Road Trip

Well, I will be offline for a few days here as I am not one of these wireless bloggers (RIM/Blackberry) and I have decided to leave technology behind to keep things simple on the trip down to Rocketown.

So later today we head to drop the kids off at their grandparents for the next 3 or 4 days. Boy do we have it good. That doesn't even cover the fact that they are all ill. Unfortunately, I think I am as well as I head down to do this songwriters showcase, but what are you going to do. Hopefully be acceptable.

Alas, I hope to post lots of pics of our time down south, This is a mini-vacation for Stef and I as well, really mostly, as it is a networking opportunity rather than a gig so hopefully the 24-30 hours of driving and one day and two nights down there wil rejeuvenate:)

Talk to you when we get back.

Fun Night of Manual Labour

My "day" job definitely gives me variety, tonight was no exception. My portfolios at church under the title Associate Pastor include, but are not limited to:

• Music (Worship and the Arts)
• Operational Finance
• Facilities
• Small Groups
• Creative Communication (marketing and the like)
• Strategic and tactical planning and implementation

There are more, but that should be the big headings. Anyway, I indulge myself, bad Cliff bad. Tonight was a facilities night. Our kids program is now headed by a great new pastor. She determined there is a need for some more and better classroom space - so in comes the project manager side of the facilities portfolio. We have some amazing volunteers who help with one-off projects as well as weekly tasks. Tonight was the one-off project crew which includes several from our church and a friend who is not. Man this guy is cool. Doesn't even belong to the church and gives of his time and energy.

I lament there are not pictures to show tonight, I will try and get some over the net week or so, but it was a great night. Built two classrooms, all the drywall and the doors in in one night. I will sleep well, thanks guys!!

Three Generations

Well I am taking the day off tomorrow. It seems like the summer is going to be over so quickly. It is the first, perhaps annual, guys golf day. My brother, his son, my dad and I are going golfing. A three generation foursome. Should be a real treat. My brother is a member at Criagowan G&CC. It is a good course, I have played it once or twice before, kind of old school. Gets some mention on Mike Weir's site because of some tournament play there this year. Alas, I would think it is really good shape because of that to boot.

Let's see how I score. Seems to be getting better than worse these days for me on the links. What's the definition of insanity?

Membership Has Its' Privileges

So we are preparing for our little excursion to Nashville. Sadly, the one soul I know down there will be away while we are there. Granted, the purpose is to sing and meet some new friends, but a little comfort is always good.

But I digress. I am a member of the Canadian Gospel Music Association, and they get discounted rates for travel through Choice Hotels. Ok not the hotel I would like to stay at (link) but to stay at that hotel would mean I did not leave out of guilt, and then I would not do any site seeing.

Alas my hard to reach point is this. Huge discount, felt cool, paid for the membership in one trip. Not bad.

Number 1 on the charts!!

Hey guys. Thanks so much for the daily support on this. I have reached number 1 overall on the Indieheaven Charts. Let's see if we can keep it there until Nashville in a couple of weeks. I plan on taking lots of pics and posting them once I get back with some stories of the experience. Talk to you soon.

Peace.

Three Girls

So God has blessed us with three girls, and I am getting more and more scared. They are all young now, the oldest (6) is just getting to the place where prolonged conversations are a regularity. The younger two (3 and 2) are still very physically demanding and less inclined to want to recline with pops and chat about the day. I am a chatter. It seems with life's business that we are more often than not in survival mode rather than proactive development mode. Obviously our main goal is to provide an incredibly loving environment, and give them the security that gives, but where from here? Sports, school, music lessons (one would hope I will pick up the slack and start teaching my own kids more music), and other things?

Alas, literally musings. In some ways this is such an amazing time of watching them grow up and mature and interact together. But three teenage daughters, three in marriage age, three in university, wow, I better enjoy the moment.

Peace.

A Pastor in an Audi

Ok, ok, so it is not actually mine, and it is one or two years older than this one, but.. some friends of ours generously have loaned us their Audi A4 to drive down to Nashville for the songwriters showcase that I am doing at Michael W. Smith's club Rocketown. We need to lend our van to my in-laws so they can take care of the kids for us when we go, and the Subaru Justy (an upscale version pictured below) just won't do it.



Anyway, I hope to have some stories to tell when I come back. The Audi will make the ride that much sweeter. Thanks Del and Lor.

Peace, and see ya.

Response to an anonymous comment

anonymous comment:
"Someday I hope to hear of a Canadian Church that American Churches are listening too via Satellite feed! Does every church in Canada have to copy Willowcreek, Saddleback, or Harvest! Can't just one have an identity of their own???"

Man you could not hit more at the heart of how I am thinking in life. Truthfully, I am a pastor in Canada primarily because I think I should be here. There is far more "career" opportunity in the States, but there is no where near the need.

Just so you know, the church I am the music pastor at is starting to build its own identity. Moreover, we are trying to help other Canadian churches develop their own identity. We are starting with worship, although the approach we are taking is more holistic. Starting this fall we are beginning the Fusion Conference, a conference not about industry etc., but about the biblical context of worship and worship leaders in the church. Our goal is to develop and find Canadian Christian leaders who can speak to, over the long haul, the surprisingly different Canadian landscape as it applies to trying to fulfill the mission of the church in Canada.

Come on out, if you are near, whether you are involved in worship or not. It's our start in response to your good comment, although, it won't broadcast to 50,000 people this year:)

Thanks

So the support keeps coming, thanks. Noticing the Sky has climbed to number 6 on an ever increasing list of songs on the Indieheaven radio charts. Very fun, and I really appreicate all those that are going there daily and supporting me in this way. Hey maybe we can get to number one before I go to Nashville!!

Owning a home

I have always heard people say that owning a home is this ever present hole of work. Having owned two previous places (both condo townhomes) I have been spoiled with how much of the work gets done for you. Enter the semi we are in now. Besides the fact that I have put a deck and fence on this summer (deck not completed) and painted a major portion of the house - the work keeps coming. Lawn care (which needs work anyway), new flower beds, more painting, cleaning fixing etc. And I was worried I would never get into the groove of working out again. Oh my aching body!

The Leadership Summit from Willow Creek

Forgive the simplicity of this blog, but I thought I would pass on some "first thoughts" from my learning today. I am attending the satellite feed for the Leadership Summit out of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago up here near Toronto in Ajax. Today I was challenged on the following points:

1. "Cliff, you know what your passions are, are you really pursuing what you think God would have you do for Him to fulfill His will?"
2. Have you appropriately responded and sacrificed when necessary to actually accomplish what the Holy Spirit has laid on you heart to do?
3. Do you have a minute to spare, a single minute, where you are not leaving every single available ounce of your being on the floor serving God with all that you have and are - all that he has given you to use for His purposes?

Dudes, there is an unbelievable amount of work to be done everywhere. I need to be doing so much more of it. God help me clarify, focus and move forward strongly and effectively.

The Charts

Well, I made the top 10 on the overall Indieheaven Radio Charts today, and am still number 2 on the CCM. Kind of cool. Thanks for the support! Continuing to check in and vote would be most appreciated. The pics are just me playing with this whole blogging and picture thing.

Peace.

Climbing the Charts!!

Wow, thanks guys. Obviously several of you went over to the Indieheaven Radio Site and rated me highly because I moved up 10 spots today alone.

• Number 2 on the Indieheaven Adult CCM chart.
• Number 12 on the overall chart!!

Thanks so much!! Keep loggin' in and we will see how close we can get to number 1!! I say WE because I literally cannot do it without you.

Peace.

I am on the Charts!! (you can help)

Kind of fun. As I mentioned earlier I am going to Nashville through an independent artists association out of the same town for a writer's showcase in September. Well yesterday they released some information on their radio program, a way they help artists get exposure to Christian radio primarily in the states. They have started a chart to track the popularity of the songs that are in the program according to fans and passersby.

To my surprise I was not at the bottom of the list but about half way up, and I hadn't e-mailed my "fan" base yet to alert them to the opportunity to vote me up the charts (I have as of about 10 minutes ago).

You can help too!! Check out the Indieheaven Radio Show, look for my song Noticing the Sky at about 22 and rate me (5 preferably:))and let's watch it move up together. You can vote once every 24 hours.



Anyway a quick update. Having fun with this stuff, hope you are too.

Peace.

Radio Interview on the Site

It's a bloggy morning I guess. Just catching up on everything. I keep meaning to tell those that come by here rather than the site directly that there is 3 clips from an interview I did a while back on a radio station from Woodstock, Ontario.

It is under the Latest News section right on the first page link. Just scroll down a little and have a listen. I think I did alright.

I think I can get to work now.

Peace.

Encouraging Comment

Generally I get some very encouraging comments from those that frequent the blog. Yes I do get the occassional one that makes me go hmmm, but nevertheless.

Recently I got one directing me to this scripture, link. Even in english, the words seem to be put together poetically and are beautiful, powerful and encouraging. Ponder these for a few. Thanks anonymous.

Peace.