That’s right, it’s confession time. But, first, a little background.

I was introduced to Third Day, here in Charlotte, at a festival at Carowinds. Not at all a big Christian music follower, I was blown away by there powerful performance and immediately bought their newest CD the next day. “Offerings.” Yeah, this happened a few years ago. Over the next few weeks I kept jamming to “Consuming fire” over and over again. Christian music isn’t supposed to be this good. I also listened a lot to their version of “Angus Dei” – a great church song – and “Thief” – about as unique a song as they come. Then I was unexpectedly broadsided.

My family was already at the beach. It was Friday night and I was on my way to join them. Tired of playing the same songs over and over again (a little Grateful Dead, some Cure, I think I was even playing some Techo) I put in the “Offerings CD and played it all the way through. It’s amazing what you hear without distractions. I didn’t remember hearing a couple of those songs. Then “Love Song” came on. It was like the episode of Seinfeld when he discovered emotions for the first time, “What is this wet stuff coming out of my eyes?” Yep, I started crying. Crying like a little girl.

Now, at this point in time, my life was pretty good. A great wife, a good job, a new baby girl, went to church every Sunday. No complaints at all. It didn’t matter. I heard something for the first time in my life. Even though I had an understanding of God’s love, I basically knew what the Bible said. I never actually heard it FROM God. And that’s just what that song did. And no, I am not calling Mac Powell God. And I sat in the driver’s seat, alone, cruising down I-95 crying. Joyfully crying. Of course, my wife just thought is was hysterical and wanted to fit me for a bra.

Anyway, their new album just recently came out. And as you all probably know already, possibly, the best album of the year. And darnit’ if it didn’t almost happen again. The first time I heard the title track, “Revelation,” I started getting hot-face, the lip wanted to quiver, but this time, I manned-up and forced it away. There will be none of that again.

Well, at least not until I get back into the privacy of my car.