Pushing a rope in Minnesota / my head is doing brain things!

PUSHING A ROPE IN MINNESOTA

What a week!  Master’s Voice had the wonderful privelege to travel to Minnesota last week.  It was my first time in the state, and let me tell you, northerners kind of have gotten a bad rap for being rude.  They were nothing but genuinely kind to us the whole trip.  They attempted to make fun of an alleged Oklahoma accent, but I assurred them it was they who had the accent. 

When you sing as often as we do, it is rare that everyone is at their very best at the same time, but, perhaps, even more rare was that we were all at our very worst last week.  Me, Drew and Joey were all extremely vocally ill all week.  We are still feeling some of the lasting effects of it today.  It is so frustrating to sing to a packed house…wanting to do your very best….but it just ain’t there.  It is kind of like pushing a rope.  The harder you try, the worse you do. 

Nevertheless, the crowd enjoyed us.  We couldn’t give them they performance we wanted to, and we had to avoid some of our better songs that…well, just weren’t there, but we did sell completely out of product!  We had 1 saved Thursday night, and then had 3 more saved Sunday night!  Wow…that will never get old!  We received about 20 emails since we have gotten home from our new fans asking us to come back soon.  In short — we are eteranlly grateful for the doors God is opening up for us in new states. 

MY HEAD IS DOING BRAIN THINGS

I have been a Chicago Cubs fan since I was about 9 years old.  I love them….which sort of explains why the baseball season is such a long one for me.  Please pray for them…geesh!

I had a great time a week and a half ago when MV was able to attend a Cubs/Cardinals game in St. Louis.  Pastor Brent Hutsell and his wife, Melissa, were also there.  We had a great time.  The Cubs lost….(insert joke here)….but it was a lot of fun.  There is just something about getting in the stadium…smelling the brauts cooking, the smell of the grass, the sound of the crowd…pure nostalgia! 

My application point is this — I stood almmost the whole time and watched people who didn’t even know each other embrace, scream, cry, rejoice, cry some more, just become enthralled with absolute enthusiasm while watching a grown man playing a kids game hit a round ball with a round bat.  I saw two men…who undoubtedly smelled like b.o., beer, and who knows what else – hug.  You hear that?  Two complete strangers rallying behind their team. 

And then we go to church and watch a woman come forward and the most amazing way, God snatches her from the throws of Hell, forgives her sin, redeems her, cleanses her, gives her a fresh new start, sets Heaven before her, promises her eteranal life…..and the surrounding members, who had allegedly already experienced this life-changing grace…stood emotionless….with a golf clap and a head knod….already questioning her sincerity.  Where is the passion?  Is the church that cold that we can’t even shout when someone gets saved these days?  I pray God illuminates our minds, allowing us to see how complacent we have become.  Lord, cause us to be miserable in our sin, so we can return to our first love.

Fun in the Studio and other shenanigans

Fun in the Studio

I had the honor of producing a project for a group from Nebraska.  Through His Eyes is the name of the group, and they were such a joy to work with.  I really think that their heart for ministry is going to come through on their new project “A Little Further Down The Road.”  We had so much fun.  The studio can really be a grueling time…a humbling time… pride-swallowing seige for some, but these ladies worked hard and really came out with a great sound.   I would like to thank Ben Scroggs for his engineering and for the tracks.  Hey, if anyone is interested in a good project for something you can afford, let us know.   Hey — Beth and Sue — thanks so much for your dedication and hard work.  It was really a lot of fun to get to know you and your husbands.  I love it when our families get to meet some of the personalities that we meet on the road.  There are several stories I could share about what happened the week they were here, but I think I will need to ask permission first. ha.

 

Other Shananigans

We often wonder if other groups have as much fun as we do.  We know that some don’t even really get a long.  What a joy it is to travel with men who genuinely care about each other.  This past Sunday, we were in Immanuel Baptist Church in Perkins, Oklahoma.  We Love this church and their pastor.  Robin is a wonderful man of God, and he loves to laugh, so we got along with him immediately.  He is a very  large man as well.  You would not want to see him in a dark alley somewhere.  After the concert, we were in his office getting dressed out of our suits.  Joey….well, first let me unveil something for everyone.  Joey portrays class, professionalism and maturity…..well, that is a load of hooey.  Joey is the most eccentric person I have ever met.  I have never met someone who can do some of the things he does with such a straight serious face.  So, we were getting dressed in the large pastor’s office.  The pastor has some stuffed monkey in his office as well as some hats.  Well, Joey takes his shirt off, puts this pastor’s hat on, wraps this monkey around his neck, sticks his belly out (by the way..the man is half  wolfman) and starts singing “Kum ba ya.”  Drew and I had a good laugh, until the pastor walked in…there stood Joey in the middle of his office with his hat on…and his stuffed monkey on…no shirt.  Ya’ll, it was great.  The pastor laughed a lot….and agreed not to press charges.

I owe them a prank.

I owe them a prank:

Ok, so Master’s Voice had the honor of singing at FBC of Elk City, Oklahoma.  It was a wonderful night even though all of us are still trying hard to recover from sickness.  Earlier that morning at Main Sreet Baptist Church in Elk City, we got to lead 4 people to the Lord, and one other gentleman rededicated his life to Christ.  It was a great day.  Well, that evening, all of us were getting dressed in the youth room.  I was the first to get dressed, so I went to man the table for a while, which left the other three yahoos in the room with all of my stuff and, evidently, way too much free time. 

The fellas looked around and found a man-size rabbit…ya know, a stuffed animal.  They proceeded to dress this rabbit in my clothes.  They put on my jeans, shoes, shirt, tie, ring and cologne.  Then they sat this thing in a chair, turned off the light and left.  They were hoping that they would walk in with me after the show to see my reaction.  INSTEAD — I needed to go and get the money-bag out of my suit case.  I walked in and turned on the light, and saw (what I thought was a person) this man sitting in the room right beside my suitcase.  I apologized and left the room immediately. 

After thinking about it, I got nervous.  What was this man doing in there with all of our stuff?  With the lights off?  So, I waited a bit to see if he would come out.  When he didn’t, I nearly went and got the pastor to come with me.  I am glad I didn’t do that.  I knocked.  When nobody answered, I went in slowly, and then noticed that this person had really large ears and whiskers.  I laughed out pretty good.  Then I undressed this rabbit.  The only awkward part is when a gentleman walked by and saw me taking clothes off of the huge stuffed animal.  (sigh).    I hope he wasn’t on staff at the church.  If we don’t get invited back….I have an idea why.  j/k. 

To say the least, I owe these guys some sort of prank.  Stay posted for what I do to them.

Flordia…the sunshine state? and a serious brain moment

We had the wonderful privilege this past week to visit the beautiful state of Florida.  I had never been to Florida, but I had always heard of how amazing the weather stays there…when there isn’t a hurricane to deal with.  Well, we left Oklahoma last Friday, and it was chilly and windy….we got to Florida….and it was chilly and windy.  You talk about either one of the most elaborate practical jokes of all time, or just a coincidence that we happen to be in Florida the only 3 days that it was cold and windy.  The locals assurred us that it is normally warmer and calm.  Nevertheless, being from Oklahoma…ya know…notorious for red dirt, wind, drastic climate changes, plains, and weird accents, we had to go to the beach…no matter how cold and windy it was.   Drew and Ben decidec to stay behind and catch up on some sleep, so Joey and I drove to Pensacola Beach.  Man, what a beautiful place.  White Sand!  I had never seen white sand before.  The ocean reminded me and Joey of just how big our God is.  To think, He actually knows how many grains of sand there are in the world.  Both Joey and I felt a little guilty being at the beach without our wives, so we wrote how much we loved each of them in the sand and then took pictures of it with our phones to send to them.  So, maybe we scored points there. 

Dogwood Baptist Church in Molino was such a blessing to us.  We love those people and their pastor.  Other groups can attest to this — we know that we are going to have a long-standing relationships with both of these churches.  So, to all of you, we love you and can’t wait to worship with you again.  Ray’s Chapel, on Sunday night just about sang us to death.  We weren’t at our best as all of us were fighting sickness, but they really came expecting God to move, and He did.  It is sad when were are still stunned when God keeps His word. 

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A SERIOUS BRAIN MOMENT

I have heard several people over the years, including myself, ask for more faith.  “God, give me more faith,” or “if I they only had more faith.”   Don’t get me wrong, having much faith is a good thing.  Let me submit that it would be virtually impossible to live a victorious Christian life without having much faith in our Maker; however it is not the amount of faith that makes a difference.  It is the object of our faith.  You see, if we have a little bit of faith (a mustard seed’s worth), we can move mountains.  Why?  Because the little faith we do have is in the right thing.  What God is telling us is that even the smallest faith in Jesus, is all you will ever need. 

It is important to point out that Jesus did rebuke his disciples for having little faith.  When they were at sea, the disciples were feared for their lives.  That lets us know how serious of a storm it was to scare men who made their living on the sea; so, when they awoke Jesus (asleep), asking him “Master’, carest not that we perish?”  Jesus rebuked them saying “Oh ye of little faith.”  He wanted them to have more faith than that, so yes, more faith is important to have a victorious life;  HOWEVER — we see that their little faith, because it was in Him, was enough for Jesus to calm the storm. 

In a time we are living in, when we have two extremes — one side saying that you need to have faith in your faith, and the other side saying that God cannot deliver anymore.   Let us remember that the very one who breathed life into us, has the ability to still the raging waters in our lives, and it isn’t because we are great in faith, it is because the One in whom we have our faith is Great. 

Also, remember that the Bible teaches us that faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the word of God, so if you want to increase your faith, get into the word, and get around good Godly preaching.  Afterall, we are also taught it is impossible to please God…without faith.   Isn’t that all of our lifelong ambition?…..to please our Redeemer? !!

A night with The Hoppers, MV review, and Taking a Stand

A night with The Hoppers

Two weeks ago, we were blessed to share the stage with one of Southern Gospel’s finest groups…The Hoppers.  There portion of the evening was just fabulous, but that isn’t exactly telling you anything you didn’t already expect from them.  It is my privilege to share with you things you may not know about The Hoppers.  Afterward, we had dinner with them, and though we had been acquainted before, we really couldn’t vouch for them one way or the other.  I am pleased to announce that they are wonderful men and women of God, and we hope we have several other platforms with them.  We are just like a lot of you…wondering if people we see are as real as they are being portrayed.  Well, they are.  I think we might have scared them a bit.  For those of you who know us well, we tend to be a bit over-zealous with our first impressions. 

Some of the good things that happened:   

1. We found out that Claude carries a toaster with him everywhere because he only eats toasted bread….hmmmm….kind of OCD there Claude…just like me….Hey, we’re kindred.
2. We got to play with their two beautiful young daughters.
3. They went out of their way to be kind to us and to help us out.

Some of the ramifications of the “not so good”

1. It turns out that unless you are invited on their bus, you shouldn’t get on their bus.
2. It turns out that when I asked if Claude’s nickname is high school was “grass” wasn’t the first time he heard that.
3. I think I managed to scare their youngest child.  I thought she was clearly finished with her sandwich, and I was still hungry.
4. It turns out that Claude has evoked something called a restraining order on me.  Isn’t that great?  I am now taking orders from Claude Hopper.

Ha.  I love it that most of you don’t know if I am being serious or not.  I’ll just let you wonder.  In all seriousness, we had a marvelous time with them, and not that they needed it, but they sure get our approval!

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MV REVIEW

I got in the mail today a review of our newest CD “Exceedingly Abundantly Above” from the Power SourceMagazine.  It is an honor to just be mentioned in this magazine.  The review, which puts us as the #2 album in the nation this month!, says that it is obvious we want our songs to “embody the theology of life, excitement, hope and encouragement.”  They also mention that we are being overlooked when it comes to the upper echolon of groups today.  So, we want to thank the Power Source Magazinefor their kind words, and we want to thank our fans for supporting us.  As silly as it sounds to the unbeliever, we truly believe that this music, when annointed by God, can actually change lives!

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Taking a Stand

In that past few weeks, Master’s Voice has been both admonished and scrutinized for our stand on some pressing issues.  We want to be clear that we do not deserve being admonished.  We are doing and saying and reacting how the Bible expects us to, and that this is merely our “reasonable act of service.”  Moreover, we also want all to know, especially those who pray for us and truly care for us, that will NOT flinch in the face of adversity when it comes to singing and preaching what God has set for us.  Whether it is abortion or homosexuality, or even as foundational as whether or not Christ is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), we want you to know that we will not cower for the popular vote.  You see, we really do this for something more than a high note and around of applause.  To the best of our ability, we want to sing, preach and live the truth, and do it in a way that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  Which also means that we need prayer for boldness, but also for compassion. 

The letters, emails and/or calls we get from people who “hate” what we stand for, is welcomed.  In fact, they are medals for us.  We know that this gospel is offensive.  We aren’t trying to be offensive, but the opposite.  We are trying to love these people who need to hear what God is saying.  Not what any denomination is saying, not what our opinions are, not what the government is adhering to, but what GOD HIMSELF is saying to us.  IF we fail to do that, then I truly know that we shame the One who died for us. 

Make no mistake — our efforts are not laced with vindictiveness but love and compassion for those who are lost and undone, or for those who have forgotten their first love.  I  believe it is more upsetting to God when one of His children preaches or sings something that is true, but the motivation and the heart’s intent is dipped in self-righteousness or hatred.  For example — is homosexuality wrong?  God says that it is.  He calls it an abomination.  Should we preach against it?  Of course.  Should we love those trapped in it?  By all means, yes!   Then there are those who hold us signs of hatred for those, and I just know that God is not only grieved, but angered.  Our efforts are to love and show people God’s way so that they may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Any other motivation or scheme is futile and sinful. 

We love you all.  I hope you will continue to pray for us. 

Steadfast,

MV

A Fire Extinguisher, a spitter, and 12 souls saved!

Hello everyone!  I hope you enjoy the new website.  Our publicist…God love him, thinks he understands my mind…he calls my mind “scary.”  How does he know what I am thinking is scary?  How can he know what I am thinking?  I don’t think I know what I am thinking….does that make sense?  Ok, on we go…

1.)  The Fire Extinguisher

This past week was one we’ll remember for a while.  I love the guys I travel with.  I don’t know how a person can do what we do without loving the people you do it with.  I hear of some groups that are enuring things like that, and my my…how that must be a test.  Our lives on the road is always filled with little surprises and life-long memories….most of them that nobody else will ever know about.  Let me explain “the fire extinguisher” story.  This happened this past week as we were in revival in Wilson, Oklahoma. 

Siblings can definitely relate to this.  I don’t know why it is fun sometimes to bother each other, but it really is.  I feel like I really am neglecting the other fellas when I am not pestering them.  Well, this, evidently, is a contagious trait.  It all started on the drive to southern Oklahoma.  Joey and Drew going at it.  Each attempting to prank the other.  Whether it was salt in the water trick at restaurants, toilet paper taped to the back of the shirt, or just a good ol’ fashioned wrestling match, it was “on” from the time we got in the car.  Ben and I merely were by-standers….ok, we were instigators, but what was one to do?  Just sit back and watch?  Even the Bible encourages us to engage our surroundings. 

Well, Drew had the master plan of spraying Joey with a fire-extinguisher at the room we were staying at.  This was no hotel room.  We were blessed to have stayed at the Baptist Associational Office that had rooms there.  Drew was expecting the white foam to come out a little on Joey’s head….instead, it was this yellow powder….and apparently, whoever invented this contraption thought it should only be used once…cause when you push the button, it all comes out!  So, instead of a little practical joke, we all spent the evening cleaning up this yellow powder, vaccuming, sweeping, and gagging on the dust.  However, for a brief moment, it was funny to see Joey covered. 

2.)   A Spitter

Here is an etiquette question for you.  If someone is talking with you and they accidently spit on your face…do you  

                          A.)   Gag, and immediately wipe it off, looking at them as if they were the grossest person on Earth?

                         B.)    Ignore it till they walk away, then collapse in disgust after you bathe with gasoline and fire?

                        C.)     Spit on them back?

                       D.)     Act like you are coughing, then cover your mouth, and as you bring your hands back down, you wipe your face off….trying to minimize their embarrassment while saving your disgusted feeling?

OK, I went with D, but it wasn’t a success.  They knew they spit on me.  I knew they spit on me.  For crying out loud…everyone within a 15 foot area knew they spit on me.  The thing had a shadow, man.  After I tried to casually wipe it off, they asked me “you wiped off my spit, didn’t you?”  I’m going to be honest with you….I lied.  I acted like I didn’t know what they were talking about.  “Spit on me, what are you saying?”  I said.  Alas, it was no good…they were embarrassed.  They started walking away.  I told them not to worry about it and that I spit on people all the time….I asked them to watch me closely tonight as I preach….and that the first few rows would be doused.  Yeah, I went overboard a little, but let this be a lesson to everyone — Don’t spit when you talk, and if you do, don’t ask someone about it, and if asked about it, don’t lie, and after not lying, don’t tell them you spit on people all the time.

 

3.)  12 souls saved! 

That is right.  We were witnesses to a dozen people being transferred from one realm to another.  They were born again this past week in revival. 

Their first birth brought them a sin nature,  this birth brought them forgiveness.

Their first birth brought them mortality, this birth brought them immortality.

Their first birth brought them judgement, this birth brought them to the Judge!

They will never remember their first birth…they will never forget this one.

It was awesome, once again, to be used by the very One who breathed life into us.  We have no problem acknowledging that it has nothing to do with how clever, eloquent or spiritual we are or arent’….it has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that God’s grace snatched them from the throws of Hell.  My my my, what a job we have!

Ricky’s Strange Little World

Welcome to Ricky’s Strange Little World,

I know that it is a scary thought to be inside Ricky’s head, but this is a change for you to enter “his world.” Just remember what his “little world’s” theme song is: “It’s A Small World After All!”

Check back often as Ricky writes about whatever he feels. Have fun out there, and God bless!

Jeremiah Hart (publicist for Master’s Voice)

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