Praising God In Music

Hypocrits

2011-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that I am able to play music on the drums to glorify God in a church that I have no affiliation with. I volunteered to be their drummer they did not know me previous to that. I have glorified God in music through the CPC. But when I attempt to glorify God in the church that I am a member I am labeled a heathen. Where is the justice in this world, and why continue to dream a dream that is lost?

Second Chance at SDA Redmond

2011-05-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

On April 30, 2011 I finally got the courage up to play my keyboard at the Redmond Church again. My first attempted I crashed and burned, but this time I got several complimanents, and requests for me to play again. Thank You Lord for guiding me to learn my music well. I know that God was right there with me as I played guiding each finger to the right notes.

Drums and Keyboard

2011-05-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

After trying for years to play the drums at my home church I have found it not to be possible. I will continue to drum because I love it so much, but I have also taken up the keyboard. I played in the devine worship on April 30, 2011. The Lord has granted me the talent to be a musician for him. I am so honored. Thank You Lord.

Comunity Presbyterian Church Worship Team

2010-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

After moving back to Redmond from Hines, we moved next door to a Presbyterian church. I went to their service one Sunday to see wha their worship service was like. During the service they had music, and I was in the congregation keeping count with the band. The lady next to me noticed me, and asked me what instrument I played. I informed her that I was a drummer. She brouht to my attention that there was a drumset on the potium that was not being played. She said the worship team was looking for a drummer. Aworship team wanting a drummer, and me being a drummer wanting to be on a worship team. If this was not a god shot I don't know what is. I looked at this as divine guidance and spoke to the team. I am now the drummer for the Community Presbyterian Church in Redmond. I do not know fr how long, but I will enjoy every minute that it last. Thank You God for directing me to a band that wanted a drummer.

Hines Music Ministry

2010-04-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today 3 of the members from the Burns church came to my house so we could play our instruments together. It was music to my ears, no pun intended. The practice went very well. Hopefully we will be getting together again. It sounded very promising. I think God is now starting to open a window here in the Burns area that I will be used as a tool in His hand. To continue outreach to the community by spreading His message with music. Thank You God for your many blessings.

Hines, OR Youth Music Ministries

2010-04-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

In Late Febuary my wife and I moved to Hines, OR. Since I have been at the church they have already had me play the keyboard on 2 occations. This last Sabbath the youth at the church spoke with me with the parents, and were wanting to get together and have a jam session. After my heart stopped leaping for joy, I told that I would love to play with them. Because we had guest I had to leave it at that, but I am confident that God will continue to guide me in this area. I was so thrilled that it was the youth of the church again. It will be like picking up where I left off at the Redmond, OR church. God please guide me as you use me as a tool to form our youth. That they may see how important they are, and that they to are tools in your hands.

God's Little Drummer Boy

2010-02-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

While at a church function we were asked to write what we wanted to be remembered as if our epitaph had to be written tomorrow. I wrote a small poem at that time that I think sums up how
I would like to be remembered very nicely.

I want to be remembered as a person that used the talents God gave him, not for monetary gain, but to glorify God's Holy Name.

I signed the poem God's Little Drummer Boy. I remembered a grand-daughter of a friend gave me that nickname, and I thought that it fit me so well.

Purpose In Ministy

2009-12-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

I recently read that your ministry is to be the intersection where your passion and the gifts God gives you intersect. I love music and seem to have a talent in this area. The real reason that I love working with the youth so much is because I believe I am learning as much from them as I hope they are from me. Thank You Lord for the opportunity to work with the youth. I pray that we will continue to grow together as we seek to show reflections of you everywhere we play.

Youth Band Show Promise 09-18-09

2009-09-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

After Yesterday's practice, I can see that the youth band is showing real promise. Jessi was singing with alot more confidence, Shannon is still playing piano from the heart, and I got to pratice for the first time with Wyatt, the guitarist. The practice on 09-16-09 showed commitment and how much the band is improved. I believe God will continue to guide us as we glorify His name is music.

Youth Band Starts

2009-08-13T06:45:00.001-07:00

While at camp meeting one of the other members of the church and I spoke about starting a program for the youth of the church. Once again I left it in God's hands, and the next thing I know my friend was calling me to inform me that the youth of the church was forming a band, and needed a drummer. I told her I would be happy to help. on august 12, 2009, we had our first practice. I was so excited that the youth was going to have something that would let them see how God could use them to spread God's message. I pray for God's continued guidance on this matter and that the youth will enjoy playing music together as much as I enjoy it with them.

Did I deserve that?

2009-08-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

After messing up on the performance on the keyboards with a little girl in the church, this last Sabbath I was told by not one but 2 members that I should practice more. I informed them that I had appaulogized to the girl in question. But, now I find myself asking; "Is there any ministry that I do well for the church in question.

I tried to speak, and was told by the pastor at that time I would never speak at my church. He said the church would not accept my sermon.

I tried to get into music ministry with the instrument that I play well, and was told it is heathen.

Itried to take an instrument that would be more accepted and am again my playing is critisized.

In Matthew 13:57 it says a prophet does not have honor in his home town. A prophet I may not be but it sure seems like my home church does not accept me. If I play or speak at other towns I am asked to return. If I speak or play in my home town I am critisized. God Please Help to find where you want me, and help me find you there.

2009-07-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

After my church seems convinced that the drums are heathen, I attempted to take up my keyboards again. After working dilignetly on a song I thought I knew well. But when I played it with one of the children in the church I botched it terribly. The worst thing about it was that the little girl was concerned that I would.
I have played the drums and feel so comfortable doing it. Today when I played the keyboard I was so nervous though. I had not been that nervous since my sermon in Lapine. Drumming seems to come so much more naturally that the keyboards. I just start playing and go into another world. I can feel God with me. I enjoy playing the keyboards but am not sure if I am learning enough to really be able to play well.

2009-06-21T09:38:00.001-07:00

Performed at Lapine Church

2009-04-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

On April 11 I performed at the LaPine church. After the performance the pastor came to me and told me that he could see that I was having so much fun playing, which is true. When I play for the Lord I am jo jazzed to be used as a tool in his hand. Many times I had thought about the parable of the talents. When the one servant hid his talent to save it for his lord when he return home, and the master was angry with him for it. I did not want God to be angry because I hid a talent that he gave me. I am trying so hard to play for the Lord. I am now confronting a church that calls the drums pagan and evil. If it is the instrument then why did the Lord guide me into this ministry.

To drum or not to drum

2009-03-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

3/29/09
My heart has a true passion for music. Another drummer heard me play and said that she could tell that I was letting the other instrumentalist lead. I remember telling a member of the group I practice with that that I did well to discs, but was uncertain how I would fair playing with other instruments. I have gone several months making it look good, and enjoyed it more than I posibly could have imagined. Now I have a deep desire to play for the Lord, but have been informed that my drumming is substandard.
Do I keep trying thinking I will improve, or admit that as much as I enjoy music I should not play because of my lack of skill?

2009-03-26T08:57:00.001-07:00

Since taking up the drums to play for the Lord I have started to really like playing christian music.

2009-03-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

3/27/09

Psalm 95

Let Us Sing Songs of Praise

1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

I have read that praising God thorugh music can be one of the most inspirational forms of worship, and I can now see this is true when we let the Lord guide our steps in our ministry.

Our desire must not be for fame, but to give a message of praise to the Lord. Our reward is the oppertunity to use the talent God gave us to glorify His name. I often think of the parable of the talents in Mat. 25:14 - 30. One of the servants takes his talent and hides it under a bushel. As I thought of this parable I asked myself, do I want to be a servant that hid a talent God gave me under a bushel? The answer I came up with was no. So, I took the one talent in music I had and put it to use to glorify God. I now have a church at odds some support me other do not, but then I am not doing this for them. I do this for God, and I know that God approves because He continues to reward me and open windows to continue my ministry in music.