When middle school came around i discovered the magical world of woodwinds and brass instruments. My older brothers friend (Jeff) was a tenor saxophone player in the highschool marching band and i always thought that was the coolest thing ever! My mom asked me if i would like to play an instrument in the concert band for my school and she asked me what instrument i wanted to play. I told her tenor saxophone without any hesitation. I somehow knew that it was the perfect instrument. So my mom and dad went out and bought me an inexpensive Yamaha Tenor saxophone and it clicked just like that. It was like me and the saxophone were one. I remember getting first chair in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. In eighth grade i took part in a competition called Solo And Ensemble where i had to play a VERY intricate song all by myself. I ended up getting a superior rating (the highest you can get) and a medal! (which i still have and am very proud of) I thought of myself as the next Kenny G.
Then highschool came. I was so nervous because the beginning of highschool meant the beginning of marching band (marching around a football field every day in 90+ degree heat, rain or shine. I remember having a practice where we kept marching even though there was a tornado warning!) Anyway, being the freshman that i was, i was so intimidated by all the junior and senior saxophone players that had been playing for MANY years. They were beasts! They were great at playing sheet music, BUT they didn't know their scales. This is what put me into first chair my freshman year (above all the seniors!) Every week we would play at a football game or we would have a marching band competition to play at. The most fun place i have ever played a competition at would have to be the GeorgiaDome. (Yes... i have marched on that field in front of a packed house for Nationals) I was so proud to be first chair tenor saxophone for Summerville Highschool. One of the best marching bands in the country!
When i was 16 i decided to call it quits with saxophone simply because i was bored with it. (i still have it though) I remember my mom getting a coupon for a free guitar lesson at Creative Spark across the street from Seacoast. She asked me if i would like to give it a try and i agreed to try it ONCE because i thought that guitar wasn't really a good instrument for me. I went to my first lesson with an old classical guitar that we had laying around. My instructor (Josh) sat down with me and showed me the basic chords and showed me how to strum. "This isn't all that bad." i thought. "If i can learn saxophone i can surely learn guitar." So i left my first lesson and went home and practiced everything he tought me. I decided to come back a week later and continue with the lessons. He would ask me what song i wanted to learn and he would show me how to play the lead parts for that song (thus my extended mental library of classic rock and punk rock riffs).
I remember after a while that i was unhappy just playing parts from different "secular" song. I was sitting at church one day watching Martin Chalk and Keith Bruce play guitar durring the service and i thought to myself... "This music is so boring... yet they look so happy playing it. Why are they so happy?" So i asked Martin for some of his sheet music so i could learn how to play it. I practiced and practiced and practiced until i had all the guitar parts down then auditioned for the church's middleschool service called Nitro and made it! I would be onstage every weekend just rocking out having a good time.
A few years later i remember being onstage just shredding and soloing and showing off. i thought i was the coolest dude around! I was unstoppable! Well, i remember being onstage playing durring one of our slower songs and looking out into the audience and seeing every hand raised in the air and everyone singing the song and really getting into it. Some people were even crying! This sent the biggest shiver up my spine. I had no idea what was happening! Either every person in the room was loony or there was some sort of presence in the room, something that i couldn't see... something much bigger than me. All of a sudden i felt a flood of emotion and comfort come over me. Was this the kind of happiness that Martin and Keith were experiencing? It was all so new to me.
Now i am 22 and a guitarist for the James Island Campus, Dream Center, Longpoint campus and a few other churches on the side. Just recently i was promoted to the role of Worship Coordinator/Leader for the Dream Center's Celebrate Recovery service. Over the years i have learned that it was not ever about me or the music. It was not about being the best guitarist or the coolest.It's all about HIM. It's about using my talents that God gave me so i can return the favor the best i can. i am not perfect or the best musician but God doesn't care. "Make a joyful noise". I give all the glory to Him and none to myself. After all, He is the one that created me and decided to put music in my blood. I find this to be the greatest gift of all... i can use my gift to lead other people to know God. I have seen God work through me and my music many times and each time it brings a huge smile to my face just knowing that of all people, he chose ME to be his instrument. God created ME to be a worship leader! i couldn't ask for anything more. I absolutely love what i do. It brings me such great joy, i would not trade it for ANYTHING in the whole world.
A lot of the people i work with or see outside of church ask me why i do what i do with worship and all. I tell them "It makes me happy". They would always ask me "Why?" and i'd tell them: "IT'S A GOD THING."
"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the
ten stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does."
Psalm 33:1-4
