Brushing Shoulders with Bob Kauflin.
21 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in For the love of God, For the passion of Music
Recently, I’ve been visiting Bob’s Kauflin’s blog: Worship Matters when Grace mentioned that Randy strongly recommends the book Worship Matters for budding musicians and worship leaders. While reading Bob Kauflin’s blog, I felt extremely encouraged by his views on worship and music and how it should be like. So I decided to write to him.
I thank God for his encouraging words. Being a musician who needs to pick up everything from start again has been extremely difficult. I struggle everyday with giving up. Sometimes when I lose sight of why I began this journey, what keeps me going is not God’s approval or glory, but the fact that my parents are forking out alot of money for these music lessons and theory classes. It gets strenuous sitting still and figuring out all the music theory or even frustrating when I can’t seem to get singing my song right. After reading Bob Kauflin’s blog, I decided to pose some questions.
I asked (in short) :
What do you define as musical talent and how much effort must be put in to develop such talent or lack of it?
He replied my email 
Thanks for asking this question, and thanks for your encouraging words!
From what you describe, I’d pursue developing your musical abilities as long as you find joy in it and you’re able to serve others with them. If you have to practice to the point if affects other priorities, affects your attitude negatively, or tempts you to anxiety, it’s not only not worth it, but can be a sin issue.
God means practicing to be something we enjoy because of the good fruit it results in for his glory. As long as you’re not striving to be in a particular position, but rather just seeking to serve others and enjoy what you’re doing musically, I think you’ll be fine.
His words encouraged me incredibly. For the longest time I’ve been seeking musicians to help me in this area of music and I had so many questions bubbling inside, and I thank God He sent people to answer them :] other friends.. and then Bob Kauflin. I have utmost respect for this godly man. Not because he produces really good songs like The Gospel Song, Let your Kingdom come and I Will Glory in My Redeemer, but because though so musically talented, he humbly uses his gift to serve the Church – and that encourages me – his humility.
I pray that I will continue to meditate upon what God says in His word about worship and music and may who God is in my life shape the way I look at the music I create. May it be all for His glory.
