First Post of the Decade

As I look at the next decade I see it as crucial to me and my family. This is the time for me to do something bigger, something more meaningful, something lasting. There will be university starting for my eldest, there will be dreams formed in all my children, and I must encourage. I must show them the world God has created and the nuture the gifts they have been given to serve God in this world.

Interesting motivational thought from Seth Godin's blog. I definitely do not want to wake up 7 to 10 years from now having only dreamt of doing more.

Seize the day!!

Hello / Goodbye Newmarket and Updates

So last night the "Buried Thoughts" tour continued. In fact, it continued at the church I was a pastor at for five years. I had Kevin Birch on drums and Fergus Marsh on bass. They are both amazing, and it was a great concert!! I am looking forward to booking out 2010, with this CD.

Worship

Back at The Well this morning which was great. One of the bigger crowds since this second year started (since I have been there) and the vibe was amazing. Definitely a place to hang if the westside of TO is your home and you want modern, or should I say post-modern, or should I say, well cool place to hang, nuff said.

The Studio

As I plan for the next project, work on creating a better studio space commences this weekend. Hopefully the new space is created by Jan, and I can get back to spending sometime writing etc. I also have to do some more recording of the kids, they are amazing.

Lyrics to Title Track of the new CD

Buried Thoughts

Buried in the thoughts of elsewhere moments

Is the sad loss of immediate and close by ones

What of distant scenarios, if they can't be grasped, even a little?

Perhaps pondering painfully in the present

Is more valuable than longing for a more desirable impossibility

Perhaps, but who's to say? Perhaps, but who's to say?

'Cause I 'm looking for authenticity in the midst of this reality

What'd you say, what you say?

 

Perhaps perfection lies in the perception, of that which stimulates the mind to see?

Or maybe some absolute truth, guides what may actually be?

But arbitrary pain and angst and hate

Seem to roam free in he mind with any time or reason, to host misery

It leaves nothing, good to say, it leaves nothing good to say

'Cause I 'm looking for authenticity in the midst of this reality

What'd you say, what you say?

 

And to be a rebel without a cause, or with one, changes nothing

Are they not valid, the emotions, that run wild to find the truth?

Perhaps some friends and some prayer

And some good advice would clear the air

And free the fire in the foundation, that runs wild to find the truth

Perhaps but who's to say, perhaps but who's to say?

'Cause I 'm looking for authenticity, in the midst of this reality

What'd you say, what you say?

Lyrics to Buried Thoughts Now Available

By "popular" demand, I have made the lyrics to the Buried Thoughts CD available on the website to download, for free of course. You can link to it from the front page. Happy reading!!!

www.cliffcline.com

"You Found Me" in Concert at the Well

Definitely a weird affect with the lighting, but let's call it artistic. This is from the old CD, I will post one of the songs from the new CD soon.

The Well Concert

Here are some images from the Well "Buried Thoughts" release concert:

The stage:




The Sound Check:



The Concert:

A Great Concert at the Well

Last Saturday night was a great intimate solo concert with my community at the Well. Thanks to Bryn and the gang for hosting it! It was followed up with leading music for the Well service the next morning, so a full weekend for sure.

 

As the "tour" evolves I am enjoying seeing how the "show" or set is starting to have a better feel (to me at least). I am far from done my tweaking, but the my favourite stories for the songs are refining the more I tell them, and judging flow based on audience reaction is starting to become more innate.

 

I have another trio concert coming up in Newmarket in two weeks, so that will be another opportunity to grow the band flavour of the tour.

Reboot

Have you ever thought that you would just like to reboot your life? I like the metaphor of a reboot for a couple of reasons. Often, we have to reboot our computer (yes even Mac users once in while) because the system has crashed or a program is not responding. The thing is, once the computer starts again, if we are fortunate, all of the previous good work and files are still there, it is just that the computer is functioning well again. Now, any of the bad work and useless files are still there as well, but in a sense we instantly get a fresh start at work. To emphasize, unless it is a full crash, we can't erase the past, you never can but that is very computer and life philosophical, but the point is -  line in the sand....reboot.

 

I currently feel like I am in reboot mode in every aspect of life. I have been working out for over a year and a half now, but I need a refresh to move forward. I finished the CD Buried Thoughts and have started to promote it, but I need a new wave of creativity and energy to promote for the next year and keep fresh musically. Spiritually I feel like it has been a tough two and a half years since I left being a Pastor to where I am today. Even in family, all of the above has led to the hard drive of life feeling over worked. Many of the "files" that have been created are good files, but I need to refresh the system, put things in their folders, organize, take a deebreath as my eldest daughter used to say, and embrace a new more productive, fresher (is that a word) future.

 

Keep you posted.....

FTC Canada is Feeding Families in Hamilton again this year!!

Last year we partnered with Marwan Hage of the Hamilton Ti-Cats to distribute 1000 food boxes to help families in Hamilton. This year with more partners and a tonne of work, we are doing it again, but this time 1500 boxes!!

Here is TSN's coverage of last years event, hopefully they come out again.




Here is the link to how you can help FTC do this and other drops in the future: http://ftccanada.ca/hamilton

Do what you can when you can.....

My Dual Life

I have had a good run of pushing both the day job and the new CD forward this past month, starting to fatigue now though. Time for a week off next week, and then back at it pushing until Christmas, starting with the cool gig at the Well Nov. 7.

You can but the download of the new CD "Buried Thoughts" at www.cliffcline.com, or buy the physical copy, not to mention listen to a couple of tracks to see if you like it!!
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The Problem with Music in Church Worship - A Lack of Excellence

I seem to find myself in an interesting conversation with regularity these days, in fact for the last several years. The simple desire or question is: "how do we make our music for church congregational worship better?" To me the answer seems obvious, but I do feel that I am in the minority in my conclusions. Grant it I am accused of being black and white on this issue, but walk with me.

 

In my opinion there are two major factors at play. 

 

Firstly, it is church, so you need people who are established in their faith in Christ, and frankly, relatively mature as Christians, and therefore as people, to make up this team. I am not suggesting necessarily the qualities of an Elder, as the Bible describes, but not far off, possibly that of a deacon. Please note, no reference to gender here. The reason this must be the first quality in the people on the team is it answers the "heart", or motivation, or attitude question first. Why is this important? Because the second criteria, although seemingly the most straightforward, is the one where all the controversy comes in.

 

Number two: THE MUSICIANS MUST BE VERY GOOD!! "Ohhhh but Cliff, they have such a great heart!" Bully for them. So when they finish playing on Sunday do you walk up and say, "great heart, playing needs work, but great heart." No, most likely that is not what happens. Everybody either secretly whispers between each other that the music was not good, even though they like the person, which breaks unity in the church at some significant level whether you like to believe it or not, or they lie right to the person's face justifying the lie with some thought of practicing the gift of encouragement Does no one else see this as horribly dishonest?

 

Psalm 33:3 paraphrased says when you worship God do it with skill.  1 Chronicles 15:22 talks about the talent of the leader being the reason he was chosen to lead. We are all given to understand King David was skilled at his instrument and writing.

 

Here is my compromise; the musicians must be at a semi-professional level of play. "But we don't have anybody that good." Hmm, that raises a couple of other issues, which I can't begin address in this post. So let me point to some questions worth exploring to find your own conclusions.

 

1.   If God created the earth and everything in it, including the overtone or harmonic series (which gives us our sense of tune and harmony), and calls us to play skillfully to Him in worship, what makes us think that we should compromise on this Biblically? Another way of exposing another discussion point is, why have we elevated volunteerism (people willing with a good heart) over God given gift and obvious work ethic leading to skill.

2.  If the skill doesn't exist in your congregation is it possible that a) your church isn't ready for public gatherings or b) that your church body should be a part of another body which has sufficient leadership and skill present?

3.  Is it possible that we have lost our way in our desire to multiply and/or follow a Senior Pastor's "new" vision and embraced society's individualism (e.g. every church having their own logo and vision and building etc.) at the expense of true humble community, where we actually nurture, encourage and develop those with gifts in many areas to the end of a much healthier group of communities that are ONE church rather than a series of denominations and churches.

I will personally never understand a leadership of a church that does not practice truth, in love, and place those in spiritual and musical leadership who actually possess the skills to accomplish the tasks necessary. This very notion, I know, creates some tension and controversy, but that tension and controversy to me reveals not that my premise is wrong, but that there are unrelated sub-issues allowing this elephant in the room to propagate in many churches. What is the elephant? That the one or both of the qualities above are not represented properly in the music teams of the church.

 

Some Different Musings

I thought I would write something a little different today, a little about the musical journey I am on right now. Well, actually it is the non musical part of the musical journey. For those interested in a career in music this might add some insight.

 

I am in the midst of trying to revive my musical dream in what is probably one of the most challenging times in commercial music history to do so. At the same time, the opportunities are also great. I have been able to produce my own CD, "Buried Thoughts", at a high quality with complete artistic control because I was able to buy my own "studio". But there are ups and downs. I personally have had very little success historically, and with the semi-release of this CD, selling online. I am going to keep hammering away, but it is a reality. That is a down. On the other hand, an up, I always seem to do very well when I sing live. Both of my release concerts have seen CD sales at a high percentage of the audience, very encouraging.

 

I know, and have read, that in the end, touring is the way to truly build a career. The above musings confirm the difference in the response between advertising and actually going out there a creating an exprience. I know I have to create some more expriences, I'll keep you posted.

Mike Janzen Jazzes

I have never actually had the pleasure of working with Mike because he does the same thing as me, plays and sings. Admittedly he is much better!!! Great job Mike!! Love the jazz stuff.

Concert in Oakville Tonight

Really looking forward to the first trio concert for "Buried Thoughts" tonight at Oakville Bible Chapel. Tickets are available for $10 the door. Concert at 7pm. Hope to see you there!!
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CD Review/Feature at Godbeat.com!!

I connected with Godbeat.com in Nashville when I was there for GMA's Immerse, and have an add running to gain some exposure in the US. They have also written a feature on the new CD. Check it out here, and please fell free to share it with many.

Concert tomorrow night in Oakville, come on by and say hi!!

Radio Interview Tomorrow Morning

I am being interviewed tomorrow morning on Joy 1250 in Oakvile, Ontario by Jim Leek. If you are up at 7:05 am and in the area, have a listen.

Another CD release concert this week

Hey come check out the Cliff Cline trio at Oakridge Bible Chapel in Oakville this week and hear the new CD live, and of course pick one up if you haven't!! Tickets are $10 at the door. See you there.

What is meaning for you? {more thoughts on Buried Thoughts}

I think I have always struggled with meaning, meaning for me I suppose. The title track on my new CD certainly deals with this.

What is it for you. Being spiritually centered, not to sound too New Age-y. Doing something meaningful in your day job or free time? Being married and raising kids? Having a significant income and perhaps notoriety. Those that know me know that music has always been a major part of my make-up, but it has never been my full-time thing. No lack of desire, just never happened in reality.

I think the process of Buried Thoughts, which I might add is significantly bigger than simply writing and producing the CD, has taught me that music brings far more meaning in my life than perhaps I have ever known. It is the way I express myself most purely, which for me in part, is poetically. I find more power in words that leave room for the listener to wrestle, to process, to read between the lines. For budget reasons I did not release the lyrics in the CD cover. I have already received requests for them. They will be offered on the site soon.

I have rightly been accused of being very intense in life. I am discovering that I am happiest, most content in that place. Life to me is to grow. Life to me is to serve in the dirt. Life to me is love til it hurts. Life to me is to laugh hard, loud and long. Life to me is to abandon self to the point where God can fill the void. Life to me is big, bigger than today, because if God wills, I can do more and better tomorrow.

Some of the bigness of life has come out in this newest CD. Someone, not my mother:), said that they thought this was my best CD so far. Cool, I hope I can grow and make my next even better, in the meantime I hope that Buried Thoughts is bigger and better in every way than that which I have done in the past.

The Buried Thoughts Evolution

I am having fun with the different kind of work that goes with starting to launch the new CD. Planning gigs (please feel free to call and book more), updating the website and promoting the CD. I really haven't really gone into earnest, this month is really pre-drop month in terms of "the world", with those that know me being first on the list to call as it were.

To that end, the site is a little cleaner now, better flash player with the whole new CD to listen to. If you like it, you can buy it for one more week for $12. After that is goes up to $15, although downloads will be available soon for $10, so keep a lookout if you don't like to have something in your hands (you own an iPod)

As I have mentioned before this CD offers a unique view I think. Not original (see my song 'Nothing New" from the Apartment Sessions on the flash player on my site) but a useful set of stories, songs and thoughts for churches to use as community building concerts. Building community with the outside community I mean. I am excited to see where this leads.

Thoughts on Buried Thoughts "The Tour" (Windsor)

The first stop on the tour was amazing. I must say it was a tiring weekend doing three worship services and then the concert at night, but it was very rewarding. As strange as it sounds, I really did not know what to expect from the songs as I had put them together. I listened to the songs on this CD a million times, but when you go to perform them live you start to get the feel of how people respond to them and how serious the content is. It is an interesting mix between the two CDs (technically three) that I perform from for this tour. The new CD is dark, spiritual, Biblical, but dark, dealing with more of the serious themes found in the Bible that we experience in life. The whole first set basically was the new CD, but I was very pleased to see people respond to the stories and songs by picking up a bunch of new disc!! The second set acted almost as a resolution to the first with many songs from the Noticing the Sky CD.

I will be tweaking the set for sure, maybe adding a few more songs from "The Apartment Sessions" CD. Looking forward to sharing from the next "tour" stop in Oakville in September. Love to see you come out if you are in the area.