Crank it Up

Most of you know I play music with a band for my church. I love doing it, it's amazing. Our former drummer for that band (they were called to another church in their community) and I began talking a few months back about getting together and playing some. He plays some in his new church, so we were talking of a little side project mostly because we really enjoyed playing together. We both have really talented players and singers in our bands at church, and considered doing something like a jam night, which may still happen, but eventually we decided to have just a "stripped down" rock and roll band. Two electric guitars, bass, and drums. Really simple, and maybe a little harder than church, well, harder at least for his church, Rivendell lets us freakin rock! What a fellowship! (spoken like Yakov Smirvov) So yesterday he calls me and says something to the effect of lets get together and play this week, and, hey, why not see if we can play for the youth at my church? I say sure, and this afternoon, he calls and says "we're on!". So tonight we scrambled up and practiced a bit for our "big show" : )

Here's the thing. Good rock music was just meant to be played loud. Now, Rivendell lets us crank it up, within context , especially in comparison to the levels that are common in most churches, but even that is short of concert-like volume. We practiced and will play at that volume tomorrow, and man, it was just amazing. There's a certain energy that comes when you can really crank it up, and I just can't wait to play.

I feel so blessed to get to enjoy music the way I do. Thanks in large part to Steve and Kyle and the folks at Rivendell I have been freed to love playing in ways I felt restrained just a few years back. And I love the different contexts I get to play in. At our gathering, I so enjoy listening to Cathy and Daniel use their gifts to lead alongside of me, and I love when Laura is with us and plays one of her beautiful original songs. It's the coming together of different styles and backgrounds and we make some great music. I also like our little four piece that's playing tomorrow night. We all share a very similar music background and have the same preferences for style. It's a very pure electric brand of rock.

Tonight as we practiced was just another reminder of even though I've had some tough disappointments career wise the last few months, God is so very gracious to me to allow me to do something I love. I remember sitting at the "Coldplay" concert back in February and just first of all being so completely blown away by them as a band, but just thinking how great it is to play music with a group of people you enjoy being with. I love you all, my bandmates, of both bands, and I hope it is as enjoyable for you as it is for me. I love you, my Heavenly Father, and I am so grateful to you for allowing me to offer up my meager musical offerings for Your glory.