Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Creation Northeast Festival was a day I won't soon forget. Although the grounds were still muddy, it was a gorgeous summer day. The day started early by watching a set by my friend Chelsea Musick at 9:20 a.m. on the Indie Stage. Her musical style can best be described as Country Christian. I hosted Chelsea for a house concert before her appearance at Creation last year. Chelsea treated us to her catchy and uplifting songs, "I'm Yours," "Live It Right," "Perfectly You" and "Keep Your Pants On." The crowd grew as her set continued, and we were blessed by her enthusiasm and inspirational songs. After starting the day with Chelsea, appropriately later at 12 noon launched the inaugural set of the new Country Stage, featuring my new friends Red Roots.

Prior to Creation, I had listened to the Country Christian album Triplicity by the triplets Nicole, Natalie and Nika Taylor, and knew they would be a perfect band to kick off this new venue. They blew me away with their artistry and love of the Lord. The band is named for their red hair and for the blood of Jesus that makes us clean. The excellent set included their gorgeous songs "If I Could," "Beautiful," and "Great Big Yes," and the catchy anthems "Straight Shooter" and "Christian Country Girl." I expect big things for this talented trio, and having 3 daughters of my own I was immediately drawn to their story. I spoke with them about "Great Big Yes" for an upcoming behind the song devotional. The song asks, "Is there anybody strong enough to fix this mess, the answer is a great big yes. ‘Cause there's a great big love, from a great big God." Amen to that!

Keeping the "country" theme going, I spoke with For KING & COUNTRY's Luke before their Main Stage set about the new hit song "Fix My Eyes" for a behind the song devotional. The song is the lead single from their upcoming album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. The album is due to be released September 16, 2014, the follow-up to Crave.

Joel shared with me "Our new song 'Fix My Eyes' was a song that we had written at the end of 2012, at the time of the success of 'The Proof of Your Love.' That was a transitional time for the band. I was about to be married, and Luke was about to have a baby, and we had finished our first headlining tour. We thought things were great and our lives had taken an awesome turn, but we took a step back and asked ourselves who we are as people and as a band, and we interjected all of those things into a song. The verses are about speaking up for freedom, fighting for abandon and risking it all for love. The chorus culminates in saying that we can do all of these things, but if we don't fix our eyes, meaning repair our eyes, and fix our eyes on above, then all of these things are worthless."

"Fix My Eyes" kicked off their set full of songs about "fixing our eyes on the Lord" in style. The band members all banged drums and sang with a reckless abandon, energizing the crowd.

After a rousing rendition of their hit songs "Fine Fine Life," "Light It Up," "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" and "Middle of Your Heart," Luke performed the new ballad "Without You." Before the song, Luke shared "Last year I got very sick and had to come off the road for a couple of months. Quite frankly, it was one of the darkest times of my life. I didn't know if I was going to get better to the point that I'd be able to work again or hold my little boy. My wife came to me and told me she was worried she was going to lose me. She told me, 'You can't just leave me here.' It wasn't something I was prepared to hear at 26 years old. I wrote this song about that experience. One of the lyrics is ‘Let's laugh a little. Let's dance a little. Let's hope a little more.' What I realized in this experience is that I do at least have today. I need to make a difference with the time I'm given. When it comes to being a husband and a father, these days matter."

The stirring ballad sings about Luke's personal "thorn in the flesh," and is a wonderful reminder to live for what matters, which was truly a theme of the night. They closed with their mega-hit song "The Proof of Your Love," which is easily one of the best songs I've heard live.

Day 2 of Creation Northeast was a great blend of singing songs for our King, Jesus, and getting our Country Christian on y'all. Read recaps of Day 1 and Day 3.

Photography by Joey Zimmerman. Check out the full photo sets on our facebook page: