Spirit Song July 2008
The answer is ... yes we have "become so blind!"
Let me tell you my story:
I did get to see and record the best part of the
first 2 days of the festival. On the 3rd day I took a
complete detour. After 2 days of really hot and
humid weather, I was prepared for the Saturday
from hell ... 90 degrees plus and high humidity. On
my way to King's Island I took the Tylersville Exit
and there, on the driver's side, was a little guy in a
dirty t-shirt with a home-made sign saying he was
jobless, penniless & hungry. I looked at my cash
and didn't have anything smaller than a twenty.
And while I had 4 of them crumpled up in my hand,
I passed him by and just didn't do a thing. I didn't
even look at anything but the cash in my hand.
It occurred to me almost immediately that I had
missed an opportunity, one of serious
consequence, and worst of all, I had set a horrible
example: my license plate reads RU4JSUS. I had
just sent a very clear signal to the individual in the
car behind me that I didn't have the time to take
care of one less fortunate than any of us on the
ramp in air-conditioned automobiles. Also, I
wondered, had I passed up Jesus disguised as a
beggar, being far more concerned about my
personal comfort, wearing enough sun block, and
the haste of my arrival in time to catch the band
"Red" at 3:45? Had I sent a clear signal to anyone
watching that I, as a Christ-follower, had no more
interest in the less fortunate around us than the
average unbelieving individual running from one
scheduled event to another?
To make a long hot story short, I got to the theme
park ... paid to park (I had the money and now I had
change), and walked the distance from the second
lot to the entrance. All went well, and I had all but
forgotten the guy on the roadside, as I obsessed
about a $3.75 cool drink of water and taking a slew
of pics of my favorite bands, up-close.
I made it through security and was stopped by a
kid at the gate because I had only a ticket for the
festival ... duh! he called over hid boss and I was
told if I wanted to get in I would have to pay
another $45.00. I was stunned! I told the manager
that I had gone the other 2 days and her only
response was, "well then, someone wasn't doing
their job." I did my best to plead my case (which
was useless), and asked who should I talk to "up
the ladder?" I was directed to Customer
Relations, or something inane like that, and
proceeded to ask just what was up. By that time I
was in a full sweat, uncomfortable, and completely
bent out of shape!
I was told that the ticket was of no value by itself (I
had received it as a gift, no less) and that unless I
had a season pass, I would have to pay ... yes
another $45.00. I stood there and asked for the
only thing I could think of: the $10.00 I had just
spent for parking. I got that back, even without a
receipt. All was not as I had planned. Trust me
when I say, I had thought of nothing else, for the
previous ten minutes, but my own discomfort and
how inconvenienced I had been. I took the ten
dollars and headed back to the car on what
seemed like the longest walk in history.
Then it occurred to me ... God was reminding me
that I had sinned and fallen short ... very short ...
and I had dragged others down with me. In my
single-mindedness, I has thought of nothing but
myself and my camera. Now I knew why folks
outside the faith peer inside and find nothing but
a bunch of like-minded selfish people serving the
needs of self at the altar of a compromised faith. I
needed to see if I could find that beggar and do
what I should have done in the first place!
I went back to I-75 and took the Hamilton exit to
Cin-Day road, turned around, and headed back
south to that Tylersville Rd. exit, hoping that
beyond hope ... the the guy with the sign was still
there. Now I was really in a hurry, but for very
different reasons.
Praise God! The fellow was there, but he wasn't
sweating like I was (hmmm?)... and I have never
been happier in my life! It was both interesting
(and saddening) to watch how the person in front
of me made sure she had no contact with the
beggar by keeping about three car lengths
distance between the car at the light and herself.
I watched the little guy with increasing interest.
He appeared to be talking to himself and really not
focused on the traffic. Unlike more aggressive
individuals he was not making eye contact or
approaching the cars, even though some of them
had their windows down.
The light turned green, I pulled up beside him, and
I handed the dude $20.00 and a card with a picture
of Jesus on it (The Shroud of Turn head-shot,
actually). I told him to get something cool to drink
and something to eat. I reminded him that the gift
was from Jesus and not to forget that. It was
weird ... he never made eye contact, took the gift
in a small, swift-but-jerky, movement, and
muttered something in the way of "thanks," I
believe. I knew he didn't have internet access to
view my website, but it was all that I had at the
time, so I guess I hoped he would see the face of
Christ and it would be of some comfort.
Now I could live with myself. I had missed a day of
awesome Christian concerts, but had done the
right thing by God. Honestly, I was relieved. I
wondered how many believing Christians had
taken the same ramp and passed by the same guy,
and said something like, "He should get a job. If
he worked half as hard looking for a job as he
does standing by the roadside begging, he
wouldn't be in this mess." I told myself the same
thing and it didn't justify ignoring him, and my soul
was troubled.
The bands made a plea to remember the less
fortunate as we all spent money like crazy and
then went back to cool dry places to relax. If we
spend the money and only congratulate ourselves
on what a sacrifice it was getting through traffic,
and holding up under the hot sun, then we have
missed the point God is trying to make: it is about
the everyday sins, not "the big one."
It was OK, really. I'll have to tell my friend why I
didn't show up, but maybe I'll just have him read
this.
Praise God; he didn't let me off the hook. I
learned my lesson, rather than simply writing one
from the comfort of my office.
If you're gonna serve the Living God,
be prepared for surprises.
<><
Let me tell you my story:
I did get to see and record the best part of the
first 2 days of the festival. On the 3rd day I took a
complete detour. After 2 days of really hot and
humid weather, I was prepared for the Saturday
from hell ... 90 degrees plus and high humidity. On
my way to King's Island I took the Tylersville Exit
and there, on the driver's side, was a little guy in a
dirty t-shirt with a home-made sign saying he was
jobless, penniless & hungry. I looked at my cash
and didn't have anything smaller than a twenty.
And while I had 4 of them crumpled up in my hand,
I passed him by and just didn't do a thing. I didn't
even look at anything but the cash in my hand.
It occurred to me almost immediately that I had
missed an opportunity, one of serious
consequence, and worst of all, I had set a horrible
example: my license plate reads RU4JSUS. I had
just sent a very clear signal to the individual in the
car behind me that I didn't have the time to take
care of one less fortunate than any of us on the
ramp in air-conditioned automobiles. Also, I
wondered, had I passed up Jesus disguised as a
beggar, being far more concerned about my
personal comfort, wearing enough sun block, and
the haste of my arrival in time to catch the band
"Red" at 3:45? Had I sent a clear signal to anyone
watching that I, as a Christ-follower, had no more
interest in the less fortunate around us than the
average unbelieving individual running from one
scheduled event to another?
To make a long hot story short, I got to the theme
park ... paid to park (I had the money and now I had
change), and walked the distance from the second
lot to the entrance. All went well, and I had all but
forgotten the guy on the roadside, as I obsessed
about a $3.75 cool drink of water and taking a slew
of pics of my favorite bands, up-close.
I made it through security and was stopped by a
kid at the gate because I had only a ticket for the
festival ... duh! he called over hid boss and I was
told if I wanted to get in I would have to pay
another $45.00. I was stunned! I told the manager
that I had gone the other 2 days and her only
response was, "well then, someone wasn't doing
their job." I did my best to plead my case (which
was useless), and asked who should I talk to "up
the ladder?" I was directed to Customer
Relations, or something inane like that, and
proceeded to ask just what was up. By that time I
was in a full sweat, uncomfortable, and completely
bent out of shape!
I was told that the ticket was of no value by itself (I
had received it as a gift, no less) and that unless I
had a season pass, I would have to pay ... yes
another $45.00. I stood there and asked for the
only thing I could think of: the $10.00 I had just
spent for parking. I got that back, even without a
receipt. All was not as I had planned. Trust me
when I say, I had thought of nothing else, for the
previous ten minutes, but my own discomfort and
how inconvenienced I had been. I took the ten
dollars and headed back to the car on what
seemed like the longest walk in history.
Then it occurred to me ... God was reminding me
that I had sinned and fallen short ... very short ...
and I had dragged others down with me. In my
single-mindedness, I has thought of nothing but
myself and my camera. Now I knew why folks
outside the faith peer inside and find nothing but
a bunch of like-minded selfish people serving the
needs of self at the altar of a compromised faith. I
needed to see if I could find that beggar and do
what I should have done in the first place!
I went back to I-75 and took the Hamilton exit to
Cin-Day road, turned around, and headed back
south to that Tylersville Rd. exit, hoping that
beyond hope ... the the guy with the sign was still
there. Now I was really in a hurry, but for very
different reasons.
Praise God! The fellow was there, but he wasn't
sweating like I was (hmmm?)... and I have never
been happier in my life! It was both interesting
(and saddening) to watch how the person in front
of me made sure she had no contact with the
beggar by keeping about three car lengths
distance between the car at the light and herself.
I watched the little guy with increasing interest.
He appeared to be talking to himself and really not
focused on the traffic. Unlike more aggressive
individuals he was not making eye contact or
approaching the cars, even though some of them
had their windows down.
The light turned green, I pulled up beside him, and
I handed the dude $20.00 and a card with a picture
of Jesus on it (The Shroud of Turn head-shot,
actually). I told him to get something cool to drink
and something to eat. I reminded him that the gift
was from Jesus and not to forget that. It was
weird ... he never made eye contact, took the gift
in a small, swift-but-jerky, movement, and
muttered something in the way of "thanks," I
believe. I knew he didn't have internet access to
view my website, but it was all that I had at the
time, so I guess I hoped he would see the face of
Christ and it would be of some comfort.
Now I could live with myself. I had missed a day of
awesome Christian concerts, but had done the
right thing by God. Honestly, I was relieved. I
wondered how many believing Christians had
taken the same ramp and passed by the same guy,
and said something like, "He should get a job. If
he worked half as hard looking for a job as he
does standing by the roadside begging, he
wouldn't be in this mess." I told myself the same
thing and it didn't justify ignoring him, and my soul
was troubled.
The bands made a plea to remember the less
fortunate as we all spent money like crazy and
then went back to cool dry places to relax. If we
spend the money and only congratulate ourselves
on what a sacrifice it was getting through traffic,
and holding up under the hot sun, then we have
missed the point God is trying to make: it is about
the everyday sins, not "the big one."
It was OK, really. I'll have to tell my friend why I
didn't show up, but maybe I'll just have him read
this.
Praise God; he didn't let me off the hook. I
learned my lesson, rather than simply writing one
from the comfort of my office.
If you're gonna serve the Living God,
be prepared for surprises.
<><
| But we begin to see more clearly when we "give ourselves away." |
The pictures I captured are as follows:
Thursday Friday
Kutless Barlowgirl
Skillet Jeremy Camp
Newsboys Casting Crowns
Newsboys
Jeremy Camp
Kutless
B
rocks
| NEWsbOYS newSBoys |
| S P I R I T |
<><
| It was great but there more to it than just the bands. The whole culture was Christian, but I didn't detect the warmth ... oh it was ninety degrees in the shade .... but it was still a theme park with a bunch of expensive merchandise. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't distinctly Christian. I can't exactly put my finger on it except that it was a lot like a mega-church service. |
Skil-let ... SKILLET ... a stupid name?
maybe, but it does crank up the heat.
maybe, but it does crank up the heat.
| the girls rock! |
| the girls rock! |
G
| More pictures as I re-evaluate the collection (it's now January '09 and that 90 + heat seems like a distant memory in the bitter below zero temps we have been having). |
| Be still and know that I am God. This is from Psalm 46, & though it seems an unlikely place to discuss silence, God speaks through the chaos. |
Barlowgirl
Skillet
Jeremy Camp
The pictures I captured are as follows:
Thursday Friday
Kutless Barlowgirl
Skillet Jeremy Camp
Newsboys Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns
uh, oh ... a barlow ... or two.
Miscellaneous pics out of
order and crazy like God
made us.
order and crazy like God
made us.
crazy fun with God all day long
We will not give our
daughters in
marriage to the
foreign population or
take their daughters
for our sons.
-- Nehemiah 10:30
daughters in
marriage to the
foreign population or
take their daughters
for our sons.
-- Nehemiah 10:30
Pics from the 2009 concert will be on a new page just as soon as i
can sort them out. There were plenty, but there were times when
the weather didn't cooperate and the lighting was horrid. Add to
that i was given a couple of directions by security that made my life
a bit more problematic ... like no use of flash ...? 7/14/09
can sort them out. There were plenty, but there were times when
the weather didn't cooperate and the lighting was horrid. Add to
that i was given a couple of directions by security that made my life
a bit more problematic ... like no use of flash ...? 7/14/09