What a Concert!

My wife and I went down to Hickory, NC with another couple from church for a Caedmon's Call concert Saturday night. Now, those of you who have read the blog for a while know that I went to see them in October, but Cliff and Danielle were not there (due to having a false alarm on the delivery of baby #4) and Derek Webb had not joined the Overdressed tour yet. Well, all three were present and accounted for (though their keyboard guy, Josh, was not present and they did not mention him).

What a great concert! Courtesy of caedmonscall.net, here was their song set:

Derek Webb opened the night with songs from his solo albums (so talented that he performed them ONLY with his twelve string and no other instrumental backup):

1. Lover
2. Nobody Loves Me
3. A New Law
4. King and a Kingdom
5. Name
6. Wedding Dress

7. I Wanna Marry You All Over Again
8. Savior on Capitol Hill
9. This Too Shall Be Made Right

The great thing about Derek's songs is that they are a bit controversial at times but I really think they cause people to think about where they are in their own walk with Christ and what they define as Christianity. Unlike some people that break away from a band to pursue their own career, I don't think Derek did it because he didn't like Caedmon's (as could easily been seen the other night--he had a blast), but that he had something that needed to be said (and wasn't being said by ANYONE else in the Christian music industry).

Then Caedmon's came out and did the following set:

1. My Calm Your Storm
2. There is a Reason
3. Climb On (A Back That’s Strong)
4. Trouble
5. Expectations
6. Two Weeks In Africa
7. Share In The Blame
8. Hold The Light
9. Forty Acres
10. In God’s Country
11. Share The Well

Then Cliff did a little spiel on the Dalit Freedom Network and spoke more in general about Compassion International, a group that they are very involved with and really do more than just give lip service to (Cliff and Danielle sponsor two children themselves).

Then Caedmon's took a break and new member Andy Osenga (who had at least 8 guitars on stage!) came out and sang the following songs from solo projects he has done:

1. When Will I Run (with Derek singing backups)
2. Swing Wide The Glimmering Gates (w/o the band)
3. New Beginning (with Todd, Garret, Jeff, and Josh)

The band then came back on and did this set of songs:

1. There’s Only One (Holy One)
2. Not Enough
3. Faith My Eyes
4. Shifting Sand
5. Hope to Carry On (this one REALLY made my wife and I feel like we were back in college seeing them)

Then the band went off in preparation for the encore, and Derek was the first out, to do one off the Overdressed record that is going to be featured in a Grey's Anatomy Episode:

1. Ten Thousand Angels

Then the band joined him and sang the last two songs--the crowd was actually not as young/energetic as the crowd in Salem in October, but got into it with Thankful. Caedmon's pulls out all the stops on this song, even Cliff does some percussion.

2. April Showers
3. Thankful

All in all, it was a great show--if you're counting, that's 31 songs and almost three hours of music. We didn't get out of Hickory until about 10:30 PM (I'll have a post on a certain fast-food incident later) and didn't get home until about 2:00 AM. But it was certainly worth the drive, for sure. Caedmon's and Derek Webb may never be back together again but I'm glad I got to see them. What a great concert!

We've Come a Long Way, Baby

Last night was the 10th anniversary of my wife and I's first date. Ten years ago, my wife and I attended a social function at our college called "Artist Series" where the college would bring in theatrical or music acts for an evening, so that folks would not have to go anywhere (Lexington, KY was not far away, but not much to do in Wilmore!) The theater company performed Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and we had a blast.

Fast forward to last night, and you'd think we'd go out and have a big dinner, right? Nope. We're easy to please--we got Chinese takeout (about $40 worth--it's the ONLY way to go. it's like having your own buffet!) and watched TV that we had saved on our DVR. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that are the most satisfying.

A Close "Call"

My wife, her brother and some church friends of mine went to see Caedmon's Call last night--when they came out onto the stage, two members (Cliff and Danielle) were noticeably missing. Andrew Osenga played a song or two, then revealed that just as they were about to get on the plane from Houston, Danielle went into labor and they couldn't make it for the show. So not only was Derek not on tour with them yet, but Cliff and Danielle was not there either. I was sort of bummed.

But I have to say that my wife and I have a new found respect for somewhat-newly acquired member Osenga (he has been with them for about 5 years since the Normals dissolved). We were both kind of disappointed when Derek left to do his own thing, and thought that Andrew wasn't a great replacement. But he surprised us as he really carried the show last night (he's a suprisingly funny and quick-witted guy), and stepped up--they brought a friend of Caedmon's from Houston to fill in for Danielle (Sarah?) and she did well. Josh Moore was AMAZING on piano, and the percussion stuff was fantastic. It wasn't the ideal that I was hoping for, but I had a great time. If anything, I hope that it shows Caedmon's that this area can produce a pretty good crowd so that they'll come back when they're full strength.

I look forward to seeing them in the spring.

Excited!

I just got the new Caedmon's Call CD in the mail--you can view information on their new album here. The title of the new album is called "Overdressed" and it is great to hear Derek Webb with them again--to me, it just really hasn't been Caedmon's Call without him. Of course, he won't be joining them permanently (I don't think--but I'm not sure).

The EVEN BIGGER NEWS is that Caedmon's will actually be coming to do a concert 15 minutes from where we live!!! My wife and I haven't gotten to see them since college, so we are VERY excited that they are coming close by--it will be a real treat to see them again.

In other slightly important news, the Red Sox play the Yanks tonight, and I'm not sure I'll watch since as a superstitious baseball fan, to watch would be to somehow jinx the Sox, and I don't want that 8 game lead to dwindle!

Music and Worship

As I've already said before on this blog, I really like music--if you looked at my collection of music, there's really not a lot of genres that I don't have (I mean, other than techo/disco stuff, or real rap--DC Talk isn't quite that, depending on the CD).

I was raised in a Christian home, and surrounded by music from a very early age, since my mom was (and still is) a piano teacher who has lessons in the house. I got to appreciate many different styles of music, from ragtime to jazz to classical, and so on (to this day there are several pieces that I could never play myself but I could tell you if the notes were wrong!)

I want to explore two things in this post, first being what is music and how that translates to being worship and the second being, how do we live a life that involves worship?

But the question comes: what is music (and thus worshipful) and what is just clanging? (I won't use "noise" since the Bible most clearly says, "make a joyful noise.")

Now some may come forward and say (flashing their denominational badges, no doubt, saying in a bellowing voice), "Well, we don't play that kind of music in our church." (and each person might have a definition in their head of "that" music which may offend their sensibilities in the church setting, but that discussion is irrelevant here) But the challenge I would put to anyone is not so much the kind of music (hymns, praise choruses, etc.)we are playing or singing but more the attitude and method with which we approach the playing and singing of that music. What do I mean?

I mean that I could sing a song the same way but yet inside be reflecting two different things--one would be worshipful and truly God-honoring while the other was empty and hollow, with a mind more concerned about getting home in time for the football game later that afternoon. Church-going folks have an easy time "putting on a face" and cementing the facade by singing the songs with gusto while not really even joining with the rest of the congregation in truly communing with the Father in their worship.


How are we to get to the place where we live a life of worship? Is anyone perfect? Can anyone say honestly that all the time that while they are in church that they resemble the former rather than the latter? Of course not. Part of the discipline of being a Christian is asking the Spirit to help prepare you for worship on Sunday, and even better yet, make it a part of your daily routine!

And yes, that means making singing and praising God a part of your day! I have to admit there are times when I get up on the wrong side of the bed and I don't feel like worshiping God or feeling good about anything, truly. Dan Phillips over at Pyromanics had a great post last September about worshiping and prayer, and in it, he talked about how we are to worship even when we don't get a "feeling" to do so or come to an emotional high that validates our worship.

The fruit that is harvested from the means of grace that God provides often means practicing the discipline of prayer, worship and yes, attending church and hearing the Word on a regular basis (not staying at home in your pajamas and listening to a televangelist). It means doing it often when you don't feel like it--I have had times when I didn't feel like it but by the end I was refreshed by the Spirit and ready to take the day head-on.

To this end, I would highly recommend anything by Caedmon's Call, though their worship albums are truly spectacular (they are called "In the Company of Angels"--there is also a Vol. 1). In addition, Chris Rice has compiled a CD of hymns, some of which he has made new arrangements on, which I listen to--no joke--at least twice through a day. (if you go to the link, it is currently on sale at Family Christian Store for $10--and you may want to buy multiple copies and give them to friends/family!)

One of the things that my friend Joey (who is the Family Pastor at the church I attended in Virginia Beach) told my wife and I when we were on the praise team there was that as a member of the praise team, it was important to present a good model of how to worship. The main part of that is not so much singing great or even holding your hand up to appear worshipful, but preparing your heart and spirit for worship so that the Father is glorified when you come to Him in worship. Listening to the above music helps me to worship and helps to bring me to an attitude of being worshipful to God.

There have been those who have said, what you put in is what you will get out, whether it be books, music, TV, movies--I would challenge you to get music (or even listen to sermons) that encourages you to worship and puts you in an attitude of worship towards your heavenly Father. I mean, I love listening to Harry Connick, Jr. when I feel like listening to swing music; Miles Davis when I want to chill out; John Mayer when I want to jam and turn it up while driving. But does this music encourage me to worship? None of this music is necessarily wrong in itself, but does it encourage me to draw closer to the Father with prayers and supplications, to call on Christ as my High Priest and mediator before the throne? Does it prepare me for the Sunday morning gathering--or does it make it feel like any other day? On close examination we would all feel shameful of how little of our whole day we devote to worship, prayer and reading the Word (I know I do!).

Our minds are always taking in information and influences--what is yours taking in? Does it move you toward more worship of the Father and His Son, leave you in the same place or move you further away?

Worship the Father today in all His splendor and grace!