MQ: Where do you go to find inspiration?

Christy: It's kind of different for me every time. I keep a journal. I keep a little recorder with me all the time - in my car - wherever I'm going. I'll just say melodies or even words, or things that I'm thinking. A lot of times it's whatever we're studying in Bible study at church or what our pastor's talking about. I kind of draw inspiration from life all around me, my children, things that people say, experiences that I go through. Almost every song we can draw a line to an experience. So I think that for me, I don't really draw a whole lot of inspiration from other music. Nathan is more that way. I tend to draw inspiration from being quiet.

Nathan: I have some some guitar player friends, and all these guys do is go and listen to bands every night. So probably every couple of months I'll call up my friends and say 'Hey, what are five cd's that I need to buy?' I think that helps me have a good diet of great music that's inspiring and that constantly keeps me excited and like 'Man, where did that sound come from' or 'that chord progression?!'

MQ: When you sit down and ponder God, what things amaze you most about Him?

Christy: I think for me it would be when I became a parent...for sure. I was able to understand my relationship with Him better, especially when I started disciplining. I started realizing when I would tell my son 'You obey me the first time,' and he doesn't do that obviously, but I still love him with all my heart and there's really nothing he could do to change my love for him. So then I think, 'Well, how much more does my Heavenly Father?' So becoming a mom has helped me understand, just how amazing His love is for me. Even His discipline is so gentle when He has every right to punish me for being wretched, and blind and poor. I'm just amazed at that, and I love that. It's kind of a constant reminder as a mom...and I think He definitely speaks to me all the time when I'm like 'Now you obey me the first time' and I hear this, 'Now Christy, you obey me the first time.' But it's always that kindness that leads us to that place of repentance. I'm just constantly amazed at His kindness and His goodness to me...throughout my life.

MQ: What do you love most about music in general?

Christy: That's a good Nathan question....

Nathan: I just love the fact that....music is the only form of communication that bypasses the mind and goes straight to the heart....

Christy: ...art in general.

Nathan: Yeah, that's art in general. It's that feeling when you go see 'Seabiscuit.' It's that intangible thing...of something rising up in you. When you leave a movie and just want to live life better. You want to go like, hug your dog...or whatever...

Christy: - or your kids.

Nathan: ...or your kids...(to) be a better person in general. That's what I love about music too. I'll go to a concert or listen to a cd...I don't know, there's something intangible that makes me want to be a better person, or makes me see life a little bit differently or adds a certain hue to everything I see. There's nothing really in my personal life...there's nothing that I have in my life that does that.

MQ: What message do you want to convey in your music? Do you have a mission statement?

Nathan: Two words...'to rock!'

all:...laughing...

Nathan:No, I'm kidding....

Christy: I think our mission statement has always been that we would create music where art meets worship and that the music we write would connect the human soul to a living God who is seeking to show Himself strong to us...2 Chronicles 16:9 says that. That's our mission - to be true in the art that God has given us, that as we create that art we are reflecting our creator. I'd pray that our music would be a tool not just a product on a shelf, but a tool, that people could put in their car, at their workplace, at home...and be able to express their self to God. That's probably the number one thing we hear at concerts...'Thank you for helping me communicate with God, these songs are like a tool for me' and that's definitely, really powerful.