U2's Second Homecoming Gig

On Saturday night Ru and I and Ferg and Jane went to see and experience U2 all over again (Ferg and I were there on the Friday night too!). It's an amazing show and the crowd were loving it. Saturday was great as the four of us being there together was special. Last time Ru had seen U2 with me was "Pop" back in 1997. I must be honest though and say that there was something lacking on the Saturday night in comparsion to Friday night. Don't know what it was.

On the Friday night Ferg and I got into the pit. That experience was fantastic. Being so close to the band and other fans was great. Standing in the stands on Saturday night was also great as we got to experience and see the whole show, lights and all.
In the pit you couldn't take in all the effects, but you were up close with the band. On Saturday you saw all the show-effects and over 80,000 people bouncing and singing away with 4 guys on a stage.
Now in the past I'd stand up for anything U2 but I've toned that down a bit. Not because my love for the band has diminished but I just needed to back down a little. One of the good things about U2 is people can take them on whatever level they want too. Some just want songs, (like the guy who kept singing "we don't need no education" when Bono would talk. He did need education!) others want a "U2 at home" experience, (many people at both gigs where from all over the world) and others want the spirituality in the band.

For me over the last many years of following U2, I see the depth of their lyrics and love identifying with that. On the Friday night I had I very definite worship experience. Not of the Band but of Jesus. At every U2 gig I've been to I've had friends come and say that they now "get it". Friends who have a relationship with Jesus. They get that U2 have a relationship with Jesus and it shows through what they do (not all that they do but alot of what they do). Many of U2's songs are worship songs. Every album has some theme in relation to Jesus, The Kingdom, Love, Life, Death and what we do with such moments.
Being able to sing with passion in the knowledge of where the lyrics have come from is freeing. Like when you hear the story behind some of the old hymns people sing in church. It gives more meaning to the song.

Great Gigs. Friday beats Saturdays setlist hands down, but Saturday was awesome being able to experience U2 live with Ru, Jane and Ferg.


Below is the Setlist From Saturday


Breathe
No Line On The Horizon
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent
Beautiful Day / Here Comes The Sun (Snippet)
Mysterious Ways
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (Snippet)
Angel Of Harlem / Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (Snippet)
In A Little While
Unknown Caller
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights / Rain (Snippet)
Vertigo / Thunderstruck (Snippet)
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (Remix) / Come All Ye Faithful (Snippet)
Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (Snippet)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
MLK
Walk On / You'll Never Walk Alone (Snippet)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

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Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender

U2 Homecoming Gig

Not going to say much now except Wow. The gig tonight was incredible... My mind is still buzzing and all in all it was a fantastic night. U2 were on form and I'm really looking forward to going again with my wonderful wife, brother and sister-in-law!

Good times...

Below is the set-list from tonight...

Breathe

No Line on the Horizon

Get On Your Boots

Magnificent

Beautiful Day/Blackbird (snippet)

Elevation

Desire

Stuck In A Moment

The Old Canal (cover)

One

Until The End of the World

The Unforgettable Fire

City of Blinding Lights

Vertigo

Crazy remix

Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rocking the Casbah (snippet)

Pride (In the Name of Love)

MLK

Walk On/ You'll Never Walk Alone (snippet)

Where the Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love (snippet)

40 (snippet)/ Bad / 40 (snippet)

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Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

With or Without You

Moment of Surrender

Dream Set List

This Friday and Saturday I get to go to see U2 in Croke Park. I'm very excited about these gigs. I love U2 and I love live music so combine both and I've bolted over the edge. When you get to go see an artist(s) preform live you always have a few songs you want to hear live. Last week when I got to see Springsteen, he delivered quite possibly the best gig I've ever been too! Seriously, but one personal disappointment was that he didn't sing 2 songs I was hoping for... 1) Queen Of The Supermarket and 2) The Wrestler

It's never the end of the world but there's always that "if only" feeling. So, U2. This most recent tour I've been pretty bold/impatient and I've read up on each of there gigs so far (in fact as I write this I'm listening to their latest gig from Berlin!!!) Last night my bro told me I had to write up my "Dream Set-list" for this coming weekend.

So here it is...(in no particular order)

• Magnificent
• Beautiful Day
• Elevation
• Vertigo
• Bad
• Staring At the Sun
• The Fly
• City Of Blinding Lights
• Unknown Caller
• Grace
• The Ground Beneath My Feet
• Where The Streets Have No Name
• Running To Stand Still
• Mofo
• Wake Up Dead Man
• Breathe
• All Because Of You
• Grace
• Yahweh
• Original Of The Species
• The First Time
• Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
• Stay (Faraway So Close)-Favourite U2 Song!
• One
• 40
  

So there it is.

You know, this was a bad idea cause as I read over this set-list my excitement has intensified!!!

Chasing the Spirit

On Monday night past a lady named Jackie Pullinger came to "speak" in Redcross. I really had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that she was a missionary in Hong Kong and worked with drug addicts. I thought she'd be some sweet lady with a "nice" message for us to hear and she'd leave us with a little thought-provoker.
Man I couldn't of been more wrong. This woman was not some sweet lady. She was a dangerous servant of Jesus. She spoke in a way that I'd not heard in a long time. She had a fire that she was wanting to impact those around her with. She spoke truth in all she said and pointed everything to Jesus. She took no crap and her relationship with Jesus was so tangible. The place was packed (300+) and people were eager. Eager for something. The worship was from the heart and free which was a blessing to start with. She had a team of 10-15 people with her that took part also. They spoke and interpreted tongues and prophesied with people and prayed for healing for a number of folk too. This was the Kingdom in action and it was beautiful. I was overwhelmed. I really believe that God is stirring his people to be ready. For what? I don't know, but he's wanting us to be ready for what he's wanting to do!
I want to be ready. I want to be part of whatever is on his heart. There's enough rubbish going on around all of us, that we should want more of God's heart revealed. We/I need to be getting more intimate with the Father. That happens through Jesus with the power of the Spirit. God is wanting his people to pursue him with everything! Again I experienced someone speaking truth into my life in things that they'd no clue about which meant it could only be from God. He knows my heart and He loves me beyond my imagination. It's humbling and empowering. Lets not hide the most sacred relationship we have. Lets show those around us the beauty of Jesus so they can see Him too.

Live it...

Gig of the year?

So on Sunday I went with a good friend to see Springsteen play in the RDS in Dublin. It was superb!!! We got into the pit and Bruce was on form (which seems to be consistent with him these days!) He was on stage at 8.02pm and off stage at 11.17. Over 3hrs of amazing tunes. Highlights were Outlaw Pete, Working On A Dream, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, American Skin, Born To Run, The Rising, Jungle Land and Glory Days. If you want to give Bruce a shot I'd really recommend his most recent album (Working On A Dream)
This was an awesome gig.



Setlist

No Surrender
Badlands
Night
My Lucky Day
Outlaw Pete
Hungry Heart
Working On A Dream
Seeds
Johnny 99
Youngstown
Darkness On The Edge of Town
Spirit In The Night
Sherry Darling
Proud Mary
Prove It All Night
Trapped
Waiting On A Sunny Day
Promised Land
Radio Nowhere
American Skin (41 Shots)
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Born To Run

Jungleland
American Land
Rosalita
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark
Twist & Shout

Working Out The Dream

If I ever write a book, I'd entitle it "Life after the Miracle". So many people when touched by God or when they have an experience with Him, don't know how to move forward. Let me give you an example of the "what if". In John 5v1-8 we read about the man who was healed at the pool. He'd been an invalid (ever thought about that word; invalid!?!) for 38yrs. He has an encounter with Jesus, and BAM he's healed. I love the fact that Jesus doesn't want him to know who healed him (would people put it then down to the "miracle of the pool"?) Anyway, picture it, this healed man walks home to his parents as they'd probably been looking after him. He gets home, his parents are stunned and overwhelmed at their sons transformation. Two maybe three days later after all the celebrations have calmed down his mum or dad sit him down and ask if he's gonna go look for a job.... Now there's a reality check! This guy has the most remarkable encounter with Jesus and, well, life goes on.
Life after the miracle...

Ever been there?
Had an experience with Jesus and life goes on.
A dream comes true and life goes on.
The day you've been longing for was yesterday.
Got the dream job and it's the following week.
Had the greatest time away and now you're home again.

How do we cope with this?
We cope with Jesus and people who get it. We keep moving forward. We don't stop, we keep moving forward. In Ephesians 6 we read about the armour of God. The examples and equipment mentioned are all for moving forward. The world we live in hits us so hard it can be difficult to breathe sometimes but God created us with His Breath so we can keep moving forward. I write this cause I'm now in my new job (loving it) and already I'm beginning to see the task ahead. It fires me up but also freaks me out. Also my best friend and his wife have just come home from the most amazing time away and my heart is with them as they re-adjust.
The wake-up call can seem so intrusive but it's necessary. All we experience can be shared, treasured, laughed about, wept over but always remains Jesus'.

This is Kingdom living. Walking with others, sharing our stories, reminding each other of what Jesus has done and is continuing to do.

We can live life after the miracle with either Fear or Love...

Easier said than done but the same could be said for our dreams...