IDENTIFY
At the start of my senior year in high school, I was six months pregnant, less than a week into my first marriage and
fully emancipated. If you add into the equation, an unfaithful husband & failed marriage; along with the 50 extra
pounds I didn’t lose after giving birth, it’s no wonder why I found rock bottom in an ER as I recovered from my
suicide attempt. Immediately, I regretted what I had tried to do.
REALIZED
I began to focus on making a good life for myself and my daughter. It didn’t take long before I found my nitch in a
respectable career and achieved financial independence. I was able to buy my own home and I was proud of
myself. Achievement had become my validation. Eventually, I grew bored with that and began going out and
having fun every chance I got. I didn’t think I drank too much but I did and I began to repeat lessons I apparently
didn’t learn the first time around. It had since been 10 years and it seemed as though I was still just a teenage
mother trying to overcome my past.
Then, in a new marriage and two babies later, I felt more lost than ever. I was struggling with depression and
lacked direction. I decided church would be a good place to start. Two new friends invited me to their very different
style churches. One was very traditional while the other was a little over the top for what I had been accustomed to
while growing up. Another friend invited me to attend Abundant Life Church.
ALC has a way of making newcomers feel welcome. Jeans wearing pastors, movie clips and the really cool band on
stage makes going to church fun. My husband and I identified with the message we heard that first morning and I
could apply the lesson to how I was living my life. A few weeks later, we attended for the second time and that’s
when I read about an Identity class that was about to start. I thought it might be just what I needed and asked my
husband to sign up with me.
COMMITTED
On the way to our first class, I read the syllabus aloud to my husband. Assignments. Homework. A book to read.
What had we gotten ourselves into?? We had half way talked ourselves into blowing off the class and grabbing a
bite to eat when a stronger voice told me to give it a try. I promised my husband that we would walk out at any time
if it started to get “weird”. So, we went and we ended up staying until the end. We left the class unsure of what the
whole ministry thing was about and thought maybe we had jumped in too fast.
By the end of the second class, I was completely into it. One revelation after another made me want to know more.
By the 7th or so class, one of the instructors (since we aren’t supposed to name names in this) asked if my
husband and I had accepted Christ into our life. We had been attending Sunday service every week and I had
begun to feel a significant change happening. I was beginning a relationship with Christ I never had before.
Anyway, we agreed we had accepted Him but admitted we hadn’t had a conversation with Him about it. She offered
to pray with us and that’s when it really became official for me.
DIFFERENCE
Things came full circle in Identity class. I had always known that God forgives our sins if we ask him to but I really
didn’t get that. Not until it was pointed out to me in class, God allows us to go through painful experiences to
prepare us for helping others going through similar problems. THAT IS HUGE! It means that I didn’t experience all
that pain for nothing. AND what’s bigger than that, I don’t have to hold on to the shame that went along with my
past struggles either. How freeing is THAT!!!
I realized that I had been so consumed with my own problems and feelings of inadequacy that I couldn’t be grateful
for the good things in my life. I was often projecting my bad attitude onto others and it was coming right back at me
in full force. My husband and I were in a bad place and I knew I wanted things to change but I didn’t know how to
make that happen. Releasing my baggage is enabling me to think of others first. I notice myself seeking out ways
to help or brighten someone’s day. Even if it’s just something small sometimes, it’s a start and it feels good. My
husband and I are in a good place now. We’re enjoying our family and finding ways to help out in our community.
I have a new found peace, in knowing God. My self esteem is being restored and for the first time in a long time,
maybe ever, I’m not so concerned whether or not others are judging me for my mistakes. God isn’t.
At the start of my senior year in high school, I was six months pregnant, less than a week into my first marriage and
fully emancipated. If you add into the equation, an unfaithful husband & failed marriage; along with the 50 extra
pounds I didn’t lose after giving birth, it’s no wonder why I found rock bottom in an ER as I recovered from my
suicide attempt. Immediately, I regretted what I had tried to do.
REALIZED
I began to focus on making a good life for myself and my daughter. It didn’t take long before I found my nitch in a
respectable career and achieved financial independence. I was able to buy my own home and I was proud of
myself. Achievement had become my validation. Eventually, I grew bored with that and began going out and
having fun every chance I got. I didn’t think I drank too much but I did and I began to repeat lessons I apparently
didn’t learn the first time around. It had since been 10 years and it seemed as though I was still just a teenage
mother trying to overcome my past.
Then, in a new marriage and two babies later, I felt more lost than ever. I was struggling with depression and
lacked direction. I decided church would be a good place to start. Two new friends invited me to their very different
style churches. One was very traditional while the other was a little over the top for what I had been accustomed to
while growing up. Another friend invited me to attend Abundant Life Church.
ALC has a way of making newcomers feel welcome. Jeans wearing pastors, movie clips and the really cool band on
stage makes going to church fun. My husband and I identified with the message we heard that first morning and I
could apply the lesson to how I was living my life. A few weeks later, we attended for the second time and that’s
when I read about an Identity class that was about to start. I thought it might be just what I needed and asked my
husband to sign up with me.
COMMITTED
On the way to our first class, I read the syllabus aloud to my husband. Assignments. Homework. A book to read.
What had we gotten ourselves into?? We had half way talked ourselves into blowing off the class and grabbing a
bite to eat when a stronger voice told me to give it a try. I promised my husband that we would walk out at any time
if it started to get “weird”. So, we went and we ended up staying until the end. We left the class unsure of what the
whole ministry thing was about and thought maybe we had jumped in too fast.
By the end of the second class, I was completely into it. One revelation after another made me want to know more.
By the 7th or so class, one of the instructors (since we aren’t supposed to name names in this) asked if my
husband and I had accepted Christ into our life. We had been attending Sunday service every week and I had
begun to feel a significant change happening. I was beginning a relationship with Christ I never had before.
Anyway, we agreed we had accepted Him but admitted we hadn’t had a conversation with Him about it. She offered
to pray with us and that’s when it really became official for me.
DIFFERENCE
Things came full circle in Identity class. I had always known that God forgives our sins if we ask him to but I really
didn’t get that. Not until it was pointed out to me in class, God allows us to go through painful experiences to
prepare us for helping others going through similar problems. THAT IS HUGE! It means that I didn’t experience all
that pain for nothing. AND what’s bigger than that, I don’t have to hold on to the shame that went along with my
past struggles either. How freeing is THAT!!!
I realized that I had been so consumed with my own problems and feelings of inadequacy that I couldn’t be grateful
for the good things in my life. I was often projecting my bad attitude onto others and it was coming right back at me
in full force. My husband and I were in a bad place and I knew I wanted things to change but I didn’t know how to
make that happen. Releasing my baggage is enabling me to think of others first. I notice myself seeking out ways
to help or brighten someone’s day. Even if it’s just something small sometimes, it’s a start and it feels good. My
husband and I are in a good place now. We’re enjoying our family and finding ways to help out in our community.
I have a new found peace, in knowing God. My self esteem is being restored and for the first time in a long time,
maybe ever, I’m not so concerned whether or not others are judging me for my mistakes. God isn’t.
 |
| EACH OF US HAVE A OUR OWN STORY ABOUT HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN OUR LIVES. IT IS THROUGH SHARING THESE STORIES THAT WE, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, CAN GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY HE DESERVES. WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU SHARE YOUR STORY OF FAITH AND HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN YOUR LIFE FOR ALL TO SEE. PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR STORY SO WE CAN POST. |
| EMAIL YOUR STORY TO faithstory@upperdeckmusic.com *PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM* |
Ok so at first glance most people, including us, would consider Park Rock a complete failure for Upperdeck.
Everything that could have gone wrong did. Here we are on the biggest venue of our short existence. A crowd of
hundreds of people waiting to hear what Upperdeck was about. T.V camera's set up, Radio station hosts present,
Music media companies, music critics and interviewers. Everyone waiting in anticipation of this up and coming 6
piece Christian Metal band with a positive message. Then....disaster strikes. The sound on the North stage isn't
working at all...the first 2 bands didn't even show up so now we are the first band scheduled to play. An hour and
15 mins late we take the stage...the crowd builds, the cameras are rolling then........ the main speakers blow sending
a wave of super high pitch feedback that could shatter windows screeching through the crowd....people run from the
sound. We have to stop playing for at least 30 minutes. There is dead air as we wait for sound. The sound comes
back online. So we start a new sound check. We start again....microphones stop working monitors go out, Wes's
guitar doesn't have any sound, then again BOOM!!! The mains blow a second time in the middle of a song. We
have now been on the stage 2 hours and have not had sound. It's hot and we are drained of all energy. So anger
starts to serge through us. Anger at the sound man, the venue, the day. It wasn't Ronnie's (the sound man) fault
things weren't working,....Remember the Lord in control. We could see the look on the sound guys face. The more
he tried to fix it, it seemed the more went wrong. He wanted to die!!! You could see it. After the next blow out the
crowd and cameras started to leave. So the crowd didn't get to see us or hear our message. At least not on stage.
But here is how the Lord works. Most people at the festival out of thousands of people at the show had heard what
happened and knew who we were. Oh your Upperdeck we are so sorry to hear what happened. All that saw it
happen said we were awesome but the sound was the worst ever, and they wanted know when we play next so they
can come and hear us. That's what we heard all day not only did we get to talk to everyone about what happened
but we got to talk about who we are and who we represent that is Jesus!!! So happens our next show is a benefit
concert for the Maputo Project. (see you there right?), and many people are going to our web pages and that
means they get to hear about Jesus!! So through disaster Jesus rises up and still gets the glory he deserves.
Thank you Jesus. We still did our interviews and an exclusive story and video will be posted on
www.dcmetalstation.com about a metal band with a different message...a message about hope in a savior...not
about evil and politics like the typical metal bands. We still did 2 interviews and will be featured in Park Rocks dvd.
And as for the sound guy....everyone, he is a good man and a long time friend. Things happen that are out of our
control so if you saw it. Please, don't blame him...because it was the Lord making great things happen through
situations we don't always understand. We love you Ronnie don't think twice about what happened. We know you
did everything you could. You helped make us the most popular band of the day and God was glorified. Praise
God....Jesus you rock and we give you all our praises.
So was the show a failure for Upperdeck. We don't think so. God was glorified and that IS and always will be our
mission....We love you Jesus!!!
Everything that could have gone wrong did. Here we are on the biggest venue of our short existence. A crowd of
hundreds of people waiting to hear what Upperdeck was about. T.V camera's set up, Radio station hosts present,
Music media companies, music critics and interviewers. Everyone waiting in anticipation of this up and coming 6
piece Christian Metal band with a positive message. Then....disaster strikes. The sound on the North stage isn't
working at all...the first 2 bands didn't even show up so now we are the first band scheduled to play. An hour and
15 mins late we take the stage...the crowd builds, the cameras are rolling then........ the main speakers blow sending
a wave of super high pitch feedback that could shatter windows screeching through the crowd....people run from the
sound. We have to stop playing for at least 30 minutes. There is dead air as we wait for sound. The sound comes
back online. So we start a new sound check. We start again....microphones stop working monitors go out, Wes's
guitar doesn't have any sound, then again BOOM!!! The mains blow a second time in the middle of a song. We
have now been on the stage 2 hours and have not had sound. It's hot and we are drained of all energy. So anger
starts to serge through us. Anger at the sound man, the venue, the day. It wasn't Ronnie's (the sound man) fault
things weren't working,....Remember the Lord in control. We could see the look on the sound guys face. The more
he tried to fix it, it seemed the more went wrong. He wanted to die!!! You could see it. After the next blow out the
crowd and cameras started to leave. So the crowd didn't get to see us or hear our message. At least not on stage.
But here is how the Lord works. Most people at the festival out of thousands of people at the show had heard what
happened and knew who we were. Oh your Upperdeck we are so sorry to hear what happened. All that saw it
happen said we were awesome but the sound was the worst ever, and they wanted know when we play next so they
can come and hear us. That's what we heard all day not only did we get to talk to everyone about what happened
but we got to talk about who we are and who we represent that is Jesus!!! So happens our next show is a benefit
concert for the Maputo Project. (see you there right?), and many people are going to our web pages and that
means they get to hear about Jesus!! So through disaster Jesus rises up and still gets the glory he deserves.
Thank you Jesus. We still did our interviews and an exclusive story and video will be posted on
www.dcmetalstation.com about a metal band with a different message...a message about hope in a savior...not
about evil and politics like the typical metal bands. We still did 2 interviews and will be featured in Park Rocks dvd.
And as for the sound guy....everyone, he is a good man and a long time friend. Things happen that are out of our
control so if you saw it. Please, don't blame him...because it was the Lord making great things happen through
situations we don't always understand. We love you Ronnie don't think twice about what happened. We know you
did everything you could. You helped make us the most popular band of the day and God was glorified. Praise
God....Jesus you rock and we give you all our praises.
So was the show a failure for Upperdeck. We don't think so. God was glorified and that IS and always will be our
mission....We love you Jesus!!!
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