This requires some comment as you really hit the nail on some things Brad.
Good report.  Need a cup of java, not the scripting kind.  Will write more
later when I'm more collected.  Gallons and gallons of coffee later.  In
truth I only drink a comparative small amount.  But I know I have to study
today too.  Big push for final on Wednesday.
\

Vicki


----- Original Message -----
From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 11:21 PM
Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] Update on decision


>   In case any one was wondering. You may remember my asking for prayer for
> a decision I made  on songwriting. The proverbial boomerang which I kept
> tossing off, denying it and etc. and it kept coming back to whack me in
the
> back of the head as I walked away from it. I had decided to pursue
> it,  take whatever fear I had regarding it, look it in the eye, and go
> forward anyway. Well I've arranged for my songwriting books to be scanned
> as I'm not too proud to say I can yet learn things from them, plus they
are
> good ways to spark knew ideas for songs, plus I picked up a couple others.
> I also joined the Nashville Songwriters Association International, have
> listened to all their archived Thursday night workshops, read quite a few
> articles, and will be attending the next NSAI group meeting here in
January
> to begin networking and get to know some other writers in which to learn
> from as well, and perhaps do come co-writing. I'm seeing that is a very
> important tool even for well established writers, while yet keeping the
> solo writing. I've also been pushing  of late on some song ideas I had
> barely rumbling around in my head and actually have come up with three
> ideas in the past few days, one of which the song is nearly complete, the
> other two have a good start on lyrical idea and melody to accompany the
> chord progressions. So I've prayed that if God wants me to do this, to
> unlock this brain a bit, and cut me loose  enough to be creative again and
> etc. And he has done so. I want to say two things here, well probably
> three. The first observation I made regarding this songwriting thing that
I
> can apply to other areas of my life, and hopefully yours too  if I
> can  make my thoughts clear enough. And that is I've had, for a long time,
> wanted to  be a write songs, tapped into it a little bit, and backed off,
> tapped in, backed off and etc. Why didn't I pursue it? Despite my wife's
> not only support if I chose to, she outright got mad at me several times
> for not doing it lol. She never gave up but I continually said "No, no,
no.
> You have no idea what songwriting is lit, about, or what it takes'> First
I
> was  not only looking at it wrong, that is I was looking at the monetary
> aspect or the fiscal aspect in stead of the "write because you love to
> write' aspect. So I was straightened out on that one so observation #1
> would be, don't let dollars get in the way of a dream God has planted in
> you. Secondly I  noticed I would get close to taking action on writing,
but
> back off, take a bit more  and back off. And this was the biggest thing I
> learned which can be applied to life is that because I  valued songwriting
> and guitar so much so in my own little world, that I couldn't bare it if I
> got out in the real world and found out what I had really wasn't all that
> great or that I had need to learn more. I was afraid that if I got out
> there where the "real action" was in writing, that I'd fall flat on my
face
> and wah-la, no more dream shot forever. So I, without realizing it,
> sabotaged my efforts to protect my little dream. So observation #2 is to
be
> courageous, see the fear you have in what lies ahead but don't let it stop
> you from your dreams.  With that knowledge I realized as well that I can't
> be too proud to say that I need to learn, I'm a student of song and music
> and I have not quote, "arrived", and that unless I'm willing to put my
> childish pride away and even though I've played guitar for 30 years, I
> might just have myself in little ruts and could actually learn form other
> players even if they are  younger than me the little creeps lol. Kidding.
> So observation #3 is to be willing to learn and educate yourself on the
> dreams and gifts you have been given. And another very important
> observation which I know, puts you on borrowed time here of an already
> possibly boring read lol, and that is observation #4 my wife read to me by
> a Christian author who said if you aren't willing to sacrifice everything
> you have for your dream... keep looking, it's not your dream. Of course
> wisdom is needed one isn't just going to sacrifice everything to try to
> make a dream happen, but it is as I've said many times that it is a matter
> of the heart. One knows if it is right. So that is a tid bit of update and
> a couple observations quickly jotted down if they are in any way  worth
> pondering.
>
> Brad
>
>
> Brad
>
>    Looking for an item or want to sell an item? Place your FREE classified
> at: HTTP://WWW.RIVERCITIESCONNECTION.COM
>   Northwestern Wisconsin and Greater Twin Cities classified connection!
>