Worship in Jerusalem
August 5th, 2006
I had the greatest of pleasures this morning. Not in a 100 years, neigh, a 1,000 years would I ever have thought that I would have had the honor of what I had this morning, on this bonny Sabbath morn. Both I and a good friend of mine from Bermuda had the privilege of leading GOD’s children in worship, in the city of Jerusalem! It was wonderful and a unique experience for me. I remember as a young boy watching the pianist play the hymns we sang and thinking/praying: What a privilege it would be to be that person who played the piano for people to sing praises.” I asked GOD if one day I could have that privilege. As I look back now at that request and see how to great lengths GOD has answered that prayer. I have had the honor to lead worship in a Bickertonite home Church in Albuquerque NM, in a Baptist/non-denom church plant in Alb, for a Methodist Youth group in San Antonio TX, for camps and retreats in San Antonio, for a Presbyterian College Ministry in San An…, for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, helped plan and played for an Episcopal Modern Worship Service in San Antonio, for a Baptist Congregation in North Chicago IL, and now for a Multicultural Multiethnic Interdenominational Church in Jerusalem, Israel! How the Good LORD answers prayer. Bless the Name!
After the service was over I was to meet up with a friend from TX in the Old City at the Damascus Gate where he was staying. However, I failed to get there in time to catch him, but since I was coming from the church I had my guitar with me. As I sat in the gate waiting for my friend, a couple of Arab guys came up to me and began asking me questions about my guitar. After a while I realized that they wanted me to play for them. The were learning how to play and they wanted to watch my fingers. So I agreed. I began to play as they watched and were impressed and thanked me for my time. After they had gone I continued to play since I was just waiting anyways. So as time went on, about 8 Arab boys slowly gathered around me. One at first then he encouraged his friends to come by also. Only a couple of them spoke English well and asked me if I could play this song or that song. I did as best I could and played the few popular songs I knew (exp, Free Falling, Hotel California, …). It was great! They hung around for about 20 min or so and bought me some kind of juice slushy. It was tasty. As they got up to leave, they thanked me with handshakes all around. It was at this point that one of them said to me, “You come around her and play anytime you like. You are a friend for life!” I was kind of taken back by the grandiose statement made by this young man of age 17ish. I thanked him as I thought on what he had just said. I hope to see him and his friends again in the future.
It still amazes me, the power of music. Even though it has been many times in my life my sole and lone companion in sharing some of my deeper emotions. Often it would expresses the emotions I didn’t even know I had or was feeling. I hope that I never lose this ability, this gift, this passion kindled deep in my soul. I know music is a powerful fire, and can burn one if it is not used wisely. The vehicle of music only carries us to places we already know. To emotions we have already visited. However, when it does this, it does it with a fanned flame of intensity. If you want to feel sad, music with bring you to sorrowful tears. If you want to feel happy, music will bring you joyful dancing. If you want to feel love, music will wash over your soul like a strong wine. If you want to feel anger, music will bring you to a violent rage! This is the power of music. This is its force. In this is the passion of mankind in pure expression. I hope never to lose my ability to express it.
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