Night of Joy

Each year, on the first weekend in September, in the height of thunderstorm and hurricane season, Disney World opens the doors to Christian musical artists for the annual Night of Joy event. Originally a 1 night happening, it was expanded to 2 nights when the Disney bean counters realized that they could cram lots of sweating bodies into a small area like sanctified sardines, up the ticket price and let the cash registers ring their joyful noise to whatever god they worship. Oy! I think that was sarcastic. Sorry. Not really.

We really had no intentions of going this year - we had experienced one of the events about 20 years back - I think Amy Grant was still single back then - and it was one hot, muggy, loud night in a place where I had already played countless times before. When I worked there, we used to call it The Tragic Kingdom. But, about a month ago, we received a letter from Z88.3, a Christian radio station in town, inviting us to the event (with a few VIP perks attached) as a thank you for having been supporters from the beginning. How cool is that?! The station caters to the young people of the Central Florida area and can also be heard anywhere via the www by going to their site at http://www.zradio.org/.

I find that it is a wonderful alternative to the gnarly lyrics that are being pumped into the heads of our youth by the greedy filth monger fat cats. So, give them a listen........

Chris Tomlin (center)

One of my favorite praise and worship types is Chris Tomlin. He writes and chooses music which is rich in scriptural truth and poetry. His lyrics flow in an organized fashion giving order and sequence to his music. Tomlin leads the audience in a vertical worship of God, taking focus off of himself and directing it to the One being worshiped. It will be interesting to take part in such an event given the environment of the Magic Kingdom with spaceships hovering and shreiks coming from the Haunted Mansion. It is evident from his work that Tomlin truly has his heart in the right place ..... I just wish he didn't sing so dang high.

Third Day

I will look forward to hearing Third Day do their thing. Along with writing the bulk of their music themselves, the group has produced 2 projects using hymns of the church (in a rock format). "Your Love O Lord" & "Mountain of God" receive extensive airplay on "The Z" and YLOL is sung frequently in church services which incorporate contemporary music.

About 5 other bands are being featured as well including the David Crowder Band (freaky lookin' guy) and Leeland along with Jaci Valezquez who annually celebrates her 17th birthday.

Well ... I got my earplugs and dang it - I'm gonna have a good time!

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Update - it's 1:15 AM and we've just returned from the event and we had a real hoot!

What a gift! Thank you Z88.3 - We could not have been closer to the bands

(I'm talking front row! ) and it was jazzing to talk to some of the staff of

the station.

The weather was great and the crowds were orderly and well behaved.

The bands were super - what can I say - we had a GREAT time!