Yesterday, we had a guest speaker at our church by the name of Gary Bell from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is an awesome speaker, and he will be doing our Campmeeting services tonight through Wednesday night. The service went well, and the songs that we were able to do were fitting for where our church is right now. I feel that our ministry is extremely relevant and on track because of the presence of God that has permeated our services. I feel so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit at times during our worship, and that is great. I can honestly say that the enjoyment that I get out of playing drums now is exponentially greater than anything I have felt in the past. I feel like I am fulfilling the purpose that I was created for and that fills a huge void that was present in my past.

Last year, my music pastor was doing a sectional worship workshop in Gladewater. He asked the crowd a question that made everyone think about their purpose in their worship ministry. His question was "How do you get and keep volunteers?" After everything was over, he spoke with my friend, Doug (previous sound booth man) and I. I didn't have a quality answer until now to his question. I think that the thing that draws volunteers and then retains them is the atmosphere that they get to volunteer in. As a musician in our music ministry, I feel an atmosphere of love and patience coupled with a desire to worship. That is what keeps me from wanting do do anything else. That is why I look forward to practice and worship. We fight the things that every worship ministry fights (new versus old music, volume, personal preferences, etc), but the measuring stick that gauges every concern is guidance of the Holy Spirit. We don't look to the environment that we live in, or the most popular sentiment. We don't submit to popular culture of the latest trend in worship. We instead trust our leader, and pray for God's guidance in our worship. I think that all of the men that I get the pleasure to play beside have the humility to know that our talents are nothing away from God. We also know that what we are participating in is so much bigger than the sum of our parts, and we cannot even fathom the fullness of God's purpose for our lives.

Gary Bell spoke about Moses and his call to free the Israelites from Egyptian oppression. He brought to light the character flaws that God addressed in Moses prior to the magnificent liberation of Israel. The concerns that Moses had were extremely important to him. Had he not trusted God to change him and used the faith that was ignited by the burning bush experience, who knows if he Moses would have been a part of the results. The message that was delivered seared my heart. I find a million reasons that I cannot do the things that God has called me to do. My inabilities and faults top the list of excuses that keep me tied to my present comfortable situation. Reason after reason pile up as I go through my life with a magnifying glass. With all comparisons, though, we have to look at both sides. My problems, and God's will. In looking at God's will, I can't get past the title of the column - "God's Will." The relationship that I have with God is something peculiar. He is the only one that will never fall short on His end of the relationship, no matter what I do or fail at doing.

What Pastor Bell spoke of was drive - the pushing factor that keeps us from giving up despite the situation. We are called to greatness for Christ, and were created for that ultimate purpose. In your life, pursue that thing that draws you. Get in the vehicle and let God do the driving. He won't miss an exit or take you somewhere you don't need to be.