try not to blink.
I decided to ask my three favorite artists to redesign my touring electric, one of the two I played on “Heaven Meets Earth.” Now I have a one-of-a-kind piece that’s not only super cool, but it reminds me of my beautiful children whenever I play.
Another benefit is the amazing name. “Rock Star Super Kah-Cha.” All their invention.
Watch the process and smile. ch:
Guitar Home Makeover (Extreme) from Grandath Films on Vimeo.
Jennifer and I just arrived back in NY after many hours aloft. It feels good to be back on the east coast, although we have many new and wonderful memories forged out of an incredibly unique tour down the west coast. Things finished off with much hooting and hollering at Barnes & Noble in San Diego around 4:01pm PT. From there we had a group meal at Islands (Yaki Tacos are num nums!) and reminisced about the week. There was much laughter had by all.
The following few hours were a slew of hugs and even some tears as we all said goodbye, a divine melancholy falling over everyone. Although each one of us was eager to get back to family and routine, it dawned on me that we had done the very thing we all write about: join together on an epic adventure to bring Truth and advance God’s Kingdom. And what a tale it is…
We’ll be working on the remaining few days of Video Journals this week and post them shortly. Between the succession of bad internet connections and little time to edit video, we have been behind on production.
A big thank you to Pam Schwagerl at Tsaba House for her amazing dedication to this tour and putting the schedule together, as well as to Gregg Wooding for his amazing talents in promoting us. Also to my tour mates: Donita K. Paul, Eric Reinhold, Jonthan Rogers, L.B. Graham, and the originals, Wayne Thomas Batson, Bryan Davis and Sharon Hinck. I consider them all family…adventure-mates of the grandest sort. And a big shout out to Amanda and Penny who went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to “the miscellaneous” tasks of the tour. I’d also like to thank all of the publishers that we represent who so generously invested into the financial backing and promotion of this tour, as well as our amazing sponsors, RealArmorofGod.com, Hotel Burgess, and Character 4 Kids.
I’ll be posting more pictures as we process them; Jennifer shot well over 1,000 with some spectacular scenes of God’s creation I can’t wait for you to see.
Last, but certainly not least, I must thank all of you who came out and supported us on the road. The fans! Where would we be without you? Books are meant to be read, so if you weren’t reading them, not only would we not have had anyone at our events, but we wouldn’t even be writing. So thank you, thank you, thank you. The countless words of encouragement I received from teens who were inspired, moms who were grateful, dads who were provoked to talk to their sons, children who were awed…these are what we live for. You are why we write. That Christ might live in you, the Hope of Glory.
On our Oregon stop, we started off with a rainy, impromptu gathering under a gazebo in Portland and finished with a bang at Medford’s mall. A huge crowd gathered for the signing put on by Evangel Family Bookstore and were treated to, among other things, a reading by Jonathan Rogers and a humorous dual between myself & Sir Wayne! Enjoy!
(The fun and funky Portuguese/Brazilian music is in honor of Nathan Reimer).
CH
We’re in Reedley, CA today, doing some events at the high school here and preparing for a huge event on G Street tonight. In the mean time, here is a link to the interview Wayne and I did on Central Valley Today, Fresno’s NBC Affiliate KSEE 24. Let me know what you think!
CH
Hey’a gang!
It is with great pleasure that I get to announce the long-awaited sequel to last year’s ground-breaking Fantasy Fiction Tour, this year hitting the West Coast October 4th thru 12th.
Most of my readers will remember last year’s exciting journey starting in Atlanta and ending in Manhattan. Well, it made such a stir in the industry that we decided to do it all again…but bigger!
Four additional authors have been added to last year’s lineup: Donita K. Paul, L.B. Graham, Jonathan Rogers and Eric Reinhold. You can read all about them on our Meet The Authors page, and peruse their wide selection of Books.
The FFT website just got a massive overhaul thanks to Jason Clement, and we’ll be issuing HTML banner ads very soon for you to put up on your websites and blogs to help us promote the tour.
And like last year, we’ll be doing the Daily Video Journal during the tour itself where you can follow along with us. And if you missed last year’s Video Journals-–no worries-–you can watch the entire collection in the 2007 Video Journal Library.
I suggest you read the entire Press Release, too, as it has a good accounting of last year’s success and what to look forward to this year.
To all those out on the West Coast, I look forward to meeting you!
Thanks for reading,
CH
…and I’m trying not to whip out a claymore and starting screaming “Freedom!” as soon as I land. Please keep Jennifer and I in your prayers during this next week of ministry. We’re very expectant about what the Lord is going to do for His glory! We’ll be with a wonderful church in Dalkeith, Scotland for a week of meetings followed by five days at an undisclosed location for our first vacation in five years. We’re stoked.
Thanks for all your prayers while we’re on the road, especially with us being away from our kids.
Blessings!
CH
After 11 years of following Jon Foreman and the boys of Switchfoot, I finally went to see them live in concert. Last night my good buddy, John Brennan, and I drove down to Roberts Wesleyan College and caught them in the act. And my, what a show. The nifty part was meeting up with Wendy and Danielle, my old co-workers (buddies!) from Joshua Revolution, who now help head up Kingdom Bound. Amongst catching up after a few years of absence, they brought me and John upstairs to meet the band. And what humble guys. (And not nearly as tall a you think they are on stage!).
We got in at 2:00am this morning, just in time for me to grab four hours of shut eye before heading down to Watertown Middle School. By invitation of Principal LaBarr and Assistant Principal Fairchild, both marvelous folk, I performed a new song and then shared for 40 minutes on respecting one another and the affects of bullying. I supposse you know it went well when the principals both give you hugs afterwards. 
Needless to say, God is doing amazing things in the schools here in Jefferson County, NY.
Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to leave for concerts in Metz, France this Thursday; back next Monday.
CH
It’s been a whirlwind weekend for Jennifer and I. Starting with the public school assembly at Indian River last Thursday, we’ve been on the road non-stop, speaking and leading worship everyday.
Friday afternoon we set up again at Thousand Island’s auditorium, this time presenting for the Middle School. After hearing of the enthusiasm and success of our presentation for the High School, Principal Debra Percy requested me to share for her students.
I was the guest speaker for a very special assembly, one hallmarking the lives of Olympic athletes who overcame obstacles to achieve their dreams (no, I’m not an Olympian!). The students studied competitors from many different nations, culminating in a flag ceremony. This assembly also centered around their new reading program, one in which medals are awarded to students for how many books they read during the year (25, 35 and more!). I shared my own middle school woes of being marked as a "slow reader," a title that clung to me through the end of high school and kept me from ever reading my assigned books. After high school I was prompted by my friend, Jordan Sandquist, to read a Stephen Lawhead trilogy (The Song of Albion ), an act that would not only awaken the love of reading, but fuel my desire to write.
Many thanks Mrs. Percy to all the marvelous middle school students at TI!
As soon as the assembly was over, Jennifer and I rushed off to Niagara Falls, NY for our fourth annual appearance at the Regeneration Girls Retreat, hosted this year by St. James 
United Methodist Church. And I say "our appearance" lightly, as this one is really all Jennifer’s show; I’m just along for moral and musical support. You can check in with her site shortly as she’s drafting a re-cap of the weekend for all those who attended. Needless to say, it was the most powerful Regeneration yet, full of Jennifer’s worship leading, messages from Sherri McCready , and culminating in an awe-inspiring recreation of the Tabernacle.
Sunday morning I had the privilege of preaching at St. James for both the contemporary early service as well as the later traditional service. Jennifer lead more beautiful worship for both services. Our hosts, Rev. John Cooke and his saintly wife, Char, prepared a huge lasagna lunch and then sent us on our way in food comas (quite dangerous, actually).
On Saturday morning before the morning session I was having my coffee, sitting on the Cooke’s couch looking out their living room window. Their church sits directly in front of their house, and also in the shadow of Niagara Falls High School, the largest school in all of western NY. I began to stare at it, a looming monolith over four stories high, looking more like a modern factory or office building than a school. I’ve had the opportunity of sharing at the school’s Bible Club in years past and have performed many times on its stage. But sitting there I was impressed by how the brick church and the school seemed to overlap–how they almost seemed to be beckoning to one another; the school asking the church for help, the church offering its connection to the divine.
And in that moment the Lord reaffirmed the direction He’s taking us: we must reach the schools.
The State, even the private sector, has done us a great favor by gathering all the youth of our nation together 5 days out of every week in central locations across the country. For the Church to miss this imperative opportunity would be a travesty of the grandest kind, detrimental to the fate of our country as well as the individual souls of our children.
I thought the picture above said it better than I could.
We’re now picking up our little babies outside of Rochester and preparing to head back to beautiful northern New York. Spring is here and the work of the Lord is before us all, calling us to action.
"But the people who know their God will display strength and take action."
Daniel 11:32
Thanks for reading!
CH
This morning I was up at 5:30am. Not to catch a plane to Europe. Not to make a business appointment. Not even to catch the sun rise or spend time with God, as frequently my habit (my wife is the night owl). This morning Jennifer and I were up to speak for middle school students–one of my most important jobs in the world.
Indian River Middle School is the largest in Jefferson County with well over 700 students. Today I had the privilege of addressing the entire student body for a one-hour assembly at 8:00am. This is the second during-school assembly for me up here (you can read about the Thousands Islands High even here). Today’s assembly was focused specifically on bullying, a topic the staff asked me to address. As each school is unique, so too is each message I bring, custom fit to what the needs of the school are.
I challenged them with a new philosophy, that bullies are not brutes, meanies or menaces, but they are actually insecure, unstable and fearful, taking advantage of weaker individuals because they are the only “things” they can control in their lives.
As Indian River services Ft. Drum families, many of whom are deployed, as well as indigenous northern NY families who are trying to make ends meet, there are many kids who’s home lives are challenging. But equally notable is how many truly phenomenal kids there are, representing various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, each pushing forward and giving their best. Today was not only about calling bullies on the carpet, but shining a light on those who are the true leaders of the school and empowering them through recognition. “This is your school. Own it.”
I was able to share much of my own stories about being bullied and work in a lot of humor. Jennifer and I both shared in song at the beginning and the end which they seemed to really enjoy. I interviewed one of the “worst bullies” in the 8th grade class and the “most picked on” 6th grader at the same time. It was funny, but also very powerful as I spoke into both of their lives, eventually pointing out that there was nothing keeping them from being friends but their own trust for one another.
By the time the assembly was over, we had numerous kids weeping, asking forgiveness from one another and even from their teachers (also crying)! The presence of the Lord was palpable; He never ceases to amaze me. And the fact that I was able to bring both the love of Christ and Biblical principles (like “you hold life in death in your tongue”) right into the school while never needing (or being allowed, for that matter) to mention the name of Jesus is really quite staggering. I believe it continues to stand as a perfect example of how we as Christians must be able to let the Light in us shine regardless of our Christianese language. As St. Francis of Assisi said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words.”
I have no idea what doors God is going to open next, but I had members of the PTO already asking me how they could get me in to two more schools in the county. Truly, the Lord is at work and I can only point to Him. All I did was say, “Yes.”
I would appreciate all yours prayers as I’m speaking at the Thousand Islands Middle School tomorrow at 12:30pm on “Overcoming Obstacles to Pursue Your Dreams.”
Many thanks to Principal Nancy Taylor-Schmitt, Assistant Principal Jeff Keruski and all the amazing teachers, parents and students at Indian River Middle School. One word: Wow.
Thanks for reading!
CH
For anyone that’s ever read LOTR or The Chronicles of Narnia, it’s not hard to wonder where Tolkien and Lewis got their inspiration for places like “The Green Dragon” after you’re a patron of a traditional Irish, Scottish or English pub. Someone recently asked me the difference between a bar and a pub. And it’s a great question, the subject matter actually having a valuable point.
My experience with what I’ll call “typical bars,” both in playing at them and even just walking by, can be summed up in three basic words: loud, uncultured and obnoxious. There are certainly exceptions, such as “southern” types that have a large stage and invite well-studied country and blue grass groups, even promoting traditional line dancing.
But a pub is an entirely different place, one not commonly known to Americans.
Typically you won’t find drunks sloshed over the counter or leering at women; people don’t come to pubs to run from their troubles. Typically you won’t ever see a fight; people don’t have enemies at pubs. And typically you won’t be blasted by generic Top 40, 3-minute, one-hit-wonder songs; people at pubs could care less about the current greed-smeared generic noise of the day.
That’s because a real pub attracts a different kind of person, one who prefers talking about their life rather than trying to wash it away; a person who doesn’t see the patrons as strangers but as new friends to be made; and a person that prefers the legacy of true musical art passed down over generations.
Huh. That almost sounds like church.
And perhaps that’s why I’ve grown so fond of them and felt so free to look for opportunities to let the Jesus inside of me out while there.
Wayne Batson and I certainly had an amazing time at Scranton’s very own The Banshee. We pecked away at our keyboards both at the hotel and over lunch at one of the pub’s 200+ year old tables. And in those moments of discussing theology, plot development and life in general we felt like Lewis and Tolkien, sitting around a table at The Eagle and Child (minus the pipes).
But more than the time spent writing and sharing, it was so much fun to watch how the Lord opened opportunities for us to be Christ-like to people, sometimes to their surprise–and our own.
Due to last year’s visit, this year we had the chance to sit down with both owners and one of their fathers (an older gentleman that still runs triathlons!). They’re pictured just below (left to right: Wayne, Chuck, Melanie, Kathleen, me). We talked about the business, the horses they own, and Wayne even brought up the Lord and how relationships are the most important thing. While the traditional Irish band played on behind us, it became apparent as you looked around the place that people were the most important thing here. Them, and the conversations they were having.
Immediately I thought of Jesus and the cross. What did He die for? A business? An organization? A 401-K plan? A painting? A church building?
He died for people. They are the most important thing to Him. And then it hit me…
…they should be to me, too.
Handing out a bookmark to a little girl provoked an enthusiastic response from her and her mother; they turned out to be Christians, excited to know of more books to read, and offered to spread the word to their local churches. Two musicians ended up knowing my father; in fact, I met them over 15 years ago when they recorded at my father’s studio! I got to catch them up on the amazing things the Lord has done in my life. And sharing my love for Jesus and His kingdom with one of the owners and watching her smile was such a treat.
And after all that the owner’s father, learning of our musical gifts, immediately opened the door for us at The Banshee and asked if Jennifer and I would consider coming down to perform. As I drove home and related this last bit of news to my wife, she said, “You know, I feel like we’re not called to entertain Christians; they have enough good bands for that. We’re called to reach the lost, to go where they are.” Funny how just two weeks ago she told me to pray about doing a pub tour.
Guess we got our first gig. The Banshee calls.
I think that often we completely misinterpret the Biblical mandate of “being in the world but not of it.” In my own spiritual pride, and mostly fueled by fear of “becoming like them,” I read it, “Live on planet earth, but stay to your own kind and keep away from evil sinners.”
Sure, we’ll find those who hate us (1 John 3:13). They’ll mock, threaten and even kill, just as they did to Jesus. But the Jesus I read about in scripture loved them so much–loved being around them, eating with them, talking with them and simply encouraging them–that they loved him. Better put, they adored him.
I wonder how many sinners adore me today? Ha…what a funny question to pose. I wonder how many of them see so much of Jesus in my eyes, whether they understand it or not, that they’d rather be with me than anyone one of their “worldly” friends? And perhaps I do indeed have that much of Jesus glowing in my eyes–I’d like to think so–but because I haven’t placed myself in proximity to them, among them but not of them, they’ll never know.
Certainly you must walk with the light you’ve been given and know what you can handle as a person–I got it. Walk in accountability and mutual submission; that’s Biblical! But going to where the perishing are is also Biblical! When will we finally stop making excuses and just be the Spirit filled, Holy Ghost anointed, divinely justified witnesses of the Gospel that Jesus commanded us to be? If you’re in ignorance in some area of your life, learn all you can and invest into the Word constantly. But if you know the Truth and souls are slipping into an eternity forever separated from God on your watch, I suggest you get your game face on and start loving the lost with everything that’s in you.
And since most pubs are already so much like churches, it shouldn’t be that hard to bring the Light there. They’ve probably been waiting for it for a long time. At least that’s what I plan on doing.
Be encouraged! Bring the light and love of Jesus into every situation you’re in! And don’t see the lost as your adversaries–see them as your inheritance! If one doesn’t want you, don’t get hung up…there is someone else right behind them who really needs some hope. Is your Banshee calling? Your work place? Your school? Your grocery store? Where is God calling you to demonstrate His divine love? You can’t lose!
Thanks for reading. May you be provoked to action.
CH
(Below is a signed plaque we presented the owners; they immediately hung it on their wall. Wayne and I thought it was picture worthy).
