Taking a Break?

Phew. Have a good Christmas.? Hope so. It has been the usual busy one for us. Busy and wonderful with the kids. My 6 year old and I have had a couple of interchanges that have been fun.

"Why do we give presents?", I asked,
"Because we love each other", she responded.
"Is that the reason we celebrate Christmas?", I asked,
"No, it is because Jesus was born." she returned.
Just checking.

I must admit I am a "bah humbug" when it comes to Christmas. My family never really over did it with presents - were not a Christian family in the early years, just was not a HUGE thing. Now don't get me wrong - I struggle with my desires for things. I tend to desire big ticket items, which to this point in my life I have rarely if ever satisfied with any frequency. They also usually have a practical purpose - equipment for music etc.., but I often find myself thinking what would I choose to take if I had to pack it all in a car and live in one room with my whole family. Would I take my guitar - still try and take some form of a demo studio with computer and all, a piano? Would I be online anymore. Would it change who I am, what I do, how I dress, who I hang out with, how well I served Christ or not?

Sometimes the way we celebrate Christmas seems to fly in the face of evaluating how we remember Christ's birth and it's impact and influence in our lives, and instead it awakens our material short-comings. Our inability to gift our children, our spouses, or immediate family with much or anything. Should we not sacrifice, even go into debt to gift people with things?

Well it seems an absurd statement, but it is what we do as a culture.

We didn't this year, haven't for years really. I think I have begun to succeed at not emphasizing the material, commercial side of Christmas - now I feel I must find a way to radically change the way we celebrate the birth of Christ. Perhaps I am talking about 365 days a year - but I think I am talking about Christmas time. I do not know how yet - but I will get back to you. Hopefully before next Christmas.

Peace.

The Year in Review

Ministry life has been growing there is no doubt. This will be one of many blogs that analyzes different parts of what I have been doing this past year. One of the things I do is lead worship at Valley View. It is part of my day job as an Associate Pastor there. When it is all said and done I have done alot of singing and leading this year.

1. Morning Services (many Sunday morning for 2 services both counted estimated) 84
   
2. Church Coffee House Services conservatively 15
3. Cliff Cline Concerts/Appearances 21

That is a total of 120 Services, concerts or appearances this year. That is probably a little on the low side. Just an interesting look back for me. That doesn't include that I have preached and/or taught (many times at the same service) an additional 20 times this year. When you think that I probably average 10 hours of prep for a talk and 4 hours of prep (including rehearsal) for a worship service you are looking at 680 hours of my year. That of course doesn't take into account the sound checks or the actual service time or concert time and travel. Too much to look at the extra-curricular 21 gigs, but the church stuff estimates in around 290 hours a year. So about 970 hours in prep and execution of the music and speaking side of my ministry.

The Digital World 2

Well I have finally hit the digital world where you can buy Noticing the Sky songs one by one. I am excited to be offered on both Napster and Emusic. I should be available on ITunes soon as well. I will let you know when that happens.

Sick as a Dog

Man, got a flu that turned into a cold and has knocked me out. I am on the rise finally I think. Not blogging much these days, bad Cliff. I have a tonne on my mind. I am planning my next series for Coffee House, looking at the new year and things to do for music, thinking of more "improvements" to the worship area at church, looking at the reality or not of doing another CD this year and much more.

Typically there is a lot of reflection this time of year for many people. No different for me. If I am going to make a major initiative or move it is usually decided on at this time of year. Just works into the yearly planning and review schedule I impose on myself and that literally seems natural.

I will let you know how some of these things pan out. Talk to you soon.

Peace.

Long Time No Blog

Well I feel bad that I haven't been consistent at all in the blogging. Life has been more than a little crazy. I have had a couple of gigs, plently of outings ala Chirsitmas parties and just social things and well, the day job has been a little crazy. To some degree that will keep going until Christmas day. Makes sense.

I have been really active in the songwriting area in the past few months. That generally happens when I hit a reflective time in my life, and there has been lots of reflection. The end of the year is a natural time to consider all things pertaining to ones existence (yes perhaps overstated and poorly used). Good time to reflect on the past year and the one coming.

I think I will have more to share in the coming weeks, I will endeavour to step up the updates.

Peace.