Casting Crowns in Concert 2012

Victoria Azarenka just won the Australian Open and I need something to lift my spirits. What better than to look back and post my Casting Crowns photos. We arrived to a wet Sydney and while the others went to find some dinner Tegan, Emily, and I stood in the line. Thankfully we brought umbrellas, so we juggled umbrellas and books and camera bags and tried not to get too wet.

Thankfully, not too long after a lovely American dude came and showed us somewhere to stand undercover. And then not too long after that we were shown into the conference centre.

Waiting for the concert to begin. The different faces of our group except for Cassandra, whose photo was not presentable, due to closed eyes.

Do you like Emily's choice of literature? Actually, Tegan brought it to lean on while writing, obviously before the concert started.

Our pre-show entertainment, Randy Stonehill. He was, lets say, interesting in a quirky sort of way. At least we weren't bored.

Then it's dark and we wait. And all of a sudden lights start up and the music goes and "Courageous" is reaching every corner of the building. I can feel my heart vibrating.

It was a phenomenal night. I had goosebumps singing "Who Am I?", felt teary while they sang and played the music video for "Another Birthday," and all in all it was a great experience.

One thing I really loved about the whole experience was the attempt to ensure that Jesus was the centre not Casting Crowns. Earlier that day, the band members had walked through the seating praying for the people who attended, that it just wouldn't be a fun Christian family night out, but something a little or a whole lot more. There were several prayer times and mini sermon sessions.

I was particularly impressed with the reminder that we find our identity in Christ and draw from Him as our source. If we find our identity in our talents, in the way see ourselves, in the way we perceive the way others perceive us, we're going to become dry. We need to come to the Well.

They sang a lot of songs from 'Come to the Well." The only ones I could have asked for would be "Wedding Day" and "Face Down." But singing the songs as worship, I found again all those hidden gems in "Jesus Friend of Sinners" and "City on a Hill."So convicting to remember that we shouldn't just hang around with the people we feel comfortable with, but remember that the dancers give the poets life, the poets give the soldiers strength, the young ones add fire, and the old ones add wisdom.

First concert experience 100% awesome. And hopefully every time I wear my "Come to the Well' shirt, I'll remember to actually wear the life too.