If your Bad, are you Bad?

I just want to thank everyone who shared and contributed to the conversation last week about guitars in Mass. I have had alot of time to pray on this and it seemed i gained more opportunity to play the guitar in mass last week than any other week prior to that, so maybe thats a sign that it is OK for me to proceed :). All kidding aside, i respect all sides of the issue as long as they are respectable to the musician and/or minister at Mass. With that aside, i have a new peice for discussion:

If you are not very good at playing, singing, reading or serving as a minister in the Liturgy, should you be able to participate?
When does it become a distraction to the congregation?
When does the "being all inclusive" approach expire?
Is it our place to judge the talent brought before the Lord?
Can we question what is gift and what is not?

Walking the line: Catholic Praise Music

It is very profound. Catholic praise music. Pope John Paul II once said " if the Church holds back from culture, the Gospel itself will fall silent." I am not a Catholic aritist who anymore tries to push the boundries on the music supporting the Holy Mass. The music needs to be sacred and liturgically support the mass. My definition of this is that if it supports the Gospel and it is easy for people to sing along to, then it is appropriate. If anyone has been to a liturgy i have contributed music to in the past 8 years, they have seen a more contemporary flavor, but in recent times i have felt that the mass needs to be reverent. Our traditions, the sacraments and the Holy Eucharist is second to none and cannot be compromised in the process of musical praise no matter where you are praising. We cannot water down or compromise our faith just to fit in, but always be warm and welcoming in this effort. That is my opinion as a Catholic songwriter. On the other hand, It is also important to encourage energy and emotion at key times, even during the mass or as well as at the usual youth rally. I suppose this will always be a fine line to walk, but i'd rather lean towards being more reverent than energetic. Maybe just for the Processional and Ressesional slots (entering and leaving) It is a fine line to walk i must say. We have to respect that not everyone loves the full band rocking at a mass, even if they are jazzing up traditional sacred music. Some folks do not like the guitar being used in the liturgy. I guess it is a good thing that there are different services that reflect a different energy that folks can choose from at our parishes. However, the lesson learned should be that It is like anthing else, we all have different opinions and ways we worship. We have to respect that. I just wanted to say something really quick about all of this since it has been on my mind. Please feel free to comment and share your feelings and opinions on this subject as I will find it very helpful!

God Bless
Dennis