NYG Days 3&4...

My apologies for not updating yesterday. We had our first bible study yesterday morning, which meant a 7am call time. I, of course, had to get my run in and breakfast and that didn't leave much time for anything else. But I will do my best to remember all the good things that have happened over the past 2 days.
Saturday (Day 3) started getting crazy. The majority of groups finally arrived this day and the New Orleans area started looking a little more lutheran. I met up with my home youth group and made sure they were having fun before all the huge festivities kicked off that night at the Superdome. Otherwise, most of the day was spent hanging around, meeting other groups from around the nation and preparing for our first mass event.
We arrived at the superdome at 3pm because we, as usher captains, had to train the other usher teams before the event started. I say, in retrospect, that nothing could have prepared us for what was going to happen when 26,000 kids begin entering the stadium en masse! It was incredible!
If you missed watching the mass events the last couple of nights online at lcmsgathering.com, do it tonight, because it is truly an incredible experience. The house band played, they had a creation story skit with pyrotechnics (YEAH!! Fireworks IN the Superdome!!!), and a great speaker who is 96% blind because of a degenerative, genetic disease. He related his testimony to that of the blind man in the book of John being healed by Jesus. Powerful stuff!!
Despite the sore feet from all the walking and the standing on concrete floors for ushering, I have zero complaints about the job I do. I could not have been more blessed with my roommates, schedule, job, youth group, etc. Nothing has been able to take the smile from my face since we started our training. And until last night, the lack of sleep had little impact on me. But, even I am human (scary, I know) and I started to feel the effects of less than advisable sleep patterns. Regardless, the kick-off to the NYG was incredible!!
Sunday was the first full day of the Gathering for participants. It started off with an incredible bible study led by Rev. Dien Taylor, who turned out to be a highly charasmatic and intriguing speaker. He spoke on us being alive, but not truly living. He said that Jesus is the LIFE and RESURRECTION and without life and belief in him, we aren't truly alive! Nothing could me more true. I am learning that the stories of John (and the other gospels, but since John is our focus book for the gathering, I am highlighting this one) and the miracles of Jesus weren't just placed in the bible for entertaining reading, but are there so that we may "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). Jesus knew that without him we were lifeless. He wasn't arrogant and he invites all of us into his name. He is the Gate, Resurrection, Life, Truth, Way, Living Bread, Good Shepherd, and Light. He is everything we need to sustain this life and the next and without him we would never truly be living, just existing. Its awe inspiring to think someone cares so much for us that he isn't just there for our benefit but for the benefit of all regardless of who you are. He wants us to give ourselves to him as he did for us, because without him we would be lost souls floating until our demise. it's unbelievable!
After bible study we had a number of hours before having to report for usher duty at the dome again for Sunday's mass event. I stopped by some of the Concordia booths, I found a scouting organization that is totally connected to the Lutheran church, and I went by some of the district booths to find some free giveaways! It was a relaxing time and (I say the word again) impressive to see all teh smiling, milling about faces of these Lutheran youth. As one of the speakers said last night, this religion isn't just your parents anymore. It is not your, brothers, sisters, grandparents, or teachers, uncles, or aunts, it is OURS!! We are the future here and it looks bright.
I will fill in Sunday's mass event happenings later, I am off again to report for usher duty for bible study. To be continued....