Woohoo U2!

Growing up, I never listened to U2 much. To be completely honest, I still don't listen to U2 much (shh... don't tell Eric Guthrie!). But there's sort of a U2-mania around the campus, and since moving here I've been exposed to quite a bit U2. And I like the music, I really do. So, last April, when I heard that U2 was going to be playing a concert in OKC, I bought tickets the day they went on sale. Turns out I could have waited a few months, they never sold out. But I made sure that I had my tickets. Not necessarily because I'm crazy about U2, but more because I really love concerts.

There's just something about going to a nearby venue and watching someone wildly famous (in your mind or in reality) sing the same songs you've heard on the radio or iTunes for years. It brings new life to the songs and new enthusiasm for the band (provided they put on a decent show). Over the past several years I've had the pleasure of seeing some pretty great bands, in my book. And I've always left the concerts in awe that I was so close to someone whose songs had such an impact on my life. Take, for example, Pedro the Lion. Not the world's most famous band (especially since it doesn't exist anymore), but David Bazan's music and take on relationships and Christianity had a huge impact on me, encouraging me to question the status quo and be okay with people who love Jesus but aren't tied into the classical American Christian scene. Watching Pedro live in college was awesome. I only owned one of his albums when I went to the concert. I left owning three. Control is still one of my favorite albums of all time.

So I headed to the concert not as excited to see U2 as I was to finally go to a concert! I hadn't been to a real full-scale non-worship musical performance in about a year (since I saw Beck in October), and it was time. Man, I was not disappointed one bit. Granted, the massive football field packed with 50,000 people wasn't as intimate as some of the small venues I've been to in the past (Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Uptown Theater in Kansas City), but it was still an incredible performance. I'm really glad I went. If U2 happens to show up in your neighborhood, I highly recommend paying whatever you have to in order to see this show. It's awesome. And the Black Eyed Peas weren't too bad either.

While I'm talking about U2, let me tell you that Bono is a pretty amazing guy. Being in the missions business, we hear a lot about "saving the souls of the lost" or "winning people to Christ." But what kind of person preaches about the Bread of Life to a child who hasn't eaten in days? I'm not saying people's afterlives isn't important, but we've got to help our fellow man survive the next day in this life before leading him into the next.

When I went through my education classes, we talked about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In this model, it is asserted that a person's most basic needs for survival must be met before their other needs can be met. In the classroom, that usually interprets into: If a student isn't eating right or well or enough at home, or if he or she is homeless, they aren't going to care about school. It's the same with matters of spirituality. Jesus came that we may have abundant life, and I feel that it's our responsibility to bring that abundant life to all. I don't think that the 25 year old woman in Africa wondering if she will die of AIDS or starvation first is really experiencing abundant life. It's not OK for us to sit around and let this happen! This is our responsibility! To whom much is given, much is required. And we, as Americans, have been given much!

Anyway, back to Bono. You should watch his speech at the NAACP. Follow this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5JxULAX9P4

I totally agree with this guy. Long story short, U2 was great, I love Bono, and hearing him sing Amazing Grace ranks in the top 20 moments of my life. Peace.