JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
Keep smiling!





>From: JULIE MELTON <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Echurch-USA The Electronic Church
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Directional Update
>Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 09:34:31 -0700
>
>Brad,
>
>All of this is encouraging to here.  You don't sound conceited at all, just
>aware of the gifts God has given you.  You have to have this awareness in
>order to use them, and I'm glad you have found a group of other songwriters
>to critique and encourage you.
>
>
>
>
>JulieMelton
>visit me at
>www.heart-and-music.com
>Keep smiling!
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: MV <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: Echurch-USA The Electronic Church
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Directional Update
> >Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 10:06:52 -0600
> >
> >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