Just looking for some good Thai.

I would like to tell you about last night because I think that people back home don't think that we live a "normal" life because we are in SA. Well... we had the night off to do some packing and get ready for tour and Rachel and I were hungry, but neither of us wanted to cook and deal with the dishes. So there is this service called Mr Delivery that will pick up food and bring it to you for a small charge of Like R17 which is a little less than $3.00. Well, I called Mr D and they were backed up and the delivery time was like 2 hours. So, I called in the order to the restraunt and when I went to fetch the food I brought Guinness with me. So there I am on a nice cool South African autumn night driving to the Lotus Thai with Guinness. I picked up my food, ran in the grocery for some eggs and headed home. Pretty normal night huh? See that is just an example of how we live a normal life here. Just wanted to assure everyone that we are fine and life is good. Hope you all have great day. Oh yeah, the Thai was good, not great, if anyone knows of a good Thai place let me know. Cheers.

Chris

Tour Dates

Here are our tour dates:

April 30-May 6: Bronkhortspuit
May 7-12: Jo'burg
May 14-19: Mokopane
May 21-26: TBA
May 28-June 2: lephalale
July 23-28: TBA
July 30- August 4: New Castle
August 6-11: Harrismith
August 20-25 Bloemfontein
August 27- September 1: TBA
September 3-8: TBA
October 2-6: Klerksdorp
October 9-13: Brackenfell
October 16-20: Worcestor
October 22-27: Mosselbaai

Please pray we can book up the weeks that are not booked yet. Cheers.


Chris

Suprise Rock Show!!

We are at the end of training and we have not had a chance to do a dress rehearsal for our Rock Show on Friday nights. So we loaded up all the band stuff and sound stuff in one of the trucks we tour and drove around to where people were rehearsing and the sides of the big truck open up and we did a suprise Rock Show for our team. The idea was good, but right before we went our drummer had to go to a meeting and when we got there we realized almost everyone was gone working in other places. So we ended up playing with me on drums, no bass, and about 12 people watching. It was quit a schlep to load everything, but it was a ton of fun and I think the people on team enjoyed it. Tour starts Sunday. Cheers.

Chris

Come on..

Hey Guys,

I just heard some news that hurts me. I got an email from a guy I haven't spoken with in a long time. He was telling me that he was working at a church and that the church was having major issues and he got fired and then the pastor that fired him got fired weeks later. now this guy is working for the government just to pay bills and is wanting to do ministry again, however he is a little burned out right now and needs some time "away" from ministry. How many people have stories like this, being burned out with ministry or been burned by a church. Whats the deal? What needs to change? Why is so much hurt coming out of churches? I know that we are all sinners and we aren't going to be perfect, but do we really think that or are we just finding a "spiritual" excuse? I just know so many don't want anything to do with Jesus because of the way we treat people, not just people in general, but other christians, not to say the way the church treats "sinners" (e.g. gays, muslims, drunks). I just hate to think the thing that scares me the most is working at a church. I know not all churches are like this, but enough are for it to be a problem that needs looking at. I hope my friend finds a place soon where he can be himself and do what he feels God has called him to do. Cheers.

Chris

Which is Right?

I was looking at a South African christian magazine today called Truth. There were 2 pictures that I kept looking at that are on my mind. One was a picture of a Hillsong United worship service, with cool lighting, great sound and expensive insturments. The other was picture of a man with some sick poor children in Kenya, the kids were dirty, sickly and hardly dressed. The thing that got me was that in this magazine these 2 pictures were only pages from each other, but they are worlds apart in real life. I was thinking which of these pictures is "right"? Which of these 2 pictures is what God wants? Which of these 2 pictures most looks like Jesus? Are both of these pictures "right"? Are the people at Hillsong doing what God wants them to do and is the man in Kenya doing what God wants him to do? Just makes me think. Cheers.

Chris

Almost done

Hey Guys,

We have a few more days until we start tour. I am so excited about getting on the doing the work we have been training for. This past week has been the infamous Skyne (skane) Week, which is dress rehearsals. We spend one day polishing up stuff while the other team rehearses and then we go. We got home after 0300 on 3 days. It was so tiring. However, running the shows over and over made them great and we are ready for tour. I will post our tour schedule when I get a copy. Cheers.

Chris

Winter Clothes

Hey Friends,

I am in the hunt for winter clothes and I have an issue. I can't find any quality thrift stores in this beautiful land. For you who don't know, I am a big fan of second-hand clothing, I would guess that 75% of my shirts and tops were used when I purchased them. I hate the idea of spending lots of money on clothes, I personally think it is such a waste of funds. However, without good thrift stores I am forced to go get clothes at the mall. I went the other day and found one nice shirt for $10, so I am on my way to a nice warm winter. If you have never gone thrift store shopping I would highly recommend it. Just looking through all the racks for that one perfect shirt is great. I would stay away from the underpants though, thats a little gross. Have a great day.

Chris

Tattoos.

Hey everyone,

For you who didn't know. I love tattoos. I think tattooed skin is beautiful. Well, I was at the mall yesterday and when I was leaving I stopped by the tattoo shop to see if anything was going on. In the chair getting tattooed was a small young black woman probably around 30. She was working on a oriental style full sleeve on her left arm. The tattoo looked great and the woman was tough as nails because she looked so calm and relaxed. As I was standing there I realized that the arm being tattooed was badly scarred, I could tell from a section that was only outlined. It looked as if this woman had been badly burned at some time. I am glad that now this woman has something beautiful in the place of something that she probably thought was horrific looking. Just another reason I love tattoos. Cheers.

Chris

Broken Heart.

Hey Guys,

Yesterday Rachel and I were at this store called Jet looking for cheap winter clothes and I saw a banner that broke my heart. Like most shops, Jet has a program where you pay a small amount a month and you get discounts. The thing about Jet's club is the program doesn't help you purchase clothes or get discounts of vacations or anything like that, it gives you discounts on funerals. If you were to look at this from a distance it seems comical, however the truth of the matter is there are so many people dying in southern Africa from HIV/AIDs that these programs are all over the place. What we have here in Southern Africa is an epidemic where millions of people have AIDS. There is a bordering country called Swaziland and they say if nothing is done against the spread of AIDS that is something like 50 or 60 years only 10% of the country will survive. It is staggering. One of the problems is lack of knowledge. We have heard of HIV/AIDs for the past 20 years, however there are many people in this country that has never heard of it. There is a campaign now to spread information about HIV/AIDs, but it is not everywhere yet. Check out: http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/appeals.nsf/stable/olr_home there is a lot of information about the HIV/AIDs crisis in southern Africa. Please also consider the problem in your own town. American's don't know so much about the problem, but there is a growing number of cases in the States. I am not just talking about NYC or San Fran, it is a growing problem all over. Just something to think about.

Chris

A good cup of coffee.

Hey folks,

There is something that some of you may not know about me. I have a crack-head like addiction to coffee. It's not really an addiction, however it is a pure, heart felt, love. I love coffee so much for the remainder of this blog I will type the word in all caps. That's love. Well the other day I finally found a place that serves a really good cup of COFFEE. I was so giddy. They serve the COFFEE in a paper cup with lid that makes me think that I am holding a cup of Starbucks, it's not Starbucks, but close enough for South Africa. So I am trying this COFFEE on the way to the movies and decide to put the cup in my man-purse and just stroll on into the theater. I am walking between the concession stand and ticket counter when I feel a warm sensation on my butt. I look to make sure it is not the hand of a stranger and notice that my cup of COFFEE has spilled in my man-purse. This is not good. So I continue walking like nothing is happening with this bag dripping COFFEE all over the place. There is a trail behind me of brown drops all over the floor. I hand my ticket to the short older black man that takes the ticket like nothing is wrong and walk straight to the bathroom to clean up this situation. I cleaned what I could and went and enjoyed my movie, reeking of COFFEE. Not the normal COFFEE breath reek that I carry on a daily basis, this was more of a submerged in COFFEE reek that was detectable from several feet away. After the movie I went back a purchased a second cup of COFFEE that enjoyed and yes I can say I have finally found a good cup of COFFEE.

Chris

Rach in the States

Rachel got to fly to America and suprise her 2 sisters this past week. Both of her sister just got engaged and her one sister, Kelly was flying to Atlanta to visit her other sister, Lynnae, to go wedding dress shopping. Rachel was very sad that she was going to miss this once in a lifetime event. So she talked to members of her family and mine and raised enough to fly in a suprise them. So last Sunday her sister gets up to answer the door and there is African Rachel standing there. It was a great suprise and they got to spend a great week together. I was sad to be on my own, but I was glad that she got that chance. Thats all.

Chris

Jeffery's Bay

Hey,

C-Kruis is part of a fellowship of ministries in SA called Service Year for Christ. Once a year all these ministries come together for a retreat/conference called Family Festival. Well this year Family Festival was held at one of the minisries base of operations in Jeffery's Bay. It is at the beach and we had the best time. There were teachings and sessions with worship and some great speakers. Plus we got to meet and mingle with the other Service Year ministries. We arrieved back in Pretoria on Friday night after the long 12 trip and now are back at work rehearsing for the new show called Kate and Terri. I must say that Pretoria doesn't have the appeal that Jeffery's Bay has, but I must say Guinness was very glad to not be with the dog-sitter any more.

Crazy Times

Hey Guys,

I hope all is well with you in the States. The past 3 weeks have just been so hectic. We are learning a new show called Homecoming and this show has all live music. So the band has been working like mad to get the songs perfect for the dress rehearsal. On top of that were in the process of getting new music written for a new new show that we are starting this week. So as music producer I was stressed to the gills. I am glad to say that the Homecoming stuff was learned and went off great and that all the new songs that we wrote are going to work for the new show. Woohoo!!!

6 Months

Hey Guys,

As of March 8th Rach and I have been living in SA for 6 months. I can't believe it has been that long! Time has been flying by and so much has happened. Thanks for your prayers and support. Cheers.

Chris

Just Thinking.

I was thinking about the poverty situation here in South Africa and it has to be so overwhelming for the government trying to get a hold on it. Then I was thinking about how so many people drive luxury cars and live in huge houses and still there are so many people in the world that barely survive. Why is that? People who have more than what is needed chalk it up to God's Blessing. Where does that put the poor people? In God's wrath? To add to this question I was thinking what is the churches role in this whole thing? What are we really doing to combat this horrible plague that hits so much of the world, even in America there are people who don't know where their next meal will come from. I am just asking and I am not saying that everyone who has money is greedy and doesn't care about the state of the world. Rachel and I are paid by people who give money each month and without them we would be wondering where are next meal would come from. I was just thinking what about Acts 2:42-47, where people were selling stuff to make sure people were ok, that their needs were met. Imagine you bring a person to church and someone asks how they are doing, and really means it. Plus, think if this person was tight on cash and couldn't pay their mortgage, what if they told someone and that person helped them out? What would go through this persons head? I think they would have better understanding about the love of God. I think I found something that demistrates this perfectly. It's called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I know it all comes down to ratings and to Sears having mad advertising, however go with me here. What if the church was like EM:HE? What if the local church knew this family was in need and they were having a really tough time and decided to makeover their home just to showed they they cared? Can you imagine? There may not be some sexy carpenter named Ty with his shirt off remodeling, rather, a fat hairy pastor named Dennis. I am not saying that the church needs to go and do some crap version of the show and use it as publicity to show how giving they are, but just sincerely wanting to help someone that needs help. I'm just thinking, thats all. I have no perfect answer, just trying to do some brainstorming on how we can look more like Jesus. Cheers.
Chris

Humility

Hey folks,

I have been going to the gym lately and the other day something happened that made me feel like a total wuss. A little background, men want to be macho. We enjoy being a little more "manly" than the guy next to us. We want to lift more, run faster, and have more facial hair than the next guy to prove that we are more of a man. Well, the other day I was at my local Virgin Active and after a great workout I was pumped and feeling a little more manly. So, I showered and after showering I walked over to the sink area, with my towel around me, to shave. I wet my face, lathered with my shaving cream and began shaving. The razor I was using was pink because I was using one of Rachels so that set me back a little in my pursuit to be the most macho man. As I am shaving this guy comes to the sink next to me. This guy is freaking huge, like a pro body builder. So Its me (pale, no muscles) and this guy (tan with HUGE muscles). He begins shaving with a black razor and no shaving cream. So here is where we are; at the sink, me with a pink razon and shaving cream and this guy with a non-pink razor and no shaving cream. So I lost. This monster of a man won the compitition hands down. I was humbled. Have a great day.

Chris

C-Kruis Music Ministry

Hey,

C-Kruis released a CD last year called Dag en Nag (Day and Night). It is a great CD, even though its Afrikaans and I can't understand it, it sounds great. Well anyway, we were selected as a finalist is some afrikaans christian music thing in the category of new artist and will take part in the award show on Saturday. Its going to be fun because we get to perform at this big church in Jo'burg and if we win it will be a good bit of money that we can use for the music department at C-Kruis. I am sorry that I don't have a ton of details, but I don't know too much more than what I have already said. All I know is it's a big deal and will be boring for me because I won't understand anything during the whole show.

Chris

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Hey Folks,

I hope you guys have a brilliant, loved filled, Valentines Day. We had a Valentines Ball on Saturday night down the street from the training facility. It was a great night, all the ladies were all dolled up and the guys were looking sharp, much better than they normally do. We all had a great dinner and dance and just enjoyed the night. Cheers.

Chris

Hey Guys

Hey,

We are all up and running with C-Kruis. There are people dancing, playing music and acting all over the place. People are shuffling back and forth to teachings and it is a bit hectic. I am happy with my band. I have a great lot of guys who are very talented and have a passion for music, which makes my job easier. We have our own classes and today Rach started teaching us theory. She had a great class and I am glad to say my band finished assignments before the other band, GO RED TEAM! Yesterday she told me if I were to act up in class she would give me push-ups, 60 I think. So lets just say I was a sweet little school boy. I shaved off my beard last night so that would help with the school boy look. I look like I am 15 years old. Everyone at the training facility made fun of me. Besides me being made fun of, life in the Republic of South Africa is going well, busy, but well. Hope all is well with you. Cheers.

Chris

Go South Africa!

Today was a big day for South Afica Cricket. We just started a series of one day matches with Sri Lanka and Australia and we beat Australia today in Australia. That is a very tough thing to do. Australia is the best team in the world and to beat them on their home pitch is great. For more information on all South African sports, including Super 14 rugby that will be here before you know it, visit www.supersport.co.za. Cheers.

Chris