iLevite Magazine - November / December Editorial

Main Menu

Home

Bill's Blog

November / December Editorial

Written by Bill Rayborn

ME AND MY

SHADOW

Not great grammar - but don't you sometimes

feel that is your entire world...

. . . just you and your shadow?

I have a few words that just might

change that "crowd of two."

In the past few weeks I have been inviting Christian musicians to come together in iLevite Fellowship.

"I am so busy I don't have time to join your iLEVITE FELLOWSHIP. Isn't that just like Face Book? I heard bad things about those 'Social Networking' sites.'

             Well, since you are reading this on iLevite.com it would appear I'm basically "preaching to the choir." but my comments go far beyond   social networks and iLevite Fellowship.

Music Ministry can be a lonely profession.

           That sounds a bit counterintuitive when you consider your interaction with large numbers of people...praise team members, choir members, orchestra members, other staff members, not counting your contacts outside the church. So, how in the world could you be lonely?

          That question may actually contains the answer. How "in the world" could you be lonely? Seems I recall some words about being in the world...but not of the world. While "worldly" means different things to different people, let's be honest. There are just a lot of things you don't do or say (or don't allow yourself to be seen doing) because you are "in the ministry." Have you ever sat on a plane with a total stranger and waited for the almost obligatory "What do you do?" question and notice how in many situations the conversation sort of comes to a halt with a response from your new freiend of "That's nice." or maybe "Oh really?" or "I have a second cousin twice removed who was a preacher."

          So, does that have anything to do with iLevite.com or iLevite Fellowship?

         Well, the obvious response is in the word "fellowship." Here at iLevite Fellowship and iLevite.com you can "fellowship" with other Christian musicians from your state, other states, other denominations, other races and even other countries. So, as I said, I am preaching to the choir but it poses an even larger question...Are you getting out of your own little world?

         I've been interacting with Christian musicians for going on half a century and I can tell you that many...maybe most...of us get so involved in our own little world...yea our own little box or even our own little prison without bars that keep us confined. How many really close friends do you have beyond your own church your own city or your won denomination? When was the last time as a Baptist you had lunch with a Charismatic? When was the last time you as an Episcopalian really got close to an Assembly of God. Do you know Nazarenes talk often of "holiness." What does that mean? Is it the same as "Pentecostal Holiness?" Have you ever been to a Black church and seen them carry out someone "Slain in the Spirit?"

        What I am saying is that as a church music "leader" or Christian soloist or group member, we need to branch out and create new friends, new circles of friends. Do you even know the Christian musician down the street?

      iLevite Fellowship is just the first baby step in re-constructing the iLevite.com on-line magazine. Those of you who know me well know of my passion for providing resources for Christian musicians. So, come join me. Join me in reaching out to those with whom we don't normally "fellowship." Christian music is a very, very small world. It can be a very, very lonely world aswe share Christ in music...but it doesn't have to be that way.

        Get out of your shell, your box, yea your "prison."

        You might just find a brand new shining world out there that does not totally center on you. Funny how expanding your focus makes  beyond the blue horizon more than just a song title.

  If you agree, say "Amen!"

    Until next month,

    Bill Rayborn

  See Bill's Biographical Page - Click Here