A Good Thing - A GOD Thing

There are not words to express how proud and blessed I feel to be a part of a band like X-ALT. Last night we returned to Belle Meade UMC, the church where we used to lead the contemporary service and the church that was a source for great pain and heartache for so many of us after we were asked to step down from our leadership position there. I will admit that I was not sure of the reception that we would receive, would the crowd be small, would the ones that came for dinner leave once we started playing, I really was worried. But GOD took over last night and showed me that HE is bigger than our petty worries and that HE is in charge and last night's show became one of the highlights in my mind of anything this band has done so far.

Dinner was scheduled to start at 5:15 but so many folks were showing up early that the decision to go ahead and start serving was made and for the next hour or so a steady stream of people made their way into the fellowship hall where they were treated to an incredible dinner prepared by the ubber talented Susan Meador and her staff. Pork Tenderloin, Cheese Grits with Shrimp, Green Beans and "That Special Salad", Hot Rolls and Pie. It was truly a feast. Looking around I was watching the different band members prepare for the show, I think all of us were a bit surprised at the size of the crowd that was making their way into the fellowship hall.

At about 6:00 Pastor Mike Ripski announced that tables had been set up in one of the nearby classrooms to handle the overflow. It was just amazing. Smiles were starting to spread throughout our little group and worry was starting to turn to excitement and optimism.
At about 6:20 Pastor Ripski started with the weekly announcements, birthday and anniversary celebrations and generally welcoming everyone back to Wednesday night activities after a summer off. Then after blessing the meal he introduced X-ALT! and we took the stage to a full house.

We had purposely put together a set list that mixed our original music with contemporary worship standards and hymns done X-ALT! style, a little something for everyone. We opened with our version of "Down To The River To Pray" then went straight into a beefed up version of the standard "I'll Fly Away". The crowd was singing along and clapping their hands and my head was spinning, I never expected to receive this type of reception, it went from being a concert to being worship.

It was amazing, the little kids were dancing around, folks our age were on their feet clapping and getting into it and the older ones were smiling and singing along. This has got to be what church will be like in heaven! Or at least I hope it is!

40 minutes later when we closed with "Oh, Happy Day" the good people at Belle Meade came to their feet and came forward to shake our hands and hug our necks, congratulate us and tell us how much the music meant to them, and I can't tell you how much it meant to me.


I got this e-mail from our guitarist Mark Pierce who was not with us at the time we were leading the service at Belle Meade...
"Being that I was one from the outside looking in, I saw from my own observation that the people there really loved all of you that were part of that church prior to X-ALT!. Just the interactions that I observed showed that. I think the message that went unspoken but was definitely illustrated was just loving people and all the good stuff WE are and were made of. As I remind myself each day..........WWJD! Rock on!"

Mark Mills our music director and resident piano player sent this along...
Great job last night! I thought the energy was way up (especially for middle of the week!) and alot of people were truly blessed. I spoke to Susan Meador (she did the cooking) and she told me it's about the largest Wednesday night supper crowd they've had. And they came to hear X-ALT!. Thank you all for your giving of yourselves.

This just in from Susie...
Being back at Belle Meade was like visiting family...everyone was so receptive and supportive...I kinda had to take a step back for a moment and ask myself if I was at the right place! But I was, and I also feel like X-Alt was...at the right place to mend the hurts caused so long ago...the people that were there loved having us back and we truly appreciated their warm reception and good hugs...maybe we can do a contemporary service or music there for them sometime!


We need to say a special thank you to few folks.

Ben Jones a member of the youth group at Belle Meade and Mark Mills' nephew filled in on drums for Eddie who was in school and did a great job. THANK YOU BEN!!!


Our Old Buddy Lawrence Bailey returned to play sax for us and as always did a wonderful job. THANK YOU LAWRENCE - AGAIN!



Also a great big THANK YOU to Brandon Boozer who did sound for us, and to my daughter Lucy for all the pictures I've used in this post.


A Special THANK YOU to pastors Mike Ripski, Pam Hawkins and Regina Proctor for inviting us to come out and play. It was a wonderful night of music, praise, and rekindling of old friendships and a time for making new friends. Wounds were healed and hearts were opened, and most importantly GOD was glorified.

It was a good thing - It was a GOD Thing.
V