Ryman Auditorium

Behold the Lamb of God

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I don’t normally do shameless plugs, but here goes: if you’re ever anywhere near a place that hosts Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God concert, just go. Don’t ask any questions. Just go.

The absolute best venue to see this concert is the Ryman Auditorium, but go wherever is convenient for you.

Aside Handel’s Messiah, I honestly can’t think of any other Christmas music that mines the depth and splendor of the Incarnation in the way this music does. It also happens to be a very good synopsis of the overarching meta-narrative of the entire Bible, the whole story in one short setting.

In the mean time, go buy the album. I’m making it really easy for you. Just go to this link, whip out the ol’ credit card, type in those numbers (including that pesky little 3-digit number on the back), and make that purchase. You will not for one second regret it.

https://www.amazon.com/Behold-Lamb-10th-Anniversary-2-disc/dp/B0040QTHMW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481775641&sr=8-2&keywords=behold+the+lamb+of+god

The theology is solid and the songwriting is among the best. My new favorite Christmas song may just be Labor of Love. The whole album is profound and moving in a way very few Christmas albums I’ve heard are. So go buy it.

Here endeth the shameless plug.

 

Patty Griffin and the Long Ride Home

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“I’ve had some time to think about you
And watch the sun set like a stone
I’ve had some time to think about you
On the long ride home” (Patty Griffin).

So, here’s the deal. The Red Sled has a pooped-out transmission. Thankfully, that means rebuilding and NOT replacing (which is apparently about $1400 more). That got my anxiety up a bit.

But on my ride home, I had Patty Griffin’s A Kiss in Time to keep me company. To those who only know top-40, Patty Griffin is an astoundingly amazing artist who has the rare combination of angelic voice and keen songwriting ability. This particular album captured her in a 2003 live performance at the Ryman Auditorium (the same place where I saw her live in 2011).

There’s something about music that forces you to be present in the present. You can’t daydream about the past or fret about the future when a good song is playing. You can’t help but notice the music. At least I can’t.

Music is a reminder that you can’t change the past or control the future. All you can do is to live in the present and receive it like the gift it is. Each moment is a package waiting to be unwrapped by those not enslaved to their smart devices.

So I go to bed tonight knowing that in the end everything will be fine, because God’s already there and He’s promised me that He’d take care of the details.

Hopefully, I won’t keep myself up half the night coughing out my lungs like I did last night. That’s not my idea of fun.

Here’s hoping you find something to smile about and celebrate about God in the days and weeks to come.

My celebration will be my head hitting the pillow as soon as humanly possible.

 

Thank You, Patty

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image

Yeah, I saw Patty Griffin at the Ryman. That’s one thing I can cross off my bucket list. Yippee!

She was uh-mazing. Not just amazing. UH-MAZING.

I had a great seat in my favorite concert venue and a very lively and appreciative crowd around me. I say this will go down as one of my best Mondays ever.

I knew every song she sang. Not that I sang with her. That would have almost been sacriligeous.

But better than even this concert is the one my Abba gives me every single night. He sings me to sleep with songs of joy and peace. He dances around me with delight because He is still very much fond of me after all these years.

It’s a concert that’s free to me, but came at great cost. Just because salvation didn’t cost me anything doesn’t mean it’s not costly. God paid dearly for me. And all He asks in return is me.

So I’m going to bed with a grateful heart and a joyful spirit. I’ll lay my head on my pillow knowing I am blessed. I call that a great Monday, don’t you?

PS Thank you, Patty, for making my Monday so special. And thank you, God, for my life.