Gallery 3: WinterJam
I didn’t cook this weekend. Instead, I took the kids to WinterJam, a concert of several different Christian artists. It was held in Charlottesvile at the John Paul Jones arena, and featured such groups as Newsboys, Third Day, Sidewalk Prophets, and Tenth Avenue North, among others. It was great, although Lawson and his buddy Corbin did focus for a large portion of the warm-up acts on the DS’s my friend Becky had very wisely brought along for the ride.
But then they grooved.
We all did. Did you know you could groove to Christian music? Lawson was pretty funny on the way home–he said, “Mom, a lot of that didn’t sound like church music.” I had to laugh. Our church is a small, old-fashioned country church. We sing “Rock of Ages,” “Amazing Grace,” “Victory in Jesus” and things like that, to the gentle accompaniment of a solitary piano and occasionally a banjo or guitar. It’s rare that you’ll hear a modern praise song.
It’s the message that’s important, though, and not so much what it’s wrapped up in. I hope as my kids get older and start listening to stuff I’m tempted to dismiss as sheer Noise that I remember that.
Newsboys (Michael Tate–lead singer)
Newsboys were awesome! Tate was amazing–I don’t know where he gets his energy from.
Aside from just having a general good time, I was convicted by the message of one song in particular by Tenth Avenue North, “By Your Side.” Based on the message of 2 Corinthians 5:21, the song is a powerful testament to God’s grace–how undeserved, unable to be earned, and yet freely offered it is–to everyone–through the sacrifice of Christ. The song opens with “why are you striving these days…why are you trying to earn grace?…why are you looking for love? why are you searching as if I’m not enough?”
My heart breaks for the people that I know that are striving and seeking and searching.
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I don’t normally witness wide open like this. Even though I’ve alluded to and discussed briefly my faith before, this is definitely a bit of a departure from my normal post, and it’s probably made a few of you uncomfortable. I don’t apologize for that. These words are here because my faith is an integral part of who I am.
Third Day–one of my favorite goups. Laid back and low key, incredible vocals.
