Enemy's Camp, I recently did this song at the current church in which I attend. I have always played this song as a trio, with Can You Believe, and Look What The Lord Has Done. It so fits together, playing this and reciting the words of these songs in my head reminds me of all the good and miraculous things God has done in the last several years, not only in my life, but in the life of others who I have had the pleasure of knowing, and for those I have yet to meet. In a previous blog, I wrote about doing this set of songs at my current church, in which we just celebrated our fifth anniversary of existence. The building that we are in right now, use to be a liquor store. Talk about going into the Enemy's Camp. The liquor store went out of business, and had been empty for at least a year. Our church, converted it with a lot of prayer, sweat, wood, nails, blood, tears, and whatever else that could come with a building or remodeling project.
When all was said and done, we were able to move into the building, and hold our first church service there. If you were able to see what it looked like before we changed it to what it looks like now, WOW! Can You Believe..... that, was all God helping us, using his people to be able to reach his people in the future. It is so amazing that we have a permanent place that we can go to, to be able to worship our God, and fellowship with other believers. That is the exciting part. On top of that, because of the size of our building, even though it may be considered small, we now have two services a every week. The great problem is that even with two services going, we are starting to out-grow the current space. What a AWESOME GOD we have.
Look At What The Lord Has Done.....Since our congregation moved into our new place of worship, in November of 2009, we have had several miraculous things that have happen to people in our congregation. Two of our youth have had their eyes touched by God. We have seen a marriage restored by God. God has provided us the finances to be able to house a homeless person who attends our church. God has provided the finances to help a person return to their family in another state after severe circumstances had brought that person back here. And the list may go on and on and on, just like the Energizer Battery. And to think all God requires us to do is just follow Him and fellowship with Him. What an AMAZING and AWESOME GOD that we serve. And to think if I didn't play bass guitar, I may not have been used like this. Might I still be used by God? Perhaps. It was music though that lead me to Him in the end. I don't think that I would be Born-again, if I didn't have a love of music. Well maybe, but then I might just be a seat filler, and nothing else. But I am not a seat filler. I help lead people in songs of worship and praise, and sometimes some good ol' craziness. Until next time............
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Let me be the first to admit, if it hasn't already been done, the desire to play can, at times be a temptation, against the desire to server our almighty God. What do I mean by that? Well anything can be a temptation to take you away from God, if you let it. Whether it is playing music, enjoying time with your family, hunting, fishing, football games, racing events, and spending time on the electronics. As a disciple of Christ, we must have God involved in everything, because God does not settle for being number one on our list, but being our list, and doing everything with him, even marriage.
So my desire to play can be strong, and can sometimes take me away from God. Sometimes it drives me right back to His arms. At a previous church that my wife and I have attended, and some of you will know what I am talking about. I had the pleasure of learning a few songs, in which the bass guitar lead or intro the song. It can be challenging at times, depending on you confidence level and being put in the spotlight. By first time out, didn't go so well, and I had to pass the lead off. But when I finally really learned the pattern, as I will call it, it really took off for me. It is etched into my brain, hoping to never have it overwritten.
This weekend at my current church, we are celebrating our fifth anniversary as a congregation. Pastor had asked the worship team to play some songs that we had done in the past. For the first time, in playing worship music, I am leading two songs, not a big deal. Except that these songs are extremely fun to play, gets the congregation up and moving, and even dancing. "My Redeemer Lives" and "Enemy's Camp" trio are the two that I will lead the congregation in, this weekend. "Enemy's Camp" says a lot more for our church at this point in its existence as to some of the history of the congregation. These songs, even though are fun to play, can be done by any bass player, whether they serve God or not. But to me, serving God, and playing these songs make it more exciting and more fulfilling than I could dream of.
I urge you, the reader, whatever your passion is, if it is something God approves of, won't you let Him join you in what you are passionate about?
So my desire to play can be strong, and can sometimes take me away from God. Sometimes it drives me right back to His arms. At a previous church that my wife and I have attended, and some of you will know what I am talking about. I had the pleasure of learning a few songs, in which the bass guitar lead or intro the song. It can be challenging at times, depending on you confidence level and being put in the spotlight. By first time out, didn't go so well, and I had to pass the lead off. But when I finally really learned the pattern, as I will call it, it really took off for me. It is etched into my brain, hoping to never have it overwritten.
This weekend at my current church, we are celebrating our fifth anniversary as a congregation. Pastor had asked the worship team to play some songs that we had done in the past. For the first time, in playing worship music, I am leading two songs, not a big deal. Except that these songs are extremely fun to play, gets the congregation up and moving, and even dancing. "My Redeemer Lives" and "Enemy's Camp" trio are the two that I will lead the congregation in, this weekend. "Enemy's Camp" says a lot more for our church at this point in its existence as to some of the history of the congregation. These songs, even though are fun to play, can be done by any bass player, whether they serve God or not. But to me, serving God, and playing these songs make it more exciting and more fulfilling than I could dream of.
I urge you, the reader, whatever your passion is, if it is something God approves of, won't you let Him join you in what you are passionate about?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
He knew me before I knew myself.
Really, someone knew me before I knew myself. I remember hearing that several times while sitting in church. But why did He, my heavenly Father, want to know me first before I got to know me? Did He, know how I would react to things? the problems I would face, the talents that He would give me? Yes, God did know, and yet I was created. He knew all the good I would do, along with all of the wrong I would do. And yet, I was created. Yes, I know I can be stubborn sometimes. Why is that? Because of God's gift of free-will to all of us. I tend to dry out as clay sometimes, that is just when God "dunks" me in some more water lets me soak, and I become workable again.
What does this have to do with playing bass? Maybe nothing, maybe a lot. See as a young boy, I would get into trouble messing with my mom's record player, trying to play records. I enjoyed listening to music, even though I didn't know the words to any songs at the age of 3, I enjoyed the music. Later on in life, I would sit with my mom, and watch American Bandstand, Solid Gold, America's Top 10, or Hee Haw. Hee Haw probably had more inspiration on me, as you would see people like Buck Owens, Roy Clark, and Grandpa Jones, play guitar or Banjo. Then to see other stars like Johnny Cash on there perfoming, whether it was a hit song for him, or a gospel tune. The end of Hee Haw though always ended with a Gospel song or hymn, like "Will The Circle Be Unbroken, I'll Fly Away," or something else.
When I got into fifth grade, I learned to play clarinet. In eighth grade, I learned trombone, and my Junior year of highschool, I taught myself bass guitar. That was when I started learning to play some of the music I listen to then. Heavy Metal genre, was the choice then for me in the mid 80's. But somehow Christ would find his way into my life even then. A couple of schoolmates were talking about Petra. One of them had a piano book, of all of the songs from three recordings, about 30 songs in all. I didn't know church music could sound somewhat similar to what I was listening too. Then came Stryper, and their song "Calling On You." They are a christian metal band that was getting airplay on MTV. This was awesome. I thought that if guys could look like that with long hair, and still be able to serve God, then they got to be cool to listen too.
So these were my early influences of music, it ranges so far, from listening to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Kiss and Twisted Sister to Petra and Stryper. Eventually, due to my sister's continual watching of Coal Miner's Daughter, I started listening to select songs of Patsy Cline. I would continually look for more, like Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, and Wilson Picket. There are probably more. But listening to songs like R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Think, Soul Man, Mustang Sally, Down on the Corner. What an era of music I sort of, kind of missed. But thanks to my mom, I was able to hear some of these songs. Still what does this have to do with my subject matter I am addressing? I think a lot. See I don't think that God, just gave me any mother, but gave me my mother. He used my mother in shaping me in regards to music. Now, I know that some of my music choices aren't the greatest, some songs I listen to have some deep messages to make you think, addressing the times, when they were release. Others are just a part of my history of growing up.
He (God) knew that music would be a major influence in my life. I know am able to use this talent of playing music or playing my bass, to lead others in worship, preparing hearts to be open for the message which is to follow. Sometimes I will go on a lead tangent, other times I will just play a rhythmn and once in awhile, can get a little "mean". Oh, that is me just having a little too much fun with my playing. This is how I believe God shaped me into the musician I am today, but I don't believe God to be done just yet, because God never stops molding and shaping us into the person He wants us to be.
What does this have to do with playing bass? Maybe nothing, maybe a lot. See as a young boy, I would get into trouble messing with my mom's record player, trying to play records. I enjoyed listening to music, even though I didn't know the words to any songs at the age of 3, I enjoyed the music. Later on in life, I would sit with my mom, and watch American Bandstand, Solid Gold, America's Top 10, or Hee Haw. Hee Haw probably had more inspiration on me, as you would see people like Buck Owens, Roy Clark, and Grandpa Jones, play guitar or Banjo. Then to see other stars like Johnny Cash on there perfoming, whether it was a hit song for him, or a gospel tune. The end of Hee Haw though always ended with a Gospel song or hymn, like "Will The Circle Be Unbroken, I'll Fly Away," or something else.
When I got into fifth grade, I learned to play clarinet. In eighth grade, I learned trombone, and my Junior year of highschool, I taught myself bass guitar. That was when I started learning to play some of the music I listen to then. Heavy Metal genre, was the choice then for me in the mid 80's. But somehow Christ would find his way into my life even then. A couple of schoolmates were talking about Petra. One of them had a piano book, of all of the songs from three recordings, about 30 songs in all. I didn't know church music could sound somewhat similar to what I was listening too. Then came Stryper, and their song "Calling On You." They are a christian metal band that was getting airplay on MTV. This was awesome. I thought that if guys could look like that with long hair, and still be able to serve God, then they got to be cool to listen too.
So these were my early influences of music, it ranges so far, from listening to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Kiss and Twisted Sister to Petra and Stryper. Eventually, due to my sister's continual watching of Coal Miner's Daughter, I started listening to select songs of Patsy Cline. I would continually look for more, like Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, and Wilson Picket. There are probably more. But listening to songs like R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Think, Soul Man, Mustang Sally, Down on the Corner. What an era of music I sort of, kind of missed. But thanks to my mom, I was able to hear some of these songs. Still what does this have to do with my subject matter I am addressing? I think a lot. See I don't think that God, just gave me any mother, but gave me my mother. He used my mother in shaping me in regards to music. Now, I know that some of my music choices aren't the greatest, some songs I listen to have some deep messages to make you think, addressing the times, when they were release. Others are just a part of my history of growing up.
He (God) knew that music would be a major influence in my life. I know am able to use this talent of playing music or playing my bass, to lead others in worship, preparing hearts to be open for the message which is to follow. Sometimes I will go on a lead tangent, other times I will just play a rhythmn and once in awhile, can get a little "mean". Oh, that is me just having a little too much fun with my playing. This is how I believe God shaped me into the musician I am today, but I don't believe God to be done just yet, because God never stops molding and shaping us into the person He wants us to be.
The Cross and the Bass
This idea came to me while at church on a recent Sunday morning. So now you can tell by the title that this blog has something to do with Church and music, or in particular, playing bass guitar. Yes, I am a bass guitar player. I consider myself average. I haven't played with anyone famous, and I am cool with that. I play bass with my church family, that including my lovely wife Lisa who sings. The purpose of this? Well I thought about chronicling ideas and thoughts while playing bass guitar and doing worship. Bass players or music, whether christian or secular, that have inspired me to try a riff that they have use and incorporate it into my playing. Also with that things that God inspires me with, through the music that is use to lead the congregation in worship. I ask, if you choose to leave a comment, be truthful, be inspiring, be suggestive in who I could listen too, or a particular song.
Jeff Hubbard
Jeff Hubbard
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