If you've been coming by here a while, you may remember from last August this post I wrote about Travis Cottrell coming to sing and lead music for our church on a particular Sunday. It was a very exciting day for me, to say the least. I mean, I had been jamming out to Travis's (Travis' ?) Alive Forever CD for a while, and I had absolutely no idea when I walked in that we had a guest that day. So needless to say, I was excited. A little.
So anyway, I
Eh hem, as I was saying...composure. I had it. And so did he. He was very sweet and polite, and he even joked around with us a bit as we all walked together. That was a great day.
Sunday night a few weeks ago, I was very well aware of the special guests that were going to be there. It was Travis primarily, as he was to be recording a DVD and CD that will come out later this year.
If you've ever attended a large church, you'll appreciate the need for getting good seats. :-) They didn't open the doors to the worship center until 5:00 pm, but we were right by the door when they opened them. Everyone standing by the door was nervously commenting about the whole WalMart incident over Christmas, and that we all needed to be aware so we didn't get trampled!
Let's just say a few people showed up.
Well, along with Travis and his fellow musicians, we had the grand pleasure of hosting Beth Moore as well. You can only imagine the amount of estrogen running through the aisles that night. It was great. Travis said it reminded him of the "Capri Pant Conferences" that he does with Beth. Funny guy.
My only regret: I seriously thought that pictures would not be allowed since it was being recorded. Duh. So no camera. I know, what kind of blogger am I?
The concert was unbelievable. I truly cannot describe to you how powerful and God-honoring that night was. Some of my highlights were:
1) Travis sang his own version of Victory in Jesus...with flair. I can't wait to have that on CD...it was SO much fun!
2) The choir was fantastic! I believe there were about 300 in our choir loft that night. Unbelievable.
3) One of his back-up singers came to the foreground and sang "Mercy Seat" or some people call it "I'm Runnin.'" That was the most surreal song...the presence of God was so strong I'm surprised we didn't all fall flat on our faces or something. A.MA.ZING doesn't cut it. I'm just sayin.
4) There was one point about half way through the concert and after a very powerful song that a man went on stage and began quietly discussing something with Travis. We were all in wonder as we were trying to wind down a bit from the adrenaline rush.
Finally, Travis addressed the crowd and said, "Okay, they're ready to start recording now!"
The crowed roared in laughter, and he did too. He said, though, that there was a computer glitch in that last song, and we were going to need to do that one again. It was going to take several minutes for them to fix whatever it was and be ready, and Travis didn't want the audience to lose the momentum we had going.
So they did an impromptu performance of "Shackles."
Talk about a par-tay right there in our church aisles! It was so much fun!! I told my friend sitting next to me that as many times as I've heard that song, I've never been in a place where I could really let loose and dance and sing the way I wanted to; I'm usually driving! We had a blast with that song.
5) And then there were times when we heard from Beth. Let's just say that she did not disappoint. She had a word for us about worship, particularly corporate worship, that helped keep us focused on the "Main Thang" rather than all the cameras, lights, and smoke.
6) Now, there's no spiritual implications on this one, but it deserves to be noted that Beth had on about the cutest little red and leopard print jacket I think this girl has ever seen. Alas, one cannot simply Google "red leopard print jacket" and find it. Believe me on this. But, oh my, was it cute.
7) Now I've saved the best for last: Since the doors opened at 5:00, I had to take Lil'bit in the Worship Center with me for a bit as the childcare did not open until 5:40. As I walked out of the sanctuary doors into the main thoroughfare (you laugh, but I kid not!) to get him to the preschool area, I saw this small group of people kind of all huddled around each other getting off the elevator right in front of me. They were about to cross the highway I was on to get back stage. Right in the middle of the huddle was none other than Beth Moore!
In disbelief, I mumbled under my breath, "You gotta be kiddin' me."
And she heard me.
She had her cell phone to her ear, was surrounded by people, and on her way back stage as things were about to get rolling within the next 20 minutes, so she had plenty of reasons to just keep on walking.
Do you know she didn't just keep walking?
She heard my astonishment, and looked me square in the eyes, and said, "How are you, darlin?" Can't you just hear her say that?
My reply: "I'm kind of freaking out a little here, Beth! How are you?"
Big, Texas-style grin from Beth: "Oh, you're such a sweet darlin, let me come over there and hug your neck!" She weaved herself out of all those people and hugged me like I was an old friend.
You know, fame changes some people; but for some, the Famous One keeps them humble enough to realize that we are all just people, made in God's image and working for His purposes together. Beth is one of those people, I'm convinced.
Once I got to the preschool department, I had to give the front desk my son's month and year of birth to find which room he would stay in. My mind was so preoccupied with my recent encounter that I couldn't think of it for a minute! As I apologized to the preschool worker for my absentmindedness because I was still trying to wrap my absent mind around what just happened, she just smiled and said that Beth had just come down to the preschool area to meet the workers since they were not able to attend the concert.
Godly character. There just is no substitute.
I haven't been able to find the name of the CD and DVD that will be coming out later this year, but be looking for it. I have two reasons for you to make the personal investment by watching that DVD: 1) You'll be able to, in a small way, share with me one of the most worshipful nights of my life; and 2) You'll be able to get a load of that uber-cute jacket of Beth's.
It is not to be missed.
