Bruce at the NAMM Show wanted to worship the Lord and grieve .
After a while I told the Lord that I missed being married and He gave me favor once again and I met my second wife Judy when she was working at a Bible Bookstore in Tacoma . I was promoting a Delirious concert , and the bookstore was selling the tickets for me . I went to pick-up the tickets and the rest is history . Judy and I have been married for 20 years now . Phil Keaggy played the “ Wedding March ” on his JamMan as Judy came down the aisle at our wedding … I said , “ Lord , does it get much cooler than this ?”
[ Eight ] Over the past decades , I ’ m sure you ’ ve seen a lot of people come and go , a lot of people rise and fall . What has struck you about the people who have remained steadfast ?
[ Bruce ] Well , they say , “ Don ’ t judge God by some of the things His kids do ”. That is true . I have seen business practices in the Christian world that aren ’ t win / win to say the least . I have seen leaders that I have done ministry with for 20 years fall , but then thankfully , return to the Lord again in prison . I have been sued by another Christian business that I did not harm in the least , just so they could pave a course for themselves . I have seen Christian musicians that I am friends with start to add false doctrines to their lives … to their own hurt . But thankfuly , they are the minority . I have seen scores of fellow believers who are creativetypes walk well and keep their hands to the plow . They have kept integrity and humility . The Word remains a light to their path and a light to their feet . I try to remind myself one of my own mottos in life … it is a well place trust , when you place your trust in the Lord !
[ Eight ] When speaking with you , I can ’ t help but be moved by your love for the local church . You mentioned that even though your first instrument is guitar , you have been teaching yourself the bass guitar because the church you are part of needed a bass player .
[ Bruce ] After the whole Covid mess with churches Judy and I missed community . She ran into an old friend at the supermarket and the friend invited us to a small church of about 75 people in the rural little town next door to us . I was hesitant as the worship team looked pretty small and their live stream presentation was pretty lacking as well . Ha ! Sorry , but that was my first impression . Not to mention I am 66 years-old and I felt like I was young at this church . We went incognito for a few times and Judy just loved it . In a small church it is easy to get to know the folks as opposed to a large congregation . I had to fight my way through analyzing all the things that I thought the worship team , audio and visual presentation could improve upon and just raise my hands and worship . As we are called to worship God more than be concerned with the production value , correct ?
We started going to a home Bible study as part of the church and I met a few of the worship team folks . I knew from sitting in the audience that they needed a bass player to round things out . They did not have one . I played bass when I was 15 years old for a short season and I wasn ’ t good then . Ha ! But I knew that I could find the root notes to the guitar chords and lend a hand .
[ Eight ] Why do you have a heart for musicians in the church ?
[ Bruce ] At our Christian Musician Summit conferences I have seen worship leaders walk in thinking that they were going to quit … just give up . I have seen the Lord encourage them when they step outside their day-to-day crunch and hear God ’ s call fresh again and be renewed in their spirit and minds . The live events are very much like the magazine coming to life in front of your eyes . We all need encouragement to walk and faint not . We all need community . I want to see all worship musicians have ministry moments and musical memories to draw from in their lives . I have seen the impact of that and heard the gratefulness of musicians spoken to me when they are exposed to it .
[ Eight ] What keeps your love for Jesus and the church fresh and growing ?
[ Bruce ] Going deeper into community . Going deeper in God ’ s Word . No matter how many times you have read something in the Bible , the Holy Spirit can always point you to something fresh . Knowing that the Lord numbers our days is another reminder to stay cognizant of what the Lord would have you do . We really don ’ t know when He will call us home . I need Jesus as my Redeemer . I am a sinner . I need a Savior . We love Him because He first loved us .
[ Eight ] How have you overcome obstacles and endured trials in your life ?
[ Bruce ] I believe that ½ of life is showing up to see what the Lord has for you , but you must show up ! You have your part to play in following the Lord . To keep this answer brief I would say “ Trust and obey ”. Obedience is something we all can benefit from and like I said earlier – it is a well place trust when you place your trust in the Lord . None of us get out of here alive ( unless the rapture hits ) and if we are betting our lives that Jesus is real – then let ’ s pattern our very lives after that fact . Praise God !
22 January 2024 Subscribe for Free ...