The buses rolled into Boise at about 10:30 AM yesterday. Immediately after we arrived outside of the “Big Easy” (the venue we played at last night) Brody, my acting road manager, and I jumped out of bed. We had an unusual, though not unwanted, duty before us. There is a Christian radio station in Boise that has been kind enough to get behind my music and play some songs of mine over their radio waves. This same station has a close working relationship with the local women’s rescue house in downtown Boise. So the station thought it would be cool for me to visit the house, play some songs, share a devotional thought, and give out some hugs. I’m not going to lie, the whole thing was a bit awkward at first. As we walked through the front door we could hear a woman’s voice over the loudspeakers chanting, “MEN ON FLOOR, MEN ON FLOOR,” and like it was a practiced routine, the doors of the hall before us started slamming shut in hurried succession. We finally got to a room larger than any other we had seen. A small group of thirty to forty women filed in. One walked up with enough enthusiasm to light a bulb speaking compliment after compliment about me and my music, the rest just sat there quietly with curious looks on their faces. I sat down, pulled out my guitar and quickly started playing a song for fear of lengthening the uncomfortable silence that had overwhelmed the room. I sang four songs over the next twenty minutes. Pausing briefly before each one to tell their stories. By the time I had finished, the room had changed. When I sing I can’t help but expose some of my heart to whoever is listening. That’s where the songs have come from. That’s where I try to sing them from, and I think the women appreciated it. They gathered around me afterwards and said a prayer for me, hugged me, told me I reminded them of nephews, of sons. It was an interesting experienced, and an altogether blessed one.
A part of me wanted to ask them their stories. What kind of life brings one to a rescue mission in the middle of Boise?
Speaking of rescue missions: There are some seriously mean fires roaring in San Diego county. One of which is not too far away from my house in Escondido. I am in Colorado Springs at the moment, and it is strange not being with family and friends while they are evacuating to safer grounds. God hears and reacts to our voices, our requests, please let yours be heard. I am excited to hear the stories of how the Lord will use this devastation to bring people closer to himself.
-phil
Oh my word, the part about the women chanting “men on floor, men on floor,” that’s protocol in women’s shelters (I used to volunteer at a women’s shelter). That’s so funny, I never thought about it from a male’s perspective…it must have been a freightening experience! I’m glad the women warmed up to you via your heartwarming music considering what they have been through in their abusive relationships with men (as trust with men is usually lost in those circumstances). May God continue to open the hearts of the broken with the music you create with your open heart. Thanks for sharing your reflective experience!
Will do, Kim.
ACK tomorrow is the grand prize drawing for the iPod in Philly’s contest.
I wanna wiiiiiin
ZZZZzzzzzz…..ZZZZzzzzzz…….ZZZZZZzzzzz…….
Someone wake me up when he comes back…..lol.
the natives are getting restless
foreverhisclay.wordpress.com
someone please comment
come back
He likes V-necks and vests because they’re awesome.
DUH (:
He also likes Vans and…Uhhhhh…Violet colored pants.
[?]
I have a challenge for everyone today:
LOVE
Love ‘em like Jesus
Like REALLY love them
No matter how weird, scary, or annoying they are, pray for God’s heart, His compassion.
LOVE
overlook yourself, mortify the flesh and LOVE.
love you guys =)
Forever His Clay <
*Escondido
I have some friends in Escindido who had to evacuate on Tuesday. They were able to come home Saturday, but they said many people lost everything. Is everyone you love ok?
Just a quick question. Why do you always wear V-necks and vests?Or do you just like clothing that begins with a “V” -a slightly concerned reader.
hey phil! talking about missions i hust went to mexicali for a mission trip it was like u said rough in the begining and at the ending it is very rewarding! hope to see a new blog! -kir
hi
where are u
call me
You know, Phil, we would be nothing without God. I thank God for you and pray that your desire would keep burning like a million stars as you keep reaching out to Him…gladly He is in your heart. May you…we continue to be men and women after God’s own heart as we give Him our world. Only our Lord Jesus Christ gave you the words and music that moves and trembles the mountains. Those words He has given you are so very applicable and pierces to the deepest of hearts. Wow! Our God is good, “…holy, great and mighty…I’m so unworthy, but still you love me–forever my heart will sing of how great You are…”
That seems like it was an awesome experience at the womens rescue place. Im glad you were blessed and I pray that you will continue to be blessed on the tour Phil.
And I love your voice:D! It’s so lovely to listen too:) Hope you will continue for a long time! I just wondered do you have your T-shirts in ane other colour? Or just grey?
Hey:)
I think you’re just amazing Phil! I love your songs, and i wonder if you’re new cd is coming to Norway to? And are you going to Norway in the future? I discovered you on Youtube accidentally. and a week after I forgot your name and i got panic:P I searched everywhere on Youtube:) And then yesterday i found your videos,and i was so glad! My favourite song is I will wait for you<3
Wish I could have seen you at the Big Easy. My husband and I saw Eisley there with the Colour. Pretty awesome. This was a couple of years ago though before we moved out east!
It is funny but I know the radio station you speak of and the rescue mission! I wish I could have heard you sing like that—I love it when you just play guitar and sing—that is what I love about Jeff Buckley. You got it.
And I can’t stop listening to track 1 on Cannons. Perfect.
I would see you at the nine-thirty club, but we are a little afraid to go there, frankly! It is really sort of scary that way.
As of today, Friday you can actually stand to breathe the air in Escondido.
The reverse 911 saved many lives…we will never know how many. Thank God for this…and it was a lesson we learned from the Cedar fire unfortunate as it was..
The fires have been very devastating…but a great opportunity to minister and give to people who have lost their homes or been affected by it and cannot return due to smoke or fire damage, etc. Stay safe all. It’s just STUFF..we can’t take it with us!!
Awww… Simi Valley.
I don’t know if the fires are still going on right now but the air is pretty bad. My town Simi Valley was basically surrounded by the many that were on fire, in fact i think part of the town caught fire for a few hours, but now the air is horrible. i will pray for your family and friends that they would be safe. God Bless!
…oh and the show at the Wiltern was awesome and the place itself gives off a cool vibe from the history. Hope the tour continues to go well and that it would be a blessing to both you and those who hear you.
Hi Phil, saw you in Seattle a few days ago. It’s always amazing to see God’s love pouring through you. You are one of God’s blessings.
On an unrelated note, I hope you and all of your fans go catch the movie “Bella” this weekend. The production company/director/lead actor are all Christians, and this movie was made to involve and inspire in this time of trouble and hatred.
http://bellathemovie.com
Just talked to my dad tonight…our cousins house in San Diego was just spared being burned. The fire took out all the houses coming up to theirs on the block and burned their fence and blew out the windows on the house. Thankfully they were not home at the time and are fine….and now living in a nearby hotel until the neighborhood can be inhabited again. They are believers and I know they will use this as a testimony in their witness of our God.
Let’s also remember to pray for the fire fighters….I heard there is one women fire fighter who has been severely burned…they are working on little rest….God be with them.
hi Phil, i’m jean and i went to your concert at Fillmore Auditorium (Denver) tonight. my comment has nothing to do with your post, but i just wanted to drop a thank-you for the wonderful time of worship i was blessed with. for me, the highlight of tonite’s concert was the intimate, truth-filled time of worship God used you to take me into when you worship led. i needed it. i am reminded of the freedom found in surrendering to Christ in the midst of uncertainties. thanks for your song “Divine Romance”
hope this would return to you at least a little bit of the blessing you are! praise God for revealing His beauty and glory through you!
praying for you, your family and friends’ safety.