Directionally Challenged Drummer Guy Learns a Lesson

By YOUR words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. Psalm 119:105 (The Message!)

The Bible study Janis and I are currently participating in is studying the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Our challenge for this week was to choose a verse, or a thought, to intentionally focus on during the coming week. Psalm 119:105 is the verse I chose. Friday at work I saw my Heavenly Father - probably smiling - speak to me concerning this verse.

I needed to make a delivery with an Inman, Kansas address. Inman is a little town about 15-20 miles away. As usual, because I'm directionally challenged, I took a Garmin with me. I entered the address and took off, expecting the Garmin to tell me to head out of town the way I though I should go, and the way I thought was fastest. SURPRISE!! - It said to head in the opposite direction. But I thought, as is sometimes the case with a GPS, the Garmin was wrong. So I went my own familiar route. But I kept hearing the Garmin say, "RECALCULATING". I heard that so many times, I finally just turned it off. When I got to Inman I turned it on again only to find that it had not changed its mind and it kept telling me to go back the direction it had been telling me all along. Although it was an Inman address, the location of the house was out in the country. The Garmin was RIGHT!!! If I had listened I would have saved myself 14 miles of unnecessary driving.

I laughed and thought how GOD's ways don't always make sense to me. I go my own way only to learn I was wrong and HIS ways are right and good. I hope I've learned a valuable lesson about trusting HIM! HE knows best!

And Now (Drum Roll, Please!) . . . A Word From The Drummer Guy

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

"Then JESUS told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:3-7

What image does a drum-set bring to your mind? A dark, smoky bar or a loud rock concert? Heavy metal or punk music on the radio? I think it is humorous that God chose to use drums as an “instrument” [pun intended!] of correction and discipline in my life.

Most of my life was up and down spiritually. I would go to church and/or listen to a radio Bible teacher for awhile. Then I would live like God didn’t exist. I didn’t engage in what most people would think of as terribly sinful things. But by not studying God’s Word, praying, and obeying Him, I was going my own way and that is as bad as any other sin you can commit. It was when I was doing my own thing that God used the drum-set for good in my life.

My kids were older and I was alone, so I decided to do something I like – buy a drum-set and take lessons. While I was taking lessons, my teacher, Ginger Z, told me of a local church that was looking for a praise band drummer. And, they would pay for it! I tried out and they liked me. I thought I would go Sunday mornings, play my drums, but probably not stick around for any preaching. But, in the end, I decided to stay for the rest of the service after playing. God used that to bring my wonderful, beautiful wife into my life AND to get me faithfully attending church, listening to the Bible on CD, memorizing HIS word, and praying and seeking God’s will like I never have before in my 50+ years of life.

Thanks be to THE GOOD SHEPHERD who wouldn’t let His stupid sheep stay wandering!! Isn’t it funny that God can use such silly things like music? He used an accordion (of all things!) in my younger days to bring me back into HIS GOOD WILL, and now my drums.

I have come to look at my drums as an Instrument for His Glory. I’m looking forward to marching to the beat of HIS drum and living to please HIM. I am so blessed!