Christian Metal Detecting Forum

...I am REALLY beginning to wonder:Am I doing something WRONG??..I did"3 Wooden Crosses",and Colin Raye's "Love,Me",.....I thought it went well,but...Most of the folks in the congregation;do not even ACKNOWLEDGE,ANY kind of music there,and its FRUSTRATING...OK;NOW:I AM NOT lookin to get a standing ovation,trust me...BUT:They all just sit therer,waiting for somebody else to start applauding,then they all join right in.it has been going on for MONTHS now,and I think it signals csomething deeper goin on,than me...I askec my sister about it,and she said"TRUST ME,it is NOT anything you do"...I really think the only thing that would get them motivated,is if Jesus came in the front door.A very few will tell me "good job",and I DO like to hear it.BUT:It is the SAME ONES EVERY TIME.As fOR THE REST:....It is like playing to an audience of mannequins.....AND IT BOTHERS ME......Steve.................

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"It's not what you take,when you leave this world behind you/It's what you leave behind you;when you go"-Randy Travis,"3 Wooden Crosses"....

Don't let it bother you, Warthog. God is the audience anyway. If it pleases Him, then it's ok.

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In our Church NO one is ever clapped for anything. This has always been the tradition in our Church and it seems OK to me.

Someone may privately thank the artist but only the artist would ever know that.

Warty, you say that no one "acknowledges any kind of music" there, so why would you expect any other treatment if that is the standard way it is done?

If you are asked to perform again then you may consider that you were well accepted. If not, the Lord accepts it and that's all that matters.

Also you said earlier that a Pastor asked you to perform, so you must be well accepted by him at least.

You do say that some thank you and it is the same people every time.

That's because that little group KNOW haw to express gratitude but most, sad to say, don't.

You can see this same attitude on this very Forum every day.

Look at any article. Some have 100 or more viewers but how many bother to comment?

How many say thanks?

Mostly a handful at best, and it's nearly always the very same people every time.

That's how life is Warty.

A lesson to learn is be generous in your own comments.

In this life mate you will never get what you expect from people, but the Lord will always be gracious.

I know that this effort meant a lot to you, especially as it was delayed for a week, and I am sure that you did it as well as you could.

That's what counts and that is where you have to leave it.

Just play for the Lord. Don't worry about the people. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

I think you are reading too much into this. God gave you a gift being able to play and sing. Even if you only reach one person with your performance you have succeeded.

Two stories for you:

*Leading worship week after week at our old church building, I couldn't help but notice the old gentleman sitting up front. He rarely stood during praise and worship music, never saw him sing and, quite frankly, he had a pretty big scowl on his face most of the time. I could tell that he just hated the music. A long time passed when, after a service, he suddenly called to me. He said, "Joe, I'd like to talk to you..." I was thinking "uh oh". Then he totally blew me away... He shook my hand and went on to tell me how much of a blessing the music had always been to him and that it was a part of the service he always looked forward to. "Stu" was his name. He was originally from Oklahoma, a WWII vet and he eventually "adopted" Vicky and I. Sadly, he passed away last year...

*As you probably remember, I had a band some years back. One Saturday night, we were scheduled to play at a new Christian Bookstore / Coffeehouse; very nice place. We set up and went through our sound checks just before we were due to go on at 8pm. At 8pm, there wasn't anyone there We decided to play anyway. Some people we had invited and a few stragglers started to show up one by one including my wife's friend Joe (who was not a Christian). All total, I don't think there was but 10 or so people there. I'll be honest, it was a little bit of a blow to my ego but we ministered in music like there was 100. Long story short, "Joe" ended up coming to our church, accepted Christ and even played drums in the music ministry.


These two events taught me some very important lessons.

1) Don't look at outward appearances in the ministry. It's what's happening in the heart that's most important. You never know how God is using you.
2) Don't look to gain praise, honor or glory by what you do, but strive to lead others to give praise honor and glory to the One who deserves it.

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Joe G

Good to see you my friend.

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I'm not really "away" I try to keep up with all the posts. Just not much of a poster... :LOL:

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Joe G

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