Why Compete?

Something I've learned from being in the music business since 1998, it's all a competition. Well let me rephrase that, music scene in all of Oklahoma is a competition. I was born and raised in good ole Oklahoma, started playing music when I was 13, writing crappy songs in my dads garage. Just like any young kid with a guitar and amp, I was going to be a rockstar! I was fortunate to be a part of what I feel was the best era of Christian bands in Oklahoma music scene. Back when the Outer Cafe was around and great bands came through to play and would hang with you and really talk shop with you. When the local bands could pack out the outer cafe or one way cafe in norman. When the bands were family and cared for each other... Fosters Thinking, Gears of Redemption, SubSeven, Prophecy, Starous, Washermans Field, Slys Alter Ego, Eleven Hours Down, Awake, Eternal Decision.

 Back when a time when national touring bands were humble, there was camaraderie. I specifically remember a story that sticks with me today, of when I called Sam Barnhart from Bleach when I was out on the road headed to Nashville. My marshall plexi amp head had blown out, I called Sam to ask if he knew of a great place to take her when I got to Nashville. He was in the middle of dinner, got up and ran out to his car and got the guys name and number for me. I told him he could just call me back but he said no worries and did it. That was at least 2004 or 2005 and I remember it like it was yesterday. You do that now with even most local bands they'd probably make a snide remark and stick their nose up at you.(or ask what you were going to do for them afterwards) Thats the problem with bands today, I'll even lump all artists into this, they have a sense of entitlement for no reason. Did a lot of bands from the era I was growing up feel like my band got signed out of nowhere, yeah probably, but we worked hard, toured and played crappy venues for no money for no one for a few years before getting a deal. Did we get a look because of someone we knew in the business, yeah, but thats the same today... its not what you know, its who you know. So wouldn't that make you want to network as much as you can, to make those connections instead of treating everyone like they are below you?

 As time went on and my band stopped touring as much and wasn't putting out radio singles, I feel like bands in Oklahoma pushed us to the "out crowd". We weren't doing anything anymore so no one wanted anything to do with us. A new era of bands started and they all were in competition with each other and most of them would only record at a certain studio in a certain college town. If you didn't record there or know those guys then you weren't hip enough to play shows together. The music scene had changed...for the worse... It even spilled over to church musicians, the last place you'd think there might be egos, competition or snobbiness. If you didn't play at three certain churches in Oklahoma City Metro area then you were on the outside looking in. Everything became "what can you do for me" relationships and it got ugly fast.

 Now that I have moved away and I can see it all the more clear. Now its flowing into a different side of the music scene there... I won't say much about that side... only... I guess imitation is the best form of flattery? I have lost a lot of respect for certain musicians in Oklahoma who are in "worship bands" because of their attitudes and how they act. Never forget where you came from and most certainly never forget why/who you are suppose to be serving.

Why compete? In this day in age, where social networking is out of control, why would you want to compete with other bands or artists? Why not join together, work together, create together? You will accomplish way more by coming together as a family of creatives verses thinking you are the best there is and turning people off.

 Ecclesiastes 4:9
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed."

Ecclesiastes 4:12
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Never Feel Unworthy

In the past I would've let people make me feel unworthy or not good enough for them because I never attended a college, never got a fancy college degree. Instead, I knew I was called into music ministry and I jumped in with both feet.

After high school, the band I had started began touring regionally, playing shows at churches, youth camps, clubs, birthday parties...really anywhere we could. I had bought into the plan, I wanted to share my story with whoever would listen. See my life had been radically changed when I was 15 that I wanted everyone to know that there is more to life, there is a Jesus who loves them. Two years after my graduation we played a label showcase in Nashville for a major christian label, they offered us a deal on the spot after we played. After months of back and forth with our respective lawyers, we finally signed on the dotted line and I awaited my pay day from them. I still had a story to tell but things began to change after signing to a record label. It became about me, Jared, instead of about Him, Jesus. Its funny when you turn 21 and you finally get a big pay day from a record label how you start to put God on the back burner. Even though, He is who brought you to that point, He is the one you wanted to do it for in the beginning. After years of touring and slowly but surely turning my back on God and the church, my life hit rock bottom. I had nothing, the band was over, I had no college degree, I had lost a lot of friends, I was working a dead end job. I really felt I had nothing to live for...

In 2010 I started writing songs for a project I started with a good friend of mine. It felt great to write again, to create again, to feel alive again. It just wasn't exactly the same though, you see, I had left God out of it. I still believed in God but I thought, I can do this alone. I was still missing something, obviously it was putting God at the forefront of my life and anything I was doing. I was chasing a dream that I wanted and God wanted me to chase Him.

Towards the end of 2010 I began filling in on guitar for a friend at a church back in Oklahoma. Little did I know that would be first steps that God wanted me to take to fully understand what He was preparing me for. I'm a firm believer that God equips who He calls and He had equipped me from an early age to sing and play guitar, write songs, to be creative, to work hard, to just trust, believe and keep going. Was I working a terrible job while this was going down, yes, did I give up, no! I believed and stood firm that God had plans for me and He would open up those doors when He knew I was ready. I kept serving in that church for months, really getting more and more excited to worship Him on Sundays while playing the songs. Something I felt had been missing for years in my life. I was "getting it", understanding that its about Him and not me. My life is not mine, its His!

Here I am, living in Harrisonburg Virginia and have been working in full time ministry as the worship and creative arts director for Valley Church for the past year. Doing exactly what He equipped me with when I was a young kid... playing guitar, singing and believing. I am working in a creative job, where I am able to think creatively, outside of a box all the while giving glory to God.

Does God equip those He calls? I am living proof that if you just believe, trust, obey, and pray, God will supply your needs and guide you to where He wants you.

Never feel unworthy, not good enough, shameful or anything other than unending joy that you had the faith to just believe and
trust in God to take you and lead you where He wanted.

Matthew 6:31-34
"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."