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Adam McLane over at the YS Blog blogged about a story someone sent in from Nashville this past week. The NYWC theme was “Seriously Ridiculous,” that the Creator knows and loves each of us (that’s serious!) and that it’s also ridiculous in a “i can’t even begin to define this” way. So another story of NYWC attendees making Nashville a “Seriously Ridiculous” place this weekend:

Monday morning, a man walked up to the convention HQ booth and said, “I just have to tell somebody this story. I was walking down the street this morning and passed a man, obviously homeless. He saw my bag and name tag and knew I was from NYWC and said, ‘I thought you all had left town.’ I said, ‘No, not yet. We’re still here.’ And the man said to him, ‘Well I am so thankful. Because you all were here this weekend, I got 2 hot meals a day, a shower and a place to sleep.’

That’s seriously ridiculous. The guy that told us that story was so excited, excited to be part of something bigger than just himself, part of something that made a difference in the life of this man on the streets of Nashville this weekend. Between this story and Adam’s post on the YS blog, we know good things happened. Good times.

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It would just be sad to not post these to the POTW. Great times when Crowder is on stage:

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I spent an hour or so walking the streets of Nashville to see the city earlier in the week. Despite the frigid temperatures and wind, it was a lot of fun. So here goes, some of the sights from the city:

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Yesterday was a blur. I worked til 3, had lunch at 4 and that throws off a whole day. I covered for Kevin at HQ for an extra hour and a half while he got back from the UT/Vandy game. We were Gametracking Ohio State/Michigan at HQ and keeping up with Tech and the Spiders too. I caught part of Lincoln Brewster’s worship set in the arena last night, which was great. I was also really interested by the painter on stage during the worship time. I’ll work on posting pictures of some of his paintings later — they’re really good, and a really interesting addition to worship. I missed Francis Collins, the director of the Human Genome Project, last night, but I’m looking forward to hearing his and all of the other talks on MP3 later.

Today I work a short early shift and then head to the arena for the general session. It will be the first one I’ve been able to sit through from start to finish, and I’m real excited about that. Then an afternoon session with Steve Gerali, one of the convention pastors, on small groups. And back on at the HQ all night long. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to catch the Skit Guys @ late night.

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Well, I spent many, many hours in the convention hall yesterday answering questions at HQ: where’s registration, where’s the general session, how do I sign up for the labyrinth, where’s a good place to eat that doesn’t have a line 50-people long at every meal. It really was a lot of fun, even the girl who knocked over our handouts on Kevin’s cup of Coke from Panera that spilled all over everything.

The volunteers/staff started the morning with a prayer walk, which was a really great way to start the first official day of the convention. I was dog tired at the end cause we were up so early, but it was worth it.

Made it to a few minutes of Francis Chan’s talk yesterday afternoon, and people were talking about it all night. Most importantly, I made it in to see Crowder at the end of the first session and the beginning of the second. Out of this world. And yes, I really was this close to Crowder during worship.

And yes, I got his autograph.

Back to the convention center for today’s shift…

After the session, we were hanging in the hallway and got to

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With $14/day internet in the hotel, the local Panera has become my local haven this week. It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours here in Nash-vegas, but a great time. Showed up Tuesday afternoon and started stuffing NYWC books with Melissa from Arkansas, Josh from Tempe, Erik from Shreveport, Karen from Georgia. We made it through 5,500 and moved on to the store, unpacking thousands and thousands of books. We counted them, sorted them, arranged them and now the store looks great (if you’re at NYWC, check out the Invert table. quite stellar if you ask me!).

My first stop when I got to town Tuesday morning was — well, ok the 2nd stop after a nap — was Jack’s BBQ on Broadway. A little hole-in-the-wall kind atmosphere, order at the counter and take to your seat. Guess where YS took us for dinner Tuesday. Yup, Jack’s. Breakfast Wednesday at Panera. And lunch? Yup, Panera. Then last night our HQ Team went to Demo’s down the street from the convention center. Their specialty is steak and spaghetti, in the same meal. Pretty good food, although I passed on the spaghetti.

Today things really pick up. For the past 2 days, it’s been 30 or so volunteers and some union labor. Critical Concerns and HERStory get rolling, and the exhibit hall opens tonight. I’m pulling a shift at HQ in the early afternoon and the late night, then off to see the Robbie Seay Band at Late Night Live.

Check the Tweets until I get back on here.

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