"Overjoyed"

Day 106:

That was the best concert EVER! Possibly the best night of my life! It was "Crazy Times". We were total geeks and got there around 5pm. The doors didn't open until 6pm. We talked to one of the security guards who let us know that there would be two "gates" open. There was already a line of about fifteen people to the one side. We were first on the other side! SWEET. There was a woman there who was the House Manager. She gave us the scoop on the goods, and where the doors into the auditorium were. (we were out in the vestibule, then there was a hallway before you got to the auditorium) She was very nice. They opened the gates and we went and got front row seats, off to stage right (?) on the aisle. That was "Something Beautiful". The House manager came by to see if we did indeed get our front row seats!

The opening act was supposed to be "Burlap to Cashmere", but sadly they had cancelled. So it was "Disappointed by Candy" (?). We were not disappointed. The next band was "NeedtoBreathe". I like their title track song, I was "Like A Child". (See my unleashed post)



Then came the boys. Jars of Clay. There was this "Fade to Grey" and then the music began. Heather can probably remember all the songs they played. I was just in awe. They did play "Even Angels Cry" which is one of my faves of the "Good Monsters" album. They played "Flood" and "Love Song for a Savior". It was so much fun. "All My Tears" was great too!

I could go on and on. But seriously, they were awesome. They kept looking at Heather and me. But that's just because they probably recognize her. She did run into them at the Youth Specialties conference in Anaheim. They should recognize her!!!

I digress. Thank you, Matt, Dan, Steve and Charlie, for the best night of my life!

Look for us again. We're the lifers (seriously, two thirds of the people there were not born when they put out their first album. That could be depressing.)

I "heart" Jars of Clay"

What to write about...

Yes, hm, what to write about... Oh I don't know. Maybe Jars of Clay? Sure why not? I'm going to see them tonight in concert. I could probably write a little bit about them.

I was trying to figure out last night, why in the last thirteen or so years, have I NEVER seen them in concert? In high school, they were always performing downtown Indy, and I never thought I had the chance to go see them. Who was going to go with me to see them? Only my camp friends knew of JOC. And the P.K.'s but they were younger then me. I'm pretty sure I wasn't allowed to drive to Indy to see them. So what about college? I have never paid much attention to concerts, and things of that nature. So I only knew that JOC was in town, the day of their concert. So this is why, thirteen or so years after I first began listening to JOC that I am finally going to see them in concert. I'm going with Heather. This is her twelfth time. She is a true, dedicated fan. And a (lifetime) member of their fan club. You go girl!

We've been listening to JOC everyday, all day since Monday. My fav. songs are (not in any particular order):

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This is not to say that I don't like all of their songs. I will listen to every single album that I have (which is all of them except for "If I Left The Zoo") over and over, without skipping a single song. These are the songs that I will hit the repeat button, and listen to more then once. 21 out of the 74 that I have. Wait, who am I kidding. I'll listen to all of them, there are no favorites!

At least some things are true in life

"Death and taxes may be the only certain things in life, but at least death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets." Quoted by Joe Moore on KHON-TV, Honolulu

Butterflies

Bill and I went to Meijer Gardens last Thursday. It's butterfly time! We saw a lot of butterflies. However, they don't pose for pictures, so many of our photos are blurred. But it was fun. They are there until the end of April, if anyone wants to come and visit! (I have a membership, and it's free for one guest)

I got a really great picture of two butterflies, but they were mating... I still may post it! Risque!

We got there at four o'clock, and the gardens closed at five o'clock, so we didn't get to walk around a whole lot. We mostly hung out with the butterflies!

Unleashed

I was UnLeashed today. What a great experience! How can I explain how it feels to be unleashed? I am not ashamed of praising Jesus. I dance like no one is watching (and some may say, don't watch!) I have passion, power and purpose. But not purpose like "The Purpose Driven Life". No, my purpose is to make a difference how God wants me to make a difference.

I'm not trying to be "preachy", I just have the Spirit within me. And today I learned not to hold it in, but to unleash it. I have layers like Shrek, ogres, and onions have layers. Today, I peeled them off. I left them behind in a heap. I will put my light before me!

I also learned that my spiritual type is a lover (the other types are: mystic, sage and prophet). I "believe that real faith must be shared." Since I started this blog, and since I've been in High School; I was afraid to share my faith with others, if their faith was not as strong as mine. But one of the "guests" today shared something that really hit home with me. She shared how she watched "Pinocchio" as a young girl and realized that Jiminy Cricket is God. Now, while that may seem far fetched to you, I have always thought that myself. And in this woman's story, her grandmother told her that was blasphemy. You may also think that. I, however, agree with the story-teller. Whether you believe that God is a cricket, voice of reason, or some greater power above you, it doesn't matter how you picture God, but that you believe and know that God is greater then you. I really liked that analogy. Especially because I've always felt like God is my conscience.

So that led to having passion, acting out our passion before we feel it. Using our power to light our passion in front of us, and sharing our light as God's purpose. (I use purpose loosely, because, again like it was pointed out today; our purpose is not a specific something, but rather like a book. This is one purpose right now in my life. Tomorrow may lead to a whole new purpose. There is not just ONE purpose for me.)

This was not a workshop for youth leaders. This was specifically for 20-40 year olds. It was pretty amazing to see all those people there, my age, who may or may not have been youth leaders. We are all important, just like we tell our youth. Thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what their age!

I hope you can tell how good I feel?! I wanted to share those things with you. Be free. Be yourself. Be Unleashed.