Rhonda, and Virgie too said the same thing. The only question I had was in
what venue ought those gifts be used. I don't want to try to justify my own
agenda in the name of carrying Christian beliefs through a back door for
affectivness sake, and forgo using it in a church setting if that is what
he wants. I just don't get the peace about it that way, which to me seems
odd, but I'm following the peace within as a guide of the Holy Spirit.

Brad


At 05:36 PM 1/5/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>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

Brad

   You are richer today if you have laughed, given, or forgiven