Travis Johnson

Upcoming concerts at Life Pointe Church between October 19th and December 29th are:

Murder in the First, MasqueRAVE (tons of bands, including The Saturn Project and the Awakening), Onward to Olympas, Decyfer Down, Blessed is He, Remove the Veil, Flatfoot 56, Great Day, Michael John Stanley, The Miracle of You, Pillar, Invisible Image, Horizon's Fall, David’s Victory, Regret, Forgive Again, "Christmas Come Early Fest," Battle!, Stick Stickly, Attila.

There have been 54 concerts in the past year at our building.  Quite simply, they seriously rock.  In fact, I may have damaged my hearing in the last one I went to.  So, if you're into that kind of thing, you might get a kick out of these bands. 

Pillar and Flatfoot 56 will be especially good.  I'm also a huge fan of The Saturn Project (Jesse's band).  Jesse and his guys may be the best up and coming neo-rock band I've ever heard.  FYI, they have a couple dates open between November 1st to 11th and would consider playing at your place if you're in south Florida.

For information about the concerts, call Casey at Rock Pointe Ministries 305.321.5426.To book the Saturn Project, call our office @ 305.247.0889.

We've got a couple Sunday gigs in April.  They'll be red hot. 

First, my boy Jesse Santoyo from Chicago and the lead guy from The Saturn Project will be leading worship and playing a couple of his songs at the theater on April 15.  I love this cat.  I'll wait until later to share more about him.  In the meantime, check out "Time" and "So Alive" on The Saturn Project MySpace.

Then, Michael John Stanley will be doing the same thing on April 29th.  Michael John can flat out play the guitar.  Check him out and bring your crew.  April is going to be a blast with these two guys cranking things up right after Easter.

I had a great time at my alma mater on Thursday and Friday celebrating Dr. Conn's 20th year as the president of Lee University.  We sat with Tony and Heather Byrd, Phil Harris, and Torrey and Polly Herrin at dinner Thursday.  Then, we enjoyed a concert in the Dixon Center after which I had a good conversation with Dennis McGuire.  I may share some of that conversation later at COG Catalyst.

Friday morning, I sat in on Pitching Your Tent at the Postmodern Carnival: Witness in a Pluralist Context seminar led by Tony Richie and Cheryl Bridges-Johns.  I always enjoy listening to Cheryl.  It was my first time hearing Tony speak.  I wish I had been able to take notes.  They both had some interesting things to say about everything from ecuminism to seeker-sensitive ministry to Brian McClaren.

Then, we participated in the Celebration service.  The Symphony, mass choir, wind ensemble demonstrated one thing that Lee probably does better than most, music.  Dr. Carolyn Dirksen captured the past 20 years at Lee in an inspirational talk.  Dr. Conn spoke to the students and alumni concerning their roles and realities. The highlight was when he introduced K.C. Coomer III, representing the class of 2009. He left Lee and returned one year later after a tour in Iraq where his best friend was killed in Fallujah.  He received a seemingly endless standing ovation.

We caught up with a lot of old friends.  It was especially good to sit down with my pastor, Mitch Maloney and my 3 girls.  I am always challenged by his vision and friendship.

When I left the Lee campus, I drove away with a significant amount of pride for my school.  Dr. Conn is a phenomenal leader of what I would consider the premier evangelical Christian university in America.  It has really shaped my life.  My parents attended as did my grandparents.  I imagine that one day my girls will attend Lee as well.  I can't imagine what the school will have to offer then (much less what it will cost!).

On the way home, I thought about my girls moving away one day over a chili dog at the Varsity.  I guess that's one good thing about Lee being so far from Miami, the Varsity is in between Lee and the Atlanta airport.  Not bad...not bad at all.

tagged: lee university - paul conn - dennis mcguire - "church of god" - mitch maloney - cheryl johns - tony richie - tony byrd - torrey herrin - phil harris

photos: Lee University on Flickr - Humanities Building Great Sky Photo

Kelly's Celebration '06 entries: l.u.celebration '06 - webbs @ lee - the varsity - i can walk...just don't want to - cooler weather of n.c. - pop roberts house
 

How many hours do you think are spent preparing for the typical Sunday worship experience?  I know I put a lot of time into preparation.  There are many terrific people making it happen week in and week out at Life Pointe.  But, what if there was nothing to setup, no stage, no lights, no creative elements?  What would be left?

Brad Abare asks the question better than me.  Summed up, is there a faith community that could still be glad in gathering together to worship a Holy God?  Matt Redmond asked the same question after realizing that the music had become greater than His God.  As Christianity Today related it, he cancelled all music and for a period of weeks worshipped in silence.  They regained a more simplistic approach to God and broke their silence with this song:

when the music fades
all is stripped away
and i simply come...
longing just to bring
something that's of worth
that will bless your heart

i bring you more than a song
for a song in itself
is not what you have required
you search much deeper within
through the way things appear
you're looking into my heart

chorus
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
and it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing i've made it
when it's all about you
it's all about you, Jesus

What is left over when all your religious trappings are taken away?  I pray that what is left honors God and leaves me with a place among my friends, my church, my family.

I will never forget the September day in 1997 when I received news that Rich Mullins died.  His Jeep Wrangler rolled over and he was gone.  At a time when Contemporary Christian Music had polish and flash, Rich was real.  Like Keith Green, he had a passion for God unseen in many.  Perhaps, they were both prophets.

Rich would show up to his shows wearing jeans, socks, white t-shirt, unshaven, and with sloppy hair.  His instrument of choice was the hammer dulcimer.  He made your heart sing and your mind wander to a more beautiful place.  Like Francis Assisi, Rich took a vow of poverty and ministered to the poor, living on a Navajo Reservation teaching music to children.

Rich was ahead of his time...or, maybe he was after his time.  Today, I'm listening to Rich as he helps me listen to God.

More about Rich Mullins at Kid Brothers.