I Have Been Smitten on the Side
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him,
and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side,
and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.
And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:7

The Biblical Perspective of Music!

This testimony is written in four parts as it came together in four parts!
(click each one or read it all in its entirety)
Introduction - Why Such a Concern About Music?

1.  My general personal background;
2.  My eyes being opened in regard to being an offence to others;
3.  My need to arise from my chains and go quickly;
4.  My desire to enjoy one last giant step of faith in my life!

Why Such a Concern about Music?

What is my drive for this preaching & teaching stuff on music, you may ask?  Well, with what I have come to learn from the Book these past years, I have grown to truly hate to see the devil getting his way in our KJB churches.  In order for us to be thankful and to praise Him, etc. we can't let the devil get that fleshy music into our KJB doctrinally sound Bible Believing churches - but it is happening all over our nation and into mission fields as well.

I believe that if the devil can't get us to 'mess up' in doctrine - if he can't get the brethren to ruin each other - if he can't get the finances to crumble - etc. then he can still mess with those who are willing to walk 'after' the flesh (we are saved thus we can't ever walk 'in the flesh' anymore) with their 'favorite' music - and I most certainly believe the devil is doing that with great success in KJB homes and churches across the nation!

The bottom line is that most pastors and church people have NO IDEA as to what the Bible says about music! Secondly and as a result of the first point, pastors and church folks don't see what the devil is doing with music in our KJB churches and homes!

I have also read a number of good materials and watched some good videos on music for a Christian, but I have yet to see a complete work on what the Bible SAYS about music.  If people would only read all that the Bible says about music, the Holy Spirit can do its job through it all.

Here is a little personal background for any of you who don't know me.  I am leaving out all the details of my background even though those details are so much a part of God's working in my life - but there are just too many to include here.
Personal Background

Since I was a little boy in Huron, SD, sitting on a crumbled curb at the corner of 3rd and Colorado - next to Skeeziks Grocery Store, drinking a bottle of Nehi Grape, chewing my gum from my baseball cards of Duke Snyder and Mickey Mantle, keeping track of the different car license plates as people from across the country drove highway 14 through town on their way to Mount Rushmore, I always fearfully wondered if I was ever going to be able to leave this town and get out and 'see the world.'

Looking back, I continue to see how God has truly allowed that kid around!

After I had graduated from college in 1972, I have lived in two towns in Southern Minnesota as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada; Pocatello, Idaho; Rochester, New York, back to the Black Hills of South Dakota and now here in the state of Washington.  I have traveled into every state with the exception of the Deep South & lower East Coast.  I have even traveled up into Canada and down into Mexico - yet always being so relieved when I would return to American soil.

Now that isn't too bad for a kid who was scared he was never going to be able to 'get out of a small town!'  Sure, I realize that most of you have traveled more than that, but for me, this is almost a miracle, especially if you were to ever know the details of each move and each new lifestyle those moves created.

After living in all those different parts of the country, I will say that I still really do miss the prairie!

I once even had a map of America in my school office with all the major highways highlighted
that God had allowed me to drive.  I looked with amazement at that map for years!

I have gone from a skinny 'lost' kid reading comics & practicing the piano, (occasionally shooting a few ducks & rabbits along with a few 'stupid" 100 yard gopher kills right off of a farm house step) - to an older KJB Baptist pastor preaching salvation in the KJB (I won't say fatter, however...) with guns in his office hoping someday to shoot his first bear!  You would think if I could shoot a gopher from that distance, I would surely be able to hit a bear!  Anyway...
Professionally, as a music teacher, I have taught in schools as large as 3000 and as small as 500 and even down to about 25 - not forgetting our own homeschool of two.  I have been involved in churches as large as 1500 members and as small as 4-12 - even having a home church for about a year and a half.  I have directed school choirs and adult choirs; bands of students in 4-12 grade and even a few adult bands & "orchestras as well as one session of adult Bible Institute class."  I have lead anywhere from 20 to 1000 people in the singing service at various churches.  I have performed on almost every band instrument as well as on piano and organ.
All of those 'experiences' had those many times of toil and tribulation, believe me!  I should have my doctorate degree by now as a result of all that I have learned through the classroom experience.

You see, in all of my years involved with instrumental practice, God would always see to it that I never would get 'too' good.  Seriously - I know of a specific event in 6th grade where if I had played what I was planning that night in that school program, my 'fame' would have been established on the piano from that moment on - however, it got snuffed by being inadvertently left out of the program - thus, no fame ever came of me.

As I went on to college, I was never able nor was I even willing to really concentrate on any particular instrument - thus I never did get very accomplished on any particular instrument; but I did receive that "all around" musical instrument teaching education.  I did enjoy learning to play all the instruments - even the marimba & accordion, but like I said, I never really became greatly accomplished on any of them.  I could teach them, but I could never "woo" the world with any playing talents.

When I started finally started teaching, even though I believe I never was that good of a band teacher, (although I sure did love 'many' of those students of mine - about 20,000 or so over the years I figure.), After my salvation and the subsequent return to church, God proceeded to carry me through those schools in such a manner that I progressed from small school band/choir programs on up to a great HS band program in Las Vegas with 200+ rich & talented marching band members who took trips all the time - - - only to see after 3 short years of serious activity, that public school band was not "for me" as a Christian!

I then became involved in a KJB Believing Church where I started a Christian school in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It was there where I did my first and last stint at administrating as well as teaching history and English in grades 4-12.

We eventually moved up to Pocatello, Idaho to help a man from Las Vegas start a church.  I had done a few 'interesting' days as a mortician (go ahead, ask me about those details!) but ended up being the Culligan man for the area.  I was not only selling soft water, I was giving away living water in Mormon country.  My boss was a Mormon bishop - I sure did some learning during that year!
We then traveled across the country to start a band program from "scratch' in Rochester, NY, and through it all, was able to carry a few kids from their beginning years to their graduation.  Teaching those kids to play their instruments 'for the Lord' as we would travel to NYC and to a few other churches - I would eventually find out the hard way that I was to "graduate" along with them.
As devastating as it was at the time, it really was just another of God's firm 'kicks' in preparing me for a music ministry.  You see, at that time, I had prayed and told God that I didn't have the courage to do what I know I needed to do at that time - and that I knew that I really needed to leave!

However, at that time, a movie called Sheffy came along and showed me that I could to be loyal to the word of God, not just to some organization; and after that movie, my life would never be the same again.

After some great preaching from a camp meeting in Connecticut and some preaching from Dr. Sam Gipp, God moved us half-way across the country back to the Black Hills of SD!  It truly was a miracle that we were able to make that move - and to think that God had me teach in a public school again!  Then, He puts me down with back surgery - such a plan, eh!   It appears more clearly now, that He was just continuing to work-me-over regarding music and the Bible.  If you only knew the details of those years...
During all those years, I was able to research all the music verses in a King James Bible.  I have even researched how modern perversions have affected music today.  God graciously has allowed me to  preach a number of sermons regarding music and the Bible.  I have been able to teach much of this material to students in grades 4-12 in public & Christian schools as well as adults across the country.

Piece by piece, I have watched it all develop into charts, sermons, bible studies, powerpoint messages and now I hope, into a mission field aimed at those Believers in churches who are seeing music suddenly 'destroy' the spirit in their church, in their family and even in their own personal lives.

Now, on with the sermon! (audio can begin here)
Being an Offence
I had just recently heard a sermon about marks of maturity of a Christian from Philippians 1:1-8.  The next day, I went on and read vs 9,10.  In verse 10, I saw that a mature Christian is also to be without offence till the day of Christ.

Well, God suddenly perked an interest in that for me!  Knowing that my background of teaching comes from a man who is known for being quite offensive over the years - and even more nowadays - so embarrassingly offensive, in fact, I thought I would check to see if this man had any 'notes' on this point in verse 9.

I found in his notes that he taught that we are not to be an offense to God and used Acts 24:16 to illustrate his point.

However, (and what an eye-opener for me) the verse does not really say what he teaches that it says.  The verse actually says: ... to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. It doesn't say not we are to not be an offence to God; it says void of offence TOWARD God.  Looking up the word offence we see that we are not to be angry and/or show any displeasure TOWARD God.

But the real eye-opener came was when I also read the REST of the verse... TOWARD MEN!

As we know the truth of the KJB will certainly offend people no matter how we preach it or witness with it - and even just our showing up will offend people.  Having a Bible in our hand when we visit friends and family, etc. will quite often just 'offend' people.  Such a thing, eh!

But here we are being told that a 'mature' Christian will not show anger, displeasure, any attack, etc. TOWARD anyone.

No wonder he shorted that explanation.  This man HAS been and still IS an offence TOWARDS men - and even moreso nowadays, even towards the brethren.

Hmmm - it looked like it was time for me to add some more maturity to my preaching/teaching cup and examine myself in regards to me being actively offensive toward men.

That observation has caused me to suddenly review the website as well as my own ministry.

Well, I won't say anymore - but some of you may already know what I am talking about.  In other words, it has been more of a blessing that I have not only been kicked off this man's porch - (even if was a total misunderstanding and full of lies privately as well as publically), but that I have even been run out of his neighborhood; but now I can see God's blessing behind it all.

I needed to consider if I am an offence TOWARD men!

That is the first point of this sermon.  Now that God is trying to help me GROW UP, He is now ready to get me to serve Him even better - and that is seed that showed me WHY God is suddenly doing with me what He is doing - and what is that?  Read on!

Read the next section to see what God has done with as a result of my self-examination as a Christian in regards to possibly either being an offence TOWARD others - and even knowing about those who are.

Arise Up Quickly

As a result of my recent observations in regards to being an offence to others, God apparently will NOW try to awaken me to His service!

Let's go to Acts chapter 12 beginning at verse 1 and let's read until verse 18.  I will include it here with a few comments in between as they need to be included - but I would recommend that you listen to the audio testimony in regards to this sudden change in ministry.  I can't really type what I speak, nor can I speak only of what I type so if you are truly interested in this testimony, then use these written notes but listen to the audio.

I heard some preaching on Acts 12:1-8.  Here is how God personally applied this message to me.  Afterwards, God carried this message further to me using verses 9-18 while I was back at my office.

1: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2: And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3: And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4: And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5: Peter therefore was kept in prison... It is easy for us to allow ourselves to be caught up in a self-designed prison.  We find that the love of the world - the deceitfulness of riches along with cares of this world tend to just lock us up in a prison.  We can find all sorts of reasons to 'stay in prison' if we just don't know or are afraid to find out how God would ever really use us.

We are made free no doubt, and we figure we will not really be set free until either death or the rapture, but God can surely set us free from the prison we put ourselves in - especially as members of the Laodicean churches of America.

When this particular sermon had even just begun, I knew already what was coming. I had been dealing with this issue for years anyway.  The Holy Spirit had already begun the convincing work in my heart!  I knew it was going to be time to 'get out of prison!'

...but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
I have heard many people tell me to, "Write a book on music!"  "Go and travel from church to church!"  "Pastors and people need to hear what that Bible says about music!" etc. etc. etc.

It must be that some of our friends, church members and even some from the past have been also praying, and hopefully will continue to pray for me, for my family and for this adventure in faith!

6: And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
This preacher preached on two chains that can bind us in serving God:  1) chains of ignorance; 2) chains of independence.

1)  The way I looked at it was there was no chain of ignorance for me. God had already removed that one.  Through these last 7 years of preaching and pastoring, God has taught me much in regards to 'doctrine,' other 'camps', etc. etc.

God has also shown me more than just about "good and bad" music and all that other common musical discussion that the common Christian talks about.  God truly has shown me what He has to say about music IN the King James Bible - and it isn't what most folks even know about music and the Bible.

For me, that chain of ignorance had finally been removed - although, even up to my last meeting, I still continue to learn more and more.  In fact, at this last meeting that I preached at in Philadelphia, He taught me just in time to preach about what music God does consider to be PERFECT music to His ears!  God concluded my years of musical study with that very sermon.  It has been marvelous!  But ignorance?  No, that chain was gone.

2)  The chain of independence?  Well, sure - of course.  I am pastoring a church.  I have pastoral concerns and 'burdens' for God's people. I do have concerns and burdens not only of my own church people but for people I meet from our website family.

I have been so concerned about others - my own flock as well as the website family - that I found myself getting locked up!  Just tight on the inside!  There was so much I knew about that I couldn't really do anything about.

So yes - I needed to realize that all that God has taught to me in these 7 years in the pulpit as shown me that I am NOT independent - I must be TOTALLY dependent on Him!  I am NOT to live 'independently!'

He has done so much for me - He has paid so much for me - He has shown me so much in that Bible.  Some of the deep things of God have been made available to me.

He bought me!  I can not do what I want - and I can no longer refuse to do what He wants me to do!

So now I saw that both of my chains were off - they were gone!

7:  And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Yup - here it is.  The smack on the side of the heart! God said it is time to stand up - and tell me to get busy - there isn't much time left.  God showed me that the chains are gone and that He will GET ME UP and He will GET ME UP QUICKLY!
8:  And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Yup - time to get busy for the Lord in this music stuff.  I need to follow the leading here!  Oh oh!  Do all that is necessary to get it going - God will provide as he provided the armour to wear in battle, He will provide the tools necessary for this music adventure of faith!

I have recently come to understand that we follow Jesus by following Paul. Yes, this is all starting to make sense to me!

9: And he went out, and followed him...
Well, it wasn't that easy for me!  In fact, I just let the sermon go on and be completed - knowing all the time that God was hitting me on the side!

So after the sermon ended, I was just truly torn up on the inside - nervous - you know, that stuff called conviction - the Holy Spirit was convincing me!

Bummer, I knew I had finally come to the time that I had to do something with this music stuff - I always had even wanted to - some day!  But...

and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
I knew I had not seen a vision - I knew exactly what was going on.

It is time to get up and get serious!  Awake!  Arise up quickly and ask...
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
Acts 9:6
10: When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11: And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
In my case as did Peter - I had come to myself - I knew it was God wanting for me to move forward with this music stuff.  God must be ready to open some iron gates!

There are the people and pastors out in the pulpits of America in the mission fields around the world who really have no idea what the Bible says about music - yet I believe they know something is going on regarding 'music!'

Knowing that I need to be delivered out of the hand of the devil in this world's prison - as well as also from all the expectation of the people - or in this case, people would rather me to be quiet about this music 'issue' as they "know what they like" and they like the results their personal music is showing.  Music is bringing in more people to church and people are having more fun in church.  They will not want that disturbed.  Moses got water out of the rock when he struck it the second time - but he was still WRONG in what he did.

'Results' do not prove 'right!' - ask Moses about that!

So I believe there will be those of the brethren who will try to put me back into prison over this issue of music!

12: And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13: And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14: And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15: And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
Now comes a big test.  Will those who have asked me to write a book; those that say they are praying for me in regards to this music ministry; those that said they would help support this kind of ministry for me - will they not actually 'believe' that I have gotten up 'out of prison' and have dropped the chains that were keeping me from doing anything with this music 'stuff' - as they prayerfully requested?

Will the brethren actually refuse to truly 'be there' now that the move is being made?  Will the doors open for me for gladdness?  Probably not - they will probably just say, THOU ART MAD!

16: But Peter continued knocking:
If those are the results, I must still just continue knocking and telling them, "Yes brother, this for real."  This ministry will go forward and they must believe that it will!
...and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
I know - if this really gets going - or if God actually makes things happen, I will be as astonied as they will be.  But the call has been answered.  They must open the door and see!
17: But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Yes - I must declare to them this very testimony - and as those of you who listened to the audio along with the written text, you are hearing my testimony about how God slapped me up and told me to get busy!  As did Peter, I also will be glad to declare this testimony to anyone - even the "former" brethren.  As Peter went into another place, I must also be willing to go into another place - and another - and another, etc.
18: Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Oh believe me, I know that if I do get into any pulpits or any website exposure, there will be no small stir - unfortunately, there will be no small stir among the brethren as well as the lost world!

Music has become either the new god in most churches today or it has become the Spirit quencher in the KJB churches with their traveling gospel bluegrass homeschool family singing quartets, etc. that is all but taking over the music in church after church.

God has not given me a normal music issue message - there are plenty of good books and videos already out on that issue!  This message is truly about what the King James Bible says about music - period! With that in mind, we also know that Bible has been causing a stir among the brethren lately - and about music and rightly dividing?  Ya, it all fits!  And it will cause no small stir among the brethren as well as the devil's soldiers!

In fact, I have caused my own stir in recent years and even months - the devil has been busy drumming up false accusations - and since I got saved and took hold of the King James Bible - and along with all the Bible doctrines I have learned - and with all the preaching on the 'walk' - I am sure I have done a good job at stirring some mud myself.  If only the brethren could be as forgiving and understanding as God is! I know know that I am to be without offence toward men! Romans 12:18 does remind me -If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

But I will walk on with faith and maintain a joy over this whole subject.  God can handle the brethren for me!  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.  Isaiah 66:5

Word of God to Grow and Multiply

See verses 24,25  But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
If you skip ahead now to verses 24,25, you will see that I have always tried to have this be my goal as a music teacher, preacher, pastor, etc.; that the word of God would grow and multiply.  I am not as interested in seeing churches grow in size as I am in seeing the word of God grow in a person's life.  If this music ministry is ever 'fulfilled,' I hope we are not aiming for bigger churches - but we aim to see the word of God either grow again like it has in the past, or even in some cases, return to the pulpit and to those people who had begun to bow down to all kinds of music or had let music take the place of their Bible!

Folks - I have no doubt that we are OUT OF SEASON in America when it comes to preaching the truth.  I believe that most pastors are becoming more and more concerned about building churches under the Great Commission; there are those concerned about the size of their church, thus they have allowed music to enter in - a music that they would have NEVER allowed into their church only a few years ago.  But to preach the whole truth - including the truth regarding music?  That is getting to be a hard thing to find.

Moses proved a point worthy of us all taking heed in regards to music; you all know the story of Moses striking the rock the second time instead of speaking to it... we know that he did not provide for his people in the manner that God wanted it done.  BUT... he did still get results!

However, Moses soon found out that just because there are good results, it was not right to do wrong to get results!

So now are you asking any of these questions?
There are a lot more questions to be asked...
But for now... Let's finish this thing.
Conclusion
Live His Faith

Let's quickly turn to Mark 6:54-56 and Luke 8:43-48.

Mark 6:54-56  And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.  And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Luke 8:43-48  And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.  And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Notice in Mark 6:56, that ...and as many as touched him were made whole.  Yet in Luke 8:43-48 only one woman was healed even though the multitude throng thee and press thee!

You see, in these days we have so many folks hanging around some kind of modern "Jesus" and through those modern perversions, they get nothing from the real Jesus Christ.  They are being messed with by the spirit of anti-christ.

Then we also have more and more of those in the KJB churches who appear to be 'around' Jesus a lot.  They throng him and press him - they read the books about him, they do the music about him, they talk about him, etc. and they pray, they rightly divide, etc. etc. etc. but do they get anything from Him directly?  Do they get anything out of the Book?

It seems that there is less and less faith from people these days.  Why else would someone even read in their Bible and still GET NOTHING OUT OF IT!

I Want To Enjoy His Faith One More Time!
Of all of our trips across the country as we moved from place to place, I must say that we did not really enjoy them that well!  We must have had some problems with our faith through some of those hard moments, eh!

This time I want to do one more big move of faith - and this one I want to enjoy like it we should!

I want to let God show me what to do with this music stuff that He has given me.  It WILL take faith for sure, if anything is to get done...

1)  I don't know how He will get me into any pulpits, or even if He wants me to!
2)  I don't figure many will even WANT me to preach and teach my message from their pulpits these days!
3)  It can not be done in one message - I did 7 in Philadelphia and I still had more that I could have said!
4)  I am not a flamboyant big name preacher to get folks to travel to hear this message!
5)  I don't have near enough money to purchase the equipment to make these presentations!
6)  I don't know how to write a book or the stamina or desire to write one!
7)  I don't know if anyone would even read a book on music and the KJB!
8)  Our health of both my wife and I can be in question at times!
9)  At this time, I don't see leaving the pulpit of Touchet, but will I need to some day?
10)  And if a pastor is moved to hear from God over this stuff, will he be able or even willing to do what he has to do?

You can see, this truly will take faith!  But I have honestly seen how God wants me out of prison!  He has taken off those chains and told me to arise quickly.

He has given me HIS FAITH!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

We May As Well Arise, eh!

How about you?


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