Google Me

I google myself everyone in a while to see if any of the marketing efforts are actually taking effect. Well a cool thing happened this time around as I found I was featured on an indepedent internet radio podcast link letting people know about some independent Christian artists that you may not have heard of. Anyway, very cool to see my tunes hitting Boulder, Colorado. Talk to you soon.

Cleaning up the desk...

Well a funny tidbit about me. I am simultaneously organized and well, not. I am detail oriented, but not. At my last job as a consultant I kept a pristine office. I dealt with everything in a viciously organized manner, and although I was very busy, I was able to maintain control as it were.

Well for three years I have felt out of control. Picture an old movie which is a life-u-mentary. You see a guy starting a business and doing what it takes to get the thing off the ground, working out of a basement, a dirty rented space etc. But as he progresses things get nicer, more established more polished and more together. Well I am hoping I am beginning a phase of "growing" up in this position. Part of the issue has been the absolutely massive portfolio I oversee. I don't just push paper and request others to do the work: I paint, strategize, implement, hang stage lighting, plan, counsel, advise....

Alas what is my point. I have had everything mounting in my office from garbage - literally - from various sources - to stacks of paper to deal with, storage tyoe items etc. Well I think I am down to 2 stacks of paper. The goal: get to pristine and keep it there!! I will keep you posted.

Hmmm

Ever have something feel so wrong, only to find out it was right?
Ever feel you were nearing the end of something, only to find you were just starting out?
Ever write an amazing song, you could never sing?
Ever feel the pain, that irony brings?

Dreaming

Every once in a while I get a newsletter from Digidesign with their new stuff or offers. ProTools is the software and hardware that I recorded my last CD on and is industry standard for digital recording.

Anyway, I have never really keyed in how much a mini (home) version of the system would cost should I ever be able to start doing some recording and pre-production at home. Too much. Ah well, there is always dreaming...

Reflection

Man it has been one of the most trying times I have ever experienced. I know you are not supposed to question your own leadership in a public forum like a blog, but let's just call it analysis.

Being a good leader I have often heard is not simply about setting a vision, but mainly about taking people through to the realization of the vision. Drawing a sketch but then actually building the town.

So the past several weeks have been: a trip to Nashville, personal concerts, several church services, and a conference that took major effort and expense. Absolutely none of the aforementioned were wild and famous 'successes', and yet, they all created forward movement towards a vision that has been painted. I guess the hard part is that most of us are so worn out from achieving the events we haven't experienced the joy of accomplishment. Some of us have experienced the opposite. I think several lives were challenged and changed for the better through these experiences, comments like "this has been life changing" tipped me off!:). Nevertheless I now need to go to a more restful quiet place where I listen to the the feedback waves along the shore of the past few weeks and see if there are things to be changed - maybe some major things.

Concert Tonight - Conference Tomorrow

Well I am feeling widely human these past few weeks. The pressure has been high, the relationships have been strained, the stakes in my mind (undoubtedly overthought) are life altering, and I am just plain burning out.

I look to some of the folk I respect in life. I guess I dare not name them, the super stars of Christian teaching and discipleship, and the schedules they have kept for decades and I think - what is my problem? Why can't I handle the pace? The humourous part is that ministry/show time, if you will, is only now finally coming. Perhaps this is when it will all fade away, and I can just work at the stuff I am most passionate about. Sharing the stuff I am learning about God through the bible and worshiping through music. Well, I hope to see lots of people this weekend and do a heart dump, hopefully it will benefit them!!

Peace.

Site / Blog Hits / Still # 1

Well I have hit about 217 unique visitors a week to the site and the blog. Kind of cool. Pressures on though. I am trying to keep it consistent and updated as I try to grow towards ohh 1000 or more in the next while.

I have to admit I am surprised that I am still number 1 on the Indieheaven Radio Chart with the title track Noticing the Sky. I have to thank many of you I know for such a long run at number 1. I think at some point they are going to just take me off the chart and make me submit another song. I will let you know.

Anyway, I am very pleased to have you guys along for the journey. I hope to add some value and entertainment to your lives whenever it is possible.

For now, good night!!

Success?

How does one measure success? There are so many variables, quantitative and qualitative, that play into that question. Sometimes, though, I think it is just a matter of getting the things that you said you would done well. The last two weeks have been pressure cooker weeks for me. Trip to Nashville with the showcase, concert up here, and a leadership gathering last night at church. In some respects I think future success is predicated on the implementation of these things across various parts of my life and ministry. I don't feel like there is a specific thing I can point to except that in the midst of the busyness, planned activity is being achieved with effectiveness. I think in many respects I am still laying the groundwork for the next 10 years. Am I allowed to think that far ahead?

Keeping Busy

Well the week continues and I have had guilt for not blogging enough. This week has been incredibly fun. Concert on Friday night went very well. Man I forgot what it was like to be your own set-up dude. (rodie?) It has been a long time since I was in need of renting, but the venue we were at demanded it, alas we did. The concert was great, as was the band. Reallya privilege to be able to work with these guys.

Today we are back to 2 services at church and we have a very cool Leadership Gathering happening at the church which I have coordinated and will be "producing" this evening. Then a heavy week getting ready for the Fusion Conference, a worship conference we are hosting at our church. Tuesday night meeting, Wednesday and Thursday rehearsals, a Cliff Cline concert here at Valley View to kick off the conference Friday night and then the whole day conference followed by two services and then I lead and speak at the Church Coffee House Sunday night. I think this will be the busiest stretch this fall, but there is still time to book more!

Day in the Life

Concert day!! Pretty excited. We have had a couple of rehearsals to get back in the groove after a bit of a lay-off from the concert thing. Now we have at least 2 or three as a band in the next couple of months. I am hoping the new year brings more. The band sounds amazing.

Anyway today will be busy. This morning I pick up the sound system. Then we go to the concert venue to set-up the system and do sound checks. Then we go home get ready for the concert and get back for final sound checks and then the concert.

I am very excited about tonight. Although it is a small venue, the hosts are pumped about the concert, the Christian radio station Life 100.3 is part of the promotion and will be there. It's so fun.

Anyway, tonnes to do so I better get started. Have a little work to clean up as well. Maybe we will see you there.

Peace

Life 100.3 FM Radio Interview Tomorrow Morning

So September is a great month of gigs. This Friday I am in Bradford ON at our daughter church Bradford Alliance to be apart of their 10th anniversary celebrations, followed by a gig at my home church Valley View.

To kick it off I am being interview by Life 100.3 FM (listen online) to promote the Bradford concert tomorrow morning at 8 am-ish. Check it out online, or on the radio.

Back From Nashville

Well, Nashville was a great exeperience. Funny thing happened, I know, I know, I should know better, but Nashville was demystified. What does that mean you ask? Well, I did not go expecting to come home with a record deal. I didn't go expecting a mega gig. I just kind of thought Nashville was like the Magic Kingdom for musicians. The shops and restauarants and the feel man, the feel. I thought it would be energizing, mystifying. You guessed it, same as every other town. It was a great gig, met some amazing people, had a great time, and am more commited than ever to serving the "fans" that I can gather here. I am but a minstrel, and I want to sing a song and tell a story, so I shall keep doing it with a sparkle in my eye and a smile in my heart cause that was created in me.

Pic in the Nash for your pleasure:

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:)