Matthew West's Blog

Host With The Most?

So, lately I've been doing different things. First, I was asked by some television folks if I would help host the backstage telecast at the Dove Awards. I thought, 'hmm, not really my cup of tea, but it sounds fun, and maybe there will be free food, so why not?' Turned out, there was free food, but it was mostly deli trays. But, the actual hosting was really fun.
Then, I got a call from the Gospel Music Channel asking me to host their show "Gospel Dream," a talent competition that will air in June/July. I thought to myself, 'hmm, the last hosting gig only had deli trays, but it was still free food.' So, I let my stomach do the negotiating, and accepted the invitation to host yet again.

This time, the food was way more than deli trays... that was good. But even more than that, I once again enjoyed hosting this show! It was a blast. The contestants were awesome, the judges were great. I was working with people like Martha Munizzi, J. Moss, and Big Jim Wright, all big time folks in their respective genres.

And I really think the Gospel Music Channel is doing some great things. It is one of the only outlets for Christian and Gospel music to be found on television. The show I hosted will air in June. Check it out. And don't laugh at me trying to do my best "Seacrest." My friends called me "SeaWEST..."

SeaWest Out! -mw

A Song A Day

Well almost... This week have been intense. I've been writing every day this week, and it has been extremely productive. Spent some time with a new band out of Sweden called, Blue Eyes Soul. They have a really cool sound, and we had a really good time together. Also spent some time with my good friends Sam Mizell and Jason Ingram writing. We wrote 2 new tunes, and actually recorded them today. So, that was cool. Not sure where the songs will land, but it just feels good being creative.
Oh yeah, and I also wrote w/ my friend Bernie Herms who just won song of the year for his Casting Crowns hit, "East to West." He's awesome. He is working w/ this new artist, Evan Milby and we wrote a really cool song called "Come Home."
All in all, I learned something this week. Sometimes you feel like the well of inspiration has run dry. those are the times you are most tempted to call it a day, close the note book, and put away the guitar. But this week, I pressed in a little harder, dug the well a little deeper, and was daily surprised to find that there was a song deep inside waiting to be discovered.
Perhaps we might be surprised to find the same result in our journey of faith. When the well seems dry, and the last thing you want to do is pray, or read your bible, what if you dug in a little deeper. Prayed a little harder? What would happen then? I have to believe, in fact I know from experience that just as creativity rewards perserverance, so does faith.
And perhaps that is one of the more trying tests of life and faith. Digging in when you don't feel like it. A quiet time when you don't have time. A heartfelt prayer when you're all prayed out. One more time to the well even though the well looks dry.
This week was a welcomed reminder that the well may look dry, but it's not. And thank God the well we can go to promises to never run dry-mw

Cool Points

I realize that with this morning's blog I am willingly giving up several cool points, but this blog site would be meaningless without complete honesty. And because I am about to share with you, my friend and blog reader, I expect one thing in exchange for my vulnerable honesty, complete confidentiality. Do not repeat what you are about to read. Repeat after me: I, (state your name) will honor the bond of the blog, and will keep this secret safe with me. With liberty and justice... ok.

So, here is my morning confession: I think I have memorized every line from the movie "Finding Nemo." It's my daughter's new favorite movie, and we watch it every day. I think "Bruce the Shark" might be my favorite character. He's a Great White with a sensitive side.

So there. Feels good to get that off my chest.

Hope you have a good day-mw

They Say It's Your Birthday

Today is my birthday. And it has been the perfect day. My daughter woke me up w/ a kiss and a card. My wife made us her famous 'monkey bread' for breakfast. Monkey Brea is this gooey goodness that I can't really describe, but it's so good. Then, I took Lulu to the new playground by our house. She loves the swings and slides.
Then it was off to a picnic! Good times.
Tonight, I am going to dinner w/ my wife, and my brother and his wife to one of my favorite places.
So, all in all, it's been a great day with my family, and they have made my birthday special.

I will write more later, we have so much to catch up on. GMA Week just finished, and I have to tell you about all the crazy stuff that happened!-mw

Baseball

the baseball season has begun, and I love it. In fact, I'm watching the Cubs game on WGN right now as I type this. That is why this blog will be so short.

Although We've Come to the End of the Road...

Well, I would say this tour has gone by fast, but that’s not entirely true. Every tour ebbs and flows. One day it feels like the shows are flying by, and before you know it you’ve seen most of the west coast. Still, other days all you want is to wake up in your own bed, and to be far away from the all too familiar bus fumes. This spring, I have had my ebbs and flows, and as I am flying home from Tampa tonight, the last stop on the tour, I will do my best to re-cap this eventful 8 weeks of my life.

I can remember a packed house in Seattle, and over 2 thousand people showing 2 hours early to watch my documentary, “Nothing to Say.” The radio station advertised the special screening of the film for anyone who had a ticket to the show. But, I couldn’t believe how many people came to see the film early. That was awesome! Seattle remains one of my favorite cities, and every visit brings it closer to the top of my list.

I remember spending time with family in Omaha. My mom flew in for the show to visit her brother and sister-in-law. It’s always great to see family on the road. For a few hours, you forget you’re out of town. The joined me on a trip to a Children’s center in Omaha that helps place foster children. It was great to visit an organization helping kids in the area. I brought my guitar along and we sang some tunes. One little 4-year-old boy was a tough nut to crack until I found out it was his birthday. I made up a song for him, but his eyes didn’t light up until he got an autographed picture. He probably thought it was a pic of tobyMac… ☺

I can remember the subtle wave of fear I would feel before walking on stage each night. The doubts that would come into my mind. It was just me and a guitar this time. All those people out there, and I’ve got no band, no fancy light show. Just me and a guitar. But then I remember the calm that came over me as I heard the crowd sing my songs back to me each night. I remember thanking God for using me in that moment, above the fear, in spite of the doubt.

I remember talking with my ride to the airport tonight, and hearing the story of a guy who’s had his ups and downs. He heard my show, and heard me talking about my surgery. He told me how he fell 23 feet onto a concrete floor at a construction site, and nearly died. But he shared with me how he knows it all happened for a reason. He said, “Before that happened, my life was heading in the wrong direction. But the accident made me a better dad.” Wow! I was floored by this guy’s story. We pulled up to the airport, prayed together and thanked God for the lessons he’s taught us both through brokenness.

And although this tour has reached the end of the road, I’m sure little details will pop up every once in a while, or a return visit to a city or town will take me back to this tour. I think it’s good to remember the events of our lives, and I believe how well we remember the details of our lives, depends on whether or not we lived in the moment. See, when we live in the moment, soaking up every day, we’re more inclined to want to remember. I hope I’ve lived in the moment enough. Because, I sure would like to remember.
-mw

A Chance Encounter With A Super Bowl Champ

This past week I sang at a Pastor's appreciation lunch in Staten Island, NY. The event was sponsored by Star 99.1, an awesome Christian radio station in New York. Little did I know, the guest speaker for the lunch was none other than David Tyree, wide receiver for the Super Bowl Champs the NY Giants. For those who don't recognize the name, he was the guy with the miraculous catch late in the game, where he somehow caught the ball between his hand and helmet! It will be an ESPN highlight for many years to come. Anyway, David is a Christian, loves God, and spoke to the pastors that day. It was great to meet him, and I gave him a few pointers on how to play the game... :)

#1

I received a phone call this week that I wasn't quite expecting. I was informed by my record label that my first single "You Are Everything," just went #1. At first, it didn't really sink in. But then, I felt this wave of emotion as I remembered all that has taken place up to that moment. Not long ago, my voice was taken away, surgery left me silent for months, and my future was uncertain. I didn't know if I'd ever have a song on the radio again.
And now, I'm getting a phone call saying that the new song has made it to #1, and more importantly, the message is connecting with people. So, that is the cause for my thankful heart today. I'm not overwhelmed by the achievement. Accolades and successes don't define who we are. If we look to trophies and victories for fulfillment and happiness in life, we will be sorely disappointed (trust me, I know...) But to see God at work in a seemingly hopeless situation, that is a thing of beauty. To have the world hear the new song, and be reminded about how awesome God is, that is what makes me thankful. Thankful to have a new voice. Thankful for the one I sing about. Thankful for a best friend who walked with me in the valley, and now leads me to the mountain top. Mountain top moments are precious, and few and far between. So, if you don't mind, I might just sit and rest here, soak up this mountain top moment and thank God for all that he has brought me through. Jesus, you truly are my everything-mw

When The World Misspells Your Name

TONIGHT: TOBY MAC, JEREMY CAMP AND MATTHEN WEST

That's how the marquee read at the historic Congress Theatre in Chicago, IL. when the bus pulled up last Friday. At first, I didn't notice anything other than the fact that MY name was on a marquee in Chicago, the city where I grew up. I made it. I have arrived. I am the man. But for some reason that morning, my eyes took a second glance at that sign and I read my name one more time. As I did, I noticed that my first name was misspelled. Instead of MATTHEW it clearly read MATTHEN. The letter "N" has never been an invited guest in the spelling of my first name. I'm quite content with my first name, and the way I have been spelling it all these years. I went from this great sense of pride, to this humble realization that they didn't even get my name right.
Fortunately, the guy with the all the letters was still within earshot so I called over to him, "Hey, you spelled my name wrong." He looked up at his work and then back at me as if to say, "Looks fine to me." So, I proceeded to explain to him that for all my life I have been spelling my first name with at "W" at the end, and that my mother would be at the show that evening, and it would really make her day if she could see her son's name up in bright lights in the big city with the correct spelling...
Well, turns out he didn't speak english. So, my whole explanation didn't really mean much. I resorted to drawing the letter "W" in the air with my finger and pointing to the right placement on the sign. Sure enough, he looked into his big box of letters and pulled out one last "W." Finally, the evil letter "N" was removed, "W" received a warm welcome home by the rest of the letters, and all was well.

Does the world ever misspell your name? Overlooked for that promotion at work? Unappreciated by your spouse? Uninvited by your friends to the party? It happens. The world can sometimes seem like it's going out of its way to make you feel insignificant, like you don't matter. But even when it does, take this thought for a little encouragement: The One who gave you your name, never misspells it. The world may overlook you, but God never does. He knows your name by heart, and He calls your name every single day. "Follow me," he says. David knew that God knew him so well. He wrote, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

So, when the world misspells your name just call on the name of the One who gave you yours. He's waiting.

"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:3

-mw

Billy Graham TV Special

Wanted to let you know about this really cool thing that happened, allowing me to team up with Billy Graham's ministry. They recently called me and had heard one of my songs, "Nothing Else" from the "History" album. They felt like it fit the theme of their upcoming TV special and wanted to film a video for it. I agreed, and so we filmed the video (my first) in Nashville. Well, it turned out great! I can't wait for you all to see it. It started airing across the US and Canada today 3/1. Check out this website to find out when it will be airing in your area.

www.billygraham.org/tv

Also, for those who don't know, the song "Nothing Else" can be found on my "History" album, it wasn't a radio hit or anything like that, never even a single. BUt I think it's pretty cool how this opportunity has opened up for a song like this to reach people, and hopefully change lives for Christ. You can find the song on itunes or wherever "history" is sold -mw