a date with SCC

I just got home from Steven Curtis Chapman's concert. It was cool..awesome! That I thought I should write about it once I get home.

Ok, so just this afternoon I was chatting with one of my best buddies, Beu, who is now based in the US.

Beu: what's your plan this weekend?
me: In a few hours I'll be watching SCC concert with friends
Beu: He's there now?
me: Yup
Beu: I like him

My, my, my.. to my surprise. Beu, you know is the type of person who's quite hard to please (Hi Beu!..hehe). She's kinda snob. So I thought to myself "What's so special about SCC that Beu can so easily say that she likes him?" Knowing Beu? Hmm.. I guess I made the right decision to see him tonight.

I learned about SCC back in Singapore. I was looking for children songs for my niece and nephew and found this album where a man talks to children about God and then sings some verses from the Bible. The man is SCC. He's cool I thought. Must be some guy writing children's songs.

About 5 years ago, I got hold of a book called Morning Light written by him. Much I learned about it and much I learned about SCC. But still I didn't really see anything "so" special.

And yeah, his song I Will Be Here have I liked for the past years. At the back of my mind I was thinking "pity this guy with only 1 hit song".

Last year I grabbed an album of his called All About Love for the very reason that he revived one of the songs I love called I'll Take Care of You. Honestly, I find his version really..hmm.. touching? It reaches deep to my very heart :)

Then last Sunday, I passed by Shepherd Staff and saw a flyer of his concert. I literally paused and thought "why not see a concert. It's been a long time" and then I received a mail a few days ago from a friend in SG talking about Bo Sanchez's invitation to SCC's concert of which will benefit GAWAD KALINGA and HOPE foundations. That's when I decided, I should go!

I arrived there 5:30pm. Concert's at 7pm. I intentionally went early to sit down and read while waiting for my friends (Ciel's one of the friends I waited for..who came at exactly 7pm..hehe). Did I get to read? Nope! Just after a while, SCC passed by in front of me..geez.. he was running towards the venue and some of those in the area called his name that he decided to go and meet them, shook their hands, and signed autograph. I thought to myself "What a nice guy.."

I think I can write a novel with this experience when all I wanted to share with you, guys is that he is more than just a singer (not to mention he has the most number of Dove awards than any one in the world.. is his name in Guiness book already? I wonder..) His music's just great! the band, the souls in each of the person on the stage. ..well how do I know, you may ask..to which i'll just answer you with "my JEdi abilities?" hehehe.. The music's loud, alright? To which I'm reminded that you can praise God even with the musical instruments you play. How can the music come out real good despite being noisy as some think? And the lyrics, they're just so great you wouldn't regret uttering a word.

Some people say our worship to God has to be so solemn and not be accompanied by loud music. I think otherwise. I respect each one's belief though. For me it doesn't matter. The Lord looks at the heart. So however way we praise God, what really counts is what He sees in our heart when we praise, pray or talk to Him. After all, in the end, it will still be between you and God. Be and do what helps you best grow in your relationship with Him.

Tell you what, one of my friends who came with us, a guy named Anthony (one of my favorite college buddies), asked me before the concert began "Why are Caucasians everywhere? By the way, Is he black?" This made me really laugh. I almost fell off my chair. "You don't know him? I Will Be Here, you know? And he isn't black, he is very white!" hahaha

Here's a part of the song he sang, which also carved a memory in both my head and heart:

So many prayers we've prayed

So many dreams to get to this moment
Now this is where we stay
While you go change the world
But I'll be where I have always been
Up in the stands cheering you on and
Singing this song
A song the very God who made you
Has been singing all along

I believe in you
Yeah, I believe in you
So spread your wings and fly
On the winds of knowing I
Will always believe in you

And when you rise
and when you fall
I'll still believe in you
Just close your eyes and hear me calling
I believe in you
Oh, I believe in you

Before I end this post, you might be wondrin' what Anthony's comment was after the concert. He said "That's what you call music!"...Obviously, he enjoyed the concert. I jokingly asked "So, you know him now"? :)

I am so blessed to see his concert and to realize how God moves into the life of this man. More than anything, I'm encouraged even more to keep singing and talking about God's love. Well, I think I could sing of His love..forever? Definitely! =)