God Jam It's "the Real Thing"

Spend enough time together, not necessarily with a planned agenda, but sharing a common vision, something is bound to eventually manifest. A primary element to see this happen is faithfulness, to God - to your vision - to each other. As a skilled musician, it is difficult for me to just sit back or lay back, put on a CD (regardless of the supposed anointing) and soak. Its like chewing on another cows cud. Why would I want to do that when I can get the real thing from the source and by-pass the middle man? Now, I am not demeaning the practice of soaking as we are coming to understand it and put it into practice and be blessed in the process. My point is that as a God blessed and accomplished musician, soaking is second best when you have become accustomed to plugging in and allowing and experiencing the direct flow of Gods creativity immediately, in the first person. The act of soaking in the presence of God utilizing a CD as the source of commuting us into Spiritual dimensions can never be more than a third person experience, or gathering the crumbs that fall from another mans plate. And if you are accustomed to Gods direct, personal inspiration, a second hand blessing. Not all are musicians. Musicians as God made us are created to usher the non-musicians into the presence of God. God created me to usher, not to be ushered. Musicians speak in a language that transcends verbal, intellectual intelligence. It has been called the language of angels. This language may be the communications of war, or peace and comfort. Like any language, it must be learned. It is not as simple as the babbling of tongues, but as a corporal and at the same time spiritual communication, speaks in Spiritual realities. Religious notions of what constitutes acceptable worship expression are often an affront to musicians who have tasted of the creative waters gushing forth from the throne of God, who have learned to drink freely and float without the aid of religious water wings. This is God Jam. Is God Jam a band? Yes, but No. It is a gathering of a regular set of musicians but is not limited to a particular line up. Is God Jam an event? Yes, but no. God Jam is wherever and whenever we musicians gather to exercise our gift with each other and to others, be it in the church or elsewhere. It is our opening ourselves to the creative process as God inspires, opens our minds, and we are willing and receptive to this in each other and seek to compliment each other and as God grants, lead each other. Can any musician participate in God Jam. Yes, but no. Novices of limited ability will be treated as apprentices and expected to submit to the authority of the leadership. Accomplished journeymen may fit in comfortably. Some musicians with many years playing, in reality have little real knowledge of music, or have an inflated opinion of their own skill level. When the rubber hits the road, these will burn out, or blow out, fairly quickly, and an unwillingness to receive instruction and teaching to bring their skills up to par will see them come and go. Master musicians will have no problem playing, but this is not a democracy, nor are prima Donnas catered too. Prerequisites

are a desire to allow God to create through the gift He has given you, a willingness to submit to the authority God has established within the God Jam social structure, and a willingness to set upon the task of mastering your craft. Is God Jam a closed Jam Session for musicians only? NO absolutely not. Anyone and everyone are welcome to come, listen, enjoy, learn, worship, SOAK as God may be in you and with you as you are. But- God Jam is not a show. The musicians purpose is not primarily to entertain you, or to minister to you. We are gathered first to minister to God, and that not necessarily in a way that caters to your idea of what may be proper. You may be more comfortable boarding your 747. God Jam is a Space Shuttle. The timid need not bother. We are going to war, not a tea party. Jams usually are quite long, typically 30 to 60 minutes. A short one may be about 10-15 minutes. Long jams go through phases or movements. One jam flowed for about 90 minutes. Playing for such extended periods, there are times between jams to fellowship with musicians. We need our rest and refresh ourselves. As fun as it may be, this kind of playing is work.

Its Not That I Mean to Offend, It Just Comes Naturally Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where the Jews [habitually] congregate (assemble); and I have spoken nothing secretly... Jesus replied, If I have said anything wrong [if I have spoken abusively, if there was evil in what I said] tell what was wrong with it. But if I spoke rightly and properly, why do you strike Me? John 18:20, 23 I put out two email newsletters. One is this God jam Newsletter, the other is a posting of worship, teaching and other recordings I make on a regular basis. Last week I received a response to an article which was actually included in both emails, God Jam- Its the Real Thing. A brother took offense, and thought I was attacking a ministry He is personally a part of. That was not the case and what I expressed were opinions and attitudes Ive held for years. There used to be a time, not so long ago, I would twist myself into all sorts of contortions and flip over backwards to try and be diplomatic and placate offended parties. Not so, no mo. I have also come to a conclusion, and this I have also held for years, as some have been offended in the past can attest, unity is not a matter of holding the same opinion or avoiding controversy for the apparent sake of peace. Such peace is not peace at all, but fear of being real, for the sake of putting on a Christian religious facade. I know are a few out there that will read this, who have been given with the same gift of offence, so I dont feel too alone. But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. 1 Cor 1:10 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men? 1 Cor 3:3

For in the first place, when you assemble as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques (divisions and factions) among you; and I in part believe it, For doubtless there have to be factions or parties among you in order that they who are genuine and of approved fitness may become evident and plainly recognized among you. 1 Cor 11:18, 19 Divisions and unity are both a part of Christian reality. On the one hand we are told to be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. On the other hand, there are cliques (divisions and factions) among you; and I in part believe it, For doubtless there have to be factions or parties among you in order that they who are genuine and of approved fitness may become evident and plainly recognized among you. Okay Paul, give me a break. On the one hand I am to wimpishly play the part of Harvey Milk Toast and give into any sort of assertiveness by my brother in Christ for the sake of unity and peace in bond of love in Christ. On the other hand, these differences may well be the testing of my genuineness and fitness, if I stand my ground. Which is it? Between these two poles, have differences become a matter of envying and jealousy and wrangling Are we getting caught up playing the church political game? Differences in polity, method, emphasis in ministry and a myriad of other possibilities are to be expected. We are allowed to differ with each other. And in differing, the Lord will make evident and plainly recognizable that which is genuine and of approved fitness. We are allowed to differ. We are not allowed to devour each other because of these differences. Do I envy? Am I jealous? Do I look forward to a good fight? To chalk up another notch on my pearl handled spiritual peace makers. Excuse me, make that ivory handled, Only a pimp would use pearl handles George C. Scott as Gen George Patton. I for one love open debate. The problem with open debate, or at least the way most open debates turn out, we begin attacking each other rather than issues. I would like to include my response to the brother who took offense at the Its the Real Thing article. But for now I will not. I would like to post His response to the article on my website, and then respond myself. And likewise receive his response or rebuttal and also read the opinions of others. I do not fear the extremist that can get out of line. I have confidence enough that there is enough of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ to put them in their place, and in the right spirit. No I will not post my brothers response; we need to mend some fences. And I would not do that without His knowing it would be posted first. But here is the issue. Jesus said I have spoken openly I have spoken nothing secretly John 18:20. What I have written and posted in these newsletters, I do openly and publicly. I welcome feedback and response. But I will receive nothing as private conversation, and if a response is warranted, I will not be silent.

What follows is my reply to a response to 'It's the Real Thing'. The author of the response has not granted permission to publicly post their response, but that does not render a restraint on me to reply. They shall remain anonymous. Bob Couchenour ------------------------------------------------------**** Thanks for your response to the Real Thing. I think there is much we agree on, and just as much we disagree on. First what I wrote in the article was not and is not a reaction to what you may have taught or did on the Sunday in question. Hence, It seems to have a defensive tone to it, as though some offense was taken, is not the case at all. I could not be offended if I was not there to be offended in the first place. I was not at *********** that Sunday. Second the article was written before the Sunday you had the service. If anything rather than defensive it is purposely offensive. I dont have a problem with soaking or playing CDs. And if you notice in the article, I write As a skilled musician, and any attitude expressed is As a skilled musician. I certainly do believe you can be blessed and worship with CDs, but As a skilled musician it is like chewing on another cows cud. Such a prospect has no appeal to me As a skilled musician at all. As far as what happens at God Jam on Friday nights. The church universal, contemporary and traditional has been content to express Gods creative nature at a level of mediocrity that lends to the perception of the masses of believers as ignorant, unthinking, culturally deficient, and merely tolerable as an economic block of consumers to be made merchandisable and marketed to simply because there is a sufficient number of sales to be made. This marketing and merchandising mentality is not just a world modes operandi, it is the churches methodology. Skill and Creativity are sacrificed on the altar of marketability. The quality of the vast majority of the items that stock the shelves of Christian bookstores is nothing more than kitsch with a religious theme. Our music, on the whole (and I admit there are exceptions there) is little more than Christian schmaltz. We have reduced our creative expressions to religious musical formulas that are proven sellers. Now this does not deny that the church as a whole may be blessed by these products. Its all there is on the shelves. Mass marketability determines what we are offered. Creativity, skill and craftsmanship of production are not determinative of value. Economic, low priced, quick factory to store distribution, and a sense of religious sentiment is what determines what expresses Christian value and being. Our music is allowed little more latitude. We are faced with a problem that religious leaders are equated a position as artistic critics and religious safe formulas that fit the mind set of a personal vain of understanding or enlightenment are afforded their approval and blessing. We, ***********, and the ********* movement, are not uninfected by this. New movement, new forms. Eventually the new becomes the traditional, eventually the traditional becomes the classic. But new is new as long as it is in the process of creation. As soon as it is recorded, encoded, burned onto a CD, or pressed into an album, or even transcribed onto a paper chart or into a computer midi file, its newness

begins to fade. Yes it can bless others. But the Holy Spirit moves through people. He abides in us. There may be an anointing that is present as that CD is played. But if that artist is truly anointed, there is no better place to be than in the presence of the process of creation and not sucking up the residue of what happened in a studio a few years earlier or a live presentation that happened to be recorded. These recordings eventually become our benchmarks of what is Christian and religiously acceptable. They take on their own religious sanctification and canonization. The intent of God Jam, for one part, is to move toward raising the level of musicianship of Christian musicians. Besides this, to afford an open safe environment where serious musicians can freely express their creativity in a fellowship of artists. It is a place where musicians, who want to grow in their craft, can be offered a place to do it. Novices of limited ability will be treated as apprentices and expected to submit to the authority of the leadership. Accomplished journeymen may fit in comfortably. Some musicians with many years playing, in reality have little real knowledge of music, or have an inflated opinion of their own skill level. Master musicians will have no problem playing, but this is not a democracy, Prerequisites are a desire to allow God to create through the gift He has given you, a willingness to submit to the authority God has established within the God Jam social structure, and a willingness to set upon the task of mastering your craft. The musicians purpose is not primarily to entertain you, or to minister to you. We are gathered first to minister to God, and that not necessarily in a way that caters to your idea of what may be proper. You may be more comfortable boarding your 747. God Jam is a Space Shuttle. The timid need not bother. We are going to war, not a tea party. I think it is a good thing that youve been doing through these various aspects of God Jam (both the weekly and the periodic public venues), although I know from first hand experience, the weekly gatherings tend to provide a time of fellowship that only the most accomplished of musicians would feel welcomed at You came to two (2) Friday night sessions (over eight months), with a vast period between the two. As the sessions evolved, and the creative process is an evolving process, things moved on and changed. I offered my time skills and service originally to any who wanted to advance their musical abilities. Few, and this I believe includes you, are aware of the commitment, dedication and sacrifice required to see this become a reality in their own lives. Or, if they are aware, are unwilling to commit the time (energy and money) and DO what it takes. As the Lord culled the sheep from the goats (I hope you will forgive my imperfect analogy) the core of serious musicians and those sharing common vision evolved and new musicians are being attracted and added. The Friday night God Jam sessions are not intended to be a religious gathering to satisfy some spiritual gurus idea of what we musicians should be or should be doing or should not be doing. this is not a democracy nor are prima Donnas catered too, that is religious as well as musical prima Donnas. I am the boss. I have a core of brothers around me who share the same vision. They are my confidants and advisors. This we do with the pastoral oversight of **** ***** and permission of the trustees and elders. I will refrain from saying more Bob