Week 14 (Better Late Than Never...)

So last week was adventuresome, I'd say. When you work in music ministry, there are two enormous dates looming on your calendar every year; Easter and Christmas. I had prepared for Easter long ago. I felt confident about the music I had selected. The band members were all top notch. We had four extra vocalists learning harmony parts and warming up their vocal chords. The components for some awesome Easter services were all ready to go. There was just one little detail that I wasn't expecting. The Sunday before Easter... I completely lost my voice.

"Are you kidding me, God? This is like, the biggest single Sunday of the year! Didn't you get the memo about our song list? It was going to be incredible! I was going to nail these songs. Wait, that sounded kinda prideful, sorry. But, you know my heart in this; All I want is Your beauty and excellence and perfection to shine through... Honest."

Then came a humbling response. "This isn't about you." I replied with a very quick, "Yessir, got it."

I emailed everyone involved in reference to the situation. I gave each of the other vocalists their new lead parts. At first it was a "just in case I can't sing" kinda thing. Then I heard His voice again, "this isn't about you." I was reminded about a verse in the Bible from Proverbs. It says, "humility comes before honor." I know my place. I know how I've been gifted. I know from whom those gifts are given. But, every now and again, my mind wanders off on what I think I can do better, because I know how I want it to sound, so I'll just handle it all myself. Yeah, 'cause that always turns out perfectly, huh? (That last line was well seasoned with a heavy slab of sarcasm.) I don't always know better. I don't always have the answers; But my Heavenly Father does. Sometimes I just need to humble myself and get out of the way.

That is precisely what happened on Easter Sunday. I painfully and excitedly stepped out of the way. My voice had returned on Saturday, but the plans did not change. Some of my talented friends were allowed to take the reins and run with them! It was beautiful, excellent and perfect. The leads were solid. The harmonies were strong. I couldn't have planned it any better, myself. Oh yeah, I didn't plan it at all.

This week's song is one we performed on Sunday; "In Christ Alone." Some of the team took time out of their busy schedules to record it with me. Adam Locklear and Shelly Moore (ShellyEveBlog.com) sang along. The one and only Rudy Landa played the penny whistle and taunted Shelly while she tracked. I think it's lovely.

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded April 1, 9 & 10, 2012. Rudy wanted everyone to know that just because he plays the penny whistle, doesn't mean he's not a real man. The verdict is still out on that... Comment away!

     "In Christ Alone" written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.