tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73367730651903888252024-03-20T10:10:13.467-05:00Official Sara Groves BlogSara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-201378838120517452014-02-11T23:11:00.001-06:002014-02-11T23:20:28.265-06:00The Locust Effect<a href="http://www.thelocusteffect.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thelocusteffect.com/</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwvJ2UoQfExuLnkWuiDslfczKAhBvmaTDr5fCS2iV7mAT9z_4QJn-W79SRhV7hU6r7Dk5w91XYn7Rvwov538U67r6Bxq5chasffj8tj9bhoTMJUrDoJOLaag_i8KkuvNany95To46nBU/s1600/bookAngle-GalleryPage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwvJ2UoQfExuLnkWuiDslfczKAhBvmaTDr5fCS2iV7mAT9z_4QJn-W79SRhV7hU6r7Dk5w91XYn7Rvwov538U67r6Bxq5chasffj8tj9bhoTMJUrDoJOLaag_i8KkuvNany95To46nBU/s1600/bookAngle-GalleryPage.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've been tweeting my heart out, but I wanted to write a few more thoughts about Gary Haugen's new book<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.thelocusteffect.com/the-book" target="_blank"><i>The Locust Effect</i></a></span><u>.</u><br />
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I first heard about the work of International Justice Mission the summer of 2005. Like many, I was overwhelmed with the stories of rescue, and my initial responses were fueled by the urgency of that work.<br />
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Five months later, Troy and I found ourselves on a trip to Rwanda with IJM president, Gary Haugen. We were part of separate groups with some intersecting purposes. Troy and I were traveling with a coffee-roaster friend who partners with Rwandan farmers, and Gary was paving the way to open an IJM office in Kigali. We were honored to be quiet witnesses to his first trip back to the region since he had been there as an investigator with the UN working to exhume mass graves, and document the genocide there. There were many surreal moments during that trip. I remember standing in front of a church that is preserved as a genocide memorial when Gary pulled a photo from his coat pocket of the same church, ten years earlier. The memorial was hard enough to comprehend with it's organized shelves of skulls, but the photo of the same spot was incomprehensible - it was a small, jarring testimony to the depth of chaos and violence that was a reality there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyyi9b_b9TMWIJfiNe3Ti_BtXCG-_TBhxWeTpk9vutrkCDLQ4_b8Zmyun-6hY1GgG7aS3yeqdZTTvTuyWzojpSRU7E0h9-WVQp96o6ADvtENFMKlMtqLhiyBro_BMFsnQCMSFyw7JI7o/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyyi9b_b9TMWIJfiNe3Ti_BtXCG-_TBhxWeTpk9vutrkCDLQ4_b8Zmyun-6hY1GgG7aS3yeqdZTTvTuyWzojpSRU7E0h9-WVQp96o6ADvtENFMKlMtqLhiyBro_BMFsnQCMSFyw7JI7o/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have to add here that when the Rwandan genocide was happening, I was teaching US History. To my sorrow, the only thing I could remember bringing up in reference to the genocide, <i>as it was unfolding over 100 days</i>, was one question on a current events quiz about Clinton's reticence to use the word <i>genocide</i> to define events in Rwanda. Now we were in Rwanda, ten-years removed, hearing searing testimonies from survivors, and moving through the country with a guide that had been a unique witness to its history.<br />
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It was in this context, on the steps of that church, that I first heard the concepts behind The Locust Effect. As Gary spoke to the group about his experiences, there were questions imbedded in his story - Who is addressing the issue of violence against the poor? How can we strengthen rule of law so that the most vulnerable in the world are safe, or safer? How many resources and how much time will we put into aid before we address the locusts of violence that systematically descend and devour everything in their path? It was in this context that my heart was open to history's bigger
questions and responses, and I could see that <i>this vision is the
deeper, more pivotal work of IJM</i>. <br />
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And we were seeing it first hand. Our role on the trip was to learn about our friend's efforts to partner with co-ops of farmers by building more accessible washing stations for their coffee beans. But in the end, the story wasn't about accessibility to washing stations, or co-op development - the main issue was power and intimidation. The industry of coffee has a long history, and in that history, the farmer has had very little power. The farmer can't be empowered without taking power from someone else, without messing with the way things have been for a very, very, very long time. <br />
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In the end, we realized that there are systematic injustices at play, here, and everywhere, and nowhere with more repercussions than in poor communities. On those steps, Gary spoke with conviction that there are ways to address this type of systematic violence against the poor. <i>This is a much larger conversation, and a very important one.</i> Undercover investigations and rescues are still of extreme importance, but they are one part of a larger vision to shore-up leadership and systems of governance that will protect orphans, widows, and the most vulnerable among us.<br />
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The Locust Effect is the most articulate presentation of this vision that I have read yet from Gary Haugen, and I am grateful for it. <br />
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It is important to note that if you <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.thelocusteffect.com/the-book#buy-book" target="_blank"><b>buy the book</b></a></span> before Feb 15th, your purchase will be matched, and in addition, <i>all author royalties</i> go directly to the work of IJM. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.thelocusteffect.com/" target="_blank">Read more here.</a></span><br />
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<br />Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-33083302206140666972013-08-21T11:17:00.003-05:002013-08-21T11:17:35.172-05:00Sara Groves Announces "The Collection"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Sara Groves<o:p></o:p></div>
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"The Collection"<o:p></o:p></div>
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I
made a map of my life on my 40th birthday, and remembered in broad strokes the
first 20 years of my life, and then the second. Drawn out in a sort of
graph, I was amazed that there was rarely just one monolithic line, plummeting
and rising, but that in the darker hours, there was almost always a
counter-rise - <i>this</i> hard thing was happening, but at the same time, <i>this</i> other
(sometimes completely unrelated) wonderful thing was happening.
Coming-of-age vulnerability alongside finding genuine, life-giving mentors
(and authors), young adult angst alongside finding a voice, marriage joy
alongside marriage pain, birth alongside depression, sin and self alongside
truly breathtaking revelations of grace, tearing relational missteps alongside
burgeoning life-long friendships. You know what I'm talking about because
when I go out and sing, you come and tell me about your plummeting and rising,
and these songs that mark each turn in the line. Here we have done our
best to compile a group of songs to follow that line and 15 years of making
music! Thank you for listening - we are profoundly grateful for you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sara<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://saragroves.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn_CqQPekNkWEGHp25mezQfRp-Jjx_Y4ZBfKmxB7gcs0CFyccV4FosVfWxY4IkqZ_7KmNQ7sdIhflVBf4spvYW86OhBXzur4pPTiVp43pmlxzTdyknEbpt7J0gNjD28noazeCWJ8NQzg/s320/The-Collection_SaraGroves-web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Release Date: September 17</b></div>
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<b>Pre-order the album now and get an instant download of the entire album!</b></div>
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<b>Pre-buy link: <a href="http://saragroves.com/">saragroves.com</a></b></div>
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Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-7760365932822672872012-04-10T19:53:00.001-05:002012-04-10T19:53:00.095-05:00Why I Don't Blog Very OftenBecause this happens
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3T27CAiK0C7G36T_qNZxdHFat5ldD7xhEw6QgzlYDtlkPu70hAbfZ5bAak8mlMNJUyeydTDvtSRVhihAqEDCoh4eZHAd3ZRG4FQyWKD7HvjvT_l7XuTvtYaGkwbSp8C-w-7zk_CKvY8/s1600/IMG_1807.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3T27CAiK0C7G36T_qNZxdHFat5ldD7xhEw6QgzlYDtlkPu70hAbfZ5bAak8mlMNJUyeydTDvtSRVhihAqEDCoh4eZHAd3ZRG4FQyWKD7HvjvT_l7XuTvtYaGkwbSp8C-w-7zk_CKvY8/s400/IMG_1807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727721721941870498" border="0" /></a>
and sometimes this happens...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sXSaLFaX8SRmHM00hBUebb2vbYV7Q9wMSAMFKZvKFSjV9ouS5TTq8CKWVujvNjYyuBNSnErygPyLAvAVxC_C4rI7-YXNv4IBK3X7RmEQAU6LKepNSVpfxNgPqwjEGkce5vzNAk0ZCCY/s1600/IMG_1658.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sXSaLFaX8SRmHM00hBUebb2vbYV7Q9wMSAMFKZvKFSjV9ouS5TTq8CKWVujvNjYyuBNSnErygPyLAvAVxC_C4rI7-YXNv4IBK3X7RmEQAU6LKepNSVpfxNgPqwjEGkce5vzNAk0ZCCY/s400/IMG_1658.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727721578298311170" border="0" /></a>
and this...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnNJWgjye5dyTr4mCScyZ-rQocEK6aLpWdwSIzivIkIpKBky4Rg2R0i2WM-1AIoMVUvTmxChNg3JDCsXrhXb9Vz8z3zSRF73nr6BFUj9Q6qi92KtEaV_GFQNjIzFtPEikMicZlQmIYC0/s1600/IMG_1819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnNJWgjye5dyTr4mCScyZ-rQocEK6aLpWdwSIzivIkIpKBky4Rg2R0i2WM-1AIoMVUvTmxChNg3JDCsXrhXb9Vz8z3zSRF73nr6BFUj9Q6qi92KtEaV_GFQNjIzFtPEikMicZlQmIYC0/s400/IMG_1819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727721240642618066" border="0" /></a>
and this...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rf_QBeKEe351zXoBIKKEijR1rMP4i_KV5zx4NcmGA420P4vEBNZZeljwuldGMKrjW39guyL9hRM2xKkHQgQTuCFoAU5g_1rv_iEHJ1IzWQm4443_k3cdDr8_XX2CrelJ6RJWWkQr12I/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rf_QBeKEe351zXoBIKKEijR1rMP4i_KV5zx4NcmGA420P4vEBNZZeljwuldGMKrjW39guyL9hRM2xKkHQgQTuCFoAU5g_1rv_iEHJ1IzWQm4443_k3cdDr8_XX2CrelJ6RJWWkQr12I/s400/IMG_1605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727717672827355746" border="0" /></a>
and sometimes this happens...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHXWMCBANrv9OzoldcQdGDqUrAywG6lOKqKVr2AatIQ3fOla4sdgPe6LdGzSxCHuwtjcz6smeIW1qW-tf4xiR4wrY3DXe4qihT3opV9WSOW-VQc6fqXm9kkP23muzGxjb050qbRT9okU/s1600/IMG_1828.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHXWMCBANrv9OzoldcQdGDqUrAywG6lOKqKVr2AatIQ3fOla4sdgPe6LdGzSxCHuwtjcz6smeIW1qW-tf4xiR4wrY3DXe4qihT3opV9WSOW-VQc6fqXm9kkP23muzGxjb050qbRT9okU/s400/IMG_1828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727715952108568562" border="0" /></a>
So...Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-88306789250363403472012-04-04T23:10:00.017-05:002012-04-05T00:56:41.193-05:00Opening Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatF5Cn1AfkJErFfSVtu0mXzhY14gbCJovtrEqBgEZHBpFEOfS_XgmiWe9HgClEKidQkfP4XGMHGboL-2vIZ4PijjOcnK3FHzseBG0pufQpbq_bhJWDTfg_Drii2OpwePYIr5A-H4dI1E/s1600/IMG_1238.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatF5Cn1AfkJErFfSVtu0mXzhY14gbCJovtrEqBgEZHBpFEOfS_XgmiWe9HgClEKidQkfP4XGMHGboL-2vIZ4PijjOcnK3FHzseBG0pufQpbq_bhJWDTfg_Drii2OpwePYIr5A-H4dI1E/s400/IMG_1238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727773328259570546" border="0" /></a>
I usually run into events like a girl running with her head down - there is so much to consider in each moment without having to look up and consider what is ahead, too.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqeY6ws8gGE5gDa9KtVHWjDknhJ9j10Rf4aWokFO2S8CQlHv6xrxUYEcrz6FfK_AKPBmzZ7bTVJ0tDTBjzwd3PiSALwUYachQDHa8bp5UUgX9x_-tuDogZ0YgbPayHib8Q1vQE6tCtaQ/s1600/IMG_1277_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqeY6ws8gGE5gDa9KtVHWjDknhJ9j10Rf4aWokFO2S8CQlHv6xrxUYEcrz6FfK_AKPBmzZ7bTVJ0tDTBjzwd3PiSALwUYachQDHa8bp5UUgX9x_-tuDogZ0YgbPayHib8Q1vQE6tCtaQ/s400/IMG_1277_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727773847932080306" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bu6pHvpgY75eLTpiGm3TbMQuMObA3BMdUdOeeUdCRsRIoZSSLqyNKS_4PT0B5ZB990w6YCqTSr0pKpcZwPQ6IbkL7KhKTL_HghC5Sh9x2flSjSDGdFA98YdLnYq0vd7fjc6jWSmU66o/s1600/IMG_1303_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bu6pHvpgY75eLTpiGm3TbMQuMObA3BMdUdOeeUdCRsRIoZSSLqyNKS_4PT0B5ZB990w6YCqTSr0pKpcZwPQ6IbkL7KhKTL_HghC5Sh9x2flSjSDGdFA98YdLnYq0vd7fjc6jWSmU66o/s400/IMG_1303_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727774415065833346" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEoC5_l74XEhWA-zzELAADZ-PplL3dMiLyePloJqUnziyqTcpZ-N5FrF8CCticmtAFIze1FGKlirG24F0nucP3YmbwXkfqrN4eczhEOyf4lOYjUMBAF9iysK4IIvTfUV025L4Am_AkEM/s1600/IMG_1478_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEoC5_l74XEhWA-zzELAADZ-PplL3dMiLyePloJqUnziyqTcpZ-N5FrF8CCticmtAFIze1FGKlirG24F0nucP3YmbwXkfqrN4eczhEOyf4lOYjUMBAF9iysK4IIvTfUV025L4Am_AkEM/s400/IMG_1478_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727789074543046290" border="0" /></a>
For the past several months and years, I have been walking out a scenario that began to take shape a while ago. We felt a call, 'Art House,'and followed leads for a long time, and then found 793 Armstrong, and then sold our place, and then moved, and then started to repair it, and then...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q9QqwxVM2lbjK2iaImpOkGrgujJsBDnyRvvWJUIGEu7mcjnlez98qXMlArGKCJwcAMm_9D3ZOfN5QDIE4EOsYIIioFNQsnWb3skt3wsEj_RoA8BCMSPWikeP6pTUkr68Sgcclh99xq4/s1600/IMG_1287_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q9QqwxVM2lbjK2iaImpOkGrgujJsBDnyRvvWJUIGEu7mcjnlez98qXMlArGKCJwcAMm_9D3ZOfN5QDIE4EOsYIIioFNQsnWb3skt3wsEj_RoA8BCMSPWikeP6pTUkr68Sgcclh99xq4/s400/IMG_1287_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727774933097159682" border="0" /></a>
*Konk* All of a sudden it was opening night. All of a sudden I was picking up Charlie and Andi and Allison from the airport for our first Art House North event. At the last minute I was plagued with fears that you might not come, or that you would come and not like it, or not care.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73KXsOLLlMscFCVNk0BqvJg_SbN52ouR4bBU057aacWHzPQ-idqkUUOTtrqYstd9Zovnr5Q0BO5A43gqB-FxS2LklIsVNhL_tZ7m0mGiRjU2XZCIvVjxxdM11bp3ssW1aun4hUPUB6z8/s1600/IMG_1324.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73KXsOLLlMscFCVNk0BqvJg_SbN52ouR4bBU057aacWHzPQ-idqkUUOTtrqYstd9Zovnr5Q0BO5A43gqB-FxS2LklIsVNhL_tZ7m0mGiRjU2XZCIvVjxxdM11bp3ssW1aun4hUPUB6z8/s400/IMG_1324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727775419372125618" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKcngOE6NlP7lSG7TVNp9FrEWP4PZGKWGJagqoKszW0luOEI3PGhVO_LIVPaYS0OD-22PhzR_gfVOMmRzNnD4S2m70xDj6tEsIQR7H8ujvLH4Zatyo5GlHHGe6cfcD0TXEDxUkapv8ac/s1600/IMG_1376_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKcngOE6NlP7lSG7TVNp9FrEWP4PZGKWGJagqoKszW0luOEI3PGhVO_LIVPaYS0OD-22PhzR_gfVOMmRzNnD4S2m70xDj6tEsIQR7H8ujvLH4Zatyo5GlHHGe6cfcD0TXEDxUkapv8ac/s400/IMG_1376_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727775895406446610" border="0" /></a>
But you did come, and it seemed like you liked it, and had some similar dreams of your own, and that you actually care a great deal. I wish all of you could have been with us over the last couple of years so you could know what it felt like to walk in and watch this night unfold.
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My favorite part of the night was realizing that many of you have been carrying a similar dream, and that we might be on the verge of something fun.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-91086961858991536582012-04-04T22:41:00.004-05:002012-04-04T23:06:45.468-05:00We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrISrZYQjYbbHWUjjuguFFC4Om9_HL6x4OecFl05vtlPkDtR-DpDNpCjRh_Nif1IRkbr7Z0KqxMTCca7lQeWKd-SFt2SxDkC1lg1nkZIgE68aIM-yEQO_0Mb23ZvrtsekTx51DfKs0tQ/s1600/photo_9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrISrZYQjYbbHWUjjuguFFC4Om9_HL6x4OecFl05vtlPkDtR-DpDNpCjRh_Nif1IRkbr7Z0KqxMTCca7lQeWKd-SFt2SxDkC1lg1nkZIgE68aIM-yEQO_0Mb23ZvrtsekTx51DfKs0tQ/s400/photo_9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727757096717286786" /></a>
Our original plan for the Art House North was to have someone come in and, viola, do the renovations! But we got some sobering news at the beginning of the year about the sale of our house, and some other unexpected things, that reduced our renovation budget. At the same time, acquaintances, close friends, and friends of friends were offering to pitch in. Troy just jumped in and started fixing things himself... but miraculously, he was never working alone! Everyday people would materialize, seemingly out of nowhere, to help. The lock would break, and a locksmith would call or e-mail, "Let me know if I can ever help you with locks!" For over a month, Troy has been over at the church working all day, everyday. Thank you to all of our friends who came out to work with us to get this place up and running in time for our first event. We could never have done it without you!Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-8328796300723926322012-04-04T19:38:00.000-05:002012-04-04T19:39:54.993-05:00The Little House in St PaulWe've decided to not live in the church. We want to share the space with others and feel like there is not enough room to host events the way we want to if we are taking up so much of the building. It makes sense, and feels right. The first day we saw the church, I walked down the street a bit to the house because it had a for sale sign in the yard. I started when I saw it because it looked exactly like a run-down version of a house I had seen just a few months earlier in Ocean Grove, NJ. That house was tiny, almost like a dollhouse, and I thought to myself, "I want to live a simpler life." The house sat dwarfed between two giant beach houses, but it was loved and cared for, and everything about it said enough. As we drove by it, I said out loud, "That's my dream house." It wasn't something I had remembered until I was standing in front of it's little twin in St Paul. I looked at the house, and then the church and said to Troy, "We are going to live here, and work there." So, now our plans have come full circle, and I am not surprised, and it is enough.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-59629403832560949142011-08-17T11:43:00.007-05:002012-04-04T20:31:12.719-05:00Long over due post: The Move<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-tXF_AOzP0qGsHzqDgTJJ7RISaH3bcwM5ilGTTs0hgUEIkAwtTecnJGErtn5dHhlTcQIoEbXQ6ExZYx6_PZUzy0e71phlxmVjDCF31Gq8P02kH96qnbugjcXiKMqD4zDxGpGAq-gqOE/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-tXF_AOzP0qGsHzqDgTJJ7RISaH3bcwM5ilGTTs0hgUEIkAwtTecnJGErtn5dHhlTcQIoEbXQ6ExZYx6_PZUzy0e71phlxmVjDCF31Gq8P02kH96qnbugjcXiKMqD4zDxGpGAq-gqOE/s400/IMG_1670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727709134126697506" border="0" /></a>
It has obviously been a long time since my last post. Just looking at the picture, it is strange to think about how different my life was when I wrote it! I can remember sitting at my desk in my 'piano room' trying to get that font error at the bottom of the post corrected - oh well. In the fall
I took up homeschooling since we weren't sure when we would be moving and had a full touring schedule. We hit the road for The Reason To Gather Tour with Audrey Assad and Jenny and Tyler, and kept dropping the price of our house. At the end of that tour, we sold with the condition that we would be out by Christmas. With a Christmas tour already taking us out of town, we had nine days to be out. We filled three storage PODS with stuff, and moved just the bare necessities into our new little home in St Paul. It was important to Toby that we all say good-bye to the house in Burnsville, so we all went over for that last load. This is the only house my kids have ever known, and each of them were grieving. Toby was sobbing, sobbing, and Ruby kept looking at me. I told her that Toby was just grieving, and it was okay. "I will probably cry too," she said. A few minutes later I heard her trying to make herself cry, but it was fake, and she knew it. She looked up at me and shrugged her shoulders as if to say, oh well, I tried. With the help of many amazing friends, we cleared out the last of our belongings at 10pm, boarded the bus and headed to Chicago.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-88665588454968835972011-07-15T17:29:00.011-05:002011-07-15T18:42:05.789-05:00Art House North<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKyT2mUlkQtWQJfeDXNTGY3KCxLWy3bmmF0A6tGylwqPYjPiJFTzBCyH-i93EmQnKM3UegeIQk1Th070EhMCS_vZGmXBIFNJTQETzjfFqBF4Njg84ZSbtHs6Rf_GlM2L2yCNBh-T9AS8/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKyT2mUlkQtWQJfeDXNTGY3KCxLWy3bmmF0A6tGylwqPYjPiJFTzBCyH-i93EmQnKM3UegeIQk1Th070EhMCS_vZGmXBIFNJTQETzjfFqBF4Njg84ZSbtHs6Rf_GlM2L2yCNBh-T9AS8/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629727858090356834" border="0" /></a>
<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">In May 1998, I requested a year leave from the school where I was teaching - I actually tried to quit, but Principal Clausen offered me a leave instead, a grace-time that made the transition from high school teacher to troubadour sound more reasonable. Troy left his job a few months later, and we were off. There are no words to describe that time. If Troy and I were Hansel and Gretel, the breadcrumbs were loaves, plentiful and littering the path. I still managed plenty of fear and doubt, but the signs were unmistakable - <i>This Way! </i>
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<span style="font-family:Helvetica;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">A couple of years ago it dawned on me that my children did not get to witness this season in our lives. To them, we have always been out singing and playing music. I wanted them to understand the journey that brought us here, so I climbed up into the top bunk of their bed and recollected every miracle, and every moment of divine assurance along the way. The boys asked questions, and cried when I cried remembering the generosity of God, and so many friends. So, when the loaves started to show up again this winter, we did not hesitate to bring them in on it - <i>Remember the stories we told you? Pack your bags and get ready!
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</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">But before I get to where we're going, I have to revisit one more place we've been. In 2003 we recorded a portion of The Other Side of Something at <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.arthouseamerica.com/about/">The Art House</a> - home, studio and much more to producer <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.arthouseamerica.com/staff/">Charlie Peacock</a> and his wife (and author of one of my all time favorite books, <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877880484/qid=1134512506/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7054621-3982443?n=507846&s=books&v=glance"><span style="font-style: italic;">Real Love for Real Life</span></a>) <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.arthouseamerica.com/staff/">Andi Ashworth</a>. We were finishing up a much needed maternity break after the birth of our second son. We were in desperate need of a vision, a template for the whole artist life. A bit heart-numb and recovering from new-artist-itis I remember the surge of joy I felt at first seeing the Art House, church and gardens - <i>place</i> cultivated. Our initial conversations there left us feeling challenged and validated at the same time - it was as if something in the air was transforming our weary stories of life on the road into stories of the blessing and stewardship of storytelling. I remember walking to the car after our first visit saying, "I get it, I get it, I get it..." I'm not sure I could have recited the mission of the Art House at that moment, but Troy and I had caught a vision of the revitalization of church/place, the open-door life, and the ongoing dialogue about the way of Jesus, faith, and art.
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</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">ART HOUSE NORTH</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">In 2007 Troy and I came across a church for sale, and in passing I joked, "Art House North?" But it wasn't a joke, and we both started to think about what that might look like for us, and for our family. A year later we ran the idea by Charlie and Andi, who were already starting to develop ideas for an <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.arthouseamerica.com/dallas-home/">Art House in Dallas</a> - their enthusiasm was encouraging to say the least, and we started to look for properties in earnest. It was another three year process of walking through houses, dilapidated mansions, old schools, and warehouses before finally, in January of this year, we found it - a 100 year old church in St Paul with all the right bones to become <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://arthousenorth.com/">Art House North!</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">
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</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">While the specifics of our work will be unique to this community, the heart of this Art House will be the same as the others<span style=""> </span>- cultivating creative community for the common good!<span style=""> </span>We have more ideas than we can bring to life, and have such an incredible group of friends and fellow artists here that will be collaborating with us as well.<span style=""> We are excited to add this local endeavor to our work on the road</span><span style="">.
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Of course all of our friends and neighbors want to know - what is it?<span style=""> </span>What does an Art House North do?<span style=""> </span>I don’t know – what can it do?<span style=""> </span>I’m excited to find out, and we hope you are too.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-35926473203455044852011-05-15T00:11:00.011-05:002011-05-15T17:58:23.357-05:00The Mission<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuARqIWr3XxHNOpfck3Lbq8RrqRSZndkGEoTSPkob0v77wWeDCMpoh7Cfqb6jO3oyXws73ch-IGfJltYF8MeWdWgeJWKbzcif2HIX2TCJMqV-g9AQDsIIfc3wM4AJyQRFP_aqNs3usoQ/s1600/index.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuARqIWr3XxHNOpfck3Lbq8RrqRSZndkGEoTSPkob0v77wWeDCMpoh7Cfqb6jO3oyXws73ch-IGfJltYF8MeWdWgeJWKbzcif2HIX2TCJMqV-g9AQDsIIfc3wM4AJyQRFP_aqNs3usoQ/s320/index.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606821315655829442" border="0" /></a>
I've always said that my favorite movie of all-time is The Mission, but I have only seen it a few times. I was introduced to the movie when I was a sophomore in college - one of my English professors got so emotional talking about the film, I had to rent it that next weekend. I wish I could peel back the layers of what I know now so that I could remember what it was like to see it for the first time. My response to it was guttural, I remember that. I put the soundtrack on repeat in my room and grieved. (Years later my friend Sharon would say, as an aside to a conversation about human trafficking, that many times people will cry or will respond emotionally to something, and will think that they have <span style="font-style: italic;">done</span> something about the problem. She had moved, not past emotional responses, but into a life of flesh and blood responses. I flashed back to myself face down on my comforter, bawling my eyes out when she said that.) I can't remember what exactly got to me that first time, the story is complex, but I think I saw that my life resembled the Spanish and the Portuguese more than it resembled the Guarani, or the Jesuits, and that made me feel the long distance to heaven, and the complexities of responsibility in societies.
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The second time I watched it was two years later. Troy and I were going to get married, and so he thought he should see my favorite film of all-time (his was It's a Wonderful Life) I left his apartment in tears, struck again by how impossibly small love looks next to violence. That time, the silliness of war (men in wigs fighting with singing children - absurd!) was so clearly stupid, and yet at the same time, still so violent and real, with real consequences. I understood the Old Testament God that night in a way I had not yet.
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I have thought about the movie many times since then, and even though I have owned it for many years, we just got around to watching it again tonight. I feel it planted in my heart (that is probably why I am blogging after mid-night). There are so many people in the world asserting power. People groups, political groups, religious groups, neighborhood associations. Everyone has their stuff, and their power-play. In my heart/nature I feel two responses - one is to quit, disengage, stop showering, and despair that the only way to take away a tiny bit of that power is to take my bit of power and walk away. But the other response/desire I feel is to take my bit of power, lay it down and follow Jesus. Truly, His way (love, forgiveness, standing with the broken-hearted) is the only way forward in deadlocks of power, misunderstanding, and anger. You really do have to lose your life to live.
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Now that is a good movie. The Mission has given me twenty years of rumination and compelling heart-examination - even when I wasn't watching it!Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-65137471055171245672011-05-09T13:06:00.004-05:002011-05-09T13:49:35.135-05:00IJM Twin Cities Benefit!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFaHfpfs_sIBmCL2JQmVTPabbt8qcbucqEgw2Q75NE_xDcxdYZTEpV44TnWsKAFaNRSNbiCtEO6xUJbiKyRXJD5_njY3xkqhUYBPkutDO_G7I_RN8QKrkSi3DUkmz3DoXfZbtkHb47Zg/s1600/ijmlogo_footer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFaHfpfs_sIBmCL2JQmVTPabbt8qcbucqEgw2Q75NE_xDcxdYZTEpV44TnWsKAFaNRSNbiCtEO6xUJbiKyRXJD5_njY3xkqhUYBPkutDO_G7I_RN8QKrkSi3DUkmz3DoXfZbtkHb47Zg/s320/ijmlogo_footer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604789737442343730" border="0" /></a>
I just read <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://abolitionistjb.blogspot.com/2011/05/night-for-freedom-with-international.html">this great blog</a> about the IJM Benefit in Dallas by Abolitionist JB, and it made me excited to gather together with supporters here in the Twin Cities NEXT WEEK on May 17th for our annual IJM Benefit! JB's writes a great summary of Gary's message on the long-suffering nature of justice - "we just don't go away... ever." It is true that our friends at IJM work for endless hours to secure convictions and rescues, but there are also the more swift and miraculous results of that long work, like the recent unexpected rescue of <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-29/chennai/29486830_1_revenue-officials-kiln-labourers">522 bonded slaves in Chennai, India</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">.</span> Local officials and IJM staff went to rescue one man, but discovered 143 families longing for freedom. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This is the largest rescue in IJM's history!</span> In the Twin Cities we will be hearing from Sharon Cohn-Wu, one of the best communicators I have ever met. If you haven't signed up, please join us! More information <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.ijm.org/benefits">HERE</a>.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-32225897719424203912011-04-27T22:44:00.003-05:002011-04-27T23:25:27.046-05:00Happy Birthday John Stott!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PFwwZ8iMX7CoCWBzJZctTvMZ7n94rODxIGAi3bM5q_AgFtFJ_05FybdH4GtbYHEXgFvosKlq3E_9vCfqYcSL5XB_bItUDAqtAngX8GhwpTTY9ie-9ctRpy7SqUICU8hfUMQ9LDY5p0I/s1600/john+stott.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PFwwZ8iMX7CoCWBzJZctTvMZ7n94rODxIGAi3bM5q_AgFtFJ_05FybdH4GtbYHEXgFvosKlq3E_9vCfqYcSL5XB_bItUDAqtAngX8GhwpTTY9ie-9ctRpy7SqUICU8hfUMQ9LDY5p0I/s320/john+stott.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600475552277474930" border="0" /></a>Today is John Stott's 90th birthday! A small window into his influence was captured in <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE6D6103EF933A05752C1A9629C8B63">this 2004 New York Times Op-Ed</a> by David Brooks. If you have never read anything from this man, may I highly recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Christianity-Classics-John-Stott/dp/0830834036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303964346&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Basic Christianity</span></a>, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Disciple-Neglected-Aspects-Calling/dp/0830838473/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1303964504&sr=8-4">The Radical Disciple</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+stott+christian+mission&x=0&y=0"><span style="font-style: italic;">Christian Mission in the Modern World</span></a>. If you have been influenced in any way by this thoughtful voice of faith, please share you thoughts or well-wishes <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.johnstott.org/news/226">HERE</a>, and learn more about his great passion to support the education of pastors around the world <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.johnstott.org/">HERE</a>.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-5749437012287604142011-03-15T16:17:00.003-05:002011-03-15T16:22:25.002-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R798NpCfeB5Atr_acjtYyoX8OSU-stPb2BIfiH52iw_yfGZHqFOMzo3Inm2OtMHY7-FCr2LV-biSdzi-hcpyhkn9l7SrVFmAe30Dz-cIW0Mi3joojL4bQ14dfuhuKTDKZSNX-eFsWFs/s1600/christacoverweb_1299043117.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R798NpCfeB5Atr_acjtYyoX8OSU-stPb2BIfiH52iw_yfGZHqFOMzo3Inm2OtMHY7-FCr2LV-biSdzi-hcpyhkn9l7SrVFmAe30Dz-cIW0Mi3joojL4bQ14dfuhuKTDKZSNX-eFsWFs/s320/christacoverweb_1299043117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584418999667745266" border="0" /></a>
Today is release day for Christa Wells' new EP How Emptiness Sings. Christa is genuine, compassionate, and a very gifted writer. I got a copy of this record early, and have been taking it in song by song. I don't listen to her music, I absorb it! <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_7724581">Here is a link to listen!</a>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-44430415994294540032011-03-11T13:10:00.004-06:002011-05-22T18:27:34.848-05:00A Great Antidote to the Issues Raised in Previous Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoQMSNWgWMEg0mnjaHfG_Glh2m3wRv3mkRpdoM2Yl1WmoN9O4DGXBW3Viv7RVV7P668cJN4VId_j0EaSWZ3Lw-x5wuqMDlHL9fw1aZ7iN0kNdDRQwFymnQPp355CB5VShEqHRKNFALog/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoQMSNWgWMEg0mnjaHfG_Glh2m3wRv3mkRpdoM2Yl1WmoN9O4DGXBW3Viv7RVV7P668cJN4VId_j0EaSWZ3Lw-x5wuqMDlHL9fw1aZ7iN0kNdDRQwFymnQPp355CB5VShEqHRKNFALog/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582901995491157682" border="0" /></a>
Thank you for your comments and for permission to have some belly fat three children later. I would say this is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it about once a year because I think it is such an incredible blue print for real life. It is based on the Psalms of Ascents (120 - 134), and seems to speak to the whole of the human experience.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-68616579202771043402011-03-10T23:10:00.007-06:002011-05-22T18:26:52.678-05:00Information Overload<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiF4ZDrcO1NLbi7zUVAzYN49RYO47dH2PFUP6uQYxG27H7z5yVEnFR3ROUjCNOCuhkW0aBOdRwccDa06prwxYuN6lqCaeFd-ehvBRpOqzLu3dHz5ftRWEl-oPeb0JG1t8Bsw_GWssiS0/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiF4ZDrcO1NLbi7zUVAzYN49RYO47dH2PFUP6uQYxG27H7z5yVEnFR3ROUjCNOCuhkW0aBOdRwccDa06prwxYuN6lqCaeFd-ehvBRpOqzLu3dHz5ftRWEl-oPeb0JG1t8Bsw_GWssiS0/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582695216834486786" border="0" /></a>
I just read a great article in Newsweek about the toll that a constant stream of information can take on decision making and creativity. The story is <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/27/i-can-t-think.html">here</a> and explains more about "information fatigue" of which I am greatly afflicted. I have been trying to embrace technology because I read a different article that said that a person's 'true age' was measured by how well they embraced technology. I'm already concealing wrinkles and fighting an uphill battle with belly fat, so I thought I could at least take some years off of my true age with some technology embracing. But now I'm finding out that sleeping with one eye open to read Twitter is actually killing the creative part of my brain. I might have to kiss my dreams of a forever-young true age good-bye. <span style="font-size:78%;">(I'm such a non-tech embrace-er that I'm not even sure how to credit this link properly, but as I said the article is in Newsweek, and the article says that the illustrations are by Matt Mahurin)</span>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-52583373723141825502011-02-28T19:39:00.002-06:002011-02-28T20:15:29.298-06:00My Piano<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioep0bZR7UsFIFZlInVCfxIGeVE7ixf816HJG-kxnxhKKUitYVUH48_WlV-Kz4KRjq7pUjutTLbM2ssHyIxcjvQKEvhNRRfsz-noI4I6rrylkE9d-ttyb977yaGaBECyS2C_YKtUv8wg/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioep0bZR7UsFIFZlInVCfxIGeVE7ixf816HJG-kxnxhKKUitYVUH48_WlV-Kz4KRjq7pUjutTLbM2ssHyIxcjvQKEvhNRRfsz-noI4I6rrylkE9d-ttyb977yaGaBECyS2C_YKtUv8wg/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578920470036537522" border="0" /></a>
My first big purchase was not a car - it was this piano. I was in college and saw an add for a piano sale at another college in town. This piano was in a teacher's studio for ten years, and was spared the abuse of the college practice rooms. It was kept in tune, and was used sparingly during vocal lessons. When I married Troy and we moved up to Minneapolis we left it with my folks because we weren't sure that we would have room for it (and Troy didn't want to move it up stairs). But a few emotional meltdowns into our marriage, and we both realized the therapeutic role songwriting played in my life. We took a special trip to Springfield, MO in Troy's Dad's truck, wrapped the piano in blue tarps and bungee cords, and brought it back to MN. I started in right away, writing Everyday Miracles, Awakening, and Glory Come Down the first month I had it back, and I have written every album since then on this piano. It has a sweet, moody, melancholy sound, and is as much a part of my voice as my voice. It is an emotional instrument. I am writing now for a new record, feeling that old compulsion, coaxing out new melodies, grateful for my longtime friend.Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-55183517214298689342011-02-14T12:01:00.007-06:002011-02-15T12:39:32.048-06:00My Funny Valentine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6u9H40BiUha1emf18bGhmxJeazS0MAhEhLnyouG0CcF5mosasVavC9TfrV0LqC9oDz2klIvtjpSv9CU3-jcd81cuid0ZThhS09_IVbtA0LdoI1o5JCHG2KNu428qJtDgjFdIwBI-j2k/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6u9H40BiUha1emf18bGhmxJeazS0MAhEhLnyouG0CcF5mosasVavC9TfrV0LqC9oDz2klIvtjpSv9CU3-jcd81cuid0ZThhS09_IVbtA0LdoI1o5JCHG2KNu428qJtDgjFdIwBI-j2k/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573762413383602818" border="0" /></a>
<img src="file:///Users/Sara/Desktop/IMG_3190.JPG" alt="" />
I just read an article about the new album from Over the Rhine, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Long Surrender</span>, and I can't wait to find a quiet space to listen through. I have been a fan since "Latter Days" from <span style="font-style: italic;">Good Dog Bad Dog</span> showed up on a mix-tape given to me in college (must have been from the independent release somehow - I didn't own the whole album until the second release). I would love to talk more about OTR, but what hit me was all of the pictures of them together. Because they write together, and perform together, they get to both be in the pictures. I don't want to sound whiny, but I'm always subjected to photo shoots by myself because I am a solo artist. But I am not a solo artist. I never have been. It is hard, I think, to understand the role that Troy plays in our work. People often credit him for 'supporting' me, and I'm not sure what is imagined by that, but it is more than, "I believe in you," and a punch in the arm.
We are a team, but he is carrying much of the load, most of the time. In our work-life, he makes things work, and in our personal life, he keeps things fun. He pulls me along, balances me out, and loves me well. I love him back.
If it were up to me, I would insist that he is on the cover of our next record - just him. With a beard. A really long beard.
Happy Valentine's Day!Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-29003457874761391552010-12-20T10:58:00.010-06:002010-12-20T12:09:15.057-06:00Christmas Tour"...Til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth."<div>
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</p></div><div>We are about to wrap up our celebration of Emanuel, God with us, and the immeasurable worth demonstrated when he showed up for us. We've said it in person, but thank you John T. for sharing your story with our audiences, and for being such a sincere witness to the beauty of the Christmas Story. And finally, thanks to everyone who showed up for us in real tangible ways by sitting in seats and singing along. We have one more stop in Clearwater, FL, and then we will head to Missouri for a Colbaugh Family Christmas. </div><div>
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</p></div><div>Merry Christmas!</div><div>
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</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zw0wHccVY85Dr1PO2-k2pzOK222dN1fr_tmuvv_an7PXWL_wv5LT1sK36NoCSmbP58VKC7TCPB0sZFDS0Rkfr4aOg5D_NEzd5HVU51adoo-Kw2GV7mi2_0L-_oAGHjwzXADRFCReEqw/s1600/IMG_0097.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zw0wHccVY85Dr1PO2-k2pzOK222dN1fr_tmuvv_an7PXWL_wv5LT1sK36NoCSmbP58VKC7TCPB0sZFDS0Rkfr4aOg5D_NEzd5HVU51adoo-Kw2GV7mi2_0L-_oAGHjwzXADRFCReEqw/s320/IMG_0097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552819579899161378" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">Troy models the official 2010 Band Attire</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5znTYp2DZ8ewHprJ35b6ooxn7NtXtw7nsf5t4YhyphenhyphenrkJmMpBaUDSCamfwehCyhYC-o2Koe6Fz9n1W3N9HGU5K34S6X2dWBtOeShjDBzyzNfeuyB40jVbKi99kQFhGIHSvv_xiU5dIp97Q/s1600/IMG_0104.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5znTYp2DZ8ewHprJ35b6ooxn7NtXtw7nsf5t4YhyphenhyphenrkJmMpBaUDSCamfwehCyhYC-o2Koe6Fz9n1W3N9HGU5K34S6X2dWBtOeShjDBzyzNfeuyB40jVbKi99kQFhGIHSvv_xiU5dIp97Q/s320/IMG_0104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552820198083567506" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; ">In Galviston I overheard Aaron practicing his pedal steel in the hotel room and at first thought it was REALLY GOOD, heavenly Muzak</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvg3W4O4JtV_Mp9jq6XWrqA2j96NhWBELSYQFtx94ztMg4T9YWRM-heavPk0aT6AHgXEr8r8NKVShhpSVn5rAcH1I6LcVildTLpUeb4Tm_KUPaciZggcfWFle7eWvHoz_JeGR7swSYVM/s1600/IMG_0105.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvg3W4O4JtV_Mp9jq6XWrqA2j96NhWBELSYQFtx94ztMg4T9YWRM-heavPk0aT6AHgXEr8r8NKVShhpSVn5rAcH1I6LcVildTLpUeb4Tm_KUPaciZggcfWFle7eWvHoz_JeGR7swSYVM/s320/IMG_0105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552820415319765154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Ben, also capable of heavenly Muzak</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5znTYp2DZ8ewHprJ35b6ooxn7NtXtw7nsf5t4YhyphenhyphenrkJmMpBaUDSCamfwehCyhYC-o2Koe6Fz9n1W3N9HGU5K34S6X2dWBtOeShjDBzyzNfeuyB40jVbKi99kQFhGIHSvv_xiU5dIp97Q/s1600/IMG_0104.jpg"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">
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</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod59a0j-yy-d_BD6djIBQrpGqs66mYXCexTmeFp4_Yu-n7ZhtFiwTNkkcBxT3NjLsa_U92ic3imfOn42cEMFXPqtOximRyGWjoNPBpljtM3yJc-ARH_A5EyYxC_uHDzfZ4zbCEuxwNlQ/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod59a0j-yy-d_BD6djIBQrpGqs66mYXCexTmeFp4_Yu-n7ZhtFiwTNkkcBxT3NjLsa_U92ic3imfOn42cEMFXPqtOximRyGWjoNPBpljtM3yJc-ARH_A5EyYxC_uHDzfZ4zbCEuxwNlQ/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod59a0j-yy-d_BD6djIBQrpGqs66mYXCexTmeFp4_Yu-n7ZhtFiwTNkkcBxT3NjLsa_U92ic3imfOn42cEMFXPqtOximRyGWjoNPBpljtM3yJc-ARH_A5EyYxC_uHDzfZ4zbCEuxwNlQ/s320/IMG_0100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552819971083439074" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ruby helps Troy set up his gear</div>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGJO66oZvTtAI5zIo0m1e_BceX70YGjl-f9IWMHirzuVQu0Xr3nUMMRoh45vnSGDUCSyQaAB2Q56OSjVJAhHz2vOuQ2ZNCgz_uo8jaXQ2ElB5Z1uGSmf0sQBVDRRUFILShc9H2x3wfcw/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGJO66oZvTtAI5zIo0m1e_BceX70YGjl-f9IWMHirzuVQu0Xr3nUMMRoh45vnSGDUCSyQaAB2Q56OSjVJAhHz2vOuQ2ZNCgz_uo8jaXQ2ElB5Z1uGSmf0sQBVDRRUFILShc9H2x3wfcw/s320/IMG_0117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552821833195622434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I found a set at Target that converts any table into a ping-pong table - here the boys try out the three round tables in Indy, and a configuration of 6' tables in Springfield, MO</div><div style="text-align: center;">
</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1VWQ4uY6TYzvC1_liAMkYaI5SwfoqqHNK0EF3T8JBb8FqEl5OmQmoy1w0Up_P1m5cw6cmYBut4BQpU4_63cs56pz8Eu3FhGkCYkm-ZhXy1pV-MySy48TtTe4q5zed1qU4DSO3_aeZHk/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1VWQ4uY6TYzvC1_liAMkYaI5SwfoqqHNK0EF3T8JBb8FqEl5OmQmoy1w0Up_P1m5cw6cmYBut4BQpU4_63cs56pz8Eu3FhGkCYkm-ZhXy1pV-MySy48TtTe4q5zed1qU4DSO3_aeZHk/s320/IMG_0115.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552821776903121234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
</div><div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-25812217166258037802010-11-15T14:54:00.003-06:002010-11-15T14:57:40.391-06:00This is CALL IN DAY for IJMPlease consider calling your senator today about voting yes for the Child Protection Compact Act! It just takes a couple of minutes. Learn more at <a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" href="http://www.IJM.org/nationalcallinday">www.IJM.org/nationalcallinday</a>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-33690459041953862742010-11-10T21:58:00.006-06:002010-11-10T23:15:31.652-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VGZNZ1gZTJeJ-JpRIrysBTDHkrr-_TPc59r6kTtfGLC4rtPUN5cNsz7yVoHNvVxPAIjTTJGRwjnI0ZrmKwuHEc0xigTCj4PfMr6IhE2n8xDfCsOtfZEYeDylGHUm1lJ1Gfo6NpBAQuA/s1600/index_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VGZNZ1gZTJeJ-JpRIrysBTDHkrr-_TPc59r6kTtfGLC4rtPUN5cNsz7yVoHNvVxPAIjTTJGRwjnI0ZrmKwuHEc0xigTCj4PfMr6IhE2n8xDfCsOtfZEYeDylGHUm1lJ1Gfo6NpBAQuA/s320/index_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538137262700505442" border="0" /></a>
If you are on our e-mail list, then you have already heard that we have a <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://saragroves.com/">free recording</a> of a live show from last Christmas. It was a sweet night for all of us, and I think that comes through in this recording. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you to <a href="http://hopeshows.com">HOPE SHOWS</a> for making the night possible!Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-9900544293351570202010-11-03T16:29:00.003-05:002010-11-03T16:48:53.522-05:00IJM - National Call In Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwclBZg4Umc8_5d20RBgBZtAEtY19Za5qiwB7zcA2NXPIFHRATU86rpBjN2Q6Vh-CamTvzkCiy2J3q2-SrcqdV-hW5QoWf0AyUmJrmdGknx1EPugC7_g6uIlxhueU6JlhfKHeFtSFPAs/s1600/image.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwclBZg4Umc8_5d20RBgBZtAEtY19Za5qiwB7zcA2NXPIFHRATU86rpBjN2Q6Vh-CamTvzkCiy2J3q2-SrcqdV-hW5QoWf0AyUmJrmdGknx1EPugC7_g6uIlxhueU6JlhfKHeFtSFPAs/s320/image.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535443501335549794" border="0" /></a>
A couple of years ago, Troy and I had a chance to advocate for the Child Protection Compact Act on Capital Hill. This legislation will go a long way to strengthen partnerships with cooperative governments to protect minors from trafficking. We have watched this piece of legislation make it's way through Congress School House Rock style, but were sad to see the last session close before it was passed. Now this congress is reconvening for a 'lame duck' session, which provides another opportunity for this bipartisan measure to pass. Would you please consider calling your Senator on NOVEMBER 15th?
All of the information is here -
<a href="http://www.ijm.org/nationalcallinday">http://www.ijm.org/nationalcallinday</a>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-33470842353144654602010-10-15T17:18:00.006-05:002010-10-18T12:01:22.498-05:00Lausanne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUetkNQ9I8QmRsTDg5ib9Fy5RdCFiYT6JM6ZL-j5d_c_mfWnYhtHJrsSc4N7Xt6iLQcsxyZAzMoDomeR5jR4cdNEWTYnQsgjsE_MumTytUb_ZFK8ow-hqg2VYtIsG6e426B6ZPsIEIas/s1600/Lausanne-image.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUetkNQ9I8QmRsTDg5ib9Fy5RdCFiYT6JM6ZL-j5d_c_mfWnYhtHJrsSc4N7Xt6iLQcsxyZAzMoDomeR5jR4cdNEWTYnQsgjsE_MumTytUb_ZFK8ow-hqg2VYtIsG6e426B6ZPsIEIas/s320/Lausanne-image.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528402798493235906" /></a>Today we are on our way to <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region> for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lausanne</st1:place></st1:city>, a global congress of Evangelical church and lay leaders. We are honored to be a part of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> delegation, and long to share the experience with you! One hundred and eighty-seven countries will be represented by a total of 4500 delegates, meeting to pray, worship together, and humbly ask God for direction. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lausanne</st1:place></st1:city> was founded by Billy Graham, John Stott and Christianity Today in 1966 - this is the third such congress. Learn more about <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lausanne</st1:place></st1:city> at <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/"><b>Lausanne.org</b></a> But also participate! The site was built to include as many people as possible in this global conversation.
In a small way you are invited to listen into our part of the experience and thoughts as <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Troy</st1:place></st1:city> will be daily uploading short "twitter-sodes" (mini 1min episodes on twitter). <a href="http://twitter.com/grovesroad">Follow us on twitter @grovesroad</a><div>
</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgk2K_OXPAqOeoN711YwPxA5vYNmwodrds6AcfikN_PJU5He0Jr1ma7bIYJHcT__iVGZJ-qJuSvttXl9vinYsjgbfhDcnWGWixyS2gOts4KQ-hEffqIQX0_R3J8XAIzQmOLbjbiJhZjA/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgk2K_OXPAqOeoN711YwPxA5vYNmwodrds6AcfikN_PJU5He0Jr1ma7bIYJHcT__iVGZJ-qJuSvttXl9vinYsjgbfhDcnWGWixyS2gOts4KQ-hEffqIQX0_R3J8XAIzQmOLbjbiJhZjA/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529431843345081874" /></a>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-3456783274529868802010-10-05T22:00:00.000-05:002010-10-04T22:09:04.064-05:00Azizi Life is Online!!After our '09 trip to Rwanda, I blogged about our friends at Azizi Life <a href="http://saragrovesofficial.blogspot.com/2009/11/azizi-life.html">here</a>. Well, just in time for the Christmas season, they have gone live with their website. The handicrafts you order <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.azizilife.com/">here</a> will benefit artisans in the area we are supporting with Food for the Hungry!
My favorites are the woven baskets and trivet sets. Here are a couple that I have in my kitchen at home...
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28U-w2bLeekossbbBJprW2CP8WdhOytclUsN1LDb9k0_oI8mgZobXKZLY4uAvP25u-K0M9yB55SVRQkMBqpYgHjUrZxdMKVLfIAhKpA-gxZPVn4hjQ6t-795YvNwCvMSNMDBSTBHdyv0/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28U-w2bLeekossbbBJprW2CP8WdhOytclUsN1LDb9k0_oI8mgZobXKZLY4uAvP25u-K0M9yB55SVRQkMBqpYgHjUrZxdMKVLfIAhKpA-gxZPVn4hjQ6t-795YvNwCvMSNMDBSTBHdyv0/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522814043502042514" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwX7Dg7CK-iMnjTPkfPxLcD-WQiuTxAez9zAjjxnGpIj6qXSY2kqi5dYE7dC78m8RlTy6izcEvB9Fm5LPCRS0tl20i46SvtXrYasTOE5ww8RwK3r1H96eS_HN8aULZh7RxpiltBqOFx8/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwX7Dg7CK-iMnjTPkfPxLcD-WQiuTxAez9zAjjxnGpIj6qXSY2kqi5dYE7dC78m8RlTy6izcEvB9Fm5LPCRS0tl20i46SvtXrYasTOE5ww8RwK3r1H96eS_HN8aULZh7RxpiltBqOFx8/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522814035352661618" border="0" /></a>
This update came from Christi at Azizi Life...
<blockquote>Every Friday afternoon, a group of women get together in their village in Rwanda, East Africa. They are artists, skilled at weaving beautiful and useful objects from natural, locally-gathered materials. These women have a vision. They are determined to use their art to benefit their families’ health, nutrition, and education. As they meet together, the women share advice on everything from perfect weaving, to parenting, to HIV/AIDS prevention. They talk, weave, laugh, encourage, sing, and pray. These are the remarkable women of the Abarikumwe “People Who are Together” Association.
You are invited to meet the Abarikumwe artists, visit their community, and see their art on a new website from Azizi Life!
Visit <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.azizilife.com/">www.azizilife.com</a> !
Azizi Life is a small Rwanda-based company of Christians dedicated to promoting the development of Rwandan craftspeople, their communities, and their art. There are 25 independent groups of artisans- like Abarikumwe Association- who are now earning fair wages, receiving coaching in quality and design, and being connected to a global market through Azizi Life.</blockquote>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-58620851074030629072010-10-04T09:26:00.005-05:002010-10-04T11:57:53.828-05:00Most Beautiful Run Yet<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0QHdefPTYHQlhBqxLK6OhUttfnkU7ViNzuc59UgUHdUpMG_4ZPngEXvBf5up2oujDAgyGmCT5UFM5cPhcLw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-19483311743034111842010-09-30T13:19:00.008-05:002010-09-30T17:55:34.982-05:00Favorites<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHap2iTt9mwVNvUr7uwfLcggFeJcjD2qi7SmrD5QOYcpxQ7v2FS54PHB82SWglQhSj-NKyfBf_-cbp1uqGbectFQR_N5zB8WU2Mjf4mnJPrs3HdcfCeYnr91viOv5vpE54MzZL_xYnZ8/s1600/DSCF2498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHap2iTt9mwVNvUr7uwfLcggFeJcjD2qi7SmrD5QOYcpxQ7v2FS54PHB82SWglQhSj-NKyfBf_-cbp1uqGbectFQR_N5zB8WU2Mjf4mnJPrs3HdcfCeYnr91viOv5vpE54MzZL_xYnZ8/s320/DSCF2498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522780330161161698" border="0" /></a>
It has been so great to be back on the road again for a bit, sharing stories and music. This next month we celebrate 10 years with INO Records, and have been playing a broad range of music from our seven albums with INO. Many of you have shared with me your favorite songs over the years. It is daunting to make up a set list of favorites when so many songs mark such personal, sentimental moments and life markers. My favorites songs probably have very little to do with songwriting, and a lot to do with what was happening in my life when I wrote the song.
But in reflecting on favorites, I would have to include You Cannot Lose My Love as a list topper. I wrote that song after bringing my newborn (now 10 year old) home from the hospital. When we released The Other Side of Something, we included a bonus disc with the first run, and it included this version of the song with Kirby and I in our piano room at home. I love his exasperation with me at the end... "no, love."
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F5709591%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-rSAi4&secret_url=false"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F5709591%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-rSAi4&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="81" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/inorecords/you-can-not-lose-my-love">Sara Groves- You Cannot Lose My Love</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/inorecords">INORecords</a></span>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336773065190388825.post-57019686656881465792010-07-11T13:53:00.006-05:002010-07-11T14:24:10.099-05:0065 miles down, 1 concert to go<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV8nNuxBlRxhdmn_zYPVLzb5hqrTC5OwocqVnNRW-2YNfgEuinkufIb235yyQOlzDgnylwMGC7zcaGxgK0fQWkzsvRId-tfvILCegSncCMIOz-vTCEq9RAlDHdUJO2U8-pV05Y0Xyr-E/s1600/IMG_0634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV8nNuxBlRxhdmn_zYPVLzb5hqrTC5OwocqVnNRW-2YNfgEuinkufIb235yyQOlzDgnylwMGC7zcaGxgK0fQWkzsvRId-tfvILCegSncCMIOz-vTCEq9RAlDHdUJO2U8-pV05Y0Xyr-E/s400/IMG_0634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492724039165599314" border="0" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Troy and I on Friday morning</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">We had an incredible time riding with the 5 Weeks for Freedom team on Friday! We spent the night at the church (everyone just finds a spot on the ground with their sleeping bags), and then after a debriefing in the morning, we headed towards Nashville.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt6TUI3JvFYlGmzngllMYX0tF8Q898KwzCXjdesd2oE9e5qFfIGwtDAe5qDDM0fw4rPpvhGAP6DwJtWD-mmhBY0mU3HyUh-tcosnIkm27A_SOW5CxiLvsKs1qizkWk0PTvUcwFT-edns/s1600/IMG_0646.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt6TUI3JvFYlGmzngllMYX0tF8Q898KwzCXjdesd2oE9e5qFfIGwtDAe5qDDM0fw4rPpvhGAP6DwJtWD-mmhBY0mU3HyUh-tcosnIkm27A_SOW5CxiLvsKs1qizkWk0PTvUcwFT-edns/s400/IMG_0646.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492725403589477794" border="0" /></a>
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This bike lane showed up at the end of the trip and was greatly appreciated!!</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">It was HOT, and HILLY, but the team works together to encourage everyone along (thank you Deb, Margee, Dave...). For a big stretch of our trip, we did not have a bike lane or shoulder (for those of you living in Nashville, we came up Franklin Avenue to Old Hickory, and headed East) The traffic was intense, and I had to pry my shoulders down from my earlobes after that stretch. With all of the traffic, I forgot to drink water, and I started to dehydrate at mile 40. I had just taken a huge hill, and realized that I wasn't sweating, but once I drank a couple of bottles of water, I felt great again and was back on track.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJJ57_FXW-Zij1DpfwAopDOn20CfUbgBVFPg7XqLG4vd0tJYoSR2_sBju9Z_EFGqsWo5y8V88aMkY85Pw-8d0I3RJiIpzTZV1bbUdN-xbDFjx1EygeuWItZXSHHw3SICpHHDNyjYtg4U/s1600/IMG_0648.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJJ57_FXW-Zij1DpfwAopDOn20CfUbgBVFPg7XqLG4vd0tJYoSR2_sBju9Z_EFGqsWo5y8V88aMkY85Pw-8d0I3RJiIpzTZV1bbUdN-xbDFjx1EygeuWItZXSHHw3SICpHHDNyjYtg4U/s400/IMG_0648.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492727783473909554" border="0" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">With Iron Mike at the finish line... I think the world of these guys!</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">I have a new appreciation and empathy for a lot of people. When I was on that huge hill at mile 40, with the sun beating down on me, in pain, and feeling nausea, it is not a cliche to say that my heart broke again for the families who toil in the sun all day under threat of violence, watching their children be groomed for slavery with no way out. But I could end my ordeal any time I wanted, so I still don't have a clue. I also have a new appreciation for the team who will continue to ride along the Underground Railroad until they reach Buffalo NY, and 1,800 miles to bring awareness of modern day slavery to the communities they visit.
We are looking forward to our concert tonight at Christ Community Church! I will be the one sitting on a pillow at the piano!
</div></div></div></div>Sara Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455690485316409676noreply@blogger.com13