Well, since you asked. This is one of the craziest elections in the history of our nation. Never before has there been so much diversity among, in my opinion, so many unqualified candidates. It’s like
sometimes when you’re watching American Idol. You know, it’s the top 24 and someone goes out there and sings like Barney and you’re asking “this is the best y’all could find in all of those people?”

I realize we are talking about something much more serious here, but really. Where, in all of our educated elitest American culture are the leaders? And I don’t mean people who talk a good game. Or have some kind of history that supposedly qualifies them. Or were kinda chosen by default. I’m not naive enough to think that the men of old were all completely stalwarts of character, integrity, and purely motivated leadership.

I do, however, think that there has been a steady decline in the overall character of our system and it’s leaders. And, as a result of declining leadership, the character of our country is slouching as well. So much so that somehow we are swayed in our voting by the support of the “culture clowns”. By that I mean the rock stars, actors, and personalities who pledge their support for a particular candidate. The sick thing is that we listen and care about what these people think, and somehow, in the election booth, let the opinions of these uninformed, disconnected from normal American reality, bought out, jabbering political prostitutes effect decisions that will alter the reality our children will be forced to endure.

What does Kanye know about what it takes to run a country? I haven’t seen his senate voting record but I’m pretty sure it’s nonexistent. This is not a plug for or against a particular candidate. But where we gain our political perspectives says a lot about where we’ve turned as a nation. We give preference to the opinions of the clowns that entertain over the proven, trustworthy principals of those who govern.

I guess the real issue at hand is that there are so few proven or trustworthy leaders in this generation. Maybe if there were we wouldn’t let the mere words of people with remedial political ideologies effect our vote. I will vote because it is my civic duty. But, all the while I will pray that God raises up better leaders in the next generation and a population who votes on character and leadership, not popularity.

Hunter

Chris is on his own. Tonight in Oklahoma City and the rest of the tour he is all alone on the big stage. Of course he will get someone to accompany him, but he IS Connersvine from here on out. Pray that he continues to do what he has done all along. Pray that worship flows from him and the presence of God is thick in the place. It’s gonna be great.

By the way, who do y’all like for president? Don’t be afraid to be opinionated! (yes, very random..)

Hunter

Well it is a little after 2am on Monday evening (technically Tuesday morning) and I can’t sleep. This is yet another reason that road life just kinda works for me because I like late nights. I am home after an interesting weekend working on the computer as my wife and dog sleep upstairs.

As Hunter mentioned in his blog, apparently I will now be a one man show. As it was we were just two guys with acoustic guitars on a tour full of super-talented full bands of rock goodness and now I will stand alone. After pleading with Hunter’s wife to just hold out a few more weeks I guess the baby won. So with this new development, offers to fill in for Hunter have begun to flow in.

Barlowgirl wants to help me out but got offended when I said they could only if they did my laundry. Skillet was very interested as well but they will only work when pyro-technics areinvolved and we all know how scared I am of fire! Mandisa said I didn’t have enough soul and PureNRG said I was too old. Newsong owns the tour so I didn’t want to bother them with such a request. MercyMe was next. When I sat down to discuss some options they just said to come back when we had sold at least a million albums then we could talk. So, I guess its just me and Group1Crew. However, I don’t really rap and my hair isn’t nearly cool enough.

See…this is the kind of strange stuff that runs through my head at now 2:30am. So I guess I will try and sleep. Goodnight.

Chris

Well, my tour is over.

The doctor says another weekend is too much given how far along my wife is in her pregnancy. She is measuring 39 weeks already! I was reluctant to go this past weekend but I took our son with me on the road and she got to just chill for the weekend. She needed that. So now Chris will carry the torch for these last few weekends. It’ll be great. (the kids like his voice better anyway!)

I’ve had a wonderful time being on the road, but I’ll take home any day. Especially if it involves another child. I’ve found nothing in this natural life that comes even close to the thrill of having children. My wife and I agree that it has even made marriage better which, if you’d asked me before, I’d have said was pretty hard to do. But now there is this little walking, laughing, playing, talking, singing representation of our love! (eating too…….lots)I am grieved by people who see their children as a hindrance to their selfish lives. Every story I hear about another abandoning, or even worse, abusive parent increases my belief that their is real evil in this world. Fortunately, there is also a real God among us.

When God reigns inside of you His priorities become yours. You care about what he cares about and seek the justice of His causes. Children are clearly a priority to Him. That is why Jesus’ message about children is one that Connersvine will always hold dear. In this world we have natural parents with children they care little or nothing about. They may say they do, but, let their words be proven by their works. On the other hand there is Jesus who, being a half natural man with no natural children, still gathered children to himself and rebuked those who tried to prevent it. He was completely opposite of our culture in every realm and on every level.

I want to love my children like the man/god Jesus. I want to feel Him rise up inside of me and empower me to live out the emotions I feel toward them. I guess that’s why leaving this tour is exciting for me. I’m home now to wait for another object of God’s affection through me. These affections are secrets the world cannot know without the voice of the one true Father.

Pray for us in this time. Sorry this is so long……….on second thought…..not sorry at all.

Hunter

OK, so this is how our day began…
I woke up around 9 am excited that we had a later flight this time at 11:15am to Columbia, SC. I headed over to Hunter’s house and we headed toward the airport in Indy. Hunter was excited because we were going to bring his almost 3 year old son Josiah out with us on this leg of the tour. We had a bit of snow overnight and we hoped it wouldn’t slow us down too much. When we arrived at the airport they had delayed our flight about thirty minutes and with de-icing the plane this turned into about an hour delay. This little snag made for a wonderful picture of Hunter and I running through the Detroit airport pulling Josiah along bags and car seat in hand.

The flight was supposed to leave at 1:39 and it was 1:37 when we finally reached our gate to find the DOOR HAD BEEN CLOSED. Which in the airline world means that the door wouldn’t be opened even for the second coming. We then find out that the next flight out to Columbia wasn’t until 9:30pm. So…we missed the gig!!! This was rather unfortunate.

We spent the next 6 hours eating, watching Curious George movies, playing miniature football, and throwing paper airplanes (which when made with cardboard plane ticketscan hurt if a 3 year old throws them at your neck). We then decided to change routes to Jackson, MS where our show will be tomorrow night and find a hotel and get some good rest. It has been a long day and we are sad to have missed our show in Columbia but the three of us boys had a great time hanging in the surprisingly nice Detroit airport.

One more funny story to round out the day…
Hunter had heard about a rapping priest named Fr. Stan Fortuna who would be well worth your time to check out on YouTube sometime if you have nothingbetter to do. So we are enjoying the hott hott hitz of Father Stan online at our gate and meaning absolutely no disrespect to priests when Hunter in a spiritual moment starts chanting “go father, go father…” and I look up and notice that directly across from us sits a middle-aged priest. Luckily he had better things to do than to pay attention to two clearly bored airport campers.

OK, it is 12:30am and I am in my hotel room getting ready to crash,so goodnight and “go father, go father…”

Chris

This sucks.

I have not been feeling well since I got home on Monday afternoon. It has progressively gotten worse so I went to the doctor this morning only to find that I have Strep Throat. Its so hard being sick when I want to be enjoying my time home with my wife. However, I guess I would rather be home and sick than on the road dealing with this. I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we head back out on Friday morning. Thanks so much.

Chris

My wife and I love American Idol. It really is the only thing we watch on television. Few people realize just how talented even the worst of the contestants really are. I know I used to think that anybody with a pretty good voice could make it. That is, until my wife and I held home tryouts!

One night we decided that we’d each take turns standing up in our living room with the other on the couch and give our best American Idol tryout. We would be our own judges! Jen went first and I’ve gotta say that she impressed me. I’ve always believed that she is the best singer I know. Even before we were married or really even knew each other I’d heard her sing and was mesmerized by her voice. She stood in front of me there in our living room and gave a better than Bonnie Raitt (or anyone else) performance of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” complete with stage presence, personality, and perfect pitch. When she was done I burst into a clapping attack and told her how great it was. I raved and went on and on with complete honesty about how intoxicating her voice was as it seemingly wrapped and weaved itself around and throughout my senses.

I talked about how along with her incredible talent I thought she had a certain “likeability” that few others possess. Then, in typical “Idol” form told her that she looked great, sounded great, and for sure would be going on to Hollywood. I was next. Now this took a lot out of me. You have to understand, I DON’T SING without a guitar!!! I felt completely naked and vulnerable standing there in front of her. But, I was committed to this thing so I closed my eyes and gave my best rendition of one of my favorite Keith Urban songs.

I felt like I was “on” with my performance. Even as I was singing I felt a certain “coolness” about my voice and presence. Kinda like whoever was listening was just blessed to be in the room at such an epic moment. You know, like lightning was striking twice in the same spot somewhere and she was just fortunate to have been around for the fireworks. I finished my performance, opened my eyes, and waited for Jen’s response.

She looked up, shrugged her shoulders and uttered. . . . . . . . .”a little pitchy”.

-Hunter

Hey everyone, each night Hunter and I get the opportunity to share with all the youth pastors that attend Winter Jam a little about our mission in this industry and I thought I could share it with our readers.

Hunter and I met almost 9 years ago leading worship for a young adult ministry on the South side of Indianapolis. Prior to meeting Hunter and leading worship with him I would play out at bars and coffee shops trying to get some break and “make it” in music professionally. At this time my motivations were very selfish. When Hunter and I started leading worship together God planted a passion for worship and ministry in me. After a couple years of serving in this ministry I felt God begin to ask me if this
is what He had for me as my calling could I be content in just serving the local church.

After a few months of praying over this thought I honestly came to a place where I could say “yes”. I love to serve the local church because I believe in it so much. After a few more years of serving along side Hunter God began to open some doors for us to “perform” at other venues and record an album. Hunter and I both knew that we were not called into entertainment. Our hearts are for ministry not just to stand up in front of people and entertain them. So every step of the way it is our prayer that this continues to be our mission. We have learned that the world’s definition of success is very different than God’s so we want to serve Him only and not man.

-chris

OK, so my wife and I don’t watch a lot of TV, but tonight we saw a show on FOX called “Moment of Truth”. have y’all seen it? What are you’re thoughts? Is it really worth it to put important relationships on the line for cash? There is the obvious answer everyone thinks they should give, but then what about the people who actually go on the show? Obviously there are people who are willing to inflict wounds on loved ones and ditch there dignity for money. Do you have a price tag? What is it?

-Hunter

Oh, and by the way… Happy Valentine’s Day

I don’t know if this is funny to anyone else, but I made it on two, yes count them two, of BarlowGirls video podcasts! Does this mean we are famous now?

-chris