I never got to do a part two yesterday. I was far too sleepy when I got back to the hotel to even think about what to write. 

If any students happen upon this blog when you inevitably go home and google “Passion Atlanta”, I was one of the red shirts at the portal to sections 102 and 103. I probably said hello or made some random comment as you came in.

If you’ve been to the other regionals, I have to tell you that the introduction video was different. There was still an instrumental part that seemed to be a little longer than what I remembered from DC, followed by Bittersweet Symphony. All of this was not done on a synthesizer. No, sir … there was a string section … actual violins, violas, cellos, basses … playing it. They stayed onstage and accompanied Tomlin through Let God Arise, Mighty to Save and one other song that I really don’t remember.

Also if you’ve been to the other regionals, you know that Louie’s talk wrapped around the idea of joining our lives to what God is doing in the universe for His glory. The first part of the talk seemed familiar, but different. The last part was, of course, Ashley’s story. It’s still an amazing story even though I have heard it a couple of times. I just love how “fruitcake” was who she was, living for Christ in the everyday moments of life. Who could have known that Ashley would have been the first person brought to Christ by this story? 

The quiet time following the message was stunning. In the silence, I could hear a few sniffles, but no words, no coughs, nothing. Then Tomlin quietly started leading Mighty to Save and the 8,000+ students just took over. He stepped back from the microphone often to let their voices resound in the arena. Then, we slipped into How Great is Our God before finishing with the bridge from Mighty to Save. There were a few times when I closed my eyes and just listened to the students singing their hearts out to God. It was one of those moments when you could feel heaven on earth.

The evening wrapped up with an “exclamation point” (to use Louie’s term) in the form of the David Crowder Band doing a short set. The ending was hysterical. The last chord of Everything Glorious had barely sounded when the house lights immediately came on and Crowder said “Go home!”

The students pretty much followed his direction in leaving the arena quickly, but going home was impeded by a big mess in the parking lot. Volunteers were dismissed when most of the students had left the building, but we got caught behind the all the cars and still got back to the hotel pretty late.

So now it is very early in the morning … well, 7:20 after being up until 1 p.m. I’m having breakfast at the hotel and there’s a tableful of students from Passion next to me. 

They have no idea what a day they are about to have ……….