To The Loud and Out of Tune Kid

Ok, so it’s been a while since I have updated this. I will try harder but I’ve been so freakin’ busy! I always tell everyone “I’m the busiest unemployed guy I know!” and it’s true. This spring has brought a number of welcomed changes and unexpected opportunities musically and otherwise. I’ve played a handful of solo-acoustic dates and these have helped to make ends meet financially but have definitely stretched me some musically. I am constantly having to learn new songs to keep it fresh. With a band I could get buy playing 15-20 songs in a 2 hour show but for a solo acoustic gig I have to at least double that, WHEW, that’s a lot of songs! I’m not complaining though because every time I dive into learning songs a creative period usually follows, I hope this is the case this time.
Since the last time I have updated I also have been learning to lead worship with all my friends at Knoxlife Church. It’s been an amazing journey thus far but at one point I almost let doubt talk me out of doing it. The truth is, I prayed about it, agonized about it, sought wise council(some wasn’t so wise) but ultimately I knew God had opened a door of opportunity and I wasn’t supposed to be the one to shut the door he opened. See, I’ve told friends for years that worship leading wasn’t for me or better termed it wasn’t something I felt called to. My short experience with leading worship for churches was frustrating because of a number of reasons but ultimately it was me listening to the wrong voices. The voices were telling me “no church in their right mind would have a person who sings in bars and clubs and performs at weddings, leading worship is for Holy People(whatever that means)” The voices also said “U don’t sound like Chris Tomlin” But here’s the deal I am in no way saying that God told me this but it’s a hunch, if u will. For years and years I have been mastering the art of performing using the natural ability God has given me to connect with people. I didn’t go to school for it, never read any books on it or took lessons and I’m not bragging but it’s just something I am good at. God gives us all things we are good at! Anywayz it occurred to me that if I had never played a tough room( and what I mean by tough room is playing to nobody or a room full of people with their arms crossed who in no way want u there) then I wouldn’t have been ready to lead worship. Geez, I know worship is not about performing but it’s like people are scared to let go and praise THE LIVING GOD because they are scared of what people will think if they do.
Kids have the best idea of praise of anyone I have ever seen. They don’t hold anything back, it doesn’t matter if they can sing or if they look silly, they just do it! I love the one kid who is always WAY louder than the other kids and REALLY out of key(y’all know who I’m talking about) Anywayz, back to my point, years of learning to engage people who would otherwise not want to be engaged prepared me for this phase of my journey. It has helped me develop thicker skin(notice I said thicker, I’m still a bit sensitive). All my experience including singing in bars and at weddings is being used for HIS purposes. I couldn’t have planned it, trained for it, listened to a podcast or whatever. Nothing could prepare me for this phase except God and he’s been doing it all along. He didn’t wait for me to “surrender to his call” to train me for it, He’s been training me all along so that when I finally began to see myself in the way that he sees me I would know it was Him all along! He says he will NEVER leave us or forsake us, hmmm. In any event I guess to sum all this up and encourage you that God has U in training for something he wants U to do. Even if U think u have landed in “your calling” he’s still at work, molding and shaping us all. He’s gonna use the sum of ALL of our experiences for HIS glory. As for me, I am gonna go back to the playground today and be the loudest out of tune kid there! U can join me if u want but I’ll be making a joyful noise anyhow!