My Creation-East Festival 2002 Experience

DAY 1: Tuesday, June 25, 2002

My arrival in the Armpit of Pennsylvania (so labeled for the smell of 100,000+ sweaty people) came after an eight hour “scenic” route that consisted of numerous wrong turns — courtesy of females who couldn't urinate in unison and the general confusion of the PA Turnpike.

Camp setup began around 5:00 PM EST. The beauty of Agape Farm in Mount Union, PA harmonized with the arrival of God's creation. I just knew that this week would be a spiritual Kodak moment. Karen made grilled chicken for dinner and then us youngins toured the hundreds of acres where Creation-East Festival resides each year.

The Ladymen: Crissy, Melissa, Lyndsey, Emily (Not pictured yet: Karen-Melissa's mom, Kathy-a nice lady who was camping alone and joined our group, Tiffany-Nathan's friend)

The Gents: Daniel, Ryan, Myself (Not pictured yet: Nathan-L.U. senior, guys chaperone)

A special shout out to my other groupies: Calvary Fellowship. They purchased tickets in February and secured a shaded camp location in wooded A11-b in addition to providing cheap tickets for the Blue Ridge Community group that I traveled with.

DAY 2: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Wow, a full eight hours of sleep graced me! I was the first person awake in my tent, so I decided to get dressed and prepare for the day quietly. Part of my preparation included the application of Coppertone sunscreen and Off! bug repellant. Apparently my aerosol bug repellant drifted and Daniel commented to Ryan, “Ah! Jeremiah got Off! in my eyes.”

Ryan and I scoffed at the steady stream of cars fighting their way to specified campsites. Creationists (a.k.a. those attending Creation-East Festival) staying on Agape Farm could arrive as early as Tuesday but most people did not arrive until today. With the B.R.C.C. campsite completed and concerts not starting until the evening, Ryan and I decided to kill time by playing frisbee in the open game field near the Fringe Stage. We later joined into a game of Ultimate Frisbee that brought on the sweat and, most importantly, some exciting fun.

Prior to today, I never played ultimate and I felt extremely sub-standard when the frisbee went everywhere but back to Ryan. My self-frustation allowed me to realized another characteristic about Ryan: while he can be delightfully anal and technically critical regarding his interests, he taught me ultimate with encouragement and patience. This is one bro I am really going to miss in Boston.

Concert time! Kick off honors belonged to Audio Adrenaline, Cross Movement, Eastman Curtis, and tobyMac (above). “Good times, great oldies.” —Daniel.

This is Emily. This is Emily having fun. Emily (and the rest of us) would not have been having fun if we signed up to work 20 hours over five days at the artist merchandise table for ONE stinkin' t-shirt, as offered to each member of our group. There are some offers you can refuse.

I've got momentum baby! Getting your tobyMac on is nice. Getting your Macintosh on is even nicer.

DAY 3: Thursday, June 27, 2002

Performances included Kirk Franklin (Mr. I Can Only Cover Songs), Phil Keaggy (amazing guitarist), Stacie Orrico (no, you are not cute and yes, your performance was horrible), Ten Shekel Shirt, The Benjamin Gate (above), The O.C. Supertones, and Third Day (fellow Mac users). The speakers, Mike Silva and Buster Soaries, brought in God's Word of the Day.

Instead of sleeping, Melissa asked me to be her dance partner at the Late Night Swing Thing with the Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and I could never turn down Melissa to a dance (after all, she was my Prom date).

The Exhibit Barn = free stickers and the Gotee Records booth. The latter made the hike to the exhibit barn worth the time. Gotee's aluminum, plexiglas, fanned, and iPod equipped listening stations further proved that Gotee is the best record label in Christian music. But I would not expect anything but the best from a company owned by tobyMac.

When God 'rains' in your life, expect to get wet. A soaking rain shower accompanied the first full day of concerts and speakers. Oh joy... Speaking of water, Ryan and I decided to hit the shower stalls during Point of Grace's concert. “Shall we gather at the shower of forgiveness, come together at the suds of love?” —Me, singing along with PoG.

DAY 4: Friday, June 28, 2002

Slow morning. Chris Rice (I want his spiritual contemplations!), Five Iron Frenzy (“Get it on in Canada!”), Lincoln Brewster (aren't worship leaders supposed to be humble?), PC3 (ugh...), Mary Mary, Relient K (above), Switchfoot, Thousand Foot Krutch (voted Best Moshpit by JeremiahLee.com) and Ken Davis (I'm not sure if he is an ordained comedian or a Christian speaker) topped off today's performances. Oh, it rained again...

Nice afternoon. Would you wear a Skillet concert flyer duct-tapped to your back for a free Ardent Records sampler CD, t-shirt and All Together Separate/Justifide pins? I did and so did Ryan.

Awe-filled night. When I worry, I kill faith. I dedicated this week to rebuilding the intimacy that I had with my personal Savior before I allowed worry to stress me into disillusion. Worship through praise, lead by Delirious? and Michael W. Smith, reminded me that God was/is still here and He has not forgotten me or my issues. I still face outstanding dilemmas but God is only prepping Himself for more glory and more praise when every need I have is eventually met. Amazing how seeing a quantity of candles half the population of your home town glowing for Christ put things into perspective.

After the candle-lighting service, the group retreated back to our campsite; we sang praise songs and made s'mores around our campfire. Real ministry happens without three feet of another person and I felt so blessed singing along to praise songs lead by Crissy, Daniel, Melissa, and Ryan. Nathan took us back to our kindergarten days with a bedtime story around the warm glow of an open flame. Melissa finally gave into my repeated requests for her to perform “track number one!” and then into our sleeping pods we recharged.

DAY 5: Saturday, June 29, 2002

Today's artists included By The Tree (they left me by His throne), Five Iron Frenzy (“To hell with the devil!” now with hyperactive skanking agent), Jennifer Knapp (the Knappster wasn't as bad as normal), John Reuben (above; what is he dipidy doin'?), Joshua Harris (speaker), Newsboys (falling like a million raindrops), Pax217 (one song didn't fill me) and Rock n' Roll Worship Circus (amazing worship leaders)

Just one? I don't know who this chica is, but she had access to the walk space between the pit and the stage. During By The Tree's set, she would take close-up pictures for people standing in the pit. What a sweetie!

Under the Big Top. After Mrs. Woodall's amazing dinner siesta and John Reuben's show, I attended a discussion session on modern worship lead by Rock n' Roll Worship Circus. They are so transparent in their praise music; I'm wowed. Buy their CD this August.

Come ride with me! Tiffany decided to return home after John Reuben's show, so she gave the gang a lift over to the Fringe Stage. Most everyone in our group liked the idea of leaving tonight, but plans were already in place to leave tomorrow morning.

The festival ended with the Newsboys and more rain. Ryan wasn't feeling groovy, so he split from Daniel and me. Daniel and I took the coldest shower on the coldest night of Creation. We chatted about deep guy stuff on the way back to our campsite. Before returning to our tent, we joined our groupies around the campfire for one last moment of praise music and sharing.

DAY 6: Sunday, June 30, 2002

I'm on the Most High. As a first-timer to Creation-East Festival, I was expecting a camping trip with concerts for flava. History tells differently though. God reminded me of His perfect Will and the unity of His church through powerful praise music, intense worship experiences, anointed speakers, and close Christian friends.

“Life is not one endless moment with Michael W. Smith singing in the background.” —Joshua Harris

Shout-out thanks to Mrs. Woodall (Melissa's mom)! Her organization and wonderful dinner meals made for a memorable Creation experience.

Decision Maker. I decided to scream loudly when I hear a reference to September 11, 2001, (don't ask) and sponsor a child through Compassion International (please ask!).

Previously Not Pictured: (left to right)
Tiffany: Nathan's friend.
Nathan: guy's van driver, cartoonist, hugger of the RnRWC drummer.
Holly: B.R.C.C.'s inside connection to Calvary Fellowship's reservation.
Kathy: a solo camper who joined our campsite.

Other fun stuff: Daniel's right knee was sun burned during the trip to Creation because he had his leg resting on the window the entire trip.

ChristianBumperSticker.org just rocks.