First of all, THANK YOU.

Thank you for being loyal fans, friends, family, and stewards. Because of you, The Ken Weatherford band had the opportunity to play for a national book tour. That's right - on your generous donations of over $1000 (I know - WOW), we made it to Dallas for the Jesus For President Tour, where we rocked intermission like it's never been rocked before. 

Comprised of myself, Josh Vegors on guitar, Bryan Rumfola on drums, and Stephen Adkisson on Bass, along with special musical guest Adam Wheatley, the band hopped into my little Ford Escape and  journeyed to the Longhorn State. Wednesday night, we were graciously hosted by one of my favorites groups at Highland Park UMC. On short notice, they let us play our music, and even put us up in a hotel for two nights. (Thanks HP!)

But the main purpose of our adventure came Thursday night, when we joined forces with Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw, and the Jesus for President Tour. We got to play in front of a thousand folks who never heard us before, and hopefully we gained some new fans. (Casey, my beautiful wife, and her mother Gail, even flew out to join us). I wish you could have all come along. It was so much fun.

We arrived at the venue on Thursday afternoon around the same time that the Jesus for President Tour Bus pulled in. It is an old clunker school bus hand-painted by the guys, and it runs solely on vegetable oil. They have taken that thing all over the country. Honestly, I can't believe how well it has held up. During the event, Shane and Chris (co-authors of Jesus for President), spoke about the ideals in the book, and they were accompanied by fantastic band called The Psalters. These ordinary radicals are challenging much of what the American Church has come to be, and instead, they are offering a different perspective on the scriptures than I've ever heard before. Man, do they nail it on the head. This book isn't suggesting that we add Jesus as a write-in on our presidential ballot this November; it suggests that the ballot is irrelevant to Christians. We pledge our allegiance to another Kingdom, another Principality. Our national heritage, once we are born again, no longer lies with any country or city or political party of this world. Derek Webb reminds us of the same principle in "A King and a Kingdom":

"So my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man. My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood. It's to a King and a Kingdom."

Most countries would consider this language high treason. But that's what we are called to. To commit acts of treason to serve our true King. Without borders or lines of division, we are brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God. And we are called to love one another like family.  I don't know about you, but I want to love and be loved like that. How radically different it is to truly love, even if it costs your life. 

The trip was great. I think we sounded pretty good. People bought music and sponsored a few kids through World Vision. But man, it was incredible to listen to Shane and Chris speak. Because here's the deal - unlike so many of their contemporaries, they are actually living what they preach. They live in the poorest section of Philadelphia in community with one another. Bringing together their gifts, talents, money to share with one another and their neighbors around them. They offer a bed to anyone in need of a good night's rest. They share food with anyone who needs a meal. They are actually doing what Christ asked us to do. And they don't just throw money at charities and let others do the work. No sir -  they live it. In a "Christian" culture that considers Jesus a safe option, a family-friendly choice, Jesus calls us to be radically unsafe. He calls the rich to sell their belongings and follow him. To hang out with whores and beggars. In fact, once he began His ministry, Jesus was homeless, traveling from place to place and relying on the kindness of believers to provide. He called us out of Babylon to a new economy, one that is so very different than anything this world has ever seen. I'm tired of watching friends, family, and myself suffer under this Roman economy, and I want to taste what God has in store for us here. Heaven on earth. It's not that far away.