Share5 by WorldWins is Now at Share5.org

Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue- CD Review

This past Sunday night we had the privilege of attending a pre-cd release concert in Wisconsin for Centricity Recording Artist Jason Gray.  His new CD "Everything Sad is Coming Untrue" releases today nationwide, and my bottom line review for this album is... BUY IT!

Ispired by a passage from Lord of the Rings, where Sam asks Gandolf if "everything sad going to come untrue", Jason's title track is beautifully written, both times.  Thats right, there is a part I and a part II, and while both reflect a different season and mood, they are both right on.

Amy's favorite track, For the First Time Again, includes beautifully crafted phrases like "Sometimes I think I know too much, but even then its not enough.  Can you take me back so I can move ahead?  Take me deep inside the grace that forgets instead of down the well worn path of my regrets.  I'm older than I've ever been.  Can you take me back and make me new again?  Cause I need you now, as much as I did then."

Finally, my favorite track on the album is titled "Fade With Our Voices".  It is a an excellent wakeup for those of us, like myself, who need to check our motives and our actions to see if they are lining up with our speech.  It's words challenge us to "make our lives a melody that we proclaim when we live in Jesus' name."

But don't just take my word on it.  here is what NewReleaseTuesday.com had to say about this new project. 

Jason has an uncanny ability to absorb images, emotions and truths from a variety of sources: theology, literature, relationships, his own struggles, pop culture, poetry, etc., and to pull together those diverse strands into a unified whole. Over the years he has developed a razor sharp knack for saying deep things in a way that the rest of us can relate to.

Do yourself a favor and head over to http://JasonGrayMusic.com today and pick up this new release.  It will be a great add to your collection, and a blessing to your daily walk with God!

Prego To Go - One for the Road

Some of you are inevitably wondering how Amy’s pregnancy is going. Others of you are now saying “What?!? Amy’s Pregnant??? I thought this was about a new spaghetti recipe!!!” Well, here is the update and the gameplan for "Baby on The Road".

We found out that we were pregnant while still in Boise during the summer, so we were able to have an initial appointment and labs worked up, as well as a first ultrasound to see a heartbeat, courtesy of The Baby Place . Since then, we have been monitoring heart rate and blood pressure as we go. (Easy to do when at WalMart!)

Amy sent out an email to the Christian Midwife’s Association, and we got several replies from midwives offering their services free of charge as we travel. We are headed to Illinois in a couple of weeks to meet up with one such woman for another checkup and possibly an ultrasound. (If anyone knows additional midwives in Nashville, Atlanta, etc., please let us know!) Amy is starting to feel movement now, which is always a little freaky I hear, and all is going well. The initial nausea has subsided which certainly makes travel a bit smoother!

Our plan is to continue normal routines until likely late December or early January when we will select a city in which to settle for a few months. Current candidates include Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas, and Atlanta. (suggestions welcome!) The common thread? Warm winter climate with tolerable temperatures from Jan- March, and a Christian midwife with whom we can share this birth process. (communities with greater than 5% chance of snow during those months need not apply… Sorry Idaho.)

We sure appreciate your prayers, and if you have any suggestions for great southern towns that we should be considering, please feel free to add your comments below. We’ll be posting more information on the baby, Amy, and the Prego to Go story as things develop. Like a good spaghetti sauce, it will be simmering for a while. Check in with us later!

From Butternut Squash to Jesus

Thursday we arrived in Minneapolis, MN after our exciting couple of weeks in South Dakota.  Needing a quick restock on the groceries, we were exstatic to find a Trader Joe's Grocery while on the highway south of St. Paul.  Once inside, we met two women, Carol Rage and her friend Pat who was visiting from Florida. 

What started as a conversation about butternut squash soup quickly turned to Jesus and the joy of serving him.  I (Chad) spoke with Pat as Amy and Carol conversed, and our little divine fellowship moment lasted the better part of 15 minutes in the soup aisle!  After we had exchanged contact information and talked about connecting with Pat and her husband sometime down in Orlando, the two ladies thanked us for encouraging them and headed for the checkout.

About 30 minutes later, Amy's phone rang.  It was someone from White's Funeral Home in Burnsville, MN about 10 minutes south of where we were.  It turns out that our two new friends had been very busy since they left us!  They had immediately driven to Carol's church, Faith Covenant Church, and asked the staff there if we could park there for the week.  It turns out the church was hosting a HUGE urban camping event called MUUUCE -  the "Most Unbelievable Ultimate Urban Camping Experience" for approximately 750 JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS!!!  Instead of saying no, they called the funeral home across the street and gave our information to them, which is why Amy got the call.  In the meantime, we got connected to help and voluteer for the MUUUCE event, so this morning we were able to help them serve breakfast to the 750 sleepover attendees.  Emily and Dillon did an excellent job at putting smiles on the faces of sleep deprived teens, to say the least, as they handed out apple juice, orange juice, and milks.

Shortly after breakfast, we took a ride to one of Burnsville's many parks.  While the kids were playing in the water, we got to spend a bit of time (30-40 mins?) talking with and encouraging a person who was there at the park monitoring the facility.  It continues to amaze me how God is opening divine appointments with opportunities to encourage people along the way.  We went for groceries on Thursday and ended the day today completely taken care of for a parking spot, with the opportunity to encourage yet another few individuals in their struggles and in their walk with the Lord.

Thanks to everyone who makes this possible.  I wish there was a way to tell you how much it impacts people when someone with no time agenda can just sit and listen to whats going on in their life, and then respond with biblical encouragement.  Thank you for granting us that opportunity!

Hidden in Plain Sight

On Wednesday of this past week, we started hearing a strange clicking sound from the RV engine as we passed through Sturgis, SD. Realizing we really couldn’t do anything about it late at night, we continued on. By Thursday morning we had arrived in Rapid City and the noise was both getting louder and joined by a vibration when we took off from a stop. We found a dealership that would look at it Friday morning, and spent the night in their parking lot.

The next morning, we unfortunately found that our transmission case had cracked in several places, the flywheel was shattered, and all would need to be replaced at a cost of roughly $3500. We spent the first part of Friday looking for alternatives that might cost less like repairing and welding what we had. At about one in the afternoon I called one of our advisors to fill him in on what was going on. As I told him about the total estimate and our options, he out of the blue said, “Oh- I just had an epiphany... Can I call you right back?” The way he hung up, it was like he had left the iron plugged in or forgotten to turn the water off at home...

Literally eight minutes later, he called back. His first words, said with a slight chuckle, were, “I’m sorry, but I was only able to raise $3300.” He went on to explain that as we were speaking, God put on his mind the face of a Christian man he knew who had just sold a piece of investment property. He made a quick phone call and asked if the man had decided where he was going to sow an offering, as was his typical practice in these sales. It turned out that he had not, and with a quick explanation of what was happening, the man responded with, “Well, I was waiting to see what God would bring my way. It looks like this is it. You have $3300.” By the end of the day Friday we had arranged for a completely new transmission to be shipped in and installed, including a 100,000 mile warranty, for $3270. More than enough. That is our God.

We will be staying this week in Rapid City, SD as we wait. We met last night with a local church pastor, and he has asked us to share our story with their congregation on Sunday. They have also graciously offered to host us for the week. We can not wait to see what God has in store in the way of divine appointments, as He surely knew we would be “delayed” here!

Isaiah 26:3-4 says that He will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is fixed (or stayed) on the Lord. It tells us to trust in the Lord, for He is the Rock eternal. I would be lying if I said that I spent Friday morning in perfect peace, but the moment that phone call came, I quickly realized how foolish my worrying had been. We had asked God to fix the issue before something major happened. When it broke, we thought He was “arriving late.” Lazarus’s sister said the same thing...”If you’d have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” God doesn’t “permit” bad things to happen to us, they just happen. He even warns that in this world we will have struggles. He also encourages us, however, to “take heart, for I have overcome the world.”

In our short sightedness, we failed to see that God had already positioned  a new conduit for his blessings just outside our situation, hidden in plain sight, waiting to bring a blessing greater than we had ever imagined. Today, whatever your struggle, know that He has done the same for you. After all, he changes not! “Cast your burdens on the Lord, and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” - Psalms 55:22

Join Us at the Catalyst "Tweetup/Blogger Meetup/Pre-Screening Party"

FREE FOOD and COFFEE WILL BE SERVED!!

For even more fun at Catalyst West Coast, Share5 is proud to announce that thanks to the willingness and collaborative efforts of SEVERAL people, (Zak White, Scott Fillmer, Outreach Films, jLog by Unity Media, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, and Catalyst) we will be hosting a Twitter Meetup, Blogger Meetup, and Pre-screening reception for Outreach Films new movie "How To Save a Life" on Thursday night, May 23rd at Catalyst West Coast in Irvine, CA!  Details are below:

Food /Coffee by:

Location:  Mariners Community Center     
Time:  Immediately following final session
Hashtag:  #catwest
RSVP link: RSVP For Catalyst West Tweetup

GREAT DOOR PRIZES including...

a FREE CATALYST ATLANTA TICKET
TOMS Shoes
Books from Jud Wilhite, Anne Jackson
T-Shirts, Coffee, and more!

Immediately following our prize drawings, Outreach Films will be screening their new film, "How To Save a Life", which releases this fall!  Please stay  and provide your important feedback on this new film, then support them with your blog, twitter, or other online feeds!

Watch the Trailer Here

Blowing Past 130 Days and Still Rolling

That's right!  On Monday, it is 132 days on the road since leaving Boise in October 2008.  We did an update just before breaking the century mark at 94 days (read the 94 days update), but thought we should take off from there and pick up the last month or so, so here goes...

Since January 30th, we've...

• crossed the 11,000 mile mark for total mileage
• stopped counting the RV toilet paper rolls
• made it back to Boise for a quick visit
• shared at Life Church Boise
• completed 2 or 3 more chapters on the book
• replaced the starter on the Big Bouncin' Roo
• helped register over 25 people for Catalyst West
• Raised 6 carts full of groceries for the Orange County Rescue Mission during Chad's birthday food drive (see photo)
• watched a semi burn to the ground so to speak on I-15
• successfully connected our website to TOMS Shoes shopping
• met many new great friends
• began a relationship with UthBuild, building homes with teens in Mexico to help the homeless
• got in a debate with zealous street corner preachers at ASU (Tempe, AZ)
• fed the hungry
• Still never gone hungry
• provided rain ponchos for homeless people
• taught for adults, teens, young adults & college students at various venues
• are acting as camp speakers in Mexico
• seen both Emily and Dillon take their training wheels off their bikes (hey... thats what happens when you live in parking lots.  They get to ride alot!)

All of these great things happen thanks to your prayers and your faithful monthly support.  If you are not already a monthly supporter, would you partner with us on a monthly basis?

Prepping for Mexico Build Week!

Today is the last day of "school" for the kids here in Tempe, AZ at Bethany Community Church as we prepare for departure for Rocky Point, Mexico on Sunday morning.  Emily and Dillon have been graciously enrolled for free all week at Bethany Learning Center during their "Wild West Week".  They have had a bicycle rodeo, ridden ponies, and had a great time.  Thank you to all the teachers and staff at BLC for making this week so special for them.

Sunday we depart with Bethany High School Ministries for build week 1 of 2 in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) MX.  We will be assisting with the build/completion of 3 homes over 2 weeks for a couple of homeless families.  The home design (originally created by Amor Ministries) is a very simple 20' x10' wood framed structure covered in stucco.  Our version has 3 windows and a locking door, offering these families a security they have never known before in their cardboard and pallet constructed home. The homes are constructed solely by hand, using no power tools or air tools.  Just hammers, hand saws, hand trowels, and sweat of a team of roughly 15 teens and adults.  (see photo courtesy of Amor of a prior group's build) The idea is that if the tools are left behind, you have given the family (who will work with us) the ability to replicate the home for others.  Its the classic adage of teaching a man to fish...

We'll take lots of photos and videos this week, so watch for the uploads after we return.  In the meantime, please be praying for these families and for our team that this experience will deepen not only our compassion for others that have needs we can scarcely imagine, but that it will strengthen our passion to make a difference with our lives.  (see the "Passion" challenge!)

Hairstylist becomes a Hero to Homeless

Many know that Amy was/is a professional stylist, so when we saw this article pass by on the web, it caught our attention.  Amy has given a cut or two to some homeless, and we've helped some friends and family along the way with cut/color/etc., but this guy is a true example of the compassion that we speak about with Share5.

His name is Ron Kotkins, and he has been giving free haircuts to the homeless of downtown Portland for over 20 years!  He was recently featured on Portland's channel 2 as an "Everyday Hero". Check out the video by clicking on the image or on this link.

Congratulations Ron, and thank you for being an example with what you have in your hands, using it for those who you see in front of you!

Buy your TOMS Shoes directly from TOMS, Benefit Share5

It's here!  We finally have the last piece of the puzzle in place to allow you to shop for your TOMS shoes directly off the TOMSshoes website while still making sure that you are not only providing a pair of shoes for a child in need, but also that TOMS will contribute an additional $8 on your behalf to the Share5 Microfinance Fund!

TOMS Shoes are a comfortable, simple, and stylish way to show that you think about the decisions you make and how they affect others.  Started in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, TOMS committed that for every pair of the Argentinian styled shoe that they sold, they would give away a pair to a child in need in a lesser developed country...ONE FOR ONE.  Its that simple.

TOMS SHOES... check them out today.  Your feet, and the feet of a child, will thank you.

For more information, check out our TOMS partner page on our site!

If you want to create a link to this story or link to TOMS from your blog and help us with generating not only great shoes for needy children, but also funds for microfinance, please use the URL below to ID your link with Share5's affiliate ID (AID):  http://www.tomsshoes.com/?aid=1264&LinkID=1264 and either grab one of the images below or just do a google image search for TOMS Shoes!
 

94 days in under 600 words

It has been 94 days since we left Boise on the Share5 Tour.  Here's a bullet list summary of what's happened since we left.

Part I - Keep Breathing Tour

• 27 days on a Christian Rock Music tour
• 17 band members, 2 sound techs, my wife, me, 2 rowdy kids, and a girl named Leanne that became a great babysitter!
• 20 cities
• $642 raised in one night for a pastor in Ghana that was robbed at gunpoint
• 1 broken collarbone, but 1 great testimony for God (Lead singer, The Wedding)
• 1 sad, late night goodbye at In-N-Out Burger
• 20 new friends

Part II - Every Day Since

• Total of 8,229 miles
• over 1,100 gals of gas
• approximately 20 rolls of TP
• countless gallons of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
• 1 new GPS unit
• one miracle working mechanic that has blessed us beyond belief
• 2 oil changes, and one on the way
• new airbag suspension in the rear of the RV
• served food in a rescue mission
• prepped and served food in an orphanage in Mexico
• sheetrocked a church stage and bathroom
• dug a footing through almost solid rock
• textured a wall with Grandpa Dick in Mexico
• encouraged a recovering drug addict in Costco's parking lot over lunch
• encouraged a former missionary that God still wants to use her
• encouraged a single mother at a laundromat to pursue her faith
• cut the hair of a homeless mother and her child
• put shoes on the feet of poor children (Thanks TOMS)
• attended a homelessness awareness rally
• saw our bank account dip below $10 more than a few times
• never went hungry
• saw God prove his faithfullness throughout
• boarded Air Force One
• acted as bartenders for a alcohol-free singles party on New Years
• have spoken to over 2500 people about Share5
• have booked upcoming speaking engagements at 3 churches 
• have teamed up with a church to build a home in Mexico in March
• will be completing a book on Share5 by March (rough draft!)
• have 4 chapters completed and beginning editorial review!

Thank you for your support.  As we head into next week and our 100th day on the road (February 6th, one day before Chad's birthday!) we thank those of you who have contributed through your prayers, finances, and much more.

We will be speaking in South Gate, CA on Feb 15th, then down to Irvine for an event on the  16th, after which we will head for Boise, ID for a wedding Feb 21st.  We will be visiting our home church, so if you are in the area, we'd love to see you.  We will be sharing at all three services the weekend of February 21st-22nd, so come see us at Life Church Boise!

If you would like for us to visit and share with your church, and you are either in Boise or between LA and Boise, or Boise and Phoenix, we are available on Wed. Feb 18th (traveling north from LA) and Wed Feb 25th (traveling S to Phoenix)  We will be teaching in Phoenix Sunday, March 1st.  Please contact us for more information.  We'd love to join you.