The Speaking Thing

I have begun preaching or speaking on the Bible now for a year and a half. As is my nature, I am relatively self-critical. When I began, I received good feedback and mistook that to mean I was good at preaching.

I have really begun to critique my past performances and I am not very impressed. The good news is I think I have many things I can get better at. Time to dig in and really try and move this part of my life forward.

The second peice of good news is even for my newness to the task I am starting to get asked to guest speak other places, so I must have done something half decent. Looking forward to some preaching at Redeemer University in the next few weeks. I will let you know how it goes.

Peace.

State of the World

Much has transpired recently. "Big news" in Canada is that Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have taken over rule of Canada with a minority government. I personally am not very impressed by the result as a conservative. I think that ultimately the conservative view is one somewhat rooted in Christian morality, although it would be a massive stretch to think it is a significant influence in reality. The only way that the conservatives, in my opinion, will get more seats is to further distance itself from a Christian worldview, or moral view. That would allow it to "appeal" to those who hold to some sort of morally relative post-modern view. That really just creates two liberal parties and does not give a real choice. I think that the bottom line is that Canada is sufficiently morally bankrupt to ensure that those who have any moral agenda whatsoever will never gain any significant political control of the country. Influence is another question, but control - I think not. When crookedness to the level that Canada has seen barely begets a tap on the knuckles for the perpetrators then I think that more than lets us know the climate in Canada. What's the golden rule? Do unto others. Apparently most of us are afraid of being held to account ourselves, because we sure don't want to be accused of holding the liberals to real account.

Going away!

Well I am heading out to Niagra Falls to do three days and 5 sessions of worship for out sister district in Ontario for the Alliance.

I am very excited to have been asked and to be going there to lead this group of pastors.

On the muscial side I am priviledged to be taking my constant drummer Kevin Jongsma, Fergus Marsh (of Bruce Cockburn fame) on bass, and friend Ryan Fletcher to run the technical side of life.

I will let you know about the highlights, and I will see if I can get some pics.

Peace.

New Things

Well I am trying to get over my fears of the technical. It is starting to work. I wouldn't go as far as to say I am turning into a geek, but as it pertains to creating music and trying things out I am having a tonne of fun.

I am currently starting to lay down some demos of new songs I have written this past year. The equipment I currently have is pretty humourous:

1. Dell Pent 3 866
2. Cubasis VST
3. Audiophile 2496 audio accelerator card
4. Beringer 8 channel mixer (four "mic pres")
5. Korg O1/W
   

The rest is not worth mentioning. Perhaps to some the above wasn't. Anyway the real fun is in learning the technology available. Free drum samples on the web, syncing things up, seeing your songs come to life with "bed tracks" etc.

I have much more to learn, but I can sure see how guys get addicted to the engineering/producing/mixing side of things. There really is alot of creative outlet in there.

Computers, Yeesh

Well my old Dell, actually a good computer to us, had to be re-done this past week. It is a few years old and after various upgrades and far too many programs installed, including too many kids games etc. it was time to wipe it clean and start again.

Through connections we have the Pro XP and Office Microsoft stuff so I was able to reformat to NTFS and put clean versions back on old bessie. Of course then you have to go up and put every security upgrade and SP2 back on it, but I am hoping (and it seems to have) re-stabalized the home machine. No loss of data as it was all backed up in preparation of the endeavor.

Who knows, maybe I will get blogging more again.

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.

From the Kid File

Well we have entered, or shall I say continue to enter, the ever increasing activity list that is part of this eras child developmental cycle. Our eldest (6) is now in basketball, which I think is hilarious. Truth is, I am very proud of her. She really likes to practice her dribbling and running and really loves the whole deal. Seeing the joy that she experiences is a great parental experience, and this seems to be a father daughter connection point she really likes. Very cool.

The Trio Returns!

Well the Great Wodden Trio, one of my favourite names for a group, dropped by with their brand of story telling and music and brought wisdom, humour and inspiration to our church last night. I haven't got the count, but it was well attended.

Had the opportunity to go out after for some wings with the band. A great time of catching up on old times and hearng the massive history that this group of guys has together. For sure it is part of the unseen appeal of this group. May they do this for a very long time to come.

Thanks guys. www.greatwoodentrio.com

A Great Read

Some my wife dictated that life had become to work-centric, to the point where my recreational reading was to educationallly or carrer based. In short, I was not leaving work at work enough. I am a Pastor, you see the challenge.

Regardless she picked out a book for me based on another passion - coffee. "The Coffee Trader" by David Liss. link



By puritanical standards this book might not pass the test of cleaniliness, but by reality and life's standards it felt quite accurate. Ultimately, however, it was masterfully written and a great, if short due my enthusiasm, read.

I mostly include this because I am very uninteresting sometimes in my blog and write too much of the gig life and not enough of the "mundane" and frankly lately I feel my "deep thoughts" are as deep as the groove in my front hall tile.

Alas, I am happily diverted. Have a great day.

Peace.

The Great Wooden Trio

Well, I thought I might as well advertise for friends considering they are coming to our church this Sunday night @ 7pm. The Great Wooden Trio will be performing (and I will most likely join them on a number - no guarantees) at Valleyview Alliance Church. It is a free 'show' and will be one of the most entertaining you will expereince for some time.

We hosted these fellows recently and could not resist having them back. It is a Christmas theme so it a great way to start you celebrating this season.

www.thegreatwoodentrio.com

Can you hear me now?

This one has two themes. First is the 100 Huntley Street thing. It was a real blast to do. As I mentioned before, I think, it was my first time being interviewed at length on Huntley and I was nervous. It seemed to go very well. You can check it out on their site and download the whole show if you want. link You can also view it right from here streaming, by clicking on this link.

Secondly I have finally bought a webcam. Way behind the times I know, but I finally come to the place where it is necessary for cheap, visual, cross-country communication (video conference) and I have purchased a cheap logitech camera to see how it flies in general. Alas, I have now done a test via msn (oneway) and it seems pretty cool. The next thing is a true conference. Can you hear me now?

100 Huntley Tomorrow, Etobicoke on Saturday

I am very excited about going on 100 Huntley tomorrow, looking forward to bringing my percussionist, Kevin Jongsma, with me. Really cool. I am interested in the whole experience as I have never been the interview guest on 100 Huntley, although I have been a musical guest several times. Hopefully God will use what is said and done to touch someone - that's my prayer. Show times are through this link. (it does repeat at night many places)

I am also singing at Hilltop Bible Chapel (Torotno area) on Saturday night with an acoustic band. If you want to come out you can get directions through this link. I think the tickets are around $6-8 at the door, I will confirm tomorrow. Love to see you there.

Peace.

Lots of Things Coming

I have a few things coming up that I thought you should know about. This Saturday I am doing a fundraising event for the Neighbourlink churches in Newmarket at Newmarket Alliance Church. I am doing several songs as part of a greater event. I am also going to be on national television next week on 100 Huntley Street, both as the musical guest, and being interviewed. Lastly, I have a gig in Etobicoke at Hilltop Bible Chapel. It should be an amazing intimate "unplugged" thing with acoustic guitar, percussion/drums, and myself on piano and vocals. I think it would be a great event to catch a different side of the music.

Anyway, just thought I would give a quick update to keep you in the loop and informed.

I am on the charts at Indieheaven again, but a long way down. If you think of it you can vote once a day at Indieheaven Radio. Just look for my song "We Cry Out", click on it, look for my CD at the top and vote 5 stars and watch it climb!!

Fun Stuff

I am starting to build out links to friends and other things I am doing on my website. It is really at the new stage but there are a couple of things you can check out through the page now. I will try to keep building and updating as things go on.

Have fun. link

The Church

I think the thing I love most about the church when it works well is the relationships, both deep and new, that transcend circumstance and unite us. I was able to go to a sister church in London this past weekend and teach and lead worship with their people. It was a great experience (for me anyway). The thing about God working in peoples' lives is it is real, it shows. I was blessed to know them, even at the level I was knowing them at, and God was definitively working in their lives. Man that's cool.

What's also cool is coming home. Came into church Sunday morning and interacted with many people from the home church. Same thing, God working in peoples' lives. The excitement of God at work. So good to see the fruit of Christian living up front and centre!

On the road again

So this weekend is going to be a blast. I am in London, ON doing a worship workshop and then doing a worship concert with the folk from the church I am at. I am really looking forward to meeting all these fellow padres in worship and music.

I am finding all of the travel right now refreshing. It is constantly rejeuvenating the creative juices. Writing songs like crazy. Anyway, I will let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, don't be afraid to keep voting for the new song on the Indieheaven radio show, "We Cry Out".

Peace.