the starfield blog

All beautiful places that we’ve briefly experienced in the last week.  I feel like I could’ve easily spent a week in each of these places, experiencing the local culture and the amazing natural beauty all around.  The hightlight for me so far was staying at a hotel resort in Ireland called the Galgorm (www.galgorm.com)  An incredibly beautiful grounds built to modern perfection.  Randomly, we arrived in Belfast on the day of the worst rains the area has ever seen and there was crazy flooding all over Belfast and the North of Ireland.  So, the quaint little river right beside the resort was now a rushing river that would intimidate the most experienced of white water rafters.  It was possibly the greenest land I’ve ever seen, and after that much rain, I like to think that no one has ever seen it that green…But who knows.  Anyways, just a little tidbit from what’s been an amazing time out here in Europe.  The shows have been amazing, uplifting, and humbling.  It turns out there’s people that know our songs out here.  It’s pretty amazing.  2 more gigs to go.  Then it’s home sweet home. - Jon.   

The Galgorm Hotel Resort just outside of Belfast, Ireland.   

“Revo” Festival near Frankfurt Germany. 

Hello all - just a quick note.  Had a wonderful time in Sweden yesterday at Frizon festival, and we’re now en route to Switzerland.  The next two weeks have an incredible amount of travel, but each day we arrive in a spectacular city and it’s worth the sleepiness.In the midst of all this travel, we’ve still got a lot of work to do for the Canada tour next month and for the US tour that we’re currently scheduling.  On three different occasions yesterday I was video chatting with our manager back in Nashville - the world feels very small when you can do that so easily and cheaply.  We’ve been reading your comments about what cities to visit and I think a lot of you are going to be happy. More news to come as wireless permits.Tim 

So we added a string of Canada dates to the schedule today - Sep 5 through Sep 19, starting in Ontario, working our way all the way to Grande Prairie.  We’re really excited about this run of dates - a terrific worship leader and artist from Ireland - Johnny Parks - is opening for us for the majority of dates.  And Will Graham - the grandson of Rev Billy Graham - is coming along to deliver a message each night.  We think it’s going to be a special tour and hope you’ll come out.  One of the interesting things on this tour is we’re hitting cities that we haven’t visited in a long time.  All of you people in Medicine Hat, in Brandon, in Belleville….you’re neglected no longer.  Which brings up the larger question for all of you who might live outside of Canada - what cities are we blatantly ignoring?  What’s the one city that’s simply had to wait too long for a visit from Starfield? 

So, I’m thinking about taking a dip in the “Salt Lake” this week.  After all, we’re in Salt Lake City, and what better way to experience the local culture than taking a swim in the lake that gave this city it’s name…I’ve heard that you float…Without treading water or using “water wings” (those orange things you wear on your arms when you’re a kid) But, I also heard you smell like a rotten egg afterwards.  So there’s pros and cons…

Anyways, the reason we’re here in Salt Lake is because of an Evangelical free church event that happens every 2 years.  So this year it’s called “Challenge ‘08″.  Last night, Francis Chan  spoke a phenomenal message on how we view God.  He outlined a few different descriptions of encounters with God in the bible from Isaiah to John.  In every story he recounted, the one who experienced a vision of God fell on their face, not worthy to look upon a Holy God.  He communicated the “other-ness” of God in a descriptive and powerful way, and it left the room in silence and reverent repentance.  We went on stage and slowly built up into “How great is our God” and ended with the people singing “Our God is an Awesome God” Acapella.  It was a powerful night that we won’t soon forget.  - Jon. 

Look up Francis Chan’s podcast in Itunes if you get the chance - He’s great.  

somehow we snacked at McDonalds again today… how does this keep happening? we’re in one of the culinary capitals of the world and we’re eating at McDonalds! I’m so disappointed in myself… On a lighter note, we saw ‘Hairspray’ (the musical) and visited the ‘British Museum’ http://www.britishmuseum.org/ today… I have to say i prefer Zac to whoever the dude playing Link was in the musical…. but i digress… the museum was AMAZING… all those years growing up i never realized just how un-awesome the manitoba museum of man and nature really was I do however remember being terrified of the Native American/buffalo/cliff display though… were they REALLY just lifeless dummies?  We’re headed Back to Edinburgh tomorrow then flying home to Canada on Saturday… it’s been a fun getaway but I’m dying to be home,      tim.  

London is like New York’s older brother… more refined, more mature, and the very best kind of cool (not because it tries so hard - but just because it is).  We’re loving our few days off in England’s capitol… Jon and Myself (and our lovely wives) rented a flat just outside the city center and have spent the first couple of days just soaking in the sights and sounds. Today is tourist day as we’re booked at 1:30 on the ‘London Eye’ (a massive ferris wheel on the banks of the river thames - hopefully it doesn’t rain) and hope to see a few of the other historic sites and museums as well. on a much sadder note: somehow we’ve already been to McDonalds twice since we’ve been here… booo       tim. ps - here’s video from last night of some brotherly shenanigans in an english grocery store…  it was late, and yes i was about as tired as a man can be while still performing for the cameras :-) mvi_4301-iphone-cell.3gp

I can’t begin to explain how spectacular this event is. For those that were there - 30,000 strong - there’s no need for me to explain… but for those that weren’t - believe me when i say it is the single greatest event we’ve ever been apart of… Nothing we’ve done in any other country in the world exceeds the the production team, production value, and overall vibe of this event. Sponsored by the dutch government, and televised on Dutch TV, EO youth day was a BLAST to be a part of.  oh, and the people were great too! they LOVE their soccer… and why wouldn’t they? the night before we played, the Netherlands team won their second straight match against France in the Euro Cup… and that’s another thing… you haven’t lived until you’ve watched a playoff soccer match with the Dutch on their home turf… life-changing!  We can’t wait to be back in the Netherlands for Flevo Festival in August.      I’ve added some video so you can experience it for yourself!       tim.  

Excited and nervous about the “make-up” concerts this weekend in Burnaby and Abbotsford.  It’s a strange thing to feel that a tour is done, and then pick it up again a few weeks later.  Yet these gigs of course carry special significance for us as a band, being the 2 that were post-poned due to the incident in Abbotsford. 

Should be a couple of emotionally charged evenings, especially Abbotsford which will include a few testimonies from people who attended the concert as well as a time of response and prayer. My hope and prayer is that all those who attend this weekend will come in expectation. Expectant that God will heal and restore his people, and encourage and unify the body of Christ. I am humbled that we get the chance to press on.  In unity and surrender before our Great God, who has our lives in the palm of his hand.  

I might add, it’s an extra perk for me, that I’ll be sleeping in my own bed after both concerts this weekend.  I wish all our concerts were this close to home.   - Jon.  

Finding balance in a line of work such as ours requires constant fine tuning of ones self.  Boarding a plane every weekend or living on a bus with 12 other people for months at a time requires some getting used to.  Having only been with Starfield for a few months, I am considered the rookie when it comes to life on the road.  Learning the ropes has been a challenge that I have welcomed with open arms.  The cons? 4:00 am lobby calls and 3 planes in one day. The Pros?  Traveling the world and playing music with 3 of my closest friends.

I had the amazing opportunity to visit Memphis TN, a few weeks ago.  This was something that I had been looking forward to for a some time.  The city of Memphis has within it two things very close to my heart:

The first - The Lorraine Motel

This was the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.  He was shot outside room 603 on the second floor around 6:00 PM (Yes, Bono made a mistake) on April 4th 1968.  To stand and observe where this great man fell shook me to my core.  His death was only the beginning of his victory.

The second -  Sun Studios, the very birthplace of Rock n Roll. 

My excitement became more and more evident by the smile on my face as I entered the very room where some of my biggest musical influences created some of their greatest masterpieces.  Johnny Cash - Walk The Line, U2 - Rattle & Hum or Elvis Presley - That’s All Right, take your pic. 

If your travels ever lead you to the city of Memphis, make sure to check out these two very remarkable pieces of American history.

David

The Microphone Elvis Presley used at Sun Studios… 

Hello all. I have been absent from the ‘blog’ thing as it has been an interesting month - one filled with much thought and reflection. Since the accident in Abbotsford, I had someone close to me pass away and the combination of the 2 has left me asking some difficult questions. I am left re-evaluating life, relationships, priorities and where God is in all of these things. In this place I feel broken and humbled, which leaves me ever dependent on God and his promise of faithfulness. This last weeknd, I had the privilege to travel with my wife to Edmonton, AB to visit family and to play with worship leader Vicky Beeching. I really appreciate Vicky’s heart as a worship leader and her message about the faithfulness of a God the same yesterday and today. He is faithful when I am not and he is merciful when I am far from it. In a time when I feel like the waves have tossed me around a bit the unchanging, loving nature of my Father gives me a sense of peace. A quote by John Piper to think about - “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”. Right now I’m continually asking myself if I can truly say I find my worth and satisfaction in who I am as a child of God. I guess I’m just realizing that without God at the centre of every part of my life, things lose meaning…  Gordie.