marriage and more

We are recovering from quite a crazy weekend. We shared in a joyous occasion as (now) Bobby and Mary Simmons were joined together in marriage. The wedding and reception were at the Riverwood Mansion in nearby Inglewood (part of Nashville)...only a 5 minute drive from our house. Before I married Cari, I lived in a house with a bunch of friends one street over from this old plantation house. A couple of years ago, our friends Stephen and Kara were married at the same location, which was built around 1798.

On Friday night we joined the rest of the wedding party for the rehearsal dinner. These dinners are momentous, because they bring family and friends together for a brief time and all of the lives intersect. It reminds me of the reality of the Gospel, as we don't always choose our friends and family, but He uses us mightily still, often without revealing His intricate network of the kingdom. Bobby and Mary were able to share their hearts about everyone involved, and some of us were able to do the same for them. Afterwards all of the guys went out to a local pub and shared some last moments with bachelor Bobby...bringing up many stories and drawing much laughter!

The wedding and reception were Saturday evening. I was an usher, and welcomed/seated many in attendance. Some crew members from Jars tours over the years were able to join us for the evening, revealing the way God has worked in so many lives just in the past 8-10 years in one circle of friends. I had to make a quick run to the grocery store midway through the reception in order to get decorations for their car. I returned just in time to pull the car in front of the doors and we all started our creations with soap, whipped cream, streamers, toilet paper, balloons, and so forth. Bobby and Mary are now enjoying their honeymoon somewhere in the Caribbean.

Last night I was part of a benefit concert for the H0pe:Aloud project. A number of independent artists in Nashville are joining together to make a cd of songs inspired by HIV/AIDS victims in Africa. Part of the process is for some of them to go to Africa in 6 weeks to hear the stories and meet the tellers. Songs will be written, pictures painted to make this cd which will raise money going directly back to these communities. The concert last night featured Taylor Sorenson, Andrew Peterson, Bebo Norman, Randall Goodgame, Sandra McCracken, Derek Webb, and Dan Haseltine. I shared my encounter with Dumani in the hospital in Cape Town, and played guitar while Dan sang The Valley Song. Stephen Gause shared about another experience on our trip, and Dan explained the journey of Jars of Clay in the fight against HIV/AIDS (and the greater need for worldview transformation overall). The night was beautiful and many supported the effort. I look forward to seeing the fruits in the future!