Write On Newsletter

The e-zine of Inside Out Music Production

http://www.insideoutmusic.net

January 2006

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This Month
Music
Inspiration
Resources
For Songwriters
Fun

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Strange Fruit

Peter wrote to his readers Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. I recently saw some unusual and mind expanding examples - so this months theme is ministry outside the box.

MUSIC

Song of the Month

This month we're featuring a new recording of my favourite song featuring the amazing vocals of Jessica Howells. This is totally re-recorded. Listen to Face to Face by Ken Davis.

MP3 Downloads

You can buy MP3's of our most popular songs at http://www.soundclick.com/store/digital/01_shop_singles.cfm?bandID=12026. If you like our music and would like to support us - get downloading now!

INSPIRATION

The Gift of Bargain Shopping

I've always prided myself on keeping an open mind about what ministry looks like. The idea that ministry means preaching, speaking, playing a musical instrument, leading a youth group or a Bible study always seemed unnecessarily narrow. Even those churches that take a broad view of ministry can subtly emphasise the "more important" (usually speaking) ministries. During the last month, I encountered two ministries that surprised even me. One fits neatly with a traditional view of spiritual gifts, while the other one is a curve ball from left field.

Read the whole article

QUOTES

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:6-8

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men

1Corinthians 12:4

FEEDBACK

A letter from Mumbai

Thanx a ton!!! The kind of music and worship songs availbale on your site has been a great help to me and my church. I worship in a Methodist church in Mumbai where praise and worship is still not well accepted. Conservative in tradition, the people in our congregation are timid to venture into a praise and worship-mode.

Moreover,after my husband who is the choir-director of our church has had to travel a lot on account of his ministry....the church suffered a set-back. It was then that I committed to help in this field and for the first time in my life thought of surfing the internet for help in praise and worship and I was amazed how christians all over the world have got so much to share in praise and worship.

All the downloads have been brought before our congregation and they have been very much astonished at the songs and the kind of praise that is offered in counter-part christian communities.

I want to thank you on behalf of my whole church for the great music that is offered by you.

RESOURCES

Christian Songwriting

Songwriting for Success - How to write better songs. the Internet’s first songwriting correspondence course by e-mail.

My favourite books on Gifts

There are many "discover your spiritual gifts" book from various theological positions. This is one of the more practical and useful ones.

This is the first, and most exciting book I ever read on lay ministry, and "being yourself for God." It might be old but it is stil inspiring and full of wisdom.

For Songwriters

Compete

A great way to see if you're as good as you think is to enter competitions. Start small and enter several songs and see how you do. If you make the finals you know you're on the right track (I've made three finals but haven't won yet). If you don't make the finals, don't give up. It simply means there's more work to do on your writing (or possibly demo recording skills). Treat competitions as seriously as record company demos and make sure you have as good a recording and arrangement as possible. Make sure the singer shines. Even if the competition says "we will judge the songs not the production quality" - don't believe it. Only one in 20 judges has the ability to overcome the prejudices of their ears and focus on the objective aspects of the song.

FUN

THE MEANING OF LIFE

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span." The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years?

That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

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