The Ultimate Worship Adventure

Friday night had worn me out, didn't get any sleep and the daylight seemed like a dream..

After some coffee and listening to the set list I got from Rick via email, I get to Church at 8am for rehearsal.

Through rehearsals I feel the tiredness kicking in. After that, I run back home to pick up Hazen and grab some Bakers for breakfast just before hitting the stage at 11am.

We throw the mac down in the parking lot and head into Church for Worship.

I am immediately charged when the worship set starts and ride it all the way through past the sermon till the end. It's amazing I didn't pass out yet..

My in-laws Beverly & Steve take Hazen with them after Church and I head back home to catch some sleep before another gig.

I get home and my neighbor rolls up asking if I can help them with their computer real quick.

Real quick turns into an hour or two.

I lay down for about an hour and a half which only seemed like 10 minutes.

And now it's time to load up my drums for another gig - woohoo!

Spiritual Prosperity 2-7-14

This Saturday I'll be playing drums for worship at Celebration Center in Redlands.

My dear friend Rick and Worship Team Leader is always on the ball to give us a list a couple of days before we go on as you can see below:

Worship this Saturday, February 8th.

• Lord We Praise You (Key of Em):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhScieuMKao&feature=youtu.be
• You Are Mighty (Key of Am):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNpBKla1i4Y
• You Are Worthy of My Praise (Key of G):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcWkt7rxrg
• What Can I Do (Key of G):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NqtgE22w58
• He Knows My Name (Key of D):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60
• Come And Fill Me Up (Key of E):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF4YRfsXxSA&feature=youtu.be
• God Is My Redeemer (Key of D) This is for Garden of Prayer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wV_91p06_Q&feature=youtu.be

I really love the fact that I don't have to haul my drums to Church and jam, because the drums are already there!

And I especially am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful worship team too.

New Jobs For Drummers

The cool thing about being a drummer is that you don't have to always play the drums!

Watch the video and discover.. 

• Another way to make money as a drummer
• How to edit music to be perfectly in time
• Crucial elements to implement that makes multi-track recording easier

How I Became a Worshiping Drummer

John & Elan

I was approached by my late friend Elan to play in a worship band headed up by my late wife Mary. They asked if I would play drums with them as a worship band. I was skeptical at first, because of my vice for heavy metal at that time. But I joined anyway.

What else can a 16 year old do besides jam drums and have a good time, right? I thought it would be cool enough, so I did it. Me and Elan had been jamming for quite sometime before I met up with Mary. So we were pretty tight. After learning a couple of songs with them, I got picked up by one of the other church bands to play for worship on stage.

I asked Mary if it was okay to jam with them, so that I could get on stage for the very first time and she was enthusiastic for me as usual. I felt bad that they couldn't use her as well. After all, Elan and Mary got me into this situation in the first place.

Mary at 19 & Dean's 18th Bday

Anyway, I did a worship session at Azure Hills Church in Grand Terrace California and after the last song, I distinctly remember Pastor Dan Simpson say to me, "interesting drumming". Don't know if that was good or bad, but it didn't matter because I had a blast anyway.

After that I was always hooked for the stage. But turned down the rest of worship jams with everyone for many years after that one. Simply because I didn't feel right about jamming without the original members that started with me in the first place.

So after years of jamming in the secular arena, getting into fights with other band members. I decided to give worship another try. My wife Mary encouraging as ever, was glad to see me worship again. And even after she died, I continued to worship with the same team that I've been with to this very day. Our team also did the music for her memorial service.

I went into worshiping as a skeptic, but now I know exactly what is my purpose..

Saturday October 29, 2011

Today my son was able to come to church with me, so I put him to work. He filmed our 8 am rehearsal and the 11 am worship service.

He did pretty good!

So I put them together in Pinnacle Studio HD and voila!

And here goes...