Tony Trout

Thank you to everyone for your Godly advice. I had rehearsal with Irons last night for a gig we're doing on March 29 (some nights we can't all get together on our usual Tuesday night due to scheduling conflicts) and the church clerk/secretary called me right before I left to see if I was gonna be at church and when I said that I had a prior commitment, she sighed and said, "Ok". I'm just about fed up with people trying to run my life. When I've got other commitments and can't make it, I can't do it. It's that simple. When I can't be there, I can't be there....can they not realize that? Geez.....

Kewl. I apologize for placin' it in the wrong forum....me still learning my way around.....

I agree....and thank you so much for the kind words. We do all different types of music. Of course, we don't do any heavy metal type stuff or anything like that. It's more "folksy" based and original music. We're opening for Marty Stuart on July 17, 2008 in Hiawassee, GA at the Georgia Moutain Fairgrounds at the Anderson Music Hall. Personally, I'm really looking forward to this show because Marty's always been a favorite of mine. I agree. I'm much calmer now than I was when I came home that night....I was very upset after that discussion.... Thanks to everyone for your replies and advice...it's very much appreciated.....

I'm hoping they'll just stop bothering me about it.

Yes, it is. No, it does not. The guys I play with all respect that I'm a Christian and they don't badger me about it. I partly agree with you. I think I also need to talk with the church secretary and get her off my back about this. She's not been going to my church long at all and it seems like she's continually hounding me about this (yes, she's siding with my pastor about this). I is definitely going to sit down with him and find out what's going on...I'm just very tired of dealing with this situation...how would he feel if I point-blank told him to quit his day job working in construction?

I'm basically new here but I have been encountering a recurring problem with my pastor. I am disabled with mild CP (Cerebral Palsy) and Hydrocephalus (water on the brain) but God has marvelously gifted me with the ability to play several different musical instruments and I also sing as well. In 1998 my church had a pastoral change. Also, around this time, I landed a job playing lead guitar for a local band here where I live (Irons In The Fire) and I've been having to battle with my pastor ever since that day. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago: My pastor and our church clerk/secretary (who's also been on my case 'bout this) cornered me after church and my pastor point blank asked me: My Pastor: Do you want God to bless you? Me: Yes. My Pastor: Well, get out of those bands. Now, if anybody wants to tick me off in a hurry then there's no better way to do it than to try to tell me how to run my life or definitely tell me what to do in regards to playing music. Until God says, 'Stop!'...well, it ain't happening. The place I play at on the weekends is a restaurant (with a dance area) and there is no drinking or anything unruly allowed down there. The owners are Christians and they go to church. His response to my response to his question very highly ticked me off and I've thought about just telling him to find another keyboard player for the church....I realize he's my pastor and that I'm under authority to him as a member of my church but...I think he's way out of line telling me to stop doing the thing that I love to do....God has not yet convicted me of playing in these bands and until He does? Well....you can guess what my answer to them will be. I wrote an email to the church secretary (who's also been on my case 'bout this as well) and explained the situation...I didn't send the email because it was written out of anger.... I didn't send the email above because it was written in anger...but I am going to discuss this with them...I'm frankly tired of feeling like I'm being judged just for having a job or something to do to pass my time! Am I wrong for feeling this way?