You guys that have known us for a while know just how amazed we are that God is doing some of the things he’s doing in our lives in this crazy season. Tonight was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments in our life.

I’ve talked about it a bunch… for 10+ years, I’ve been knocking on the door of Integrity Records, begging for an audience with their leadership, believing that our music belongs on their label. And, for 10 years, that effort had met no avail. 2009 has been the most surprising bless-ride of our lives. All of a sudden, God has opened the floodgates of his kindness to us and our music. It’s been a stunning experience.

The definition of the word SURREAL is this:

Having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic.

That word took on a very real definition for us tonight, sitting at a large dinner table with the likes of Jared Anderson, Mike Murray, Steve Rice, Mia Fields, Chris Springer, Don Poytress, Jon Egan, Marty Sampson, Jonathan Stockstill, Jennie Riddle, Kari Jobe, Anthony Skinner… and the list goes on and on… but the word that kept ringing in my head & heart was: HUMBLED.

(Tonight was the Integrity Publishing Christmas Dinner Party. It was held in Downtown Franklin, TN at a great restaurant called SOL, where their guacamole is so good, that it is nationally distributed in Health Food Stores. No, I didn’t try it. If you know me, you already knew that. But, Dana loved it! )

I want to make it clear that I am not a worshipper of Christian celebrity, and that, in fact, there is incredible levity gained by spending time talking about poopy diapers and flat tires. But, to be seated at a table with leaders that wield that level of international influence and to feel welcome and respected in that bunch… that is incredibly humbling.

The best part, as I stated in my sermon at Vanguard a couple weeks ago is the fact that I am squarely positioned in the passenger seat. I truly am. And, God knows these roads better than I could ever hope to. He’s driven this route many times over. I will be still and know He is God.  That’s the comfort of serving a King. Thank God we’re not left to our own wisdom to figure this journey out. God is amazing. I promise you.

I had a chance today to co-write with a young artist named Evan Milby, and that was a very cool deal. He’s recording an album that’s being produced by Natalie Grant’s husband, Bernie. I shared ‘Be Still’, ‘I want your heart’, and ‘Jehovah’ with him. I felt a real connection with him. He’s a good dude. Later in the afternoon, Jennie Lee Riddle (writer of ‘Revelation Song’) spent some time helping Dana and I iron out some kinks in a couple songs: “All I really want” and “In This House”. I think we made some great strides with those two songs.  We teased Jennie that she’s like a Ginsu knife, the way she chops through lyric and melody. I promise you, she is incredibly sharp, in more ways than one. What an honor!

We’d love it if you would pray for those two, along with Jonathan Lee and Michael Farrins, who we’ll write with tomorrow. My favorite part of our sessions today was having a chance to pray for Evan. I really think he’s going to have a huge impact on his generation with his music. He’s 19, but gifted well beyond his years.

Anyway, we love you guys. I’m wiping tears away from my face as I think about the incredible level of love and support you have showered upon our family. We hope that our songs communicate to you, for you, with you the great, great love of God.

As I write this, a song came on my ipod that I think you should check out. It’s Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken’s song called “If not for you”

“If not for you, I’d be nowhere at all. Without your love, the sky would fall.”

Great stuff. The journey continues tomorrow…

Love, Grace, Hope, Peace. Stillness.

Fike & Dana