THE WAITING LIST

Issue Number 11

June 2000

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hello Waiting Fans!

This month, we have a long newsletter. But I assure you that it is well worth the read. First we start off with an article about May's travels from The Waiting's road manager, Ken Young. Next, we bring you a devotional from staff writer Lisa Alexander related to a song the band has started playing in concert again after much begging from newsletter staff--Israel. Then we'll bring you Fan's News and this month's schedule. Finally we'll wrap things up with an article from staff writer Thomas Doyle about a radio interview Brad and Todd did last February.

Enjoy and God Bless!

Marcella L.

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THE VERY MERRY MONTH OF MAY

By Ken Young

The month of May was a busy month for the band. We did more shows this month than any other this spring. If someone asked me how to describe May, I would simply say, "delays, delays, delays--and did I mention delays?" It was stressful, but with help from God, we were able to make it through. I felt kind of like Charlie Brown, as he would run up on the football, and just as he went to kick it, Lucy would pull it away--then Charlie would land flat on his back. One great thing though, just like Charlie Brown, we get up and try again. That is what May was like for us as we drove many miles to minister to thousands of people.

Our longest and most trying trip came during the second week of the month. The trip began with a seventeen-hour drive to Burlington Flats, New York. As we headed to our usual pick-up, David and I were sitting on the exit ramp to Jimmy Carter Boulevard when a woman decided to go around us to the left. She scraped the entire side of her truck from bumper to bumper with the back corner of our truck. No damage was incurred by The Waiting-Mobile, so she took responsibility for her damages and we proceeded to the pick-up point. The delay however got worse as it was then rush hour in Atlanta. What would normally take one hour, turned into a three-hour drive. We were about five hours behind schedule and had no way to make it up. Luckily the rest of the trip to Burlington Flats was uneventful, and we arrived at dinnertime on a cold, rainy Wednesday afternoon.

That evening we were all ready to leave for the hotel when both of the low-beam headlights went out. What are the chances of that happening? And what do we do? Burlington Flats was about fifty miles from any stores, at least ones that are open at midnight. Fortunately we only had to drive a mile to the hotel, and we would stay there till morning. So we drove to the hotel with our bright lights on and settled in for a good night's rest. The next morning we headed off to Providence, Rhode Island.

Have you ever tried to fit a camel through the eye of a needle? Well that's how I felt as I drove into Providence and saw the narrow streets from the driver's seat of The Waiting-Mobile. As we drove down a narrow street, we found ourselves blocked by cars that weren't parked all the way in their parking places. So we did what we had to do--back up and turn the corner. Backing was no problem. Turning, however, was. As the turn was made, the back corner (the one on the right side that had already been used to rip metal) caught the fender of a nice new pickup and proceeded to make its mark from the driver's door to the headlight. Can you say Oops? How about STRESS? We could have made a clean get-away, but we did the right thing. I left my name and number and the place where the band was playing so the owner of the truck could call. Soon after that, the owner and police arrived and things were taken care of.

As night arrived, I suddenly remembered we had no low beams on the truck. After doing some inquiring, I discovered that no place nearby had the lights I needed, so I started thinking and praying. I remembered, one time Richard was able to swap one of the high beams for a low beam. I tried it and it worked! We were ready to head to Bangor, Maine. On the way, we simply bought new lights and the repairs were made. Everything went great at Bangor, but then there was Boston.
Boston wasn't that bad. It's just that our directions sent us down streets only big enough for cars and the clearance of The Waiting- Mobile was about three feet too high for the streets of Boston. So there we were, driving along and having to make a turn. But we can't 'cause we're too big. So we do the only thing we can do--we make a turn. Yes I looked for a truck to hit but couldn't find one (LOL), We ended up in a part of town I don't think I wanted to be in. So we prayed, asked for directions, and headed back on the right track. Before long I was driving down a five-lane one-way street where people would stop, jump out of their cars, and go into stores. I thought we were in a parking lot. So I got in the center lane, because people were parking their cars in the right and left two lanes. Stress levels rose when cars in the lanes next to us suddenly stopped, the car door flew open, and a person would jump out to run across the street. Finally after driving around we saw our destination--Fenway Park. We had arrived.

Leaving Boston was just as stressful. As we headed out of town, we got stuck in the left lane when a "NO TRUCKS BEYOND THIS POINT" sign suddenly appeared. I slammed on the brakes, but not in time. The low clearance sign was above the cab and traffic was backing up behind us. So we did what we had to do--we turned. We were able to get under the low-clearance sign and off at the next ramp, but it too was restricted for cars-only. We managed to back up to a parking lot entrance and turn in there. Nerves shot, we were able to get directions from a police officer on how to get out of town. We proceeded and finally let out a sigh of relieve when we saw the sign for 95-South.

We were able to make it down to Cape May, New Jersey without any problems. And we all enjoyed a little relaxation. The trip, though stressful and trying at times, was a good one. It showed us how God, through all the adversity and difficulty, was able to bring us through unharmed. I thank God for watching over us and helping us through each trip we take. Keep praying for us, that we won't forget that God has it all under control, and that He will get us to the places He wants us to be at and when He wants us to be there.

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FOREVER IN HIS HAND

by Lisa Alexander

"Still, the sea has carved an eye for sinking ships and floating dead."

--Israel

Call me Israel. My journey through life is filled with storms almost too difficult to endure. I know I am weak, but I am also headstrong and stubborn--too stubborn to admit when I need help. I would rather wrestle with my problems knowing I will lose than admitting to my weaknesses. And within the rage of each storm, I would miss seeing His hand holding me and guiding me. For each problem, an eye has been carved in the storm for my sinking ship. Once I looked far enough beyond my struggles to see God wanting to help me, I could see Him there with me always--during calm weather and through the rage of a storm. And I can feel myself being held forever in His hand.

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FANS' NEWS

The Waiting discussion list invites you to sign up! The list is for the discussion of Christian recording artists, The Waiting. It is open for sharing concert experiences, news, and anything else having to do with The Waiting. To subscribe write: TheWaiting- subscribe@egroups.com

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It's not too late! You still have time to apply to go on a mission trip with The Waiting. The Waiting is teaming up with Big World Ventures for a mission trip to Costa Rica July 15-29. The Waiting's label mates Avalon and praise and worship leader Darrell Evans will also take part in the trip.

Hundreds of teens from across the country will take part in this annual trip. After a training session in Miami, a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica will launch your venture. You will minister in the streets, slums, orphanages and many other places. Free time may include hiking mountain trails, shopping in markets and their famous white water rafting trip.

All you need to do is call 918-481-5223 and ask for an application. The trip is $1598 (all inclusive from Miami). Be sure to tell them you heard about the trip from The Waiting's newsletter.

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We all know what a wonderful group of guys The Waiting is, but their fans are a pretty interesting bunch in and of themselves. There is an entire discussion zone dedicated to The Waiting at http://www.ccmusic.org/ where some of the fans meet to post and discuss things related to the band, as well as personal stuff. I'd like to invite you to join us, and to make some new friends!

Wistful

Forum Moderator

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Got a question? Want to share something with us? We'd love to hear from you! Write us at waitinglist@truthmail.com

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MEDIA NEWS

The Waiting will be featured in the August issue of Release Magazine (their 10th anniversary issue.) There will be a feature on the guys that will highlight the work on their next recording.

What songs would you like to hear the guys play at festivals this summer? Email us and let us know! Email us at waitinglist@truthmail.com.

Happy Belated Birthday to Todd! His birthday was May 30th! Happy Birthday..now everyone...start singing..

Have you been wanting to drop the guys an email? You can reach them at:

Brad --- brad@thewaiting.com

Todd --- todd@thewaiting.com

Brandon --- brandon@thewaiting.com

Clark --- clark@thewaiting.com

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SCHEDULE

June 3, 2000
Charlotte, NC
Carowinds

June 7, 2000
Tupelo, MS
First United Methodist

June 10, 2000
Osage Beach, MO
Cross Over Festival

June 11, 2000
Covington, FL
Crossroads Youth Ministries

June 21, 2000
Canal Fulton, OH
Alive Festival

June 26, 2000
Fayetteville, GA
New Hope Baptist Church

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HEART OF THE PAST

by Thomas Doyle

I recently had the opportunity to listen to and enjoy an interview of Brad and Todd Olsen. The interviewer was none other than radio personality and newsletter staff member Lori Walden.

It makes no difference what kind of fan you are. This band and its members make everyone feel at ease. The interviewer was well prepared and after a question or two, it sounded more like a conversation between old friends rather than an interview.

Lori first asked about their choice to enter the music industry, especially Christian music. Although the brothers were interviewed separately, their answers were similar. What seemed like a rehearsed answer was a real example for Christians. They brought their questions before the Lord in prayer, placing before Him their indecision. They sent their examples of music to different churches and clubs in and around Atlanta. The Lord spoke to them in definitive terms, when in the first week, twelve churches responded but no clubs. The Lord had spoken to them, and they listened and The Waiting's music ministry was born.

The family of questions probed deeper into their music as Todd was asked about "Unfazed." As fans know, this record was an experiment of sorts. They used folks from not only outside the Waiting family, but also from outside Christian music altogether. I remember expressing my fears to them, afraid that these "outsiders" would dilute, water down, and compromise what Clark, Todd, Brandon and Brad had worked so hard to do.

Now I could argue some things, but I won't do that here. Instead I will tell you what I learned. They have faith in God. Faith that though they were going in a different, unfamiliar direction, Jesus would not forsake them.

But through the experience of making the album, they became a more cohesive group, with a reaffirmed commitment to each other and to the Lord. Their trials on the road and differing opinions of record promotion had, according to Brad, beaten them up some. The record released in 1998 as a collection of songs, under an album name, followed by a series of events in 1999, proved to be prophetic. As a Christian, it doesn't matter if you are a touring artist, a student, health-care worker, housewife or CEO of a company. If you have the faith of Christ in your heart, you will be UNFAZED by the turmoil of life's ups and downs.

Questions turned to the band re-entering the studio. Even the craftiness of the interviewer could not pry any of the details this listener wanted. Lori got Todd to share some exciting bits, but only got Brad to speak in generalities. The new record will draw on the bands deep talents with Brandon engineering, and Todd producing.

They maintained that the best recordings would be selected for the album regardless of who writes them. It was also hinted that this record could feature a "career song" for the Waiting. When asked to describe the record, Brad says that they always write from the heart and that they felt as though they were in a happy place. So this would be a happy record with one or two songs beckoning self- reflection. He went further to say that this record would be a step forward with the heart of the past. (I hear an album title here or, at the very least, a song title or two.)
That phrase could also define a position of faith--having become, through the heart of the past, bold enough to step forward into the future. To know that you, through faith, now possess the tools and the armor of Christianity and can go forward meeting each challenge as never before is uplifting and satisfying. It took some doing and many lessons had to be learned before instilling in me the courage, faith or belief to, as Todd might say, "jack it up a bit." These lessons of the past, the praying done over issues, and the Bible readings helped to find God's word on a subject. These are the things of the past that enable, no, encourage us to take a step forward. The lessons have taught us that God, Jesus, will never forsake us.

Doesn't that phrase also define their careers? Imagine for a moment the kinds of decisions that these young men have made in their efforts to provide the types of music and concerts that we go to. Selections of things like record companies, producers, engineers, and songs. Managers, sound people, lighting people, can all have a profound effect on these endeavors. The mistakes, misjudgments, coupled with mechanical maladies, personal and personnel issues make their success remarkable. With the all circumstances and learning the things they needed, they are more able to step forward on their own.

I have found in most of what the Waiting creates a duality of purpose, providing instant gratification in the works of their music as well as providing substantial food for thought. Their lyrics, words and actions all provide many topics for discussion. They have learned their lessons well. And as they drive from city to city, they welcome the opportunity to share the lessons they have learned. I am looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks and to hearing the new works of The Waiting.


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THE WAITING LIST

The official newsletter of The Waiting
Issue 12
July 2000

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IN THIS ISSUE

Hello Waiting Fans!

It's celebration time! One year ago this month we started sending out The Waiting List, and we're still going strong thanks to all your support. We appreciate all of you so much!

The first article is an excerpt from the journal of Kelly Burns, one of many gifted individuals who visit the CCM music zone. It also serves as this month's devotional, relating to a song from The Waiting's self-titled album. The second article comes from new staff writer, Lorry Guffey. Lorry talks about her walk with God and her walkman. Welcome to the staff, Lorry! Also included are this month's schedule and news.

Enjoy and God Bless!

Marcella L.

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A big welcome goes out to the following new staff members:

Lorry G.
Grace D.

And to the staff members who have been around for awhile - we appreciate you much:

Lori W.
Jan S.
Tom D.
Jose B.
Lisa A.

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THE BEAUTIFUL BLOOD
by Kelly Burns

12/1/98

We have blood on our hands. Like Cain had blood on his.

I've been wondering about Cain. The early chapters of Genesis don't tell us too much about Cain and Abel, but one simple thing we know is that God accepted Abel's sacrifice and rejected Cain's. "And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him" (Genesis 4:8).

Why such senseless killing? Well, John tells us that Cain killed Abel because Abel's acts were righteous and Cain's were evil (1 John 3:12). And in Proverbs we learn, "Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?" (27:4). The word for "wrath" in the Hebrew is hemah, and various meanings of this noun are "wrath," "heat," and "poison."

God isn't about to let this act of violence go unchecked, however. "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand" (Genesis 4:10,11). I think it's kind of interesting, the image of someone's blood actually crying out to be avenged. Cross-referencing of this passage reveals that the crying blood of Abel is actually mentioned more than Abel himself! (The Bible is not for the weak of stomach.)

I find myself wondering if Cain really meant to kill his brother. A truly evil intent was obviously there, but we as humans do tend to think we're invincible. And here was Cain and Abel, living on a planet where no human had yet died. Maybe Satan visited Cain with the same lie he had given to Eve: "You will surely not die." Did he understand what his hot fit of temper would mean? Was he haunted in his dreams by the mark he now bore? How did Eve suffer in the loss of her son?

The more I think about this scenario, the crazier it seems. Mankind has fallen into sin, malice and bloodshed, so what does God do? "It was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col.1:19,20). God takes on skin, comes on down to reconcile creation back to Himself, and dies at the hands of sinful men. So humans shed blood again. But it wasn't just the hands of the Jews and Romans that killed him. He died at our hands, too, us being sinful people. Now we have even more blood on our hands-- the blood of God's own Son! "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify... that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah..."

At this point, I would be pretty terrified at being responsible for the death of the Son of God, except that this bloodshed is different. This person we killed came to be killed. We didn't take His life; He gave it.
Paul notes that Jesus made peace through His blood, peace through the most violent act in the Bible! It's so amazing to compare --as if a comparison exists-- the expanse of God's grace and love to the sap we see on TV that the world has to offer. As Chesterton once stated in Orthodoxy: "It is as true of democratic fraternity as a divine love; sham love ends in compromise and common philosophy, but real love has always ended in bloodshed."

The blood of Abel condemns us; the blood of Christ sanctifies us. The former demands payment for the sin, the latter doles out the payment. No longer are we children of Cain, imprisoned by our acts of sin and bloodshed, but we have been made children of God, set free by the blood shed by the Lamb. Almighty God was a murder victim... for us! I've read this passage in Hebrews who knows how many times, and recently I've just come to catch its meaning. These lines are jewels: "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24). How very true!

We have blood on our hands. But it not only covers our hands, but our head, our feet, our body, our soul and our sins as well. And only when we see the extent of which we are stained by the blood of guilt, can we know what it is to be cleansed by the blood of grace...

...beautiful blood.

(To read more of Kelly Burn's work, come to the CCM music zone Web site.)

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WALKING WITH THE WAITING
by Lorry Guffey

Last Saturday morning, I got up a little earlier than usual. My family was still snoozing peacefully, so I decided to take a walk and pray, trusty walkman in hand. I had allowed a lot of pressures from my position at my church to weigh me down, and I really needed a fresh new start. As usual, my walkman held my home-made tape of The Waiting, the one with all of Blue Belly Sky on one side, and most of the green album on the other (as much of The Waiting as I could squeeze into one 90 minute tape!). I got to the end of my driveway, attempting to cast all of my cares over to God, and pushed the play button. Immediately, I heard the words, "But with every step I take I feel Your eyes are on me," from the song "Look At Me," and I knew that once again the Holy Spirit was using a song by my favorite band to encourage me to continue to fight the good fight of faith. It was so sweet... to have those particular lines sung to me at that particular moment, those first steps of my walk... who could have timed it better that the Lord, Himself?

I have to take this opportunity to say that this is not the first time God has used The Waiting's music to encourage me! About a year ago, I had the unfortunate experience of losing nearly all my worship band. The attack was pretty personal, and it took a long time to heal. I even backslid for a while, angry at God because of what some people did. Anyway, to make a long story short, it came time for me to decide just whom I was going to serve, myself, or God. The Waiting's green album (The Waiting) was in my CD player. I think I listened to the songs "It Is Enough" and "Hands In The Air" twenty or thirty times that day. It was a definite turning point, and I can honestly say that I don't know where I'd be spiritually if The Waiting hadn't been there for me at that moment in time. I realized that "Everybody has tarried in a barren land/ Even in a devil's den," (yes... even me!) but "If the cross that I carried should slip from my hands" I could still "Get on my knees and pick it up/ Pick it up/ Pick it up again." I then proceeded to "Over the threshold now/ I move across the yard/ All that my will allows/ My every step (was SO) is hard/ There in the garden I/ carved out 6 feet of space/ there made my will comply/ Lie down upon my face." (See... I had spent all my resistance on Someone I can't resist!

I buried myself at that moment, surrendering, "Hands in the Air," and although I would like to say that I did not go out and dig myself up again... things are not always that simple! It didn't matter, though, because the Lord had, through those songs, changed my heart, and even though I may have had to re-bury myself since then, I am not on the downhill slide to destruction that I was heading for, thanks to the anointed words and music of The Waiting.

I'm sure if you are a fan as I am, you know the words to these songs, and I am also sure that the Spirit of God has used them to nudge you forward in your walk with Him, as well.

Currently, the line that ministers to me most is "I love the way you look at me/ The way you steer Your eyes to see/ The bride beneath the harlot's skin/ The virtue underneath the sin." What a great song! ("Look At Me") Jesus has decided to see the best in me, instead of the crud! I can relax, because it's "By grace that I'm saved through faith, it's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) I can't ever begin to thank the guys for being there for me... I love you and pray for you everyday. You've changed my life! And the exciting part is that I haven't even gotten the "Unfazed" CD yet... Who knows what God is going to show me when I finally get to add it to my collection!

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MEDIA NEWS

It's official--the moment many of you have been hoping for! The Waiting will be doing a fall tour with Smalltown Poets. This tour, called "The Superfriends Tour," promises to be spectacular for fans of both bands. Also scheduled on the tour will be newcomers, The Elms.

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The Waiting will be featured in the 10th Anniversary issue of Release magazine, which should hit stores in August. Fans can go to www.voxcorp.com to order a subscription. Also, the July issue of CCM mentions the upcoming Waiting/Smalltown Poets tour in the "On The Beat" section. Here's what CCM said:

"Worth the Wait...If your desire is to see The Waiting in concert, you'll have to...well...wait until October. The band is gearing up for what it's calling "The Superfriends" tour with Smalltown Poets and new Sparrow Records' band The Elms sharing the spotlight. A good dose of new Waiting material is being planned for the tour in anticipation of a new record coming out in the fall. Smalltown Poets plans to reciprocate; the as-yet-titled Smalltown project is being produced by Paul Ebersold, who's been in the producer's chair for the likes of Big Tent Revival and Sister Hazel. For the Elms? The band is going back in the studio to rework a couple of tunes, and the label is pushing back the release date on the full Elms CD to early 2001."

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Many of you are probably wondering how The Waiting's new album is coming along. The band is still busily working on the album. Todd Olsen has divulged to the staff that the majority of the album is done, except for the vocals.

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Wondering when you can see a Waiting concert? Check them out online. For the next week, you can see The Waiting's and other bands' performances at Alive 2000. Go to www.alive.org.

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For all of those who are in the Sterling, Virginia area or who just want to go on a road trip, here is some concert information. The Waiting is playing on Sunday, July 9 at 7:30 pm at Community Church at 1439 Shepherd Drive in Sterling, Virginia. For more information call 703-450-2152.

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FAN'S NEWS

Check out the new Waiting chatroom! This awesome new Web site can be found at http://members.aol.com/thewaiting2000. Come chat with other Waiting fans. The Waiting List also has its own chatroom. Come check it out! http://www.egroups.com/chat/WaitingList


Read about and get involved with the ongoing fictitious saga about which Waiting member secretly likes N'SYNC. Check out this story and other postings on the CCM music discussion zone. http://www.ccmusic.org/zone/forum.cgi?forum=52&/


Don't forget, if you're planning on going to a Waiting show in the future, check with the venue beforehand. From time to time, shows are cancelled or closed to the general public.

Got stories or pictures? Want us to include a link to your Web page? We want to hear from you! Write us at WaitingList@truthmail.com

Happy birthday and wedding anniversary to Brad Olsen! This month, Brad turns another year older and celebrates another year of wedded bliss with his lovely wife Shannon. Congratulations!

Join The Waiting e-group. Send and receive e-mails to and from Waiting fans--a fun group of people who just want to chat and keep in touch with other Waiting fans. To join email: TheWaiting- subscribe@egroups.com

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SCHEDULE

July 9
Sterling, VA
Civic Center
730-450-2152

July 16
Kingsport, TN
DPD Dome
423-426-4733

July 21
Rapid City, SD
Memorial Park (Hills Alive Festival)
605-642-5258

July 27
Anderson, SC
Crossroads Camp
864-231-2077

August 3
Arcadia, FL
First Assembly of God
863-494-0616

August 4
Jacksonville, FL
Crossroads United Methodist Church
904-730-7681

August 5
Warsaw, IN
Fairgrounds
888-589-2293

August 7
Darien Lake, NY
Kingdom Bound
800-937-7977
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THE WAITING LIST
August 2000
Issue 12
The official newsletter of The Waiting

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VERY IMPORTANT NEWS

The Waiting have fulfilled their contract with Sparrow Records. The
Waiting will be signing a record deal with InPop Records. Look for a
new record out at the end of the year.

At the end of September, The Waiting and Smalltown Poets with opening
act, Jeni Vernadeau will be embarking on a fall tour together! These
SUPERFRIENDS kick off their tour in Texas. As soon as all the tour
dates become available, we will pass the itinerary on to you.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Hello Waiting Fans!

This month we bring you another issue focused on one band member.
This issue delves into some of the personal life and youth
ministeries of lead singer, Brad Olsen. First, staff writers Lorry
Guffey and Lisa Alexander go into Brad's and his wife's roles as
youth ministers at their home church. Then fan, Jason Chadwell
describes his experience at a youth meeting at Brad's church. Next,
staff writer Thomas Doyle (also Brad and Todd's cousin) reflects on
the song "Unfazed," in a devotional requested by Brad. After that, we
bring you little unknown facts about The Waiting's lead singer in the
Fast Look Thingee section. As usual, we've included the media
news, as well as the band's schedule.

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"BUT I DID . . . SEVERAL TIMES"
by Lorry Guffey and Lisa Alexander

The lights die down, the band says good-bye, and the ministry is
over, right? Wrong, for Brad Olsen of The Waiting, his ministering
will continue when he gets home.

The driver drops him off at his home after the usual long trip home
from a concert. He opens the door and there, possibly waiting for
him, are his loving wife-of-three-years, Shannon, and precious dog,
Little Bit--two reminders that he's come back from doing God's work
onstage to doing God's work at home. After exchanging kisses with
Shannon and petting the dog, Shannon may begin to converse with him
on things happening with their youth group. Brad may look down at the
beautiful animal, Little Bit, and remember that their beloved pet, a
golden retriever/chow, was given to them by the ex-youth minister.
And then Brad may remember that the dog wasn't the only thing the
youth minister gave them before leaving.

Brad got started going to his church when he was in grade-school
because all of his friends were going, sort of like succumbing to
peer pressure. After his wife moved to Atlanta, she began attending
too. When the previous youth minister left, the church invited Brad
and Shannon to take his place. Since Brad is often asked to be youth
pastor at different music festivals and his wife is a grade-school
teacher at a Christian school, it seemed natural that he and Shannon
take over the position when it became available at their
church.

So now he and his wife do their best to minister to the young people
in the congregation and to make it a "cool" thing to do. They provide
an atmosphere where young people can do things together and learn
from a couple that has dedicated themselves to the ministry of
Christ. They do many group activities with their youth, but they also
enjoy splitting up. For example, Brad took the guys on a paintball
outing and Shannon had a makeover party for the girls.

Shannon and Brad are very focused on this new ministry opportunity.
Talking about the different aspects of reaching youth for Christ is
one of their favorite pastimes. It has become a very important aspect
of their lives together. Both Brad and Shannon's warm and friendly
personalities, as well as their obvious and energetic love for the
Lord, help them minister to the youth. Their team effort serves as a
good example of a couple, who love God and love each other. Both
compliment each other's strengths and support each
other.

He said he hopes his kids think he's "cool" but he doesn't believe he
is. His wife told him that their youth group was considering giving
him a bag filled with suggestions on how to be cool. Upon
hearing this, Brad looked at his wife and got a sheepish grin.

This group has given him much practice in interacting with that age
group. From these youth, he is able to learn what young people are
into these days and what kind of problems they face in day-to-day
life. Keeping his hand on the "pulse" of today's youth breathes a
fresh focus into his ministry with The Waiting.

Please pray for both Brad and Shannon, as they minister to the youth,
as well as continuing Brad's commitment to The Waiting and their
fans. Pray that God will give them the wisdom to balance each area of
these ministries. Pray for the energy needed to carry out these very
important jobs for Christ, along with all of the other demands placed
upon their lives. And thank the Lord for these two sincere leaders,
who have such obvious hearts for reaching today's teens for Christ.

--------------------
BRAD OLSEN -- YOUTH PASTOR
By Jason Chadwell

Christian musicians take their music and use it as a ministry to
spread the gospel in places that conventional ministries typically
can't reach (secular radio, secular music venues, secular clubs,
bars, etc.). So what else do Christian musicians do besides touring?
What do they do in their spare time? Well, when it comes to The
Waiting's Brad Olsen, he does youth pastoring.

Brad Olsen is the youth pastor at his home church in Lilburn,
Georgia. He has attended the church for quite some time and has been
active in church when The Waiting is home between concerts. I stopped
by one Wednesday to see Pastor Brad during his band's "time off"
period between tours. It's very obvious that Brad has a gift with
relating to teenagers. He develops personal relationships with the
teenagers and he frequently tells them stories about his teenage
years during his lessons so they can relate. He also maintains the
same high energy as he does at The Waiting concerts.

When I first arrived, Brad had everyone play a game called "American
Eagle" (similar to Sharks and Minnows--except it's not in water).
Afterwards, there was praise and worship, with Brad (naturally)
leading the praise band on acoustic guitar. They played songs
like "Banqueting Table" and "As A Deer." Next, he got to the "meat-
and-potatoes" of this midweek service and preached
on the will of God. Brad is really good at preaching the Gospel. At
The Waiting shows, he does a good job but only scratches the surface.
At church, he goes in depth without making it boring. He quoted
plenty of Bible verses and even told stories about his family and his
fellow bandmates to get the message across. All in all, it was a good
service.

It's awesome to see that a nationally known musician has such a
passion for Christ, that he makes time to share the gospel even when
he's "off duty" from touring. God is using the members of The Waiting
as well as in other bands in a big way. Continue to pray for them.

-------------------
BRAD'S FAST LOOK THINGEE

Birthday: July 22

Family: wife, Shannon; Brother, Todd; Parents, Rolf and Annette;
Sister, Kim.

Hidden Talent: Can name the year of any movie made; disco dancing;
history buff; and Bible-trivia geek.

Favorite Book: Shamefully admits he's more of a movie buff, but
proudly says he loves to read the liner notes from CD's to see who's
done what.

Obsessive Behavior: Cannot sleep in a bed unless the covers and
sheets are perfectly flat.

Best Gross-out Story: Throwing up on stage with the spotlight shining
faithfully on him.

Favorite Food: White chocolate-covered Oreo cookies.

Embarrassing Childhood Memory Willing to Admit: Dressed up as a
cowboy in grade school for a talent competition and sang "Country
Roads."

Other Songwriting Talents: Has written many different types of songs
such as several country songs including one called "Woman."

Worst Fear: Snakes of any kind.

His Help with His Wedding: Brad wrote most of the music for his and
his wife's wedding.

Talent Best Left Hidden: Brad's second personality, Earl. Earl is
incredibly annoying, almost to the point that one of the band members
threatened to jump out of a moving truck.

If a movie was made of his life: Matthew Lilliard, that crazy guy
from "Scream" and the guy stuck on himself from "She's All That,"
would play him.

If He Could Swap Lives With Someone for a Day: Spiderman.

Best Dish He Can Prepare: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Guilty Pleasure: 'N Sync

Pet Peeves: When he buys things and they don't work!

Best Practical Joke Played on Him: Some of the guys from Smalltown
Poets took him on a "snipe hunt" in South Georgia.

Best practical joke he played on someone else: he pretended to have a
nervous breakdown during the "snipe hunt". Just as the Smalltown guys
were getting worried, he yelled, "Gotcha!" He really had them fooled!

-------------------
UNFAZED
By Tom Doyle

We've all heard Brad and the band speak of "Unfazed" and their
acclamation of the records meaning. But I hear an alternative
possibility for this great song. Imagine, for instance instead of the
effects of us being unfazed with our surroundings to stay faithful to
God's calling, that this song is intended from God's perspective.

Because we are weak and many times tempted by earth's surrounding
evils, we often fall in our desire as Christians to be Christ-like.
We become short-tempered, prideful, boastful, lustful, careless in
the way we treat people. We lose our focus, and our priorities become
scrambled. We don't stop to make sure whatever we are doing is
checked in God's light. We have a goal but are hindered in achieving
that goal. God is speaking to us and we aren't listening, we fail to
remember that God will come to us in many different ways.

The important thing to always consider is that God remains unfazed in
the way He feels about us. He never will forsake us. We will not ever
find ourselves in situations that God hasn't provided the way out.
The Bible says that if we ask it of Him, it will be given to us. God
is unfazed in His faithfulness to us. That covenant, that promise,
will never be changed.

--------------------
MEDIA NEWS

Vote! Vote! Vote!

The Waiting's "Unfazed" is nominated for Rock/Alternative Album of
the Year for The 2000 Inspirational Life Awards which is a viewers'
choice event being produced by INSP (The Inspirational Network).
These awards were created to provide an opportunity for people to let
their voice be heard and honor those artists that have been a
particular inspiration during the past year. This is the third year
for these awards. So right now, go to www.insp.com/awards/vote.html
and cast your vote. Hurry, the polls officially close on August 10.
The awards will be telecast on INSP in October.



Wondering how the new album is coming along? It's coming along fine.
The majority of the instrumentals and vocals have been added.
According to Brandon, two of the songs will include loops.

--------------------
SCHEDULE

August 4
Jacksonville, FL
Crossroads United Methodist Church
904-733-8477

August 5
Warsaw, IN
Pro Life Festival
888-589-2293

August 7
Darien Lake, NY
Kingdom Bound Festival
716-633-1117

August 26
Marietta, GA
First Presbyterian Church of Marietta
770-427-0293

September 9
Fairfield, IL
Godstock Festival
618-842-2051

September 10
Newton, IA
Community Heights Alliance Church
515-792-1620

September 16
Allentown, PA
Bethel Youth Ministry
610-965-2682

September 23
Lititz, PA
Radical Teens for Christ
717-733-8979

-------------------

Check us out on the web! http://www.thewaiting.com

THE WAITING LIST
OCTOBER 2000

--------------------
IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome to another issue of The Waiting List. We hope God has been
continuously blessing all of you. This issue is packed with all
sorts of items. The devotion for this month is very honest and it
will cause you to think. Tom Doyle asks in his collaboration - do you
have a Superfriend? Read on to find that answer! Dena Griswold takes
us to the behind the scenes of Godstock, a Christian music festival
held in Fairfield, Illinois. Lorri Bailey shares her experiences on
the Texas leg of The Superfriends Tour. In the News section and the
current Concert Schedule will be found at the end. Many blessings!

--------------------
THANK YOU

The editors and contributors would like to thank our readers for
their continued interest in the Waiting, it's Ministry and this
publication. You have helped make The Waiting List the largest fan
generated monthly newsletter in Christian Music. Thank you for the
support and the prayers. We appreciate it.

God bless,

The Waiting List Staff

--------------------
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
by Anonymous

*Note: the quotes in this text come from "The New Millennium Version
of Psalm 23," by an unknown author, taken from the Internet.

"The Lord and I are in a shepherd/sheep situation, and I am in a
position of negative need."

Another week and I am driving. I pop in my Unfazed tape and fast
forward to "So Much of Me." I've waited too long to deal with this,
and I am going to do this right. So an hour before arrival I prepare
myself.

This is my preparation, my routine for counseling.

For years I have been fighting depression. I have tried to live with
it, thinking that if I could just ignore the stresses in my life,
they would eventually go away and I could function normally. As a
result, I ran from the problems I could run from, and I made
situations worse where I couldn't get out. My shame and my pride kept
me from speaking the truth to those around me. I would tell others
what I thought they wanted to hear instead of telling them what they
needed to hear. I was so afraid of failing that I didn't try to
succeed.

"He restores to original satisfaction-levels my psychological make-
up."

I start with "So Much of Me" and work my way to "I Am" (However, I
skip "Easy to See" because I want to hear the message of "I Am"
more.) I listen to the words and think about what the lyrics mean and
what I should think about before my session with the therapist. This
routine usually goes (in the order in which I hear them)

I am worthy and needed. Don't worry. The Lord will help you through
your anxieties. Be listening if the Lord speaks. His message is
important. The Lord will stay close to you during hard times.
Your emotional life wasn't meant to be in a constant state of
disrepair. The Lord will build you up again as something stronger
and more desirable.

"Surely it must be an ongoing non-deductible fact that your
inter-relational, emphatical, and non-vengeful capacities will pursue
me as their target focus for the duration of this non-death period."

It took me about a month to realize what was wrong in my life and
what I needed to work on. After spending many hours trying to think
about why I had problems, I came to many meaningful conclusions. The
truth really will set you free. You can use the mistakes of the past
in your favor. And God will be beside you no matter what. Yes,
suddenly is does seem so easy. I know I still have a ways to go
before I am better and that I will have to fight with it from time-to-
time throughout my life. And when that happens, I will try to
remember what those lyrics mean to me and know that I will get
through it.

--------------------
FRIENDS ROCK SUPERFRIENDS
by Tom Doyle

Hey to all Waiting fans out there and to those "in the zone!"

As the big Superfriends tour strikes out and is underway, I was
thinking of this: What friends the members of the Waiting must be.
Man, all the time they spend together. Patience, love and
understanding RULES and the trust that absolutely has to flow. Brad
and Todd together all their life! And tell me
there isn't a soft spot in all you zonies when Brad talks about
Todd
having looked after him all his life. At a recent show with Brad
singing,"your eyes are clear and bright", while looking at
superfriend Clark, was just truly amazing.

Superfriends, Smalltown Poets and the Waiting, Jeni and Fred,
together for the next 3-4 months putting hundreds of miles together.
Do you have friends like this? Pals that can sustain you for that
duration? Ones that can stand you that long? A good friend will
endure crabiness, restlessness, selfishness, all the negatives, but
for how long? Superfriends are those going the extra miles.
When Todd describes friend and tour partner Michael Johnston, he will
say he rocks. That Todd likes him because Michael is the way he is.
That Michael allows Todd to be himself. Do you have any friends like
that? I hope you do, I have a few, but I can push even the best of
them to their limits by my failings.

We all have one "superfriend" Jesus Christ. We like Him cause
of the
way He is. Because of the way He is, I can be the way I am. Jesus
died for me because I am a sinner, unable to withstand the
temptations of life. Bible verses Colossians 2:13, Titus 3:5, and
Romans 6:4 acknowledge that. Jesus is what He is so that we can be
what we are, without fear and without concern of losing that friend
we have in Jesus. Fans, zonies, pray for these people out on this
tour, that they can stay superfriends, that by Christs example, they
can have the understanding they need. And while you are praying, give
praise and thanks to Jesus, for without Him there is no hope.

--------------------
GODSTOCK
by Dena Griswold

Godstock.....

I wake to the sound of my alarm clock screeching in the dark.and to
the sound of rain pattering on the roof. Inwardly, I moan. Today,
of all days, it CAN'T rain. Today is Godstock, today is the
culmination of a year of planning and hard work. Rain could cancel
the festival, rain could ruin us financially...and in the midst of my
jumbled worries, I hear, loud and clear, the words of Job which have
dogged my every step for months now-"though He slay me, yet shall I
trust." Okay, God, if you're in control here, I guess You know what
You're doing. Someoneneeds this rain-and if it's me, I sure can't
see why, but I'll endure it.

I arrive at the church and am greeted by silent, somber, confused
faces. It's still raining, sometimes only a light mist, sometimes a
steady downpour. The ground is so wet, the water squishes over the
top of my sandals and I kick them off-I'd rather be barefoot anyway.
It's never rained in six years of Godstock; why today? Worry starts
scratching on the backdoor of my brain. "What did you do wrong? You
must have done SOMETHING... The knocking becomes louder, incessant-
"God must be REALLY upset with you..." Enough. Time for prayer.

I grab one of the other coordinators and we head for the church. We
just look at each other for a moment and I wonder which of us is going
to cry first. I win the contest; I always do when tears are
involved. We join hands and pour out our hearts to the Lord...and I
am aghast as I hear myself saying "Lord, we trust You completely...if
You want a torrential downpour today, then make it happen." I feel
like the kid on "A Christmas Story" who desperately wants a Red Ryder
BB Gun with all his being and instead somehow asks Santa for a
football! But, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and
reassurance that God is TOTALLY in control (how could I have ever
doubted that, anyway?) Godstock is NOT about us, it's not about rain
and it's not even really about music-it's about God...and sharing His
love... "yet shall I trust." We will trust You, Lord. Peace
surrounds me like an impenetrable bubble.

We step back outside and the rain, though not stopped, has slacked off
considerably. I start to see some smiles. People are arriving now,
despite the rain. I look at my co-worker and, in my best Kevin
Costner/"Field of Dreams" voice solemnly intone "If you build it, they
will come" and we dissolve in laughter. We trust You, Lord. Do as
You will.

This is nothing but the culmination of a year-long exercise in trust
for me. Through an unexpected turn of events, I found myself heading
an organization experiencing growing pains and a multitude of
changes. Godstock, now in its seventh year as a day-long Christian
music festival, has grown from an event drawing 200 people in its
inaugural year to an estimated 7000+ this year. Growth of that
magnitude births change; it's nothing but a walk in uncharted
territory with nowhere to turn for answers but to God. When we don't
see His chosen path before our feet or feel His hand guiding us-when
we sign contracts with bands and expect to somehow get the $40000 we
need to fund the festival...all we CAN do is trust. "Yet shall I
trust."

And He provided...and blessed beyond measure. In more ways than we
expected, in more ways than we could have ever asked. For me, the
personal "icing on the cake" was booking The Waiting for Godstock this
year-and even in that, He left me in wide-eyed wonder at the way He
gifts His children...simply because He loves us. Meeting in person
with my "family" of fellow Waiting fans left me in awe at the way He
draws His body together for common purpose and communion. What an
unusual bunch-and what a beautiful body within the Body. Hands and
feet and voice of our Lord to me...what greater blessing could there
be than to touch Him through the flesh and blood of His body of
believers until I grasp His hand as I stand before His throne in
heaven?

Fast forward to the post-concert "fellowship" time with the band-we're
all sitting around the tables, talking, laughing, just BEING. I'm
watching Todd ride his new scooter around the room and am listening to
Brad's animated comments on the joys and struggles of youth ministry
and I am struck with the beauty of the "ordinary"...this is not a
band/fan "meet and greet"; this is just a bunch of people being real
with one another and I see with striking clarity the similarities in
every one of us. It's all about trust; we are ALL learning in our own
broken, baby-step, faltering ways to trust the Lord for everything--
the big stuff, the little stuff, the easy stuff, the hard stuff.the
IMPOSSIBLE stuff. "Though He slay me, yet shall I trust." It's all
about being slain, on a daily basis, laying down OUR lives, OUR wills,
OUR desires, for HIS desires in our lives. Broken hearts, shed tears,
we've all been there. Our paths may go in very different directions
when we part, but underneath it all, we're the same.

I thank God for the little community of kindred spirits that He's
given me-and I thank Him also for the music that drew us in and for
Godstock for being our "gathering place". Thank you, Brad, Todd,
Brandon and Clark, for giving the melodies that bind us
together...and we all thank Him for that Beautiful Blood which covers
every one of us. "Though He slay me"...slay us, Lord. Teach us to
lay down our wills and thank You for being our strength as we do.

--------------------
TOO MANY MILES? NEVER!
By Lorri Bailey

If you ever get a chance to "drive straight to T-E-X-A-S" to see The
Waiting, I highly recommend you do it! It didn't take much to
convince me, especially since joining them on their current tour are
their "Superfriends" and my favorite band, Smalltown Poets!
Accompanied by a couple of other faithful "zonies," I had the
pleasure of catching two stops on the first leg of this outstanding
tour, Dallas and Kingwood, on September 29 and 30, 2000.

The shows were wild and energetic, with The Waiting performing some
band favorites such as "Too Many Miles" (finally!) and "I Want You
Back" in addition to four new songs off their forthcoming project.
Standouts among the new tunes are the thought provoking "Diamonds To
Dust" and the catchy and clever "Fearfully Wonderfully." Despite
rumored struggles with ongoing sickness and fatigue, lead singer Brad
Olsen gave each fan his all, whether strutting around the stage at
full speed or passionately leading the audience in full fledged
worship. Smalltown Poets followed with a phenomenal set of their
own, and were then rejoined by The Waiting to cover a favorite
worship tune of mine, "Beautiful Scandalous Night."

I am told that no Waiting concert experience is complete without
actually meeting and talking to "the guys," and I had plenty of
opportunity to do just that. Ever gracious, humble, and quick to put
fans at ease, Brad, Todd, Brandon, and Clark welcomed the zonies to
both shows with much excitement and appreciation. Supported by a
hard working and multi-talented camp, including drivers, sound crew,
and road manager, The Waiting knows how richly they have been
blessed, and aren't shy about sharing those blessings
with others, especially the fans. One highlight of the Kingwood show
had to be Brad Olsen's tribute to "the zonies who have been following
[The Waiting] around Texas all week" in the middle of the show. All
in all, it was an experience I won't soon forget, and one that I
wouldn't trade in for all the tea in China!

--------------------
MEDIA NEWS

When you buy the new album from The Waiting you're going to
notice something a little bit different. The Waiting have signed a
new record contract with the new record label, InPop. InPop was
started in 1999 by Newsboys frontman Peter Furler and is also the
home of Christian rock band Beanbag and the new praise and worship
band Tree 63. For more information on InPop, check out their website
http://www.inpop.com .
----------
The guys have been hard at work on their new album. It's now in
mixing stage, but the process has been slowed while they are on
tour. As of now, no release date for the album has been set.
----------
The new tour with Smalltown Poets has started up and from the early
reports, this is a concert you don't want to miss!! The Waiting
have mixed up their live show and are now playing 4 new songs from
the upcoming record. Check out the schedule for upcoming tour dates
in your area, and for some behind the scenes information on the
Superfriends Tour surf over to http://www.ebeliever.com.
----------
Speaking of the tour, CCM Magazine recently sat down with the guys to
talk about the new tour and what's going on with their new
record. Look for that information in the November issue of CCM.
----------
We are looking for people to write about concert experiences when
they attend The Superfriends Tour! Email us at
TheWaitingList@hotmail.com
----------
It takes many people to make a concert a reality. From the promoter
or church, to the merchandise people, to the road managers, bus
drivers, lighting and road crew, to the many volunteers who
graciously help out, to the audience who comes and of course, the
bands - please remember them all in your prayers!

--------------------
CONCERT SCHEDULE

*10/14/00 7:30 PM Atlanta, GA Peachtree Presbyterian Church
(404) 842-5800

*10/19/00 8:00 PM Toledo, OH Westgate Chapel/ University
of Toledo (419) 841-8077

*10/20/00 7:30 PM Telford, PA Penn Valley Church
(215) 723-5890

*10/22/00 6:00 PM Kinston, NC Granger Hill Perfrorming Arts
Center (252) 527-2119

*10/26/00 7:00 PM Brooklyn Park, MN The New Union
(612) 781-8488

*10/27/00 7:00 PM Forest City, IA Waldorf College (Field House)
(515) 582-8163

*10/28/00 7:00 PM Elgin, IL Judson College- Lindrier
Fitness Center (630) 833-3733

*10/29/00 6:30 PM Evansville, IN Bethel Temple
(812) 853-2250

*10/31/00 7:00 PM Portage, MI First Assembly of God
(616) 383-3600

*11/03/00 7:00 PM Jackson, MS Ridgecrest Baptist Church
(601) 856-0066

*11/04/00 8:00 PM Mandeville, LA Castine Center
(504) 845-3470

*11/10/00 7:00 PM Knightdale, NC Faith Baptist Church
(919) 266-0455

*11/11/0 0 7:30 PM Harrisonburg, VA Lehman Auditorium-
Eastern Mennonite Univ. (540) 432-4662

*11/14/00 7:00 PM Shippensburg, PA Shippensburg
University (717) 261-3140

*11/17/00 7:00 PM Wooster, OH Wooster Grace Brethren Church
(330) 264-9459

*11/18/00 11:00 AM Lansing, MI Lansing Center
(517) 669-8341


All dates subject to change. Please call first.

THE WAITING LIST

The official newsletter of The Waiting

Issue Number 16 * November 2000
--------------------

IN THIS ISSUE:

Dear Waiting Fans!

As the last leg of the Superfriends Tour winds down, please remember
the bands in your prayers and thank God for allowing this much-wanted
tour to happen. In this issue you'll read the devotion on how the
song "Heaven Is Home" touched the life of one of our staff members.
Also, a story comes from staff-writer Tom Doyle reminding us that
worshipping the Lord means saying--in this case singing--what comes
to mind. We bring you some more news from the tour, including a thank
you from Spirit Radio, who brought the tour into Evansville, Indiana.
Tiffany Thompson (Brandon's wife) has written about her passion for
World Vision and how The Superfriends tour has teamed up with this
organization. The tour recently made a stop in Telford, PA and Tom
Doyle has also brought news of the tour to the pages of The Waiting
List. Also included in this issue is "In the News" and the schedule.

We also want to let everyone know that "The Waiting List" is online
now. Check out previous issues of the newsletter at:
<http://www.dragonbbs.com/members/1570>

Enjoy and God Bless!

Marcella L

--------------------
HEAVEN IS HOME

by Lori Walden

It's 9:45 on an early Monday morning in the middle of March. I am
alone in a waiting room. I look at the clock and note the time.

"God, please end this."

In a room about 40 yards away lies the only grandfather I've ever
known.

"My mother's only dad
Now lay down, stricken
One desperate lung
And Marlboro mad"

This waiting room that I am in has become an all too familiar home to
me and my family. He suffered a bad heart attack the past Thursday
morning, and we've been camped out at the hospital ever since.
Doctors on Thursday were giving grim reports, saying my grandfather
probably wouldn't make it through the heart surgery. By a miracle,
he survives. We are optimistic, but doctors don't expect him to make
it through the night. My grandfather has smoked for most of his life
and has heavily damaged his lungs. Although he's heavily medicated
and sleeping so he won't move around, the family goes into the heart
surgery unit and visits him. We tell him we love him and just be
there. By the time I get to the hospital Friday night, he's been
near death several times and beat it. I walk into the unit and over
to my grandfather.

"I love you, Grandpa. You can do this. I've got all my friends
praying for you."

We continue to be optimistic. He's made it a lot further than any of
the doctors thought he would. Sunday rolls around and I pack my
stuff up and start to load my car so I can head back to college.
Before I can leave, my mom calls and tells my dad that we need to get
up to the hospital. We get up there and I stay up all night with my
mom, going in and out of the room where my grandfather lies.

I drift off to sleep some time around 5:30 and next thing I know it's
7:30.

"Lori, wake up. The doctor is coming to talk to us."

I walk down to the waiting room where the rest of my family is.
Aunts, uncles, cousins--we're all there. The doctor walks into the
room.

"This is what we've been fearing. The tests are showing that his
kidneys are beginning to shut down. The dialysis isn't working."

He gives us the options we have left. Let the machines continue to
try to keep my grandfather alive or slowly take him off the medicines.

"God, please end this."

The rest of the family goes down to be with my grandfather. I can't
bear to see him like that, so I stay behind. I sit in the waiting
room and think and pray. An hour goes by. I go down to the main
waiting room and see some of my family members there. While I'm down
there, the nurse comes out and tells the rest of us to come in if we
want, he's getting close.

I walk back down to our waiting room. As I am looking out the
window, I'm reminded of "Heaven Is Home." In the midst of the pain
and the midst of the grief, I am reminded how short life is, how
precious it is, and what an incredible gift it is. But not as
incredible as the gift that Jesus gave us. He saved us from the
death and promised us that we will rise again. In John 14:2-3 Jesus
says, "There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am
going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then
I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I
am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly."

Heaven IS home.

--------------------
A SWITCH FROM GRACE TO PRAISE (I NEED YOU)

by Tom Doyle

As a Christian I find it a comforting notion to realize that I need
God. I look at my life and see where God is in every part of it. When
The Waiting sings "I Need You," I hear a statement that reminds me of
this. It is a gift of grace knowing or recognizing this need of God.
When you feel lost or depressed, unwanted or unloved. If you are
scared or tired, ready to give up. The ability to recognize God as
the answer is an awesome gift. God is the answer to EVERY problem.

As the song nears its conclusion, Brad sings a subtle switch in the
verse. After singing "I need you" a few times, he switches to "I am
in need of you". I couldn't stop wondering why he did that.
Certainly it fit very nicely in the flow of the song, but this band
is known for its lyrical interpretations. To me, that change defines
a move to a spontaneous cry of praise.

The gift of grace is God's love given freely to those who ask for
it. God only seeks one payment. The scripture is clear on this, "in
all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Imagine,
all you have to do is recognize His plan for you, and He will direct
you. Brad does this in the final chorus, whether he knows it or not.

Every prayer, every thought should contain praise for Christ the
Lord. The Waiting's example shows us how to do this, very
subtlety, not as a big ovation, just a quiet switch of words from
acknowledging God's gift to a song of praise.

--------------------
THANKS FROM EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

from Spirit Radio

I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone who
came out to the concert last night [Evansville, Indiana]. If you
didn't come out, you missed a great concert performed by some great
people. I had an opportunity to meet and talk with the different band
members from the Smalltown Poets, The Waiting, Jeni Varnadeau and
Fred Haring. Wow, what a down-to-earth, real life group of people
they are.

They are tremendous ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. To live the
life they do, traveling from town to town, traveling at all ours of
the night, being on the road 4, 5, 6 days a week, I don't envy their
lives at all. When they rolled in to town around 11:00 or 12:00
[noon] they looked dead to the world. Then I got to meet and watch
them. They were all just a bunch of super people. They went about
their business and got ready for the concert that night. At one point
I walked in on all the band members, stage crew and others that had
all gotten together for some private time of worship, praise and
prayer. It was after that moment that it was as though God breathed
fresh life into them all. What a tremendous thing to see, these young
people with such huge servant hearts. They don't do it for the money
or the fame. After watching them I was certain that it was out of
obedience for what God has called them to do. This is truly a
ministry for all of them and it was refreshing to see how sold out
they are to Christ!! If you get the opportunity, please keep them in
your prayers. They face such tough circumstances each and every day.
They could definitely stand to be lifted up.

I would also like to personally thank all of the volunteers who took
time out of their busy schedules to help!! We started early and ended
late but for everyone who was involved, thank you from the bottom of
my heart!! Without you, it would not have been possible. I pray that
God blesses you all richly for your service to the Kingdom.

Thank you again for your service to the Lord. See you the next time!

Winning people to Christ,

Todd LaVine

Spirit Radio / CCM Ministries

812-853-2250

--------------------
WORLD VISION

by Tiffany Thompson

His name was Mario. He was about 7 years old, and small for his
age. He wore donated glasses, and I never saw him wear a shirt. The
glasses were broken and not made for his face, so they had to
be "rigged" to fit. They were held together with wire that pulled
tight all the way around his head. Because the wire cut into the top
of his ears, they cushioned them with cotton. The glasses were
pulled so tight onto his face that there were indention's where the
frame and nose pieces fit...

Her name was Camila. She was about 2 years old, and the most
beautiful little girl I have ever seen. She couldn't walk or talk.
She suffered from the deadly decease, Malaria, and there was nothing
that anyone could do for her...

Mario and Camila's living conditions were very poor. When I visited
Guatemala during a mission trip in 1994, the only place to sleep was
in a barn on the floor. In our bedding, we frequently found spiders,
snakes, and freshly laid eggs from the chickens. Our bathing time
came from the river that ran just outside the barn. It wasn't
unusual to spot cows upstream and be blessed with their 'gifts'
downstream.

The children and families were so overcome with joy that we were
actually there to serve them. Even though we didn't speak the
language, our time together was very special and fulfilling. The
children didn't even know your name, and they would run to you and
grab tight your hand, and if it was low enough for them to reach,
they would throw their skinny arms around your neck as if to never
let go.

There are Mario's and Camila's all around the world just waiting to
be rescued from these poor living conditions. In America, we have or
have access to everything that we could ever need or want to
survive. To help with the problems that third world countries
encounter, it doesn't take a planned trip or a 12 hour plane ride.
All it takes is a commitment. I am happy to say that The
Superfriends Tour has made it possible for you to help children from
all around the world without ever leaving your home. We have a
relationship with an organization named World Vision. For $22 a
month, you can help feed, cloth, provide better housing, schooling
and child care for a child of your choice or one that is chosen for
you. Most of all, you can help a child be revealed to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. When you sponsor a child through World Vision, you
don't only help the child, but you help the child's family and the
surrounding community.

Brandon and I are in our 3rd year of sponsoring a little girl from
Chile. Through World Vision, we have established a relationship with
her and her family. We send gifts and write letters back and forth
while World Vision translates. If you will be attending a concert, I
want to invite you to visit our World Vision display to see children
that are available for sponsorship. At about 70¢ per day, you can
actually change a child's life. If it better fits your needs, you
have the opportunity of going in with 2 or more people and splitting
the cost. We, on the Superfriend's Tour, humbly ask that you
consider praying to see what God would have for you. If you are
interested or have any further questions, visit me at the World
Vision table or e-mail me at
TiffanyThompson@onebox.com.

--------------------
TELFORD TESTIMONY

by Tom Doyle

A few of the staff people that attended the Telford Show recently
were asked to write their experience. The idea is a fairly regular
one, but how many of us saw the same things?
Yeah, they did an awesome job, under great duress. The new songs were
indeed awesome and they nailed the concert mainstays. But hey, they
play the songs nearly every day and practice them in between. Brad,
although he claims to still be suffering the effects of a nearly
month long illness, sounds strong. I did notice the chorus on one of
the songs, well he cheated. He sung it as he did when really
suffering during a September show. I suppose he just lacked the
confidence to pull it off.

I personally think that the guys are quite a bit more relaxed in the
overall. From playing with their scooters, to doing the stomp on a
bit of bubblewrap. It seems as if "meeting the zonies" has
made them feel good as they travel city to city. No longer do they
enter a city with the thought of not knowing anyone. If you zonies
out there don't think that is important to them, think again. In
Telford there were a few of us and the band acknowledged their
presence and welcomed them. My understanding is that a post concert
snack in a local eatery served to make the evening complete.

In talking about the shows with them, I have told them of my
amazement at the way they "change" some things. A rhythm, a
cadence, a chorus, a switch of phrase. During the set finale,
Unfazed, Brad switches the normal lyric to an impromptu version, a
testimony to the song itself. "I will never quit, cause I am
Unfazed. I will never, never, ever quit cause I am Unfazed." The
level of detail reaches to the songs themselves, and in doing that,
causes returning fans to see a fresh show EVERYTIME. In essence the
potential is there to have a song you've heard before reach you
in a different way.

What I noticed in this show, was that the set itself has taken on an
identity of its own. More than a recital of songs, it has matured
into a spiritual renascence. It is a journey or a symbolic
transformation between two states, two unfazed states. Between birth
and death, or before and after Christ, the tales of a Christian
lifestyle encompasses a myriad of revelations. The realization of our
sinful being, understanding that it take a whole Lot of Love to save
us. #9 which constitutes a sense of security in Jesus. Do Lord
defining how wonderful it is that our Lord will forgive and
forget our failures, Speak urging the Lord to reveal Himself to us in
His plan, Fearfully Wonderfully and Diamonds to Dust which reduce our
earthly wants and desires to show that they mean nothing and Every
Word, a composition of song that in concert incorporates the praise
and worship set, an encouragement of ideas on listening, reading and
praying the Word. At the end of these trials and lessons, we return
to an Unfazed set.

Going to the show in Telford, became so much more than a listening
pleasure. It became a lesson in life, in understanding, a manual of
sorts of what to expect with Christianity. A great experience by any
name.

--------------------
IN THE NEWS

Spirit Radio is a new online radio station that plays contemporary
Christian music and delivers the message of the Lord 24/7. It can
also be heard at certain times on some radio stations in Evansville,
Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Listen for band interviews from the recent Evansville show. Not only
will you be able to hear an interview from The Waiting and The
Waiting List staff, but you can also hear interviews with Smalltown
Poets, Jeni Varnadeau, and Fred Haring. Also listen for some of their
great songs between the interviews. This program will be available
for one week starting Sunday, November 6th.

To hear the program go to http://www.spriritradio.org and click on
Listen.

-----
The Waiting are getting ready to wrap up their fall tour with co-
headliners Smalltown Poets, and special guests Fred Haring and Jeni
Varnadeau. If you haven't seen the Superfriends Tour yet, check the
schedule for tour dates in your area.

The Superfriends Tour is mentioned in this month's issue of CCM
Magazine. Pick up a copy and find out how the idea for The Waiting
to tour with their good buddies Smalltown Poets came about.

The new album is continuing to come along. Mac Powell was recently
in the studio with the guys to sing his part on one of the new
songs. It's called "Every Word" and is co-written by Mac and Brad.

-----
A note from Mr. B:

I'm personally asking everyone that lives within driving distance of
Raleigh, North Carolina to come to the Superfriends Tour on Friday,
November 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church in Knightdale (15
minutes east of Raleigh). Their website is www.faith-baptist.com.
Thanks!

-----
Want to meet other Waiting fans? Check out The Waiting discussion
zone. Just click on the link: http://www.ccmusic.org/zone/forum.cgi?
forum=52

-----
Want to write something for the newsletter? Have any questions?
Email us at TheWaitingList@hotmail.com

--------------------
SCHEDULE

*11/03/00 7:00 PM Jackson, MS Ridgecrest Baptist Church
(601) 856-0066

*11/04/00 8:00 PM Mandeville, LA Castine Center
(504) 845-3470

*11/10/00 7:00 PM Knightdale, NC Faith Baptist Church
(919) 266-0455

*11/11/00 7:30 PM Harrisonburg, VA Lehman Auditorium-
Eastern Mennonite Univ. (540) 432-4662

*11/12/00 5:00 PM New York, NY The Lamb's Church Theatre
(212) 840-2775

*11/17/00 7:00 PM Wooster, OH Wooster Grace Brethren Church
(330) 264-9459

*11/18/00 7:00 PM Woodland, MI Lakewood Jr. High
School Gym (616) 235-5021

*11/19/00 7:00 PM Columbus, OH Cypress Wesleyan Church
(614) 529-6628
--------------------

THE WAITING LIST
The official newsletter of The Waiting
December 2000
Issue Number 16

IN THIS ISSUE

Hello Waiting Fans!

Sorry for the delay in this issue. The January issue will be out
next weekend. This month, Brandon's in the spotlight. Writer
Kelly Burns provides the devotion for My Pride as requested by
Brandon. We sneak a peek into the world of BT through the eyes of Tom
Doyle and Lisa Alexander. Hope you have a wonderful month. God bless
and take care!

The Waiting List Staff

--------------------
MY PRIDE
by Kelly Burns

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a
fall." - Proverbs 16:18 KJV

How often I go through the day, living for myself as if I'm the most
important person on the planet. As human beings, there is a peculiar
tendency to see other people as a means to an end, to swirl the
cosmos into orbit around our own egos. And as Christians, we have an
even more peculiar added tendency to see God as a means to an end,
someone who helps us out here-and-there when we can't quite figure
out how to do it on our own. Someone who loves us for what we
accomplish and hates us for the standards we fail to meet. This of
course includes all of those so-called accomplishments.

Pride is probably one of the things we Christians struggle with the
absolute most. Our situation is twofold--we place ourselves above
others with a haughty spirit, however subtle; and then when we
realize our problem, we go about trying to fix our screwed-up minds
and hearts on our own. The result (besides looking stupid) is that we
become hypocrites and our perspective of God's grace is seriously
skewed. We fall flat and we become ashamed and scared, because what
we fall on does not feel like grace.

The day has divided our attention. When we place God on the
sidelines, we forget what He has to say to us. When we are too busy,
consumed with our own schedules, our own purposes and our own needs,
we forget to listen to His voice and to seek His will. When we are
too busy thinking of ourselves, we lose sight of the all-surpassing
greatness of the glory of God and the intensity of His holiness. But
by His grace, He comes to us in the darkness with a kiss, the Father
of humility who loves His ungrateful children, the persistent lover
who sees past the painted façade of the harlot and into her soul.
And maybe for one glorious moment, we will forget to think of
ourselves.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is my
prayer--that I will stop thinking so highly of myself. That I will
stop thinking so lowly of myself. That I will stop thinking of myself
period and be given the grace to think only of Christ, in whom we can
see the world through the eyes of grace, where each soul is
remembered and each is more important than the world. God is always
seeking to give and to forgive, to find the lost sheep and to greet
the lost son. "He sure has affected my pride."

--------------------
FAST LOOK THINGIE:

-What is your story on how you came to be in the band?
As many of you know, I played trumpet through middle and high school,
but I originally wanted to play the drums. I'll explain. In 6th
grade we were given the chance to start playing an instrument in the
school music program. I originally thought that it would be neat to
play the drums, but I also wanted to play melodies on an instrument
and drums really don't allow you to do that. I decided on the
trumpet and I loved it enough to play it all the way until I
graduated. During my high school days I was listening to the radio
and the song "Addicted To Love" by Robert Palmer was playing (I know
it's a really cheesy song, but at the time it seemed cool). I found
myself playing along with the beat and I thought "I could play the
drums someday. A few years later I found myself in a position where
I could try out for a band called The Waiting (who is that???). I
called around town and found a music store that would rent a drum set
to me. I set that drum set up and practiced nonstop for days, tried
out for The Waiting and the rest is history.

-Other instruments you can play?
Trumpet, Piano, any kind of Percussion, a little Guitar

-When did you know Tiffany was "the one"? (Tiffany is Brandon's wife)
When she smiled at me.

-Do you have a favorite Backstreet Boy?
What is a "Backstreet Boy"? -- Is that someone who cleans alley
ways? ...like a chimney sweep?

-Hobbies?
computer buff, internet junkie, shadetree mechanic, being a "jack of
all trades"

-Places where you have lived?
Born in Altoona, PA, moved to Massachusetts then Denver, CO, then to
New Hampshire then to Knoxville, TN and then finally ... Atlanta,
GA ...Maybe moving so much has helped me be on the road during our
tours...

-Embarrassing childhood memories?
I was almost sucked into a storm drain because I was playing in the
mud after a heavy storm when I was about 10 years old. My brother
was nearby and was laughing at me because my shorts were down by my
ankles while I held onto the edge for dear life. Dad finally came to
the rescue. I was embarassed. end of story. period. .

-Favorite Inventor?
Buckminster Fuller, the creator of the geodesic dome (you know,
everyone needs one).

-Ideal R&R activity time alone?
Sleep.

-Favorite Website?
www.thewaiting.com (where else???), no really, I like sites like
www.tomshardware.com, www.techtv.com, www.prorec.com and
www.sospubs.co.uk - all those are mainly computer or music related

-Where did you get the idea for loops?
It just seemed like a direction that the band could expirement with.
I had actually done loops sometime ago for our live show by working
up loops for "Is This The Day" using the original percussion track
from our Blue Belly Sky album.

-Favorite music groups / singers?
Adam Again, The Choir, U2, Police, Paul Simon

-Favorite book?
Around the World in Eighty Days

-Favorite movie?
Raising Arizona

-Favorite band memory?
Performing onstage with Rich Mullins, singing "Awsome God" in New
Mexico.

-Favorite childhood memory?
Playing with my Lego building blocks.

-What you like best about being in the band?
Playing with my Lego building blocks on the road (just kidding).

-I can sing most like?
Kevin Max, Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith

-Impressions you can do?
Kermit the frog, Casey Kasem

-Most useless or unwanted talent?
I can perfectly crush a soda can into a 2" circle by stomping on it
with my foot.

-Best dish you can cook?
Mac & Cheese with Tuna

--------------------
INSTEAD OF A DRUMMER
by Tom Doyle

Brandon Thompson, drummer of Christian Rock's The Waiting. Most
fans will tell you that this is not Brandons only task. Originally a
sound tech, he convinced other members to allow him to play the drums
and eventually became the bands percussion expert.

I have known Brandon as much as most fans that have seen him 15 or so
times in 3 years. He is a quiet soft spoken, person, whose demeanor
off the drums belies his ferocity on the drums. He has matured with
the band and is a well seasoned musician.

The exciting thing about seeing Brandon and the band other than the
obvious ministry and music, is the thought that I can learn something
new about each band member. I learned that from them as they seem to
want to know something about each fan they meet. For instance I know
that Brandon, as well as tour buddy and wife Tiffany are
both accomplished photographers, I understand that while on the Step
Up to the Microphone Tour, Brandon did some of the videotaping for a
spot they were shooting.( I actually sport one of Tiffany's
photos on a T-Shirt). I know that he and Tiffany both played drums on
the Newsboys revolving drum stand. They also shared a very tall
roller coaster ride at Kingdom Bound.

Back at the venues, Brandon shares in the merchandising of the band.
I have seen him load and unload equipment, setup and tear down stage
sets. He plays a myriad of percussion instruments, sings background
vocals, writes and engineers music. He rides the scooter and is an
accomplished stunt man.

Well I learned something new this week, that Brandon has returned
behind the wheel of the Waiting chariot. This additional
responsibility is a big one. Driving a vehicle like this means
complying with a complex set of regulations and an increased measure
of stress to endure. I thought a lot of this, thinking about Brandon
offering to make the sacrifice of whatever peace and quiet he may
enjoy while on the road. It struck me that he thought of it as a
service, that he was serving the other members by coming to their aid
when they found themselves without a driver.

I am sure he considered that by serving the band, he would also be
serving his Lord. I don't suppose he was reading his Bible and
stumbled upon that verse in Job the 36th chapter and the 11th verse
do you? 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in
prosperity, and their years in pleasures. Days in prosperity and
years in pleasures, not a bad deal. I mean I know that Brandon would
know this is true but I doubt that is what spurred him on. He also
probably wasn't thinking of the verse in Romans 12:5 So we,
being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of
another.

You see the best thing that I learned about Brandon is that he will
do whatever it takes to further the Waiting Ministry. There is nary a
task so big or so small that Brandon won't do and do it to his
utmost. This is a testimony to his commitment to the other members.
So think about it the next time you find yourself taking on extra
tasks. It may seem as if all the favors we do for folks go unrewarded
or unnoticed but rest assured that the Bible defines both the way
that we are supposed to act AND what we can expect when we do.
Brandon is a fine example, acting out of a service to his friends and
band mates but also exemplifying Christ's suggestions on how to
behave.

--------------------
ME AND MY DRUM
by Lisa Alexander

Another Christmas season approaches us and we can look forward to the
usual inundation of holiday decorations, food, and songs. Some of us
may have numbed over with constant saccharinely sweet message
of "peace on earth." Some of us don't pay much attention
to the holiday happenings. Others among us may become too caught up
with the "good will toward men" feelings to comprehend all the
messages presented over the season. And there are those like me who
try to block everything out as long as possible and start waxing
nostalgic a couple days before and get totally involved by repeating
childhood traditions.

And among Christmas traditions almost impossible to avoid, unless you
leave the country or you are unable to hear, is the bombardment of
Christmas music. I grew up listening to it and singing it. I have
fond memories of choir performances, baking Christmas cookies and
humming carols, and gathering around the Christmas tree with family
after all the presents were unwrapped while chatting and listening to
Christmas music broadcasted over the radio. I love Christmas and I
don't want to get sick of it before the day it comes.

So to combat feelings of Christmas over-stimulation this year, I
devised a strategy. I am going to pick one Christmas song, listen to
the lyrics, and try to find the message within the verses. Then
whenever I hear that song, I will cherish every word, every note,
every beat. And this year, I will be cherishing "The Little
Drummer
Boy."

"I have no gifts to bring
That's fit to give a king
Shall I play for you,
On my drum?

I played my drum for him
I played my best for him
Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum"

And this year I'll be looking at a modern version of the little
boy who brought a smile to the baby Jesus' face by giving the
gift of a drum performance. This year I'll be looking to Brandon
Thompson of The Waiting and appreciating all the talents he uses to
get up on stage and play on the drums as part of The Waiting's
ministry.

At the last three shows of the Superfriends Tour, I was completely in
awe of each performance The Waiting gave onstage. Each note from the
guitar, each exhalation of the vocalists, each repetition of a loop,
and each beat of the drum took my breath away. When they began
playing their new song "Every Word," I started singing
along. And when the phrase sung before the transition-to-praise-and-
worship was uttered ("My Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer"), I
realized the Spirit had taken over me. And then the familiar sound of
the drums led into an intense worship song first made popular by The
Prayer Chain,"The Blood of the Redeemer."

Often I would look around during the praise-and-worship section and
just stand in awe of all the people smiling, being washed over by the
waves of unyielding love of Christ. And I'd look up toward the
pounding drums, feeling the overwhelming beat of my own heart, and I
would take it all in, knowing that the man providing the driving
energy to the beat used so many different talents to bring me and so
many others near me to the place of spiritual ecstasy.

Ah, Brandon! As I looked at him, I thought about him running the
loops from his CD player onstage. I thought about how he got the idea
to use them when the band started recording Unfazed. And then I
thought about how much Brandon's input affected the band's
sound and performance on stage by helping keep time and adding a
distinct flavor to the music.

This modern day Little Drummer Boy has many ways to use his talents
to worship the Lord. Brandon's talents influence how the band
gets to shows and how the band gets its sound recorded. The Web site
Brandon constructed influences how Internet surfers view the band.
And Brandon's wife, Tiffany, is influenced by the way he rubs her
shoulders after a long night of working at the merchandise or the
World Vision table. All these things influence how the band and
audiences worship the Lord.

If there really were a Little Drummer Boy, he would never have had
the chance to engineer the sound for an album. He never would have
set up the microphones during recording and changed the sound of
those microphones to suit the music. He would never have edited the
sound clips of the audio and put them all together for the record.
And he never would have been very involved in the mixing of the music
for much of the album by making sure there was a good balance for all
the instruments, as well as adding reverb and echo to certain parts.
But our Little Drummer Boy got to do those things.

The original Little Drummer Boy probably walked to the stable to see
and worship the baby King. Brandon arrives to each concert in a
truck, along with the other members of the band and all the crew. And
between destinations, Brandon may be found driving the truck, or
relaxing in the comfy living quarters that he designed and built. And
perhaps he'll be jotting down notes on his Palm V and thinking of
ways to improve the Web site, or he might be amusing the other
passengers with his dead-on imitations of Casey Kasem or Kermit the
Frog.

And the audience for both differs as well. The little boy who played
his drum in a stable kept time with barnyard animals and faced the
potential of being drowned out by nay-ing, bray-ing, moo-ing, or bah-
ing. And while Brandon probably never was drowned out by animal
noises during a performance, he probably played in festival fields
where livestock grazed nearby or had grazed in the day before. So
both drummers had to watch their steps to avoid stepping in soft,
gooshy poo.

Different times, different places, different backgrounds--so many
differences, but so many similarities. The playing of a drum, the
present, and the God are the same for both drummers. And both gifts
of music from the drummers came from the heart and from feeling that
showcasing your talents for the Lord is the best gift you can give
Him.

During the last song for the last show of the Superfriends' tour,
the band members from all the bands gathered on stage to sing
Smalltown Poets' new song "Beautiful, Scandalous Night."
Each performer brought forth his and her talents in loving praise for
the Lord. I watched as Brandon handed Jeni Vernadaeu's drummer,
Bryan, a shaker that Brandon usually played during that song. Brandon
played his tambourine, as usual, and sang along on the accompanying
parts. What joy and energy he portrayed in his performance! You'd
never know he was tired from the long, exhaustive tour schedule.
You'd never think he was longing for the warm, softness of his
bed
back home in Atlanta. You just saw the never-ending flow of joy on
his face and in his body movements.

When Brandon looked up from taking a bow, he saw the sea of people
clapping and cheering. What a performance! I watched him look up and
smile at the audience. I know he saw them smiling. And like the
original Little Drummer Boy, a smile came across the Lord's face,
but there in a large church in central Ohio, this smile was on the
face of audience.

"Par-rum-bum-bum-bum. Me and my drum."

--------------------
IN THE NEWS:

There's a new discussion zone for you zonies! Check it out at:
http://pub37.ezboard.com/fccmchatfrm43

We're online. Check out "The Waiting List" archives at
http://www.dragonbbs.com/members/1570

(from Brandon)
The Waiting was recently in Nashville, TN working on the upcoming
record. Expect to see two singles on an InPop compilation before the
record is released in 2001. Also, the band is demanding a recount of
all ticket sales during the Florida section of the Superfriends
tour. "We're pretty sure that we played for more people while we
were in Florida and would like a recoud of all ticket stubs - even
ones that were not accurately separated" said an official
source. ...........Everything in this news clip is true, except for
the Florida thing. You of course know that we are just joking - ha
ha ha!

----------
With a new studio album due out late spring, the Waiting will be
touring with opening act True Tunes recording artist, Sundry. As
always, their performance promises to create excitement, make impact,
and stir the fires of faith for all who attend. Moreover, Sundry is
one of the most exciting live new bands to come around in some time.

1/27 Bryan, TX
3/10 Colorado Springs, CO
4/7 Louisville, KY

As soon as a full schedule is available - we will pass it on to you!

--------------------