It’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog on here. First off, I’d like to thank EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU who have been supporting the works of sosaveme, you’re not only an encouragement to the members of the band themselves, but also to the passion the fuels what we do. With that said, I figured this would be a great opportunity to explain why I, Austin, was absent from this  last tour.

As many of you may or may not know, I married my beautiful bride, Emily, on January 29th of 2011. 
In the last year, I have acquired a position at the nation’s largest privately held specialty pharmacy. This all sounds fancy, however, it’s more than just a job, it’s a season God has me in at this time to provide for my family and work toward the future of Kingdom business.

In the mean time, our friend Caleb Bryant, has been filling in for
me. This dude is really incredible. He’s nothing short of
the embodiment of the servant hood that Jesus has taught.

What I really wanted to get at is the personal transparency that comes with the reality of playing music in a band that travels while having an added responsibility for Kingdom things. As the Spirit of God is one of unity and order, so our lives will be as we submit to the things that Jesus has enabled us to do and which by God our steps are ordered. Basically, God’s not concerned with what we want for ourselves, because we can’t do anything by our selves and God always knows the best way for us to go about that.

Staying home has been both easy and hard. Easy, because I didn’t have to give up the comfort of my own bed, and seeing my wife every day and stewarding the ministry of my marriage both with my job and my presence. It’s been hard because I’ve missed the road, I miss the people that I meet, the bands that we get to see and hear. The stories that people tell. Of course I miss hanging out with my friends 24/7 and getting to do something that I am passionate about. I miss sharing the music that I’ve helped create with an thousands of people we have performed for over the last 3 years since I’ve been in the band. I miss the inside jokes and the best conversations I’ve ever had, most of which while riding shotgun at 3 am while helping the driver stay awake on our 11 hour drive to the next town. I miss Chic-Fil-A and southern barbecue at the most random places, like the car detail shop/BBQ joint. But despite all of those things that I miss, I don’t see myself as missing out, because, though I have stayed in Michigan, I still share in the joy of hearing the stories of people’s lives changing through the connection of music that I helped create.

Home is where the heart is, and I am home, both in Michigan and with my band as they travel across the country, connecting with people, sharing and living the real unedited Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Please continue to pray for sosaveme and not just for the band, but the individual members, as Jon (drummer) is getting married on May 27th and has been in the process of purchasing a house. For Justin, as his wife and him are closing on the purchase of a house and as his wife serves her husband in both working and tending to the home. For Nick, as he embarks once again on his quest to obtain a degree while starting school on Monday. And for me, as God moves me into different seasons of my life, that I would not lose sight of the ultimate goal that is to love and serve Jesus to the best of my ability, that only comes through Him.

Here are a few more photos from my life…ENJOY!