My blessing today is...

[Mike Vande]

...is my musical gifting. From a very early age, I have been fascinated with music. Some of my earliest memories revolve around a little red phongraph my grandparents gave us. I would sit in my room with the record player, playing my little yellow kiddie records, along with some larger records we got with the machine. One of those was "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis. There were others by Frankie Laine and some of the "one-hit wonders" of the day, but Jerry Lee is the one I recall most. I guess you could say I've been rockin' pretty much my whole life.

As a teenager, I learned to play guitar by listening to records and trying to imitate what I heard on them. It was a long process, but it was like a puzzle to me, and I found endless facination in looking for new pieces and seeing where they fit. In retrospect, if I'd had a teacher, I would have progressed faster. But I was on a voyage of discovery every time I picked the instrument up, and a teacher might not have been able to keep me interested in learning scales and modes and music theory. Like most of my male predecessors, I had to invent my own wheel. It's a Vande thing, you wouldn't understand...

When I got out on my own, my only goal in life was to be a rock & roll star. I had no idea how to accomplish that, and the success of my efforts show it. At the end of ten years of trying and failing again and again, I discovered that along the way I had picked up and addiction to alcohol, and was toying with cocaine. None of that is uncommon for rock stars, but if you haven't made it to the top before you figure out you're hooked, you pretty much never get there.

In attempting to regain sobriety, I discovered that Jesus loved me and wanted to fill me with His Holy Spirit. I was not in a position to say no, thank God. For a while, all my musical aspirations were forgotten. I didn't even think about guitar for a month. Then, the chaplain of our ship invited me to play for his Sunday morning shipboard service, and that started my involvement with Worship music.

Since then, I have discovered a whole new dimension to playing music. I've found out how music can put people in touch with God, call down His presence in a meeting, even heal and comfort folks with emotional hurts. Before Christ, all I wanted to do was "RAWK!", and that seemed like more than enough. Since my conversion, I have come to see how much more music can be and do. Playing music itself will always be fun to me, but when you've tasted the things of God in music, music for it's own sake is less than it could be, and always will be.

Sometimes, it has been a mixed blessing. I have never felt that I was a really great musician, but I have occasionally had to deal with resentment from other Christian musicians who felt challenged by my abilities. None of that was much fun, and I can't say I always took it in a Christ-like manner. Other times, I have longed for a position that would allow me to employ other giftings, because God has been generous with me that way. But I have never regretted my musical gift, or regetted developing it to the level I have managed to reach. I know that God pleased with my playing, but I also know that He is much less impressed with what I can do than he is who I am in His Son and how much He loves me. Coming to know that that has allowed me to keep things in a better perspective.

Sometimes, I wish everyone could feel what it's like when His Spirit falls upon a group of musicians you are a part of, and guides them from phrase to phrase. It's a truly an amazing thing, and I am grateful that God has gifted me that way.

[soulsearcher]

Mike, as a fellow musician and brother in Christ, I relate totally! I continually remind myself that I am the real instrument that God uses to create the sound from the musical instrument I play. As the simple chorus says, "... Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear."

A very dear friend, and prolific-prophetic songwriter, Barry McDonald, penned these words:

Write the song, You're the Creator,
The only One that's capable
To put it all together.
Use and direct me, Lord,
Where I belong.
I'm just the instrument;
You write the song.

[Jennifer Smith]

Sometimes, I wish everyone could feel what it's like when His Spirit falls upon a group of musicians you are a part of, and guides them from phrase to phrase.

That is the best, when that happens.

For those who aren't musically inclined, when the Spirit moves on you at whatever you are gifted to do, it is great, like temporarily having more ability and talent than you would "on your own"- (even though all gifts are from God to begin with). But in that moment, you only care about giving glory to God so that He can be "seen". It is wonderful! Thanks for helping me remember to be thankful for that.

[Pastor Gary]

Sometimes, I wish everyone could feel what it's like when His Spirit falls upon a group of musicians you are a part of, and guides them from phrase to phrase. It's a truly an amazing thing, and I am grateful that God has gifted me that way.

Mike, I have given that amazing anointing a name: the Bezalel Anointing.

Bezalel is one of my favorite Old Testament characters, and in his story I found the very first record of anything like the Holy Spirit's anointing like we know it.

Exodus 31 (The Message) relates it this way: "God spoke to Moses: "See what I've done; I've personally chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I've filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he's an all-around craftsman."

When I dug around this character and read about him in Jewish tradition it seems he was a naturally talented man -- a kid of 13 actually -- with great artistic and craftsmanship skills, but God chose Bezalel and filled him with the Spirit, and with that infilling came artistic skill beyond his natural ability. It is much the same when musicians are using their natural talents to honor the Lord, and the Spirit settles upon them, and suddenly --- something happens way beyond their skill level. You have to be there, I guess, but most worship musicians know exactly what I mean.

Back when I was the P&W drummer there was one day I remember in particular... the worship set was intense, more than usual, and I am an average to decent drummer... but that day I was Bezalel, and was doing things I knew were way beyond my skill level on my best day. As the band exited the side of the stage, one of the lead singers was staring at me with eyes as big as saucers, and she said "WHAT WAS THAT?? YOU WERE... you were doing things I have never heard before!"

It was a Bezalel Anointing.

[soulsearcher]

Thanks, PG, for that revelatory word! Being there and experiencing that anointing is the ultimate experience for any musician.

And thank you, M.V., for starting this thread, and for the blessing it is to musicians in worship.

[Mike Vande]

Mike, I have given that amazing anointing a name: the Bezalel Anointing.

Good name. How great is it when the entire team gets it at the same time! That's only happened a few times to the teams I've been in, and not all of them, either. After you've been there, playing music is never quite the same again, is it?

[Shellie]

Sigh.......I wish I could play music. Pastor's wives who do not play the piano...well, it's ugly.

[Mike Vande]

Sigh.......I wish I could play music. Pastor's wives who do not play the piano...well, it's ugly.

Aw Shellie, I suspect the same sort of thing happens to anyone who is ministering in the manner God has called them to. I have never seen anyone immediately filled with the Holy Spirit under my direct ministry, and I'll bet you have. DIfferent annointings for different folks, ya know...

[Shellie]

You know Mike, you have a point. I've always felt like the P&W team got robbed of worship...if that makes sense.

[Mike Vande]

You know Mike, you have a point. I've always felt like the P&W team got robbed of worship...if that makes sense.

It can work out that way, for sure.

[pastorables]

Back when I was the P&W drummer there was one day I remember in particular... the worship set was intense, more than usual, and I am an average to decent drummer... but that day I was Bezalel, and was doing things I knew were way beyond my skill level on my best day.

Wow! I was just about to post almost the same thoughts of this section when I read this. I have had this happen to me on a few occasions playing in church. After service, there would be wide eyed stares and those who would mention the anointing.

The sad thing is when the anointing isn't present and you go back to being very average.

pa