Column Clarification, T-Shirt Design, and the 2 Friends Tour Comes to Town

I'm a Christian. Seriously.

After being sick for what seemed like an eternity I finally began feeling like a living, breathing human being at the end of last week. I had been working on a big article for the May issue of  Fine Living Lancaster and I was so stinkin' proud of myself because I jumped right in and got a lot of stuff done right off the bat, but then I kept hitting road blocks, and then I got sick. I was incredibly frustrated but I got it done and that's all that matters.

The February issue of FLL came out last week and I was eager to see my column which was about politics. It's funny how this column started out as a humor column and has sort of turned into an anything column. Anyway, I was in a McDonald's reading my column when I came across this line and almost had a stroke:

Don't ascribe to any theology or political system that believes only one side can be right because once you start believing that, you have become the butt of the joke.      

 It was the first time in my writing career that I ever thought, "Oh no!" It sounds like I'm saying you shouldn't believe Jesus is the only way to Heaven, but that wasn't what I was saying. I was TRYING to say that Christians shouldn't believe that Conservatives OR Democrats own Christianity, because nobody really knows exactly how Jesus would have voted. People think they do, but the fact that we fight over it shows that it's open to interpretation.

For the record, I believe John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven. The column wasn't about that... but in case anyone out there read my column and scratched their head in confusion, I want you to know exactly where I stand.

Sunday is coming. Act casual!

Onto other news!
I am hoping this week goes by quickly because I can't wait to get to next Sunday. Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith are coming to town on their 2 Friends tour. I have tickets and backstage passes, and my husband and I are having dinner with Amy, Smitty, and the band before the show. I can't tell you how many times I've filled out those goofy surveys that included the question "who would you love to have dinner with and why?" I've always answered Amy Grant, and now I'm going to get to live out my little daydream. I got to spend a Saturday afternoon with her when I was 17 which was wonderful, but unfortunately I was so scared that I didn't say anything intelligible. I'm hoping things go better this time... and that I don't wind up wearing dinner on my shirt - you know, like I usually do.

I'm also really excited about getting to talk to MWS. I've met him a few times before, but only for about 30 seconds at a time. His 1993 "Change Your World" tour was my first real concert when I was 13. I also had a mad crush on him. MAD crush. I once bought a slice of pizza from his wife at a Christian school fundraiser when I was in college and thought I had arrived.

"Um, Mrs. Smith? Will you sign my pizza?"

I've also been asked by Michael W. Smith's marketing people to design a shirt for him, as well. Actually, I'm discussing this with them tomorrow. (I'm guessing they are going to want less flowers.) This is another huge dream come true for me. 

I keep trying to picture this dinner in my head. I'm sure everyone is very nice, but I keep thinking they will all be sitting around talking to each other about stuff I know nothing about while I pick at my food. That's almost as scary as me dumping a beverage on my lap. Or tripping over something. In middle school chorus, I tripped over a power chord and unplugged everything. It comes to mind whenever I do anything that requires me to seem especially intelligent.

I want to take pictures at this dinner... but I don't. I don't want to be the weird starstruck chick with the camera who keeps asking everyone to put down their chicken and pose with me. But I wanna take pictures at this dinner. I'm a little torn.

To sum all of this up... someone please pinch me.

I have a very specific goal for this week and that is to have plenty of stuff to think about until Sunday gets here. I'm sure I'll have quite the blog for you on March 7. Pin It

Getting Down & Dirty

My new post at BrokenBelievers.com is up - Getting Down & Dirty Pin It

I Guess I'm a T-Shirt Designer

It's official: the shirt I designed for Amy Grant is now on sale for the duration of the Amy/Michael W. Smith "2 Friends" tour! I guess this makes me a t-shirt designer? This makes me blessed, I know that.

I became a fan of Amy Grant when I was about 12 years old. I've been fortunate enough to share face-to-face conversation with her over the years - a feat many music fans cannot claim as their own. My husband can't believe I haven't blogged about this at length. It's a strange feeling... It's so outside of the realm of the norm that I almost don't know where to place it in the puzzle of my life. That's the best way I can explain it. It's an incredible honor, and since it's unlikely I will go on to become some kind of professional artist, that makes it even more special.

I feel the tiniest bit guilty that I didn't make anything for Michael W. Smith. After all, he WAS my first-ever REAL concert, and I WAS madly in love with him as a teenager. Those were the days - back in the early 90s when stubble and mullets were "hot." Next time, Smitty. Next time.

I have to say, there is one major benefit to never having returned to live in Nashville, and that's the fact that I can still have some childlike wonderment about things like this. I can still be a fan and think it's sa-weet. I think some of the people I knew when I WAS there have lost that. It almost seems... embarrassing or unprofessional for them to take any joy in it, or even acknowledge that they are fans of anything. Heck, maybe they aren't fans of anything anymore, and that's just about as sad. I'm personally glad I haven't lost that. I have no one to impress. I'm a writer who happens to be a big Amy Grant fan. I'm crazy psyched about being able to see a shirt I designed for sale at next month's concert! I'm glad I have that tiny bit of childlike innocence left.

There's something about this t-shirt thing that makes me feel like a 12-year-old prepubescent girl, dancing in my room to "Baby Baby" again. I hope I never lose that. I need a little break from adulthood sometimes. If any of you see my shirt for sale, I expect you to buy at least 20 copies. No pressure or anything. Pin It

Beauty Sleep

My new blog post this week at Broken Believers is up. This week it's all about Mr. Sand Man refusing to visit...without a little help. Pin It