Hi Brad,
First, let me say that you are not being selfish at all.  Being selfish
would be the result if you deliberately kept your gift from God to yourself
and did not share it.
I will pray for God's blessing upon you and for him to continue to show you
the right solution and the right steps to take to make this dream a reality.
Keep up the good work and just keep stepping out in faith.
Virgie and Hoshi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rhonda Partain" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: Directional Update


> Great to  hear Brad!!! Will be praying for you, I do think you have a
> gift,
> and gifts should used not left on a shelf somewhere!!!
> Rhonda
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Echurch-USA The Electronic Church
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MV
> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 11:07 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Directional Update
>
> In case anyone cares for a follow up on the songwriting direction I had
> asked for prayer a while back. I  asked God for several things, firstly
> was
> his will regarding the entire direction, and I guess evidence of his will
> to be revealed as I stepped out  in faith. In other words I  felt inside
> that because the songwriting kept coming up, and it is a desirous
> aspiration or dream of mine which he has somewhat  gifted me with some
> abilities, sounds conceited I do not mean it so, I feel like a plankton in
> a sea of more talented folks, that it would be irresponsible to nix
> that   inspiration and dream by tossing it off the side. With that I moved
> forward, had some books scanned, bought one or two and having them
> scanned,
> joined NSAI, Nashville Songwriters Association International, a group
> meant
> to help and network anyone from just starting, to professional writers.
> Having just sat in on my first regional meeting here in the Twin Cities
> Minneapolis/ St. Paul, I found it to be very encouraging and friendly
> folks. I was pretty apprehensive of what it might be like. I jumped in
> with
> both feet and submitted a song for critique   of just me and my guitar not
> knowing what kind of critiquing they do. I was very encouraged by the
> response. I did get some helpful ideas, however I was told the song is a
> pitchable song. Which means is worthy of sending to a publisher for
> consideration to see if there is any artist looking for such a song. Kind
> of the bottom of the food chain but very encouraging nonetheless. I was
> fortunate to just happen to sit next to a Nashville writer who was the
> guest speaker and got to talk to her during break as well. Although this
> week I'm behind in my actual writing and in the midst  of a dry spot as
> Julie mentioned she is as well, I was blessed with a few songs recently
> which good, bad, or indifferent, they are part of the growth and learning.
> The Nashville writer I sat next two is having a workshop up here in March
> which I'll be attending. The workshop is actually based off a  Berkely
> School of Music course she is in the midst of being accredited into their
> system. This is a great opportunity for only $45 as she is from this area
> and wants to contribute to her home area. I'm also making plans to attend
> a
> Song Camp through NSAI in February which I just found a potential roommate
> at the NSAI meeting last night, to share hotel expense. This is a very
> exciting time, although, humbling time. I was wiped out when I got home
> last night, I didn't realize the adrenalin I was shooting out having
> jumped
> in and submitted a song to be chewed up by peers who have been writing a
> lot longer than I. The best compliment I got was from a guy who said ...
> "I'll be singing that chorus all the way home..*I laughed in humility*...
> no really I will" he said. I pray for continued direction with this dream
> knowing full well god can remove the grace and ability anytime. I am
> setting one foot in front of the other and if the toes aren't stepped on,
> I  assume God is with me, if he seems down on my toes, I'll look for
> another direction he has for me. One last thought and something to pray
> about if you so choose. I have a desire   for a certain focus on song
> content, and praying whether that is God's will for my focus. Being a
> Christian , and aspirations to be an affective songwriter, one might
> automatically assume you'd write praise and worship, or quote, Christian
> market songs.  I believe there is definitely a need, however, where I seem
> to be drawn to is the Christian values and principles, wrapped in a less
> Christianese view by those who do not yet share those same values. That is
> to say a secular market that is being infiltrated by  the Word in a manner
> it can be affective outside of the Christian arena, if that is making
> sense
> to you. Anyway, that is where things sit, and in the end I hope and pray I
> am on God's trek for my life and not running off with my own agenda, I
> pray
> for stuff and he supplies it so I assume I'm where I need to be right now
> and continue to seek his direction. This all seems to me so selfish in my
> mind in a way, yet peace of it as a whole is overwhelming.
>
> Brad