A Good Thing - A GOD Thing

There are not words to express how proud and blessed I feel to be a part of a band like X-ALT. Last night we returned to Belle Meade UMC, the church where we used to lead the contemporary service and the church that was a source for great pain and heartache for so many of us after we were asked to step down from our leadership position there. I will admit that I was not sure of the reception that we would receive, would the crowd be small, would the ones that came for dinner leave once we started playing, I really was worried. But GOD took over last night and showed me that HE is bigger than our petty worries and that HE is in charge and last night's show became one of the highlights in my mind of anything this band has done so far.

Dinner was scheduled to start at 5:15 but so many folks were showing up early that the decision to go ahead and start serving was made and for the next hour or so a steady stream of people made their way into the fellowship hall where they were treated to an incredible dinner prepared by the ubber talented Susan Meador and her staff. Pork Tenderloin, Cheese Grits with Shrimp, Green Beans and "That Special Salad", Hot Rolls and Pie. It was truly a feast. Looking around I was watching the different band members prepare for the show, I think all of us were a bit surprised at the size of the crowd that was making their way into the fellowship hall.

At about 6:00 Pastor Mike Ripski announced that tables had been set up in one of the nearby classrooms to handle the overflow. It was just amazing. Smiles were starting to spread throughout our little group and worry was starting to turn to excitement and optimism.
At about 6:20 Pastor Ripski started with the weekly announcements, birthday and anniversary celebrations and generally welcoming everyone back to Wednesday night activities after a summer off. Then after blessing the meal he introduced X-ALT! and we took the stage to a full house.

We had purposely put together a set list that mixed our original music with contemporary worship standards and hymns done X-ALT! style, a little something for everyone. We opened with our version of "Down To The River To Pray" then went straight into a beefed up version of the standard "I'll Fly Away". The crowd was singing along and clapping their hands and my head was spinning, I never expected to receive this type of reception, it went from being a concert to being worship.

It was amazing, the little kids were dancing around, folks our age were on their feet clapping and getting into it and the older ones were smiling and singing along. This has got to be what church will be like in heaven! Or at least I hope it is!

40 minutes later when we closed with "Oh, Happy Day" the good people at Belle Meade came to their feet and came forward to shake our hands and hug our necks, congratulate us and tell us how much the music meant to them, and I can't tell you how much it meant to me.


I got this e-mail from our guitarist Mark Pierce who was not with us at the time we were leading the service at Belle Meade...
"Being that I was one from the outside looking in, I saw from my own observation that the people there really loved all of you that were part of that church prior to X-ALT!. Just the interactions that I observed showed that. I think the message that went unspoken but was definitely illustrated was just loving people and all the good stuff WE are and were made of. As I remind myself each day..........WWJD! Rock on!"

Mark Mills our music director and resident piano player sent this along...
Great job last night! I thought the energy was way up (especially for middle of the week!) and alot of people were truly blessed. I spoke to Susan Meador (she did the cooking) and she told me it's about the largest Wednesday night supper crowd they've had. And they came to hear X-ALT!. Thank you all for your giving of yourselves.

This just in from Susie...
Being back at Belle Meade was like visiting family...everyone was so receptive and supportive...I kinda had to take a step back for a moment and ask myself if I was at the right place! But I was, and I also feel like X-Alt was...at the right place to mend the hurts caused so long ago...the people that were there loved having us back and we truly appreciated their warm reception and good hugs...maybe we can do a contemporary service or music there for them sometime!


We need to say a special thank you to few folks.

Ben Jones a member of the youth group at Belle Meade and Mark Mills' nephew filled in on drums for Eddie who was in school and did a great job. THANK YOU BEN!!!


Our Old Buddy Lawrence Bailey returned to play sax for us and as always did a wonderful job. THANK YOU LAWRENCE - AGAIN!



Also a great big THANK YOU to Brandon Boozer who did sound for us, and to my daughter Lucy for all the pictures I've used in this post.


A Special THANK YOU to pastors Mike Ripski, Pam Hawkins and Regina Proctor for inviting us to come out and play. It was a wonderful night of music, praise, and rekindling of old friendships and a time for making new friends. Wounds were healed and hearts were opened, and most importantly GOD was glorified.

It was a good thing - It was a GOD Thing.
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Prayer Request

X-ALT! will be making it's return to Belle Meade UMC on August 29th for the first time since we left there almost two years ago under some unhappy circumstances. Time truly heals all wounds, but some take longer than others. Please pray for us and for those at Belle Meade that were involved at the time that this appearance will go well and will lead to healing and closure for so many of us. Also pray that the members of the band can put any hurt or personal feelings aside and treat this appearance as we do all others - as a way to celebrate God and His glory, the saving grace of his Son Jesus, and the power of music to cross all boundaries whether they be physical, mental or emotional. This appearance is something that Tommy, Brooke and Myself have been hoping for, for a long time as we are still members at Belle Meade and it's really hard to handle a rift in your church family and your musical family. So please pray and pray hard for all of us!

On a happier note we want to thank - ahead of time - two great guys that will be filling in with at Belle Meade. Our old buddy Lawrence Bailey will be once again filling in on sax and Mark Mills' nephew Ben Jones will be behind the drums filling in for Eddie who is stuck in a night class. Ben is an incredible young drummer with a great future and we are so proud to welcome him to the fold!

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Welcome to our newest member

Ginger Eldridge made her first official appearance with X-ALT! yesterday at New Beginnings and we are so glad to have her aboard as part of our Group. Her voice blends so well with Brooke, Katy and Susie giving us a true Angel Choir. Those of us fellas that sing are now out numbered so we have got to stay on our toes!

Welcome Ginger - now lets get busy!!!
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A Little More On The Prison Service

This in from Fearless Leader MARK MILLS

It never fails. We go out to the prison to do our “Christian Duty” , and we end up being the ones blessed. Isn’t that the way God works, though? Every time we get a set together for Riverbend, it seems our hearts are the ones being lifted. God’s Spirit moves among these men, and they are so eager to have us share in that joy. Seems odd, huh? Joy, inside of a prison. But with the singing going on Sunday night (them and us), I’m surprised the walls didn’t just fall in, like in the Bible. So often, prisoners are put away, never to be thought of again, not even by their own families. Thank God, He never forgets them, and just like with us, meets them where they are. May we always be so aware of His presence.

I Love Going To Prison

We had the previledge of bring the Word to the men at Riverbend Prison again last night and as usual it was a great night of praise and worship. I've asked the folks in the band to write their feelings about the service and as they come in I'll post them here for you to read. We had a special guest, one of Tommy's Blogger friends Ginger (I won't give her last name because I don't know if she gives it out on her Blog) anyway Ginger has a beautiful voice and it was a blessing having her with us. Here is what she said on her blog about the service...

The prisoners wanted contraband, not a “country band”!August 5th, 2007
…but they did enjoy the gospel band that played tonight!

I had the incredible opportunity to sit in with Slarti’s band, X-Alt this evening for a concert at the Riverbend Maximum Security Prison.

It was a great experience! The men were all very kind to us, and so grateful that we came out to sing for them. It was cool to me how they helped set up our equipment, and when we realized that the piano that used to be in the chapel was gone, one of the inmates let us borrow the keyboard he had been allowed to have for good behavior. I noticed how a couple of them were so excited to be able to play Katy’s guitar and she was very gracious to them when they asked if they could play it.

The two most moving parts of the evening, for me, was when each man was asked if he had a need that he would like to be prayed for. These guys wanted prayers for their families, for each other, and even for us. Then one of the guys stood and spoke about how earlier in the week, he hurt one of his fellow inmates, who was now sitting across the aisle from him. He said that he wanted to publicly thank this man because he showed compassion toward him even when he had hurt him so bad. He said it was the first time in his life that somebody had shown him that kind of compassion. It was a very compelling moment to watch two very tough-on-the-outside hardened criminals be so touched by an act of kindness.

The other thing that was just amazing was listening to one of the inmates play and sing a song he wrote. It’s called, “Where the River Bends,” and it was REALLY good. (Remember the name of the institution?) Anyway, having just an acoustic guitar accompanying his R&B flavored voice fit perfectly together for this song. All of the guys seemed to know the song, too, and were singing along. He sang of struggling to stay afloat in the raging river of life and of praying that the Lord would keep him safe where the river bends. It made me all teary (of course).

It was a blessing to be a part of this band tonight. It felt great to be singing with a group again. There are few things I enjoy more than singing harmony with some really great singers. It was a blast.

I am very thankful to Slarti for the opportunity. I can’t put in to words how much I appreciate it.

A good man once said…”…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ …‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

After the experience tonight, I kinda feel like I know what he meant

Here is the link to her post...
(http://gingersnaps.wordpress.com/2007/08/05/the-prisoners-wanted-contraband-not-a-country-band/)
This is Tom's Post on his blog from this morning...

You’re MenAugust 6th, 2007 — Slartibartfast

The church service at Riverbend Prison yesterday was quite intense, and it’s hard to gather my thoughts on it, because I have feelings more than thoughts about the whole experience.

First off, if you didn’t know it, Ginger can sing. Oh, I know you knew she could carry a melody well, but the hallmark of a great singer is someone who can do that, AND slip into harmonies with an ensemble; well, Ginger is spectacular in that regard.

Sometimes, I take that particular talent for granted, I am surrounded by it: Mark, Vince, Susie, Brooke, Katy - they all have oodles of vocal talent, and it’s so wonderful to see that talent offered up in service to the Lord.

It was great that Katy went along this time. She just adds that extra something to the vocals that takes the music from “good” to “wow”.

The main speaker preached a sermon that spoke to me, about building and nurturing a spiritual garden no matter where you are. The sermon was meant for the men, but it spoke to me, nonetheless.

Men. That was a moment that sent chills down my spine - when the preacher said, “Outside, they think of you as criminals; they call you inmates. You’re not inmates. You’re men. You’re men.” Amen.

I sure wish y’all could have heard the song “Where The River Bends”, written by one of the men. If I’m ever able to write that well, I’ll know I’m a songwriter.

Ginger has summed up the evening perfectly for me, and Ford will have a post up about it soon. Be on the lookout. No pictures - those are kind of out of the question in this setting.

I can tell you this: pick a group of people that you have had a degree of cognitive dissonance about in the past. A “them”. Ask God to send you to minister to “them”, no matter how much it scares you. Allow your heart to be opened.

This is the place where true healing is found.

Link to Tom's Blog...
(http://shootthemoose.wordpress.com/)

Hopefully some of the others will put thier feelings into words over the next few days, It was as touching a service as I have ever been a part of.
God Is Good!
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Sorry for the delay

It's been a while since I posted, sorry about that, it's just that time of year where we all are spread thin with vacations, mission trips, reunions and the usual X-ALT appearances.
We had a great service last weekend at New Beginnings and will be gathering later this afternoon to host a service at Nashville's Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. The services at Riverbend are always so uplifting and really let you feel God's presence in action.
More up dates soon - I Promise - until then....
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