Joyful Noise

I expressed to my church family yesterday that the concert my friends and I attended Saturday night was filled with music that many would likely consider "just a bunch of noise."  I am here to testify that Skillet and TobyMac make incredibly joyful noise.  The Vines Center at Liberty University has officially been rocked.
The concert was great and I left only wishing (a) that Rebecca could've come, (b) that we got there sooner because (c) our seats left much to be desired (vision, sound... oy!), and (d) that Kirk Franklin was there to sing his part of Lose My Soul.  A concert like this is not meant to be experienced in general admission seats.  I mean, I could still hear when I left.  That won't happen again.
What was awesome was (a) the company (Wilson, Matt, Catherine, and thousands of others); (b) Skillet busted out the pyrotechnics... yes, enormous burst of flames that may have claimed a few eyebrows before the night was over; (c) Tobymac opened on a small platform at the back end of the floor (right where my seats for his previous concert were... doh!) and then proceeded through the crowd, eventually body surfing to the stage; (d) Skillet's girl drummer/back-up singer -- who banged out a solid solo at one point; (e) Toby's participation in the crowd; (f) the acoustic set also done from the small platform; (g) that we were able to move over to some better seats for the last 4 songs, including the Jesus Freak finale; (h) Skillet playing Monster; (i) TobyMac mixing in some familiar secular sounds (i.e. We Are Family by Sister Sledge and Imma Be by the Black Eyed Peas) and medleys of tracks from prior albums including... (j) J? J Train, of course.
There is likely much more that I'm leaving out that I might have caught if I had better seats.  Regardless, it was a good time, and in the end I realized that there were a bunch of young people there (college students, high school students that were also there for Liberty's "College for a Weekend" program, and kids even younger than that) that all likely also listen to a lot of music/noise that isn't as good for the soul as Skillet and TobyMac.  And I praise God that there are some solids artists out there looking to praise Him with a bunch of really cool noise. 

Today's Good Read: Psalm 100

El Jardinero

El Jardinero.  Spanish for... "The Jardinero."  What better nickname for a guy that does as much "yard" work as Albert Pujols?  Albert hit the Opening Day stage with not one, but TWO homeruns, sparking the Cards to an 11-4 victory.  Not only did "The Gardener" (okay, it's cooler in Spanish) jack two out, he finished with an incredible line - 4 for 5 (2 HRs, 2 singles), 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs, putting him on pace for 326 HRs, 652 runs scored, 489 RBIs and an .800 batting average -- all of which would be single season records!  I can hear them shouting his name in the streets of St. Louis... "Look!  It's El Jardinero!  El Jardinero, can I have your autograph?"  I think it even sounds biblical, so I know Albert (also a Jesus freak) would be a fan.  Who in baseball further epitomizes a man reaping the reward of what good seed he sows?  Baseball has run out of things to say about him.  So what now?  We just make up more legendary nicknames for him?  Like El Jardinero.  And check it out... within the name lies yet another Spanish term so descriptive of Pujols... do you see it?  Look closely.  J-a-r-d-i-n-e-r-o.  Oh yeah... dinero.  Money.  The guy is money.  I think this one's going to stick.  You'll be hearing this one on ESPN soon enough.  It's fun to say, isn't it?  El Jardinero.  I can't stop myself.
What's almost as exciting to me about the nickname is perhaps the sign of things to come.  The numbers I mentioned earlier may be a bit of a stretch, even if Albert stays healthy, but if the two homeruns on Opening Day are a sign of things to come, perhaps more team-oriented things -- which is more Albert's style -- then it's going to be a great year in St. Louis.  Do you know what happened the last time he hit two long-balls on Opening Day?  Hint: the year was 2006.  Yup, the Cards won the World Series.
Here's a shout out to Yadier Molina for capping a great Cardinals Opening Day with his ninth inning grand slam - the first of his career.
One win in the books for 2010.  It's going to be a good year.  I can feel it.  Look!  It's El Jardinero!

Today's Good Read: Galatians 6:7

All Things New

Happy Easter!  I couldn't have planned a better day to write my first blog entry on McMahonhood.  If you're a Christian, this is the most celebrated day of the year, and it could not be more beautiful from where I sit and write.  I even caught the sunrise around 7:15 this morning from my porch.  I don't know why it is different for me (in a good way) this year, other than that I believe God can make any and every day new and special.  This is without a doubt a special day.  Our church service was filled with songs that felt like anthems and we sung them out, especially the Resurrection Hymn (and I'm not usually overwhelmed by "hymns").  Man, it can be really powerful if you allow it to be.  Darren brought a great Easter message, too.
Certainly a lot of my excitement is about meeting my little girl in about a month.  I totally remember the awe of Isaac's birth (I'm not sure it ever left) and I know it's going to be just as incredible the second time around.  So I/we wait patiently, but with much anticipation for baby Ella.
I'm also jacked up about baseball starting up.  Easter and baseball and a new baby - Spring has finally sprung for me.  And I'm looking forward to and expecting a big year from Albert and the Cardinals.  No one saw them coming when they got healthy late in 2006 just in time to put a beat down on the Tigers in the World Series, and this year they have a killer roster.  It's really theirs to lose.  So I'm excited to sit in my chair and watch some baseball with the fam... well... I know I can at least make Ella sit with me when she gets here.  And I will give Rebecca some props - she's has become a Cardinals fan over the years and actually watched EVERY game of the 2006 playoffs (that was like 14 games!).  That's my girl.
Anyway, take a deep breath yourself... God is good.  Easter's for real.  All things are being made new.

Happy Easter!

Today's Good Read: Revelation 21:5