Okay...just got back from a True Love Waits conference and I have mixed emotions. Let me start with the bad because then it is out of the way and we end on a good note not a bad. Redemption leaves a much better taste in your mouth than judgment does :)

so here we go...the negatives.(keep in mind these are only the observations and experience of one particular narrow minded person who is spoiled by big, quality programs and so must be a bit more intentional about experiencing God in things that aren't the same "caliber" as he is use to. --as if God only moves in certain caliber events of a certain quality--. I am such a church snob.) >convicted<

...end rant...back to your regularly scheduled programming...

the negatives:
I went to this event with several presuppositions, my first mistake.
I attend many quality "rallies" or youth events, like Ozarks weekend stuff, Ambassadors Rally, Deeper Life, etc...not to mention CIY Summer Conference, and Believe. Every one of these events has gerat publicity, great order, excellent bands, high quality speakers (usually) hence the big draws they typically are. These are the types of events that youth groups thrive on because they are bigger and better than the standard fare at their church. most churches can't compete with such programs...(the entities that do these events can't sustain them either which is why they are usually annual events not weekly !) having said all that I was a little disappointed in the "show" part of the night. I am a small, and narrow man. But that is how I feel.
I found myself being naughty early into it and leaned to one of my upper classmen saying "Our band rocks".
Now, before you mentally rake me over the coals understand this truthfully wasn't as much a dig towards the band on the stage as it was appreciating what we have back home.
I have no idea how much time and effort that band was able to invest for the evening. But as a worship leader...one who is always considering how his own band can improve...I couldn't help but to notice the missed lyrics, wrong notes, watch checking, wrong keys etc...they may be a new band, a mixture of a couple of bands, who knows?...
I do know this...there are 2 perspectives to condsider here: one, that missed cues, percievedinsincerity, not knowing the lyrics to your own songs, can be a distraction...if the quality isn't good, the focus can very quickly shift from praising God to asking yourself...should the sound guy maybe turn him down a little? or is that speaker broken? are they playing the same song?

two that God converted an entire nation through the testimony of a donkey...I don't exactly know what that sounded like but considering a donkeys usual voice..I imagine it was not very pleasant.

obviously an impact was made tonight because kids went forward. I recognize that some kids are lemmings and go forward every time and any time everyone asks them to make a decision...it is like a "kick me" sign on someones back...you just can't help yourself. :)
but I had a few kids tonight whom I know to be pretty well rounded individuals...who were moved by the evening. They pealed back the layers of humanity and found a divine moment. Something, or some combination of things, brought them to the realization that they have yet to fulfill Gods ideal for their life. Something was either lacking, or needed "shoring up" for the storm they will surely face sometime in the future. Praise God for moments like that.

It never will cease to amaze me how often people with perfectly good eyes fail to see. >convicted<

I guess in my ranting I have truthfull covered the positives already, and since this entry is nearly a novel I will refrain from continuing.

I will leave you with this thought.

God can move anywhere, under any circumstances. He doesn't need fancy lights, and talented musicians...sometimes all he needs is a bush and a match, or someone with better eyes than mine.

God rocks.