I had a strange attack of emotions this morning during worship. I'd like to tell you that it was the Spirit stirring me,and, maybe it was, and then again, maybe it wasn't.

The place was packed this morning with lots of kids and families of kids that are headed to camp tomorrow, way more kids than a normal Sunday morning. The youth band lead worship this morning. It was loud and rowdy and fun. Three young men, playing their hearts out. The youth pastor told us later(after my strange encounter with emotions) that when he came in this morning at 7:30 the 3 boys were sleeping in the floor of one of the children's rooms because they were afraid they wouldn't wake up and get there on time if they didn't just stay at the church all night.

At one point in the worship the leader, Jesse, took off on a guitar solo and the crowd just went nuts... kids, adults, old people, everyone, clapping and shouting and encouraging him.

That act instantly threw me back 20 some odd years to a day in another place with another young guitar player...

Perry. Perry was about the same age, 18 or so. He had come out of drugs and an insane family and was trying to get his life on track. He was probably one of the very best guitar players I have ever heard play, he had greatness in him.
It was Perry's first time to ever play in church and he was so excited. He had practiced and practiced and practiced some more. He was ready. He was going to rock the house for Jesus.
He played his heart out and I knew that he was giving his all at that moment and doing it with a pure heart. He was playing for the Lord.

The pastor stood up and stopped him in the middle of a song, in front of everyone and told him to get off the stage. He told him that his music was evil and that his heart was not right.

In that moment,with those words, that man crushed a young man - forever.

Perry was never the same after that day. He tried to do good, he tried to live the way his "pastor" told him he should live, but, it never worked.

The last time I saw Perry which was probably 10 years ago, he was playing in honky-tonk bars and back to doing drugs and drinking with a vengence. He was divorced from his wife and his 3 kids lives were all in a mess.

But, today, as I watched Jesse playing his heart out in that guitar solo and watching the people encourage him it touched a tender spot that hadn't been open for a long, long time.

I found Pastor Barry back helping with the kids and gave him a big old hug and told him I appreciated his loving heart.