"The Grey (When Black & White Fade)" is both a response and a result. 

It is a response to God's grace and it is the result of the Lord's activity in my life.  It is a response to the availability of the Kingdom of God and it is a result of walking through the Kingdom as best as I can.  It is a response to the many great people that have been involved in my life and it is a result of their investing themselves in me. 

"The Grey (When Black & White Fade)" will consist of 10 or 11 songs.  It is my goal to release it on September 16, 2014. 

Why is the album called "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)"?

Jesus spent a lot of time and energy talking of the vast, all-encompassing Love of God.  In Jesus' world, life is lived from the heart, soul, and spirit.  Jesus speaks of life being fueled by grace and led by love.  Calculating our actions, and keeping track of ourselves and everybody else, merely seems to clutter the space in which love moves. 

Living in the grey of the Kingdom of God is not a way of saying anything goes.  It's not an excuse to do whatever we please, whenever we want to.  I think the grey love of God beckons us to examine the motives of our actions. 

If you are like me, in the past, I have far too often colored within the lines simply because the lines were there.  Living out love wasn't necessarily my motivation.  I did the "right" thing because I assumed it is what I ought to do. 

With each day, I am know setting out to be guided by the Love of God.  Being led by love is a lot more scary, ambiguous, and, yes, grey, than following the steps that have been laid out before us...simply for the sake of the steps.  For, that way is safe.  It is easy and comfortable.  But it isn't the call.

Looking at the world in black and white invokes hard lines and borders.  Grey is wide and vast.  A black and white approach excludes.  Grey's haziness is all-encompassing.

As many of you know, I began doing concerts with, writing songs with, and being roommates with the late, great Rich Mullins. I believe that Rich was one of the best singer-songwriters ever.  I was fortunate to spend a few years trying to glean as much from him as I could. Rich believed in me. He shared his knowledge, expertise, and insights with me and pushed me to become who I am.

I was in the car wreck that killed Rich Mullins. The wreck put me in the hospital for a long time...as I was in a coma with a severe closed head injury.  I had broken bones and collapsed lungs.  I was afflicted with double vision and the loss of my voice. It took years to recover, but I finally did. Though I miss my friend Rich greatly, thankfully, I have been able to continue doing music. 

Therefore, I am going to go all out.  I want to make something good.  I don't want to just go half-way with anything while making "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)".  I have invested much of myself in this recording.  I am very wrapped up in it...creatively, monetarily, artistically, and musically.   I am determined. 

Creating "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)" is something I WILL do.  It's something I HAVE to do. It's something I MUST do. I am trying to become the person the Lord is creating me to be. Therefore, I will...I have to...I must.

I have set a goal of raising  $9,000 to record and release the album.  This is the basic minimum needed to make sure this happens.  This amount will get the project off the ground and ensure that it becomes a reality. 

In finically supporting the making of "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)", you are not merely investing in the record monetarily...you are taking ownership. You will get a "reward" out of the deal.  However, your graciousness will far surpass what I can give you in return. 

"The Grey" will not happen without you. It will not be everything it could be apart from your involvement and support. We are in this together.  In creating "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)", we will, together, make something good. 

It is my prayer that this album points you towards the very real things we have to hang onto as we walk through this life. 

Over the past number of years, I have done 1500 concerts in 49 states and 13 countries and have recorded 9 albums. I have been driven to do concert after concert, travel mile after mile, write song after song, and make record after record.  Day after day.  Year after year. 

The fire still burns.  Now, I am driven to make "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)". How well I can do that is dependent upon your graciousness.  Your giving and support will be the determining factor in "The Grey" reaching it's full potential. 

The money that is raised will go towards several things.  It will fund using Greenjeans Studios; a super talented recording engineer, Carter Green; wonderful musicians, Michael Aukofer, Carter Green, and Dave Sprinkle; mixing and mastering the album; and the design, packaging, and physical manufacturing of "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)".  It will also make promotional efforts increasingly more possible. 

When the goal of $9,000 is surpassed, it will not only make for a better recording, but it will initiate better marketing and promotion, higher quality manufacturing, and more extensive touring. 

In that moment, I will be overwhelmed with gratitude. Yet, I will not be altogether surprised...based upon the level of gracious support I have received in the past. So, once again, what "The Grey" becomes will be determined by your "givingness".

I believe in this recording and the notions and faith that are expressed within it.  I believe the songs of "The Grey (When Black and White Fade)" will speak.  It is my prayer that this recording pushes you from the black and white by which we like to measure life, and towards the immeasurable love of God. 

Thank you for considering partnering with me in the making of the "The Grey (When Black & White Fade)". 
 

I2. I think your last album, "Underneath", was your best overall collection.  Do you ever feel pressure to make the next album as good as the last one?

I don't know that I feel pressure…but you're always wondering if you have anything else to say.  I guess you're always hoping to grow as a person and grow as an artist.  I am kinda glass-half-empty more than I would like it to be.  I go, do I have stuff to say?  Am I still growing?  I know I dumped more into this last record than I think I have before.  I am not slighting any of my previous records.  Each time you do one you feel like you dumped your whole self into it.  But with this one, I can't imagine dumping more than I did.  So I go, can I do that again?  Will I get the opportunity to?  Will the Lord see fit for me to do another record?  Will it be the best decision for my family?  So those are all the questions.  So it's not necessarily pressure…but definitely questions.
 

3. You're in the upcoming film 'Ragamuffin', based on the life of Rich Mullins.  How did it feel to dive into all that again, particularly knowing how painful your recovery was.

Parts of it were hard, but, really, I don't think it was very difficult for me to do it.  I've always wondered why I don't seem to be grieving, or having a hard time with things, like other people are.  I went to the movie's premier, and so many people were impacted by the movie. It was powerful for them and it was so hard for them to watch some of it.  Afterward I heard from people, over and over, "Wow that must have been so hard for you to do that.  It was so brave of you to be in that...the filming of some of the stuff in there".  And really, it wasn't.  Sometimes I found myself asking, what is wrong with me, what is wrong with me?  I talked to a friend of mine who is a psychology professor out at Fuller seminary in California.  And I was telling him about this.  And he said "Well I don't find that odd at all. There's nothing wrong with you."  He said "When the wreck happened, it hit people hard. But the next day they went to the grocery store. You've been dealing with this every day for the last 16 years.  So the movie is not going to hit you as something you haven't been experiencing all along.  It's hard for these people because they're experiencing it all over again."  Some of the stuff Rich said, which I heard often in concert, didn't hit me like it hit people who had never heard it before or were hearing it again for the first time.  The wreck scene was so hard for people that were experiencing it like new, some 16 years later.  But it's been with me…it's nothing new.  I was very close to the filming process.  So as i was watching the film, I found myself going "Oh Ok I remember this. Or oh so that is how that scene was pieced together."  And then of course I was very close to the actual events.  So I watched the movie from a different viewpoint than a lot of people.  This movie wasn't really for me, anyway.  So I don't deserve to have much of an opinion on it.  I'm just grateful that it's impacting people and moving people.  Is it accurate?  No.  There's plenty of it that's not accurate.  But is it true.  Yes, the essence of the movie is spot on.  I was talking to a friend, and it came up…would Rich want a movie about him to be accurate or to have an impact on people.  He would want it to impact people…I have no doubt that would be his answer.  Well, that's what it's doing.  The essence of the movie is spot-on true.  It's just trying to tell Rich's story in 2 hours…things have to be finagled a little bit.  So it was hard, and emotion would sneak up on me when I least expected it.  But I guess it wasn't any more difficult than several things that I do each day.
 

4. So that ties into my next question, which is, did you feel the movie painted an accurate depiction of Rich's life?

The timeline was fudged with a good bit.  They had a monumental task to turn it into a two hour movie and they did an unbelievable job.  It's a great piece of creative accomplishment.  I wish the lighter side of Rich's personality had come through a bit more.  But when I think about it, I go, well, not only did they have to squash the movie chronologically, but they had to do that with Rich's personality, too.  The message they were trying to communicate called for certain aspects of Rich's personality to be focused on more than others.  I think everyone needs to remember, or realize, that Rich is much much more than this movie.  And, for me, the timeline sequence, and the ages of different people in the story, don't make sense.  But I don't think the person watching the movie, and being impacted by it, is really concerned about that.  I don't think they care.  The movie is definitely revolving around Rich, his struggles, his relationship with God.  And, therefore, the movie is revolving around God, and God's relationship with all of us.  It's dealing with God's relentless pursuit of us.  So some of the accuracy gives way to that theme…and that's for the best.
 

5. Was it fun playing yourself onscreen?

I don't think it was fun…(laughing)…I mean, I don't even know if it's fun playing myself…in real life…every day!  But I'm grateful.  I'm grateful to get to breathe this day and to have experiences I get to have this day.  It was cool to get to be a small part of the movie making process.  To get to see what goes one.  I knew nothing about it.  All the ins and outs.  I'll tell you what...I don't know what real acting would be like.  Now, some people talk about me also being an actor, and I go,  "What??  I was playing myself!  Does that even count??"  So you know, It was nothing.  There were certain instances when I was recounting, and would say to myself, "I remember this real event we're trying to get down here"  So it wasn't really acting at all.  A lot of it was just thinking back to what it was…and kind of reliving things.  That was the extent of my acting: Reliving!
 

6. I've often heard that people getting into acting either love it or hate it.  Are we going to see you in any future film roles?  Any academy awards headed your direction?

Well if we use my music career as a reference, I would say there are no academy awards on the horizon!!  I don't know if you could I was bit by the bug…but I do think it is a viable medium that I'd be up for exploring.  But like I said I didn't feel like a real actor. Who knows what lies ahead…
 

7. Are you currently working on your next full length record?  Any idea about when we might see it?

It seems I am always working on the next record…though i never know if there will be a next record.  Does that mean that I have any songs?  No.  But you're always working on ideas.  I always have a bunch of "in-process" songs…carrying around a bag of melodies, chords, and phrases.  I have no idea of when the next one will happen, or, IF it will happen.  I know that there are no tangible plans for it to happen in the next, say, 4 months.  Beyond that, who knows?
 

8. I know you wrote a couple of songs for the 'Ragamuffin' soundtrack, including a song that was supposed to have been written by Rich.  Did you make a conscious effort to try and capture a 'Rich' vibe while writing it?

Well...eventually, I approached it as a co-write.  It's a song called 'Danger'…in the original script, it was a song that Rich, and the character Justin, were working on.  So it's kinda written from Rich's viewpoint.  After I read through the script the very first time, long ago…I wanted to document some of my feelings, and some of what I felt Rich's feelings would be,  in a song.  I just needed to document some of the thoughts and get those down.  This was before they talked to me about doing anything for the movie.  I didn't know Schutlz was gonna ask me to write a song or a specific purpose in the movie.  I had no intentions of it becoming anything in the movie, but it did.  Though the whole script changed…(laughing)…and so the song has no spot in the movie….(laughing).  But it's in the very tail end of the credits, which is, ya know, whatever.  The other song merely ended up on my last record…that's it .  So I am grateful. 
 

9. You're about to kick off a new spring tour.  Who's traveling with you and how many stops so far? 

How many stops so far?  Tomorrow is concert number 2 out of…50 spring concerts, something like that.  Probably about 90% of the time I'll be solo.  The rest of the time Dave Sprinkle will be playing with me.  Multi-instrumentalist.  Bass player, percussion player, keyboard player, guitar player.  He is great.  Very talented.  Awesome to have around.  HIs strongest characteristic is his ability to go with the flow…in music…and in life. 
 

10. Any specific message or theme that you're trying to convey to the audience during this new tour?

I'm sure there is...I just don't know what it is yet.  I know, last night, I blabbed about a lot of stuff that I hadn't talked about before. A lot of times you just have to be receptive to what you'll be led to say.  You have to be open and pay attention to what's going on in you and around you…and soon the message or the theme will become evident.  It always happens. I don't even know that I have a very good idea heading into it of what that might be.  There are the big things that I hang onto.  The faithfulness of God persisting though our rough difficult stuff.  There is nothing we can do good, nothing we can do bad, that can alter our standing before the Lord.  That kind of stuff.  That Jesus saves me from myself.  That I'm completely trying to live in the kingdom of God and, then, how that goes against living in our society, and living in our culture.  So those are some things that...whatever message I have, whatever songs I have, whatever I have to say…hopefully will come out of who I am.  I have one pool to draw from.  And everything I do comes from that pool…whether that's folding clothes, dropping my kids off at school, doing a concert, or, you name it.  I have one pool to draw from.  Like brother Lawrence said "Do all things unto God"  Those are words that have become kind of cliche, but if you mull those over that's a big big thing.
 

10. How's the family doing?

They're doing great!  Brooklyn is 8 years old now and in 2nd grade.  Payson is 3 years old and raising hell…(laughing)…he's a little ball of everything and I'm grateful to get to be a part of his life.  He's super smart and he's a lot to keep track of.  Both my kids are wonderful teachers and I love how they've made me more me.  My wife Paula and I are just trying to keep up with the kids, and uh, my family is super supportive of me doing all this.  I miss them a lot.  I'm always, speaking of questions regarding my music career, I'm always asking myself, is this worth it?  Is being gone from my family worth it?  Though it's not a one-verses-the-other kinda thing, the question remains.  Most all of the time I can say, yes, and then there are times I have to say…I don't know.

11. What's been the biggest challenge of being a father/husband that spends so much time on the road?

Just not being there for various things.  Ya know, for the daddy/daughter breakfast.  It's not like I miss a lot of stuff, all the time.  I'm there for a lot of things, but when I do miss, that's hard.  It's being gone and getting a call from Paula telling me that Brooklyn locked the keys in the car…and knowing if I was there, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.  But, really, i'm helpless. I am unable to do anything about a lot of situations.  It's, uh, a sacrifice for my family.  The hard thing is when I say I'm leaving to do concerts. I say "I'll be gone for a few days and I'll see you real soon."  Brooklyn says "Daddy don't go...please don't go, don't go!"  You know I don't know that that'll ever get easy.  Yet when I'm home with my family, I'm pretty much home. Period.  I'm a loner…ya know, in my personality.  But when I'm home with my family that's not the case. There are times, say, when I'm driving across Alabama in the middle of the night, that it actually gets hard to be alone.  But overall it is a really good life.  I have really great friends in a lot of places that I go…and that doesn't make it any easier to be away from my family, but there is so much goodness to experience.  So the challenges are many and they're different with each day.
 

12. Do you feel like fatherhood, and the new perspective it brings, has changed anything about the songs you write or record?

Yeah, yeah I know it has.  It's difficult for me to put my finger on it.  But I know that I like to run each song by Brooklyn, and,  soon, Payson too.  I know the ones they like are going to be the good songs for me to do and record.  They're little kids with short attention spans and I'm old.  I want to hear what they have to say.  And, also, I want to say stuff that resonates and communicates with them.  A lot of times I find myself going "Ok what is this...if Brooklyn and Payson were ever to listen to this song...really listen to it...would this be giving them something substantial, something helpful.  Would this be pointing them towards Jesus?"  I've been impacted greatly by being a dad and being a husband.  That has affected hopefully almost all of my conversations in life and I know it's affected my songwriting. 

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MARCH 7, 2013: UNDERNEATH, TOUR, RADIO!

Underneath is out!  I am extremely pleased with it and I am excited for you to hear it!  These days, "out" means that Underneath is available at www.mitchmcvicker.com, on itunes (and other internet digital music sites), and at concerts.  There is some in-store distribution that is pending. 

This spring, my concert schedule will, once again, have me criss-crossing the country.  Hopefully, the Underneath tour will come your way.  I would love to see you at a concert. 

Thank you all for your gracious support of this my ninth album.  I am moved that so many of you decided to partner with me in Underneath's creation process.  Now, it just comes down to creating some awareness and getting it out there!  When one believes in something, one wants as many people as possible to know about it...and that is definitely the case with Underneath. 

In a week or two, "Savior, Savior" will be the first song released to radio for airplay.  Who knows what lies ahead?  But this is one aspect that could definitely help in creating awareness for Underneath.  I will let you all know when "Savior, Savior" is "hitting" radio.

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2013: UPDATE ON NEW MUSIC! SUPPORT THE NEW ALBUM ON "KICKSTARTER"!

The time has come to record once again.  This new recording will be called  "Underneath".  Unlike like my last two CDs, which only had a few songs, "Underneath" will consist of 10 songs. 
I believe "Underneath" will be my best recording to date.  The release date is coming 
soon.  "Underneath" will be out February 22.

Much of this record deals with the practical, earthy truths and the mysterious beauty of the kingdom of God.  The songs have been inspired by Jesus' sermon on the mountain, in which he teaches that the kingdom of God does not lie on the surface.  And that's the main theme you will find running through "Underneath"

I NEED you in order to make "Underneath".  I have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds that I will need to pull this off. 

I believe in "Underneath".  I believe you will like this album and like being a part of it's creation.  In making a financial donation in support of "Underneath", you are not merely investing in the record monetarily...you are taking ownership. This is your album.  I will do my very best...but this is yours.  We are in this together.

I have invested much of myself into "Underneath...creatively, artisistically, musically, and monetarily.  This is something I WILL do.  But the level to which I am able to do it will be determined by the graciousness of givers.  This project is something I HAVE to do. I am compelled to do this, driven to do this, and dare I say, called to do this.

Please go to the side link  www.kickstarter.com on the left  and consider partnering with me in the creation of "Underneath"

The money that is raised will go towards several things.  It will fund using a top of the line studio, a first-class sound engineer, wonderful musicians and their travel expenses, and a great job mixing and mastering the CD.  It is going to fund the design, packaging, and physical manufacturing of "Underneath".  And, it will make promotional efforts (getting word out about "Underneath") possible. 

Nothing that I have mentioned above will be done half-way.  I have been entrusted to do this, and like I said, I want to do the best I possibly can.  But, this is yours. To one degree or another, we are all walking through the kingdom of God...which is not on he surface...just like this recording. 

All of my past records have seemed to have flown under the radar and turned into sort of underground movements.  "Underneath" will be no different...I believe this will be the case, more than ever.  After all, that is the very theme of the this record. 

When the monetary goal is surpassed, it will not only make for a better recording, but it will initiate better marketing and promotion, higher quality manufacturing, and more extensive touring.  I will be overwhelmed with gratitude.  Yet, I will not be altogether surprised...based upon the level of gracious support I have received in the past!  So, once again, what "Underneath" becomes will be determined by your "givingness".

I am recording "Underneath" at Greenjeans Studios in Kansas. I am benefiting from the wonderful musicianship of players; Michael Aukofer, Carter Green, and Dave Sprinkle. I have no doubt that "Underneath" will be as artful and creative as anything I have done...maybe more so.  These guys are all accomplished multi-instrumentalists.  We are coming together from all over.  Michael is coming from his home in Chicago, Carter hails from Kansas, Dave is coming in from his home in Arizona, and I will be coming from Atlanta. I would be moved to partner with you in the creation of "Underneath".  Many of you have been super supportive of me in the past...and I am so very grateful. 

I can't wait for "Underneath". Let's create it together.  It is quite possible that we are never more like our Creator than when we are creating. 
 

Without Looking Down Interview with Mitch McVicker
New Article: Influences of Tom Waits
Behind some lyrics  ~ with Mitch
Look Inside The Lemonade Song ~  by Mitch
Look Inside Burning The Fields ~ by Mitch
Look Inside Strength To Move ~  by Mitch
The Mitch McVicker Interview
Christian Single ~ The Simple Life
Release Magazine April/May 2000
Billy Graham Decision Today Interview 
 

Brad  Layher  ~  Interviewed 
Dulcimer Workshop Review
appalachian music review
Music Review of the Project: shut that boy up!
bradfiles
Happy Birthday Month Brad Layher

Joe Curet ~ Cobra Joe Interview 
The Cobra Joe Files
Flyer designed for Concert promotion

without Looking Down ~ word search puzzle
ANOTHER  picture puzzle

rollingstone.com
Oh Those Lyrics Article.. the wonder of first lines..
just a cool quote
Happy Easter
CJ ONLINE /02/27/03
Behind some lyrics  ~ with Mitch
2003 Concert Dates Recaped
2002 Concert Dates Recaped
365 Meditations for Young Adults book 
Without Looking Down Interview
2003dovesubmittedentries.html
The kansan.com
Happy Birthday September 30 Brad Layher

Billy Graham Decision Today Interview 
Release Magazine April/May 2000
Transcript~ Servants Heart
Travel Prayer
happy thanksgiving card!

Mitch on The Lemonade Song
Look Inside The Lemonade Song ~  by Mitch
Lyric Discussion Article ~The Lemonade Song
Look Inside Burning The Fields ~ by Mitch
Lyric Discussion Article ~ Burning The Fields
Look Inside Strength To Move ~  by Mitch

Section: Stories by Fans
A Story by Lauren ~ updated
Lauren's dad ~ Brian's story
A Story by Linda
A Story by Kelli
A Story by Robin
My first Mitch Concert ~ by Cate!
Sharing a Concert Experience

November 10/00 Concert Review 
Concert Review 6/30/00
Concert Review 6/8/00
Concert review 3/00
Article ~ Mitch 2000
CD Release Party Invitation Link
cjonline.com080698
cjonline.com/102399
cjonline.com//092901
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 1
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 2
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 3
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 4
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 5
a cool Jigsaw Puzzle to play with  Puzzle # 6
word search of a song ~   Puzzle # 1
word search of a song ~   Puzzle # 2

Without Looking Down  ~ music review
without looking down project
 

CJ ONLINE ANOUNCES WLD
kansas.com sept 2002 article
www.christianitytoday.com

In His Own Words - Monday, July 30, 2007 

  Vertical thoughts (a.k.a. prayer) 

I rejoice that You have brought me to this spot, this day. Yet, I count everything as trash that I might gain You, or, rather, as Paul goes on to say in Philippians...be found in You. 

Compared to You, it's all trash.

I have been given much. I have even achieved some things. But I won't look back. No, I will move forward in faith...towards the goal (Phil. 3:13,14). What is the goal? The goal is to be like You. That means sharing in your sufferings and being conformed to Your image.

Compared to You, it's all trash.

Not that this world is "bad". For, You give everything. It is my place to receive...in thankfulness. If I don't, I am not following "the call". You will use everything that comes my way to conform me. Ease and trouble. Plenty and little. Light and dark. This life You have given is full. This world is filled with much. A lot of it is good, but...

Compared to You it's all trash. 

I will no longer be infatuated with this world. For, what is so enticing about trash? No, i will be content. If i strive at all (and I am sure I will. It seems to be in me), I will strive forward to grab hold of Life...to grab hold of the Promise. And hang on to all that You do, and have done, to make it available and bring it about. 

Compared to You, it's all trash.

I won't look back...at the bad or the good. Rather, I will live in the now. I will live in the present. I want to live in Your presence. For everything that is good about me comes from knowing You and identifying with You (yes, including sufferings...maybe especially sufferings). That happens in the present, in Your presence. 

Compared to You, it's all trash.

Now, all of my striving doesn't come from the fact that I have achieved any kind of righteousness. It's not because I have attained righteousness on any level. Quite contrarily, I seek to grab hold of the gift that is offered and make it my own...just as Jesus has made me His own. 

Compared to You, it's all trash. 

As I strive, I will empty and free my hands so that they can be opened up to You to receive. From now on...from the present, forward...I want to let go of all I have known and said and grab hold of what you give. 

Compared to You, it's all trash.

3:25 AM - 7 Comments - 9 Kudos - Add Comment

Words from Mitch McVicker:

In His Own Words - Jan 2007

I hope all of you had a good Christmas and that you are having a good start to 2007.  I wanted to drop you a line and update you on what has been going on and my 2007 plans.

2006 was a full year of concerts for me.  I got to do what I believe I need to be doing.  I did over 90 concerts in 27 states and had the opportunity to try to do what I could to direct people's attention towards Jesus.  It was a blessing to travel with wonderful friends and amazing musicians.  All the way along the road, I was able to meet great new people and rekindle many friendships.

I was able to watch my daughter, Brooklyn, grow and "become" during her first year of life.  This definitely put a new spin on leaving home.  I tried to see to it that I wasn't messing around when I left...and I really tried to make sure I was doing something good and of value.

Now, after much prayer, I am taking some time away from doing concerts during the first half of 2007.

I have been hitting it pretty hard the past three years, and doing over 300 concerts has taken a toll on me.  It has become evident to me that I need to step back and spend some time with my family.  I am also trusting the Lord to use this time to refresh and renew me.  These are all just my plans (who knows how the Lord will work?), but I have every intention of coming back better-than-ever in the second half of 2007, and doing a full slate of concerts in support of the release of my newest full-length CD.

I know I will never regret taking this time away, for the sake of my family, myself, and the ministry I get to be a part of.  It seems to be especially important with Brooklyn going through such a formative period.

It is my intention to discover all the life that is beyond doing concerts and recording CDs.  While that life is very fulfilling, I think it is time to "move the couch" for a while.  When you move a piece of furniture, it takes a while for the ruts, that have been long-worn into the carpet, to go away. The tracks we have laid never seem to go away until we make the move.  It just takes some time for the floor to become unscathed and open once again.  I am praying I can become more and more open and that I can make myself available to whatever the Lord is doing, in this present moment, and with whatever awaits around the corner.  I am wanting to pay attention, put up my antennas, and allow for enough time to get myself out of the way of what is going on.

I have been home for 6 weeks, and it has been a blast to get to spend an extended amount of time with Paula.  Nobody is more supportive of me than she is, but all the travel, concerts, and time away have inevitably effected our life together. No matter how loving, understanding, and supportive of each other we are, our relationship is effected when I am in and out for a combined 200 days a year.  Now, my support of her can take on more of a tangible role as she teaches a full day, every day; teaches night class twice a week; and raises Brooklyn, Jordan, and Luke.

I am grateful to get to be around Brooklyn as she develops more and more of a personality.  I 'm learning that it is the little things...feeding her, changing her, wrestling with her, laughing with her, and playing "ball" with her...that all add up to life. And, it's a life that I don't want to miss out on right now.

Thank you for your prayers and support...it means the world to me.  I look forward to seeing you on down the road at a concert in the second half of 2007.

Until then, remember that you are guided by love and remember to attack life with the kind of persevering faith that comes for a personal connection with the mysterious and ever-gracious Spirit.

Peace of Christ,
Mitch
 

Exclusive  Mitch McVicker Interview!

 ~ What would you tell someone if they ask you why you have faith?

Mitch:  I would tell them I have faith because it will not let go of me. I'm so very grateful that faith, personified in the person of Jesus, is concerned with me.  I have faith because it has been given. The Interview link

Project Interview:
Without Looking Down Interview ~ with Mitch
 
 

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Exclusive Brad Layher Interview!

Brad: Very thought provoking question.  I don't ever remember Him not impacting my life..not that I was this amazing kid who led a really spiritual life. (I was all but that, ask my poor mother!) But my whole life I can remember instances where God chose to make Himself known to me.  Who knows why, God's just weird like that.. The Interview LinkAlso read a review of Brad's Dulcimer Workshop

Music Review of the Project: shut that boy up!
 
 

Joe Curet ~ Cobra Joe Interview
Exclusive Joe Curet Interview!

Joe:  Near future?  Exploring a lot of possibilities with other musical facets, marriage, and touring with Mitch for the next 30 years of my life.  The Interview Link

JOE ON DRUMS

To support his ministry, order music and this book directly from the official or pick it up at a concert
 

"Prayer for energy is always nice, once again. And prayer that my passion for Jesus and this vocation isn't squelched by the travel and "business" of doing this. And rather, that it would be renewed each day. That I could be less caught up with doctrines and ideas, and more caught up with love."

"At this point, we need prayer for energy as we are embarking on the fall tour.   And that we would be sensitive to Jesus and what Jesus would be doing in our lives individually and collectively.  And that we wouldn't get in the way of what God wants to do.  Also, that we would  notice Jesus in all aspects of life.  That we wouldn't miss out on Him or the many ways He has made himself available to us...that the lord's goodness and glory gets our attention.  I want to be overwhelmed everyday by Jesus." ~ Mitch

An earlier prayer request from Mitch: " For me, I again would like energy to keep going.  I would like to have a underlying, quiet, comfortable, confident, peace as I walk through life.  And I know that comes from Jesus.  I guess I just want to see God more and believe more to the point that I would risk myself for Jesus' sake. All of us on the road with me  need prayer that we could be sensitive to God and where God might be moving us vocation wise."  ~ Mitch McVicker