Link Issues

Thanks to my blog reader who pointed out a small issue with my links. I have been inadvertently adding some extra http:// and causing the links to be inactive. Anyway. The current stuff is all fixed up and the older posts will be corrected soon.

Cool to have people read, and help out.

Peace.

Friends are cool!!

So I had my derriere firmly kicked by a friend recently who discovered that I am not doing enough to promote the CD. He is one of the founding members of the singing group I used to be with (Heart Mind and Soul), and a real talent in his own right. Truth is he needs to start playing, singing and writing again himself, but I will bring that up when its my turn to kick!!

Anyway, sometimes all you need is someone to show a little support to get you moving in the right direction again. Well my buddy has done that. Not just moral support either, he is phoning all over the place, putting my stuff on forums (Rocket Town Records) and phoning radio all over Canada. By the way, starting to work already.

Like I mentioned on another blog, the struggle is huge. I want to shout some of the things I have written to the corners of the earth. There is so much truth and love and suffering and joy and pain that I think can help others when it is expressed. In some small way, I think I can be apart of the minstrels that tell the human story in our time. So I will keep on trying to tell the story in as excellent a way as I can. As I have said before, it isn't art until it touches someone. Enough said.

Raining and Pouring

Well the summer still looks to be quiet, but, September is pretty much stacked. The last few days has brought in a few more bookings. Busy pretty much every weekend there with more to come in November. Check out appearances at cliffcline.com!

Where to buy the CD

Besides online, I keep meaning to tell everyone you can get it at Good Books in Oakville ON, or you can get it in the Christian bookstore in Woodstock, ON (they've already sold out once, think I should go there?!). My mom is a good promoter!!

Just thought I would let you know.

Peace.

Anything New?

Well yes. I continue on this road of self-discovery and feel that I am finally coming out of the valley of self deprecation. Sometimes I think the most challenging thing to do is take the 30,000 view of your own life, and wrestle with your own shortcomings from the perspective of committing to improvement.

My primary commitment in work life is to my role as Associate Pastor at the church I am employed at. That is not a particularly visionary look at life however. So what else makes up the journey. Many who come to my site and this blog are following the trip of the artist. How's the CD going, what's coming up in concert dates. The overall list isn't long, but it has some fairly major implications:

1. Associate Pastor of rapidly growing church in Greater Toronto Area
2. Recording Artist with career needing much more investment of time
3. Regional Influencer for the Alliance Denomination in Eastern Ontario and technically out the East Coast (not including Quebec)
4. Consultant with various opportunities continuing to arise

So what is the big take away tonight. It is not about me. Rocket science eh. The hard part is number 2. It has always been the hard part for me. When I was in Heart Mind and soul (my old band), you weren't promoting yourself, your were talking about this entity. It was more easily about sharing an authentic vision of God and Jesus through music. That is still the vision, but now, there is no name to hide behind. Hey I am Cliff Cline and I am good. Bring me in, let me inspire you etc. Lot of me in something that is not about me. Very difficult existential wrestling match all of the time.

On the other fronts, and inclusive of number 2, I have had a personal breakthrough. Develop others. Tonnes of others. Everybody that I work with now, and those who I do not yet know. Make them into the best disciples of Jesus Christ, the best promoters of a Godly vision as possible, and multiply the work and the vision of my big visionary areas aggressively.

It is freeing to see that possibility going forward. Much to be done, and oh, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Charge!!

John Maxwell is killing me!!

You know, committing to grow in knowledge is intellectually admirable, practically painful and always an eye opener. Those that don't commit themselves to it will often find they are self un-aware. (check this blog)

I have been reading a couple of John Maxwell books lately. Finished 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and am most of the way through the 17 Irrefutable Laws of Teamwork.

Obviously there is a lot in these books that I know. The issue quickly becomes, even though you have knowledge, how well are you implementing it into your reality. Leading and Team playing, not mutually exclusive. A friend of mine has repeatedly said to me having a big vision is one thing, but the true test of a leader is actually taking people to where you claim you are going.

Not particularly planning on revealing much more than that today, but man do I have to take it to the next level. Another year of growth it is. Pray for me!

A Little Competition

Well sad to say the golf game is not greatly improving this year. (Definition of insanity may apply here) I did get out early this morning for a round. Front nine, enh, 43(Par37). The back nine started out much worse.

Humourously my playing partner and I were matched with a couple of fellows. One was around my capability (14-18 hdcp). Well, he went on a 5 hole even par stretch. Two things spurred me on, a call from my wife telling me she loved me, and the humiliation of getting whooped. I don't know if I beat him over 18, but he did slow down a little, and I par'd out. Another 43 (Par35).

Nothing like a little competition to get a guy going. This guy at least.

What are your Friends Doing?

So here is a funny and interesting story. When I was 15 I played in a band. Truthfully, for a bunch of 15 year olds we were very good. Vocally I was very strong for my age, but the drummer was also amazing. Frankly, so was the drummer and bass player. The drummer, however, matured first. He moved to Toronto after living with my family for a school year and had amazing success, young, as a drummer. He, I think, is probably some kind of a genious, but drumming is not what he decided he would set his mind on.

I connected with him when I moved to Toronto and found out he was still drumming, but more involved with the technology industry.

The amazing people that designed my new CD cover at Riordon Design have lost a couple of people recetly to a gaming/technology company. Riordon are amazing, and do amazing work, so when I found out they lost these people I assumed the company was one of the bigs. You know where this is going don't you.

So I was working on a booking with someone who used to play with my friend and found out that he no longer plays, but has a gaming company, and has lured the folk that I know from my friends company to his. Small world. More power to you Kevin. All the best. (Silver Birch)

Radio Interview in Woodstock

I am doing a radio interview by phone tomorrow at Woodstock's new station Hope FM 94.3 at 4:30 for any of you who may be able to tune in to such a broadcast. Just thought I would let you know!! Peace.

What Next?

Three years ago I made a transition from business into ministry. At the heart of the decision was a desire be apart of an environment that was relevantly communicating the reality of God to the community it was in. I ended up saying no to a church of nearly 1000, to say yes to a church of 260. I knew going in that the smaller church would be way more work, but also that I would have far more involvement in direction and leadership.

Three years, how's it going? Well, we are a church that has seen many more people hear and believe that God is real, that Jesus Christ is real and decided to pursue a life in relationship with God. Very cool. The first year was a year of transition on almost every front. The average attendance was 260. The second year the average attendance went up to 282 and last year the average was 324. That has looked like almost 400 on several Sundays through the past six months. Our evaluation tool (Natural Church Development) has seen improved scores across the board. In fact, we are up from an average score of 51 three years ago when I first arrived to 65. 51 was a sign that pretty much everything needed a great deal of improvement, 65 that everything is running fairly well.

Wow, cool eh. Well here's the kicker. I never thought I would be able to exercise many of my convictions on leadership, administration, strategy, relationships and much more. I have seen the positive effects of being given the freedom to follow my beliefs and abilities to a logical end. So what is the problem? I have done what I always thought I could do. To a very real degree I have been a major part of a difficult but positive turn around. Both from a spiritual and organizational sense our church has gone from less than great to almost great. Now we need to go to the next level. From both a spiritual and a organizational standpoint we need to become the greatest that we can be under God.

John Maxwell in his book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" describes the Law of the Lid as the innate ability a leader might have to lead an organization to a certain level but not beyond. Two things here, I am not THE leader. I am the Associate Pastor, so I realize that ultimately I needn't fool myself with how much influence I have. Secondly, I do not think I have come anywhere close to my lid, but... I know that I have some serious work to do to make sure that I get way out ahead of where I am today in all the areas I lead. My mission in life is to tell people about God and Jesus Christ. My gift in the church is to make sure that upon hearing and believing, there is an organization there that can properly mentor and disciple them in the way they should go! It's going to be a busy summer of learning!

More Radio

Well it is a slow build, but another station has picked up the CD in Woodstock Ontario - very cool. In fact I may be doing an artist spotlight interview by phone next week. They keyed into the Coffee Shop song which is defnitely a favourite of mine. Every little bit helps. They will also be playing the single and another worship song "We Cry Out". Fun to see the build.