Pride of Fools

In my younger days I was a bit of a scene kid. Of course this was when baggy pants were still ok for scene kids, thank God. But I would be at shows constantly. If there was a band I knew playing I was there. I got to know some of the bands and even became friends with a few.

If there is a group of people more egoistical than local musicians in can only be the people who follow them. Most of these bands were playing in dive bars and skating rinks but either acted like they were playing at Red Rocks. Even worse were the ones who acted like they preferred to play these tiny holes for no money because they were "artist". And of course for those of us following these bands it was all about following the right ones and being and the most shows.

There was one glaring exception to this however. There was one band I followed who were different. They weren't local but still on and indie label at the time. The first time I saw P.O.D. play was at the Cornerstone Festival. The absolutely rocked a tent with close to 500 people in it and then concluded the concert by singing choruses and taking communion. When I had a chance to speak with the lead singer Sonny, the lead singer, after the show I told him what a great show it was. He said thanks and that he hope that God was using their music to touch our lives.

At another Cornerstone Festival they announced that they were being signed to Atlantic Records. This was a huge deal for an indie Christian band. After the show I told Sonny congratulations and he again said thanks, but he said that he really felt that this would throw the band into the lions den but it was the best way to get their message out to the most people.

Then a few months later I saw them play a show opening for the local band The Urge. After their set we walked back to their bus and Sonny was so excited that they had had chances to share the Gospel with the Urge's lead singer.

While I don't know Sonny personally every chance I have had to talk with him he was in a prime position to brag on himself. He was coming off of a great accomplishment that most would have boasted of. But all he wanted to talk about was what God was doing.

How often do we want to brag about the smallest things we have done while not giving god the glory for the miraculous works He has done.