10 Things Thursday

10 things about last night and the Newsboys concert.

1. A few weeks ago I got an email about an upcoming Newsboys concert in Spokane. Adam loves the Newsboys and so I bought tickets to surprise him with a mom/son date night. I didn't tell him until Tuesday that we were going on Wednesday. I wasn't going to tell him until we were on the way because he sometimes gets excited to the point of distraction and I didn't want him to get into trouble at school. But I decided to tell him on Tuesday, because the anticipation is part of the fun. Right?
2. I really wasn't much of a Newsboys fan. Not because I don't like their music. I just hadn't heard much of it. But I wanted to go with Adam. Their music is pretty much all he has on his iPod  And he's made fans out of Julianna and Josh, too.
3. We planned to go to dinner and I let him choose. Azteca is right beside the theater and it's one of his favorite places, so we went there before the show. We had a great time and a great visit. I try to spend time alone with each of my kids often, but special outings are really good for them and me.
4. I had planned to buy Adam a tee shirt from the concert and he was thrilled. He chose a green one (of course). He was so happy with his souvenir and changed into it for the show. And he wore it to school today. (Christian tee shirt day. Christian band tee shirt day. Whatever.)
5. One thing that I love about Adam is that when he's excited, he vibrates. He can't stop moving. He wiggles and squirms and talks and grins. And you can just feel the excitement and can't help but to share in it with him.
6. Before the show, a few of the Christian radio station djs spoke about their stations and upcoming events in the area. And one of the morning guys prayed. He prayed, people! Before a rock concert! It was amazing. And wonderful.
7. Grace Campbell sang first. She has a very unique sound. Kind of alto-y and soft and sincere. Her songs were lovely and I got the sense that she's lovely, too. She was dressed in an off white sweater and floor length skirt outfit that matched her sound. I couldn't help but to think how different her look was from some of the secular female singers her age today. It was very refreshing.
8. Next was Luminate. I liked them a lot. The had so much energy and really got the crowd ready for the rest of the show. I have to admit that I was a little thrown off by the "preachy" part of it. Not because it was bad or unwanted. But because it was so unexpected. And I have come to realize that I am very cynical when it comes to spirituality. I don't know why. I believe. But sometimes I have a hard time believing that others do. Or I question their sincerity. But last night my cynicism shrunk a little about that. Jesus is out there and working in all kinds of people. I need to believe that and appreciate all those that he works through. (Speaking of preachy...)
9. Then came Building 429. Wow! Talk about energy! The lead singer reminded me of all those students I have had who can't sit still in their chairs or who are always humming or playing drums with their pencils. He was all over the place. And he is an expert at audience participation. My arms are sore today from waving my hands in the air because I really did care. And anyone who can get me dancing in public has to be pretty good if you ask me.
10. And then the big moment! They had a countdown to the Newsboys. 4 minutes. Music starts to play. 3 minutes. A little louder. 2 minutes. Louder and faster. 1 minute. Oh my goodness! 30 seconds. Adam could hardly stand it. His smile was worth the price of the tickets 100 times over. And then they were on stage. And a whole bunch of Christians began to scream like I've never heard. It was crazy! And amazing! And deafening...in a good way.
     All it took was a few bars of their first song and the Newsboys made a fan out of me. They are good. Really good. And the fact that my kids (and I) can listen to some really good, rock music without hearing swear words or suggestive lyrics is a gift. Not once did I have to worry about what Adam would hear or see last night. Not once. I can't say that about any of the other concerts I've been to. (Although Richard Marx was pretty safe back in 1991.) Not only that, but the music was more than safe. It was inspiring and encouraging and empowering and faith building. I thought, about halfway through the night, that I was attending the best, most entertaining, loudest worship service that I'd ever been to. Where two or more or gathered...well, I felt HIM there last night. He was on stage with the amazing performers. He was dancing with the teenage girl and her brother (who happened to have Down Syndrome) two rows in front of us. He was with all the dads and moms who brought their kids to the concert. He was with the crazy bald guy down the aisle who danced like George Michael in the Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go video. And he was standing next to me. The 40 year old mom of three who was having the time of her life praising HIM. And there was a moment, when the lead singer led the crowd in an a capella rendition of Nothing But The Blood of Jesus that no one would have been able to doubt that something extraordinary was happening. It wasn't just a concert. I've been to plenty of those. It was worship, plain and simple. Well, not really simple. It was worship with some rockin' music and a pretty fantastic light show. And I didn't even mention that they hung the drummer vertically and spun him and his whole drum kit around!! It was amazing. I don't really know how else to explain it. It's one of those things that changed me. Changed the way I think. The way I see others. The way I see my Adam. The way I see myself. And the way I see Jesus. Because before last night I don't think I would have ever said, "Jesus rocks!" But today, and for the rest of my days, I will say with my whole heart and with a song on my lips that Jesus ROCKS!!