It is wild, crazy fun and tiring. In a reeeeeeeaaaalllly good way. Volunteers start showing up to help build stages. Tent companies start setting up. The port-o-potties arrive by the truckfull. The interns order mountains of food and water the workers. Newspapers show up to take pictures and a bald eagle sat watch from a tree backstage today! Nice people everywhere!
Omygoodness: THANK-YOU to everyone who helped build stages yesterday and today. And to people in the office stuffing packets and answering hundreds of phone calls and running errands and keeping us in chocolate!
I got the coolest e-mail (well, I was one of 4 recipients which included DP and Tara and Tredessa):
I’m sitting here reflecting on everything right now. We’re 12 days away. Things are really starting to come together. We have an amazing team we nearly had to kick out last night because it was getting late! We’re on a crash course to have [more than 35,000] people. This year we did better on our vendors, our sponsorships, our donations, our materials, our volunteers. Tickes sales are through the roof and climbing…
I guess I’m just grateful to be in this with you guys. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine getting to this place. Love you guys!
-Luke
The thing is? Luke painted a picture we could see. He was a young guy (DP’s lifelong friend) who came weekly to eat leftovers at my kitchen table and would tell us the story of what Heaven Fest could be. And believe me – getting on board that dream was a defined and specific call of God. I had no desire to fund and produce a festival for the masses, but somehow there, in those summer days of 2007, we decided to say yes.
Dave, Tara, Luke and I “went public” in September of 2007 (Tredessa joined in the spring) and Heaven Fest was born July 26, 2008. Oh, but conceived so much earlier.
The 2010 Leadership Team at the final training July 18, 2010. Crazy visionary, Jesus-loving, self-sacrificing, mission-minded, giving, praying, worshipping, enemy-defeating, gifted, talented, called and appointed people! Oh, I am in awe! {By the way – do you see how Luke is trying to self-promote and be seen in this picture? Yeah. I didn’t think so. Because he doesn’t.}
And I never could have imagined what God would do or the people He would send who are just so unbelievably a-ma-zing! But I feel especially honored to get to work with Luke. He is one unique individual, a true-hearted, authentic visionary and I am so glad I got to hitch my wagon to his star. It is a crazy fun ride.
I am working from home. I take a break to get something to eat. I am walking back in toward the coffee table which is pulled up to the couch (where I have been sitting cross-legged as I plug away on the minutia), carrying my 12 Kalamata olives (only for the very brave because they pack a powerful flavor sensation) and my 1/2 avocado which has been sprinkled with torn cilantro leaves, crushed-between-my-fingers Kosher salt and had lime juice squeezed over the top (I mean, seriously – your mouth should be watering right now!).
I smile when I see this:
Because ~ this is what Luke sees across the table when we are in meetings. What a happy (and pretty darn well-coordinated) pile of stuff!
My theory?
Oh yeah, baby. Luke doesn’t just get his color and design inspiration out of the air! He sees my computer, my pen bag and pens, my Sea & Ski lip stuff, my meeting notebooks, my coffee mug and my planner. And we all see the finished product! I truly don’t TRY to make this happen…these colors just show up in my life these days.
By the way: The planner is opened to July and there is only one thing on it: Heaven Fest on July 31st!
Do you know why?
Because Heaven Fest is all there is in July!
No, seriously. Luke is a genius designer/marketing/festival-producing kid and we just happen to be in sync on retro-modern, flower-child colors right now. Plus he loves that Colorado-blue sky and I love spring-green grass and those things just cause an exuberantly colorful explosion inside…which then appears! Here are some of the promotional designs you can get from the Heaven Fest website (www.heavenfest.com). Click here for more.
We just announced the official Heaven Fest ’10 date today in a middle-of-the-night e-blast. Because that is when Luke does his best work. Luke, btw, is a genius! www.heavenfest.com
We were on the front page of the Longmont Times-Call for the 2nd time in less than 2 weeks (small city, readership maybe 80,000 – but the website comments going on—yowzers!). I did an interview for that paper last summer and somehow me talking about “God’s Presence” got turned into “God’s presents.” But it was nice overall (and the Presence is such a gift).
image swiped from Joe Vasquez’s Facebook. Thanks, Joe.
Misc. information
The artist line-up is looking good. I’ll let you in on a little secret: Casting Crowns has already confirmed and there is going to be a PETRA reunion! Yes! Can you believe it?? The Lord is opening really interesting doors in some intriguing places.
We are dreaming of huge, creative, generous ways we can give – give - give to orphans and ministries and God’s work around the world. And listening for how and what God is calling us to…
New Look
Luke has unveiled the new groovy and much greener look (affectionately referred to by my sweet friends as “Jeanie green”) and things are unfolding in a beautiful God-loves-Colorado fashion! Woo-hoo! And the countdown clock is ticking away at the website. YIKES!
That was An Evie song that I solo’ed on in the early 80′s and later our three little girls, Tara, Stephie and Dessa would sing together in matching Christmas dresses with red ribbons in their long hair, delighting congregations and their parents!
Everytime a bell rings, and angel gets its wings.
Famous folklore from the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Sleigh Bells, Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, Church bells.
There are a lot of bells ringing, it seems, around this time of year. It is a bit daunting and I am tempted to yell, like Uncle Leo on Seinfeld, “Would somebody answer that [@#$%] phone?!?
But through crazy-loud-manic-silly-overdone-ear-piercing noise, I am listening. I am listening for that one clear note, that beautifully and perfectly played note away from the fray. I depend upon the tintinnabulation to bring things back into order, to make the world right again, to center my focus and bring some calm.
And while Christmas, the worship of the Savior who came, can get lost amid the piles of wrapping paper and receipts, and can be hard to find after too many parties and rooms full of people, that crystal-clear note is really the sound of the angels on high while a baby takes His first breath in a manger amid the animal dung and feed. The tintinnabulation that rings so clear and true even still is the glorious song those angels sang so joyously and raucously over two-thousand years ago:
“Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men [on whom His favor rests].”
I am always so pleased to hear the radio stations play, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, for lyrically (written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), they are releasing into the air each Christmas season, the solid truth of that particular angelic declaration that rings through the ages and is louder still, even now:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
God is not dead, nor does He sleep! That is the true and reliable tintinnabulation for which I am listening, and endlessly, whether I listen for it or not, it rings on, unbroken by time or space or world condition.
Casting Crowns recorded the lyrics with a haunting new melody last Christmas, a version they are even playing on Kosi 101 this year. Enjoy a live rendition below, and be thrilled again by God’s goodwill toward you! (And, by the way, shhhhh, Casting Crowns has confirmed for Heaven Fest 2010)…
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day ~ Casting Crowns
And wild and sweet the words repeat of Peace on earth, goodwill to men!
An Ode to Summer, for I will not to acknowledge a fall which does not truly begin until the Autumnal Equinox, on the 22nd day of this month sometime in the afternoon. Yes, the nights are cooler, some mornings even crisp. And it may seem the summer is past. But I must sing of my love for the summer until the last verse fades softly…
“In summer, the song sings itself.” ~William Carlos Williams
The evening skies are amazing.
“The summer night is like a perfection of thought.” ~Wallace Stevens
At Heaven Fest this year, we had THE perfect sunny summer morning. Then late afternoon clouds which morphed into an electrical storm in the offing. There was supposed to be rain, but lightening just surrounded us instead and gave us the coolest breeze and light show ever!
The hip-hop stage was so awesome! It was packed all day long and there was amazing worship going up!
”Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” ~Sam Keen. This quote has absolutely nothing to do with Heaven Fest, not at least until it’s OVER!
Every stage had a chaplain/minister who prayed with all the bands. John Burgess is leading it here!
We had a Kidz Area this year: petting zoo, face painting, jumpy-things and even a worship stage they could play at. It was so much fun!
We never want to chintz on the port-a-potties, and we never shall.
Kent Henry was here! What an honor!
My sweet-peeps, Andy and Leah Garcia, made this shot possible right after Kent and his kids had led us into some deep worship. Andy set it up and Leah took the shot. Thank-you, friends!
Kent Henry is not only my all-time favorite worship leader, he was the one I raised my kids on. Heaven Fest being what it is is due, in no small part, to the worship influence my “tribe” was nurtured on as they were growing up. Having Kent attend, teach, lead worship and pray over my kids was the honor of a lifetime. His influence on Heaven Fest is undeniable, whether he is here or not, but it sure was cool to have him come and see the impact his life and ministry are still making on my family and through my childrens’ lives. Talk about legacy!
The nameless/faceless band at The Sacred Assembly – it was a breathtaking time in the Presence!
What a summer! I get to work with 100 other people who lead this deal and it is such a privilege to get to do this thing! In November we told the Lord yes, in February we started the fundraising, permitting and all sorts of logistical. By the time summer comes, we are literally surrounded by the world’s most amazing people, walking it out with them. I love Heaven Fest! LOVE it!
Wanna see about 8000 more pictures?
Tons more photos and youtube videos we found can be seen on www.heavenfest.com. You’ll feel like you were there, if you weren’t, and will re-live the thrill if you were!
Jovan, Stormie, Tara, me, Stephanie and Tredessa at The Heaven Fest Appreciation Dinner (where I had the worst hair night, but a tremendous amount of fun in my Norma Kamali dress doing my rather-comedic, if I do say so, trivia observations about HF).
I love my girls. I am blessed by them, in spite of the fact that they tell me I am like Diane Keaton in “Because I Said So,” with which I must totally and vehemently disagree. I may intrude a bit, but I am not as prudish and uptight! And I wouldn’t wear those flouncy 50′s dresses, because I am more of a 40′s woman. We do both make cakes, though.
These are My Little Women. And it is such an honor to work with them in all things life, love, family and ministry. Heaven Fest has been one of my favorite things ever because we do it together.
Good lines from Because I Said So:
Milly: I’m gonna be just like you mom.
Johnny: Once I saw that you were a woman with profound static cling, I wanted to be that force around you…I love that when I breathe you in you smell like cake batter. And I love that you have this insane way of talking in circles that makes perfect sense…I love your eyes. I even love…your mother.
*Thanks to Luke Bodley for getting us in frame. We thought there was no way in Hades this could turn out because of the way he lunged at us just as he counted to three. But, wow, Luke. You did it.
UPDATE 8/16: OK. World class musicians. The Word of God and a zeal for it. Love for people. Scriptures on seeking God and finding His joy. Major prayer covering. What does it all add up to? W O W ! Amazing music. A spontaneous prophetic song that set people to dancing and shouting (you know-Zechariah-esque rejoicing and worship that could be heard afar off?). Omygoodness! What a night it was!
