Higher Ground Fundraiser...

Hi Everyone!

I hope this message finds you well! We have begun our first fundraiser for Higher Ground Christian Coffee House to benefit the 'house and the Oakwood Full Gospel Recreation Center. We would really like to upgrade some stuff and get started on our gym floor in the rec center so folks can start playing basketball!

We have developed a project to add value to local businesses and to generate some badly needed revenue for Higher Ground. For a suggested donation, we will place business ads on table placemats at the coffee house. This is a tax-deductible contribution to Higher Ground Christian Coffee House and Oakwood Full Gospel Church that results in quality advertising for local business. We are excited about the project since we can provide some value for donations received. The placemats will remain on display at Higher Ground and the recreation center for a full year at a cost less than a one time, very small newspaper ad. They will reach hundreds of people, many of whom will see them repeatedly.

If any of you would like more information, or know a business who may be interested in supporting Higher Ground, please turn them on to the web site. Check it out at http://www.geocities.com/ofghigherground/fndrsr.

More soon! BR

Last Night's Show at Higher Ground...

Hi All:

BIG NEWS!!! Another soul was saved last night at Higher Ground! Thank you Jesus! At the end of teh show, a young man named Derek committed his life to Christ. That is what the mission of this place is. Hallelujah! Higher Ground is a cool place, and it's there as a fun place for teens and young adults, but, of course, we do have an invitation to Christ at the end. Thank God for the opportunity to witness about the love of Christ.

Last night we had our friends Clinton Collins and Randy Fielder join us at Higher Ground for two intimate acoustic sets of fantastic Christian music. If you EVER get the chance to hear Clinton, I suggest you run there! In fact, as I sit here and write this I am listening to Clinton's CD "Moth & Rust" (thanks for playing those songs from that album last night, Clinton!). Oh, yeah - I bought another CD yesterday too - I can't wait to listen to it! Despite the fact that they were missing a band member, Dale Elswick, Clinton and Randy took the stage and just absolutely filled the room with warm, sweet folk-inspired music. We missed you, Dale! The song "If Angels Cry" is probably my favorite, although Clinton has (I think) 5 CD's out. He and Randy had fun with the crowd, played great music, and really fit right in with everyone - what GREAT GUYS! Roger Vandyke was invited onstage to help with percussion on a son, and Randy ran out into the crowd, grabbed Emily Ratliff and joined Clinton for a chorus of "allelujiah" in one song....very cool! I really have a hard time defining Clinton's music...but I CAN say I LOVE IT! We have already invited him back for some time this fall. We sure hope he can join us! Be sure to check our Clinton's web site at www.clintoncollins.com.

Emily Ratliff performed a set including "Redeemer, Savior, Friend," and an original entitled "God's Perfect Plan," I was very proud of her and I will claim some credit - Em is my daughter. GREAT JOB, EM! By the way, thanks for asking me to play "God Will Move" with you...it was FUN! We all really enjoyed playing with Emily as part of the House Band - we did the song "Hungry" as a group. Em has a web site as well to support her CD "God's Perfect Plan." Check it out at www.emilyratliff.com.

HOUSE BAND! GREAT JOB, GUYS! Our ranks are growing...now the house band is more than Ren, Terry, Brad and Ted. We have added Emily Ratliff and Harold Kinder (check out Harold's web site at www.kinderministries.com). Harold did a great job on the new Big Daddy Weave song, "Fields of Grace!" It was definitely rockin'! (did you guys see REN on that song? I thought he had 8 arms! Man! AWESOME!).

We need to give a shout out to Jeff Arwood. Jeff is our resident comedian, who unfortunately was knocked out of commission and could not make it last night. Jeff had an unexpected surgery yesterday - join us in praying for him and for his quick recovery. Too bad - as I understood it, he had a Darth Vader mask for last night ;)

Roger Vandyke - thanks for coming, bro! It is always great to see you!

Tiffany Watson, Tab Keen, Amanda Horn - thanks for being there! You guys are the bomb! We had a new spotlight person as well -- Tab's friend Britney Cook.

BIG THANK YOU to Linda Harman, Becky Keen, Rita Keen, Harold Kinder, and everyone or anyone else who worked in the kitchen and helped keep things going! Missi really appreciates ANY help and you guys rock! MAMAW GAYE! It was such a blessing to see you at Higher Ground!

I do not frequently enough recognize by lovely wife, Missi. She does an incredible job. This ministry is in her heart and she puts her all into it. She seldom gets the opportunity to come upstairs to enjoy the entertainment, but never complains. I LOVE YOU!

I could go on forever here, but I think I'll stop for the moment. More later for sure! Be sure to mark your calendars for June 4th. We will have Jay Hagy - www.jayhagy.com, and the band 360, as well as a surprise comedic guest....going to be loads of fun!

Godspeed my brothers and sisters! BR

NEXT SHOW....MAY 21st!

Hey guys (and gals - I guess I'd better be PC on here)! SUP?!

Well, on a personal note, I just finished up my last exam and I am ecstatic. Now, I can have a life, albeit a short-lived one, through the summer. I can also concentrate on important things like Jesus, music, Higher Ground, fun, family, ...oh yeah...FUN, well, you get the picture ;)

Since our last Higher Ground, I have taken the plunge and bought some new P.A. equipment for the 'house. I am really excited about this since we were using some pretty antiquated, spaghetti-ed together stuff previously. The new system has sub cabs as well as cabs for highs and mids. It should really rock the house next show! I would like to recognize and thank The Music Box in Richlands, VA, for helping us out with a great deal on some good stuff. Many thanks to Nancy and the team over there! We appreciate you!

HEY! CLINTON COLLINS WILL BE JOINING US ON the 21st! Visit Clinton's web site at www.clintoncollins.com. Be sure to get over to Higher Ground, grab something to eat, a drink and get ready to have a good time with some excellent music! Oh, yeah...tell a friend! Emily Ratliff (www.emilyratliff.com) will also be performing as will Jeff Arwood (who tells me he has a new comedic conundrum up his sleeve) and the Higher Ground House Band.

Check back throughout the week, since I will probably post something new every couple of days. I just realized how much I enjoy the blog and how much I have missed it!

Harold Kinder! Th anks fr pontiing oout t ht I hvae to o mnay typos o n teh BLOG! I proofed this entry! -- just kidding!

FYI - I will also be posting more pics on the web site (www.geocities.com/ofghigherground), since I have not been able to get the time to do this over the past month or so. I feel like I might have slighted the wonderful folks who performed on April 16th -- Lisa Jones and "Garments of Praise" and I really want to get some of the awesome pics up I have of both. I'll also be adding pics from "Southern Gospel Night" which was sponsored by Higher Ground and our church, Oakwood Full Gospel, on April 30th. LOTS TO DO! ;)

Godspeed my brothers and sisters! BR

Thanks for your patience! ;)

Hi All:

I wanted to take a sec to thank you for your patience this past weekend. Remember - next one up is on May 21st! Join us for Clinton Collins, Emily Ratliff, HIgher Ground House Band, and jeff Arwood!

Talk soon...BR

Higher Ground CLOSED May 7th...

Hi Everyone:

First, please accept my apologies for my failure to post more of late. Exams are taking up the majority of my time, so I am balancing a lot of things. I have a lot to share - GOD IS GOOD!

Important note for how - Higher Ground will be closed on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Our church has experienced the loss of a dear brotehr in the Lord, Brotehr J.R. Belcher. We will reschedule the performers on the slate for this weekend to a later date and post the new dates here. Harvest Labour and Manny & Jessie Elswick were to have performed.

Please join us in prayer for Bro. Belcher's family and our church.

Higher Ground will be open on Saturday, May 21, 2005 during our usual hours. Clinton Collins, Emily Ratliff, Jeff Arwood, and The Higher Ground House Band will perform....do join us! Godspeed...BR