Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

OK, there are a LOT to choose from, I decided. ;) But this one? This one was stinking AWESOME. Steven Curtis Chapman in the Live in This Moment Tour... He posted an obscure video hidden on his website telling us to wear or bring something that said "We Are" (as in, "We are the children of God!," in one of his songs). It got those of us who did ON STAGE. In this pic, he's asking who I am and telling me he has a daughter with my name (Yep, I knew that, lol). Later, he came over and put his arm around me as we both sang the chorus into the mic. It was... unforgettable.

BTW - my sign is fingerspelled W-E A-R-E. He kept staring at it when I held it up (while still in the audience), trying to figure out what the heck it was. Then when he got it, he gave a huge grin! :)

And hear the words again, "FEAR NOT"

FYI - Will on drums, Caleb on guitar.

The concert

So Saturday night was the Steven Curtis Chapman/Michael W. Smith concert at the Puyallup Fair. I went with my friend BJ, and even got to see an old friend, Anita, there.Steven opened... it was SO good to see him again. It just warmed my heart, especially since after Maria's death, he wasn't sure he could do this again. He started with Blessed Be Your Name, including an explanation about Maria. When he got to the "You give and take away" part... his voice broke, and it just about broke my heart. Throughout the night, he referenced Maria's death a lot... but in a hopeful, loving way--the pain was obvious, but so, too, was the amazing strength he and his family have grown in.



He performed for an hour and a half--a lot of his popular songs, including several slow ones. It was hard for me because I'm used to standing up and singing and dancing during his concerts... but I sat most of this one. Caleb was playing with The Following, so he wasn't there... and there were no fancy screens or gameboy graphics (lol) projected behind him. Just him and the band, and some fun lights. It was a great show, however... I'd have to say it was probably my least favorite of all of his concerts I've been to over the last 12 years. Remember, though - least favorite still means it was fabulous! :)

DIVE

Then we had intermission, and soon Michael W. Smith came on the stage. This is BJ's reaction...Smitty has reached so many people with his music... I just wasn't feeling it at the concert. He sang a couple of his songs... 2 new ones and 2 old ones, that I can remember. The rest of them were just worship songs. I say "just," but mean... worship songs that he didn't write, and have no idea if they're on his albums or anything. It was nice, and I DID worship, I had just been hoping for a bit more of HIS music.
My favorite part of MWS on stage? When he introduced the band I moved from polite golf clap to excited screaming for the drummer and guitarist, Michael Olson and Ben Gowell (respectively). I went to NCU with them!! I was SO excited to see them up there, rocking out with Smitty.

Michael Olson

Ben GowellIn all, it was an enjoyable concert. No merch for Steven, so I didn't get to buy a shirt or anything... not that I don't have any SCC stuff. lol I know some of you get to see The United Tour, so I hope you really enjoy it!

Fluffy white clouds

So at this exact moment I'm laying on Gentry's couch, typing on her laptop, waiting for her to get home in ten or fifteen minutes. I'm on a mini-vacation folks. :)

The drive up here was fine... until it started POURING just south of Bellingham. Torrential downpour. HOWEVER... just a few minutes ago I got a call from BJ thanking me for bringing the sunshine--it's gorgeous outside now!! :)

Today is my brother, Scott's, birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Someday you'll all know him as a famous... well, something famous related to movies or tv or something. we'll see what happens when he grows up.

It's really quiet here. I like where I live well enough, but the road outside my house is LOUD. this is really peaceful.

If you haven't had the chance, make sure you check out Monday through Wednesdsay's Focus On the Family with Dr. James Dobson. Steven was on it all three days... and his story just proved what an AWESOME God we serve. You can find it online... One of these days I'll include the link for you. I ended up downloading it and puting it on my iPod... listened while I drove up here.

I'm reading Judges right now. Just started actually. Just finished Deuteronomy and Joshua. I think after Judges I'll pick something in the New Testament.. actually, next weekend will start reading through Luke and Ephesians with the church--one chapter a day. So I'll do that and then just stick with my trip through the Old Testament right now. It's possible that I'll get the whole thing read through this year. Lately a ton of people have asked me how many times I've read the bible through... it's such an odd question to me... because it's not like I normally read from Genesis to Revelation over and over. I can be pretty random when I'm reading... and sometimes I've been "stuck" in a short book like Ephesians for an extended period of time... reading and rereading. Depends on what God's doing!

What are YOU reading right now??? :)

Tomorrow's People Magazine...

...Has the story about the Chapmans. 1st - pray that God uses it to reveal Himself to those who read it--believers or not. 2nd - GET IT. :)

Check out this website...

www.people.com

It's People Magazine and you should check it out as soon as you get a chance.

Larry King Live

In case you missed Larry King Live on Thursday, here are links...

Larry King Live
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Larry King: About Last night
(Remember to keep Larry in prayer, too.)

Commentary: Our tragedy and God's love for orphans

Chapman Family on GMA

GMA

ABC's link to Good Morning America... the interview is sad but good.

wow!

check out www.stevencurtischapman.com. Seriously. Go there.

In case you don't read Jim's blog...

... here's the latest:


Press Release going to media shortly

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN & FAMILY OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO AMERICA
Family to Appear on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, LARRY KING LIVE and in PEOPLE magazine

New Single “Yours” goes to radio and DSPs with Additional Verse

NASHVILLE, TN....AUGUST 4, 2008....GRAMMY and Dove Award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman, along with his wife Mary Beth, and eldest children Emily, Caleb, and Will, will soon be opening their hearts to America about the loss of their daughter and sister Maria Chapman this past May 21st. GOOD MORNING AMERICA will air a special interview with Robin Roberts from The Chapman’s home in Franklin on August 6th, followed by a live interview from Los Angeles on LARRY KING LIVE on August 7th, and an extensive feature in an upcoming issue of PEOPLE magazine. The decision to speak publicly was not an easy one, and these will be the first interviews the family has participated in since Maria’s death.

“Initially Steven talked about never doing any concerts or media ever again,” comments Jim Houser, Chapman’s manager. “But quickly God began to show Steven that if he ever believed the songs he was writing, singing and recording before May 21st and Maria’s loss, that they must still be true now. It’s the family’s hope that these appearances with serve as a chance to proclaim to a watching world what they know and are deeply convinced of even in these difficult days, the Gospel is true and faith in Christ is our Hope.”

As a part of the family’s acknowledgement of the tragedy and God’s faithfulness to them through this difficult time, Chapman has also written a new verse to his song "Yours" from his current project, “THIS MOMENT”:

I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.

“Yours” is the follow-up single to his hit “Cinderella,” a song written about Maria and her sisters, for which Chapman is also now changing the poignant last line in life performance to “’Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight/But the truth is... The dance goes on.” “Yours” will be available for purchase via digital service providers including iTunes ®, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, etc. as of August 5th, with 100% of Chapman’s royalties from the sales of this single being donated to Shaohannah’s Hope. Producer Matt Bronlewee and co-writer on “Yours” Jonas Myrin have also joined the effort with 100% of their royalties from the single going to Shaohannah’s Hope, and additionally monies received by Sparrow records from the sales of this single, after deduction of expenses and royalties, will be donated to Shaohannah’s Hope. Shaohannah’s Hope is a 501C(3) organization whose goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and as of July 2008 has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans in the United States and around the world. For more details on Maria’s Miracle Fund and Shaohannah’s Hope, please visit www.showhope.org.

From Lifefest last night

This is only one of the videos... if you go to youtube, search Steven Curtis Chapman and Lifefest.

Check it out...

a lot of pics of the show, etc., are posted on Jim Houser's blog (on the right). Click on his name and see... the weather IS cutting the show short. wow. And Steven sang Cinderella... changed one of the lyrics--"wedding is just 2 months away." how he did it, i have no idea.

Pray for Steven and...

Pray for Steven, the boys, Mary Beth, Jim, and everyone else involved with his team... tonight's the first concert back. Jim said they look prayed up--that's a good thing. Hey... it's happening right now!

everyone else is doing it...

I still have to get my tix for the Puyallup concert with them. :)

Happy New Year!

Seriously... at work, today was the last day of the fiscal year. I'm sure some of you out there follow the same calendar that I do, and if you do... I hope you had little stress and lots of laughter. (In my office the much stress was the CAUSE of the laughter! It's really hard to talk to your boss when he's mocking you, lol.)

Anyway, with the end of the fiscal year starts the beginning of July. I'm excited about July... kind of nervous in a way, but nervous like I would be if i were going to meet someone famous. See... if you've kept up with the 30 List at all, you know that I've been in the Bible every day this year. I've honestly NEVER done that before... which is funny because I LOVE Scripture. I just... I'm lazy, i guess. Anyway, this started out as a commitment I made to God at church 6 months ago--and now has become a combination challenge/joyful journey. Each month almost, God has challenged me with something new, a commitment to add another chapter on to the reading, etc. July... well, I don't want to get into it all here, but July will continue where I've been (a minimum of 3 chapters a day--more is ALWAYS an option, lol), and... EXTRA. SO... feel free to ask about the extra... I'm hoping to have things to share about on here next month. I'm up for a CHANGE in my heart and my relationship with God--so here's hoping. :)

Oh, and I thought I'd share in case... I saw a note from Mary Beth yesterday... and she is hurting. She misses her baby. Please continue to remember them in prayer (and those others who have lost someone so dear as well). God is faithful and He will continue to make a way out of this darkness that they face.

Today's fun blog. :)

I had a dream last night...

... and as a few of you may know, God often speaks to me through dreams. Normally, I share those dreams with very few people. However...
(Keep in mind that I didn't write this down when I dreamt it--which I'm supposed to do.)


I was at some function where they offered a few things to do each night. On this particular night, there was the option of going to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert or some other small event (I can't even remember what it was). For a reason that I cannot now explain, I chose to go to the other event. I enjoyed it, but definitely missed seeing Steven perform.

When my event was finished, I headed for the auditorium where Steven had performed. I learned that he'd been doing meet and greets with the audience and was kind of surprised. I looked up front and there were only about 3 people left in line. I quickly walked up there and took my place. The auditorium was quickly emptying, the cleaning crew was there, the stage guys were tearing down... it was pretty much just Steven and the few of us in line.

Finally, it was my turn. I reached to grab something for him to autograph but realized I only had a tiny piece of paper (think gum wrapper size). Knowing that TALKING to him was more important to me, I just handed it over. He kept the same smile and happy face that he had on as we shook hands (he was sitting behind a table). Without me saying anything, he took the paper, wrote "Hi, Emily." on it, and handed it back. I was so surprised (he remembered me from previous meetings), everything I wanted to say froze. All I got out was "Thank you." I didn't get to tell him how much Maria has impacted the world; how because HE fell in love with her, SHE is now spending eternity with Jesus; how we've all been praying for them; I didn't get to PRAY with him.

As I stepped backwards and his "people" started to tear down the table and things, I watched a transformation. The man that had been smiling and performing all night and truly worshiping God melted into a severely grieving father. He kept his smile on, but his whole body reflected an unimaginable grief. I think I began crying... and then I woke up.

As I lay there... obviously I had to pray. Most of my dreams are filled with symbolism, where Steven would represent something in my life. However... this time... I thought it was pretty clear. The Chapman family still desperately needs our prayers. Steven is heading into Father's Day weekend--trying to celebrate what he still HAS here on earth, while both grieving the loss of a special little girl and comforting a broken and hurting son. I think my friend Apostle is right... we ARE here to rejoice AND grieve with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Will you let my dream be a reminder to you to pray for this family, to aggressively rail at heaven's doors and cry for comfort and peace and joy and love overflowing?

Copying Matt...

...because he's cool. There are some sites you have to visit. I'll just list them here... but trust me... If you're not AMAZED by God right now, read Kerry's and Jim's blogs... You will be.

Kerry Hasenbalg
Jim Houser
Apostle
Grace Graham

Just a note...

Hi everyone... Comment here to say hi... there's not a ton of you around these days. Do you all like my new layout? I love it. :) Make sure you click on the picture of Maria on the top right... it's worth it.

I've been in the beginning of the Bible lately. Currently in Leviticus. Torn between going completely nuts with how many sacrifce options there are and having to read through them all, and... the fact that even before grace was offered freely through Jesus Christ... God, perfection Himself, allowed ways for His people to come to Him. That pretty much blows me away.

I just finished a book called Home To Holly Springs. It was really sweet, I liked it. I'm going to look up the series that the main character came out of and read those. But first I have to finish Anna Karenina - it's on my 30 List.

Speaking of my 30 List... I'm supposed to go on a date... sigh... I put it on there hoping... but at this point, I've got 16 days left. It makes me sad... I just don't know single men... and the older I get, the more married they get. Where ARE the good, single, Christian, men? I've come to suspect that they don't exist anymore... I certainly haven't seen any lately. In that book I just mentioned, the main character quoted someone... basically, the person said... Two people plus two people equals four people. but if you double one person... you get FAR more than just two people... you get an exponential amount of LIFE. I'm just looking for one. That's all. And it's so FREAKING frustrating.

Yikes, it's almost 10. bedtime.