Make it a Good One

Fact about me: I save trifle things such as tickets, wristbands, and some times cute clothing tags. Every time I get home from a concert, I tape the ticket/wristband in my notebook and write what it was for. On March 19^th, I collected one such wristband and with that I also brought back a used guitar pick.

I hope you’re not thinking this will be an amazing, exciting tale of seeing one of the country’s most talented bands of the decade. This is most definitely was not; yet, it wasn’t bad.

Melissa and I drove up to Club 3 Degrees in Minneapolis after eating chicken fingers from Canes, in the car… Because eating in the car is FUN! I was there to see the one band I knew, Above the Golden State, but I like to see bands I don’t know too. Which in this case were Light Switch, Me in Motion, and the main attraction Sanctus Real.

When we arrived, Light Switch was already playing. I remember seeing them play at Higher Ground Music Festival a couple years ago. They must have had their parents drive them there at that time because this night, the oldest one of the 4 brothers in the band looked about 18. The youngest couldn’t be a day over 13 (I’m probably reaching on that one). Aside from their age, they actually played quite well. I didn’t have an urge to rush the stage, but the teenage girls didn’t have a problem screaming for them. 

As some of my friends know, I don’t like to watch a band from far away. I want to get the full effect. Ya know, have a good time! I do that by standing as close as I can to the stage without being squashed to death. This night, I didn’t have to worry about my mortality to get a front row position. Actually, there were a few teenagers standing against the front of the stage. I think one of them was certifiable, or maybe just deranged.

I coerced Melissa to follow me to the front once the “little boy band” was finished with their set. During that short intermission the supposed “host” man forced some middle aged people to play fluffy bunny (the marshmallow game). I felt bad for the poor woman as she spat out mushed marshmallows trying to say those futile words.

Once Me in Motion started playing, I began having fun. I really didn’t care that I had never heard of them in my life. The lead singer read some scripture from Matthew between some songs. I don’t know what other people think of that, but I adore it. Backing up your songs and stating your biblical purpose for performing is the forthcoming way for a Christian band to bring out their message clearly. I loved that even though he had the verses memorized from saying them so many times, he still got his Bible out because he wanted the audience to see that he’s not just making something up. He has a purpose. After their last song he threw his pick and I picked it up. Yes, I’m that girl. You Tube Link of Me In Motion

Next was Above the Golden State. They were equally impressive with their backdrop signs filled with scripture. Of course, I knew all their songs so it was mandatory for me to sing along. I felt like I was the only one who knew the songs, but then I spotted one other girl singing along. I just loved that in the last song, the lead singer played guitar, harmonica, and sang. No, he did not sing while playing the harmonica. That’s impossible. You Tube link of Above the Golden State

After that we were all shown a video about giving money to get clean water for people in Africa. Everyone felt guilty for being alive.

Then came Sanctus Real. To be completely honest, I liked Me in Motion better. I think I might have liked Light Switch more. They were fine, until they played 30 songs. Then I just wondered if they would ever play a last song. Everyone else seemed to be having fun as they tried to shake hands when the lead singer came down to sing in the crowd. Some kid that looked to be about 15 raised his hand when they asked who had been listening to them for the last 9 years that they’d been a band. He must have had the time of his life getting to see a band that has influenced him since he was 6. I only recognized one song that they sang from the radio, but the rest was new. You Tube link of Sanctus Real

Every time I go to something like this I have always found something I really enjoyed. If I just hang out in the back I never have as much fun. It’s better to get the full effect. Make it a good one.

Stellar Kart

Going to a concert alone doesn’t sound like fun but when you’re in the middle of a huge crowd it tends not to matter. A few weeks ago, I went to a concert at club 3 degrees. It was Stellar Kart and Barlow Girls and some other band I don’t know. Before you think I’m entirely lame for going alone, I didn’t plan that. I had order 2 tickets because a friend said she could go. An unavoidable meeting detained her, but she made it to see the last band-Barlow Girls. While Barlow Girls was very profound, encouraging and all around good, I loved Stellar Kart the most. Maybe it’s because Stellar Kart is made up of cute guys in their 20’s. Maybe it’s because they play music that praises God and teaches Christian truths. Maybe it’s because they wear bright colors. Maybe it's because they make me laugh.Watch this video and decide for yourself:

Back to my boring story... While that band I didn’t know what playing I wandered around the club for a while looking for a good place to stand. I wanted to stand closer to the stage, but when I found ‘that almost midget like’ person to stand behind, I knew I couldn’t get a better view. For me, someone of 5’3,” finding someone shorter to stand behind is the only way to view a concert clearly in the pit of club 3 degrees. Thank you, short person. You should treasure your vertically challenged body because it encourages others, but then again, maybe you’re not Baptist.

Until this concert I didn’t realize how many people take pictures at these sort of events. I tried. I gave it my best shot, with my phone, because I didn’t bring my digital camera. I intended to, but the camera is the one thing I always forget. Only the least important moments of my life are recorded in photographs so why should this be any different?

Here’s what I did get of Stellar Kart:

My camera phone sucks lollipops.

This Friday I plan on going to another concert. This time I will see Sanctus Real and Above the Golden State. I know most people would probably go to see Sanctus Real (they’re actually a well known Christian band), but I’m actually going because Above the Golden State will be there. Oh Oregon guys. At least I’m fairly certain I won’t be going alone this time. I’ll let you know how it goes.

All Around Me-by Flyleaf

I love this song about the presence of God

Evil BUT

Who thought I could have profound thoughts from something posted on twitter? I guess I forgot I was stalking the Daily Bible Verse postings. No matter how I came to ponder this passage, it is a great reminder.

Matthew 26:31-35

³¹Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
   " 'I will strike the shepherd,
      and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' ³²But after I have risen, I   

      will go ahead of you into Galilee."

 ³³Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

 ³⁴"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

 ³⁵But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

This passage is a reminder that we fail. As humans we all fail at pretty much everything. Here in Matthew, Jesus tells Peter he will fail, and Peter even fails just by not believing that he will fail. Epic fail.

Matthew 26:75

Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.

We can read this and think, “Come on Peter, how could you not see this coming?” But we don’t realize that we have failed just by thinking that. In that moment we’re thinking that somehow we are better than Peter when actually we are the same. Just like Peter we are denying Christ by trying to blend into the world.

And to help you realize the reality of our own sinfulness, here’s a video from a person who is much wiser than me.

And now we see that we were sinners and we are sinners and we are evil by nature. I hope this is as low as we can go because there isn’t much lower. I guess it’s time for that big BUT

Romans 5:6-8

⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died for us! Do you understand what that entails? Jesus Christ came to earth specifically to die in order to pay for our sins. And he didn’t just stay dead. He came back to life proving that he was and is the Son of God. He conquered death and sin for you.

John 3:16-18

¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

I put my faith in Jesus Christ when I was a young child. At that time I knew that God didn’t like the bad things I did and I realized that only by believing in Jesus and asking him to forgive me, could I ever have peace in my life, joy in my soul, and a definite hope of life after death.

Romans 10:9-13

⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." ¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Throughout my life, as I strive to follow Christ, I have seen more and more how much I still need God’s grace. It’s part of sanctification-becoming holy. We will always fail but Jesus died once for ALL. That means once for all my sins and all your sins and every one of everybody’s sins. When I fail I take it to God and ask him to change me into the person he wants me to be. Because I can not do it on my own. It’s all by the grace of God. 

I hope you have the same faith in Christ that I do. If not then here’s what you can do: Repent, Believe, and strive to follow Jesus. The last part’s not as easy as it sounds, but if you truly believe then you’ll want to follow him. If you’re not ready to take that leap of faith, I’ll be praying for you. Just know Jesus loves you.

Here's a song for you to listen to until I post another blog.