Once every four years I can post on this day… so, there may never been another blog post on February 29th! Savor it while it lasts.

I was up till 6am this morning… went over to Nathan’s house at 11:40pm to hang out with him, Matt, and Tiffany. Got to jump in the hot tub, so all was well. After arriving home around three I jumped right into creating the back of the Ignite flyer. You can view my creation as well as leave comments.

What in the heck? I love it.

Today I went up to church to help Kyle hammer out the final details for the Ignite flyer and video for church. He had the idea of filming his quotes in front of the firetrucks from the station across the street. We got the footage we needed, but while talking to one of the firefighters he offered to let me try on the gear. Of course, I had to say “yes.” One of my childhood dreams, along with being a marine, was to be a fireman. I got some rough photos snapped while I had the suit on. Be sure and check ‘em out, ha.

First off, I gotta say that last night totally rocked! The night was filled with all kinds of crazy action, from moshing and crowd-surfing, to straight up worship to God in the middle of a secular concert. If you didn’t know, last night I had floor tickets with my friend Scott to the Linkin Park Metoera World Tour Houston concert. Story of the Year and Hoobastank opened, with P.O.D. next and, of course, Linkin Park closed. Anyways, let’s get on with the story!

We arrived right at 6pm to get into the doors. Since we had floor tickets, we used a seperate entrance than the usual crowd. They had the girls and guys split into seperate lines, but since there were way more guys they had to use the female security guards to pat them down as well, which defeated the whole purpose of seperating the sexes. After we got our wrist bands we headed straight to the floor. There were already about 60 people down there, but we manage to move right up next to the thrust section of the stage. This particular feature was quite interesting, as it was basically a steel barricade that split the pit into two section and extended out about 25 feet into the crowd. There was no top, so bouncers could stand in it to grab crowd-surfers and attempt to maintain order. The best part was that the band members could also jump off the stage and go down into it to get right into the fans without being dragged out.

Story of the Year started the off first. Personally, I thought they sucked… music was poor and they just weren’t good live. Hoobastank was a very refreshing change. Their energy level was alright and the songs were pretty good. Neither band had any special set or anything, although one of the guys in SofY did a backflip. The crowd wasn’t into either of these bands too much, either: no moshing or crowd-surfing going on.

After Hoobastank, there was a little transition period waiting for POD. A banner from ceiling to floor with their new album cover was lowered. Their was also a big box in the middle of it and another on either side of the stage. Suddenly, the lights went out and the room erupted in cheers. The three aforementioned boxes lit up with graphics on them and lazers began to spell out “POD” on the banner. Smoke machines covered the stage and then everything went dark. Then, the lights blazed back on and the band members jumped out and blasted right into their first song! It was stinkin’ awesome. They played old school hits like “Southtown,” stuff from the Satalite album, and some new songs. This is when the crowd started getting into it. We were moshin’ and throw each other around, all the while crowd-surfers going over our heads and people jumpin around. I got jacked the chin (it’s still swollen) and knocked down, but I also threw a guy across the circle and floored a couple others. It was soo much fun. During one part, Sonny came down to the crowd and I got to be 4 feet from him and sing with the crowd into the mic… may sound stupid, but it was great.

That went on for about 45 minutes, then POD’s set was over. It took a while for the crew to set-up Linkin Park’s stage (all the while behind a huge LP banner). Finally, the room went dark and the band began playing softly. Lights were shining behind the banner and we could see the sillohettes of the band crawling up behind. Suddenly, they blasted into song, the banner dropped, and the crowd went wild! Everyone went absolutely crazy! The whole pit was moshing and swaying and pushing. You just had to fight to stay on your feet! This action mosh circles got even bigger and people really started hitting hard. A couple of guys got in a fight on one side. I smashed a guy way out of the circle and he knocked down 3 other people. I got thrown across the circle and then close lined onto my back, then a guy jumped on my arm, but it was all good because peopel grab ya and pull you up. This went on basically their whole performance. Crowd surfing was awesome, too! Usually, the kick you out, but the bouncers just grabbed me and led me to a path that led to the back of the floor, so I could just run up and surf all the way back again!

After about an hour, the band acted as if the show was over and left the stage. Then, the started playing softly and creeping back out, right before kickin’ it back up for more! They played two songs, during which Mike came down into the pit and shook hands with fans, including me. It was sweet. After that, they pumped the crowd up yet again, saying that if you didn’t want to mosh, you better get out now, because we were going to form the largest pit Houston had ever seen. The rocked into “On Step Closer” and we all went even more wild than before. Everyone was screaming, shoving, moshing, surfing, rocking… complete and utter chaos erupted! I loved it all!! Heck ya! During the one low part of the song, the lights dimmed, and when it rocketed to full strength again POD and had run onto the stage and them and LP sang the rest of it together! I can’t even relate how totally incredible the whole expereince was.

Wow. I am totally blown away…. POD and especially Linkin Park are amazing live bands. Such a unbelievable time was had. If you ever have a chance to see them live again, you gotta go.

Oh, dang! Wow… I cannot even speak. I am so tired, and bruised, yet totally pumped up over the concert I just saw!! Holy cow the Hoobastank, POD, and Linkin Park concert was so awesome! I have totally depleated right now, so I am going to sleep.. but a full write-up soon.

Oh, wow. No words could ever express what I am feeling, or even more importantly, what He felt and gave. Needless to say, I viewed the Passion of the Christ mere minutes ago. How do I convey the powerful way in which God stirred in my heart today. I am so blown away, not only by the graphic representation of my Lord’s suffering and death, but by the reason and love behind it.

Christ died so that all men may enter into the gates of heaven and spend eternity in fellowship with God the Father. Throughout the film, I had to restrain myself from crying out, “No! I am not worthy! Why? Why do this?! Stop, please, stop!” It wasn’t till afterwards when the thought was presented that even though I may not think I am worthy of His sacrifice, He does. Think about that for a second. No matter what we may think of ourselves or the sins we have committed, Jesus sees unmeasurable worth in us. Unconditional love is what it’s all about. I simply cannot get ove the fact that Jesus Christ, Lord and Creator of the universe, loves me so much, and sees so much value in me and my life, that He would not only die for me, but endured excrutiating pain and all other horriffic torture to enable me to live in fellowship with Him here on earth, but more wonderfully to live in paradies, heaven, in His presence forever.

Wow. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Go see the movie in order that you may visually grasp the tribulation that Jesus went through in order to save you, because He loves you.

Jesus Christ loves me and you, and He believes we are worthy of His love and His death, no mater what we may have done. Wow.