Passion 2011 Recap

Still processing all that Jesus did in me and around me at Passion 2011.  I needed to go a day late due to church responsibilities, but college students were texting me telling me how incredible everything was before I even got there.  Being able to worship alongside our students and join them in giving sacrificially to worthy causes was such a fantastic way to begin the year.

I could go on and on about the programming of Passion.  Who wouldn’t love to hear Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, John Piper, Andy Stanley, and David Platt speak?  Who wouldn’t be overjoyed to be led in worship by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, and other special guests?  No one would deny the energy getting 22,000 college students together for lively worship with incredible, impacting media presentations.  Everyone was impacted by the profound presentations of the needs in the world.

All of that was great, but it wasn’t my favorite part.

My favorite part was Jesus.

When you worship in a room as big as the Phillips Arena and you know about 50 people in the room, most people would think you would be detached, but I wasn’t.  I felt so connected to that congregation because of Jesus.  All I kept thinking about was the uncountable number of ways that Jesus was changing lives around me.

As I would see one person offering worship to Jesus, I wondered: in how many ways is Jesus turning his life upside down?

To many in that room, Jesus was:

  • Rescuing from addictive appetites
  • Calling out to the nations
  • Bringing the dead to life
  • Removing idols from the thrones of lives
  • Providing healing from the past
  • Removing condemnation
  • Restoring joy
  • Reclaiming peace
  • Spurring on to forgive someone
  • Humbling
  • Exalting
  • Encouraging
  • Rebuking
  • Loving
  • Making us stand in awe
  • And so much more…

While I know Giglio and his staff and team of volunteers were very busy, Jesus was definitely the one doing the most work.  He was the One we came to see and none looking for him were disappointed.  Jesus, you continually wow us with your presence and your power.

Keep on doing only what you can do.

We welcome you with praise.