Roots….
Can anbody tell me….
…why the elastic in your underwear stretches to the size of a VW bus at the most inopportune time? Let me tell you, underwear down around your thighs….not the best feeling in the world.
Good thing I’m wearin’ pants.
Squid
band of brothers
“By friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest usefulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.” Jeremy Taylor
“Acquaintances accept, friends encourage, brothers exhort” -Source unknown
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”-Proverbs 17:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” –Proverbs 27:17
“Nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog.” -Dan Bennet
This is a story of my friends. Mi compadres. Pals. Chums. My buds. Brothers. ….My breadbox brothers…. What is breadbox you ask? Well stop by and check us out.
Just click: Here!
I’ve been in a LOT of bands. Rock bands, Christian bands, Country bands, Dance bands. Too many to count.
None have brought me the satisfaction in music, the potential for ministry, and the opportunities to grow artistically that breadbox has.
And none have allowed me the privilege and honor to call the phenomenal men I sing and minister with in this group genuine Christian brothers.
Grown men all, in the throes of their careers, providing and caring for families. An accountant, a senior systems analyst, engineer, buyer for a major food chain, youth minister.
They have nicknames like Pharkus, Match, Kampy, Mapquest, Boaterdan, Keeter (and of course, yours truly).
Yeah it’s juvenile.
But frankly, we’re entitled. When you’ve traveled together with guys of this caliber there’s bound to be some silliness and monkey business. Yes, there will be shenanigans and hijinx.
Oh the stories I could tell….
The times we have laughed, I mean till we cried. Hey guys, remember this one? “…PAINT THE BOWL…!” For the uninitiated just use your imagination. You’ll figure it out.
Long late night conversations on long road trips. About everything and anything: Our kids. Our marriages. Our jobs. Music, philosophy, movies, comedy. Sex. Theology. Psychology. Scripture. The meaning of life. ( the Monty Python movie, that is). And of course, Patrick Mead’s accent. (Pharkus does a pretty mean impression of him.)
Dinner together. Holiday parties with our families. Rehearsing adnauseum to get the notes right. Late night recording sessions. And of course, the concerts.
Yeah, good times!
…And bad….very bad.
Some things I won’t share with you but all the usual suspects here: Job loss, debt, crises of faith, betrayal, failure, broken bones, broken hearts, broken promises, absolutely devastating and grave family health situations.
…And death….
We’ve leaned pretty hard on each other over the last seven years. At times, we’ve needed to.
If pain came in 8 oz. bottles we’d be up to our necks in empties.
I can’t tell you what it’s been like to have them to turn to in a time of need. The times we’ve held each other accountable….and loved each other through. I just can’t find the words.
I believe it is a rare gift to have one friend like this, but seven! That is a blessing in a class by itself. We are brothers in blood, brothers in pain, brothers in laughter, brothers in music and ministry, brothers in life.
And on top of all that, we come together to sing the praises of almighty God who has made this friendship, no this brotherhood, possible.
Stop by and check us out. The music’s pretty good if I do say so myself. But the friendship is better; wet dog smell and all.
Squid