Does Lindsey Sterling Have Danc Eor Ballet Background/

A shocking thing happened at a Lindsey Stirling concert...

by Melanie Bockmann

Several of you have mentioned that Lindsey Stirling is one of your favorite music artists. Pastor Seth Pierce and his wife, Angela, recently attended a Lindsey Stirling concert, and something happened during the concert that surprised them...

Afterward hearing him tell the story during a sermon, I asked him if he'd tell you nigh information technology, and he agreed.

Hither's what Pastor Seth had to say about Lindsey Stirling:

Not as well long ago my wife and I managed to get abroad for date merely before our third daughter was built-in--consequently banning all date nights for some time. Unless you count campmeeting...which I don't.

In any example, we opted to glutton it up at Cheesecake Factory, and so head over to the gorgeous Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle to hear hip hop violinist Lindsey Stirling. Many of yous may already know her work from her Youtube aqueduct--which boasts over half a billion views.

(Almost as much as mine if yous kind readers would only hop over at that place and subscribe. Thank you.)

We entered the theater, later waiting in line for 30 minutes...a line that stretched around two city blocks--and nosotros even came early. The line contained every genre of person y'all could imagine--jocks, goths, elderly, kids, nerds, business professionals, etc. It was an amazing mix of people.

The first highlight for me was when nosotros walked onto the floor level and 1 of the usher'southward recognized me every bit "author" Seth Pierce. The lady cried, "Seth Pierce! I take read all your books!" People looked around excited like I was a NY Times Bestseller-- which I would be if you kind readers would hope over to my website and purchase my amazing books. #shamelesspromotion

My wife, eight months pregnant, did not desire to stand on the floor for a three hour concert, so we fabricated our way to the mezzanine level and took our seats. After enduring the opening act, a barefoot hipster vocalizer with a good phonation only weird dance moves, Lindsey finally took the stage.

The dazzling stage set, with a swirling light up circumvolve thing, looked similar a time travel portal. Momentarily deaf and blind, as is frequently the case with impressive stage shows, we shortly settled in to watch the incredible Lindsey play her instrument. My wife is a violinist, and years ago we saw the Celtic Testify "Riverdance" which boasted several violinists who could play speedy Irish tunes while leaping and pirouetting on stage without missing a note.

Lindsey put them to shame.

Somehow this daughter managed to leap, backbend, twirl, and run while playing flawless violin arpeggios at Mach 10 without poking herself in the eye. And lest yous think this was only some kind of stone concert, she paused in the middle to do an acoustic set that was simply beautiful.

Besides the music, and taking time to joke with the audience (she made fun of Lady Gaga's "sexy" costume changes, by having her back up dancers dress her in funny wearing apparel while she talked--being very awkward on purpose. It was completely kosher.), the part that struck me was her sincere testimony about God.

Y'all heard me.

In the heart of one of America'south most secular cities, this girl gave God a very existent shout out. Not the kind of lame acknlwoedge you hear at the Oscars ("I want to thank my mama, my homies, and Jesus Christ for helping me produce my latest sexual/violent album"), but a existent story well-nigh how her faith helped her overcome anorexia in high school and come across herself as a daughter of God.

Now Lindsey is a Mormon, which is much different from what we believe. Yet, we can admire her backbone to testify in front of a large audience that didn't plan on attention a church service that evening.

What's more impressive is that afterward she testified, the audience erupted--and I hateful erupted--into applause. People who were obviously crude around the edges, some holding drinks they had gotten from the bar (something to note should you intend on attention a concert--though probably non endorsed by Lindsey. Theaters make money any way they can.), and others that looked similar the product of other bad choices--they all took a moment to praise Lindsey's organized religion.

The video of her testimony on YouTube has nearly one million hits. How many people take y'all shared your faith with recently?

How can she practise this? Why do people care?

For me the respond is alluded to in Proverbs 18v6, "A souvenir opens the fashion and ushers the giver into the presence of the great." In other words, when nosotros are willing to develop our God given gifts--whether they be writing, painting, music, etc--they bring u.s.a. before people.

N.T. Wright, probably the nigh noted New Testament scholar today, once told a colleague of mine that the manner to reach an ever increasing godless culture is through art. Based on God'due south creation (see Gen. ane-two) we are infused with an appreciation of the "very good"--or the beautiful. Dazzler is one of the best arguments we have for God's existence. Our innate appreciation for aesthetics--or pretty things that aren't necessarily "practical"--points to a Designer.

Problem is, many Adventists sanctify mediocrity in the name of humility. We are so agape of being noticed up front that nosotros subdue all our gifts instead of multiplying them (see Matthew 25v14-30). Nosotros are even told to do "good works" (non just "functional" works) in lodge to get people's attention (run across Matthew 5v16) and then you lot can share the Source of your inspiration.

So what can yous practise to capture the world's attention with beauty? What beautiful gifts has God placed nether your care? The theater of the globe is waiting to encounter that there is a God who creates and who gives united states of america beauty to point to Him.

Will yous accept the challenge similar Lindsey has?