This is the Impossible Miracle that landed Keith in the 1st-Ever British Christian Rock Band in America...
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).”
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).”
In 1977 I (Keith) was the drummer for a secular rock band. We were traveling on a concert tour across the nation. While I was on tour, I began to feel a tug on my heart that I would come to realize was the gentle tug of The Holy Spirit.
At the time this was taking place, I did not know that The Holy Spirit was at work in me. It was not until well after this that I would learn that The Holy Spirit is actually "a person". Up to this moment in time, I had always thought The Holy Spirit was some mysterious heavenly gas, at best.
Needless to say, my rock and roll lifestyle was diametrically opposed to the
ways of God. However, in the eyes of the world it looked like I had it made. I was doing what I was passionate about: playing music and getting the attention and praise of people everywhere we went. As far as I knew, things could not have been better. I always had plenty of money in my pocket and an abundant supply of everything that went with the lifestyle of being on the road and playing rock-n-roll shows. It was all downright euphoric, at first. In fact, for the first couple of years that I was on the road with the band, I was having a blast!
Our
routine went something like this: travel to the city where we were scheduled to perform; check into the hotel; load our equipment into the venue and get set up; do a sound check; get something to eat; get showered; change into our stage clothes; perform the show; take all of the gear and equipment down to pack into all of the travel cases; load everything out of the venue and into the truck; go back to the hotel and party until about 5:00am with a group of “New Friends” that we had met during the concert; sleep for about six hours; wake up, get ready, and pack our luggage to move out; eat breakfast at lunch time; check out of the hotel; and travel to the next town where we would start to do it all over again.
I had been on tour for about four years when I started to sense my
affections toward the whole thing beginning to change. The life I had been enjoying for those years, strangely, began feeling like a drudgery.
Instead of looking forward to the next gig, I was beginning to see it as a painfully monotonous thing. The phrase, “Same old thing–just different faces in
a different city" became one that I found myself using with growing regularity. The realities of “road life” were starting to set in and wear on me, and I found myself getting high more often to break the boredom of “the routine” where I once did only got high for the fun of it. With each passing day, I felt things getting more and more mundane.
While I could tell that something was changing in me, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was or what exactly was happening. What really puzzled me was how I was traveling with guys who had been on the road for much longer than me who seemed perfectly content. How is it that they “want” to do this for the rest of their lives?
Why is it that I am growing more and more unhappy? I was in the prime of my life living out one of my life-long dreams. From the time I was very young, one of my goals in life was to play music and concerts for a living! What I truly thought I wanted to do, living the dream I had dreamed ever since I was a young boy, was not bringing me the happiness I thought it would. I was starting to see the lifestyle for what it really was--a lonely road to a fruitless end. Now all I wanted to do was to get out of it.
So, there I was, surrounded by talented musicians that were attractive
and financially well-to-do, being admired by people everywhere we went, but feeling myself becoming more and more isolated. I began to avoid the nightly “New Friends” parties. I would just go back to the hotel and watch TV in my room, something I hadn’t really done much before.
Shortly after this rather-confusing conversion began happening in my life, the band hired a new bass player named Larry Tamazo, a quiet guy and one of the most talented bass players I had ever worked with. Larry and I hit it off pretty well and started hanging out together. Before long, Larry noticed I was avoiding the party scenes where the rest of the band went every night. I, and you, will soon see that “it was God who brought Larry into the picture.”
One morning around 4:00 I was in my hotel room trying to make sense of everything I was feeling. I was wondering what I was supposed to do now. Should I stay with the band, or go back into sales where I had experience from earlier in my life, or what?
All of a sudden, for the first time since I was a boy, I began to see myself back at about eight years old, sitting with my mom and dad in church. I remembered going up to the altar and giving my life to Jesus Christ. I began to feel again how great my feeling of joy was that day, and it
overwhelmed me again like it did back then. I remembered feeling that way for the whole week that followed. Even though I was only eight at the time when I first made my decision for Christ, the feeling I had that day was back, fresh again, the best day of my life all over again!
Suddenly, laying there in that hotel bed, I just knew what I had to do. I knew I had to call out to Jesus once again! I was overcome with the reality that I needed, and wanted, to confess my sins and to repent of my sins just as I had done in church so many years before.
I slid off of my bed onto the floor, bowed my head, and asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of everything that I had ever done that had hurt Him or anyone else. I then said “Amen” and crawled back into my bed. I immediately felt a peace and a joy like I had experienced at the altar as a child.
At breakfast that afternoon, I could hardly wait to tell Larry what had happened. He sat there and, as he listened, he smiled. In that very moment, an older waitress walked up to our table, looked straight into my eyes and said, “Son, you are a Christian aren’t you!?!” As simple as that may sound, it was a huge confirmation to me that God had indeed come into my heart as a result of my prayer just hours before.
Each night after that I could hardly wait to get back to my room to “hang out” with Jesus. As the weeks passed, the Holy Spirit was making it increasingly evident that I was not where God wanted me to be. I was feeling like a total stranger next to everyone I had once been so close to.
One day as I was in my room getting ready to do a show I had an interesting thought. Since music is what I do best, then why not do it for God instead of doing it “for the Devil”? As far me, having that idea was radical because I thought music in the church world was only boring “gospel quartets” and choirs. As much as I disliked the thought of playing “church-style” music, I hated the thought of not playing in service to God even more.
That night I kneeled beside my bed and prayed, “Lord, if you want me to play in a gospel quartet or for a church choir, I’ll pursue whatever You want me to just so I can use my music to serve You.” Believe me, making a commitment to play with a quartet or choir meant that I was truly surrendering my music and life to God. Placing my music “on the alter” that day felt the way I imagine Abraham felt placing Isaac on the alter of sacrifice (Genesis 22) before The LORD.
After I had prayed, I paused to think for a moment. Then I went back to God to throw in another request that I hoped He would answer with favor above my first prayer concerning a quartet or choir. Truthfully, though, I thought that my second or “add-on” request was so far-fetched that God, Himself, could not make it happen.
I had heard somewhere that God would grant us the desires of our hearts. That led me to the thought that, if there was ever a time for asking God for it all, for my heart’s absolute deepest desire, why not now? Why settle for anything less, or something I know He knows I’m not passionate about?
See, I was raised listening to and admiring British bands and musicians. I used to dream of getting to play in a British rock group one day. Remembering how I thought that church music only consisted of old gospel quartets and choirs, I decided to step out on a limb and ask God for the impossible; I asked Him to allow me to tour with a “British Christian Rock” band, something I was sure never existed in the past, and most likely never would exist.
Two days later, I went to my hotel room after finishing the night’s show. When I turned on the TV I could not believe what I was seeing with my own eyes! It was a late night Christian concert program called “Larry Leigh’s Concert Ministries.” Playing on the TV was a Christian rock band. I was stunned. I sat on the end of the bed watching the entire show hardly moving a muscle. I can remember thinking, “Wow, there is a whole world out there that I never knew existed!”
As the program was ending I knew that I had to get any and all of the information about the show including who it was that aired it that night. I reached for a piece of paper and a pen and wrote down the contact information showing on the screen. Right then, at 3:00 in the morning, so excited about learning this new thing, I wrote Larry Leigh a letter to explain much of what I have shared here, and to ask if he knew of any Christian bands in need of an experienced drummer. I put the letter in an envelope, sealed it, put a stamp on it, and took it straight to the outgoing mail box at the hotel’s front desk.
Incidentally, while on the road I used my mother as my point of contact and used her mailing address as my own. I called her later that same day to tell her the story about Larry Leigh and the letter I sent to him. She told me that she would keep a look-out for an envelope from him and would contact me if anything arrived.
Two cities, six days later I got a call from Mom telling me that I had received a letter from Larry Leigh. She asked if I would like for her to read it to me. With great expectation I, of course, said, “Yes! Please!”
The letter read, “Dear Keith, thank you for your letter. I do not know of any Christian bands looking for a drummer at this time, but I have enclosed two pages of Christian booking agencies for you to check out. Maybe one of them can help in your search for God’s plan for your life.”
Mom said there were 24 agencies on the list. I asked her to mail the list to the next city hotel where we were scheduled to stay. She said she would send a copy first thing the next morning.
As soon as I received the list of agencies, I knew what I had to do. I drew up my resume (I jokingly tell people that my major in college was football and that my minor was business). Then I wrote a heartfelt cover letter and went across the street from the hotel to a quaint little print shop to ask for 30 matching sets of my cover letter, my resume, and envelope. The clerk told me that they would be ready the next day.
When I returned to the print shop the next day, I was greeted by the clerk accompanied by a very nice, classy-looking, middle-aged lady introduced to me as having read my cover letter and being greatly blessed by it. At that, the nice lady said, “Keith, the owner of this company and I want you to know that we are not going to charge you for the work that we have done on your resume and letter. Your consuming desire to serve Jesus Christ has touched us all deeply! We would consider it a privilege to give these packets to you free of charge.” Wow! I must have thanked them at least 20 times before I said goodbye and headed straight for my hotel room to get the packets ready to mail.
Once I finished, I grabbed the prepared packets and held them up to the heavens asking God to receive them, and my life, as my gift to Him. Isn’t it interesting how I knew to do that without being taught? The Holy Spirit is wonder-full!
Next, I drove to the nearest U. S. Postal Service. I prayed once more for God’s blessing over the packets, then I dropped them into the mailbox. Each day and night I continued praying that God would get just one of them into the hands of the right person.
About three weeks later, as I was setting up with the band in Panama City, Florida, someone from the front office shouted, “Keith, you have an important phone call.” When I picked up the phone, it was Mom asking me, “Are you sitting down?” I said that I was. She then read a letter from a Christian booking agency located in Nashville, TN. “Keith, I received your letter, was very impressed with you your credentials, and would like to talk with you as soon as possible. I think I have something that will be of great interest to you.” Mom gave me the phone number and we hung up.
Without delay, I called the agent. He said, “Keith, what I have to offer you is something that is completely different than anything the Christian music industry in this country has ever had the privilege to experience. This is going to be huge! As a matter of fact, it is going to be a history-making endeavor, and I would like to invite you to audition for it.” Somewhat reluctantly I asked him, “What have you got?” Like Saul’s experience encountering Jesus Christ on his journey on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19), hearing the agent’s answer would change my life forever. He asked me, “Keith, how would you feel about being the drummer for the first ever British Christian rock band to come to America?”
Needless to say, I was stunned! With that one phone call I was witnessing God do something that I just knew was “totally impossible”. This was one of those stories that you only read about, but there I was standing right in the middle of it.
A week later, I flew to Nashville to audition for the band. They picked me up at the airport and we headed straight downtown where the recording studio they had rented for the audition was located. The studio had been closed down for several weeks and, consequently, the instruments were out of tune.
The heads on all of the drums were loose, making them impossible to play. We looked everywhere for a drum key, or even a pair of pliers, that we could use to tighten the drum heads. We couldn’t find anything that worked to tune them. We tried to squeeze out a song or two, but it was fruitless. No matter what I tried to play, it sounded terrible.
Feeling a bit dejected, we packed up and headed for a local restaurant. All I could think of was how much I wanted to play in the band with those guys. At that point, it all seemed to be falling apart right before my eyes. Why was this happening? The reason would soon reveal itself.
Over dinner, as we were talking, it was becoming increasingly evident to all of us that God was knitting our hearts together. Even though the audition did not go well, we were having a great time together. We finished eating and headed for the van.
I knew I had to do something if I wanted to salvage my dream. So I stopped the guys and asked, “Where is your bass player?” It turned out that they were auditioning bass players as well. I said boldly, “Brothers, this whole thing is God, I just know it!” I went on to tell them that I have a friend named Larry who is a great bass player. Then, with all of the boldness I could muster, I said, “You guys need to come to Florida and hear Larry and I working together on stage as the accomplished rhythm section that we have become. I guarantee you will like it!”
Standing on that sidewalk that night in Nashville, Tennessee, the guys looked around at one another and decided, “You’ve got it, we’ll come to Florida!” We set a date. It would be just one week later when the group of guys would come to our show in Florida!
The next week, as the guys sat through our entire show, I must admit that it was pretty nerve-racking to be playing on the stage as three internationally-known musicians watched us. They were talking back and forth among themselves. I expected they were critiquing our every move.
After the show, I introduced Larry to them. My heart felt as if it was going to pound out of my chest as we all sat down together. I was nervous but excited to hear what our new British friends thought of our performance. Our new British friends looked at one another very calmly, asking who wanted to comment first. I think I was sweating more at that moment than I had all night under the intense stage lights.
The first to speak was the band’s highly-acclaimed lead guitarist and vocalist from Liverpool, Norman Barrett. Norman had played with several bands from England that I greatly admired. The next to speak was the band’s keyboard player and vocalist from London, Phil Holmes. He had an eloquence like nobody else when he spoke. Alwyn, the band’s leader from Nottinghamshire, spoke last. What each of them said filled my heart with unspeakable and overflowing joy!
All three of them then leaned across the table and Alwyn said, “Keith, if you will take the gig, and we pray you will, it’s yours!” I said, “Larry too?” They all shook their head in agreement as Alwyn said, “Yes! Of course!” All of us shook hands, hugged one another, and it was done!
That night we saw the first-ever British Christian rock band to come to America completed–the miraculous fulfillment of the prayer that I didn’t think even God, Himself, was big enough to make happen. Believe me when I tell you that, no matter what you are going through, there is NOthing too big for God!
The next day, to celebrate, we all met on the sugar-white sand beaches of Panama City, Florida. After swimming and enjoying the beach with our three new band mates, we all ate dinner together before saying “see you later”. They headed back to Nashville.
Larry and I joined them two weeks later. The name of the band was “The Alwyn Wall Band” and was signed by Myrrh (Word) Records. The year that I spent working with Alwyn and all of the guys in the band was the best time of my life... as the drummer for “the 1st-ever British Christian Rock Band to come to America!”
Over the course of our time touring America together, Alwyn and Norman taught me how to play the basic, simple, open chords on guitar. Since then, I have practiced and used those seven chords to write countless of my own songs over the years. I have played, and continue to play, my simple guitar songs to minister The Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever I can. My ministries, both as a soloist and as leader of my own bands, have all been a continuation of my time with “me wonder-full mates from England”, playing in various venues like music halls, performance theaters, colleges, concert auditoriums, military installations, recording studios, and church facilities of all sizes and denominations.
We, at Toward The Mark, share this “Impossible Miracle” testimony with you to make one most important point... If God can do for one of us what we just knew was simply impossible, He can and most certainly will do it for you too!
Thank you for hearing our heart today and our hearts’ passion for God, His written and spoken Word, and His People. We pray that this message has fanned the flame in your heart to "reach for God" in greater ways than ever before.
Your friends and servants in Christ Jesus,
To
Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small…
sums up the reason the two of us, Keith and Brenda, stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Our prayer, along with the entire team of this ministry, is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that we share through Keith’s written and recorded accounts. The complete collection of original podcasts, music, Blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family. We'd like to welcome you on-board TODAY!
sums up the reason the two of us, Keith and Brenda, stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Our prayer, along with the entire team of this ministry, is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that we share through Keith’s written and recorded accounts. The complete collection of original podcasts, music, Blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family. We'd like to welcome you on-board TODAY!
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Keith Shealy and TowardTheMark, Inc has been serving God and His Church since 1980. For anyone who wants to partner with us, to show GOD Big in a world that sees Him small, we welcome you... Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account (Philippians 4:17). ...The LORD gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11)
