Goose-bumps

I love music.

 

There, that could easily end this blog post. But, it’s a statement of fact. I love music.

 

The Artist

When I was in grade school and college, I really enjoyed Art. I liked to draw, I liked Art history and all sorts of Art related activities. I recall an important incident that happened once when I was taking a college Art class. The instructor was talking about how he loved Art and that Art was his passion. He said that when he sees a great work of Art he gets goose-bumps. He actually has a physical reaction to Art. Thinking that I too was passionate about Art, I immediately wondered why I never got goose-bumps when I saw a great work of Art. This kind of bothered me. Maybe I just liked Art. Maybe it wasn't my passion. I then started thinking to myself, “if it’s not Art, then what is it that actuallydoes give me goose-bumps?”

 

Best of the 1980s

Almost immediately, music popped into my head as the answer. Music. Back then and up to today, when I hear really powerful song lyrics, or unique vocals or someone expressing their heart and passion using whatever instrument they are playing, I get goose-bumps. I’ve gone through many musical phases in my life. Back in the 1980’s it was classic rock and heavy metal. I think the first record album (yes, vinyl) I bought was Queen, The Game. Admit it, you owned it too. Also in my vinyl collection you could find, Van Halen, Quiet Riot, The Doors and multiple K-Tel compilation albums such as Metal Hits of the 80’s and Greatest Guitar Rock. Admit it, you owned these too.

 

Skate or die

In my later teens, I followed the skate-punk music scene specifically straight-edge hardcore. If you don’t know what straight-edge hardcore is, it’s very loud, fast punk music with a no drugs, no drinking, no sex message. Against the teenage-grain so to speak. I’ve been into jazz, hip-hop, rock, grunge, alternative, blues, reggae, SKA, classic country, folk, pop and R&B. I still enjoy listening to most of this music even today. If you check my iPod, you’ll see I’m telling the truth! There is very little in the world of music I don’t enjoy to some extent.

 

Jesus rock?

Christian music however….I could do without that. Bunch of Jesus freaks singing about Jesus. Freaks. I paid zero attention to it. It was irrelevant in my life. I guess that was kind of my view on Jesus in general back then. Paid no attention to Him, He was irrelevant in my life. But that was ok. That was before I knew who He was, before I knew what He could do in my life. Now I know who He is, and what He’s doing in my life. If you told me even 4 years ago that I’d be not only listening to Christian music, but I’d also be playing it and getting those goose-bumps from it, I would have thought you were nuts. But there is just something extremely powerful about it. It’s in the lyrics, the worship of God. It’s in the crescendo of certain songs, the build-up to celebration! It’s in the way some of those songs cause you to pray in the middle, cause your spirit to be at peace, cause you to connect with God right then and there. Its’ the goose-bumps

 

 

Class, meet Mr. Youtube your Music Instructor

These songs boast about God, praise God and thanks God. The musicians who sing them have amazing vocals that add so much emotion to the words they are singing. As a novice guitar player, I really like that fact that these songs are simple in structure, and in general easy to learn to play. I’m amazed that so many of these “famous” Christian artists have posted how-to play videos on Youtube so that church worship leaders can learn the songs and play them on a Sunday morning. I’ve taken lessons from Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman all without leaving my computer. They know these are not their songs, they are all of our songs we can use to sing to God. I think that most are so easy to play so that we can all play them and sing them out and expose others to Jesus through song. One way Missionaries reach people in foreign countries where the encounter a language barrier is through music. It’s worship of God, through music. So powerful. Goose-bumps.

 

 

Studio 412

Most nights I will spend some amount of time in my attic (studio) practicing worship and praise songs on my guitar. I have a small space set up with guitars, stands, computer, microphone, drums and various other miscellaneous instruments. This is my time to connect, to worship and praise through music. Some of my most intense, spirit-filled conversation about God, Jesus and life have occurred in that attic studio with my transplanted friend from Oregon after a session of guitar playing and worship. My 9 year old son is learning to play the stand-up bass. We practice daily and he really enjoys it. Often times both of my boys will be in the attic studio where we mess around with harmonicas and drums and guitars. I might even get them to sing into the microphone we have, just like a “professional” musician does.

 

 

Studio 4wd

Often times when we are driving in the car somewhere as a family, we’ll have a praise and worship CD playing. There’s lots of attempted singing from me and my wife and the boys too. But they really like to listen to the lyrics with great interest. We’ll often use this time to expand on what the lyrics are saying and answering their questions. It’s a great time for us all to grow and bond spiritually. Try it sometime.

 

Worship band

Recently, I was driving with my boys and had a praise and worship CD played…I was doing my best to sing.

The cd had ended and there was a pause…

it was in that pause moment that my oldest broke the quiet and said, “Dad..”

 

(I could tell he had been sitting there thinking about something for a while.)

 

He said, “Dad, one day I want to play bass in a worship band with you.” I looked at him in the rear-view mirror and could tell he was completely serious. I smiled back at him and said, “I’d really like that too.” 

 

My heart was filled with joy and I got goose-bumps.

 

Today I am thankful that God has given us music as a way to praise and worship Him.