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Monday, March 26, 2007

The Final Circle

From the banks of the Olentangy River.....

Tonight, this stretch of the HGIOG Tour comes to a close on the campus of The Ohio State University, the University so mighty it must be preceded by the definite article "The" so no confusion will abound. We played tonight from center court of the Buckeyes basketball arena on the same day the aforementioned team returned home from a successful Sweet Sixteen run that landed them in this years final four.

[By the way, I would go into one last round of mascot madness, but it's the end of a draining day and it would take a bit of explaining to cover the full story of the Ohio Buckeye Tree (the State's official tree -
Aesculus glabra
), so named because its nuts resemble the shape and color of a deer's eye...or to introduce you to Brutus Buckeye, the school's mascot...so let's just say that The Ohio State University is a fairly impressive place, one of the top five schools in the nation in terms of student body and tradition.]

As you remember, we ran into snow and ice on our last visit to Columbus and had to leave town no sooner than we arrived for fear we would be stuck here and miss yet another date in Michigan the following night. That was strike one. Strike two came about 1 hour before tonight was to begin when the sound system went out and we faced the very real possibility of not being able to go through with the night. We prayed...and our crew pulled out an amazing back-up solution that allowed the night to happen...just in time!!

At this point, we should say a massive thank you to our crew, guys who rock at what they do and lean into the wind with us every night as we ask God to do more. They are Greg D., Brian, H., Mark, Christian, Cam, Kyle, Russ, Tommy, Michael, BJ, Ryan, Greg M. and drivers Chad, George, Tim and Paul (and family). We owe so much gratitude to you all!

So the night went on and we poured out our hearts one more time. Maybe it's just a coincidence that we almost missed doing this night for a second time, or maybe there was something more powerful behind it all...someone perhaps that was going to come face to face with a Universe maker who calls them by name. We may never know, but as the night ended we found ourselves in a back-stage hallway, circled one final time...arms locked and heart's grateful. We prayed for Columbus, like we have for 32 cities along the way...and asked God to plant a seed from this night that will last forever. And we said "Thank You" to a God who brought us back to life and gave us something special to carry to the nation. Imagine that...

How Great Is Our God!?

29 Comments:

  • Hey Louie,
    I've been praying for you guys about this last evening of the tour... and I also wanted to send a note of thanks to you, to Chris, Matt, Jesse, Daniel, Travis, Matt2, (and all the people we don’t see who are essential in bringing a night like this together-sound people, lighting people, lyric people, merchandise guy, bus drivers, the whole crew):

    Thanks everyone so much for working to bring this message to so many people & places these past few months! Of how awesome our God is… how he created the vast heavenly universe… nothing is impossible for Him, yet He loves us so much that He’s even put a sign of His unfailing love for us on the very molecule that holds us together! It was a timely message for many people.
    Thanks everyone so much for a great night of worship and teaching centered in His unfailing love, mercy and grace in St Louis last Friday :)

    (And I have quite enjoyed your occasional intriguing tales of college mascots! ;)
    Thanks so much
    blessings all ~
    Kim :)

    By Blogger Kimmer, at 3/26/2007 1:51 AM  

  • Thank you God for Your gifts that You pour into lives. Thank You for everyone connected with this tour who has submitted their gifts to You so that all who attended a worship night may have heard HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!
    May lives have been changed forever.

    By Blogger gail, at 3/26/2007 3:46 AM  

  • Louie,
    Saturday evening I was helping my friend Tracy clean our church. We took a short trip to pick up supplies. At 2a.m. when I got into my car, the wipers & a/c were on. At first, I stopped to see if someone was in the car. Then I phoned Tracy to tell her this phenom. She stayed on the phone until I got close to home and we said we'd pray about it. At the Columbus concert on Sunday, you talked about a stiff wind and God giving hope of it passing soon. The past 2 years since I began going to church have been difficult, ie, grown children w/difficult problems, and I wonder often when things will get better. This to me was an answer: the stiff wind-a/c, passing-wipers. Then at intermission my son called to tell me that one of his preemie twins (Mason)is dying. The were born in January at 25 weeks. I wanted so much to find you and ask you to pray with us. I'm not sure what God's plan is in all of this, but it seems God has made a way for me to ask you to pray for my family. You really touched my life..thank you and thank God.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 6:35 AM  

  • What was the solution?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 8:32 AM  

  • I was looking forward to hearing how the Spirit was moving at The Ohio State University, as I am probably going there for grad school. Thank you also for that minute history of the Buckeye.

    How great is our God? He has done great things for me, and Holy is His name!

    By Blogger Morgan, at 3/26/2007 8:59 AM  

  • All -

    Went to you St. Louis event - I was one of those in the challenging times - just lost my job due to cutbacks at ripe age of 58 yrs young! WOW - was so excited that after church that a nice drive would be just perfect so drove to Columbus.

    The Lord is good and I am looking forward to what is in store for me next. You all played a significant role in this blessing and I have plenty of extra laminin for the coming days!!

    Your music kept me totally worshipping for over 12 hours of driving . . just in time to get to one of my last five days of work after 2 hours sleep - amazing...and hugely excited!!

    Bless you and yours . . .

    Joan G

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 9:31 AM  

  • Louie!! You guys were great in Atlanta and Mobile!! I cannot believe you guys are done!! Time to get back to the passion house and get ready for Thirsty!! :) i'm still praying for you guys!! Keep us updated here on the blog!! We are going to miss the podcasts.. :( See ya, -Ash

    By Blogger Ashley, at 3/26/2007 10:03 AM  

  • how great is our God?
    man.. i smile and get weak in the knees when i think of His love for us..
    it's the overflow of the forgiven soul. indeed it is...

    listen louie.. next time you guys come around, i invite you to my school, florida international university in miami.. we got a sweet concert hall.. =D
    o, that would be just lovely...
    see ya
    :)

    ps-thanks for writing back to my email

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 11:41 AM  

  • Anonymous...this blog! I googled Louie's name & discovered the blog, which enabled me to write to him. Praise God!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 11:53 AM  

  • Hey Louie
    Glad to hear the night was amazing!!! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 12:08 PM  

  • Louie,
    I was there last night! Your message was amazing! That night of worship and teaching was just what I needed. Thanks for your impact on my life!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 2:39 PM  

  • Louie, Chris , matt, jessie Travis, Daniel and passion team,

    Thank you so much guys. Wow what a powerful way to finish the tour. God is so faithful !! HAve good time of rest and enjoy the summer months (WOO -HOO- Beautiful outside weather).

    I cannot wait to see you guys back on the road toward the fall for the mini pssion events !!

    By the way, a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to Mark and Cam for leading us in to thr freq. meeting and (Mark)to getting the note & gift to Louie, Chris, & Matt (In GA). The road crew- you all are awesome - prayed for you guys as well !! You guys did an awesome job- what a great team of people !!

    Psalm 3:3-5

    But you are a shield around me,
    O Lord; YOu bestow glory on me
    and lift up my head.

    4 To the Lord I cry a loud, and he
    answers me from His holy hill.

    5 I lie down and wake again,
    because the Lord sustains me.

    In Christ,
    Angela

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 5:32 PM  

  • Hi Louie - thank you so much for the encouragement to press through the tempest storms and for being so faithful to pour into this generation...
    My feeble words can't come close to answering how amazing, faithful, and great God truly is... speechlessness.

    That is a beautiful picture that's posted...

    "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,
    Breaking the news that all's well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, 'Your God reigns!'
    Voices! Listen! Your scouts are shouting, thunderclap shouts, shouting in joyful unison.
    They see with their own eyes God coming back to Zion.
    Break into song! Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem:
    'God has comforted his people!
    He's redeemed Jerusalem!'
    God has rolled up his sleeves.
    All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm.
    Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work." - Isaiah 52:7-10 (The Message)

    By Blogger sandra r., at 3/26/2007 6:16 PM  

  • I just received my PASSION 07' stuff in the mail. (audio of the speakers, breakouts, etc...) WHAT POWER! I love how God's word never returns void and is living and active!

    Keep you PASSION going strong.

    By Blogger TaylorW, at 3/26/2007 8:24 PM  

  • GREAT!! can I say it again???
    GREAT!!
    Thank you EVERYONE who made this tour possible. I have and still am in prayer for all of You passion Team. I seriously would be at an absolute LOSS with out you in my journey with God. My heart goes out to you and God is giving all of you a forever standing ovation back your way!!
    As you all go back home and to loved ones and to a time of rest and restoration know that it is well deserved .

    again well done good and Faithful servants!!

    E.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/26/2007 11:47 PM  

  • Louie & 268 generation family,

    I hope you all find rest after a long tour. I just wanted to write and tell you how the Do Something Now campaign is still impacting people. I was at Passion 07 in Atlanta and the DSN campaign was amazing. This week I was asked by one of my profs in the Human Relations Department at my school to talk to her classes on what we raised and what it is for.

    I go to St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

    So pretty much God is opening doors to share with a lost campus how God used 22,000 students to make a difference in our global community. Please keep me in your prayers as well as those that I am speaking to. Thanks again for everything you do!

    PJ

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2007 6:46 PM  

  • I'm looking forward to a continuation of podcasting...perhaps? I just wanted to let you know that there are definitley people that want it to keep going! And I'm praying for you all. Can't wait to hear about the world tour, etc...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/28/2007 9:29 PM  

  • When can hear about the Passion Tour dates/cities??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/29/2007 8:35 AM  

  • The Columbus stop was amazing! We were so happy that you came back after the February Snow-out. I've been thinking about your words and telling people about the golf ball - stars - luminin stuff all week long! I've been looking on the Hubble site trying to find the black hole picture but have not had any success yet. Thank you so much for coming back to Ohio and for sharing the amazing message of God's love with us.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/29/2007 12:52 PM  

  • Hey, Louie,

    and all the rest of the crew! You guys were all over the place for a really long time! Thank you again so much for taking all this time out of your lives away from family and friends, just so that we can come face to face with God (and it seems He's just always right around the corner from us all).

    Chad, George, Tim and Paul had quite some "weather" to deal with, I'm sure (in case you wondered how you made it... people were praying); and good thing they're not as leary of it as airports are. (Chad, hope you got some cheese curds in Milwaukee).

    My little friend (he's 5), who loves to worship was a little too young to make a big trip to Chicago this year to come to the concert with me, but he would have loved it. In fact, I told him that next time I get a chance, I'd have to take him along. Anyway, his birthday is in early June; and it's gonna be all "Stars and Planets" (I'm already invited). Guess it'll be my "job" to pass along to him the knowledge of how great our God is to breathe these stars and planets into existence...

    In the meantime, rest up, sail along with the wind, and gear up for the next raging storm... we'll see where we'll land after that:-)

    By Blogger Silke, at 3/30/2007 10:46 PM  

  • Thank you for sharing an incredible glimpse of Christ's faithfulness...what a beautiful reflection of the Father. How truly great is our God!

    May the message of HOPE and LIFE rest on college students all over this nation, and may His word continue to melt the campus heart. Praising Him for the HGIOG tour and each who followed the vision set before. It's so evident that Christ is the wind in your sail...thank you for all you do!

    Thank you for your heart for the King...may He bless you as He has used you to bless the lives of many!

    Praying for you guys...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/31/2007 10:28 AM  

  • Front cover of Christianity today!!!!!!

    By Blogger Phil Strahm, at 3/31/2007 1:41 PM  

  • In regard to the message "The homeboy is Holy"

    I just wanted to say that I found out about Passion by obeying God and throwing away all of my secular Cd's about 15 of them. Madonna, Janet Jackson,Shaggy etc

    I had attended a women's conference and God was telling me to throw away any CD I had which were not edifying and contained expletives, if even one expletive. I obeyed and thought to myself now what in the world am I going to listen to?? Funny enough i asked a friend who worked in the christian music business to recommend some music for me however i was skeptical because I like my music loud and crazy and i thought in christian music this did not exist.

    A week after I threw away the CD's she told me, Oh by the way this thing called Passion is coming to Toronto (this was when Passion came to Toronto). I went and had an amazing time!!!! And the music- oh the music!!!
    It was loud and lovely and CHRISTIAN!!!! This is how I discovered Chris tomlin and the David Crowder band and just caused a snow ball effect and I came to know so many christian artists.
    Needless to say I don't miss my Cd's at all. I am surrounded by christian music.
    God had something better waiting for me all I needed to do was obey and trust him.
    God will not tell you to give something up then leave yu by the wayside, he is so faithful. Thank you Jesus, thank you Passion! I choose Jesus all the way! Be encouraged and live Holy!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/31/2007 6:55 PM  

  • Chris was reminding me of Keith Green this past tour - thanks for bringing it all again. You guys are setting the bar for the rest of us.

    Louie - I hope you can enjoy some down time bro.

    By Blogger Terry Foester, at 4/03/2007 11:24 AM  

  • hey louie!
    u guys gotta come down under (thats australia)
    love your work

    god bless
    iain

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/03/2007 9:05 PM  

  • Let's be in prayer for the family of the Omni Hotel worker that was shot at the CNN Center in ATL today.

    May Jesus be glorified in this situation.

    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
    II Corinthians 1:3

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/03/2007 10:33 PM  

  • Passion is coming to Boston, MA!!!!!! YES! Praise God! that is just what we need up here! thank you louie, thank you!

    By Blogger Joe, at 4/04/2007 10:05 PM  

  • Louie (& crew):

    Thanks so much for all the effort to make the Columbus concert happen. It was a pleasure to worship with you all that night.

    I went to the concert with our worship leader. Before we sat down, I asked him how long it had been since he had just "gone" to a worship service - that is, been led in worship rather than been leading worship - he said he didn't remember the last time.

    Seeing him just let go and reach up to the Father after a couple songs was unbelievable. What a time of refreshing. Thanks so much...

    By Blogger Tony, at 4/09/2007 5:33 PM  

  • Hey Louie, just wondering, why don't you come to Belfast with Chris in August?

    By Blogger Boaly, at 4/25/2007 3:25 PM  

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