Foreward by Rick Joyner

Dave Markee is a rare gift to the body of Christ - an artist of great accomplishment who can also teach. Many of the great masters were so devoted to their own performing excellence that they did not have the time or patience to impart their skills and knowledge to others. As you will find in this book, Dave is a remarkable teacher who writes with great clarity and depth.

However, Dave goes a step further than just being an excellent teacher and writer; he carries the authority to impart. I believe this is what Paul meant when he observed that there were many tutors in Christ but not many fathers (see 1 Corinthians 4:15). In Dave, you connect with the genuine heart of a father who is even more thrilled to see others do great things than he is to do them himself. For this reason, he has given himself to helping others become who they are called to be. In his writing, there is an impartation that not only points the way, but empowers you to walk in the way. That is the anointing of the Father which is given to spiritual fathers.

Dave gave me this book a few years ago. I began to read it but was so behind in reading possible manuscripts for publication that I had to lay it down for a while. After recently spending some time with him, I determined to finish his book. I was stunned at the treasure I had neglected for so long. This is truly a remarkable work, which is not just for worship leaders, but a message for every Christian. It is well-written, very interesting and a crucial truth for our times.

One of my greatest sorrows is feeling that our God who so loves diversity and creativity that He made snowflakes different is represented on the earth by a church that tends to be so boringly uniform. For this reason, I believe the gift of art basically expresses one of the most important ways that we were made in the image of God, which is to be creative. Creativity should be the special domain of the church and it must be released again! Who should be more creative than those who know the Creator and are called to represent Him? This book is an important message about how the Lord is going to begin restoring this most powerful gift to the church. It has power to awaken the heart of the artist which has been given to all of us through the Holy Spirit. As this happens, the church will be free to become what it was created to be so that she can give her message to the world.

For centuries, many musicians and artists have used the church as a springboard for launching their careers into secular music or art. However, there is a change coming. Before the end of this age the ultimate goal of the greatest artists and musicians in the world will be to become good enough to one day play before the King in His house, the church. The church will be the bastion of the greatest of the great in every field. This is only fitting for the household of the King of kings. You may be one of these. If you are one, this book will start to awaken something in you that will burn as a fire in your bones until you have fulfilled your destiny.

RICK JOYNER - Founder, MorningStar Fellowship Church