ONE Concert pt. 2

I had a great time on my lunch break at this event. Sure only 55 people showed up and only 40 signed the declaration to President Bush, but it was encouraging to hear voices unifying to make one voice for one cause. Derek and his wife Sandra were excellent. Both sang a Dylan song, one of which I wanted to post the lyrics to but can't seem to find them. The song was called "A New Law" and it was extremely sarcastic yet poetic. Derek ended his short set with Woody Guthrie's "Washed in the Blood of the Lamb." He mentioned how living in Jesus-land (Nashville/Middle TN) was hard because issues like these are not focused on. Moreover, Jesus spoke about such things very unashamedly. Derek said the government should be following the church's lead in issues like these rather than the other way around. The Tennessean has a nice little write up about the event. Read here.

I missed Dan's (from Jars of Clay) speech. Didn't even know that is who he was. I was extremely impressed with a 21 year old Belmont senior named Danica Mercer. She spoke for 5 to 7 minutes on the importance of this issue, but one thing that jumped out at me was an Africian term that meant "we are people becuase of people." Translation: their identity is grounded in a communal sensitive culture rather than our Westernized individualistic ideals. I can't remember much beyond that, but it was good stuff. Made me wonder about this question Christians ask to seekers: "Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?" What happens when we view life through our Africian brothers and sisters' lens and say in effect, "Do you have a communal relationship with Jesus?"