I remember the day I bought my first guitar in 1987 (a "Bentley" 6 string from the Mountain Music Shop in Branson, MO). I walked out as happy as a newly flat broke guy could be holding the neck of the guitar in my right hand, and my newly aquired guitar pick in the left hand. Of course, I didn't have a clue how to play it. My buddies that could play thought it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard, but quickly became annoyed at me when I kept making them tune my guitar every 20 minutes. Actually, it would go out of tune, but I wouldn't notice it, but everyone else would, and it would drive them crazy. A few days went by, and finally, one of my buddies said, "Dude, you got to go back tomorrow and buy a tuner." Of course, I'd spent all $128 on the guitar and pick. I was flat broke, and the tuner was $14.95, but the "arms race" had begun. Once I had the tuner, someone else pointed out that most guitars were sold with a guitar case, but somehow I didn't get one. After I bought the guitar case, then it was apparent that I'd need a guitar strap, so I could play standing up, and new sets of strings. Then I asked my buddy why my guitar had 2 knobs on it, and he told me that the guitar had a "pick-up" that would allow me to play through an amplifier, so I had to have an amplifier, and cables to hook the guitar to the amp. After I got that - I was set. Then, somehow, I lost my pick! Quite frankly, I should have quit right there... I would have certainly saved myself a lot of money, but I'm not that smart! 20 years later, I own 6 or 7 guitars (good stuff - 2 are Gibson Les Pauls - one standard, one Double Cut), a Fender Bass, a wall full of tube amps including Laney, Sunn, & Marshall - too much gear... Unfortunately it gets worse. In 2002, I accidently wrote a song, and wanted to record it. I found N-Track for $29 ( I think), bought a microphone from Office Depot for $9, and began making music. Now my musical collection has taken over 1/2 of my office. Of course, as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) by day, I keep my receipts. Everytime I bring a new piece of gear home, I tell my wife, "Dear, when I get paid for my first gig, or someone pays to download one of my songs from soundclick, all this stuff will be a tax write off!" It's become a running joke in our family. I'm reminded that Vincent VanGoegh only sold 2 paintings in his life time (both bought by his own brother). Of course, he actually did have talent. Someone asked me to define the "Iplan Christian Rock" sound a few weeks ago.... It was the first time anyone had ever asked me "that" question, and it had me stumped for awhile. That said, after giving the question a great deal of thought, I responded, "If you can picture KISS and Joan Jett meeting Third Day in an abandoned warehouse, for a knife fight you're on the right track." "Iplan Christian Rock" is mostly an electric guitar driven machine. The songs are typically riff based, positive, and uplifting. I prefer working in the context of a band, but bands are a really rare phenomon for the 30 something crowd, so I'm always looking for help in that area. If you play drums, bass, guitar, or sing, and have a driver's license; I'm sure I'll have a spot for you at any given time. Collaborators are always welcome - especially if you play the drums.

A few years ago, I went to a Johnny Winter concert at the Columbia Blues Festival. I got there early, and worked my way to within 10 feet of center stage (first row, but off stage right a bit). His band was warming up the crowd. I quick survey of the stage revealed the should be famous ladderback kitchen chair that Johnny sits on during the concert. It was in full spotlight, but empty.... kind of waiting for something if you know what I mean. I focused on the empty chair, and felt the anticipation build. A few minutes later, I saw two younger men helping a very old and frail man up the steps back stage. He was hunched over so low that it was impossible to see his face, and I thought, "How cool, a handicpapped man is going to get an "onstage" seat. Of course, the old man was Johnny. I had only seen Winter perform on an HBO special w/ Muddy Waters from years ago, and I wasn't prepared for how much he'd aged. Hunched over, and stiff as a board, he hobbled onto the stage with the support of two men to the empty chair. He sat down without looking any better for wear, and I began to wonder if he'd make it though the set. As I was thinking on this, one of the men slid his Gibson Firebird underneath his arm, and one of the most remarkable visable transformatoins I've ever seen took place. Without the guitar, he could have been any number of men in an old folks home teatering around from the TV room to the bathroom and back over and over again, but with the guitar, he was ALIVE. From the elbows down, he as as fast as any blues player I've ever seen, and I found myself mezmorized by the way he delivered strength in his obvious weakness. After the last song, the magic gone, he left the stage the same way he entered it - hunched over and frail. I was stirred to the quick, and found myself thinking on the concert weeks after it had ended. Then it's significance hit me. The physical transformation I saw in Johnny Winter that night was very similar to the spiritual transformation we experience as believers in Christ - only better. While Winter's transformation was temporary, in Christ our spiritual transformation is permanent, and more powerful. Without Jesus, we are weak, frail, doomed, and flawed, but with Jesus we are more than conquerers, and powerful. Though we still struggle with the chains that formerly bound us (lust, greed, integrity, laziness, pride, etc.) they no longer dictate our steps. In Christ, we are capable of much more than we could ever imagine, and I'd encourage you to study up on this yourself, but do me a favor - only use primary sources. The only primary source is The Bible, and in that, I'd recommend "The Gospel of John" The fourth book in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is a study in transformations, and not too long of a read. Many of you may remember struggling through a Bible that was akin to reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (language wise). That said, there are great accurate new translations. Here are two of the most reputable: 1. The New International Version (NIV for short) 2. The New American Standard Bible (NASB for short). Steer clear of paraphrases like "The Living Bible." They're not as accurate as we'd like them to be. With a modern translation, you could probably get through the Gospel of John in an hour. Before you start reading, just say to yourself, "God show yourself to me." That's it. So check it out. You'll never know all that you could be until you let Jesus play his part in your life. Let me know how it works out. All the best, Jonathan Wilson Testament