"I look around at the world and I see all the beauty that God made, I see the forests and the trees and all the things. And it says in the Bible that He made them in 6 days, and I don't know if they were literal 6 days or not. Scientists would say no. Some theologians would say yes. It doesn't matter to me. But I know that Jesus Christ has been preparing a home for me and for some of you for 2000 years. and if this world took 6 days and that home took 2000 years, hey man this is living in a garbage can compared to what's going on up there." ~Keith Green
I Can't Wait To Get To Heaven - Keith Green
Seaside sunset, silver linings round the clouds,
Birds fly, singing, making such a joyful sound.
Thoughts of heaven somehow seem to fill my mind,
But I can't even imagine, what it is I'm gonna find.
I can't wait to get to Heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.
In six days you created everything,
but you've been working on Heaven two thousand years.
Deep green forests, mountains reaching for the sky,
Grasslands and deserts, your creation fills my eyes.
Thank you, thank you Jesus, though this beauty is just a taste,
Of all your, all your glory I'll see when I pass through those gates.
I can't wait to get to Heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.
In six days you created everything,
but you've been working on Heaven two thousand years.
I can't wait to get to Heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.
In six days you created all of the world,
But you've been working on Heaven,
You've been working on heaven, Holy Spirit,
You've been working on Heaven, two thousand years.
Courtesy Of The RedWhite And Blue - Toby Keith American girls and American guys, will always stand up and salute. We'll always recognize, when we see ol' glory flying, There's a lot of men dead, So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our heads. My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye, But he flew a flag out in our yard 'til the day that he died. He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me. To grow up and live happy in the land of the free. Now this nation that I love is fallin' under attack. A mighty sucker-punch came flying in from somewhere in the back. Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye, Man, we lit up your world like the fourth of July. Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list, And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist. And the eagle will fly and it's gonna be hell, When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell. And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you. Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the RedWhite And Blue! Oh, justice will be served and the battle will rage: This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage. An' you'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A. 'Cos we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way. Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list, And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist. And the eagle will fly and it's gonna be hell, When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell. And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you. Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the RedWhite And Blue! Oh, oh. Of the red, white and blue. Oh, hey, oh. Of my Red, White and Blue.
I had the great pleasure of accompanying Rev. Kevin Young to the Mat Kearney concert at the Workplay theater in Birmingham on 8/9/10. It was the first time either of us had been to Workplay.
Shout out to Kelly and Doug from Atlanta! They started talking to Kevin and I before the concert and it was a real pleasure getting to know them a little. Check them out on twitter http://twitter.com/Spellitphotos
Let me start by saying that the Workplay Theater is an amazing venue. What a great atmosphere they've created for events. I really wish I had taken some pics, but I didn't. I will next time though. The lobby was very stylish with an oddly angled desk for the receptionist. There was a nice waiting area that had several tables and chairs, and a small bar.
The auditorium was more like a small restaurant with a balcony and a stage. We got lucky enough to get a table right at the stage. I really think I had the best seat in the house. The only problem with it was that I had some lights in my eyes periodically, but it wasn't that bad. We were so close we could read Mat's set list, which I liberated from the stage after the concert:
On stage:On my desk:
The opening act was some lady named Jane Carrey. Oh. Wait... that's Jim Carrey's daughter! I didn't know she had a band, but wow she was good! I especially liked the title of one of her songs dedicated to her husband, "Sexy Man In A Death Metal Band". Surprisingly, she was very good. Here's a video of her doing the Beatle's song Blackbird:
(I took the videos and photos in this post on my iPhone 3GS while sitting in my seat.)
Unfortunately the audio in these videos is not great. Hey, it's a phone.
Jane played for about 30 minutes and we had a short intermission while they prepped the stage for Mat.
Mat was accompanied by his friend, Tyler Burkum. Tyler really augmented the performance with additional guitar and backup vocals. He has his own CD out too. You can check it out at that link above.
I won't bore you by telling you the set list. You can read for yourself in the photos above. It was a really great performance. It was the first time I've gotten to see Mat live, and I'm really hoping it's not the last. The venue really made it intimate. He engaged the audience often, letting us suggest songs and then playing them and bantering a little with people between songs.
One thing that was both neat and strange was this suitcase they had converted into a 'bass drum'. Really, all it was was a suitcase with a microphone in it that they'd kick, which caused a bass sound. They did a cover of Sprintsteen's Dancing in the Dark, but before they started, Mat asked if there were any drummers in the audience. A bunch of people started yelling "Bobby!" When Mat finally figured out who Bobby was, he had him join them on stage and had him 'play the suitcase' for them during the song. I could tell Bobby loved it. I just wonder if he will remember it, cause I think he was pretty drunk.
One fun moment was during the song Girl America. Mat forgot the lyrics for a moment. Here's the video:
I really can't say which of Mat's songs is my favorite. I love them all. One that I tend to listen to a lot, though, is Nothing Left To Lose:
Nothing Left To Lose - Mat Kearney
Something's in the air tonight
The sky's alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something's about to break
And I found myself in a bitter fight
Well you've held my hand through the darkest night
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
So I packed my car and I headed east
Where I felt your fire and a sweet release
There's a fire in these hills that's coming down
And I don't know much but I found you here
And I can not wait another year
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one more time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
And I can still hear the trains out my window
From Hobart Street to here in Nashville
I can still smell the pomegranates grow
And I don't know how hard this wind will blow
Or where we'll go
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
A few years ago (Wow, it's been 13 years!) when John James left the Newsboys, I was distressed. I had finally found a Christian band that I loved and that sounded as good as a lot of the secular 'alternative' bands that were around in the early to mid '90's. I was afraid that they'd either break up altogether, or their new music would suck. I was pleasantly surprised that Peter Furler took the lead mic and the Newsboys continued on stronger than ever and have become one of the most popular Christian bands of the pst 25 years (They started in 1985!).
In 1989, DC Talk came on the scene with their self-titled debut. I still have my tape of that recording. I think I listened to it once or twice. It didn't really impress me. Their follow up albums were much better and I listened to them quite a lot. Then Jesus Freak hit and the Christian music world was turned on its head. The first time I heard Jesus Freak I was, well, freaked out! This was the most amazing thing I had ever heard from a Christian band. It truly was groundbreaking. I still listen to Jesus Freak often and it's still fantastic. Imagine my dismay when DC Talk announced their "indefinite hiatus" in 2000.
Since then, the members of DC Talk have had successful solo careers. Michael Tait released several CD's with his band Tait and he also starred in the 'Rock Opera' !Hero, which I really liked and still watch the DVD periodically.
I was shocked when I heard that Peter Furler was leaving the Newsboys, but the shock quickly turned to excitement when I found out that Michael Tait was taking over the lead vocal spot.
I would have to say that the addition of Michael Tait to the Newsboys was a brilliant move and has been a great success. I am eagerly awaiting the release of their first CD since Michael joined.
"Since debuting a few of their new songs earlier this year on the WinterJam Tour, the band has been eager to release their brand new CD Born Again, which hits shelves this coming Tuesday, July 13th. Better yet is that they are going into release week with the No. 1 CHR radio single in the country, "Born Again," a spot they've claimed for an astounding seven weeks!" (Newsboys Facebook)
Born again is a fabulous song and if the rest of the album is anything like it, it is sure to be an instant success. This song truly jams! Check out the video:
Born Again - The Newsboys
I found myself looking into the mirrior
Knew I wasn't who I wanted to be
I was living like the way that I wanted
But my eyes reminded me I'm not free.
Beleived that I saw everything that I know
Says I got to go, tired of going solo
But I'm never gonna go there again.
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
I see you walking like your living in fear
Having trouble even looking at me
Wishin they would give you more than words
Sick of people telling how it should be (how it should be)
Whats your download, where'd you get your info, you saw that I'm show now your in the inload
Gonna tell you what I believe
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
We are the ones they call by name
(I'm never gonna look back)
Let go let go the guilt the shame
(Said I'm never gonna look back)
This is who I am
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
