I woke up at 2:00 AM this morning. I lay in bed for 30 minutes or so until my spirit and body finally couldn't stand it anymore and I slipped out of bed quietly, got dressed and tiptoed down the stairs into my little studio. I am in a little bit of a panic that I never expected. For those of you who are LDS and have seen our show, you know that my testimony of Jesus and the church I love, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, is the most important thing that I possess. The ways that my heart and soul have been enlightened in the past five years as my dearest friends and I have toured the earth playing and testifying has forever changed me. I have seen the power of people coming to see their religion in a new way, to experience the stories and the feelings they know so well in a way that turns the tender earth of their fertile hearts. I can't explain this. I can’t even begin to explain this. I just know that I have seen it and experienced it. I have heard Matt Lopez sing HE WALKED A MILE IN MY SHOES a thousand times and I have cried a million tears. I have looked to my right and seen Dan Truman play FAREWELL NAUVOO as an audience of thousands vividly crosses the frozen Mississippi with the early Saints. I have heard Tim sing GOD IS GOOD as the Spirit fills my bosom with gratitude for my many blessings. I have been edified by Ron Saltmarsh’s string arrangements to SLEEP as Mindy Gledhill or Katherine Nelson have let us hear the very last, precious breath of life escape the lips of brave souls. I have swelled with joy as children sweetly sang SOMEWHERE THERE’S A MOUNTAIN. I have looked to my left and seen Brad Hull faithfully testifying each song with his tender harmonies, as if he were making an offering, at literally EVERY SHOW we have ever done. I have looked to my right and left and seen some of my favorite people on earth play boxes and symbols, pianos and violins, guitars and banjos, as if they were playing to kings and presidents night after night. I have felt the power of their music. I have felt the power of the message. I am forever changed for the better. I am terrified as I write this. Terrified that the new show will not be what the others have been. I feel more confident in the subject matter than in anything I have ever known. Yet I am panicked because I am afraid that I will not be able to touch the hearts of you who have seen our shows before. I am humbled by my inabilities, by my imperfections, which are many. I want nothing more than for people to love this show. My desire has me humbled to dust on this floor. I need your prayers. The Nashville Tribute Band needs your prayers. Forgive me laying out my tender feelings to you but I feel like I need to. I need strength. I know the rest of the band would welcome it. Opposition is all around us. It always seems to be when we work on these projects. It’s what reminds me daily that what do means something. So I don’t curse the opposition. I have come to appreciate it. We all have it. You, me…all of us. May God grant us all the fortitude to face it and triumph through each wave through Christ who strengthens us! I see your faces now…the many who have sang along at the shows and shared your beautiful stories of your wonderful lives after the shows. I smile as I think of every precious moment! I love you all. I talk to each member of NTB often and we talk of you all so often. Matt Lopez just said to me on the phone the other day, “I can’t wait to get out on the road with NTB again… I need it.” Matt, YES! Me too! We will be rolling out on this tour in March, and as humbled, scared and inadequate as I feel now, know that we are coming regardless, to do our thing and I pray with all the energy that I possess that God will prepare your hearts, and ours, to have our eyes opened to the rich blessings of our culture as we honor and pay tribute to our soldiers on the front lines of bringing souls unto Christ in THE WORK: A NASHVILLE TRIBUTE TO THE MISSIONARIES. Have a great Monday! With love, Jason
-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone
