staying out of the clubs!! what a blessing!!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 27 Sep 2005 4:08 am

You GUYS are the BEST!!!LOVE EVERYONE OF YA.

Now this is what makes the Forum so great.
Each one speaking from the Heart,and no one getting Slapped around!!!

Well,i'm 64,had open heart surgery,and not able to go out much to play anymore. so my little bit is playing out here in the mach,shop. Guess if i had a young guy to carry my equipment,and set it up, i'd do more,but SO thankful for the good days and times i have had.
Guess this is why,i love to work and play around on these old steels.I consider it such a blessing to be able to design a part and walk over to a machine and make it.
Looking for some cooler weather soon.Its been a hot summer here in Central FLORIDA.

Any you guys ever sit around a Camp Fire and played steel? I love it,run a chord out from the barn,have a big fire and big crowd just enjoying it.OH yea,and roasting hotdogs and marshmellows on a stick!!!!!
and always got your PRACTICAL JOKERS tooo.
farris

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 27 Sep 2005 6:58 am

Hi guys this thread has really been very good for me. I have played music for over 30 yrs and most of it has been in clubs and like venues. I too am a Christian and love serving the Lord and I am glad to listen to both sides of the coin.

I am starting to play out again after an illness and I have asked the Lord to guide me and direct me to where he wants me to play and I have no doubt that he will guide me to the right place.

After reading this thread I have realized that he want's me to play for him in some fashion possibly my studio here in town I could concentrate on Gospel albums. I have already recorded several gospel projects so that would be a obvious move to make.

I also think I will try to find a church to pick in on the weekends. The church I went to before I got sick is not into guitars and ensemble groups. They mainly use an organist and of course the choir. I really like that kind of music but my talent lies in country gospel and southern gospel. So I think I'll search for gospel projects in my 32 track digital studio and country gospel live gigs some place maybe even in nursing homes and like places.

The Lord knows my monitary needs so if I don't make any money serving him with my playing I trust him to get me some money in other areas. We all need money to get by and I completely trust my Saviour to provide for me.

Farris thanks for this thread it helped me realize what God wants me to do because the more I read the more I realized what it is he is calling me to do. Of course thanks to everyone else's posts which helped me to decide. Believe it or not but I just made this life changing decision right here today. God bless you all!!!

Big Bob

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 27 Sep 2005 7:15 am

BIG BOB,GOD BLESS YOUR HEART,SEE HOW GOD WORKS,i speechless right now!!!
Keep up the great work BRO. GOD will not let you down. BACK to topic,we don't have to play the bars to be BLESSED.
farris

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 27 Sep 2005 8:06 am

the first time I played in church I had to get used to playing in a lit room without neon and smoke, our pastor isn't up on music and instruments, when I'm scheduled to play he asks you gonna bring your "machine"? Our missionary week will be sad this year as Phil Curless (Dicks brother) won't make it this year due to poor health, I back him up and this is the first time he will miss it in 24 years.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 27 Sep 2005 11:00 am

go to the country churchs, shame but thats the way it is. they will welcome you with open arm, play the good oldies, amazing grace, lifes railway to heaven on and on they will love it. farris

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Sep 2005 12:53 pm

***Post deleted***

I was merely trying to relate some of the good experiences I've had in playing in bars and clubs, but I guess that wasn't "fitting" in this particular thread.

My apologies to all.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 28 September 2005 at 01:40 PM.]

Sidney Ralph Penton · Post by **Sidney Ralph Penton** » 27 Sep 2005 7:15 pm

i have been playing about a year and half now. self taught. i always liked the psg but when i heard amazing grace on the psg i had to get one and little did i know how hard they are to learn to play. the lord has put it on my heart to play for people and tell them of my life experiences and how much god has done for me and how much he can do for you. i'll be the first to say that i don't play as good as some of the pros but you know i am playing for my father and nothing sounds as good to any one as it does to the father because its his son playing. god has brought me back saftly from viet nam and many other cituations and i am forever thankful. i did the bars at one time, (drinking not playing) and it is a dead end. each his own but i choose to play for the lord and try to repay some of the kindness he has shown me. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400 steelseats they are great at sales@steelseats.com
if its not a zum steel it isn't real
just trying to steel for the Lord>

Allen Peterson · Post by **Allen Peterson** » 28 Sep 2005 4:54 am

Great thread!

I believe my time here on earth is a probationary state. In the pre-existence I chose to come to earth and gain a body so that I could be tested. The degree to which I am successful and the amount of discipline I achieve will dictate where I will end up after I leave this earth. Part of the test, if you will, is what I do with the talents and gifts that God has given to me, and this includes my musical talents. If I return to the Lord totally undisciplined, I will not gain all the Lord has in store for me in the next life. For this reason I try to stay away from places where the tempter can ensnare me. Unfortunately, bars are one of those places. In bars there is drink, smoke and other things that detract from the holy spirit. People go to bars to drink, smoke and do those other things that lead to infidelity. These things break-up families and ruin lives.

My church does not have a praise band. In fact, the only music we have are congregational hymns sung with organ or piano accompanyment. Occasionally, we will have a soloist sing a hymn or maybe a violin solo. We do have a great choir. No electric instruments are ever used in our worship services (other than an organ). Drums are never used because they tend to distract from the spirit.

So I have had to find places other than church services to play my steel. I have found there are plenty of places to play where the music is appreciated and I am not "casting pearls before swine." Venues like church dances, corporate affairs, playing for schools and fairs have provided me with places to express my God-given talents without having to play in bars.

Having said all this, I surely would not condemn anyone that makes music in a bar because there are lots of people that go to bars to dance and listen to good music. They are not all "swines." It is just unfortunate that there is the other element that makes playing bars untolerable for some of us. For those of us in this situation, we just have to find other ways to express our steel guitar talents I guess.

Allen Peterson

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 28 Sep 2005 5:52 am

DONNIE,SIDNEY,AND ALLEN,
Bless you guys!!!my computer wouldn't go on line for awhile,and when i got back on finally, WOW!!
I am so thankful for each response,and they seem to be comming from the heart from each person!!!!
I must say,this topic has blessed my heart more than i can tell. and the most Peace i have seen in a long time!!!!GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, farris

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 28 Sep 2005 7:04 am

This is fantastic! I've been in discussions on this topic before that became inflamed and ugly. That is why I tread lightly in making known my own convictions. I guess I thought it would denegrate into a shouting match before this.

Here we have those who:
1.Play bars and have no problem with it
2. Play bars, churches or anywhere because they feel that God wants them to use their talents to encourage and/or evangelize people wherever they are. (I fall into this category)
3.Those who won't play bars because they are recovering alcoholics or drug addicts and know that the temptations would be too great for them.
4.Those who will only play for church people.
5.Those who won't play in bars because of the bad stuff that goes on there.

A lot of diverse convictions, yet we are having a nice, insightful discussion without everyone trying to demonize anyone who doesn't agree with them. Boy, do I wish I could find such civility and levelheadedness among the folks in my church board meetings!

This is great!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 28 Sep 2005 7:51 am

YES,WEBB,know what you mean,most time people want to fight and have their way or none. BUT this is Great steelers discussing the way they are led. I pray this topic can keep following the staying out of the clubs as we started,and everone telling how they are led!!!! GREAT STUFF, AND bless each one of you farris

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Sep 2005 8:01 am

....quote....:"My church does not have a praise band. In fact, the only music we have are congregational hymns sung with organ or piano accompanyment."......
___________________________________________

I understand....the music in my church is congregational hymns sung acappellawithout organ, piano, or any other musical instrument.

It's not a scriptural ban against musical instruments, it's just a fundamental policy adapted from the first Christian church who worshipped that way, (possibly because there were no musical instruments available to them).

I don't agree with that interpretation, but I do abide with the scripture to "not offend your brother" who believes otherwise.

I do have issues with the rationalzation that playing in clubs is doing Gods will by associating with sinners as Jesus did.

My reasoning is "how many of us really evangelize" when we are in that environment?

I apologise in advance for entering the post that will surely "close" this topic!

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www.genejones.com

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 28 Sep 2005 8:12 am

NOPE GENE, I HOPE it will not close it,because each one is intitled to their beliefs and the way they are led.
AND i do understand exactly what you are saying toooooo. Lets hope we can keep a level head,and not go hot on someone else.
as I said,i can't play in the clubs,and those that can,thats up to them. farris

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 28 Sep 2005 8:54 am

Gene, I fully understand what you are saying. And there are most certainly those who do rationalize playing clubs who have no intentions or specific calling to do such. I have seen more than a few saved alcoholics go back in to the bars who had no business doing so. Likewise there are many good folks on this forum who simply haven't come to the place in their spiritual convictions where they feel the need to come out of the bar scene. Some of them are very good friends of mine.

From my perspective, I couldn't care less about the money. I hate the smoke, the foul language, all the negative aspects of the bar business. But, my duo partner and I are both ministers and have strong accountability with our churches, and a strong backing of prayer from those who support us. We know that we are called to go. Whether or not our calling fits the theological teaching of someone else's particular church is really irrelevant to us. Our churches support us and God has blessed what we do.

We have had the priveledge of seeing many people delivered from their addictions, many marriges reconciled, scores of folks who have become dynamic servants of the Lord--even missionaries--who were once hopeless drunks or drug abusers. The Lord has even used us to save some of those people from suicide. None of which would have happened if someone didn't care enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.

Is there a risk? You bet. We are all fallible creatures. Where would the church be if Jesus' disciples weren't willing to lay down their lives that other's might know of his grace and mercy? For those to whom God has called, he has given them the strength, passion, faith and wisdom to fulfill their calling. And to those who have failed in the mission, he has given them his grace and forgiveness--something we mere mortals have trouble granting to our fallen brothers and sisters.

Having said that, you will never see me proclaiming from my pulpit that people should come join me in the bars. That has to be between them and God, and even then, if they don't have a backing of prayer support and/or a mature faith, the devil will have them for breakfast.

We don't travel the circuit. We have a small number of bars where we build friendships with the patrons through repeat gigs. That is essential to effectively reaching them.
The rest of the the time, we play children's hospitals, churches, coffee houses, fairs and carnivals, etc. We treat everyone the same. People in all these places need the hope, love and encouragement we feel that we can give them because of our own love for God.

I am sure that there are others on here who are effective wherever they play. I am certain that there are atheists on this forum who love their fellow man and are constantly looking for ways to help them and conversely, I am certain there are some Christians on here who couldn't care less about anyone outside of their own church and belief systems. It is just the way it is and always has been. That is why I have learned to respect everyone. Unless we have walked a mile in their shoes, we have no idea what motivates them, what troubles them or where their heart really is.

The best thing we can do is to live outside of ourselves by caring for our fellowman regardless of whether or not we feel that he measures up to our standards. That's the model the Lord left us with. That's the model I try (albeit imperfectly) to follow with my own life. And it is the only way of living that I have ever found that I can honestly say gives me a sense of true fulfillment and purpose in life.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Sep 2005 9:02 am

Farris and Webb.....may God bless you!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 28 Sep 2005 10:02 am

Well,I think this has been a great Topic,and most that wanted to have expressed their feeling.
I thank b0b for letting it go on,and for the great level of disscussion without a blow up!!
ANYWAY, i feel that it is time to CLOSE IT UP NOW. and lets all keep a clear mind on what has been said. GOD BLESS!!!

PLEASE CLOSE IT UP b0b THANKS farris

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 28 Sep 2005 10:12 am

[ANYWAY, i feel that it is time to CLOSE IT UP NOW. and lets all keep a clear mind on what has been said. GOD BLESS!!!]

Words of the wise, Farris!

Sidney Ralph Penton · Post by **Sidney Ralph Penton** » 28 Sep 2005 5:05 pm

well i want to saysomething else before it closes. the main thing is that we are happy with what we are doing. churches are different in different areas. i was raised babtist but i have attended catholic, assembly of god, penticoastal and several others. when i was growing up i thought that baptist was the only religion that would make it to heaven. sence then through reading and studing i have formed a oppinion that all the basic religions bapbtist methodist catholic etc all praise the same god but in different ways. there is no right religion i feel that one worships in the church where he feels best at. there is no sence in arguing about playing in bars churches etc we are just psg'ers talking the way i like to see it too much fighting going on in the world today. it feels so good to converse with out anger. just my opinion. thanks doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400 steelseats they are great at sales@steelseats.com
if its not a zum steel it isn't real
just trying to steel for the Lord>

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 29 Sep 2005 5:44 am

Goodmorning DOC,
Since this is still open,and i'm glad it is.
After reading your statement,got me to really thinking!!!
I was raised Baptist also,and have played with Gospel groups in all types of Churchs.
Seems all ways come away with a Blessing.
I been Joking around lately,the little Church i grew up in has gotten so UP TOWN,
seems to have Lost its way.
Now its lost so many members,its about to close its doors. Some get mad at me,but i said when the Electric is turned off, and the windows threw open,and the Spirit is back like the Old days. Mabe the LORD can get in again!!!
Yep i am old fashioned 64yrs young.hahaha
but i do remember the old days over 100 people singing to the top of our lungs.
Such as WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN WOW!!!!
and VICTORY IN JESUS, came from the heart.
farris

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 29 Sep 2005 7:57 am

I too remember days like that Farris. You bring back some warm memories. I'm not saying that times shouldn't change, but there's still room for a good old fashioned hymn sing. If there ain't there's something wrong.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 29 Sep 2005 11:30 am

YOU BET WEBB, seems since air conditioning came in all has gotten so self!!!loss for words, anyway the good old days blessed us all the most. Nothing wrong with being COOL folks. seems since we threw away the fans from the funeral home things changed.
well, this will surely get us locked down.
lets let god back in the Lords house!!!
and i will still stay out of the clubs ha ha/ farris

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 29 Sep 2005 8:39 pm

Donny Hinson, I thought your post brought a good point to the discussion. I enjoyed reading it and agreed with what you said. Although my motives for playing bars may be different than most, I still must admit that I've met some fine people there, a number of whom have become very good friends.

It's so easy to stereotype when you look at anything from the outside. Church people tend to judge those who go to bars stereotypically and people who don't go to church often judge all Christians by the hypocrisy of a few.

Involving one's self with one another breaks down those stereotypes rather quickly with the exception of those who are responsible for fostering those images to begin with. [This message was edited by Webb Kline on 29 September 2005 at 09:41 PM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 30 Sep 2005 2:16 am

As an aside, Gene--I was talking with a barbershop singer, who said he grew up in the Church of Christ, and that singing without accompaniment probably gave him a keener ear and voice. I agreed, that 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord' should be about making that 'noise' from within.

Not being a church-goer (I'm more of a Bhaptist--somewhere between a Methodist and a bhuddist), I'm not one to think church is a place to be entertained, and that worship through music should be participatory.

And so it's good to read all these accounts we make of ourselves, without fear that the word religion should doom a topic to closure.

Involving one's self with one another breaks down those stereotypes rather quickly with the exception of those who are responsible for fostering those images to begin with.

Good words, Webb; and isn't that what this forum is really about?

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 30 Sep 2005 2:38 am

For me its just church gigs and jam sessions. I have no desire at all the play in a club. Been around too much of that fighting and confusion all of my life and I just don't have patience for it anymore.

We have a once a month jam session and fellowship at a small country church and there are two or three more Southern Gospel jams that I want to ad to the list. Plus all the jam sessions that time will allow.

The Lord's done so much for me that I want to bless him now with the gift of music that he's given me. Cool thread Farris!

Rick

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Sep 2005 3:10 am

Thanks for the comments Charlie. My dad was a song-leader in the Church of Christ all of his life, his only instrument was a tuning-fork for correct pitch.

There are those who think the Church of Christ condemns other denominations who use musical instruments in their Worship....but that is not true! There is no scriptural prohibition of playing musical instruments...the COC has just always chosen not to use them in Worship Services.

My mother and dad with two of my sisters, sang as a quartet (with piano), at many venues other than worship services. I have also played my steel at entertainment functions in the Church Family Center.

....I didn't inherit an acceptable singing voice is probably why I started playing instruments at a young age.

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 30 September 2005 at 04:26 AM.]