Let it be a sweet sweet sound

It’s been a little bit since I’ve posted a blog on here in a while, and I apologize for my inconsistency. I’m currently sitting in a sweaty smelly venue in Memphis TN for another date on this years Scream The Prayer tour. This tour has been a big blessing to me as its been opening parts of my heart that I dont think get touched on while im at home, and that is mostly what this post is about. 

Every day, each one of us guys, and girl (angela), find ourselves in a new city, and with that comes different people, different surroundings, with different vibes all around. With that being said, we are missing one of the key components to living out a true christian walk and thats community. We are incredibly blessed to be able to create community with each other, as much as its possible in this setting, but we really dont get much community with anyone else. Most all of us have people we love back home, whether that be friends, family, or just familiarity. We spend our days loading into venues around noon every day, and hanging out in a loud sweaty venue until the late hours of the night. That gives us about 11 or 12 hours to have an impact on people that we may never see again and thats something thats starting to wear on me, as im sure its wearing on the other gentlemen on this tour. It has me thinking a lot about my home church, which I am very passionately in love with and miss dearly. I’m thinking about the time I have when I am home and if im actually using it the way God really wants me to. This blog isnt about me having any right answers necessarily, but just thoughts that need to be expressed. When comparing my time between Home and Tour I’m starting to see a disconnect in my walk with the Lord, and I’ll try my best to communicate that in the following section haha. 

As I mentioned earlier, on tour, we load in, play, hang, load out, leave, repeat. Leaving no real time for community with the people that came to see us. Kids pay $20, take the day off work, come out, and we give them the best show that we possibly can, but it usually ends there. Now, I understand fully that its better to give your all and not be an inch deep and a mile wide with people because they cant take anything away from that, but it’d still be nice to have atleast a 5 minute conversation with a kid that paid to see us, took the day off work, and made the effort to come talk to you. All in all, we just want to give the kids to come what they want/what God calls us to give them. 

AT HOME: the situation is completely different. I spend my time around the same people most of the time and rarely am introduced to a new group/unfamiliar situation. I go to an amazing church that preaches Jesus and the bible and I am very blessed for that. The disconnect occurs when I take things at home for granted that I can’t obtain on tour, even if I try. That makes ZERO sense to me and it bugs the Hell out of me that I allow it to happen that way. The Church is where people gather in Jesus name. Our shows are church, if we allow them to be, and focus on God. Work CAN BE CHURCH if we allow it to be. When I am at home, I just go to church, go to my job, and enjoy the freedom from the unknown. I dont dabble in risk taking, or anything uncomfortable for that matter. Are you the same way? I am… Does the number of church activities you attend out number the times you go somewhere that is a secular gathering spot with your christian buddies? Does the number of Church movie nights you go to outnumber the amount of non-christians you invite to come over to watch a movie with your christian buddies? When im home, this is how I am, and I want to change that. I want to be the church. I dont mean standing on corners yelling at people, but doing life with people. This something that has been on my heart lately, and I felt like maybe someone else might be dealing with the same thing. Hopefully this opened some doors for you, or maybe just enjoy reading the rants of struggling dudes haha. Either way, be blessed, enjoy your time. God is good, and He is continuing an amazing work in you right now. 

-Zane 

For the past month or so I’ve attempted to stay healthy while being on tour. This can be extremely challenging when all you ever get to eat is fast food. However, I like to think that the dudes in the band as well as myself have come up with some decent ideas on how to turn fast food into something your body can actually use!

1st - If you can, always purchase groceries. Fruit is a huge deal, not only does it taste awesome but it is both filling and hydrating! 

2nd - Dry cereal is a great idea because if you get to stay at someones house then youve got an awesome bowl of cereal instead of a double cheese from Mac D’s. Also is nice while driving just to munch on. Stay away from the super sugary ones. (caaaaoooookieee crisp)

3rd - QUIT DRINKING POP! or at least slow down. Sugar and starch turn to fat nearly immediately so cut pop/soda and youll find yourself feeling much better!

4th - Watch your condiments. Stay away from ranch and heavy cream based dressings. Mustard is an incredible thing because its packed with flavor and has nearly no calories!

Fast food places now!

Taco Bell: Stay away from the burritos. The rice and tortilla has tons of calories. Try going with hard shell tacos, if you get them fresco style (sans cheese but adds tomatoes and onions) they are only 140 calories a pop. If you shred on three of those then you’re full without annihilating your calorie intake!

McDonalds: This ones a tough one. DONT EAT HERE! haha just kidding. There are some good options honestly. One thing I’ve enjoyed is you purchase a $1 side salad which is just fine for your. Its small in size so you will be adding to it. You also purchase a GRILLED chicken sandwich for like $4 and make sure to ask for NO mayo! Take the chicken sandwich and throw away the bread. Procees to cut it up and put all the fixings into your side salad. WALA! Awesome grilled chicken salad. Lastly dont go putting ranch on this salad because thats tons of unwanted calories. Get their Balsamic Vinaigrette, use about half the packet and youll be set!!

Wendys: The Mandrin Chicken salad is the way to go here. Only 300 cal as long as you choose your dressing wisely. If you’re on a budget, just get two chicken sandwiches (Off the dollar menu) and ask for them WITHOUT mayo, and ask for extra lettuce and a side of BBQ or mustard packets. Get rid of the bread and use the lettuce as bread! Much better for u. Not amazing but better!

Subway: Subway has the most options for you. It also helps that there are about a million of them in the US so no matter where you are, there is bound to be a subway. First, get a healthy bread. Stick with wheat or the Italian bread. Also be careful not to “over eat” They market themselves having $5 foot longs but do you really need that much food? If you do then go for it but dont over eat to “save money”. Next, stick with the less fatty meats or just go Veggie! If you can live without cheese then I suggest skipping it but its okay if you have it. Provolone is a good option as far as that goes. Next, load up on veggies. So many awesome ones! As far as dressings go, the Sweet Onion is going to be the most delicious and healthy. Stay away from mayo, ranch, buffalo anything haha!

Last but not least! Starbucks: Stay away from veinti sized mocha lattes. Those things have upwards of 500 calories. Its important to count your calories and trying to stay below 2000 is a great idea. If you’re going to a coffee place, be a man and get black coffee! It only has 5 cal and its great for your digestion! However, when its hot out, hot coffee doesnt sound good, so just keep everything skim milk made and sugar free and you’ll feel better later.

Hope this helped someone. I dont claim to know everything, but I am just trying to feel better and this has worked so far! Any suggestions are kindly welcome!

I apologize for the “lack” of tumbling lately. Twitter seems to be the most convenient thing on the planet. However, I do feel that tumblr is a great way to get something down on digital paper that is longer that 140 characters. To catch you up to speed, I have been on a couple tours, been working quite a bit, and have been just learning a lot about so much that I’ve never had the opportunity to experience. Its pretty insane that the more you get to know about something, the less you realize you actually know. That can be true in getting to know people, reading your bible, learning a trade, ect. I feel like in making an attempt to pursue Gods will for my life I’m becoming a bit overwhelmed with how much work it actually is. (btw the song on the radio right now is some super cheesy christian pop song and its very distracting haha). K back to focus lol. As I was saying; nothing in life worth having comes easy. SOOO lesson for todays post: dont quit because things get hard. As the great Relient K said “The end will justify the pain it to get us here”… Those are words to live by!

-Zane

Well I figure I will inform y’all about what records I’ve been enjoying lately. Whenever you have off time its good to just sit back and listen to a good record and really enjoy the music that a group of dudes worked together to make. Its a really amazing thing to me. 

ANNNYYYY WAYYY here they are:

Relient K: mmhmm, and Forget and not slow down

Adele: 21

Advent: Naked and Cold

This will Destroy You: This Will Destroy You

Go Radio: Lucky Street

As Cities Burn: Son I Loved You at Your Darkest

Bring Me the Horizon: There is a Hell…

The Chariot: Long Live

The Ghost Inside: Returners

French Kiss (the soundtrack)

And thats been it lately. I’ve been in boston for the last month and for whatever reason, maybe its because I’m on the coast but I’ve really been into love songs from the 90’s as well haha. Lost of Gospel and Soul music as well. Well if you know of any great music please tell me about it. Im always down to hear about new great stuff! 

Thanks for reading!

Zane

I will be in Boston Mass for the next month tracking for the new EP we are putting out this spring. Our Engineer Shane Frisbe seems to be a super rad dude with a super wholesome work ethic so this month should be an overall good experience. I’ll try my best to keep this page updated to share everything that is going on with us while were tracking this EP. Always feel free to check out asog’s facebook page for more details!