Monday, April 16, 2012

Needtobreathe & Ben Rector

Saturday Crystal and I had a chance to head down to Toronto and check out 2 of our favorite bands, Needtobreathe and Ben Rector.


The show was originally booked for a smaller venue, but sold out in a couple days, and the promoter moved it to The Phoenix (cap: 1,200) which also sold out.


Ben Rector opened the night and was amazing. I was little disappointed he left my 2 favorite songs (Hank, Song For The Suburbs) off the setlist, but the dude was great.


Needtobreathe was equally impressive, with a killer light show and awesome set.


The hilite for me was during the encore when Ben joined Needtobreathe on stage for an unreal rendition of Lucinda William's Joy.


Let's throw it back to you, if you were putting together your dream concert, who's on the bill?

Friday, April 6, 2012

I Am Barabbas

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.

So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.

But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.

As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

Luke 23:13-25


I read that passage about Jesus' trial before Pilate, and I can't help but think: "That's not fair! Jesus didn't do anything, Barabbas is a murderer! Barabbas deserves to be crucified, not Jesus."

Then it hit me as I read over that story again this morning...

I Am Barabbas.

I'm the murderer.
The guilty party.
The one who deserves to die.

Today, I am thankful that Jesus died, so I don't have to.