God Must Love Drummers - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

God Must Love Drummers
by Steve Martin

“David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before God.” (2 Samuel 6:14 THE MESSAGE)



Drummers fascinate me. They beat on those skins. They bang on the cymbals. They give it all with such passion. Even as King David danced with great abandon before God, I know drummers who have given it their all, also in worship.

God must love drummers.

Laurie and I have led bands through two decades - in churches, conferences, and in public places outside of the church walls. Whether it was leading the Steve Martin & The Raiders band back in 2002 (did you get that CD? Well, no one else did either!), the Ahava Love Band from 2011-2013 (we did get some recordings with these great guys) or the worship teams with All Nations Church (1994-2001), Cornerstone Fellowship (2002-2004) or Antioch International Church on occasion (2011-2013), one thing I really appreciated were our drummers.

I remember all well, for each one had a special style. Combined with their joy and commitment to keep the foundation of the music going steady, the sound they generated would fill the place. Often during the set I would look back from my position in the front, give them a big smile of encouragement, and continue leading, along with them, the listeners and participants into the presence of the good Lord.

The list is long. Ron Bowen from Rock Hill, SC has probably played the most hours with us. Beginning with All Nations Church in 1998 or so, he was on the team for the Friday night all praise and prayer times we called The Watch of the Lord, with Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda. We’d lead worship from 10 pm until 6 am for years. Ron would be one of those banging on the drums.

Ron Bowen on the drums

Steve Martin & The Raiders - 2002

When we started the Raiders, Ron was our drummer. Who was the drummer for Ahava Love Band? Ron Bowen of course. His heart for the Lord was contagious, and I loved seeing his big grin from behind the glass in the corner, filling the room with his joy and zeal for the Lord.

Steve, Laurie, Wane Daroux on bass...

and Ron Bowen on drums!

(both photos) 

Gilbert Crespo, All Nations Church, now playing in person for the Lord Jesus in heaven, was a perfectionist. His Caribbean flair just added immensely to his renditions. When we had guest worship leaders at our Mahesh Chavda Ministries conferences from 1995-2001, Gilbert was the drummer of choice. He recorded several CDs with Robert Stearns of Eagles Wing, and others.

Brian Cockfield of Cornerstone Fellowship, a mature drummer in his late 40s, seemed to always have this real seriousness about him. All knew it was coming from a firm love for the Lord. James DeVito, also at Cornerstone at the time we were, was a young guy with big aspirations. But getting him there on time was a challenge we helped him work through, because the Lord had His hand on James.

Matt Wyns of Antioch International Church was another favorite of mine. He had that particular look while playing, occasionally sharing a smile which you might catch coming out of the corner of his mouth, that let you know this was good stuff. I like Matt.

Savannah (I knew her mostly as Jill before she changed her name) could keep the rhythm with the best of them. Her Caribbean heritage also added greatly to her style.

When Laurie and I go to our home church of MorningStar in Fort Mill, SC every Sunday and for conferences, my heart is so blessed to see the young kids give it their all on the drums. Their passion for the Lord is so contagious, as I see them play with boldness and immense strength. For hours on end I think, some of them could go on and on and on. Little energizer bunnies.

You know why I believe the Lord loves drummers so much? Because as hard as His heart beats for the nations, I can see His expression of that love come through them as they share their talent and skill with the church body. Whether it is playing a soft, gentle love song, or a steady, warring anthem, these men, women and kids come to play their finest for the King.

Be it a little drummer boy or a mature man, full of wisdom and sensitivity to the moving of the Holy Spirit in their movements, God is so blessed by their expression of love for Him.

Keep on drumming guys! You serve the great King of kings, Commander of the Armies of Heaven, and soon returning Messiah, full of glory and song.

You have truly been a joy to team with, and now a joy to watch and worship alongside, for the glory of the Lord God of Israel.

Thank you my friends,

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.


Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available).

Contribution checks can be sent to:

Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

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Now Think On This #123 “God Must Love Drummers” Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.23.14) Sunday at 5:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters can be found on this Blog, and our website: Love For His People

Chinese Bamboo Tree - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Chinese Bamboo Tree - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Chinese Bamboo Tree

Steve Martin

“However, we want each one of you to keep showing the same diligence right up to the end, when your hope will be realized; so that you will not become sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are receiving what has been promised.”  (Hebrews 6:11-12 CJB)

I first heard the story of the Chinese bamboo tree in the late 1990’s. As the administrator of All Nations Church in Charlotte, NC, pastored by Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, others and myself were anticipating the growth in the church membership. All involved with the new church plant in this Carolina region, begun in 1994, were working hard, giving what each had been gifted to do, in leadership, service, and care for the people.

Mahesh spoke one Sunday morning, and again at the all-night prayer time that Friday night following, called the Watch of the Lord, about the Chinese bamboo tree. It was an encouraging word, both to the church as a group, and to individuals specifically. Myself included.

In helping us visualize what can happen in the spiritual, by looking at natural examples the Lord gives us, Mahesh explained the amazing characteristics of this particular plant species. He spoke of how it is most often the way the Lord starts and grows a work that He has initiated. If He birthed it, He will see that it thrives, as we hear and obey along the way. But the way isn’t what we always think it will be. Or at least hope it will be.

Briefly, this particular bamboo, after being planted as a sprout, is watered, fertilized, watered, fertilized, watered, fertilized, again and again and again. Year after year. But there is no visible evidence that anything is happening. During that time, it certainly can be very challenging to one’s faith, especially if you are the one hauling the water and the fertilizer!

Year one passes. Nothing seen. Year two comes and goes. Nothing. But yet you remain faithful, believing the unseen will become the seen.

Year three. “Nada” (as is “nothing” in Spanish.) Year four - “Niet” (“no” in Russian.) Year five – “klum” (nothing) in Hebrew. But year five!

In a 23 day period, the Chinese bamboo explodes upward 22 feet into the sky. And in the short period of six weeks total, it can reach 80 feet! Remarkable! World Book Encyclopedia records that one bamboo plant can grow three feet in a simple twenty-four-hour period.

The question is then asked – did it grow 80 feet in six weeks or 80 feet in five years? I’m saying the later.

During that five year period, the root system, unseen, was being developed. Once the time had come to shoot upwards, the foundation had already been laid. This would then sustain the height and weight of the full grown tree. In addition to the upward growth, shoots had been sent out, also below ground level. This multiplication can come up through the soil up to ten feet away.

What a natural visual for us in the spiritual. Builds your faith, right? You who have been laboring, faithfully, in the natural, all the time hoping, believing to see the increase come in the spiritual. Prayer, reading the Lo

You have been waiting. You have been doing. You have been crying out to the Lord for more results.

The time is coming. For you, it may be the 5th year now.

God the Father has given us examples of those who have gone before us – Joseph, David, even Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. Each had to spend the time needed to first develop the character, before the time of the release. They then had the capacity for strength, wisdom and love to hold the weight of the assignment He had for them. As for them, so for you - that eternal purpose He has for you.

My prayer is that you will not quit in the third year. That you will keep believing through the fourth year. And that you will get the reward in that fifth year.

Our God is a faithful God. His promises are true to you.

Ahava,

Steve Martin
Love For His People

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available).

Contribution checks can be sent to:

Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)