This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to Amanda’s first marching band competition.  Amanda is a 9th grade Alto Saxophone player in the York Comprehensive High School Cougar Band (www.cougarband.com).  And, like everything else, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines and watch so I was a part of the pit crew.  What is the pit crew?  The group of men and women who make sure that when the band gets off the bus that they have everything they need and then make sure that all the pieces come together on and off the field. 

I have watched the band perform since July and Saturday marked the first time the band marched in competition.  York was in a class of 3 bands and they placed 2nd – overall they placed 6th.  Not bad for their first performance – and our pit crew actually won the pit crew award for our class as well (which means that we did not kill anyone or break anything I guess).

I marched in the band in high school – we literally and physically stunk.  We did not receive a superior rating until the next to last competition of my senior year.  That is why it is rewarding to watch Amanda and the Cougar Band place so high and look towards greater accomplishments this year.  So I have experienced the highs and lows of marching band.

As I thought about this I was reminded of a song by Casting Crowns (And Now My Lifesong Sings).  It speaks of our testimony.  You know – many of us make the statement “I have no testimony” but that is incorrect.  We have a testimony – either good or bad.  Let me use an illustration from Saturday night to explain this point.

As York was preparing to come on the field it was my responsibility to make sure 3 props (“Clouds”) were placed correctly on the field.  I then took my position behind the band as they came on the field and while they performed – so I could then run and get the props off the field (a lot of FUN!).   Well, after placing the props, I exited the field.  The band before us was leaving so I made eye contact with a few of the pit crew and band members and I simply said to them “Great Job”.  Why?  Well – they had some cool props but also because they put the same effort into their jobs as we did so why not encourage them.

Well – on the way home with Amanda, Taylor, and Britney May (Amanda’s friend from band) we got to talking about the performance and they said that a few members of the same band leaving the field made comments like “Good luck – you’ll need it”.  Sad – isn’t it!  Well – we beat them so that is OK.

Our testimony is just like this illustration – we can have a good testimony and encourage others, sharing the good news, or we can have a bad testimony and discourage others around us.  What is similiar in both – we come from the same experience. 

As believers, we who have trusted Jesus Christ and to whom the Holy Spirit resides and dwells within us, we have a choice of exhibiting a good or bad testimony. 

What do our family and friends, our co-workers, and our neighbors say is our testimony?  Do we exhibit a life that shows who we are as Christians – and, no, I am not talking about the “church house” rule.  You know, “Well – I go to church house whenever the doors are opened!”.  That’s great – but if that is our testimony then those around us will be discouraged because you don’t practice what you do at church 24/7.  We need more Monday – Saturday Christians than Sunday morning Christians. 

Is our testimony for those around us a good one or a bad one?

God Bless, Sam.