Had a great time at Teens at Bethel (in Point Pleasant, WV) the other week! We got to hang out some with The Afters who just recently finished a tour with Mercy Me. Cool guys.
Things are quite busy these days...between church, 50+hours at work ( my tv audio job and sound tech job at a local church), and social involvements, I'm finding it difficult to play, let alone schedule shows. Our next show is Nov 7th in Bristol, TN at King College. I'm not sure that we will be able to play any gigs before then. Things should hopefully calm down a bit by October, and I'll be able to start focusing a bit more on doing live shows.
There's a new review of "Backstage Pass" at grassrootsmusic.com...check it out at http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/artist/andremarc/andremarc1
God is good, and I'm being challenged in many ways. I will try to write more in the near future.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Teens At Bethel Show Tomorrow
Well, we're gearing up for tomorrow's show at Teens at Bethel in Point Pleasant, WV. Had practices last Saturday, Sunday, and also yesterday (Wednesday). The band is sounding AWESOME!! We're praying that God will use our concert to really encourage and challenge the teens at the camp. Nine other bands will be playing over the 3 day camp event. We hope to get some pictures and even some video. God really worked things out for this show...I almost cancelled because I having so much trouble getting the band organized. More news to come...
Read more about the camp at: www.teensatbethel.org
Read more about the camp at: www.teensatbethel.org
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Finding Balance
A journal entry written during my time at "Driven" June 16th
It's amazing how anxious and overwhelmed I've been, even doing things I enjoy. I've spent the majority of this week either practicing or playing for the worship band. I really wanted to come here to meet and encourage people. It's not very often that you meet this many young folks from all the state and country.
I'm just weary of trying to keep up. If you live your life clinging to other's expectations, you'll find you'll get behind real quick. I even feel a pressure here and at home to seek more and more social interaction, as if one day, I'm going to finally have enough friends. I just honestly feel like I'm trying to dip out of too many buckets - I'm involved at "Front Porch" (a young ministry at my church) on both Thursday and Sunday nights, I go to a Bible study on Tuesday nights, I run sound for Saturday weddings and Sunday morning services at a local Presbyterian church. I have the responsibility of Taylor's Attic (a tv show I'm producing music and sound for) on my shoulders, and I'm trying to keep a struggling rock band afloat. On top of that, I'm trying to stay connected with my parents (I'm over there every week...always an awesome time) and seeking to stay in touch with both my close hometown friends and my college buddies from Liberty. I know so many people, I'm involved in so many things...and you'd think this would make a guy happy. The reality is, I'm overwhelmed, stressed, and excited all at one time. Good things are happening, but I feel like I'm losing touch with God. I've been down the path of trying to make all these things my means to happiness, better self worth, etc. and I've realized just how empty those things are in themselves (worldly success, man's approval, etc.) I want to live a life of dependency upon Christ, a life aimed at eternity...yet I know that includes people, and choices, and letdowns...this is the reality of being a spirit man in a physical world.
I just wish I knew what I'm supposed to do next. I don't think I can get plugged into one other thing without first disengaging from another. Sometimes, God calls us to stay where we're at. Often, we're simply driven by the excitement of something new - if it's using another stupid Christian catch phrase (post modernism, relavance) or whether it's a deam of building a new church. Some people hate change (I know some) while others feed off of it, as long as it betters themselves (I personally have the problem of focusing on the next goal, acheivement, etc). I suppose this is not always the case; some individuals want change so that it might benefit others - this being the only Christlike motive for accerelating change.
Today, one of the pastors here asked me what my gift was - feeling a bit unprepared, I responded with a hestitant "encouragement." Ironically, I'm sitting here alone writing in a journal when I could be initiating conversations with hurting people. In regards to "encouraging people"...I suppose, if anyone, I am drawn to kids as well as any number of "outcast" types, especially the artsy music folk. In a way, I feel I am one of them; I can talk on their level, and hopefully, I can encourage them in ways in which I have been encouraged as both a musician and a Christian. I also have an interest in reaching teens through music...I just despise the idea of being trapped in a dying stagnent youth group...I've been there and it's depressing. I think the reality is, kids have changed (compared to when I was a kid)...it feels like there's so much apathy these days. I hate apathy from anyone because you feel like your words, your actions, and your heart are just falling on the floor. How can you reach someone who just doesn't care? There are however greater virtues of response such as grace, persistence, and faith.
It's amazing how anxious and overwhelmed I've been, even doing things I enjoy. I've spent the majority of this week either practicing or playing for the worship band. I really wanted to come here to meet and encourage people. It's not very often that you meet this many young folks from all the state and country.
I'm just weary of trying to keep up. If you live your life clinging to other's expectations, you'll find you'll get behind real quick. I even feel a pressure here and at home to seek more and more social interaction, as if one day, I'm going to finally have enough friends. I just honestly feel like I'm trying to dip out of too many buckets - I'm involved at "Front Porch" (a young ministry at my church) on both Thursday and Sunday nights, I go to a Bible study on Tuesday nights, I run sound for Saturday weddings and Sunday morning services at a local Presbyterian church. I have the responsibility of Taylor's Attic (a tv show I'm producing music and sound for) on my shoulders, and I'm trying to keep a struggling rock band afloat. On top of that, I'm trying to stay connected with my parents (I'm over there every week...always an awesome time) and seeking to stay in touch with both my close hometown friends and my college buddies from Liberty. I know so many people, I'm involved in so many things...and you'd think this would make a guy happy. The reality is, I'm overwhelmed, stressed, and excited all at one time. Good things are happening, but I feel like I'm losing touch with God. I've been down the path of trying to make all these things my means to happiness, better self worth, etc. and I've realized just how empty those things are in themselves (worldly success, man's approval, etc.) I want to live a life of dependency upon Christ, a life aimed at eternity...yet I know that includes people, and choices, and letdowns...this is the reality of being a spirit man in a physical world.
I just wish I knew what I'm supposed to do next. I don't think I can get plugged into one other thing without first disengaging from another. Sometimes, God calls us to stay where we're at. Often, we're simply driven by the excitement of something new - if it's using another stupid Christian catch phrase (post modernism, relavance) or whether it's a deam of building a new church. Some people hate change (I know some) while others feed off of it, as long as it betters themselves (I personally have the problem of focusing on the next goal, acheivement, etc). I suppose this is not always the case; some individuals want change so that it might benefit others - this being the only Christlike motive for accerelating change.
Today, one of the pastors here asked me what my gift was - feeling a bit unprepared, I responded with a hestitant "encouragement." Ironically, I'm sitting here alone writing in a journal when I could be initiating conversations with hurting people. In regards to "encouraging people"...I suppose, if anyone, I am drawn to kids as well as any number of "outcast" types, especially the artsy music folk. In a way, I feel I am one of them; I can talk on their level, and hopefully, I can encourage them in ways in which I have been encouraged as both a musician and a Christian. I also have an interest in reaching teens through music...I just despise the idea of being trapped in a dying stagnent youth group...I've been there and it's depressing. I think the reality is, kids have changed (compared to when I was a kid)...it feels like there's so much apathy these days. I hate apathy from anyone because you feel like your words, your actions, and your heart are just falling on the floor. How can you reach someone who just doesn't care? There are however greater virtues of response such as grace, persistence, and faith.
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