Where We Want To Be

Tonight in Santa Barbara was pretty special. God was with us on a chilly SoCal night as the only thing above us was California sky. But what made the night even better was being in The Santa Barbara Bowl, a historic little outdoor theater carved into a hillside high above lovely SB and the ocean shore below. Built in the 1930's, only a limited number of shows happen here each year because of city ordinances...and we got to be one of them. AND we were the first Christian show ever to play here. That's not so much about us, or even misplaced affection for a famed venue, but rather us bringing what we are so privileged to carry to a place where it has never been heard before.

For us, that's what the Church is supposed to be all about...taking the light of Christ into every facet of this world. That means if you play music to amplify the story of God and help people respond to Him, you want to play that music in the greatest places music is played. You want your songs (His songs) to be loud in the rooms where all the world's great songs have been sung.

Friday night Shelley and I were in Tulsa with DC*B (amazing!) and the same was true. Right there in Caines Ballroom people crammed wall to wall were going for it in worship and it was such a beautiful sight. But it's not all about the people (mostly followers) who come. Each night of that tour, and on a night like tonight at the Santa Barbara Bowl, the venue staff and crew get to see up close (maybe for the only time) what people who say they're connect to Jesus look like. They get to hear the songs we've heard over and over for the very first time and, in many cases, have a significant encounter with their Maker...one they probably didn't even know they were looking for. Sadly, the flip side can be true, as well. But we are hoping by God's grace people see something that rings true and recasts skeptical views of our Savior in ways that genuinely reflect His heart.

After tonight was finished the staff here gave Tomlin an "award" for being the first Christian band to ever hit the stage. It was a small thing....or maybe a really big thing. Maybe it was just good PR, but to me it looked like a collision of two worlds in one beautiful moment in time.

Sure, we love being in the Church and are not ashamed of it. But our songs need to lead people to encounters with Christ in this place, as the great rooms and theaters of the world become places for Church to erupt, be nurtured and embraced. Thank you SBB for an unforgettable night!