Illumination Festival ... Light in the Darke
Illumination Festival ... Light in the Darke
Photos by Rev. Sean from the
Illumination Festival held at
Darke County Fairgrounds in
Greenville, Ohio.  Try this
link if you are lookin' for
more great stuff:
Battle of the bands
presented the following:

33-1/3
Adam Cappa Band
Charis
Pink House
Nightwatch
Rocket City
Second Echo
The Great Reunion
Pete Mercer Band

The Winner: Pete Mercer Band

Headliners were:

Everyday Sunday
Tait
Big Daddy Weave
Trey from EDS
OK ... you have Sarah ,
Autumn, Phil & Joy,
Crystal, Adam, Trey
and a bunch of great
pics to get started ...
GOD
IS
GREAT
!
Try these addresses:
No, Sarah, how does winning really make
you feel?
Adam Cappa
Worship
Yep, you'll see
Tait, Big Daddy
Weave &
Everyday
Sunday.  STAY
TUNED.
bassist for Great Reunion--underwater recording?
STARZ
Honestly, I had no idea
there was so much local
talent out there ... and I
don't mean mediocre.  
These folks are really good
at what they do, and the
diversity was awesome. God
is working in the lives of
these musicians, and it
shows.  They lifted up the
name of Christ in more
genres than I could count
on both of my hands.  What
a blessing!
NightWatch
NightWatch
uhhhh,
Pink
House?
for the BATTLE:  it was a small stage ... and very hot ... the quarters
were cramped and there was no air flow.  it was also much smaller
than it looked.  however, it was a great opportunity for me and
Samantha to get up close &  personal with the bands.  in fact, i
actually sat on the stage to take some of the pics that required an
angle like that.
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
33-1/3
tait  tait  tait
Michael Tait in a meditative mood
prior to the concert.  He just
walked away, and stood by himself
for awhile.  It was a cool approach
to preparation.  Remember what
God said, "Be still."
are there Jesus
Freaks among
us?
are there Jesus
Freaks among
us?
I've always longed to live in a
place like this ... where I could
sing for joy to God-alive!
-- Psalm 83
"God" the One and Only ...     --Psalm 83
the following are some general pics from the
festival.  we'll see these before we go on to the rest
of the stuff.  The Lord was praised and a lot of
regular folks got together to lift up the name of
Jesus, and to unabashedly  sing of His unending
glory.  
Amen ...  Amen ... Amen ...
beautiful child
There was good stuff
happenin' all over the
place, and while this was
the first year for the event,
it was well attended,
especially the concerts
later in the evening.  The
battle of the bands was
also a draw, but I suspect
that many were already
music buffs or supporters
of the bands.   I would
suggest that anyone who
wanted the variety (the one
that is the spice of life)
should listen to what these
bands have to say.

Praise was to be found
everywhere.  I pray that the
energy cultivated there was
taken from that venue to
the streets ... that we can
pursue our own particular
(sometimes peculiar)
ministries in the
penetrating light of what we
call the world.  The world
isn't bad, but it is a place
where choices are made
everyday, and a
disproportionate number of
them are self-oriented ...
which means that Satan is
the direct beneficiary of
much that is decided.  God
is saddened by that, but
will not take back His Word.

From the smallest attendee
(the lowly cricket that no
one seemed to notice) to
the radio station  (JOY
FM), and the wearers of
band merchandise, it was a
gathering of many
believers with many beliefs,
but with one clear
understanding:  Jesus
Christ alone is Lord and
Savior.
waiting patiently for the main event
too warm
smallest guest at the battle
Hannah-the other photographer
M
A
I
N
E
V
E
N
T
Here's that photographer chick again,
and this dude sporting a peace sign
while on a cell phone.  I think that
qualifies as an anachronism ... got that?

Ahhh ... a piece of the equipment that
makes the world go 'round, musically
speaking.  Now on to more band stuff,
both battle and main event
really?
event dude
Ever
yday

Sun
day
Ever
yday

Sun
day
really good bunch
of guys, and hard
workers for the
cause of Christ.

my hat is off to
these young pups
who are
unashamed to
speak of the glory
of God in His Son,
Christ Jesus.
Pete Mercer Band
Winner of Battle of the
Bands
The Pete Mercer band won
the battle of the bands, and
had the opportunity to play
on the BIG STAGE before
the main events ... so that
made them the opening act.

A neat collection of brothers
and sisters and friends all for
the Glory of Christ.

I got a chance to photo them
at the sound check when
they were getting used to the
concept of big real estate
and big equipment.  It was
priceless.
pmb
Charis
Charis
Jesus
rocks
Jesus
rocks
Jesus
rocks
Jesus
rocks
watching Charis compete in the battle
Peace that passes all
understanding is found in a
relationship with Christ alone!
ROCKET
city
ROCKET
city
tait  tait  tait
The Great
Reunion
The Great
Reunion
Phil Brown, the lead singer, not only has a great hat, but he is a
nice guy with great taste.  By that I mean he has a heart for Christ
and for Pete Mercer's sister ... Joy.  That pic is up toward the top.  
I took it during setup at the main stage.  I hope and pray that they
are still doing well as we ease into 2008.  Maybe they'll be back
for another round of band battles this fall.   Hmmmmmmm ...

RU Prepared for
the Great Reunion?
URRU?  Better be
sure cause it's
comin'!
R
E
U
N
I
T
E
Autumn
Let Heaven and Nature Sing.
Second Echo ( Second Echo ...  Second
Echo ... Echo ... Echo)  Let the games begin!
Q:  Why do atheists look so depressed?
A:  There's nothing to look forward to.
rock hard
for God!
Casey and Second Echo can be found on line with some
streaming videos, etc.  They are loud & proud and really a
charming bunch.  Hope they continue the last world tour!
SONshine
SONshine
SONshine
Abi Cook &
Crystal Yexley
Be aware that while religion was (and is)
definitely at the core of the law of our land, and
figured into the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence, our forefathers were generally
Deists, not Christians.  Point in fact: in any of the
aforementioned documents is the name of Jesus
Christ lifted high?  No, it is a God-based, Old
Testament, rule of law derived from Roman
republican practice and Greek philosophy.  It
was not wholly democratic, either. And while
Rome made Christianity the state religion, it was
not about Christ that most Roman adherents
were interested ... at least in the beginning.  They
were drawn to the status it would provide in the
eyes of state leaders, and the power that
association conferred.

Truth is … it isn’t about your relationship with
your government or affiliation with a political
party, but it has everything to do with your
personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That is
all that matters.  God has the rest of it under
control regardless of who we vote into office.  
His will shall be accomplished!

(Excerpt from FaithMEDITATION wk6 2008)
Big Daddy Weave
Big Daddy Weave
W
E
A
V
E
R

B
R
O
S
.
W
E
A
V
E
R

B
R
O
S
.
praise praise praise
We can't
buy God
off.  We
can't trade
with Him.  
Some
never
understand
this.
We can't
buy God
off.  We
can't trade
with Him.  
Some
never
understand
this.
praise praise praise
party on Wayne, Garth, Rebecca, Randy ...
It really was a great day, and the Holy Spirit
was in the midst of us.  The bands had a
great message, and even for entertainers,
they were modest and self-effacing.  There
was an effort by BDW to focus on what we
have and what others do not.  Can't wait 'till
next year to see what cool stuff happens.  In
these end days to would behoove each one of
us to take care of one another until the
rapture comes.  It is coming and we need to
be prepared in Jesus Christ.  Don't worry
about the Antichrist or the Mark of the Beast
...it really won't affect us.  Pray for those who
will be left behind to pay for their
commitment to Christ with their lives!
random pics ........
2008 2008 2008
2008 2008 2008
September 20th
RU4JESUS?
she's baaa-aaack
Marty (above)
with the guys
from 33 Miles.  
He and his
wife, Connie,
are the core of
the
organization
that put this
thing together
in the first
place.  Nice
folks and avid
coffee fans ...
can't say
enough about
that!
Marty again with the members of Vice Versa (they
won the BOTB) and some of the younger
Illumination Festival dudes.
Don't know for sure what it was, but the desaturated
versions, as well as the black & whites, really looked
good this year.  For me anyhow, I was there for about
12 hours and shot around 1800 digital files.  God gave
me the strength and the IF crew gave me all-access.
This is a
collage
to whet
your
appetite.
 
It was a
great
time and
God was
truly
honored.

That He
is with
us
where
two or
more are
gathered
is a
blessing
upon a
blessing.
"For where
two or three
are gathered
together in My
name. I am in
there in the
midst of
them."

-- Matthew 18:20
For the Scripture says,
"You shall not muzzle
an ox while it treads
out the grain ..."

--1 Timothy 5:18
We will start with the battle of the
bands, however, I do not know
the names of all of them.  In the
mean time I will call them in
order of appearance and fill in the
names later.  
RAP
SP
LAT
As you can see, this is not the best
place for acoustics, but it was not
quite as hot as 2007, so that was a
blessing, especially for the bands.
i
believe
these
guys
were
the
Fulton
Family
band
or
someth
ing
like
that ...
"The dudes" were a throwback to 80's
rock, & a strong ministry for rockin' youth.
Pink House
BATTLE
BATTLE
These kids are really good.  Given
time and Godly maturity, I believe
they have the talent to make their
way in the biz!  Hi, Rosie!
Spiritually the
answer which is
Christ remains
constant, and the
important
questions about life
vary only slightly
over time and
within cultures.  
Matthew
21:22   
“And
whatever
you ask
for in
prayer,
having
faith and
[really]
believing,
you will
receive.”
Vice Versa, the
battle of the
bands winner,
was shown on
the big stage
prior to the
main acts at
6:00.  here are
samples ...  
they are from
Ohio University
in Athens and
are really a lot
of fun.
we must approach God through His only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ, as a believer seeking a relationship with Him.  
We must be willing to be in a covenant state with Him, and
in two-way communication that is not about our personal
gain.  Even though our conventional worldly philosophies
appear to teach us a lesson of selflessness, even they are
drowned out by the market place.  The only way to be truly
free is to take the focus off of self and redirect it toward
God and others.  We do not have to be do-gooders or
notoriously generous, but by giving God the glory, we no
longer carry the impossible burden of being gods, and
promising what we cannot deliver.  We do not have all of
the answers; we cannot save ourselves from ourselves; we
cannot save others from evil; we cannot redirect God’s will
either personally or historically.  Praying believing is the
freedom to know that there is a higher authority and that
salvation rests in Him. God is God.  In Him, unlike us, there
is not the built-in limitation of a fallen nature.  Even Satan,
himself, is bound by God’s will.  All of creation submits to
His authority.  That is the God with whom we relate to one-
on-one, and whom we call Abba Father.  In our prayer we
are freed from ourselves, and we receive what we ask for
… what we need: unconditional love.  
some 33 MILE
pics from the
sound check,
and the show.
Sounded better
than the album
from my seat!
3
3

M
I
L
E
S

&

3
3

Y
E
A
R
S
Setup was cool
but shows were
cooler ... now
onto Eleventy
Seven
INTERCEPTOR
SQUADRON
Some
setup from
the
afternoon,
and a
couple
pics of my
nephews
with
Eleventy
Seven
under the
grandstand
... lighting
sucked,
but
sufficed..
INTERCEPTOR
SQUADRON
Marc Eckel ... SPLAT art for Jesus!!
Marc Eckel ... SPLAT art for Jesus!!
Marc Eckel ... SPLAT art for Jesus!!
There will be more from these
guys after the pics cover a
broader range of activities at the
festival.
2.
1.
4.
3.
It was difficult to
capture Marc because
of the low light and
high contrast at night.  

I didn't want to create
really heavy shadows
and make the process
look 2-dimensional  so
i kinda veered
between the two and
prayed for best results
...

The flying paint was
cool and pretty much
sums up the event!
I praise God for all of the
opportunities I have had to
record these events.  Because
of Him I continue to be blessed
every time I open my computer  
to do anything at all.  Invariably
there is a photo that reminds me
that God is ever-present ...
Omnipotent, Omnipresent,
Omniscient ... you name it, He's
all that and more!  What
intrigues me the most is the
ability to record events like
these that are more
documentary than simply a
string of pictures.

Praise God in the name of His
Son, Jesus the Christ.  Amen
CAEDMON'S CALL  ........................
I understand that the group was
missing it's lead singer and at
least one other band member
due to being stuck out in Texas.  
I can't remember if it was a storm
or something else less natural.  
Anyhow, it worked out fairly well
and the show went on.  Below
will also be some photos of the
Guitar Hero and other stuff.

OK, I have it.  Check out
caedmonscall.net
What you will find out is that the
fill-in for Danielle Young (her
husband is lead singer, Cliff)
was Mandy Mann pictured here.  
She is a really sweet person.  I
was roaming around the stage
in the dark, and came up behind
her as she stood-out a number.  
I scared her to death, I think, but
had a chance to talk for a few
moments after she recovered.  
Ya know, she battles her
demons, like the rest of us, so
take a minute and lift her up in
prayer.

"Dear Lord Jesus, take care of
Mandy and all of your children;
hold us when we are weak and
remind us that we are not.  
Amen."
Following will be
some stuff that
was shot during
the festival just
to give some
context and to
recognize the
folks that helped
and attended ...
you will know
who you are.
the hand of the Potter ...