Third Day on the 3rd Day-Street Week Edition

Third Day’s new CD “Revelation” came out this past week. For Third Day on the 3rd day the theme is about “Street Week” and what we did during the week. So here goes, another list about Third Day on the 3rd day:

1. Picked up the new “Revelation” CD.
2. Saw Third Day perform at the Tonight Show.
3. There was an earthquake on the way to the Tonight Show.
4. Mark said it was during sound check. Way to ROCK So Cal guys.
5. Learned the meaning of “Salt & Light” at the Tonight Show.
6. Watched the performance on TIVO. Greatest invention ever made!
7. Watched my son Tommy come out of his “World of Autism” when we played the performance on TV.
8. Tommy watched it about 20 straight times!
9. Met some cool people on the Third Day boards.
10. Got a Musicbuildstour VIP concert package for the San Diego show. OK, happened a couple of weeks ago but way cool and my wife is gonna be happy!

Third Day On the 3rd Day

Spirit West Coast-Del Mar, CA 2008

One thing I like about Third Day is the way the band interacts with its fans. On Third Day’s Blog, Mark Lee is asking for fans to post about Third Day on the 3rd day of the month. So here is my contribution to advancing the cause. Oh, and yes I do want to win an autograph copy of Revelation too!

Since Mark is so big on lists, I am going to go the list route.

1. My very first post on my blog was about Third Day. Read it here.
2. My wife started playing Third Day about four years ago but I did not pay attention.
3. Singing Third Day songs helped my son with autism to learn to speak.
   
4. I have been a Third Day fan ever since.
5. My son can belt out a mean, “I Can Feel it”  from Third Day’s live version on Chronology.
6. All three of my kids like Third Day.
7. Third Day is my favorite Christian band, heck my favorite band period!
8. I saw Third Day at House of Blues, Anaheim & Spirit West Coast, Del Mar CA-cheap camera photo above.
9. I sent in for tickets to the Tonight Show to see Third Day.
10. I have 3rd row center tickets for the Music Builds tour to see Third Day in San Diego.
11. I mentioned Third Day eleven times in this list!

Never Alone—Song Breaks Through Autism to Help My Son Speak

I have a son, Tommy, who has Autism and up until he was six or so, was not very verbal. Whenever we go someplace in our car we always “have to” play some type of music when Tommy is with us. He insists on it! Autism parents know what I am talking about. While in the car he is always exposed to different types of music. Children songs, classical, Christian, and many others. Well, one day we were driving in our car and listening to Mercyme, one of our favorite Christian bands. Their song “Never Alone” was playing and I was brought out of a daydream by what sounded like an angel.  I heard this sweet voice singing,

Then a voice comes calling out to me
You’re never alone cause I am with you
And I will always be
I will hold you cause you belong to me
You’re never alone cause I’ll be with you
For all eternity

I could not believe what I was hearing. For the first time ever, Tommy was singing!  If you don’t know about autism, it is about being alone in a world of your own. For a boy who could barely say a few words to sing so beautifully, so clearly, I really believe he was feeling the presence of God. I know I was. That it was this particular verse and song, it brought tears to my eyes. It still does.  Any doubts about the power of God instantly ended that day. I am still in awe when I think that it was a song about God always being with you, even inside the world of autism, that the Lord chose to help Tommy reach out to the outside world around him.

Since singing that first song—Tommy’s Song as I call it now—he loves to hear and sing to Christian music, especially Third Day. Which is why I like that band so much.  He can belt out a mean “I Can Feel It” and likes “Creed” very much. Also, we have discovered that Tommy has a knack for music. He taught himself to play chords on our piano and can play some songs just from hearing the music. He also puts words to the actual melodies and beats, which is hard to describe without hearing it. He just hears things much differently then we do.

Tommy can speak today. He still has trouble trying to express himself but he is fully verbal. My wife and I briefly got to meet Bart Millard of Mercy Me at a show at Crossroads Church in Corona, California but we did not have the chance to tell him about Tommy’s singing. Hopefully, somehow, someday both bands will get to know how their music has helped our son to become fully verbal and how much it means to us. Because their music is much more than some words or melody playing. It is God’s work through those He has blessed with the talent to spread His word. I have seen His amazing music work in my life. Tommy’s too.

Music with Meaning

Music has been there for me. In good times and bad, happy times and sad, in youth and as I get older it has provided me so much. Celebration, solace, inspiration, memories of joy and even pain. But mostly, it helps define a particular time or event in my life.

Here’s a rundown of my musical inclinations through out the years. Although I listen to much more than this, these are the ones that influenced me the most. Each with a story of its own in my life. I’ll get to why next time. The one’s in bold are my favorites. What artists, bands or songs have the most meaning in your life?

Congrats Third Day!

For the first time ever, a Christian band graces the cover of Billboard Magazine.

Spirit West Coast-Del Mar CA

Went down last Sunday to Del Mar California for the Spirit West Coast festival. My wife and I took our daughter and her friend. We also dragged along my wife’s 17-year-old nephew who had no idea what he was in for. I don’t think he was ready for the loud energy of Barlow Girl, Kutless or Third Day. I think it surprised him to see a bunch of Christians rockin out. Especially his “old” uncle jumping up and down.

Third Day

This is my very first post to my new blog so here goes… Kari (my wife) and I don’t get to go out together very much. With a child that has autism it is very difficult to get time alone together. So we were excited that we got to go see Third Day, one of our favorite bands, this last Thursday at the House of Blues in Anaheim. It was an awesome show that had us both clapping and dancing. Probably wasn’t pretty to look at but we were having a blast. Third Day puts on a great worship and show. If you get the chance, you have to see these guys. Mac is awesome! What are your favorite bands, Christian or other?