A Wendy V Trip Report:
MARK LOWRY'S SENIOR TRIP
GROVE PARK INN -ASHEVILLE, NC
DECEMBER 10-12, 2006
Day 1- Sunday:
My friends and I drove from
Nashville to Asheville. The journey to this
first night concert didn't go in the smoothest way. We were re-routed an hour or
so on our way to the Grove Park Inn due to a massive tractor-trailer accident.
When I got to the hotel, they didn't have my ticket package for me. I am not the
person to skip--not getting something when others got theirs freaks me out (it
goes back to childhood). Then I could not get back into my room and there was a
couple outside that claimed it was supposed to be their room.
But it all got resolved, and when the concert doors opened, none of that
mattered.
Here's the greatest thing about Senior Trip. It's not just a concert or getting
to hear the best male singer. It's a time of building friendships and
camaraderie. I'm not the only one who noticed that after the Gaylord Senior
Trip. Mark mentioned this from the stage as well and encouraged the bonding
among us audience members (and yes, that happened from the get go). I can
testify to Mark's hope that lasting and life-impacting friendships come about on
this occasion, but I'll elaborate more on that at a later time...
On to the music:
Mark was incredible on "Let There Be Peace on Earth". One of the most
consistent musical acts around, LordSong, were also in great form. Stan Whitmire
was on the injured list this time, sporting a broken foot having hit a sinkhole
on the beach, but it didn't hurt his playing any.
We heard from a talented new act, Austin's Bridge. Barbara Fairchild was back
with us again and told us a funny story about getting in the wrong car after
pumping gas--with a passenger who appeared to hardly notice.
So why were people laughing during the Mike Bowling Group's set? When they
performed the title song from their CD "Graceland", "Elvis"
entered the building. That would be Mark, in Elvis specs and sneer.
The angel has made a triumphant return. Janet Paschal gave a wonderful
performance and testimony, and is as ever beautiful inside and out (though Mark
felt her stiletto heels were "not saved").
Brian Free and Assurance rocked the house in their extended set, with a rousing
finale singing the praises of King Jesus.
(By the way...I did not read Mark's Ramblings on the concert before I wrote
this. He must have been writing his the same time I was. Great minds think
alike!) :)
Today we got a
good look at the grounds of the Grove Park Inn. You can't beat the beautiful
mountain setting while eating breakfast or just walking along the inside of the
building and gazing out its many viewpoints. Most of us also spent time at the
Biltmore Estate. The tour was very extensive. Some of the artistic detail you
find in these rooms and the sense of history was just amazing.
Of the "God Is Crazy About You" shows that I've seen, tonight's show
has to be in my top 5. Mark was just on it...starting from his accident, going
down some rabbit trails that were hilarious (why women have babies so much for
example --if he had morphine drip in the process, he'd "birth a
nation") but also profound when he talked about trying to understand the
accident he had at 19 where he broke 11 bones or sharing how he was led into
music ministry (thank you, God!).
Personally, it was sort of my night musically. Mark gave me my Christmas wish
and sang "The Christmas Song" and in between working in a story about
not believing in Santa Claus ("that's when the presents dried up").
And, like I did last trip, I got to "dance" with Mark once again, this
time during "Jingle Bell Rock". But there is a curse on me somewhere.
Last time, no one was able to get a picture with me dancing with Mark, and this
time it didn't work, either. Well, you'll have to take my word and the crowd's
for it. (But if you took one and you have it, please send it to me!)
Other musical humorous highlights: Barbara Fairchild, the "Sr. Trip
mascot" was back with us again, celebrating her wedding anniversary with a
duet with her husband Roy Morris. She also did her 70s hit "Teddy
Bear" after sharing an hilarious story about once donning a reindeer
costume to sing the song (since it's about wanting to be a teddy bear, getting a
teddy bear costume and singing it wouldn't quite work). Woody Wright shared the
story of how he and Mark wrote the song "What Were You Thinking?"
which Mark sang on the Gaither Australian Homecoming video. The inspiration: a
case of chiggers Woody and his dog dealt with!
Austin's Bridge came back to do a great acapella number. LordSong and Stan
Whitmire, well, they always do what they do so well. They are a beloved part of
the "ReMarkable family". But this particular night it was lots of Mark
and lots of singing, including one of my favorites I haven't heard live, "I
Don't Belong" -that was a great treat.
The "Geri-oke" at the end was really more of a "ReMarkable
Idol". We heard from a great variety of talented singers and players among
the audience.But I'm going to give a special shout-out to my friend Roxie Adrian
who wowed the crowd with her piano rendition of "Jesus Is the Sweetest Name
I Know." You know, there's nothing cooler than to be able to witness those
kind of moments.
Though I am not a big fan of general admission events and it can be a little
inconvenient to line up at the door hours ahead of time for the best seats, this
is where a lot of the fellowship happens here and you meet a lot of great
people. I found that it helps to wear a red hat, or have some sort of
recognizable picture out there. :) In fact, someone borrowed my hat for this
picture.
Day 3- Monday:
Morning:
This morning we witnessed examples of the effectiveness of Mark's and the other
artists' ministries both when they are in true worship form and having a good
old time in the Lord. Mark and LordSong kicked it off with some songs from
"Be the Miracle" like "Whatcha Need", where Mark shared
personally how he dealt with his faith while awaiting word on his nephew when he
was missing for 26 hours some years back. Woody Wright and Joy Gardner set a
powerful musical stage with songs of God's grace. By the time Joy sang
"He's Been Faithful", there was no doubt that God was in the
house...we were all deep in the worship spirit.
All of the above set it up for the message by Christ Church's pastor Dan Scott.
His message centered on the three wise men. Pastor Dan's focus was the wise men
were who they were because they were able to see the full picture--the cross as
well as the star. His touching story of his wife's illness and recovery, with a
word of faith spoken by a hospital cleaning lady, was an inspiring message of
hope. The word has long been out that Dan Scott's a great preacher. What I
didn't know was that he's also a great singer. I bought his CD, "Serve
Somebody", during the break.
Then the fun began. Woody Wright hosted this trip's version of the Truly Wed
Game. Now, if you can imagine Woody as host and Mark as the "color
commentary" person, then you would not be shocked to hear that it was an
absolute hoot. Michael and Kim Lord, Barbara Fairchild and husband Roy Morris
played with two audience couples who were married at least 50 years. Both of
those couples got free tickets to the Branson shows.
Like I said earlier, some of the best stuff happens before the shows start. If
you could see all the people hugging, taking pictures, exchanging addresses and
contact info, you would soon see that this is much of the true magic of this
event.
Evening:
I'm not sure I can come close to adequately describing this. But here goes.
The evening began with a few songs from Mark and LordSong, including, of course
"Mary Did You Know." Which, of course, Mark sang incredibly. Next up
were extended sets from the other two featured acts. The Lee Singers, of Lee
University in Cleveland, TN, did a solid program of Christmas songs in varying
styles, including a salute to the troops. They are personable young people, some
stopped to chat with us. Not all are music majors--some, for example, are
business majors who enjoy the choral experience. And by the way, they are their
own roadies.
The Annie Moses Band, a family group, covered just about every genre at some
point in their set, ranging from bluegrass to opera with many songs from their
Christmas projects.
The last part was billed as a "singalong" with Mark, LordSong, Woody
Wright, Joy Gardner, Austin's Bridge and Barbara Fairchild. It started out that
way until, as Mark might put it, God came along and hijacked it. It then went
from a bunch of friends sitting around taking turns singing songs to a worship
that was even more powerful than the one this morning, if you can imagine that.
Mark just opened up to God and drew us all into the experience.
That's the best I can do. You just had to be there.
It's this simple. If you have not experienced a Senior Trip, you absolutely must
do so. This is not just a group of concerts. This is a soul experience. I mean,
so many of us were in tears at the end because it was just too difficult for us
to leave after all the love and fellowship that came out of this.
____
Post Senior Trip Thoughts:
The next morning, I tried to gather
my thoughts while sitting in the Asheville airport waiting out a two hour flight
delay.
I got to thinking about some of the songs heard over the weekend about how it
will be when we are all together in Heaven. Many of us believed it just might
feel like it did these past few days. Now we find ourselves heading home, going
back to our "regular" lives. Some of us might have workplace
challenges to return to, others stressful home situations. If we get caught up
in those stresses that go with it, it may be hard to retain that glow that we
all felt during Senior Trip.
The challenge is keeping that spirit with us as best we can. What can we do? We
can remember to keep in touch with that person we exchanged contact information
with to help lift us up in those trying moments. Maybe we can take a closer look
at where we work or where we live and try to bring some of that spirit to those
around us. Granted, sometimes that's way easier said than done. But what would
happen if we tried?
Thank you, Mark, for answering the call God put on you to go into music ministry
so we all could be blessed by you and the magnificent, beautiful gift of a voice
God gave you (God's so smart, isn't He?).
See you in Branson...if not before.
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