So I'd think King David would be a pretty busy guy, wouldn't you?  The ultimate politician.  Meetings, battles, building projects, and how about all those women?  ....  But wait a minute!  Isn't he one of those "creative types"?  Indeed.

For example, in a single chapter in I Chronicles, we find David knee deep in lumber, masons & carpenters, then attacking & slaughtering some pesky Philistines, and then reporting in with this:  "God exploded my enemies, as water explodes from a burst pipe."  And apparently that's how the place got its name, Baal Perazim (Baal-Explosion).  Metaphor.  Simile.  Name-calling.  And all that jazz.

Or just a couple of chapters later, when the Chest of God has been retrieved, David is working in the Human Resources division.  So how would you like to work for him and receive this job description?  "With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and others specifically named, with the job description:  'Give thanks to God, for his love never quits.'"  And then the new hires are immediately "well-equipped" with trumpets, cymbals, and the latest studio gear.  I'll bet they loved their boss.

Why did I always picture David, the shepherd-boy, singing songs to his fluffy sheep, but then fail to realize that a creative person doesn't just simply stop being a creative person later in life simply because God promotes him in other areas?  Maybe David longed for those still waters and quiet green pastures from time to time.  And David HAD to have been at least as busy as I am.  And yet he found ways to be creative.  He made time.  Always using it for the good of others and for God's glory.

The ultimate multi-tasker.  I admire that.

Signed,
Ime Burr Sting 2

It's always nice to read a blog entry or Facebook status of a pro-writer that talks about how they wrote a fabulous song today, or wrote with their favorite peeps, or the like.  I'm happy for them.  Admittedly sometimes a bit envious (I'm human after all!), but happy.

I also love to read something that reveals to me how this unbelievably amazing pro-writer is a human being just like me.  You know - the old "puts his pants on one leg at a time" kind of stuff.   Don't know why exactly.  Maybe I just need reassurance that others experience conflict and tension and balance in their lives the same way I do. 

Last week Wed. -  Writing in Nashville.  Loving it.  Enjoying opportunities.  And "writing at least something every single day" doesn't seem like enough.

This week Wed.  -  Back in Colorado.  Loving it here too.  Knowing God is calling me to buy Valentines, to curl my daughter's hair for her first Sadie Hawkins' date, to take my 17-year-old's temperature when "body parts are aching that shouldn't be aching" (his words), and to stop by this evening's "visitation" for a Godly woman who passed over the weekend.  ...  (Not entirely sure if God was also calling me to watch American Idol, but I'm pretty sure I heard Him whispering something about that.  It was kind of hard to hear over the threshold of Tatiana's screaming.)

For those of you having an amazing week of writing - more power to you!  May Creator God show up mightily!  For those of you having a week more akin to the one I'm having right now, get out of bed tomorrow morning and put your pants on - one leg at a time.  You're in good company.

Signed,
Godduh Half Bohth

Life seems to be moving at a twitter pace lately.  (And no, I don't twitter.  Yet.)

1 - Someone mentioned Sara Bareilles new video for her song Gravity.  Oh - my - goodness.  I watched it after lunch, and I've been listening to her music ever since - reminds me so much of another favorite, Jon McLaughlin.  The music is tearing my heart out...and then piecing it back together again.
2 - Back from Nashville.  Awesome week.  Once again I humbly thank God for affirmations, as well as a number of unexpected blessings (like having a song win a free demo when I almost didn't even play a song, or having a re-write turn out a hundred times better than I could have imagined, or having a lunch conversation turn my mind toward directions and opportunities I never considered).  Yep - I'm thinking God must love to spring surprises on people.
3 - Uhh...did my chore list multiply while I was out of town?!  Reminds me of the Chris Filer "math" song I listened to yesterday - which is incredible BTW.
4 - An NSAI country critiquer compared my song to Angela Kaset.  (More homework, folks.  Always so much homework.  Mrs. Herrema is a severe taskmaster.  Back to work.  Every day.  Stretch those songwriting muscles.  Crack the whip.  Extra credit if possible.  ...  Apparently Tennessee was recess.)

I won't go on and on - even though I guess to fulfill my Twitter analogy I would!  But here's my parting thought:  My oldest brother was diagnosed at age 49 with pancreatic cancer.  Three months from diagnosis to death.  He missed his 50th birthday by about 3 months.  If my life was to follow that same path, that would be me right now.  Moral of the story?  Life is short!  Make the most of every moment!  We've all heard it before.  We'll hear it again.  And again.  But it's extra real to me lately.  Thankful for every day God offers to me.  Every single day.

Signed,
Soh Liddel Tyme

Some of us like to live vicariously through the fame of others - even people we don't know, as long as they're from our home town, right?  So in case you didn't know this....The Fray is a COLORADO-BASED band.  Amen?  Amen!  Too bad I wasn't in the right place at the right time to hook up with them when they were nobodies.  "Nobodies" - like you and me.  Well, like ME anyway.   (But last year?  The most downloaded album of all time.  Gulp.)

Their new CD came out today, and hopefully there's a hit or two in there - maybe something akin to How To Save A Life?  For those of you who are interested, here's a link to a 30-min. interview with Isaac Slade.  Who knows?  You might come away inspired....

http://douglas.co.us/networkdc/thebuzz/

Signed,
Coo Doze 2 thuh Frae

I'm headed to Nashville on Monday, and per the usual I'm wondering what this trip will bring.  Without a question, every trip is different - but at the same time, I have yet to be disappointed.  Surprised?  Yes.  Frustrated?  Sometimes.  Disappointed in the overall experience?  No.  I can't control who will be in town, who will be available, what song ideas get written, how they get written, etc.  God is in that, and He already knows.  Every time I go, I remind myself that God is "quickening" some avenues, and delaying or even eliminating others, all as a part of His guidance in my life.  It's sometimes hard to know the difference between all of those, but I mix in a little "perseverance" and then leave it in His hands (admittedly sometimes more effectively than others).

A few lines that spoke to me this morning: 
-  The enemy knows your vulnerabilities and he'll push you to your limits.
-  "Blessed is the man who endures...when he has been approved he will receive the crown" (Jas 1:12 NKJV).
-  "Having done all...stand."  (Ephesians 6:13 NKJV)
-  "You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Heb 10:36 NKJV).
-  Faith doesn't demand details, it just keeps moving obediently forward, believing God for the right result.

I trust "standing" and "moving forward" can peacefully co-exist....

Signed,
Trie Ying 2 Dew Bohthh

I've never been a Bob Dylan fan.  And I'll admit to feeling slightly guilty and "out of it" whenever I see him listed as a "major influence" in a musician's life.  How did I live through these last few decades and miss out on him?  Talk about a hermit!  Before today, I really couldn't tell you a single thing about him.  Well...maybe one.  But probably not two.

So this afternoon I watched most of "I'm Not There" (2007), described as "the first biography approved by the singer songwriter."  I learned lots of stuff about Bob Dylan, and heard lots of his music.  I now understand a bit about where he was coming from, how his music spoke to and spoke for so many people, how he influenced the culture of the day, and what his music sounds like.  (May I just say - I'm sure his lyrics are genius.  They must be.  But I personally found it hard to get past his melodic style.)

Anyway, I'm still not a Bob Dylan fan.  I'm going to accept that about myself.  (My apologies to anyone I've offended.)

Signed,
Mye Taist I. Gess

This isn't new to me - but I still really like it.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."-- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Sure, I like to look back at the past year as much as the next guy.   But there's just nothing like a blank page. 

Dwell in possibility, my friends.  Dwell in possibility....

Signed,
Hoo Noze

When I was growing up, my family always went to church on New Year's Eve and on New Year's morning.  As you can imagine, we kids complained about that.  My parents explanation was that "we want to end the year with God and also start the year with God."  Seemed like overkill to me.

But I've never forgotten that.  No, our church here in Denver doesn't hold services on either of those occasions, but I do try to consciously go through that thought process on December 31 and January 1...even in the midst of celebrating with family and friends.

Something we sang every single year at those services was the hymn "Another Year Is Dawning".  I still love the words....

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

It's not about me.  It's not about me.  It's not about me.  (I'm trying to learn that.  Really.  I am.)  "On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee." 

I pray I never forget that perspective - a perspective that managed to soak in so many years ago for a kid who simply wanted to stay up late and then sleep in.  A perspective that still matters, no matter how many times the ball drops in Times Square.

Signed,
1 Morr - 4 nouw

Do you ever wonder what it would feel like for "it" to all come true?  And what is "it" anyway?  Different things for different people no doubt!

Well, this morning I was reading a newsletter (Just Plain Folks...Brian Austin Whitney) and it featured Brian's interview with Oscar winning, six time Grammy nominated Dean Pitchford.  Check out this paragraph, quoting Dean:

John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote a song in their musical ‘Flora the Red Menace’ that Liza Minelli introduced in act one where she gets a job that she really, really wants to get. And instead of singing some big, brash, bright song, she sings a song called ‘A Quiet Thing.’ And in that lyric she sings ‘When it all comes true/ Just the way you planned/ You’d think you’d hear a choir sing/ No…it’s a quiet thing.’

A quiet thing.  How cool is that....

Signed,
Shhhhhhhh

I've gained new insight into the season of Advent.  Intellectually I know the season of Advent is all about waiting, about anticipation, about eagerly envisioning "the moment" of arrival......at last!  In the case of Advent, we're talking about Jesus' birth, right?

So the last few days I experienced a different kind of waiting, anticipation and eagerly envisioning "the moment" - as my son's trip home from college experienced a great deal of delay, dismay, damage control and even danger via an accident on snowy roads.  Without boring you with the details, let's just say that pretty much everything that could have gone wrong - went wrong.  He's home safely, and hopefully someone else's car insurance will be covering the repair to our car, because the accident wasn't his fault (or the fault of his friend who was driving), and we only have liability insurance.  (I'm trying not t think about the trip back to college in mid-January.  Is it wrong to pray for good traveling weather?  Absolutely not!)

Anyway...along the way...as we awaited news of the next "step" in the less-than-happy journey, I kept thinking about Advent.  Waiting.  And waiting.  Eagerly.  Come thou long-expected Jesus.  ....  Only this time the long-expected was Jordan (and 4 more "J" college guys.)  Oh yeah, I was eager all right.  I wanted that "happy ending" right NOW! 

Too bad I don't usually feel as strongly about the season of Advent.  Okay.  Maybe never.  I'm re-examining a few things in my heart about now....

Signed,
Heez Hohm

As of today, I've been blogging for a full two years. 

I feel good about that.  Even if no one else ever reads them, it still gives me a record of things that have happened in my life, and thoughts I considered worthy of remembering...or maybe thoughts I hoped would brighten someone's day, or challenge someone.  (As of this moment, 14075 page hits.  Can't help but wonder how many of those are me!)  In reality, I do know that I have a few occasional readers out there - and some of you have been kind enough to post a comment now and then.  So to any readers who are still hanging in there....THANK YOU!

I realize, of course, that these are my "public" musings.  I've been recording my private musings (ala "morning pages") since January 2005.  Almost FOUR years!  I ran across that particular "written contract" just the other day, and I praise God for the set of circumstances that led me to begin journaling.  Yes, it's helped my songwriting.  Yes, I've found ideas in the midst of various "mind dumps".  But mostly?  I've found that writing those pages every day - regardless of whether you call it journaling, or morning pages, or stream of consciousness writing - has helped me understand myself so much better, and especially has helped me understand GOD better.  I laugh to think of the stack of journals someone is going to have to trash someday when I die!  Oh well.  Not my problem.

If you don't do anything like that?  December 8 is a pretty good date to start something new.  Or Dec. 9.  Or Jan. 1.  The point is - get started!

Maybe you're thinking about starting a blog.  Well sure!  Why not!  But I have to admit that my private musings are much more important to me than my public ones.  If you need to pick and choose?  Go private.

And I also wonder, along with my friend Sue Smith, about the ongoing CHANGES in technology and how new ideas/fads are constantly appearing on the horizon.  I check Facebook more often than blogs these days.  There's Twitter to consider.  And who knows WHAT else in the days to come!  Things keep evolving.  People get bored with the status quo.  ....  And today I found myself wondering what Heaven will be like in that regard.  It seems like our existence should be more "settled" there, doesn't it?  But if it is, will I get bored?  (Obviously not.)  But what about those personalities that thrive on change?  That love to explore.  The entrepreneurials of the world.  (Like my husband.)  ?? 

Thankfully we can be certain God has that all figured out.  He's pre-wired us for Heaven, so it won't be burdensome or disappointing in any way.

Actually, as I think about the concept of "eternity", two years of blogging doesn't seem like much of anything.  Just a blip on the radar.

Happy Blip-Day to me.

Signed,
Right Won Morr

"A writer's best friend is the waste paper basket."  (Isaac Bashevis Singer)  File 13.

Yes, re-writing is extremely important.  But sometimes?  It might be better to simply move on.  ...  And given how precious the commodity of time truly is, these become vastly important decisions!

Signed,
Ime Juhst Sae Yinn

Wow.  I wonder how many times I've been tripped up by this one?

"Don't show your song to anyone too soon.  After you've re-written it until you think it's just perfect, put it in a drawer and leave it for a week.  Then get it out and have another try at it." - Claire Cloninger

Signed,
Sheez Ryte Fohx

Okay.  I can't escape this.  I may have to share favorite moments out of Robert Sterling's book Jesus' Chairs for awhile.  After all, when you hear or read something cool, you wanna tell your friends, right?

Try this on for size:

Every good musician begins by emulating others.  Beethoven's early works were very reminiscent of his hero, Mozart.  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones admits he learned to play guitar by stealing Chuck Barry's rifts.  There's nothing new under the sun.  We are all borrowing from those who came before us.  It isn't criminal to mimic someone else's music, as long as you raise your work to a new level.  A creative person learns to take from an existing piece and come up with something new.  At some point you learn to use the things you like and put your own spin on it.  Eventually you sound like yourself. [emphasis added] (pg. 153)

Oh my.  How I love that last sentence. 

And I wonder how you know when you've arrived?

Signed,
B. U.

Sometimes as songwriters we bemoan the fact that we have only a few minutes to communicate something moving and profound, whereas a novelist has hundreds of pages at his disposal.  (I must admit that I personally find the idea of "hundreds of pages" rather daunting.)

Nevertheless, this quote has besieged and confronted me for weeks:  It is famously rumored that in response to a challenge to write an entire story in six words, Ernest Hemingway wrote this economic piece of genius: 

"For sale:  Baby shoes, never worn." 

It is also said that Hemingway believed those six words to be his very best work.  (Jesus' Chairs, by Robert Sterling)

Enough said.

Signed,
Own lee siks