the starfield blog

So, I’m thinking about taking a dip in the “Salt Lake” this week.  After all, we’re in Salt Lake City, and what better way to experience the local culture than taking a swim in the lake that gave this city it’s name…I’ve heard that you float…Without treading water or using “water wings” (those orange things you wear on your arms when you’re a kid) But, I also heard you smell like a rotten egg afterwards.  So there’s pros and cons…

Anyways, the reason we’re here in Salt Lake is because of an Evangelical free church event that happens every 2 years.  So this year it’s called “Challenge ‘08″.  Last night, Francis Chan  spoke a phenomenal message on how we view God.  He outlined a few different descriptions of encounters with God in the bible from Isaiah to John.  In every story he recounted, the one who experienced a vision of God fell on their face, not worthy to look upon a Holy God.  He communicated the “other-ness” of God in a descriptive and powerful way, and it left the room in silence and reverent repentance.  We went on stage and slowly built up into “How great is our God” and ended with the people singing “Our God is an Awesome God” Acapella.  It was a powerful night that we won’t soon forget.  - Jon. 

Look up Francis Chan’s podcast in Itunes if you get the chance - He’s great.  

somehow we snacked at McDonalds again today… how does this keep happening? we’re in one of the culinary capitals of the world and we’re eating at McDonalds! I’m so disappointed in myself… On a lighter note, we saw ‘Hairspray’ (the musical) and visited the ‘British Museum’ http://www.britishmuseum.org/ today… I have to say i prefer Zac to whoever the dude playing Link was in the musical…. but i digress… the museum was AMAZING… all those years growing up i never realized just how un-awesome the manitoba museum of man and nature really was I do however remember being terrified of the Native American/buffalo/cliff display though… were they REALLY just lifeless dummies?  We’re headed Back to Edinburgh tomorrow then flying home to Canada on Saturday… it’s been a fun getaway but I’m dying to be home,      tim.  

London is like New York’s older brother… more refined, more mature, and the very best kind of cool (not because it tries so hard - but just because it is).  We’re loving our few days off in England’s capitol… Jon and Myself (and our lovely wives) rented a flat just outside the city center and have spent the first couple of days just soaking in the sights and sounds. Today is tourist day as we’re booked at 1:30 on the ‘London Eye’ (a massive ferris wheel on the banks of the river thames - hopefully it doesn’t rain) and hope to see a few of the other historic sites and museums as well. on a much sadder note: somehow we’ve already been to McDonalds twice since we’ve been here… booo       tim. ps - here’s video from last night of some brotherly shenanigans in an english grocery store…  it was late, and yes i was about as tired as a man can be while still performing for the cameras :-) mvi_4301-iphone-cell.3gp

I can’t begin to explain how spectacular this event is. For those that were there - 30,000 strong - there’s no need for me to explain… but for those that weren’t - believe me when i say it is the single greatest event we’ve ever been apart of… Nothing we’ve done in any other country in the world exceeds the the production team, production value, and overall vibe of this event. Sponsored by the dutch government, and televised on Dutch TV, EO youth day was a BLAST to be a part of.  oh, and the people were great too! they LOVE their soccer… and why wouldn’t they? the night before we played, the Netherlands team won their second straight match against France in the Euro Cup… and that’s another thing… you haven’t lived until you’ve watched a playoff soccer match with the Dutch on their home turf… life-changing!  We can’t wait to be back in the Netherlands for Flevo Festival in August.      I’ve added some video so you can experience it for yourself!       tim.  

Excited and nervous about the “make-up” concerts this weekend in Burnaby and Abbotsford.  It’s a strange thing to feel that a tour is done, and then pick it up again a few weeks later.  Yet these gigs of course carry special significance for us as a band, being the 2 that were post-poned due to the incident in Abbotsford. 

Should be a couple of emotionally charged evenings, especially Abbotsford which will include a few testimonies from people who attended the concert as well as a time of response and prayer. My hope and prayer is that all those who attend this weekend will come in expectation. Expectant that God will heal and restore his people, and encourage and unify the body of Christ. I am humbled that we get the chance to press on.  In unity and surrender before our Great God, who has our lives in the palm of his hand.  

I might add, it’s an extra perk for me, that I’ll be sleeping in my own bed after both concerts this weekend.  I wish all our concerts were this close to home.   - Jon.  

Finding balance in a line of work such as ours requires constant fine tuning of ones self.  Boarding a plane every weekend or living on a bus with 12 other people for months at a time requires some getting used to.  Having only been with Starfield for a few months, I am considered the rookie when it comes to life on the road.  Learning the ropes has been a challenge that I have welcomed with open arms.  The cons? 4:00 am lobby calls and 3 planes in one day. The Pros?  Traveling the world and playing music with 3 of my closest friends.

I had the amazing opportunity to visit Memphis TN, a few weeks ago.  This was something that I had been looking forward to for a some time.  The city of Memphis has within it two things very close to my heart:

The first - The Lorraine Motel

This was the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.  He was shot outside room 603 on the second floor around 6:00 PM (Yes, Bono made a mistake) on April 4th 1968.  To stand and observe where this great man fell shook me to my core.  His death was only the beginning of his victory.

The second -  Sun Studios, the very birthplace of Rock n Roll. 

My excitement became more and more evident by the smile on my face as I entered the very room where some of my biggest musical influences created some of their greatest masterpieces.  Johnny Cash - Walk The Line, U2 - Rattle & Hum or Elvis Presley - That’s All Right, take your pic. 

If your travels ever lead you to the city of Memphis, make sure to check out these two very remarkable pieces of American history.

David

The Microphone Elvis Presley used at Sun Studios…