The Schedule...otherwise known as our attempt at order.

This is not super detailed but here's a shot at our schedule for this week!

Wednesday
Wednesday 9:00 AM- flight leaves with Ben, Caleb, Greta, Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Zornes. Pray for safety in our travels and for the people we will cross paths with that we could possibly share Christ with.
Wednesday Noonish-We arrive at Chicago Midway for a two hour layover. Hopefully Greta and I will be able to blog on something we discuss on the flight!
Wednesday 5 PM EST - We arrive in Philly, pick up our rental car and either head to the hotel for rest and relaxation or over to a BBQ for all the Clinicians and Record label people. Somehow we got invited :). We'll hope to update ya'll sometime Wednesday night.
Wednesday Lateish- We will try to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and get some much needed rest. Pray that we get great rest.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Thursday- Most of Thursday will be a lot of workshops, hanging out, getting to know people kind of stuff. Be praying that we make the most of these opportunities.

Thursday 7:00-10:00 PM EST- We will be participating in an "effective stage communication master class." That's the exact title. I guess these artistic people like really long titles. We will be learning how to more effeciently communicate the gospel from the stage. Body movement and posture and all that good stuff. Please pray that we have teachable spirits and humble hearts.

Thursday 11:00 PM EST-Hopefully be getting in bed. Again great sleep will be much needed!

Psalm25: 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Friday- This one's the biggie! This is the competition part of the weekend!

Friday 8:00 AM EST- The day starts with Margaret Becker leading worship and some opening information kind of stuff.

These are the time slots that I've signed up for with the song I'll be playing. (Remember these are all EST times):
Song Writing I: __ (1) ___11:00_____ Time Cannot Remember
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___10:20_____ Awesome Creator
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___ 2:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:50______Glorious King of Glory
Vocal Critique ___ (1) ___ 3:20______ I'll Cry Glory

Also, we're not sure yet when Caleb will be doing a vocal critique but we'll keep you updated. Oh, and he's gonna play either Everlasting God, Here I am to Worship, or Blessed Be Your Name. Be praying that he can do it strong and proclaim the message clearly!

Here's an excerpt from the rules of the songwriting/vocal competition :
"At the end of the afternoon please return to your songwriting/vocal room to determine if you received the highest score in your room. All Room Winners Must Go To Room. #11/#13 for songwriting/vocal finals. Room Winners will be asked to perform live or/play their CD again for all the songwriting/vocal judges to determine the 1st place song/vocalist."

So now we're all clear right!

If you are the winner of any category you get to perform 2-3 songs for all the attendees sometime between 4:30 and 6:30. So, we'll do our best to keep you up to date on whether we get to do that.

Oh and on friday Greta will be going to more workshops to sweeten her already sweet bass skills!

Friday Night- There's a concert that we may or may not attend depending on if we win or not or if we are too tuckered out to do anything but go back to the hotel for a nice relaxing soak in the hot tub!

On Friday, just pray simply for humility. It is such an easy thing to think that I'm the best songwriter or Caleb and I are sweet vocalists, but truth be told we are simply dust that has been created to showcase to the world that Christ is our treasure! Be praying that we simply and effectively communicate to everyone we contact on Friday, that Jesus Christ didn't come and die so we could be comfortable. He died to free us from ourselves and live out His amazing life in our yielded lives.

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Saturday

8:30 AM EST- Jeff Nelson (a worship songwriter, you've probably sung his songs), will be opening the day with a worship service. He's a really humble genuine guy.

Saturday all day EST- We'll be in workshops and other exciting stuff. We may meet with some record labels and A&R people and famous people. Pretty exciting. Pray that we are simply bold and courageous in our stand for truth and integrity in the christian music industry. Pray that we stand steadfast on our convictions and that God uses us to impact the industry. Pray that we are uncompromising!

Saturday 4:00 PM EST- Caleb Greta and myself will get to participate in the NEAG Mass Choir during this concert of praise. The awards for Friday will be given and we'll sent out.

Saturday Night- We'll probably be helping with tear down and saying goodbye's, celebrating all that we've learned. Pray for safety in the tear down phase...and for a servants heart for the entire weekend. I really hope that we can be an example of Christ-like servanthood. And then we'll get back to the hotel and rest.

Pray again for steadfastness for us!

Phillipians 3: 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Sunday

Sunday Morning- We'll be packing up our stuff and checking out of the hotel by around 10:00 AM EST. We'll probably do some sort of sight-seeing. But we're hoping to be really taking it slow and just relaxing for a long day of travel!

Sunday 3:00 PM EST- Check in at Airport...wait in airport for a while...wait to board the plane...wait for the plane to take of...strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!

Sunday 5:00 PM EST- We're supposed to be heading to Chi-town by now. Pray again for safety.

Sunday 7:00 PM CST- Land in Chicago...short layover...head to Denver...yeah man!

Sunday 9:45 PM MST- Home sweet home...the Lord will be our protection and provision! Anyone is welcome to come welcome us home. We'd love to see all of you!

Sunday 10:30 PM MST- Hopefully be headed home for a good night sleep...and then I have to go to work at 8:30 the next morning! I love being a starving artist!

I hope this clears things up...make sure to check the blog often. Greta and I are gonna be amazing bloggers...you guys gotta keep us accountable on that! I'll leave you with such an encouraging and humbling verse. This verse has been opening my heart to some new ventures for the BZB...you'll hear more about that when we get back!

Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing

For His renown I'll cry glory!
BenZ