[Worship] Gods Glory or Self

[Karrie <88Keys4Christ@comcast.net>]

Hi List
I wanted to bring up something thought some of you may have a word or 
two to tell me what you think on this matter,
The situation is this: Our church is growing fast and what a blessing 
to see this happen to a new church in a two year period of time, its a 
satalite church of the main one and there are many others up and rising.
When Our church first started, we were at the main church and asked to 
go out and help start it up and just loved the Pastor there we felt 
this is where we all were to be and so we have been there now almost 
going on three years. Its awesome to see a church start in a place 
where  there is a church on every corner to a growing congregation 
there of over 1500 people, the main church in the area is over 5,000 
and we still have connections somewhat there too,anyway where I am 
going here, Is our worship team litterly played and played and played 
for almost the first year seeing a worship leader come and go but the 
main core of the team staying together,We have a wonderful new Worship 
Leader now who only works part time and has brought some other teams up 
so its been nice to be more on a rotating schedule now and have more 
time off,we all love playing infact probably the only team out of the 
three with the most experience and also requested most by Many and the 
Pastor on main events such as Chrsitmas, Easter Etc, This new worship 
Leader Leads all three teams Now, honestly when he does take a break 
our team is the one that can usually break him Just because we can 
bring and work with another Leader and do it pretty well without 
musical problems etc if you know what I mean.
Well One of the teams that plays has this electric guitar player, I 
think I have brought him up to you before long ago and He played with 
us for a short bit but drove us all nuts because he sounded and acted 
mind you of Elvis recarnated lol. None of us were happy although I will 
have to say he is a very talented musician but his style was just not 
cutting the mustard with our team so he was switched to another team 
that has seemed to welcome him and fit in better with them.
As all of us know when we are on a team and here another team play its 
just sadly as it is our nature to critiqe others which we should not do 
but we do it because we know the songs, know how they go, know where 
the Lead is going and can probably here most mistakes that I would say 
many out in the congregation would not here but we as artist just seem 
to be more aware of things that go on and can here the flaws better 
than those not involved in music ministry. I am sure we can all relate 
to that, I mean for me anyway I have been watching that show American 
Idol for months now, and I remember hearing some of those vocals try 
out and Oh My gosh I know its secular music but I felt like Simon Cals 
dreadful remarks were right on target, and some of them were dreadful 
and My ears about exploded they were just horrible.
Well Its kinda like that when we here others play that just have the 
heart yes, but musically may or may not cut it, or they miss a bit of 
the drum if you get my point.
Well yesterday I was worshiping God and really enjoying taking a break 
from it all when this Man the electric guitar player on this other team 
kept bending down to his amplifier which mind you is not miked from the 
sound board and kept turning it up, We were sitting in the front so yes 
its going to be louder than those who sat in the back, but I kid you 
not everytime the bass turned his amp up this guy kept turning his up 
and it got to the point that you could not even here the vocals on 
stage or any other instruments except the drums and drounded out 
everthing.
I have really learned that Simple is good, In worship its not about Us 
up there, Its about God, Its about learning when to cut back and when 
to play, and some just do not have a clue and have to feel like they 
need to be heard above and beyond everyone else up there.
I know as a keyboardist myself that there is a time to play and there 
is a time to just let go, Its not about how much my keys can be heard 
up there, and this person has been told this many times not only by the 
worship director but also by others yet he still keeps blaring everyone 
out.
Loud can be good, Yet I find that sometimes Loud can be distracting and 
drowns out everything else, There are main things in a band that can be 
loud, Drums which of course are always there and Keys which can be loud 
depending on your settings and the Electirc guitar, I love the Electirc 
when properly put into perspective on a team, but this guy honsetly is 
showey and goes all over the place almost too much and thats why he 
drove our team crazy and we all got so frustrated with him because even 
after being told many times to keep it simple he still continues to Let 
it be known to everyone that He is the Main focus and honestly it 
really took away from the worship, and focused on him which he 
obviously makes known to all.
I know as I said we all tend to be more critical when we see others do 
what we do, at least I will admit I do when I here a keyboardist doing 
something that should be something else, Like take for instance a Third 
Day song, alot of their songs on keys are an organ sound etc and I 
pretty much study the song and find out when to come in and when not to.
It really bothers me when someone gets up there and uses some nasty 
bell sound or something that just makes the song worse, you know what I 
mean.
My question here is does anyone have this problem on their teams? I 
guess from a worship leaders prospective, Have you had to tell someone 
to cool it down and see them give the Golry to themselves up there? Its 
hard as Christians and being in the spotlight up there, we all need to 
be careful of who we are doing it for and to be able to go up there and 
truly worship him without the attention all going to us.
That book I read over and over and over again The Heart of The Artist 
is one of the most incredible books talking about his, and once again 
if your teams have not read it I highly suggest if for your teams, It 
really helps us all take a look at what can and can not happen in 
worship ministry.
Sure Its great to be able to be in a band, and to get up there each 
week and play but on the other hand We all need to really think about 
why we are there and Who we are giving the Glory to.Ourselves Or God.
I know for me all I care about is getting closer to God but I like many 
of us still stuggle sometimes with putting aside the Me and Focusing On 
Him I think all of us have been there at one point or another.
I just wish this one person and pray that this guy would see whats 
happening without hurting him and Its seems no matter who has said 
something to him It still is not sinking though.
Things that make us go hmmmmmm lol?I think he needs a lesson in Worship 
101, Infact maybe all of us do.
Secular music can just get up there and who cares what they do or say 
and my example is the Dixie Chicks excapade a few months back I mean 
you would never see Christian Bands getting up there and saying things 
to the Public without God mentioned in a song Now would we, God help us.
Is it just because we are Christians that make us so different. I am 
glad I am and Love the Lord with all my heart but at the same time Its 
hard work to not be so critical and I find that as christians we seem 
to be more judgmental. I mean If your pastor runs out and has an affair 
everyone is hurt and talking but if a movie star did it well chock up 
another one and Lets move on, see what I am saying, Wow my thought on 
this one is its hard work to be in the Christian spotlight sometimes 
and be judged by so many but at the same time I Praise God I Love him 
so much and for the gifts he has given to me and so many of us.
Blessings to All
Karrie
Blessings
Karrie



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