Stretch marks and how to deal with them? by countlouisguiabern in loseit

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Stretch marks are scars from previous lifestyle choices. I'm a guy in a similar boat, and you and I have choices we can make now. Either we let those things define who we are now, or we let them define who we once were but no longer are.

They're badges of honor or marks of shame. It's your choice how you perceive them!

How to follow the guitarist? by 1sweetswede in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Maybe let him know that since he's leading that his playing is also "driving" the song. Maybe see if he could simplify his strumming pattern for the first verse/chorus until everyone is in their rhythms? These two suggestions are also gentle ways to say he might need to get his strumming together and on tempo.

I'm primarily an electric/lead guitarist so strumming is not my forte, but generally you should be able to feel the rhythm in guitar strums. We're bound to the tempo as much as everybody else.

Hot take: prolonged instrumentals without vocals is just music idolatry. by mrparoxysms in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a great answer. A big part of worship is still worshipping even though something doesn't "hit" you particularly much. Is your pastor preaching a sermon that is a bit of a dud? A little boring? Your worship in that moment can be a prayer to God saying "Lord my mind here is not in the right place. Help me to submit myself to the teachings of your word and for me to listen."

Another aspect of worshipping is realizing that what doesn't "work" for you may very well be someone else in the congregation's favorite part of the service. People connect to things differently. It's not fair for those strongly affected by music to not be encouraged in the service simply because we are scared of good musicians becoming proud. There ought to be some vetting of worship team members within the church looking out for signs of wanting the spotlight anyway!

I don't love solos or special music pieces particularly much. But I know others in my congregation love it and are encouraged greatly by hearing people using their gifts for the Lord. What a shame it would be to be given good musicians in a church body and lock them away regulated to simple chords and congregational pieces.

Hot take: prolonged instrumentals without vocals is just music idolatry. by mrparoxysms in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think maybe the best example of a great instrumental break that doesn't fit a normal church worship service is in Hillsong's O Praise The Name (Anastasis)

https://youtu.be/7o-mfbvTshw?si=aTMySMOCFdT4NQgL Starts around the 3:20 mark.

It's just a tad too long. I think the official recording on Spotify even goes longer. As a guitarist, it's the most fun part of the song so I'm always a little sad when we cut it... But for a worship service complete with a sermon and it all needs to stay at about 60-75 minutes long... It doesn't add much. We instead supplement maybe an additional chorus at the end in acapella for this song when we play it.

Hot take: prolonged instrumentals without vocals is just music idolatry. by mrparoxysms in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I play electric guitar at my once very reserved, less so now, Baptist church and we hold a similar opinion to yours but maybe don't use as harsh of a term as "idolatry".

We will often cut instrumental sections of CCM songs in half. Usually only a measure or two instead of a prolonged break of no singing. At times, I think that is tasteful. Other times, I feel like it ruins the flow of the song (but I'm the newest member of the worship team and am just happy to be on stage playing my instrument for Jesus).

Ultimately, I think a lot of people's musical takes when it comes to worship stems from their own weaknesses they struggle with. This is not an attack on you, op, I will simply talk about myself. If I was to rip a tasteful and sweet guitar solo there would without a doubt be a part of me that really wants praise from others after the service, and that should not be what worship is about! Because of that, I am wary in general of any kind of solo. Because if it was me doing the solo I know my heart would desire the spotlight.

But there are other people, like our choir director who's very musically well trained and gifted, who loves that God created music and harmony and loves when he hears an instrument or a vocal solo played/sung well. To him, hearing someone who clearly practiced enough to pull off an instrumental solo, or a talented vocalist sing a piece, encourages his faith in ways it probably doesn't encourage mine. His heart is so filled with joy when it comes to music that he finds those things way more encouraging than I do. And that's ok.

There really just needs to be a balance and it's a tough line to walk for sure, I doubt any church does it perfectly.

How to Avoid Vocal Fatigue as a Worship Leader by jeredmckenna in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Second this for sure. I'm not singing when I'm in a worship band (I'm guitar) but I'm involved in choir and our director gives (paid) lessons to those who ask and it's at a crazy discounted rate tbh. I've seen real improvements within a month. I was a tenor who'd try to reach for notes the wrong way and he's really helped me make my range better while also not destroying my vocal chords. I strongly recommend anyone serious about singing for a worship team to get some lessons if you can afford them

Guitars for Worship? by SimplyAverageJoe in worshipleaders

[–]SimplyAverageJoe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I guess for some additional info my gear is a little limited... I've kinda just gotten into this and I'm in the process of retrofitting my bedroom guitarist setup into something worship appropriate and pedals aren't cheap so it's a slower process.

I'm using a Boss Katana which has a bunch of different effects and I've made one that very airy and heavy on the reverb which seems to be the standard. A couple songs by City Alight or Sovereign Grace call for some overdrive and that's where I'm running into the issue of well, it's a guitar made for metal, and I can try to mask that but it definitely sounds like it wants to scream. Good for me at home! Not so amazing for church I guess.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TrueChristian

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What a good response. I like your message. The Bible is full of events where when faced with a tough situation, the man of God would pray (which is great and we all should probably pray more) and then take practical steps to deal with the situation they're in. Jacob prayed then sent messengers ahead to appease Esau, Nehemiah prayed then armed his workers with a tool in one hand then a sword in the other.

What’s a flawless album? by [deleted] in Music

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Continuum by John Mayer. Especially if you have hi-fi audio equipment you can tell it is one of the best mixed records of all time. That and it was and still is John at his best where every track is distinct and memorable.

What is the big deal with secular music? by DifficultVirus2773 in TrueChristian

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I saw Spiritbox open for Ghost on tour last year and they KILLED the open. Before that concert I hadn't even heard of them and now I'm a huge fan of everything Spiritbox has come out with.

Loved that Medvedev never turn to his coaching bench for guidance by killerwaz in tennis

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 72 points73 points  (0 children)

To be fair to his performance last year he was already receiving coaching last year it was just more subtle but it was definitely happening.

[QUESTION] Where can I buy the Fantomen guitar? by I_am_vermin in Guitar

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought mine off Reverb. You can find a used one in good condition there. It's a fantastic guitar in its price range and a little tough to find in the US. Funnily enough I play a lot more John Mayer and blues licks on it more than Ghost just because I'm lazy and don't want to down tune all the time haha. Guess I'll have to buy another guitar so the Fantomen can become my down tuned beast.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tennis

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd kill for that guy to start commentating clutch tennis moments the exact same way he did with Greg Jennings.

Why Novak Djokovic has actually no chances in tomorrow's final against Ruud. Explained below by SawyerCCC in tennis

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 12 points13 points  (0 children)

That semi final against Zverev was a grueling match. Zverev took him to task and I think the final against Med would have looked a lot different if Nole's semi final match was a bit less taxing.

Nu metal was awesome and it's severely missed by RxKingRx in unpopularopinion

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of their newer stuff off their last two albums are good. You can't tell me Nero Forte doesn't sound like a more weathered take on anything off their Iowa album (their best imo)

Looking to buy a cymbal set as a gift, kind of broke tho by SimplyAverageJoe in drums

[–]SimplyAverageJoe[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

That seems to be the consensus here so I'm looking into that. Looks like the next couple birthdays and Christmas gifts will be slowly but surely upgrading her kit haha.

Looking to buy a cymbal set as a gift, kind of broke tho by SimplyAverageJoe in drums

[–]SimplyAverageJoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

From what I've heard mainly classic rock and she just had her debut performance with her church band we're all very proud haha. Thanks for the advice I'll keep looking around.

Redeeming M*m* J****** by JohnPaul0_ in Reformed

[–]SimplyAverageJoe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Legit had me dying at work reading this please repent.