Third Day

There are not too many bands or singers that I would pay money to see.  When I heard that Third Day was coming to Saskatoon, and that tickets were only $30, I could not pass it up!  I have been a fan of theirs for probably about 10 years.  I currently own six of their CDs (the most of any band that I like) and I really do enjoy their music.

Tonight was the concert, and I really enjoyed it.  I am not sure if it is my age showing, but at times it seemed a little too loud.  I was surprised at how much of a rock concert it was.  I know they have some heavier songs, but I often think of them and think of a more acoustic, softer sound.  I was glad to have a good mixture of both soft and rockin' songs.



This song is one that I have listened to many times.  I think the true meaning of it really hit me tonight at the concert and it gained a whole new appreciation for it.



I think this may have been my favorite song of the evening.  Such a great song!

One thing that made me laugh is the second last song of the night.  It was Agnus Dei, for anyone who knows that song....and it is a fairly short song, only a few lines long.  The lead singer of Third Day got the audience singing it and the lights went dim and the audience kept singing, and kept singing and kept singing.  It was a never ending loop.  I think that we were supposed to stop after a couple of times through, but we kept going. As the lights went dim, the band exited the stage and it went totally dark, and the crowd kept singing.  I believe this was to be the 'end' of the concert, at which time they would come back on and do an encore.  So after a minute or two of the audience not stopping singing, Mac Powell came back on stage and sang 'Amen' and finally we stopped.  At which time they did their encore.  Then when the encore was done, people kept calling for an encore, because I don't think they realized that they had sort of blown the effect of the encore by not stopping singing.  Anyway, I had a good chuckle to myself.  Between that, and the guy who was so full of the joy of the Lord he was dancing his little heart out right next to Arleen, it was a great show :)

Heart of Life

This song really resounded with me this week.  The line that really stuck out to me was "Bad news never had good timing". 

Little Oliver came down with a cold/cough this week.  In his weakened state, and with his reduced ability to swallow and deal with extra phlegm, it could be the type of thing that his little body can't fight off.  When I got the email from Karen that said "This could be the beginning of the end..."  I couldn't help but cry and think not yet.  As much as I don't want to see Oliver suffer, and knowing he is going to die sooner than any child should, it is still going to be so tough for his family to lose him.  I was so glad to hear that he is doing a lot better today.   

Encouragement

After a rough week, and a number of tears shed, I finally feel like I am getting back to feeling normal.  I appreciate all of the kind words and I am feeling encouraged.  It still was a week for some pretty awful news, but God has lifted me up and provided me with some smiles and some perspective this week that has brought me up out of the despair I was feeling.

Psalm 40:1-3

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
   he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
   out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
   and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
   a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
   and put their trust in him.

Here is a song by U2 that I have always liked, and it is short, so listen, and I hope you feel encouraged today too :)


 

John Mayer Concert

Last night I went to my first 'rock' concert that I have gone to in MANY years. Back in December my sister and I got tickets to see John Mayer. I started to get a little excited for the concert yesterday, but by the time it started I was pretty pumped up. I didn't scream, because I am not a screamer at concerts. I think I learned my lesson back when I was about 12 at a Sawyer Brown concert and I could hardly talk because I screamed so hard.

It was a great concert! The opening act was awesome! It was Michael Franti and Spearhead. They have their first top 20 hit right now with Say Hey (I Love You). They are very reggae-ish music. I didn't know any of their songs but I was up on my feet clapping and dancing around (as much as I can dance, haha). At one point Michael Franti ran out into the audience, and not just the audience on the floor. He was up in the stands pulling people out of their seats to dance with him. He came up the aisle right next to us at one point and sang half a song just a few feet away from us. Then when they played their hit song he called all the kids to come up on stage with him. So there were probably about 15 or 20 kids up on stage dancing and singing along with him. It was really cool. I will definitely be investing in one of their CDs. I hope they make it. They seem very friendly and upbeat.

Then was John Mayer. I have liked his music since I first heard his song No Such Thing around 2001. I definitely have liked some of his albums and songs more than others, but in general I really like his music. He is a VERY talented guitar player. He did some awesome riffs during the concert last night. Though at times they got a little lengthy for my tastes, but he is a talented man. I also appreciate that he sounds almost identical in concert as he does on his albums. He has this tendency to make these weird faces when he is singing though. Our seats were far enough away that we couldn't really see his facial expressions, just a little guy up on stage. But after the first song they turned on a screen behind him that allowed the further away folks to see him better. Then you could see his facial expressions that my sister said reminded her a little of Jean Chretien. Still a great show and I knew every song he played and sang along to every song. It is fun when you know all the songs :)

The downfall of the concert, that came close to ruining it for my sister and I were the people sitting next to us. When the show started they went to get some beer, then were standing up, dancing with their beer cups, spilling beer all over the place. They went back to replenish their beer a number of times during the concert and by the end of the show were drunk. They were also obnoxious and were stepping on my sister's feet. Robin actually went to complain to someone about them but nothing was ever done. Then right at the end of the show, during the encore they lit up a joint. Thankfully the security guard saw it right away and took it away from them. I was thankful that my sister was standing between me and them, but it sure took away from the experience of the concert. I did enjoy myself though and I am really glad we went :)

I took a couple of pictures and a short video clip that I took last night. Nothing too exciting but I thought I would share them!

I Will Offer Up My Life by Matt Redman

I was listening to this CD in my car this week and this song really leaped out at me. I really like this song, but the words really sank into my heart and I found myself moved to tears while driving home from work the other night. Feel free to listen to the Youtube video and I posted the lyrics below.



I will offer up my life
In spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love
As my worship to You
In surrender I must give my every part;
Lord, receive the sacrifice
Of a broken heart

CHORUS:
Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring
To so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Savior, what can be said, what can be sung
As a praise of Your name
For the things You have done?
Oh my words could not tell, not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart

You deserve my every breath
For You've paid the great cost;
Giving up Your life to death,
Even death on a cross
You took all my shame away,
There defeated my sin
Opened up the gates of heaven
And have beckoned me in

Third Day - Revelation

I have been a fan of Third Day for quite sometime. I recently found out that they have a new album out. I checked it out and it is quite good. Jason even likes the sound of it and he doesn't really like Third Day. It definitely has a bit more of a rock feel to it. Not quite as soft as some of their other albums, though I do have two of their worship albums, so there are some softer songs on there. I would say my favorite song on the album so far is Born Again. Just like the sound of it. Overall good album!

I still have a soft spot in my heart for some country music. Not all of it, but some songs are just so nice. I am not sure where I first heard this song, but I have sure fallen in love with it. It has kind of a melancholic tone to it. It's called Remember When by Alan Jackson. I found the video on You Tube if you want to check it out, here it is. I have always appreciated Alan Jackson. He is one of the few music artists who has managed to stay married to his high school sweetheart throughout his career. This song was written about their life together up to this point and into the future. The video makes me a little teary eyed, but I am a sentimental girl :)

Weird Al is coming to Saskatoon on July 26th. I think that might be one of the few concerts that I may have an interest in going to. Just for interest sake I looked it up on ticketmaster.ca and the most expensive tickets are only $44. I respect that. I would probably pay that. But I see that after being on sale for almost a week that there are still tickets available on the floor. I wonder at what point they would cancel it due to lack of interest. Hmmm...

Music Ramble

Lately I have been listening to the album Continuum by John Mayer. I have liked his music for a few years now. I really fell in love with his album "Room for Squares" about 3-4 years ago. I found his lyrics to be quite clever and fun on that album and I liked every song except one or two. I think that is quite a rare thing on a CD. Then his second album, Heavier Things, came out, and for the most part it was rather 'blah'. I think there was one or two songs that were okay and I kind of fell off of the John Mayer bandwagon. Not such a big fan, though I did still like the first album. Then just out of the blue I looked him up again and found out he had a new album out and checked out Continuum. I think for the most part he has redeemed himself....well except for the fact that he's kind of gotten fat, and grew his hair long, and he's dating Jessica Simpson :P I guess I don't have to take that into consideration when enjoying his music. If you are looking for some nice mellow blues-y music it's good stuff :)