Psalm 27

John Loux - Electric Guitar
John was raised in Mansfield, PA and moved to IHOP in June 2006. He is committed to living out the spirit of adoption in his family and to seeing orphans restored into the fullness of who they are called to be. 


Psalm 27:4 -  “I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.”

This is one of the most talked about verses in the greater Kansas City area, and soon I’m guessing, the world. It is profound to me because I see my friends living it everyday.  They scare me just a little. So quick to “waste their time” at His feet, pouring themselves out. They are not perfect, but I will say this, up until now, I have found few that were closer to being like Jesus then they are. I am honored to know them, to play their songs, and to share in their story.

I have to admit that the number one thought or accusation that comes to me as an IHOP musician however, is this: "John, what the heck are you doing playing on a worship team? Come on, this isn't ligit!  There's only one thing worse than playing in a cover tune band and that's playing in a worship cover tune band!"  Of course that argument is getting weaker since the quantity of original material that is being written  at IHOP is starting to exceed the well-known, "top 40" worship songs that we play. Nevertheless, it seems like I have to talk myself down "off the wall" at some point every week.  I have to sit back and remember what I am doing, why I am doing it, and recount the story of how I got here in the first place. I have to remember what it was like before I did this. 

A few years ago, I was playing a lounge gig one night when I noticed an attractive woman walk into the room to pick up her take out order.  I was playing "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley. She stopped and listened for awhile, wrote something on a piece of paper, and dropped it in my tip jar.  After my set, I read the note.  It said, "You are exceptional.”  

Immediately I felt the Holy Spirit say, "You just received your reward. How did that feel?” 

“Good,” I responded,  “but kind of um... short.”  I knew what HE meant.  As quickly as the flattery came, it was gone... poof.   I could live off that high for maybe a few days, if I was lucky. 

I remember another time when a friend called me on the phone and said, " Hey John I got an extra ticket to see Sting and Annie Lennox, do you want to go?  It's free!"

It was quite an amazing show. Dominic Miller, Sting's guitarist, opened up with just a classical guitar. He sat on the end of the stage and absolutley melted our faces off. Never thought that was possible on a classical guitar, but he did it.  Next, Annie came out and wowed everyone with her typical class-act performance.  Sting of course blew everything up, as I expected he would. He always has had world class musicians in his band because he always surrounds himself with the best.  

As I was sitting there viewing what “I consider” to be some of the best music the world has to offer, I couldn't help but think about a double-wide trailer in Kansas City where a young lady named Misty and some of her friends were singing to the Lord without a single guarantee of recognition from man. They  had only the hope of a promise that those who seek Him will find Him, and that one day He would be their reward.  

I thought to myself, "Ya know, what is said and done here tonight, in front of thousands of people, will most likely amount to nothing in this age, let alone the next. What is being said and done in that little trailer, however, will most likely change nations.”  Again, after the show was finished, it was like poof, it's done, over; nothing lasting, except a memory of some good music. 

The fact of the matter is this, singing to God in the place of prayer really counts.  He is really listening. We are really standing on that sea of glass with all the saints that have gone before us.  Last December I lost my brother in a car accident. I know that every time I do a set, I am joining what he is doing there, and we are playing together again.  That's not just a cute idea, it’s the truth! The veil between this realm and the next is so thin.  It is right there. We ARE changing atmospheres over cities and nations. People are being saved, delivered, and healed. The sooner we get an understanding and start believing this, the easier we will be able to quiet the accuser, and I believe we will walk in more authority. 

© 2010 John Loux