Last night was a night we've been excited about for a while now. We were a part of a night of Christian music called "Light the City" at Nashville's new symphony center, the Schermerhorn. It had sold out a couple of weeks ago and there was an incredible energy in the room.
Here's an inside picture of the front of the Schermerhorn. The acoustics are simply amazing. Supposedly, if you're sitting on the very top tier on the back row you can hear the conductor whisper to the symphony. 
It was a long day before the actual performance. There was a lot of staging and entrances and exits that had to be figured out. We were there beginning at 1:30 and the performance didn't start until 7pm. We had fun hanging out and laughing though. Here's a picture of Jason and me hanging out back stage.
It was so much fun to a part of such an incredible night. Mandisa (from American Idol), Ashley Cleveland, Buddy Green, Marty Goetz, the symphony...we sat in front with all the artists. Because of the way we stand, JV's seat was next to Mandisa...I kept giving him the evil eye! :) I was jealous!! She was UNBELIEVABLE!! She sang "Shackles" and we got to rock out singing with her. ZOE sang "As the Deer" with the Nashville Choir backing us up and then "How Great is Our God" by ourselves.
Here's a picture of ZOE during intermission backstage. We all had such a blast being together and singing in that amazing place! There was definitely some serious praise going up from downtown Nashville last night. At the end we sang the song that's popular in many African American churches called "Total Praise"...all voices together...Mandisa, Ashley Cleveland, Odessa Settles and her back-up singers, Buddy Green, ZOE, the Nashville Choir, the greater Nashville Gospel Choir and the symphony players. It was a moment of pure joy!
Monday, October 16, 2006
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5 comments:
You kids from Oyster Bay have come a long way! On stage at the Schlitterbahn!
Seriously, I wish I could have been there. What a beautiful place! Glad all went well.
You know how hard I laughed last week when you were here and called the Schermerhorn the Schlitterbahn!! Ha! My family spent numerous summers in New Braunfels growing up. I loved me some Schlitterbahn!
I'm really fighting the urge to post a blog based on all the blather going on over at Phil's blog. It's one of those things tho...it would be so much EASIER if we could all get in a room and talk as opposed to misreading written comments and people being able to post costic remarks and run back to their corners. It's completely annoying to me. Not to mention the part about the accusations of ZOE going political. Makes me want to sigh really deep and long...only because it feels like an exhausting discussion. (and that's my own baggage speaking.)
If..IF..being political means speaking words of encouragement to the church and each other to take better care of the poor, if it means standing up and saying...hey, we can't cast attitudes of hate--towards ANYBODY, if it means proclaiming allegiance to Jesus over all...then I'd say guilty as charged.
I could seriously, seriously go OFF about discussions I've overheard regarding Sally's class. It is about time the church stopped ignoring the very real hurts of those out there struggling with same sex attraction, sexual temptations (of any "brand"), pornography, etc. I know it's not comfortable for some to talk about. Tough tu-tus. Get over it. We don't have a choice. Ignorance on the issue breeds bigotry. And I am sick of the bad reputation we have as Christians from the people Christ has actually called us to minister to. Don't forget that Jesus did say he came for the sick...He came for the broken. I know how much I need Him in my brokenness. How can we be in touch with our own need for him...honestly...and not be convicted about others in need??
Romans 1 is pretty hard to read. It talks about how God gave people over to certain sin...and there are some "firecracker" words in there where people usually get stuck. Don't forget that Paul also mentions the faithless, those who slander, gossip, lie, etc. And...if you still didn't feel convicted by your OWN sin, he comes back to nail us on the head in Romans 2:1..."You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."
Ultimately, we are to be salt and light in this world. I really, really believe this is our goal...each of us. I think we're each really working to get there.
Liberal...conservative...we're all talking terms that mean different things to different people. "Liberal" means more than edgy/progressive...it means to deny the deity of Christ or the power of Scripture. CofC people and others (including me) have thrown that term around trying to say progressive...however, to believe in the Word of God as an inspired book by the Holy Spirit, to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, to believe in the legitimacy of the work of the Holy Spirit today....these things are biblically conservative which means, you believe what the Word says. I know that terminology can be tricky...but for the sake of important conversations like this one, let's say exactly what it is we mean. I can guarantee you that ZOE is most definitely Biblically conservative.
I should stop there. (Inside...hearing...stop...STOP!!!) It gets me fired up in case you haven't noticed. But, I want to say one more thing...anyone who has something negative to say about Sally and her ministry will have to come through me. The church desperately needs it...needs her. If you think you would take issue with her...with her stance...with her ministry, I would encourage you to investigate. She's there to reach out to the broken. To be against that kind of ministry is to be against the call of Jesus. And, while that is obviously my own opinion, it seems like a pretty HUGE no-brainer.
(ok, ok, ok...I'm listening...I'm stopping!!)
Sorry---just really needed to vent this morning. I love you all. I really do. Thank you for bringing up these points and asking questions. I always prefer asking questions over assuming. Cause we know what happens when we assume... (and frankly, I need all the help I can get to not look like an ***)
We were there and I really enjoyed it! I admit that the biggest reason I wanted to go was to experience the new symphony hall. We had been inside several weeks ago to look around and we have some tickets to a few events but our first event isn't until December! I was itching to actually hear music in there! And I was not disappointed. WOW!! Amazing! That place is incredible and the music that night was wonderful, inspiring, beautiful and so full of worship. I sat there like a proud mama watching Zoe on stage, I almost cried. What an incredible experience for y'all! I have to say I really enjoyed to brief numbers we heard from the madrigal group. I was in a madrigal group for one year in college, it made me all reminiscent and melancholy over missing those good times. Nothing like singing with a small group of very talented singers - but you know that don't you?
And I'll give you an Amen! on your previous comment :-)
BST -
The conference didn't come across as political to me at all. I think people really have to read into it with their own biases to come away with that impression. But, you're right, we can't stick our heads in the sand about these issues any more. I'm glad Zoe is willing to tackle them head-on.
Don't be discouraged.
Brandon,
I wish I could have heard you at the new Symphony Hall. I'm sure it was completely awesome!
Thank you for all you are doing Bro!
Keith
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