Study Voice With Me

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Stepping out...

It's been really hard to get to sleep recently. My production partner has moved back home and so it's just my wife, son and I in our house.I have less then 10 days left at my current job as minister of music and then I'll be out on my own. While I'll be teaching some private students the bills will be paid by God. I'm stepping out in faith and doing the ministry ideas He's put in my heart for a long time. I'm starting a community choir. I'm starting a children's choir. I'm starting a non-denominational praise and worship service. I'm also starting a small group fellowship group. I thought that the perfect time would come...it did. The time when I realized that He was waiting on me to give up trying to be perfect before attempting anything great for Him. Please pray for me.

Thanks

Monday, August 11, 2008

Wonderful Street Children Of Uganda

At times I complain too much! These beautiful children in Uganda humble me. When I am complaining cause I feel too fat or because my mortgage seems too big and my bills seem endless, I have no idea how bad things could really be. I could be homeless without a dime. That's what these children are. On top of that their government is embarrassed by the number of street children so they sweep them up into trucks and take them to detention centers like this one.

The next time you get depressed cause the guy you like didn't call you or the girl you wanted went out with your worst enemy, think deeper. Some people are made to feel like the trash of the ground. Maybe if we'd try to lift someone else up it would make us feel better about ourselves too? Artists can become so self involved that they forget about the experience and feelings of others.

Let's keep open to feeling the pain of others so we can express it in our music and make the world take notice of them and ....perhaps love them, again.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

How Big Is Your Heart?

Please let me introduce you to our would be Kenyan daughter, Lillian. She stays at the Maximum Miracle Center Home for Street Children. A few years ago God lead the bishop of that ministry, Bishop Pius Muiru, to invite the street children at one of his crusades to throw away their drugs and their knives and accept Jesus. Although he had no where to put them he then said that he would take care of them. I hear that there are over 120 who stay at the Children's home now. By the way if you'd like to help this good cause there is a button on the website this link will take you too that will allow you to donate through paypal:

http://www.lightindarkness.org/CHILDRENS%20HOME.html

My wife Monique and I wanted to take Lillian home but as we found out it is a very complicated process and one we don't currently qualify to do. This made us very sad. The funny thing is that we don't have a lot of money...but God has given us hearts that really want to reach out and help the hurting. I think that's why people are often touched by the songs I write. My heart is big enough to feel deeply the emotions of life's stories. And I love to sing those stories for you. They make me feel alive and useful.

Maybe if I become more well known like Madonna or Angelina Jolie we'll be able to bring Lillian home with us. How big is your heart?

Friday, August 8, 2008

A song is only as good as......

I was greatly honored to have the opportunity to have 2 of my songs performed by the Midori and Friends Children's Festival Choir. This was the third annual festival and the colors and diversity of culture and music were phenomenal. I was only disappointed our 4 year old son David Jr. couldn't have been there to enjoy it. But my heart was saddened by one event.

Apparently some of the children got into a fight. Here it was we were at an event where we were celebrating unity(that was the theme I wrote on for the event which was called Harmony's Happening) but not able to grasp it in practical experience. The lyrics they were singing said:

In our hearts
we're all the same
We cherish love
and our good name

But if we loose sight
of what we share
We'll always fight
and never care

U and me make harmony
if we work with each other we'll be happy
U and me make harmony
If we love one another we'll be happy


Well, after a pep talk from several of the teachers and leaders the children performed and did an outstanding job!

My hope and prayer is that they'll remember these words when conflict arises again and choose to live in harmony^