Afterburner…..from JK1

The Afterburner was held in the Columbus City Center Mall following the Friday night service. City Center, which is an otherwise dieing mall, was alive tonight! Thousands (not sure, exactly how many) rampaged the downtown, three-story shopping center until 2 in the morning. Similar to past Youth Congress mall events, once you walked in, you were overtaken by the madness – I mean complete and utter chaos – ear-deafening noise, squandering people, and lines (for as far as the eye could see). Amidst all the fury and reckless activity, I guess young people have fun doing this kind of stuff. But for a twenty-something year old youth pastor and his pregnant wife, it’s bed time.

















On another note…….There was a number of live bands playing in the heart of the mall’s amphitheatre-style stage area. Finally, finally, FINALLY…….some music that young people connect with – and it showed by the excitement and energy pulsating through the crowds. The few bands that were featured stretched far beyond the Pentecostal cookie-cutter style of music – and they ROCKED! (Props to the band from Toledo, OH!)

The fact is, young people are extreme – and they like their music extreme. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they all like the gut-wrenching, mind-blowing, hard-core material – it just means that they want the lyrics and music to dig down deep inside them – to speak to them in a language they speak and understand – in a way that expresses how they feel – and who they are – not who their parents are.

Now that I got that off my chest……

In spite of my enjoyment of the music, I did feel like it was extremely too LOUD! I guess the whole purpose of the music was to create a fun atmosphere for fellowship. Unfortunately, however, I thought it seemed to actually hinder the fellowship. It was so loud that you literally had to walk to the extremities of the mall to be able to have a conversation with someone without ripping a vocal chord. Otherwise, you just faked like you knew what the other person was saying by responding with the ol’ “nod and smile”.

My final comment on the night is one that may be controversial, and if so, great. Apparently, there were blue rubber wristbands (much like the Lance Armstrong “Live Strong” bands) being given away by an “undisclosed” Bible college. Now, in the past, something like this would have created an uproar, being regarded as nothing less than jewelry. So has the standard changed? Where is the line drawn? Either way, as I write this blog, I’m sporting my new, cool blue wristband that reads “Consecrate. Influence.”

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!