Mark Lowry/Anthony Burger Concert! 9-5-01

Well, thank you all for being patient!!! With our move to our new house, the concert last week, and unpacking, it's been quite hectic around here!!! I'm finally getting around to sending out my concert newsletter. By the way, we LOVE our new house...it is what we needed and more...God is good!!!! I have a poem I've been working on that has to do with "moving" and "leaving behind an empty shell" plus quite a few others I need to get around to! Keep an eye out!! OK...on to Mark and Anthony's concert...pictures will be posted shortly on my picturetrail website at www.picturetrail.com/EEElisa, but I'll let you know when they're up....If you're interested, you can go to my friend's website at www.picturetrail.com/MMMarie and choose "Anthony and Mark(Lancaster)" at the bottom...you'll see a pic of me behind Mark's table,  as well as concert pics! Enjoy!

It was a five hour trip to Lancaster, PA, but you all know any amount of time is fine with me if it's for Mark, Anthony, or the Gaithers. :o) It was also the last Mark Lowry concert for quite some time. :( We arrived at our hotel, and soon my mom and I headed over to the American Music Theater around 6 to help out at Mark's table, my sister and mom's friend met us later on. I met Bob Sauer, who is, well, he doesn't have a job title, but does whatever needs to be done for Mark. :o) He was extremely gracious and helpful in getting me and my mom set up to work the table, and off we went!! He also brought over Norman Holland, who works for Daywind Music, and who I've seen in many Gaither/Mark Lowry pictures, to help us out. Yet, another gentleman!! I'm here to tell you I had an absolute blast working Mark's table, as much fun as I did working Anthony's!! It's fun to interact with people, see what sparks their interest, and make recommendations on products. I really enjoy it!

Well, my Burger Buddy, Mr. Anthony himself, tried playing a joke on me and telling me that if I worked Mark's table, I would have to miss the concert. I had an odd feeling he was pulling one on me...turns out he was! LOL He came over while I was selling products, and said "Gotcha!!!" He said he had fun with that one too...got a lot of people in on it!! Well, he did tell me he'd get me back for some of the jokes I've played on him, and he did!!! LOL

Needless to say, I didn't miss the concert. In fact, it was one of the best I've been to. Lordsong, a new group, www.lordsong.org, started the show, and they were fantastic!!! Then, Anthony, www.anthonyburger.com, played for about 45 minutes and was absolutely incredible, as always. I literally sit there in awe and just watch those hands go up and down the keyboard faster than you can think. His playing draws you in and doesn't let you go til he's done. His heart is so sincere, and he puts it into every song, and you can just see Who shines through in all he does. He truly is the most amazing piano player I have ever heard, and none other compares to his ability. I highly recommend any of his CDs, tapes, and videos. After Anthony, Mark, www.marklowry.com, came on and sang, and was absolutely hysterical. He told some great stories that made your sides split. Even though sometimes you hear the same stories over again, they're still just as funny, cause he'll add something new. Mark looked really good, best I've ever seen him actually. He looks like he lost some weight, and looked a little tan from all the time he's been spending on his houseboat and jetskis! ;o) We then took a break, and my mom and I went back to the table, then on to a bit more of the concert, where everyone sang or played again, and Mark closed with the Message and his amazing song "Mary, Did You Know?" that makes my goose bumps give birth to goose bumps!! One more round at Mark's table, and it was all over...Mark finally came out to sign autographs, and once everyone had left, I finally got my turn to talk to him. My mom told him about our move, and I was finally able to show Mark my scrapbook, filled with every Mark Lowry, Anthony Burger, and Gaither concert I have been to. He seemed really impressed with it, and said, and don't quote me word for word, but something like, "You really worked hard on this. It's great. You'll have to leave this to me in your will. Actually, I'll probably be gone before you will." LOL I also have many of the drawings, in that scrapbook, I've done, and Mark asked if I drew them. When I said I did, he said, "Goodnight. You are one talented young woman." I also gave him a copy of my new demo, and told him it's good for a coaster or a frisbee. :o) He told me, "You're gonna be famous one day, and I"ll be obscure." We all know that's one thing Mark will never be. He's made a huge impact in many lives, and I don't think anyone will ever forget him, no matter where God leads him.

Anyhoo, I took some pictures with Mark, gave him one last hug and said goodbye. It was a bittersweet night. I know Mark's not leaving the planet, and I will see him again one day...it's just the time in between that's hard. :o)

And that's all folks!!! Coming up Saturday is the Gaither concert in NJ, where I won backstage passes on Gaithernet.com. I'll fill ya'll in soon about that one!!! Thanks for bearing with me!! God bless and take care! Elisa