?
Lily (pauses to look in the car mirror): Oh my. I didn't know it was that sincere. It's tragical.

This Week At Englewood

2010-10-09T12:48:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning's worship:
He Reigns
Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
Jesus Saves
Our God
Message - The Road Less Traveled: Simplicity (Luke 12:13-21)

Sunday night's worship -
Children's choirs singing (woo hoo!)
Also -
Made Me Glad
The Solid Rock
Message - Journey with Paul: Paul's Challenge to Spiritual Leaders (Acts 20:25-28)

Have a great Sunday!

Friday Morning

2010-10-07T21:59:00.004-05:00

I keep forgetting to tell you this. I'm going to be on American Family Radio tomorrow (Friday) morning. I am co-hosting from 8:45 until 9:30. And then I will be interviewed from 11 until 12.

I think they have 200 or so stations across the U.S. They are 88.7FM here in Jackson, TN.

After that, I'm heading out on a camping trip with my favorite cub scout: Levi Cottrell.

Have a great weekend!

I Met An Old Friend For The First Time

2010-10-07T06:05:00.006-05:00

This morning I am heading home from a whirlwind trip to Lancaster, PA for the National Worship Leader's Conference. Great conference. The team and I continued our new pattern of coming in from different places, which still feels a little weird (most of them from Nashville, some from Orlando, me from Memphis). We used to all be in Nashville. God has been uprooting us all in different ways, and now we are coming from lots of different directions. Wherever we come from, it's always could to be with my ministry family. I love them.

I was excited to minister at the conference. I'm always pumped for the privilege to minister to worship leaders. Of course, in light of my new work at my new church, that kind of ministry has a whole new light shed on it.

I was also pumped about this trip because I got to meet this guy and his sweet wife. I met Adam through his blog a few years ago. He and Karen blogged very transparently and powerfully about their sweet son, Gavin, and his struggles with Mitochondrial disease. Angela and I prayed often for Gavin and for them, as I know many of you did. I blogged about them, and received many sweet comments from you about praying for them. After a brave battle, Gavin went to be with Jesus last November.

Anyway, after a couple of years of communicating with Adam through blogs and tweets, I finally got to meet them both face to face.

We had a great visit. After the first few weird moments of sitting and talking with someone you know but you don't really know, we ended up talking like old friends. I got to hear about their sweet 6 year old, Madi. And they also shared their amazing story of their process to adopt a child from the foster care system, with special needs. What an amazing testimony these people have!

What a strange world we live in. How cool it is to be able, through these insignificant blogs and tweets and blah blah blah, to be able to meet all kinds of people...pray for them...be encouraged by them...laugh with them. And in those seasons when we find ourselves on a road marked with suffering, to know there is a community of friends out there knocking on the door of heaven on your behalf...that's pretty great.

Living Proof Live Lowell / Boston

2010-10-04T22:11:00.001-05:00

Living Proof Live - Lowell MA from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Random Phone Pics: Chicago Edition

2010-10-04T06:50:00.003-05:00

This was the sink in my hotel room in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I had to call the front desk to find out how to unstop it.

This is one of my all-time favorite dudes, Andy League. He was in my youth choir when I was serving at Two Rivers years ago. He just finished his Masters of Divinity at Gordon Conwell Theological University (some church needs to snatch him up...they will be glad they did), and currently lives in Chicago. I got to visit with him while I was there. Refreshed my soul to see him all grown up as a full-of-faith man of God.

It also refreshed my soul to eat this pizza with him.

Seth and Nirva on the walk back to the hotel from sound check. Looking cool crossing the street.

But he wasn't so cool trying to take the picture of Andy and me.

Not Chicago related, but I feel the need to share. My Appalachian State sticker on the back of my car has seen better days. Time for a new one. Can a fellow Mountaineer help a brother out?

This Sunday at Englewood

2010-10-01T00:51:00.003-05:00

Sunday morning's worship -
Made To Worship
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Still
Stronger
At The Cross (Response / Invitation)
Message - The Road Less Traveled: Service (John 13:1-17)

Sunday night's worship -
Hosanna
I Will Sing of My Redeemer
Mighty To Save
Message - Journey With Paul: Men Who Turned The World Upside Down (Acts 17:15)

Tick tock...Sunday's coming...can't wait...have a great weekend!

Random Thursday Randomness

2010-09-30T04:47:00.010-05:00

1. I love Wednesdays. One reason I love them is because I love band practice and choir practice at church. Wednesdays are good. That's all.

2. Yesterday was no exception, although I did have to go to two places that aren't exactly bucket list places on any given Wednesday. I had to take my car to the garage (although that wasn't so bad, because I got some unplanned visit time with a buddy and some biscuits and gravy at Mrs. Winners beside the garage). And I also had to take an unexpected trip to the doctor. As we were talking and eating our (very delicious) biscuits and gravy, I began to have a pain in my left ear that rendered me unable to talk or even move my head. My buddy said he watched my countenance change as my eyes began look like a dude who was in pain. And I was. I tried to pull my ear off because I thought I was dying, but it wouldn't come off. So I called an ENT and they were able to see me right away. It wasn't an infection...it was one of a couple of things...still not quite sure. But I loved this doctor and am thankful for the treatment and diagnosis he gave me.

Since I know you're wondering, I was indeed able to finish my biscuits and gravy.

3. It's amazing to me how easily the weather can affect my mood. Seriously, this time of year makes me crazy with happiness.

4. Speaking of crazy with happiness, I'm heading to Boston tonight for our Living Proof conference this weekend. I don't think I've ever been to Boston. I can't wait! Boston in the fall...isn't there a song about it?

Anybody out there coming to LPL Boston this weekend?

I just checked the weather for Boston tomorrow: high of 71. I fear I may embarrass my loved ones with my giddiness at some point today. Or tomorrow. Or any day, really.

5. Spirit Week at my kids' school this week. Monday was 80's Day (which, according to my iPod, is any day).

Who are these children who are ready to mug for the camera so early in the morning??? Their mother's influence, obviously. :-)

6. Here's a good word for us all today:

Psalm 25:9 - He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Oh Lord, lead us today. We trust in YOU.

This Portion of My Life Is Brought to Me By The Word SURPRISE.

2010-09-28T22:58:00.012-05:00

So, my wife got in cahoots with the worship staff at my church today. They surprised me with a Book Release Day Surprise Party. Again, as always, I was clueless. Walked right by this door of the normally-empty extra office before the party and didn't even see it:

I'm sharp, let me tell you. Nothing gets by me.

They had balloons...flowers...Popeye's Chicken...strawberry cake...Dr. Pepper...friends...family...

Popeye's Chicken, I said. My wife knows my love language.

It was a room full of happy. That's what it was.

Here's Mr. Dorky McClueless walking in:

I bet Max Lucado doesn't get Popeye's on his release days. So there.

The strawberry cake was a conduit of the glory of God.

I even got presents.

I'm so thankful for the sweet people in this picture...and so many more, who have made me feel so special this week and always. Thank you so much!

September 28, 2010

2010-09-26T21:10:00.007-05:00

This book is officially available in stores today. The original release date was October 8. But the date got moved up. So today is the day.

(It's also my dad's 86th birthday. Happy birthday, Dad!)

I still can't believe that the Lord granted me the blessing of putting these thoughts to paper. I'm completely serious when I say that I feel so inadequate to have done so. But I humbly submit Surprised By Worship to you with great anticipation that, by the grace of God, He might use it to encourage you to look for Him in even the most surprising places. When you seek Him with all your heart, you most assuredly will find Him. He promises (Jer. 29:13).

Home

2010-09-26T21:06:00.002-05:00

Hey, friends. Hope you all are well. We have been on vacation this past week. Had a fun and relaxing 5 days at the beach. Because of our move and all the craziness that it caused, we were unable to have any kind of get-away this summer. So we took the kids out of school (thanks to some most gracious teachers) and went to the beach with some friends. We had a great time. We did a whole bunch of nothin'. It was awesome. I did a whole lot of lovin' on these faces...

And flirted with this babe...

And ate a lot of this...

And rode this slide about 9,275 times...

And marveled at this a lot...

Speaking of marveling at things...on our second day we headed to the shore and quickly saw the "Hazardous Marine Life" flag billowing in the strong ocean breeze. Bummer. I'm an ocean guy, and I've trained my kids to be the same. We love nothing more than bobbing up and down in the waves for hours on end. So our Tuesday morning dreams were shattered pretty quickly when we saw huge schools of tens of thousands of little minnow-looking fish. I'm talking fish as thick as the sand we were standing on. I'm talking nations of fish. I'm talking LOTS AND LOTS OF FISH.

But, why were they labeled "hazardous marine life?" Granted, I didn't really want to jump in and roll around in these thousands of little fishies. But I didn't really understand why they felt the need to tell us they were hazardous. Then I realized what was really going on. Those little fishes were being pursued by bigger fish. And the bigger fish were being pursued by tons of these bad boys:

Mmm hmm. Pretty intesnse. There were a bunch of them. Needless to say, we didn't do any bobbing in waves on Tuesday. But on Wednesday...

...it was back to normal.

This was the first set of consecutive days in months that I had time to actually think and process thoughts and ponder and evaluate. I nearly pondered myself to death a couple of days, but it was good. It was so needed and so refreshing for me. One of the things the time allowed me to do was look at my life and decide where I could be giving a better effort, and make wiser investments (time and energy investments, not money investments). Recently, my wife has been calling me on the carpet for not being a very thoughtful blogger...and certainly not a very consistent one. After having this break, I'm encouraged and motivated to put my thoughts down on "paper" here more consistently.

It has been a CRAZY year, with our move, with a new, very time-consuming job, and with the writing of the book. But I am feeling settled and spacious and happy now. I think I might actually have more than 3 or 4 brain cells to actually write a complete sentence or two here every now and then.

It was a great week. I love vacation. But it's good to be home.

This Sunday at Englewood

2010-09-25T14:56:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow morning's worship -
Who Is Like The Lord
Sing To The King
Revelation Song
Holy, Holy, Holy
Christ Is Lifted Up
One Thing (Response / Invitation)
Message - The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, The Greater Things (Matt. 22:34-40; 28:16-20)

Tomorrow night's worship -
To The King
New Doxology
Our God
Stronger
Message - Evangelism Done Right (Acts 15:36-16:5)

Can't wait until church tomorrow!

Living Proof Live Chicago

2010-09-25T00:18:00.000-05:00

LPL Simulcast Chicago from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

I Know This is Late Notice, But...

2010-09-10T10:41:00.005-05:00

Hey, friends. I'm sorry this is really late notice, but I wanted to let you know the team and I have 3 concerts this weekend:

Friday night, September 10 - Bardstown, KY at 7:30pm
Saturday night, September 11 - Gadsden, AL at 6pm
Sunday night, September 12 - St. Charles, MO at 6pm

We are pumped to be worshiping together in these 3 great places. If you're close by, I hope you can join us!

Living Proof Live Richmond

2010-08-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

LPL Richmond VA from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Carnegie Hall

2010-08-28T16:24:00.004-05:00

I'm really excited about October 18. Really excited. It's going to be fun night to share with a killer orchestra and 200 voice choir. I'm pumped to sing Forevermore, In Christ Alone, Jesus Saves, 2000 Years, and a bunch of other stuff with them.

I can't even begin to tell you what a privilege it is to share that time with Melinda Doolittle. She is an amazing singer and all-around great gal. I think the most exciting part of October 18 for me will be hearing her sing. I can't WAIT!

Living Proof Live Lexington

2010-08-16T07:46:00.001-05:00

We had an awesome time in the Bluegrass State. Hope to see you again soon, Lexington.

LPL Lexington KY from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

We Will Remember

2010-08-09T10:39:00.003-05:00

This weekend is my church's 60th Anniversay. And we are celebrating:

Come join our worship ministry for a night of worship, reflection, and celebration. This Sunday, August 15, at 3:30 and 7pm. Tickets (free) are almost gone. Contact the church if you are in the area and would like to join us.

I can't wait to join with my new family for the momentous occasion!

God’s Purpose or Mine?

2010-07-28T08:22:00.001-05:00

This is today's entry from Oswald Chambers' My Utmost For His Highest. Have a blessed day...and enjoy the PROCESS.

July 28, 2010
He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side . . . —Mark 6:45

We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success. We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God’s purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.
What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” ( Mark 6:49 ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.
God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.
God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.

Surprised By Worship

2010-07-22T11:18:00.006-05:00

Release date - October 8, 2010.

You can currently pre-order at Amazon.

My heart beats a little faster and my palms get all sweaty looking at this cover and writing this to you.

That's all I have to say about that.

Some Dates

2010-07-21T07:17:00.005-05:00

Hey, friends. I hope you all are doing well. All is well in the Cottrell household. Mommy's happy. Daddy's happy. 2 kids are happy at music camp this week. 1 kid is happy at middle school camp this week. I'm in Nashville for a couple of days, finishing up an Easter choir musical, and leading worship for a Media Directors gathering. (Side note: I found it very funny that I used Powerpoint for my worship words at the Media Directors' conference. Here comes tech-savvy Travis with his Powerpoint. HAHA. Just a nerdy worship ministry fun fact for anyone who cares.)

I have some dates swirling around in my head that I want to bring to your attention here, in case we may be coming to your area. I have so been in church mode that these dates have slipped up on me, and I haven't mentioned them here yet.

1. THIS WEEKEND! The team and I will be at Crosspointe Baptist Church in Millington, TN on Saturday night, and Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL on Sunday night. Both of these nights are rescheduled from the Nashville flood weekend a few months back. We are super excited about being at both of these great churches. I hope you can join us.

FYI - For all of my Englewood family, I will still be at church this Sunday morning. Pastor Ben is finishing up his series on Healing. I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUNDAY.

2. The next 2 Sundays after this week, we will be going back to 2 great churches where we've been before. August 1, the team and I will be at Westside Baptist in Jacksonville, FL. And on Sunday night, August 8, we will be at Tillman's Corner in Mobile, AL. WIll we see any of you Florida or Alabama peeps?

3. We have a Living Proof Live in Lexington August 13-14. Lexington is a great city, and is close to so many places. All you KY, TN, NC, WVA, VA, and OH peeps need to come!

4. That same weekend, we are having an event at my church called We Will Remember: A Worship Celebration. It's on August 15, at 3:30 and 7pm. It's the first worship event for me at my new church home. I would capitalize this whole sentence, but THAT WOULD BE OBNOXIOUS. Needless to say, I'm pumped. If you are close by, come worship with us! Call the church for (free) ticket info.

5. We are booking 4 Christmas concerts this year. If your church is interested in having the team and I join your choir for a Christmas Night of Worship, give Kimberly a shout at info@traviscottrell.com.

That's all I got for now. Time to get this day going. I hope it's a great day for you. Here's a good word for your day.

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16: 5-11

Living Proof Live Irvine, CA

2010-07-14T07:34:00.001-05:00

Living Proof Live - Irvine CA from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Me And My BM's

2010-07-03T09:34:00.010-05:00

It finally happened. I was finally with both of my BM's at the same time.

Beth Moore. Ben Mandrell. My two bosses! My two leaders. My two friends. I love both of these people so much. It was important to me for them to love each other, too. (Too bad I don't look happy in this picture.)

High five on that one.

I have had the great joy of serving in a lot of cool places and for many different great events. I've had a wide array of deep-meaning ministry experiences. But what I've come to realize is that when I step away and look back at the things in my past, it's what the Lord does between people that matters the most. Not the cool locations, or delicious food, great recordings or busy schedules. But people to people. Person to person. Heart to heart. God often reveals Himself to us in the ins and outs of how we love one another. I dig it.

And I love serving with two people whose hearts I can trust with my life.

I can also trust that Beth will always look cooler than us. Always. Even when she's getting like 3 feet of air. GOSH.

Knock Knock. Who's There? It's ME.

2010-06-28T10:57:00.010-05:00

So, here's a list of things I've done since May 23 (this list is also known as "Travis' Groveling For Your Grace and Unconditional Love Despite the Fact He Hasn't Blogged in 14 Years"):

1. Moved my family, myself and all of our belongings to another city. Everything. Out of one house. And into another.
2. Closed on the selling of our house.
3. Planned and led 36 worship sets.
4. Co-navigated VBS, football camp (one child) and theater camp (three children) alongside my wife.
5. Edited a book.
6. Wrote an Easter musical.
7. Raised children.
8. Loved my bride.

Things I have not done since May 23:
1. Seen Toy Story 3.
2. Written a blog.

I'm about to be back on my feet. And then I WILL BE BACK.

I know all three of you will be ecstatic.

To infinity and beyond,

Travis
Gal. 2:20

Living Proof Live St. Louis

2010-06-28T09:10:00.001-05:00

Living Proof Live - St. Louis from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Deeper Still Denver

2010-06-14T05:45:00.001-05:00

Deeper Still - Denver CO from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Living Proof Live Grand Rapids

2010-05-23T22:33:00.000-05:00

Living Proof Live - Grand Rapids from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Ordination

2010-05-15T14:51:00.003-05:00

Guess what I have never done in my 21 years of ministry? I have never been ordained!

I wonder if that means all these years in ministry haven't counted??

Kidding. I felt the Lord nudging me to take this step in preparation for my new season at Englewood. I'm pumped about it. And, as the Lord would have it, my ordination will take place just 4 days before my first Sunday with my new EBC family. Pretty special, I think.

My church here in Franklin - Thompson Station Church - is having an ordination service for me next Wednesday night, May 19 at 6:30. My pastor here, Pastor Tom McCoy, will be heading up the service. My current worship pastor, Chip, will be leading worship. My worship mentor, Dick Hill, is coming from Houston to take part in the service as well. And of course, my new pastor and partner in crime, Pastor Ben, will be taking part, too. I can't wait. I'm ready for God's mission for my family and me in this season. Woo hoo! Bring it.

Would you pray for my family, the ordination council and me as we share in this special night? I am asking the Lord to mark this night as one where He will seal in Angela and me this calling that He has placed on our lives...and that He would send us out from this night with every bit of ministry heart and authority that we need to march into this new day.

And of course, any of you who are in the area and would like to come to join us, we would love to have you.

My friends are asking if they have to call me Pastor Travis now. I told them no. They can just call me "The Very Right Reverend Deacon Doctor Pastor Travis CoTTRELL." Yep. That'll do.

:-)

Coming Up For Air

2010-05-10T11:22:00.010-05:00

Hey, friends. Another brief check in. I am ALMOST FINISHED with this book. Almost. It's really fun trying to write a book while moving to another town after living in your old town for 20 years. And by really fun I mean really hard.

I'm kidding. Not complaining at all. I have just been working hard to not give anyone or anything a divided ME. I will keep you posted on how things with the book wrap up..hopefully soon. Then I will be back to my regularly irregular blogging.

A couple of things...

We have a Jesus Saves Live concert this Thursday night in Mechanicsville, VA. We can't wait. If you are close by, we'd love for you to join us. I'm a little worried for all those in attendance...we are so ready to worship together after canceling our concerts last weekend because of the flood, I am praying that I don't jump a pew or something. Kidding. Sort of. No, really.

Then, we will be in Charleston, SC Friday - Sunday for the Women of Joy conference. Hope to see many of you there.

OK. Tick tock. I leave town next Thursday, May 20 to drive to Memphis, so I can fly to Grand Rapids, MI for our next Living Proof Live. Then I will fly back to Memphis and drive to Jackson on that Saturday night to be there for my first Sunday on the job (May 23).

In other words, I'm leaving Franklin next Thursday...as in leaving.

Excited.

Scared.

Thrilled.

Sad.

Happy.

Nervous.

Trusting.

Running.

(Pause.)

Running this race with joy in my heart.

TC

Checking In For a Brief Update. And Some Unbridled Bragging On My Girl.

2010-04-29T21:36:00.007-05:00

Hey, friends. Hope you're well. I've missed you. I am just checking in to say hey. My head is still buried in this book. Round one of the manuscript is due tomorrow (Friday). After I get past that, I will feel much better. And once I get completely through edits and the rest of the rounds, I will be back to normal. Normal being semi-regular and marginally acceptable blogging from me.

I haven't even popped in to talk about Idol. It's killed me. The not talking about it, that is. Actually, the actual show itself has nearly done me in this year, too. Bright spots for me: Crystal and Casey. Love both of their voices. I don't see Casey making it to the finals with Crystal (the eventual winner). But if he did, having both of them in the finals would feel like a tiny ray of sunshine in an otherwise abysmal season.

We have two stops in our Jesus Saves Live tour this weekend. Saturday, we will be in Millington, TN (near Memphis) at Crosspointe Baptist Church. And Sunday night we will be in Huntsville, AL at Whitesburg Baptist Church. I can't WAIT to head that way and gear up for some hard core Jesus worship this weekend. If you are close by, I hope you will join us.

I want to close this brief update by bragging on my sweet little princess. Two weekends ago, Lily Kate made it to the state round of bible drill (her first year). And she got State Superior.

Please, somebody. Find a place for me to hide my heart. She steals it every day. Or at least every day that I'm breathing. Sweet girl...I love you so. You keep on studying that Word. Know it. Hide in it. Learn from it. Stand on it. It will be the LIFE of you.

Happy weekend, everybody!

TC

PS - It's May already. Whhhhaaaaaa????

Living Proof Live Tampa

2010-04-19T08:26:00.002-05:00

We had a great weekend in Tampa! But before I post the event recap, I have something to tell you.

We had our first looker come to see our house on Saturday. And THEY BOUGHT IT.

Our house is SOLD. (still in shock)

HALLELUJAH! Thank You, Lord! We are so thankful and so humbled by the way God has made our path to Jackson so straight. I was fully buckled down and ready to feel the pains of trying to sell a house in this economy. But for some reason God had a different plan. We are grateful.

I know some of you are feeling those pains of trying to sell your home. I'm so sorry you are. Keep trusting Jesus. He can and will sell your house when the time is right.

If you need us today, just give us a holler. We will be right here, running around the outside of our house non-stop, taking victory laps. Full speed. Over and over. For hours.

On to the recap...

Living Proof Live - Tampa from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Wednesdays, How I Love You

2010-04-14T09:03:00.008-05:00

Hey, friends. Long time no blog. I hope you are well. I have stepped away from writing ANYTHING except for the book, for which I have been feverishly writing every spare moment. I have missed you guys! But I have really needed to duck away and be faithful to this project and see it through. I even deleted Twitter and Facebook from my phone for a time...which has not had any affect on me whatsoever (twitch, twitch, headbob, twitch, eyetwitch, eyetwitch, headspin, kneeraise, flailing arms, twitch).

Our first Easter at Englewood was amazing. We had great crowds ready to worship. The choir was on stun. And Pastor Ben was helping Jesus show out. It was a great weekend. A couple of pics...

Happy Swollen Pollen Faces Easter!

You can't imagine the drama that ensued just before this picture. Or maybe you can.

I will pose for this picture as long as we don't have to touch. Ew. Brothers!

We celebrated the dawning of a new day in the Cottrell household. We have a teenager in the house. Good thing we started having children when we were 12.

OK. All I can say about this is that this is a first. Someone with the lat name Cottrell won the Science Fair. Go figure.

Other notes of interest...that aren't very interesting:

- We found a house to rent in Jackson, which puts us in Relief Central. We were sweating it out, since we move in just a little over a month (gulp). We decided to rent for a while, until we can figure out the where's and what's and what not's.

- Our house is on the market. We have sold 3 houses in our marriage. The longest it took for any of our houses to sell was 14 days. Our house this time has been on the market for 14 days. How many people have looked at it, you ask? ZERO. So some prayers for that would be much appreciated. But let me say that WE TRUST GOD. He has been too faithful for us to think He would leave us stranded at this point. He's batting a thousand through the history of time. So that's a pretty good track record on which to rest. Still, we are thankful for prayers.

- Living Proof Live Tampa is this weekend. Yessssssss. Have I mentioned how much I love my job??? :-) Can't wait. Already asking God for a big fat Word for my family and me this weekend. My new teenager Jack is coming with me this weekend. It's a special happy birthday trip. I'm praying for God to open that boy's mind up to God's vastness and greatness. I can't wait to watch his destiny unfold as he continues to learn more about Jesus.

- The team and I are staying over and leading worship at Calvary Baptist in Clearwater, FL on Sunday morning. I love this church. I sang there last year and had such a great time. Their worship pastor, Greg Toney is a great guy and great worship pastor. We are pumped to be there this Sunday. If you are in the area, come join us.

- I loved reading your reactions to my list of 25 Random Things About Me. Yes. I'm a weirdo. Thanks for your confirmation on that. Really, thanks.

I feel the need to answer one question. But not because I'm OCD or anything. Concerning #19: Yes. Black socks are a problem. I don't know what to do. I would tell you that I tried to label them with white-out, but that would be too embarrassing to tell. So I won't tell you that I tried to label them with white-out. I won't tell you that.

I love Wednesdays. Wednesdays mean a lot things to me. What Wednesday means to me this week is that in two days, I get to lead worship. I love it so much.

Happy Wednesday to you!

The Fun's Begun

2010-04-01T17:43:00.005-05:00

Before I even knew of God's call on our lives to serve at Englewood, I was booked to lead worship for their Inside Out women's conference.

Watch at your own risk (then get more information here).

Easter at Englewood

2010-04-01T11:59:00.006-05:00

I'm so pumped to be worshipping with our new Englewood church family this Easter weekend. 4 services: Saturday at 6:30, Sunday at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00. We are going to have a great time. It's my first Easter Sunday to lead worship at a church in 6 years...not to mention that I am still on stun with joy for this new call and this new day. AM I EXCITED, YOU ASK? EXCITED? ME EXCITED? WHYEVER WOULD YOU THINK SO???

Can I get a big WOO HOO?!

I hope to see you there. And I hope you have an amazing Easter wherever you are. Time to celebrate that because the tomb is empty, WE AREN'T. That's a Happy Easter.

This List is So (Twenty) Five Minutes Ago

2010-03-29T20:57:00.003-05:00

Last year, everybody on facebook posted a list called "25 Random Things About Me." I really enjoyed reading them. It took me a while to conjure up the energy to write one myself. I finally did. But by the time I was finished, I was too sick of myself to even post it. So I never did.

I found it as a draft somewhere the other day, so I thought I would post it here (coincidentally, Beth has a similar kind of list - and very funny - going on over here). As I read it, I came to the conclusion that I am pretty doggone strange. Not a new revelation to some of you. I understand that. But still. For some reason, the breadth of my weirdness was news to me.

So here goes. Welcome to the freak show.

- 25 Random Things About Me -

1. I've only seen one black and white movie ever. It was something like "Strangers On A Train," or something about a train. (AND, I've never seen a full episode of The Andy Griffith Show. I know...that's a travesty, especially being from NC.)

2. I spent more than half of my life requiring myself to end every staircase - going up or down - on my right foot. Growing up, I had all of my daily staircases memorized, and always knew which foot to start on in order to land on my right foot.

3. I love being a dad so much. I feel life most deeply when I am with my wife and kids.

4. My dad was a prisoner in WWII. He was in the army during the end of the war. He spent 9 months in a concentration camp in Germany, up until the war ended.

5. I am an incessant trash talker. I will talk trash about anything. I don't even have to care about the team, game or topic. I don't even know what compels me. Even when I know defeat is imminent for whoever's side I'm trash talking in support of, I can't stop myself. It's fun.

6. I will beat you down in a game of Nertz. Any time. Anywhere. I am the best. Yeah, I'm talking to you.

7. One of my life regrets is that I wasn't in marching band in high school. My school didn't make it easy to be in both chorus and band. So when I got to 9th grade, I pretty much had to choose. I don't regret choosing chorus. But I regret not making a way to be in band, too. My inner band nerd is alive and well.

8. I have a very strong affinity and connection with my growing up years in NC. I still stay in touch with many of my teachers and friends. I still talk to my 5th grade and 7th grade teachers on a regular basis. Sometimes when we go back to Boone, I will drive through old friends' neighborhoods and old school parking lots just to see how things have changed, and to reminisce. I am PAINFULLY sentimental and nostalgic.

9. On that note, I am an 80's pop culture junkie. Especially music. I love it. And I love the old feelings and emotions it conjures up. I can hear 2 seconds of Bill Joel's "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" and I am immediately transcended to 9th grade, in my cousin's car, pulling into the WHS parking lot early on a fall morning. I can't even hear "Hard Habit To Break" without thinking of Friday night sock hops (who can, really?). One more thing about the 80's: I never met an 80's duet I didn't like. The best? "Separate Lives" by Phil Collins and that girl who sang a bunch of 80's duets. I am trying to resist making this entry any longer, and doing my best to not tell you that my favorite 80's soundtrack is "Stealing Home."

10. One time in junior high, I rode the Meteorite at Carowinds 3 times in a row with my friends. After the 3rd time, I walked off and immediately threw up my cherry slushie. I had pulled my sun visor (why was I wearing a sun visor) down around my neck, so it caught all of the throw up. I spent the rest of the day with cherry slushie puke stains on my white shirt and visor. I think the memory still traumatizes my friend Teresa.

11. For our 8th anniversary, Angela and I went to NYC to see the women's final of the US Open. We saw the first ever Williams-Williams grand slam final. Venus won. We were planning on flying home at 9:00 am on the Tuesday after the final (9/11/01), but changed our flight at the last minute to Monday, because we were closing on a house the following Friday. So we flew home from NYC on 9/10/01.

12. I am a sucker for movies about the innocence of childhood...especially when there is a voiceover involved. Simon Birch, About A Boy, My Girl (can't remember if there was a voiceover in that one, but that movie killed me). And The Wonder Years narrator gets me every time.

13. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Wheeler's Produce, buying a watermelon, bringing it home and putting it in the creek in our back yard to keep it cold.

14. My memory is very selective. I am embarrassed about how little I remember from what I learned in school (which is evidenced by how little I can help my fourth grader with her math homework). But I can tell you anything you want to know about Roj, Dewayne and Rerun on "What's Happening." Or pretty much any other sitcom from the 70's or 80's. Or any SNL sketch from 1987-1989.

15. I'm so ashamed to say this, but when I see someone fall, it's like flipping a laugh switch on in my head. I can't NOT laugh. I don't want the person to be injured. But I can't stop laughing. Youtube has changed my life.

16. I remember going out of town with my sister when I was 9. She was 21 or so. It was just the two of us. We went swimming at a big pool complex in the closest big town to Boone there was. And then we went to the mall. The souvenir I bought with my spending money was a Kenny Rogers songbook. It was titled "Kenny." I still have it. And I occasionally sing a song I learned from it as a lullaby to my kids. And, no, it's not "Lucille." Or "Coward Of The County."

What 9 year old buys a Kenny Rogers songbook for a souvenir? Sheesh.

17. Inside me is this weird mix of feeling like I know how to do what I'm called to do, and fearing failing miserably at it.

18. I can't walk by a Galaga game without playing it.

19. I number my socks. As soon as I buy a pack of socks, I number the pairs on the bottom of the foot with a sharpie. That way, they can stay with their correct mate forever. And when I am wearing them, they will have the same level of wear and tear. I'm wearing the 5's today.

20. My wife continues to amaze me with her depth of beauty, grace and wisdom in regards to all facets of her life. Ask anyone who knows her; she is stunning on the inside and out.

21. My computer homepage is www.espn.com. I spend probably 30 minutes a day reading there. I am a sports junkie. A life highlight for me has been getting to meet one of my all-time idols, David Robinson. I got to meet him twice last year. And I was a big goober both times. I took vintage trading cards I had of him to sign and everything. But I did NOT talk trash with him (see #5).

22. I love the beach. Everything about it. The salty air, the tight, slightly sunburned feeling on your skin, the freezing cold room you walk into coming inside for lunch, digging to the bottom of a sandy beach bag for a room key, the happy scent of sunscreen 24/7. My memories of going to the beach with my family as a kid are still so vivid and so happy. And creating those same kinds of memories for my kids puts me over the moon. I love it so much.

23. I hate having to pick one favorite thing when asked. This makes decisions challenging. Favorite food? A delicious steak. Oh, wait...maybe some sort of asian chicken with fried rice. Or maybe some barbeque something with slaw and beans and texas toast. Favorite color? Blue. Or green. Or maybe red. Favorite sport to watch? Either NFL football or NBA basketball. Or tennis. Favorite Starbucks drink? London Fog. Or a soy vanilla latte. See what I'm dealing with inside here? I can't even drive through McDonalds without praying about what to get. Weirdo.

24. I can tell you decidedly my single favorite pop song ever. "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins.

Or "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson. Or "Missing You" by John Waite.

25. I am hopelessly sanguine. I love being with people all the time. But even in the context of always wanting to be social, I want to be with people where the relationships are meaningful, caring and safe. And fun. Fun is good.

26. I have so many OCD issues (see #2 and #19). One of the worst is that I am so picky about t-shirts. The neck of any t-shirt I wear has to be really tight. If it's loose, I won't wear it. The sleeves and the shirt tail both have to be a certain length. And it can't be too big around OR too tight. I can look at a t-shirt and know in 3 seconds if it's going to work for me. And once I pull a t-shirt over my head and then take it off, I can't wear it again until it has been washed and dried and shrunk back to its original size. I know. Strange.

27. Autumn makes me crazy happy. I love it. The leaves, the cool air, football season, that first day cool enough to wear hoodies and play outside with my wife and kids. When I turn onto our neighborhood road and the leaves are changed, it's so beautiful sometimes I tear up (tear rhymes with "we're," not "where"). And NOTHING is happier than being in Boone, NC in the fall. Mmmm.

28. I love to lead people who love to worship God in worship (does that sentence make sense?). I literally lie awake at night thinking about songs and scriptures and transitions and moments and putting them all together in a (hopefully) authentic way. I ponder song orders and key changes and band parts throughout my days...most often at random times when I probably should be giving something or someone else my full attention. It is what makes my heart tick, and what I am thankful to be on this earth to do.

29. If you had asked me when I was 20 to script out my life for the next 20 years, I would not have scripted anything close to what has actually come to pass, because I would have been afraid it was too much to ask for. I feel so thankful for everything and everyone God has given me the privilege to share this journey with. And on that note, as I look back, it's the people...not the places or things...that stand out the most and that have had the most impact on me.

I'm an oversharer. I couldn't get this list down to 25. I tried. Oh well. 29 is sort of the new 25, right?

Living Proof Live Tucson

2010-03-29T06:07:00.000-05:00

Living Proof Live - Tucson AZ from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

A Little Something To Do In My Free Time

2010-03-16T09:12:00.004-05:00

A few months ago, a book publisher called. They had an idea for a book. And they felt the Lord directing them to call me to see if I might be the guy to write it.

Um, excuse me? Um...you know I barely even read books, right? Um, you know I say 'um' a lot, right? I mean, getting a song out of me is miracle enough. What makes you think you could squeeze even one chapter of a book out of this mountain boy? Seriously, I don't think Dostoevsky ever listed American Idol as one of his hobbies on facebook, if you get my drift. I don't think Chaucer would have counted Galaga as one of the great inventions of the last century. Know what I mean?

Well, the short version of the story is this: I am in the middle of writing this work. I have no idea what I'm doing. But I'm doing it anyway, somehow. And I can't wait to tell you all about it. It's about something of which I am very passionate. And when you hear the title and premise (soon), you will laugh at how God orchestrated the recent great adventures of our lives to fall right smack dab in the middle of writing this book. Sometimes God is subtle. This was not one of those times.

I will tell you more details about it later. But I wanted to share the news with you now because we need prayer. Our crazy life just got a lot crazier. And I would be really grateful if you all would cover my family and me in prayer as I finish writing this book...while moving...and while our travel schedule ramps up for a busy spring. Thank you so much.

I never saw this coming. I never even had the first thought that God would call me to put pen to paper for something like this. But I am so happy to be doing it. I'm excited to tell you more about it soon.

Thanks for your prayers. Gonna go get to work. And then...maybe a quick game of Galaga.

The Search Has Begun

2010-03-12T09:52:00.001-06:00

So, here we are...getting ready to move. We are getting our house ready to put on the market. And we are looking for a place to live in Jackson, TN. You all know how daunting moving can be. But I really don't mind it too much. I think it can be kind of fun.

For some reason, as I wrote that last sentence, I found myself looking over my shoulder to see if Angela was seeing what I had just written...even though she's in Franklin and I'm in Toronto. She might take issue with the 'fun' part. :-)

Even though all three of our kids are really excited about the move, I know there will be some feelings and fears to process with them. This past Sunday, God gave us the coolest word out of the devotion called Daily Light On A Daily Path (it's a great devotional). We read it as a family. It opened up a great discussion with the kids, and they began to talk about some fears and some questions about moving that they had. We got pray together about those things, and I think it was in that little moment that the excitement they had about moving collided with a deeper peace about it.

The Word of God. So perfect.

Anyway, here is the devotion for that day. I hope it will encourage you, too.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
March 6

Morning
Watching over the way of his saints.

The Lord your God . . . went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.—Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him.—The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.—Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.—For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.—And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.—“With us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness.

Prov. 2:8; Deut. 1:32, 33; Deut. 32:11, 12; Ps. 37:23, 24; Ps. 34:19; Ps. 1:6; Rom. 8:28; 2 Chron. 32:8; Zeph. 3:17

Random Pics Day

2010-03-10T11:02:00.012-06:00

It's time for what we like to call Random Pics From My Phone Day. Riveting, I know.

View from the front door of my in-laws' place in Jackson, TN. It was so breathtaking when I stepped outside, I had to take a pic. You can't see that it was snowing the most beautiful snow in that moment. But it was.

The first Sunday I led worship at Englewood, I had my very own folder with my very own name on it. I liked it.

My favorite meal. Picture-worthy. Always.

This is Lici on the bus during one of our Jesus Saves Live weekends. Nobody can tell a story like Lici.

She becomes one with the story.

I wish I had a video of this one.

I promise you everyone within earshot is always captivated when she is telling a story. Apparently, she thinks it's pretty funny, too. :-)

Living (finally) Proof (finally) Live (finally) 2010

2010-03-10T02:36:00.009-06:00

Our last Living Proof Live event was in November. Who makes these crazy schedules anyway? I have missed our Living Proof family so much these few months. It's about dadgum time we ramped it back up.

Beth, the LifeWay peeps, and my team and I start off our year this weekend with Living Proof Live Toronto. Can't wait. If you are anywhere close to Toronto, I hope you can make it to the event.

Hey! And guess what? I have two tickets that LifeWay has given me to give away for this event, if anyone needs tickets. Just send us an email to info@traviscottrell.com. First one to email us can have the tickets.

The list of reasons why I love being a part of this ministry is infinite. But what I'm thinking about this week as I am about to salivate over jumping back in is the fact that God's most profound work isn't just about crowds.

It's about the one's.

May God bring full redemption, restoration and revelation this weekend to every ONE. After ONE. After ONE.

Some Glad Morning

2010-03-09T10:40:00.007-06:00

Cindy Morgan + Hymns = A Happy Day.

Cindy's new Cd, Hymns: Some Glad Morning, released yesterday. Everybody go and download it. You can get it at her site, or you can get it at amazon.com or iTunes.

I've always been a hymn guy. I love me some hymns. And this collection of hymns is so good. I predict it will be Ang's favorite Cindy CD of all time. It has an appalachian/folk flair that she digs. We both dig it. There's a version of Sweet Hour Prayer that she combines with Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring that is 47 kinds of awesome.

Go make your day better and go worship Jesus with Hymns: Some Glad Morning.

The Great Adventure: Lessons Learned

2010-03-05T09:40:00.011-06:00

I want to thank all of you who have been so encouraging to us about this great adventure we are in. Those of you who actually made it through that whole long story - wow. Thanks. I think I could've cut the word count in half and still have been able to tell the story. Sorry about that. Thanks for persevering. :-)

As I wrap up this blog version of the Great Adventure, I want to share with you a couple of things that the Lord taught us through all of this. Of course, our lessons were many...some easy, some painful...some funny, some brutal...some to share, some to hold quietly. I imagine that God is going to continue to teach us things that are directly related to this calling and this season of searching. But there are a couple of huge lessons that wave over all of the other smaller lessons like a big banner, and that is what I want to share with you.

1. There is always something next with God.

Listen to me: You have not been disqualified, overlooked or undergifted. You may be in a season of life where things seem questionable; maybe they even seem desolate..hopeless...over. Your circumstances may be trying to dictate to you that God has not come through, nor will He. But guess what? That is not true. It just isn't. Not only is it not true, but what actually is true is the very opposite. And if you will free Him up to be God in your life by giving Him your surrender, He will give you beauty for your ashes. Strength for your weakness. And He will turn things around more quickly than you can say MAYDAY.

Your gifts (or lack of) are a non-factor. Your geography? Not a factor. Your past? Only gonna feed into God's redemption, if you will let it.

You know what really took me by surprise by this fact that there is always something next with God? The fact that there was something next for us, and I didn't even know we needed a 'next.' So, the question is not is there a next. The thing to do is just be in a posture of surrender for when it comes. And it will.

2. There is nothing God cannot do.

I'm a church boy. I know churchy stuff. I'm sad to say that I was sort of "religious" before I ever loved Jesus. I mean, I pretty much always loved the Lord, but I didn't really know Him until I took up my faith for myself sometime around college and began to try to know Him for myself.

I knew in my head that there was nothing God couldn't do. I had been told that. I had read it in the scriptures, and I believed it. I could quote all of the powerful verses, like Jeremiah 33:3 and 29:11 and Zephaniah 3:17, to name a few. I had seen Him do the impossible in other people's lives. I had seen Him work in ways that were undeniably Him. He had even done amazing things in my heart through the years...answered prayers...brought direction and revelation for my life...mended fences and healed wounds. I had experienced His power.

But this time, He did something I didn't expect. He not only changed my heart. He changed my mind. He literally changed the make up of my thoughts. He altered my dreams. He did a complete overhaul of my understanding of my calling, my purpose, my hopes. I never saw it coming. But, man, oh man, am I so thankful for how He moves and how He loves. I thought I had my life figured out. I had written the ending in my head. But by the grace of God I found myself in a season of surrender, and He swept in and reconstructed.

I am a strong-willed man. A strong-willed man who likes control. And I would have never prescribed a mind-overhaul like this for myself. But God knew best. And here I am on the other side, sitting in a sea of gratitude that has overwhelmed my life. There are so many miracles interwoven in this story. But in many regards, one of the greatest ones is that God took not just the heart of this stubborn, change-fearing guy; He also took his mind...and changed it.

There is nothing God cannot do.

So in conclusion, please hear this: Fear not.

Fear not.

God has not left you. God has not chosen you to be the one who has circumstances or mental and emotional make-up that is beyond change. Your struggles, your mountain, your pain is not beyond Him. Who are we to ever be so presumptuous to think that we would actually be the ones who have issues beyond the reach of God's power?

Seek the Lord. Immerse yourself in His Word. Submit yourself to good, godly teaching and counsel. Ask for prayer. Ask for help. Open up your heart to the work of the Holy Spirit in a deeper way. It's time for us to stop walking around bound up with hurt and fear, and start giving God the canvas of our lives to paint some redemption.

Fear not. There is nothing that God cannot do. I know it to be true. He did the miraculous in me.

Help Haiti Live

2010-02-27T09:15:00.006-06:00

Hey, friends. We are in Winona, MS getting ready for a night of worship tonight at North Winona Baptist Church. We are pumped! But if wasn't going to be there tonight, I would be at home watching Help Haiti Live. Help Haiti Live starts at 7:30pm central, and is a free concert that will be streaming live from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Please go check it out tonight if you have a chance. Some amazing artists are participating.

It's been six weeks since the earthquake in Haiti. And the needs there are obviously still as cavernous as ever. I am so thankful for the work that so many people are doing for the Haitian people. Not just relief, but rebuilding and restoring. Not all of us are able to hop on a plane and put our feet to the Haitian soil (I wish we could). But there is always something we can do. And I think that there is always room for us to do more. If you have a second, go check out Help Haiti Live, and see some of the ways that we can help. Even our smallest efforts and offerings mean so much.

I am constantly reminding myself that Haiti is not just a big wash of a country somewhere far away, with a mass of countless, faceless people. It's home for millions of 'one's'...individual souls...one after one after one...all needing hope. Like Joseph.

Don't forget - concert streaming live at Help Haiti Live at 7:30pm central tonight.

The Great Adventure Recovery Week

2010-02-25T17:36:00.004-06:00

Hey, friends! Hope all is well with you. Whew! What a week it's been. An adventure of its own. Coming down off of the mountain top of the Great Adventure reveal has been relatively harmless...but I'm exhausted, nontheless.

The week has been filled with back-to-normal kind of stuff. I've been finishing up recording a Christmas musical for choirs. And the team and I traveled to Madison, AL to be a part of Asbury UMC's missions conference (we had a great time). We are gearing up for two concerts this weekend with our Jesus Saves Live tour - Saturday night in Winona, MS, and Sunday night in Cullman, AL. Can't wait. Come join us!

I am still going through and processing all of the amazing encouragement that has poured in from you all about our Great Adventure. I am thankful to you for all of the kindness, prayers, and affirmation you have given to us. It means so much. We are truly BESIDE OURSELVES over this call and this season. I am pumped for you to meet my new church, and my new pastor and his sweet family. They all will undoubtedly be filling the pages of this here blog for years to come.

Many folks have sent emails of stories that are similar to ours. And some are stories that may be different, but are still stories of people looking desperately for God to speak to a searching heart. Please know that we are praying for you. We are praying for you.

My brain has needed some time to just do a whole bunch of nothing this week. And American Idol has filled that slot. And that phrase, ironically enough, describes this season of the show for me: a whole bunch of nothing.

I don't even know what to say about it, except to say that I gave that show 4 hours of my life this week. And all it gave me back was 4 hours of awkward.

Surely it will get better...right?

I haven't blogged a normal-day blog in so long, I forget how to end. So...

Cottrell, out.

The Great Adventure, Part 7

2010-02-20T22:33:00.006-06:00

We felt the call. We heard the call. We responded to the call. Now, it was up to the Lord to move through the hearts...and votes...of the people.

We went back to Englewood last Sunday, February 14, and I led worship that Sunday. And today, February 21, the members of the church voted on whether or not they feel I am God's man for the job. I really do love this process, and we fully submitted ourselves to their authority, as they cast their vote. And we were ready for whatever. Truly. After this whole process and experience, I don't fear much of anything. God is so large and in charge. If they were to vote no, I would be passionately pursuing Him just the same.

Well...I'm happy to say...

And...cue the music, Mr. Cash...

WE'RE GOING TO JACKSON! Tennessee, that is.

Our hearts are full. Our hearts are grateful. Our hearts are overflowing with passion for this new day. Of course we are still just as passionate about all the other facets of our ministry...Living Proof...Jesus Saves Live Tour...writing arranging and teaching. We are on STUN with joy for those things. But this new call completes the picture for God's will for us for this season. And because we are stepping into the full picture, its makes EVERYTHING feel like it's teeming with more life. We are sitting on READY for everything to which God has called us.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I know I have used way too many words. And I have told too much, probably. I'm so sick of talking about myself I could punch my own self in the face. Seriously. But I've learned so much. And God's been too faithful for me to stay quiet.

I do have one final Great Adventure post that I will post within the next few days...a few things that God has showed me through all of this. And I think those things just might encourage you.

I have to go now. I have some celebrating to do. And I gotta go restart that Johnny Cash record...

The Great Adventure, Part 6

2010-02-20T16:12:00.001-06:00

We said what God was waiting for us to say.

Yes.

We give.

We surrender.

We raise the white flag.

We get it.

We see it.

We're with you.

And, in the words of good ol' Johnny, we're going to Jackson.

Somewhere in those pressure-packed and snowy January days, God turned out hearts. He changed our hearts. And not just our hearts. He changed our minds too. In one month's time, we went from not even remotely thinking this would ever be in our future to being so excited about kingdom work at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN that we might not be able to breathe until we get there.

A few things had to happen first, though.

We decided that we needed to just sneak into a service one Sunday and check it out. And I don't mean check the church out in the sense of 'does it meet our approval.' I mean check it out in the sense of - see what happens in our spirits as we worship inside those walls, with those people, and take in the teaching of the Word of God with them. So we did. On January 17.

As we walked in during the first song, I thought of one of Jesus' most famous phrases: It is finished.

It was done. God was not subtle in our hearts on that day. We knew this was the place for us. It was all I could do to hold it together that Sunday. I just kept telling myself, "Keep looking at the screens. Don't look around. If you do, you will fall apart. Just stare at the screens. Must. Look. At. Screens. Only. Screens."

It was a futile attempt. The release we felt on that morning was too much. And staring at the screens or not, I was a heap of emotion. It was awesome.

To add blessing upon blessing, our kids had such a great morning. We had to drag them out of their Sunday School classes. "Can we move here?" they shouted in the halls. "Um, let's take that volume down please," I said as I covered their Dr. Pepper-moustached mouths. "And we'll take this conversation to the car." The joy was too much.

Another thing that had to happen is that we had to wait to give Ben our answer. Through the counsel we received, God had given us a certain date to wait for before we gave them an answer or made this story public. So that date was February 3. But here we were on January 17, and we already felt as though we had our answer. Abraham immediately came to mind. Was God going to put an 11th hour ram in the thicket before we walk this offering through? Was He holding that date for us to give us time to see yet another bend in the road? Was I going to wake up on February 2nd and be done with this whole journey? Or worse, was Englewood going to wake up and be done with this journey?

In my heart, I knew that wasn't going to happen. But because He gave us that date, we waited. And I'm so glad we did. Because in the 11th hour (the morning of February 2nd), He DID give us a word. It was a good word that was the final mark and final churn to complete our heart turn to this change. Not a word to share with anybody; a Word just for us. And it went deep into our souls. It was a work that neither Angela nor I even knew we needed. But once we got it, we were more fully at peace than ever before on this journey.

So at 12:01am on February 3rd, Pastor Ben got a call. From me.

"Hey," he said.

And I replied, "No ram in the thicket."

Joy commenced.

Still, there was one last piece to the puzzle.

The Great Adventure, Part 5

2010-02-19T12:42:00.003-06:00

Have you ever had one of those moments in life that was so amazingly God that you want to talk about it, but you can't because it's too sacred? I don't want to blow this prayer time out of proportion, but it's how I feel about it. I won't recount what all was prayed, but that time of prayer was a turning point in this journey.

The Holy Spirit fell in our den, hearts were poured out in prayer, and the four of us stood up from that 20 minute segment of time different people than when we began. It will ring in my spirit as one of the most profound and powerful Holy Spirit moments of my life. Our kids sat motionless on our couch for the entire 20 minutes (which is a miracle unto itself). When we were finished praying, God had begun a knitting in our souls. I'm not saying that we were instantly all bff's, or that nothing in our lives mattered anymore. But God had started a work. And all four of us were officially on the same page about it.

After the prayer time, we all awkwardly hugged - all so stunned by the huge God moment, we didn't know how to walk away from it. So we did what anybody would do. We headed to the mall food court. As we got in our car, I looked at Angela. And with a stunned look on my face, said, “What was that?” to which she replied, “ We are in trouble. LORD. HAVE. MERCY. LORD. HAVE. MERCY.”

Angela couldn't sleep that night (duh). God brought to her mind a dream she had 10 or more years ago. She went to her office to see if she could find an old journal whee she had written the dream down. She found a stash of old journals, pulled one out and opened it. Immediately she saw these words in her own handwriting: "Lord, thank you for bringing my family to Jackson."

Um, excuse me?

Turns out the very first journal she pulled out on this very day just so happens to be the journal she took notes in at the Beth Moore Living Proof Live conference held in Jackson, TN in November of 1999 (10 years to the week of our concert at this church last November). She was thanking the Lord for bringing her family to that event. Weird, huh? Yep. Coincidence? No says I.

It was time to call in the big dogs.

We needed counsel. So we called our pastor. And we called Beth. And we emailed our team of intercessors. We told them everything. None of them flinched. They all listened and committed to pray. And they committed to give us words as God directed. Immediately, 2 different intercessors sent us the same scripture...totally independent of one another. Hmmm.

January 1 until January 17 was INTENSE. And I'm not talking about camping. INTENSE. I don't have a lot of tangibles to give you, because it was a spirit work that was going on inside of both Angela and me. All of the unpacking of our lives we had done over Christmas, we continued to do. God gave us scriptures to pour into our hearts...Ephesians 1, Isaiah 33:2-6, Hebrew 11, Deut. 8, to name a few. We prayed. We talked. We read. We laughed. We cried. Finally, I had had enough. I needed a break. I had not been removed from this intensity for more than 5 minutes at a time for weeks. So I pulled my comfy chair up to the fireplace, grabbed the remote, and went searching for something fun on TV that would take my mind off of this nonsense for a while. I started looking through the tv guide channel. I saw that Walk The Line was on. Woo hoo! Good one. Let me soak up somebody else's hard life for a while. Maybe then I will get some much-needed perspective (my own self-absorption was even killing me. seriously.). So I turned the TV to Walk The Line.

Within two seconds of watching that movie, Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) steps up to the microphone to sing. What does he sing, you ask?

"I'm going to Jackson."

(pause)

Seriously, God? For real? This is how you are going to play? God got a good laugh out of us that night. And I think we got one out of Him, too.

So we said it. We finally said it.

The Great Adventure, Part 4

2010-02-19T09:40:00.004-06:00

God had some work to do in me. In us. And the processing that we began on that trip to Boone was the beginning of what I think God was looking for from us. We asked God for wisdom, and for a WORD. We told Him to get our hearts where they needed to be. We basically put ourselves on the chopping block in a way that we hadn’t before. This was a deep work – down in the depths of everything we were, and this season required it.

As we began to navigate through these waters over the Christmas holiday, God took me to Isaiah 33:6, and gave it to me to cling to as the verse that would wave over us like a banner as we walked through this crucible. It says,

“He will be the sure foundation for your times;

A rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”

Well, it was wisdom and knowledge that we needed. And it was fearing the Lord in the sense that we weren’t as open as God needed us to be that kicked us into higher gear seeking His plan for our lives. And at that point, our own plans seemed so futile.

Christmas was good (despite both Angela and Lily Kate having the flu, and me wandering aimlessly everywhere we went with a blankness that I can only call weird). I was strangely emotional through Christmas. Angela had been emotional, too. It felt like grief. Everything would be fine in the moments that we were immersed in the Word and prayer. But many times we would be awakened at night or caught off guard during the day with a deep sadness or state of panic. Each time we went to the Lord, these feelings would subside. And we were honest with each other about our feelings all along this journey. This stretch of time was even more proof that I have the most amazing wife ever. Good grief...her perception and wisdom and evenness. Our hearts were so unified in sizing up where we were, and what we needed to do to navigate through the next few phases of this journey. Granted, I don't think at that point she totally saw what was coming (neither did I), but we were on the same page, which was all that mattered to me. I knew (or, thought I knew) that all of this was about the Lord growing us in areas that we needed growth in, and not so much about us picking up and moving to Jackson ( I find it funny when we presume what God’s work might be…when we put words in His mouth. Funny.).

As time passed over the holidays, I felt like my heart was going to explode. Not good and not bad. Just so very intense. I kept asking God for His easy yoke and light burden. I would get relief in moments, but for the most part I was obsessed with thoughts of possibilities. I stayed in the Word more than I had in so long. Just looking for Him...and listening for His voice. A strange thing happened during this period of 3 or 4 days. My heart began making a shift. And I gotta say, it literally felt like a huge ship turning around and heading a new direction. As I began to ponder the possibilities, the thought of NOT taking this call began to feel more heartbreaking than the thought of leaving Franklin. I don't know why. I just began to feel compelled to take up this call.

I wasn't fearful of losing anything about my ministry as it was. I saw in the physical realm how it could all fit together in a great way, and was thankful that Pastor Ben was embracing the things that I am already doing in kingdom work. God tells us that our boundaries fall in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6), so I didn't have any hesitation about that stuff. And as I began to think along the lines of the 'how's' and the 'what's', my thoughts began to change from broad stroked questions and feelings to specific things...like dreaming of pastoring a choir again...leading a team of other worship leaders...raising up the next generation of worship leaders...jumping into a college community and leading those kids through those 4 (or 5 or 6) years of their life and sending them out closer to God than when they arrived...investing in a community and dreaming with a pastor of crazybrave things to do for the glory of God in that community that was ready to dive in.

Still, I was a mess, and needed to get a grip in the worst way.

Angela and I continued to talk about it over our travels. And Ben and I continued to talk too. We thought it might be a good idea to get the four of us together just for a visit. No big discussions or anything. Just to get to know one another. The best time seemed to be New Year's Eve. So, Ben and his wife Lynley left their 4 kids with her parents in Arkansas where they had been for Christmas, and came to spend New Year’s Eve with us.

So, they arrived at our house late afternoon on New Year's Eve. We played games and ate and did nothing much. We all rang in the new year together. It was a fun night. Lynley and I completely dominated Ben and Angela in Sequence. No surprise there. The girls went to bed and Ben and I stayed up until 3:30 or so, talking about ministry, vision and a bunch of 'what if's'. We got on our knees and prayed for God to make Himself clear.

The next morning we all got up and enjoyed a slow morning. At some point while we were in the kitchen making breakfast, Ben began to ask Angela some personal questions about this possibility. It was a good moment, but also hard. He asked things that of course Angela and I had talked about together, but it was a hard moment because it was the first time we had talked about how this possible move would affect us to anyone else. Angela is so grounded and so wise. I am the touchy-feely ball of emotion, and she is the discerning, practical, wise side of us. She asked him questions too. We got to hear his story about how he came to be the pastor of this big church as a 29 year old who had never pastored before.

As the morning ended, I was conflicted. I was happy that we had all talked openly about possibilities and dreams. And I was happy that Angela seemed to have a light spirit about it. But at the same time, I felt down. It seemed like there were so many questions and obstacles, that the chance of it happening was minimal at best. By this point in the story, I had already begun dreaming of leading this people. So with all the questions flooding in, I was pretty sad. But ultimately I trusted God, and was just anxious to get to the answer.

Lunch time came around, and that meant it was time for them to hit the road. They had plans to go to the Cool Springs mall and shop for a while before they left. So we decided we would follow them there and have lunch with them before they shopped. As they were packing up to leave, Angela and I asked if we could pray for them and and for their travels. So we huddled up in our den, with our kids lined up on the couch taking in all in.

Then it happened. Prayer happened.

The Great Adventure, Part 3

2010-02-17T17:20:00.001-06:00

It was an awful night, actually. A couple of awful nights. I could feel God putting the slightest bit of pressure on my heart. I couldn’t really define what was going on inside, but I knew that the Lord was beginning to stir the pot. Still, I still wasn’t letting my heart go there. And to fend off a potentially painful journey, I continued to give Pastor Ben a moderately-defiant ‘no.’

The next morning was Sunday, December 20. I was en route from Raleigh, NC to Louisville, KY. AT 8:27am, I got a text from Pastor Ben. It said something to the effect of (not a direct quote):

I’ve been on my prayer bench getting ready to preach three services, praying with a deacon, and God will not release your name from my heart about this calling. Will you please respect the fact that I feel like I’m hearing from God on this, and at least open your heart to pray about it. If you feel like God gives you a ‘no’ still, I promise to leave you alone and will not mention it again.

Fine.

I realized that although I had said I would at least pray about it (and I did), I knew that I had not opened my heart to it (which is a totally different thing). So on that Sunday, I began to do just that.

Remember when I said it felt like the Lord was beginning to put the slightest bit of pressure on my heart? Well, on December 20th, the pressure increased. A lot.

We were supposed to drive to Boone, NC for Christmas on Monday the 21st, but Lily Kate had the flu, so we waited. I spent that Monday wandering around the house, crying, sleeping, packing, crying some more. And some more. I don’t even know why. I didn’t feel sad; just emotional.

We finally hopped in the car and headed to Boone on Tuesday. And that is when Angela and I began to break down all of this that God was putting on our plate. We had talked about it all that week before…keeping communication open about what each of us was thinking. But really what Angela had been saying was, “Oh, sweetie. You’re turning 40. Bless your heart. It’ll be ok. Do you need a new car or something?”

That all changed on the drive to Boone. On that snowy day driving across Tennessee, my bride of 16 ½ years and I unpacked everything about our lives together…dreams realized…dreams unrealized…our definition of success in ministry…God’s definition of success in ministry…God’s standards for walking uprightly in the kingdom of God in this generation…what we felt like our kids’ destinies might be…how to fit them rightly for their callings…what needs to stay in our lives and what needs to go in terms of continuing to allow God the freedom to use us as equippers in the body of Christ…LISTEN. We unpacked it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. We pulled out every single aspect of our lives and looked at it in the Light. It was AWESOME. There is something about putting on the brakes in life and taking a full-scale emotional, physical and spiritual inventory that is fulfilling beyond measure. We never loved each more than we did in those moments.

So, we began to pray. And pray hard. And I will never forget praying this at the very onset of that day :

“Lord, you know I will go ANYWHERE you call me. And…”

And I heard God interrupt me in my spirit to say, “Now just hold on right there. That’s not true.”

The Great Adventure, Part 2

2010-02-16T22:08:00.004-06:00

This pastor had a vision for his church to do a women's retreat. He called to see if we had any openings in our calendar for 2010. He said he would take any date we could give. And he also shared some specifics about his vision for the event, all of which I resonated with in my spirit. We had closed our booking for the year. But I talked to Angela about it; since her parents live in Jackson, I thought maybe we could kind of consider it a work-vacation weekend. The kids could ride horses and four-wheelers with their grandparents, and we could do the event at the church. She agreed. We gave him a date in April. We were pumped about it.

Then I got a call from him (his name is Ben) a couple of weeks later. This one was less lighthearted. He called me to tell me that his worship pastor had resigned to take a job at a university. He was calling because he felt like the Lord led him to call me...presumably to help him find a worship leader. I knew I could help him find his guy. My heart did not really consider even for a moment that I might possibly be the guy. But since I know so many great guys in worship ministry, I felt well-equipped to be a good connector of people in this situation.

He wanted to visit face to face to talk about it, so he drove to Franklin one day (Jackson is less than 2 hours west of Nashville) so we could spend the day talking about what he's looking for in a worship pastor. I did some preliminary work..made him a list of 6 or 7 people...listed their basic facts, listed what I perceived as strengths and weaknesses of each one, and listed why I thought each one would be an asset to the church.

He got here early one morning and we went straight to it. We started talking about his vision for his church, what he was looking for. We talked about his calling – how he came into his calling as a pastor. We talked about our wives and kids (they have four kids ages 5 and under). We talked “shop” – church stuff. I love talking church shop. Love talking about serving this generation with other people who love it. Strangely, we had this eerily close rapport. We talked for much of the day, and I made it through my list of worship guys for him. But he was not interested in the list. He checked out for much of the list. He finally said, “I hate your stupid list. Get your list outta my face,” or something funny to that effect. He was not there for my list. He was there because the Lord put me on his heart as the guy for his church. I practically laughed him out of my house. No disrespect meant. I just knew that it was something I wouldn't even consider...my schedule is so crazy...our boundaries are nicely set...this Cottrell train is moving, and wasn't about to jump tracks. He might have been disappointed, but I didn't budge. It simply wasn't a possibility. His offer was even very accommodating: continue doing what I'm doing - Living Proof, other travels, recording, writing - and just make my home base there with them. He said they had a staff for me that would help me make it all happen, and would make it so that the church wouldn't miss a beat when I'm away. But it still seemed equivalent to going to live on Jupiter to me. Not a possibility.

We had had a great day...even had a 20-minute encounter with Steven Curtis and Marybeth Chapman at Target. Ran into my pastor's wife at Starbucks. It was a fun day. He headed home that afternoon.

A couple of days went by…going on with life…texting occasionally with this pastor. He still talked of being convinced that I might be the guy. But I wasn’t budging. Then that Saturday I got a direct message on my twitter account from him that said:

"Ok, so I couldn't sleep last night. Prayed HIS will for YOUR life audibly with my wife, and silently as she drifted off."

That's funny, because I could not sleep that night either.

The Great Adventure, Part 1

2010-02-16T11:08:00.001-06:00

Ever since we began in a traveling kind of ministry, I have always thought that at some point I would end up leading worship in a church. It always seemed like it would be the ultimate destination for me. I must confess I never prayed about it, or received that as a word from God. It was just what I always assumed. Then, in the past two years, after watching some worship pastors that I know go through really tough circumstances, I pretty much vowed (an unholy vow, mind you) that there would be zero chance of me being on a church staff. Ever.

I looked at all of the wonderful things to which God had called me. Why would I ever bring a church staff job into the picture to complicate an otherwise wonderful and peaceful picture? So, as I spent most of this past year getting ready to turn 40, I assumed I would just stay on this current train with Jesus and sail off into the sunset...doing basically what I'm doing now for the rest of my years in ministry (traveling, singing, writing, arranging, leading worship) . I love it...I'm happy...I'm busy. No facet of our ministry shows any signs of slowing down any time soon. Ministry is hopping, family is happy, and all is well.

Well.

My team and I were in our final weekend of our Jesus Saves Live Tour for the year. It was Friday, November 13, in Jackson, TN. Great church. We had a great night of worship with their choir of 150 or so, and a full house of worshippers. The worship pastor was a great guy. Open and warm and very encouraging to us about our ministry. I didn't get to meet the pastor. I had heard about him. I heard he was a young guy...about 33...was called to that pastorate at age 30 or so, and had never pastored before. After the concert, the pastor came to the stage, shook my hand…that typical pastor-handshake-on-stage-while-everyone-claps-at-the-end-of-a-concert moment. He thanked us graciously, and left. We all went about our normal post-concert tasks. I never saw the pastor again that night. Never had a single conversation with him.

After the concert, we did our typical post-concert routine…greeting people, taking pictures, talking to new friends, and packing everything up on the bus. When everything was finally packed up and cleaned up, we all hopped on the bus to drive through the night to our next destination. I climbed on the bus and said the strangest thing. Something I've never said before...nor did I have any experiential facts with which to back it up. I walked on the bus and simply said, "I think I could grow old with that pastor." I don't know what possessed me to say it. I think that maybe it's because I had so convinced myself that there was no pastor I could ever work with...or church that would ever have me…and I would be smart to not even consider that I would have a place on a church staff ever again. I THINK that's what prompted my comment. But something quickened my heart to this guy in particular. Hard to explain. I had watched he and his wife worshipping during the concert. I watched them whisper to each other...pray together...raise their hearts in surrender together. For some reason, I had an innate trust in him already. Maybe that's where my weirdo comment came from.

I never thought about that comment or that pastor again. Then two weeks later, I got a call.

Checking In. And out.

2010-01-21T21:21:00.002-06:00

Hey, friends. Hope you all are doing well. I have not heard any news about our little Joseph Wilbens. I am assuming because he lived pretty far north of Port Au Prince that he is OK. As soon as I hear for sure, I will let you know. I know we all are praying for Haiti generally, and for many people specifically. And I thank you for praying for Joseph, too. Lord, have mercy on these hurting people.

All is well in the Cottrell household. Kids are all good and Angela is too. I am heading to Houston this weekend to be a part of Beth's Scripture Siesta celebration, and to sing at church on Sunday. I will be dreaming about Papasito's tonight...counting the hours until lunch tomorrow. Yesssssss.

This will be my last post for the next 3 weeks. I am checking out for a little bit. When I come back, I will have some fun things to share. Thank you for being such a great community of friends to walk this journey with.

TC
Isaiah 33:6

Praying for Joseph Wilbens

2010-01-14T22:21:00.004-06:00

One of our little Compassion children is from Haiti. This is Joseph Wilbens.

I know you're praying for the people of Haiti, just like we are. Oh Lord, please have mercy.

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13

A Word For This Wednesday

2010-01-06T08:35:00.002-06:00

This morning after I walked my kids to the bus stop, I stopped and chatted for a second with one of the moms in our neighborhood, who was parked on the hill, waiting for her boy to hop on the bus. While we were talking, her car cut off. Hmm. Immediately I peaked into her car and looked at the gas gauge. It was past empty. Oops. Now, she gets no judgement from me. More often than not, my gas tank is closer to empty than it is to full. Why do we do that? I had a teacher in college once tell me, "You know, Travis, it takes just as much effort and money to keep your gas tank staying close to empty as it does keeping it close to full." Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

She said that they just got a new battery and just had a tune up, and everything should be fine. Then she said, "But my car tells me that I have 15 miles left before it's empty!" I told her that sometimes our cars lie to us. We thought that maybe if she let the car roll down to the bottom of the hill, getting the car off of the slanted road, it might start. And then she could make it to the gas station just a stone's throw away from our neighborhood.

And that's what she did. And it worked.

And I thought about me. And you. So here's what I think God would say to us today: Make sure we are standing on solid ground. Level. Sure. True.

And let's make sure our tanks are filled before we go anywhere. Even the short destinations in life require it.

You've Been Quite Fine, 2009

2010-01-04T00:03:00.005-06:00

Hey, friends. I hope everyone has had a good Christmas. It went by so quickly, didn't it? And the thing that always gets me is how once it's over, it's OVER. I'm talking, the very next day after Christmas, it feels to me like Christmas is a hundred miles away. So weird. We had one of our Christmas celebration times on the 27th this year, and I gotta say it was tough to keep it feeling like Christmas. What is it about that day on the calendar passing?

Anyway, ALL of Christmas break is good. We have enjoyed lots of family time and down time.

I have to confess that I have had pretty much a "woe-is-me" attitude about 2009. I have celebrated in my head and with my words that fact that we are going to rip that 2009 calendar off the wall and, with joy, replace it with a new beginning. I have cursed it with my words, wishing it away as fast as I could. And I have counted my battle scars and licked my wounds for the better part of this year. It really was a tough year for me personally. Working on the Jesus Saves Live project at the beginning of the year ushered in a host of warfare and personal trials that really shook me...and shook me more than I have ever been shaken before. I won't go into details for now. But talk about soul-searching. I wore myself out on a daily basis for months, looking for God in the midst of carrying around a heart full of sadness. But praise be to that same God, who encouraged me, loved me, taught me and more than anything wouldn't let me get away with thinking that life is only good when it's easy. He brought me through every minute of that dark time. And now I stand on the other side of it with a deeper love for Him. And with a greater resolve to live as a strong, disciplined, and merciful child, husband, dad, and servant.

So let me say right now that I am THANKFUL for 2009. For every high moment and every low place. For every laugh and every tear. For every victory and every tough lesson. God is good. And if we will look for Him in EVERYTHING, even in the sadness, we will find His goodness is shining everywhere. He gives our souls light, even in the shadow.

I just went through my 2009 photos, and marveled at the joy I've experienced this calendar year. My own Eeyore syndrome was trying to blind me from what really was some of the most fun times ever. So I thought I would make a list. How's that for a unique, inventive and original idea?

Ten Of My Favorite Days of 2009 (Mind you, this list is NOT in order. Nor is it exhaustive. Nor is it very spiritual. Nor have the photos been approved by their occupants. So if you come back and find that a photo originally posted is missing, you will know EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.).

1. It Was a Good Friday Indeed - I sang at Crystal Cathedral on Easter Sunday (7 services, thankyouverymuch). And the fine folks there offered to fly my whole family so we could be together for Easter. We went a few days early and had a fun week with some great west coast friends. We spent Good Friday with those friends at Disneyland. We had A BLAST. Adults and kids alike (I'm not sure which category I fall in, but I had a blast, too).

I will forever cherish this picture of us on the Tower of Terror that day. That is such a perfect snapshot of my sweet girl's fearless spirit. I pray she will always fling those arms up in the air and enjoy the adventure.

2. National Day of Prayer - Beth was the National Spokesperson for National Day of Prayer this year. And she asked Angela and I to accompany her and Keith for the festivities. I didn't really know what to expect. But I surely didn't expect what I received. We were blessed from the time our feet hit the turf in Washington, DC. The Dobsons were amazing and gracious hosts. There was a sense of reverence over the whole event...and sense of soberness (is that a word?) in their efforts to plead for God to continue to shed His grace on us as a nation. I don't think I've ever been a part of anything where I felt that kind of urgency in prayer. It was moving. And perspective-changing.

We also got to do a lot of fun things while we were there. This is at Mt. Vernon with the Moores and Beth's assistant, Michelle.

3. Date Night - Angela and I and our friends Seth and Nirva had an awesome date night together back in the fall. After a delicious meal at Stony River, we went to see Wicked. It was a great night with my beautiful bride and great friends. Great food. Great entertainment. Great conversation. Nirva and I will never forget listening to Seth and Angela break down all of the spiritual parallels and world view yada yada in Wicked, talking a thousand miles a minute. They were gettin' it. Meanwhile, I was like, "Yeah, but did you hear her hit that high 'F'?" It was a top ten date night.

4. November 17, 2009 - Levi came bounding down the stairs after dinner, exclaiming "Mom! Dad! I'm a Christian!" He had this happiness and urgency in his voice. After he came down, he gave us more details. Turns out that his big brother led him to the Lord up in his bedroom, and then promptly knelt down on his knees with him and prayed with him. Sweetest story I've ever heard. We walked him through it again...letting Jack lead the way...and saw the gospel unfold in real life in our third born. We had been praying for his salvation all year. To see it unfold like it did was more than our hearts could handle. A forever moment.

5. Living Proof Live 2009 - In case you are wondering if serving as worship leader for these women's conferences ever gets routine, let me just say as quickly as I can type it - HECK NO. Every time I walk into an arena or worship center for a Living Proof sound check, I pinch myself. I can't believe God, by His mercy, has allowed me the great privilege of serving at Living Proof Live for 11 years...with the greatest bible teacher I have ever known. Watching God transform thousands of women (and a few brave men) into new places of freedom through His Word is the great joy of my life in ministry. I count every single minute of it an honor. Beth is the real stinkin' deal. Living EVERYTHING she teaches. I'm thankful to be on this great ride with the Moores, LifeWay, and everyone who serves with Living Proof Live.

This picture is from El Paso, our first event in 2009. Counting the days until our first one in 2010 - Living Proof Toronto.

6. Whiffle Ball World Series - June 26, 2009 - We were in Stockton, CA for Living Proof in June. Our sound check went extremely fast, so we had most of the day free on Friday. When we got to the hotel, we realized that there was an awesome courtyard, and the hotel offered their guests things to do outside - horse shoe, croquet, whiffle ball. WAIT. WHiffle ball? BRING IT ON. And we did. For hours. And had a blast. Can't remember last time I saw middle aged people run so fast and laugh so hard. And to top it off, after the Friday night session, we came back and played some more. Praise team vs. the crew. And the praise team won. Oh yes we did. How embarrassing must it be for the crew to have lost to a bunch of musicians??? Fightin' words right there. Top ten day.

7. Any Given Saturday - I am not home very often on Saturdays. It's not easy to be away from my family on the weekends. Granted, I am home for lots of other things during the weekdays that most dads have to miss. So all is not bad. But I do miss being home a couple of Saturdays a month. So when I am home, it feels like such a treat. I relish every moment I get to see this...

...or this...

...or this...

So know that on any given Saturday, my heart might is probably leaping for joy.

8. Jesus Saves Live Tour - 4 weekends. 12 great churches. 1 ministry family. And a lifetime of heart-thrilling God stories. We had a great year of ministry together. Looking forward to more. Sheesh. I love these people so much.

And of course, we are always highly serious and spiritual.

9. Going To The Chapel - There is a family in Knoxville, TN that we adopted as our own when we met them on a trip to Israel back in 1996. We fell in love with them, and decided that they had no choice but to make us part of their family. So they did. They became very much our parenting mentors, as well as an amazing source of much intercession and encouragement. We were always looking out for their kids (they have 6). And their oldest daughter became quick buddies with Angela from the beginning.

Fast forward to now...I had been telling my drummer (and one of my closest buddies) Kevin about this beautiful and godly girl that Angela and I thought he needed to meet. Well...meet her he did. On Palm Sunday. Propose to her he did. In June at LPL Pittsburgh. Marry her he did. On Labor Day weekend! It was a fun day of friends, family, and God showing off His goodness.

This is the praise team crew with the bride and groom:

And there was a bridesmaid and a flower girl that sent me over the moon.

10. Haiti - My life was forever changed this year when I had the honor of traveling to Haiti with Compassion International. In addition to learning more about their ministry and seeing firsthand how God is using them to change kids' lives, I got to meet one of our Compassion kids. Meet Joseph Wilbens. He's the kid who stole my heart in Haiti and didn't give it back.

Side note: The trip was made more special by the fact that one of my best buddies, Denver, was on the trip too. We had a great time being together for this adventure. This is a picture of us in a potato sack race. He is BARELY in the frame on the right. I am only using this picture so I could gloat that I beat him in this race. I will hear about this later.

11. Disneyworld - We had a Deeper Still event in Orlando in September. So we took the opportunity to go a day early and have some fun at Disneyworld. Praise team, spouses, and Beth. It was such a killer day. We had a blast.

We hit 4 parks in one day. We even hit one of them twice. It was not a day for the faint of heart.

12. At the Beach with Family and Friends - Our trip to the beach this summer I think might have been one of the best weeks of my life. Our kids were at such fun ages. We had friends join us for part of the trip. We had family with us for part of the week, too. We stared at this a lot...

...and watched these jumping around in the water...

...and watched these jumping around in the water...

...and had a great time. Our last day, my little princess pulled 51 jellyfish out of the water in an hour's time. Seriously.

(I couldn't get any more beach pictures to be approved by ANYONE on the trip. :-) )

So...that was ten, right? Let's just say that was ten.

It was a great year. And as I look back, it was all of the people that filled my days that brought me so much joy, laughter, challenge, encouragement and love. Not just the places, and not just the events. The people. The peeps. The folks. The loved ones. The family.

Here's to loving the Lord Jesus more in 2010. And here's to loving each other more, too. My heart is beating faster right now just thinking about it...it's going to be a great year.

The Lord bless you as you put yourself in a posture to surrender to His goodness now more than ever before.

Christmas Blessings.

2009-12-24T23:31:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-18T22:58:00.005-06:00

My gift to you, my blog family, this Christmas.

Oh, yeah baby.

Now that's a gift that will keep on giving.

Merry Christmas!

My Kids' Favorite Ornaments

2009-12-18T22:44:00.008-06:00

Ok. This is it. After this, I'm shutting up about the ornaments. I've officially driven myself crazy.

My kids wanted me to tell you their favorite ornaments.

This is Lily Kate's favorite. Ballet shoes.

Levi's favorite - a picture of Flash during his first Christmas.

Yes. It says Top Dog. And yes, he is wearing an elf collar. Leave me alone.

This is Jack's favorite - Buzz Lightyear. I couldn't get high enough to get a great picture. We put him near the top of the tree every year. I'm not sure why. I think maybe we think he is going to keep the galaxy known as our Christmas tree safe from Zurg and any other predators.

This is Angela's favorite ornament.

She bought it back when we were first married. She brought it home from a business trip in Santa Fe. It's a picture of a small home or something. You put a Christmas tree light inside the ornament and it lights up. Kind of like what happens to a room when she walks in. :-)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ornament Of The Day #7

2009-12-18T21:32:00.015-06:00

Merry Christmas everybody! I've been a little absent this week. I know I don't have to explain the busyness of Decembers to you. Regular life + Christmas tour = sparse blogging. Sparse a lot of stuff, actually. Like Christmas shopping. And call returning. And fellowshiping. But it's all good. I am thankful that busy doesn't have to mean overwhelming or hard. It can be good, too.

This weekend of Christmas tour has been eventful. The bus left Franklin Wednesday night at midnight. We had a (very fun) concert at Westover Church in Greensboro, NC Thursday night. After the concert, Stephen (my friend and our video guy - called a VJ) hopped in a rental car and drove to The Cove because I had a concert Friday night. The rest of the tour peeps headed back to TN for a day off.

Stephen and I didn't get to The Cove until around 1:30am Friday morning. We got there, of course, after a stop for some NC goodness:

Eat great. Even late.

The next morning, we awoke at The Cove to the phone ringing about 10am. It was the folks at The Cove telling us we were going to have to cancel the concert because of snow.

Snow? We hadn't even looked out the window. Low and behold:

Yep. It had snowed. I was really sad that they had to cancel the concert. But I knew they knew best. So we sat and stared at the snow for a while. Then we got another call from The Cove people. They said that we probably needed to head off the mountain, because the roads were getting pretty bad. So we hopped in our trusty Dodge Challenger rental car...

...praying it was up to the challenge.

It was. It got us back to Greensboro. And the snow allowed us the opportunity to squeeze a 2 1/2 hour trip into 5 1/2 hours. The bright spot was getting to stop and have an impromptu lunch in Hickory with my sister Kathy.

Fun times. We laughed a lot at lunch. And one of the things we laughed about was how she was confused about where to look when an iPhone is taking a picture. I think she was off by just a little. :-) And by the way, look and see how the snow looks gray when stuck to the side of my head! Weird how that happens.

So, no concert tonight at The Cove. But Cindy and Shaun and I will be back in action for the Gloria tour tomorrow night in Wilson, NC. Looking forward to it.

I'm supposed to be talking about an ornament or something, aren't I? I'm running out of ornaments. But I want to talk about this:

This stuff came from my Christmas tree from when I was growing up. My mom bought it with her own sweet hands. It has the music to Joy To The World on it. I love it. Angela loves it too.

My mom loved Christmas. And she loved decorating the tree. Sweet mom. This is Christmas #6 without her on this earth. I imagine she's watching a re-run of the actual Christmas Story footage right about now. And I bet it's on a dadgum big IMAX screen to end all screens. I wonder if she's asking Mary if she's ever seen her Joy To The World garland.

I bet not. But I bet she is singing about the wonders of His love.

Ornament Of The Day #6

2009-12-12T21:29:00.004-06:00

Because every season is a season for disco.

(And it even turns.)

Expressing your Christmas groove is important.

Ornament Of The Day #5

2009-12-10T13:55:00.005-06:00

Angela and I went to Israel for the first time back in 1996. Lots of amazing things happened while on that trip...wonderful life-long relationships made, huge prayers answered, special memories made.

When we were in Bethlehem (it feels so weird saying that), we bought a bag of hundreds of these little Christmas tree ornaments made out of olive wood (sorry for the blurry photos). They are all over our tree, and remind us of that trip that the Lord used in so many ways in our lives.

Crazy. The Savior of the world. Born in BETHLEHEM.

Sigh.

Take it in. Unto YOU was born that day. A SAVIOR.

I sure did/do need a Savior. How about you?

Have you thanked Him today?

Ornament(s) Of The Day #4

2009-12-09T13:28:00.008-06:00

Three of the greatest gifts the Lord has ever honored us with. We are pretty smitten with these three.

P.S. - It is no small feat that those peppermint candies have lasted on that frame. It's a Christmas miracle, I'd say.

Deeper Still Oklahoma City

2009-12-08T18:10:00.000-06:00

DeeperStill Oklahoma City from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Random Pics Day

2009-12-08T17:56:00.001-06:00

More random cell phone pics...

A couple of weeks ago, some nice folks came to our concert who used to go to my home church back when I was a little boy. They brought the church directory from back then for me to see. This is my family, circa 1976. Nice tie.

My children. Sigh. Sometimes a sugar addiction will make you desperate for ANY kind of sugar. Found this under the sofa cushions. (Also: Angela would like for me to say that she bought this couch at the goodwill for $10. She brought it home and literally hosed it down with the garden hose in the driveway. Sometimes she deals with bargain shopping pride.)

My morning coffee in my favorite morning mug. Gratefulness overtook me and I took a picture of it.

A snapshot of the "glamourous" life of a bible study teacher. In Springfield, IL. We couldn't get in the door. :-)

Ornament Of The Day #3

2009-12-07T22:00:00.004-06:00

School spirit on our Christmas tree. GO APP!

Ornament Of The Day #2

2009-12-07T18:55:00.001-06:00

Today's Ornament Of The Day comes to you courtesy of my childhood. I didn't own this ornament when I was a kid. But it's from my favorite childhood book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. I always loved this book. I even wrote a song in one of my theory classes in college with the lyrics (a song you will never hear, by the way).

My wife and kids all love it, too.

From there to here, from here to there,
funny things are everywhere.

A wise doc is he. :-)

Gloria Christmas Tour

2009-12-06T06:08:00.003-06:00

Our GLORIA Christmas Tour starts tonight! Come join Cindy Morgan, Shaun Groves and myself tonight at First Baptist Church Minden, LA. We can't wait!

The rest of the tour schedule looks like this:

Thursday, December 10: Lexington, KY - Immanuel Baptist Church
Friday, December 11: Wingate, NC - Lee Park Baptist Church
Saturday, December 12: Jacksonville, FL - San Jose Baptist Church
Sunday, December 13: Fayetteville, GA - McDonough Road Baptist Church
Thursday, December 17: Greensboro, NC - Westover Church
Friday, December 18: Asheville, NC - And Evening At The Cove with Travis Cottrell (Travis only - no Gloria Tour) - The Cove (sold out)
Saturday, December 19: Wilson, NC -Raleigh Road Baptist Church
Sunday, December 20: Crestwood, KY - Crestwood Baptist Church

Hope to see you along the way!

Praying for all of us to find ourselves in awe of the One True Living God today. Have a great one!

Ornament Of The Day #1

2009-12-04T21:11:00.002-06:00

Angela and I love Christmas. We are one of the obnoxious ones whose Christmas tree is up by Thanksgiving every year. My wife is very gifted at decorating a Christmas tree. She uses a lot of lights. I have always told her that they could see our tree from the space station. (HAHA...just kidding, baby.)

So, Angela had an idea to blog an Ornament Of The Day every day of December. Well, it's now December 5th...I wasn't so much on top of things to get started on the 1st. But here we go. Better late than never.

We are pretty emotionally attached to every ornament on the tree. Sentimental are we. We don't have expensive ornaments. Just special ones. Lots of construction paper, glue and Kodak paper are represented on our tree. And lots of ones that have been with us forever.

Today's is a no-brainer. It is special for obvious reasons.

Sixteen Christmases with the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on. That's why I love that ornament.

It Was Joy of Titanic Proportions

2009-12-03T10:45:00.011-06:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Ours was active but restful at the same time. Does that make any sense? We had lots of people in and out of the house all weekend, and had a great time. I have some pics I'll post later.

I gotta say...the very best part of the weekend was taking my boys to the Titans game on Sunday. It was Levi's first time to go. A friend of mine from church was getting rid of three tickets. And since it's so rare that I am home on a Sunday afternoon, I jumped at the opportunity to go. It was especially awesome because we were playing the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner is one of my all-time favorite athletes, and I wanted to see him play live before he retires. So it was a no-brainer. We had to go.

We had a top-ten day. The Cottrell boys made some doggone memories. Even though Kurt Warner didn't play because of a concussion. Concussion schmucshmushion.

Here we are getting ready to hike over the Shelby Street bridge to the stadium (I think it's the Shelby Street bridge. I do know that it is in fact a bridge.).

We were in awe over how good our seats were. I have never not been in the nose bleeds at a Titans game. Sweet.

Pre-game endzone prayers from the Cardinals. Maybe they should've prayed longer. :-)

Michael W. Smith sang the national anthem. And then broke into Friends right afterwards. Kidding.

It was an amazing game. Major heroics by Mr. Vince Young.

Post-game prayer time center field for both teams.

Happiness after previously mentioned major heroics.

I wish I would have taken pictures of everything we ate. But I think I didn't want such evidence in existence for a healthy mom or a potentially jealous sister to see. Needless to say, I think Levi knew a game was going on. But I'm positive he knows EVERYTHING you can possibly eat at an NFL game.

These kids. I sure do love 'em.

We Had 80's Hair. And It Was 1994.

2009-11-29T20:50:00.002-06:00

We just got our scanner up and working.

You're welcome.

Have a great Monday.

The Twelve Days of Christmas CD's

2009-11-25T07:34:00.004-06:00

I have had a great time hunting down some of the music that you all suggested for us to give a listen. Thanks for all of the suggestions! I am still wading through it, and will let you know what I find. Right now I can't stop listening to the new Sara Groves CD, Fireflies and Songs. It is so good.

I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was turn on our all-day Christmas music playlist. People, is there anything happier than Christmas music? I love it so much. Now, granted, I'm a little bit picky about Christmas music. The Christmas music I love the most has a ring of nostalgia to it. And sentiment. And tradition. And beauty. And oldness. But few things really tug at my heart like my favorite Christmas music.

So I thought I would share my favorites with you. This is TRAVIS' TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CD'S. There's nothing record-breakingly original or out of the ordinary. But if you are looking for something new to listen to this Christmas (if, of course, you don't already have this, wink, wink), give one of these a try.

12. The Carpenters - Christmas Portrait
11. Currier and Ives Holiday Collection: Christmas Treasures - London Symphony Orchestra
10. Amy Grant - A Christmas Album
9. Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas
8. First Call - An Evening in December
7. Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas
6. John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together
5. James Taylor - At Christmas
4. Amy Grant - Home For Christmas
3. The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album - The Cambridge Singers and John Rutter
2. Elf - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas - The Vince Guaraldi Trio

This is just 12 of the 30 or 40 Christmas CD's we love to listen to.

What are your favorites Christmas CD's?

Random Pics Day

2009-11-19T06:03:00.007-06:00

Time for more random pics from my phone. This time, I promise no shrubs larger than a skull.

Apparently even my dog has a sugar addiction.

Speaking of sugar addictions, I did a Holy Ghost dance when I saw this in my Kroger here in Franklin. This is a North Carolina delicacy that has reached its goodness all the way to Middle Tennessee. You may call it a new distribution deal. I call it the favor of God on TN.

Comfort food. Love language. Call it whatever you want. It's one of my favorite meals on the earth. I tweeted this pic just out of sheer happiness.

I would like to say that I had these out playing with my kids.

(pause.)

Originals. Collected from 1977-1984. Not pictured: my original Millenium Falcon and other vintage pieces. And me sitting on the couch in a Darth Vader costume.

Busy Weekend Ahead

2009-11-11T21:25:00.003-06:00

Hey, friends. Hope you are having a good week. It's been a good one here. Busy. Busy with work to do, things to accomplish, kids to raise, and DID I MENTION THAT HOMEWORK HAS TAKEN OVER THE EARTH?

I will be busy up at LifeWay corporate offices leading worship for their Women's Ministry Leadership Forum Thursday afternoon-Friday morning. Looking forward to seeing some friends while I'm there. Who knows? Frydaddy might even make an appearance.

THEN. This weekend is another weekend of our Jesus Saves Live Tour, which makes me so happy. These are fun weekends for me. I get to get on a bus and pretend I'm not ancient, and pretend that it's ok to eat a box of Hot Tamales in my bunk until I fall asleep and it will have no affect on my teeth, and pretend that it's totally cool for someone with my metabolism to eat pizza at 10:30 at night. Oh yeah. And it's pretty cool to get to passionately worship Jesus with friends from different churches. That's pretty cool too. ;-)

Actually, I can't wait! Here's where we will be this weekend:

Friday night, November 13: Jackson, TN - Englewood Baptist Church
Saturday night, November 14: Cartersville, GA (Atlanta area) - First Baptist Church Cartersville
Sunday night, November 15: Knoxville, TN - First Baptist Concord

Hope you can make it if you are close.

I have to go now. I am trying to keep my body on a schedule like the early days of daylight savings time. Asleep early...awake early. It's so hard for me to do. But I am TRYING. Anybody else grooving with the early bed time since 2 weekends ago?

Gavin

2009-11-11T21:18:00.003-06:00

I need to share some sad news with you. Do you remember when I posted about my friend Adam's baby boy, who was battling Mitochondrial disease? Well, their sweet three-and-a-half boy Gavin went to be with Jesus this past Sunday. Please be praying for Adam and Karen and their little girl Madison. You can find out more about Gavin, as well as plans for their service this Sunday to celebrate Gavin's life and ultimate healing at Gavin's website.

God bless you, Owens family.

Living Proof Live Springfield, IL

2009-11-09T14:01:00.000-06:00

Living Proof Live - Springfield IL from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Transformation

2009-11-07T21:12:00.002-06:00

We made a video for our friend Daniel, who turned 30 this weekend. We practiced this little diddy once, and then quickly jumped in front a camera to film it and then upload it to Daniel's friend for his party. Levi began to have a melt down during our practice time. He was ill as a hornet that he had to do the video. He began to storm up the stairs to his room. And I can't really remember what happened next, except that something made him come back and join us. But he made it clear that he was not happy about it. Nor was he going to participate.

So, that is where you find this video beginning. Watch the transformation my sweet Levi makes in just a few seconds. We're talking 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye. Notice how he tries to get my attention to let me know that he was IN. And then enjoy his burping on the beat at the end. What birthday song is complete without syncopated burping?

You Are So Old from Travis Cottrell on Vimeo.

Tell Me Something Good

2009-11-05T10:26:00.002-06:00

What beautiful music are you listening to that I need to be listening to? Do you have any of these kinds of music to recommend? - instrumental stuff - movie soundtracks - acoustic/folky stuff (with singing or without) - artsy bluegrass - beautiful lesser-known classical stuff - tell me whatcha got.

Let My People Go, Already

2009-10-31T23:13:00.011-05:00

Here are my peeps, heading out to our church's Fall Festival. Moses, a nerd, and Helen Keller.

I'm gonna go make sure their candy bags are kept in a safe place while they are asleep. I plan to carefully go through every piece of candy and make sure that nothing is wrong with it. I might even have to offer myself on the altar of parenthood and taste test much of it to guard their safety and well-being. If you need me, I very well may be hunkered down in the corner of the room in a sugar coma. But please know it's for the sake of the children. FOR THE CHILDREN.

Random Pics Day

2009-10-29T06:40:00.011-05:00

I was going through the pictures in my phone yesterday as we were traveling home from Kansas City. And it hit me what strange things I have pictures of in my phone. Weird. Just weird. So I thought it would be fun to have a day once a week on the blog called "Random Pics Day."

So here goes. Random Pics Day #1. How overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation you must be. Simmer down now. Really.

I wonder if Flash knows he's Player 2.

Someone at a church gave us this jam. It was so good and we made such a big deal about it, they gave it to us. It was supposed to go home with someone else on the team. It ended up at my house. And I took a picture of it to taunt them with the fact that I got it. That's my jam, yo.

A hydrangea the size of my head at the Green Bay airport. Riveting.

This is the camera they stuck down my throat to look at my vocal cords at the voice doctor. Fun times.

How Was Your Trip Last Fall?

2009-10-28T08:14:00.012-05:00

Hey, friends. I hope you are well. It has been a crazy busy week. And I have spent the better part of the last 5 days without internet. But it has been a good weekend. Wait. Weekend? It's Wednesday. It feels like Monday. We sang in Yonges Island, SC on Sunday (had a great time with new SC friends), flew to Missouri on Monday, and sang all day at the Missouri Baptist Convention all day yesterday. And by all day, I mean we left the hotel at 7:15am and got back to the hotel at 10:30pm. I think I left a vocal cord sitting on the stage of the church somewhere. We had a great time, though.

Something happened to me this weekend that those of you who know me well are going to love. In fact, if you are one of my close friends, this is going to make your day. It's really not a very big deal or a very funny story. But I'm going to tell it anyway. Feel free to stop reading if you fear boredom. I'm about to squeeze a 3 sentence story into hundreds of words.

While we were at Yonges Island this past weekend, we were literally so far away from a main town that there were no hotels even remotely close to the church. So, the team and I stayed in a house. Not just any house. But a hotel-sized house. I'm talking The Shining sized house. Maybe not that big. But we all had our own rooms and our own bathrooms with all the girls on one floor on the boys on a different floor. The word gargantuan comes to mind. So anyway, on Saturday night, we had some practicing to do, because the church had requested we do some songs that we had never done live. So we got together in one of the dens of the house and rehearsed. At some point, Seth got up and went to the restroom. While he was gone, I decided I would be a wise-guy and get up and hide and jump out and scare the daylights out of him when we came back (yes, I am 13). I walked to the door frame of the room I thought he went into. Then I heard a noise to my right. I turned to my right, and that's when it happened. My feet began slipping and flapping and spinning at what seemed like a ridiculously fast pace. It was as if they were moving so fast that they were just a blur, much like the Coyote when he is racing off a cliff. Anyway, I began to take a tumble. My hands flew up in the air as I began to scramble to grab onto the door frame, as well as whatever invisible handrail I thought was hanging in space in front of me. I literally saw my feet at almost eye-level, as my shin hit the door frame. I remember thinking to myself that I was in a mess. I continued plummeting to the ground for what had to be at least 21 minutes...or maybe 3 seconds. I'm not sure. After my hard-fought scramble, I landed on the ground, right shoulder blade first, followed by my right elbow, right booty, and then the rest of my mid-air self.

My first thought: "Dear Lord, please don't let anyone have seen me." My second thought: OUCH. I jumped up as fast as I could. Julie saw it happened and had already jumped up because she thought I was going to be half-dead. She began saying things like "Oh no!" Are you alright?" "Oh my goodness!" And then I knew how ridiculous I looked when she finally just began saying," Bless. Bless. Bless." As in, "Bless your heart, you idiot."

So I immediately started laughing, because that's my natural reaction when someone falls. Even when I fall. I can't help it. I'm weird. And a little mischievous, maybe. But it is just my automatic nervous reaction when I see someone fall (as long as the person is not seriously hurt. That's a different story). I am sucker for any youtube video of anyone falling. So I'm laughing. And at this point Seth is back out, and Lici is up checking on me too. They are laughing, but also a little bit like, "Is it OK for me to laugh because you finally got yours, even though it was an abnormally hard fall?" I assured them that I was OK, and I was laughing too. But then something weird happened. I began to have these convulsive-like chills. Seriously. Chills and shivers that were out of control. They were staring at me like I had grown three arms out of my skull. But I couldn't help it. I felt OK. I mean, I was hurting and freezing cold and jerking around with shivers uncontrollably. But I felt fine otherwise. They told me that my skin had turned not just pale, but gray. They helped me to a mirror so I could see for myself. And they were right. My face was freaky-weird-blue-gray. I didn't know what in the world was going on. They took me to the couch and put about 5 blankets on me. I sat there and shivered for about 15 minutes, and then it finally went away.

I'm not really sure why the shivers happened. Shock of some kind? I don't know. Either way, it was weird. I knew it was a loud thump when the host mom yelled from the kitchen, one floor and 1.2 miles away, "Is everything OK up there?" They were very sweet and took great care of my walking-challenged self.

I was pretty sore the next day (I still am).

So, to all you friends of mine that I have so mercilessly laughed at when you have tripped, slid, fallen, or been gravity-challenged in any way, now's your chance to laugh it up. Really. Take your moment. I deserve it.

If you need me today, I will be hobbling through various airports on my way home.

And in the words of the wise Casey Kasem, keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

I Like Rolls, Too.

2009-10-19T11:03:00.015-05:00

Good morning, friends. I am trying really hard not to fall off the blogging wagon again. I am going to write right now, even though I am in full mouth breather mode, still in my pajamas, and with very little motivation to get anything productive done. I refuse to be that slacker blogger of yesteryear.

At least not today.

We had a great weekend. My sweet niece Casey came to visit us for the weekend, along with her husband Michael and two awesome kids. My kids had a great time with their cousins, and spent most of the weekend just like this:

My poor little great-niece was carted around on that hip for the better part of 60 hours. And my little great-nephew said so many things that cracked me up. The first thing he said to me on our very first outing was this:

"Travis, let me ask you a question. I like rolls."

And thus commenced a fun weekend with family. And let it be said that although I LOVE my calling in life and I am crazy about my life on the road meeting wonderful people and worshipping with them, it felt mighty fine being home on a Saturday. I turned football on the TV beginning Saturday morning at 10am for College Game Day, and did not turn it off until we went to bed. I never even left the house once. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

A fun time was had, complete with a puppet show:

I feel the need to clarify that the only reason there are no pictures in that frame hanging in Levi's room is because we have not had time to get any chosen, developed, and put in there. It has only been hanging there for a year and a half. So cut me some slack, already.

I am also afraid to say this for fear of being snatched up by the snares of pride. But I cooked one heck of a meal on Saturday (oops...I guess I was snatched up). Quick-fried beef with broccoli, cooked carrots and fried rice. And a kick-booty salad by my wife. Check out this delicious spread:

When I typed that food sentence, I accidentally typed "quick-friend beef with broccoli." Let me tell you, that beef was so good, it was a friend.

Food happiness:

(Is it my imagination, or is that firstborn son of mine growing a mile a minute? All the growing up. Warms my heart and makes me sad at the same time.)

We had a great time with our family this weekend. So glad they came. T-Dawg, if you come again, I promise we will have rolls.

Living Proof Live Memphis

2009-10-13T06:38:00.002-05:00

Living Proof Live - Memphis from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

I Got Chiiiiiilllls. They're Multiplyin'.

2009-10-12T09:34:00.013-05:00

Sunday morning, I got up at 4 a.m. and headed to just outside of Knoxville for a church's homecoming service. I'd never been to this church. I was going to be a part of a reunion of sorts of some friends with whom I had travelled many years ago.We were going to surprise our group's leader, who has been in ministry for many years. I told the kids on Saturday night that at least two of them had to ride with me. Immediately, Jack and Lily Kate wanted to go; Levi wanted to stay home and go to our church with Angela. It's still not clear to me why the two older ones jumped so quickly at the chance of riding 3 hours in a car, sitting in a long service, and riding 3 hours back. I think maybe it's because they know I am weak, and will invariably give way to their constant requests for all manner of snacks and treats. Maybe sometimes a pack of gum is worth just that much to a kid. I don't know. Either way, I was happy to have them with me.

They slept for the first hour or so of the trip. When they awoke, I decided it was time for some worship music. It was a beautiful morning. My heart was really tender to the Lord...what an amazing weekend it had already been at Living Proof Live Memphis (one of my favorite events ever)...and I was ready to worship. We fired up the iPod into the car sound system, and I headed to the place I always head when I am ready to go after it in worship: Kirk Franklin. We sang and bounced and laughed and got our groove on. When we got midway through a song called "Hero," I made the statement, "Ooo. This song gives me chills." And I gestured to my arm to show my son that I had chills, and the hairs on my arm were standing straight up. He had heard me say this before. He has seen me lose it over a song (or even a tv commercial, for crying out loud). He is used to me being moved through music. He replied while staring out his window, "I've only gotten chills once before while listening to music." That was all he said. I wondered when it was...what he might have been moved by, and if he really understood that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to Him and moving in his heart as he listened. But I didn't say anything. He seemed to be in deep thought, and I didn't want to derail him. I have a tendency to sometimes dig too hard and too quickly into their minds when they are in the middle of thinking things through. So I let it go.

We got to the service, and the reunion of sweet friends began. Lots of hugging and lots of laughing. And lots of rehearsing for a service that was to begin in less than an hour. We went through the songs we were singing together, and then just chilled until time for the service.

When the service began, 9 of us sat in the choir loft with the 9 or so of the regulars. We doubled their choir size (and had our pianist and bass player too). It was a small and sweet fellowship. A church homecoming celebration, honoring 150 years as a church. The service played out just as simply and sweetly as could be. No frills. No graphics. No monitors or drums or electric guitars. Just people. And the presence of God.

We sang a couple of hymns. And our group sang a song together. Then we filed back into the choir loft to sing the choir special with the choir. It was a very simple arrangement of "Thank You." You know...the one that says "Thank you for giving to the Lord / I am a life that was changed." The arrangement was so simple. Even more than simple, really. Still, I felt the Lord moving in my heart such deep groans of gratitude for everyone who had ever sown into my life in some way. I was having a moment.

Then I looked down at the front row. My two kids were intermingled with my friends David and Susan Moffitt's kids (David is my great friend and co-writer, with whom I've written many songs, like Alive Forever Amen, Jesus Saves, My Passion, You Changed My Name, Your Word Is Life To Me, to name a few). David and Susan and I had already shared a chuckle at what a great moment it was to look down and see our sons sharing a hymnal. Partly because it was moving to see the next generation worship together just like we have for so long, and partly because neither one of them hardly knew what a hymnal was.

Anyway, back to looking down at the front row. I'm having my moment in this song...and frankly, I have heard this song about 514 too many times in my life, and was shocked to be having this moment. But it serves me right. How dare we think that we are ever beyond being reached by WHATEVER song or WHATEVER message or WHATEVER He wants to use to speak to us. It's time for us to get over our "sophistication."

OK. Again...back to looking down at the front row. I'm having my moment in this song. My eyes lock with Jack's eyes. He has obviously been waiting for me to look down at him. He had that expectant look on his face, and a happy and peaceful grin a mile wide that I won't forget as long as I live. He raised his arm up in front of him almost at face level, pointed to his arm, and mouthed to me, "Chills! I got chills!"

No frills. No graphics. No monitors or drums or electric guitars. Just people. And the presence of God.

It Comes With A Side Of Ham.

2009-10-08T09:07:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago we all jumped in the car, drove 7 hours to my niece's wedding in Boone, and drove back home ON THE SAME DAY. Which is always fun for both parents and children. 14 hours in the car. With quietness in dress clothes in the middle to break up the trip.

Anyway, strangely, we enjoyed every moment of it. Our family was ready for some good uninterrupted quality time. And we got it. There were some moments where the kids were busying themselves with this and that, and we didn't pay much attention. When we got home, I began to upload some videos of the trip from my flip video. To my surprise (and great joy), the kids had been video-ing each other in the back of the car...talking, laughing, and singing along to the radio.

This one makes me laugh. Before you watch it, I need to tell you to feel free to stop watching after about a minute and a half. I think only a parent who loves a child dearly should have to sit through the whole thing.

A couple of my favorite things about it:
1. Notice Levi's signature move, visible only in the first second or two of the video.
2. Notice the growl from Levi at about 1:24 when Lily Kate steals his signature move.
3. Notice that Lily Kate assures us at the end of the video that her on-camera performance was not performed without her seat belt on. Safety first.
4. If you are still tuned in, listen for little brother's "is it almost over?" exasperation at 2:08. I personally think he is a pretty doggone good brother to keep that camera on his big sis for that long. If you could only see the tons of footage where she is making him video her singing and dancing. LONG SUFFERING, I tell you. Long suffering.

Lily Kate Singing in the Car from Travis Cottrell on Vimeo.

Random Thought of the Day

2009-10-06T13:35:00.002-05:00

I know they say that a tomato is a fruit, but that just doesn't sit well with me.

Tomatoes sit well with me. But the fact that they are a fruit does not.

That's all I got today.

Crazy Day

2009-10-03T06:05:00.001-05:00

Wednesday was Crazy Day at my two younger kids' school. Or, as we call it in our house, just another day.

Even though they are dressed all crazy, those last couple of pictures give me a lump in my throat. Walking off to the bus stop. All big and independent. Can they please stop it with the fast growing up?

Be still my heart.

Checking In

2009-09-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

Your TV drama show comments were awesome. Thanks for commenting. Lots of you are watching Lost, 24, and House, to name a few. Hats off to those of you who actually admitted that Christy was one of your favorite dramas of all time. That took some guts. I've never even laid my eyes on one episode of that show. I wasn't even sure if it was ever on actual TV.

It's an AMAZING day here in Franklin, TN. It's currently 52 degrees. I'm about to have my quiet time on the back porch with a hoodie on. More happiness than I can stand.

I have a busy weekend ahead. I am at the International Mission Board on Thursday night and Friday morning in Richmond, VA. Then I'm heading to Clearwater for a Saturday worship conference and Sunday night concert at Calvary Baptist. I'm looking forward to both of those places.

I would be grateful for your prayers for my vocal and physical strength. I've been having some vocal issues lately, so yesterday I went to the Vanderbilt Voice Center to get checked out. Hallelujah, my vocals cords look healthy and are working well. My troubles are not fatigue (which is a huge THANK YOU, LORD)...just allergies. So this week I am starting to knock those bad boys down off their allergy high horse with all manner of vitamins and healthy blah blah blah and more water than I ever care to drink.

I must admit that I went to the doctor because I was really alarmed. I have been having this very painful pain (can you say that?) in one spot of my neck / throat. It is sore to the touch and certainly painful when I sing. I didn't know what it could be, or if it was tied to my vocal fatigue in any way. I had a few vain imaginings of worst-case scenarios, so that's why I finally went to the doctor. It turns out that I have a pulled or stressed muscle in my neck. Not tied to my voice at all. Woo hoo! A big relief and a huge answer to prayer. It will get better with time.

So in summary, my voice still does need prayer. But it's not damaged or unhealthy in any way. Just trying to work in the midst of a sea of allergies. Barley Green, here I come.

I was going to ask you to pray for the trouble I've been having with my knees. But I can't bring myself to talk about it on the heels of a post where I said the last drama I watched on TV was Dallas in 1983. What am I, 85? Don't answer that.

I gotta go. The Price Is Right will be on in an hour. And then I have to work on my post about Luby's and Matlock. Oh, and then there's lunch at 10:30.

Drama Free Since '83

2009-09-28T21:03:00.003-05:00

I think the last drama I watched regularly on TV was Dallas, and I'm not kidding (and that is another thing that goes on the "What Were My Parents Thinking, Letting Me Watch That" list). TV dramas have never been really appealing to me. I never watched Lost. Or ER. Or Law and Order. Or CSI. Or Dr. Quinn. Or West Wing. The closest I've gotten is Chuck, but I really count that as an hour-long comedy. Monk, too...also a comedy. I think I would like 24, but I haven't had time to give it any emotional investment, or start from the very first season and watch all the way through. I probably will someday.

I don't really know when I stopped liking them. I remember loving to watch TV dramas with my dad when I was little. We watched Barnaby Jones, Hawaii Five-0, Cannon, Quincy, MD (I just accidentally typed in Quincy Jones, MD), among others. I even loved The Waltons growing up. But it's been a long time since I have been compelled to give a serious show an hour of my time.

I DVR'd the new show Flash Forward at the recommendation of a friend. I might try to watch it this weekend. It just seems like a commitment that I don't have time to make right now. And the premise stresses me out a little bit. Who wants to flash forward 6 months ahead in your life, see some heartache, and then flash back to real life, only to have live with the knowledge of that heartache for the next 6 months? I don't know. If I check it out, I'll let you know. Did anybody watch it?

Do you watch dramas? If you had to pick one all-time favorite TV drama, what would it be?

Am I really going to have to pick Dallas or The Waltons? Good grief. That makes me sound 97. Good night, John Boy.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

2009-09-27T20:05:00.007-05:00

Obnoxious Dad was snapping pictures during breakfast this morning.

I'm trying to think of clever pirate-talk jokes here. But I'm too worn out. All I can come up with is a half-hearted reference to headin' to church in the good ol' gospel ship.

Brush yer teeth and get yer bibles and head to yer car, matey.

You're welcome.

That last picture is the moment when Levi asked us if he could change his name.

Me: Don't you like your name?

Levi: Not really.

Me: What would you like for your name to be?

Levi: Darth Vader. Or Yoda. Yeah. Definitely Yoda.

Happy Sabbath. May the force be with you.