This is a lot of blogging for me, but if I don't get these thoughts down now, they won't be as genuine. I'm afraid they'll be more on the fabricated side if I did it later.
Tonight I had the privilege and honor to play alongside many talented musicians, accompany many stellar vocalists, and perform under our God. To me it was the most fun I have ever had playing music. I felt as if the Holy Spirit was so abundantly full in me that I had no other way to express it other than sing and play with joy. I'm so thankful that there were ears to hear the story and I pray that the people were truly blessed to have received the message. It's only fitting to thank the fellowship of brothers and sisters that worked so hard to make this dream of mine come true.
Chris - no matter what I say or do, I don't think I can ever extend the proper amount of gratitude and appreciation for all of the hard work and talent you offer up to God. It is a true reflection of your dedication to not only Christ but His flock of people. Thank you for envisioning this production of AP's since day one with me.
Katie - your support of your husband amazes me. You always seem to allow him to squeeze that extra minute in his FULL schedule to do something he truly loves - music. Thank you for all of the behind-the-scenes work that you do, your ethusiasm for all that we do on stage, and for being such an encourager to me. It's always so cool to talk to you.
Hos (Mike) - the man that played Matthew's Begats perfectly when it counted!!! You are an amazing man of God my brother. I don't know how many productions we have been a part of at FCC, but I don't ever want to be a part of one without you kind sir. Although we laugh and have a hoot of a time behind stage, your talent still floors me each time I get to play alongside you. Sorry for ditching you on the beginning of "Passover Us." I have no idea why I started shaking the skulls first when we should've started together - big time my bad.
Craig - I have gained a new founding respect for Macintosh. Your behemoth setup trumped my setup on center stage I think. You definitely had more floral arrangements around your stuff than mine - I need to have a chat with Tom about that. It was so cool to have the string parts and every auxillary part I always wish we could have come to reality (dulcimer anyone?!?!?). Thank you for lending your time and for all of the hard work in getting our sound system working better than before.
Crustin (Dustin) - I was so excited and happy to have you alongside me too. Your intro to "So Long Moses" and the "Reprise" was sooo worth me being a part of this entire program. You had those parts so down and they sounded insanely sublime. Thank you for being so ethused about playing all of the cool parts on guitar and for wanting it to sound as close to the CD while making it your own. Mandolin and Dobro up for you next dude. Oh, and I think I messed up the part during the "Reprise" that you were telling me about.
LP/Lean Pockets (Shannon) - WOW!!! The upright bass literally gave me goosebumps; and having someone who performs on a regular basis is borderline star-struck territory for me. The bass lines for "So Long Moses" rocked the house really hard. You don't know how wonderful it is to have steady bass lines carrying every bass drum note I play. Thank you for lending your talents for our first run at BTLOG. I need to find more free Lean Pockets coupons to give you!!!
Steve - your cameo appearances always humbles my talents. What a incredible job you did pulling off those insanely hard parts during the instrumentals in such short notice.
Don - you get the "Step Up to the Plate" award. I still remember the Wednesday night when I told you that you were singing "So Long Moses." You nailed the performance dude - I so heard you sing, "And Isaiah said..." Your joy for the Lord comes out full blast when you sing on stage and I'm so blessed each time I look at you when we're praising God through music. Thank you for always being gung-ho about singing. We wouldn't have "Passover-ed" anything unless you hit the bass notes.
Mudd (Keith) - dude, for a boy out of Indiana, you sure know how to shake some eggs. You don't know how thrilled I was when you took up the duties for shaking them on "Passover Us." Thank you for making my humble attempts to sing harmony sound so much better on "While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks." Ummm, I'll see you at work I guess.
Punk Troy/PT/Leonard/Leo (Troy) - the consummate professional on stage. Amazing job on "Deliver Us" and for taking on all of the incredibly difficult harmony parts with such great execution. You define the terms, "Da Man." This is not to take focus away from the incredibly tasking job of being a great dad to an extremely energetic two-year-old.
Wanda (Marie) - you had the task of singing one of the more profound songs for this program. I don't know how you sang it without tearing up, but you did. Your voice for the song had the innocence that was needed to give it that special sound - it was so great and I'm so proud of you!!! Dude, and for being a mom during all of the practices and up to the very last minute before the performance - I'm flabergasted.
Holly - OK, if we ever do this program again, I can't envision anyone else singing the title song after your performance. I swear I was tasting tears every time I rolled those stinkin' cymbal rolls for the song. I know you were being humble towards the beginning by saying that maybe you didn't want to sing it - BOO!!! You had it in ya the entire time. We'll have you do one of your many interpretive dance numbers when you sing it again.
Erica Lynn - I'm telling you kid, aside from your mad egg shaking skillz, you're workin' them vocal skillz in the most "mad-tight" way possible. You sounded so great on "Passover Us" and I'm so glad your parents and your friend Chris got to see and hear what we're blessed to hear every week. Thank you for playing the egg and for always being so excited about shaking that "thing-a-maijigger" - and for your accompaniment on "It Came To Pass." I hope I didn't start "Passover Us" too fast. And sorry for my attire.
And last but not least...
Brother Howard (Kurt) - I know you expressed to me that this program was probably the most stressful for you thus far in your soundboard career at FCC. The new soundboard slots filled up before we even got it in and yet you still made each and everyone one of us sound the best we could've sounded. I'm convinced that when I say this that I speak on behalf of the entire praise team and church: Your work never goes unnoticed and we appreciate you putting up with all of our "Pre-Madonna-ish" demands on stage. I'm forever grateful and thankful that the dedication you give to your role on the praise team is shown to me in an unwavering form everyday I have known you. I have been so blessed and honored to have had you as a friend and brother in Christ here and in the days to come in God's forever Kingdom.
So as we shut the door on all of the songs on BTLOG for who knows how long, I want to say thanks again to everyone who made all of this possible. It was tasking for all of us in more ways than one, but I couldn't have been more happy with the performance by this fellowship. You all make drums such an amazing experience for me each time I pick up my sticks. I am truly and utterly (without any moo-ing) humbled to serve alongside all of you.
Thank you God for giving Mr. Peterson the gift to write the words that have been true for so long --- and for giving us this wonderful opportunity to share the gift and story of Your Son to people that were graciously present in Your house on December 11, 2005.
~KH
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