I don’t know what it takes for someone to change his or her mind about something as serious as blogging, but over the course of the last week, I have been wrestling with the idea of sharing my heart through written words on a computer screen.  I have never been much of a computer person, although I have owned my share.  This will be my first attempt to share things that have been the joys of my heart and concerns of the world that we live in.  Over the course of the last two years, I have decided to do something I have never done before: live privately.  Before you read too far into this, just know that it has nothing to do with music or Salvador (the band I have been with since I was 15.)  The last two years of my life have been incredibly eye-opening.  I’ve learned more about myself, and the people around me, more then any other time in my life.  As a pastor’s son and musician I’ve had a chance to live out dreams that only God could lay out in front of me.  That is the honest truth.  I don’t ever want to come off as someone who thinks my words are more important then the next guy’s.  This is why blogging has been the farthest thing from my mind.  I don’t know who is reading this so I’ll start by saying, “Nice to meet you.”  I have been waiting for an opportunity like this to say what it is I need to say.  Like a great song or a perfect painting, I hope the words and stories we share will impact you like so many of you have impacted us over the years.  James 3:1 will make it clear; this is just a word or two of encouragement from a friend.  I will see how many people read this and decide to join alongside me as we try to spread the good news through music and art.  This is my encouragement today: Love like it’s your last day on earth……

The weird thing about a blog to me is assuming that the things you write are important to the whole world……..well, here I go. Currently, the band Salvador has been in a transition period from jam band, to songwriters, to wanting to be the next big thing, to being happy being the opening act, to where we are now.  You may wonder where that is…loving being where God says to be.  As a band there are times where you feel so encouraged, then so discouraged.  To hear someone at a show say they love your music then turn a corner and have someone say they wish you were more like someone else, has been a bit of a weird dynamic.  The experiences of signing autographs for eager fans to loading in vans to go to the airport at 4 a.m. the next morning, can take you on a roller coaster ride (I hope we never have to sleep in a suburban again!)  The one thing that is always the same is the God I have come to trust.  As a Mexican American, I have felt the freedom of singing songs in Spanish and English.  There have been times where I have stood on stage and have wondered which songs people would like to hear.  So I guess this whole time I’ve been needing to say to you out there, thank you for letting us share our music the way God has given it to us.

Psalm 96:1-3

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I will embark on new territory: a father of two.  What does that even mean?  Less sleep and more diapers.  At least I will be able to tell the difference in the size of the diapers, I think.  Being a new dad then being a new dad again, has shown me a few things.  Don’t worry…this is not an advice or a “what you should do if “ blog.  This is a “Wow! God chose me to be the daddy to two little boys who are inevitably going to look up to me” blog.  This is the part where I freak out.  I remember being a kid looking at my dad and thinking “I would never be that big, that strong, or that good at doing whatever it is dads do.”  Yet, here I am trying to live up to that standard that my dad set for me.  At home or on the road, I have been touched by the well wishes people extend to my family and me.  My wife, a great singer, songwriter, and over all bombshell, Jaci Velasquez, has had more people tell her “hi” through me than any other human being in history.  This never gets old.  Please don’t ever stop making us part of your life, and I promise we will never stop making you part of ours.

Ok, this is going to be my fourth blog and I’m already getting nervous about where this is headed.  I think that at some point there will be a comment or I will read my own blog and realize that my biggest nightmare is coming true.  “What is that” you ask?  Sounding like a person at his computer trying to sound smarter or more insightful than he is.  Let’s back up.  I would love to speak to the one out there who is maybe in the same boat as me.  Beginners, and beginners luck doesn’t apply.  I would venture to say that unless you are familiar with the band Salvador, then you might not know me.  I’ve said a lot of things from stage that I would stuff back into my big mouth if I could.  Then there are some things that I felt so completely comfortable saying.  I would like to think that everyone agrees with my view, but that can’t be the case.  If we all agreed then people would buy all of my music; everyone would follow me on Twitter; and this blog would be a staple in your lives.  I’m so glad that my prayers aren’t published for the world to see…that’s pressure!  I hope you agree with that.

Habakkuk 3: 1-19