FredMcKinnon.Com

God’s love for us is so amazing.  It’s not dependent on our works or our obedience.  He just loves us.  Period.

What about His blessings?  Perhaps that’s a different topic altogether.  A few days ago I mentioned how obedience can help us dismantle the hardness of heart.

Does obedience also unlock God’s blessings in our lives?

Take a look at this old testament promise that I love so much:

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
(Deut. 28:2) [emphasis mine]

What do you think?

I found myself praying about areas in my life where my heart has grown hard, where my soul seems cold.  This prayer slipped out of my mouth as I was walking the dog down N. Harrington, praying aloud into the quiet morning air.  I resonated with every part of my body and I thought I’d share it with you.

“I want to dismantle the hardness of my heart through steady, slow acts of obedience and devotion”.

Amen.

Happy New Year Everyone!

This is the first time I’ve blogged since early October 2011.  The thought that my blog has been sidelined for so long is somewhat discouraging; yet, not surprising.  I wear a lot of hats and sometimes I set one aside – for a season, or forever.  I struggled over the impact it would have but realized soon enough that the simple fact that I didn’t receive a question, email, tweet, or comment about my lack of blogging was evidence enough:  I take this space and it’s influence way too seriously sometimes!  Today’s post is a wakeup for the new year and a bit of ramblings.  If you’re looking for a nice coherent post — well, I may disappoint you.

I find myself excited with each New Year because I’m a goal-setter.  I’m also a goal-maker, a goal-surpasser, and yes – a goal-misser.  I surpassed a number of goals last year but ended the year feeling a bit burned out.  A new start is good for that.

As this race called life keeps zooming by I find myself asking this question:  “who am I”?

Yes – I’m a child of God.  That’s one thing that won’t change.  Seasons in this life can drastically change how you answer that question in other areas.

Thankfully, I’m still a Husband.
Thankfully, I’m still a Father.
Thankfully, I’m still a Worship Leader.

My blog header says:
Worship Leader, Pianist, Producer, Blogger

I don’t know that I can really be identified that way anymore.  Life has changed.

I’m not really a blogger.  That’s evident in my lack of posts since October 2011.
Producer?  I still have the ear, the gift — but haven’t acted in the role of a producer in years.  YEARS.  I’m not that guy anymore.

Then, there are words that are missing:
Entrepreneur:  I love the word.  I live it.  It’s part of my DNA.
Composer:  The word isn’t there because I’ve been slack.

I suppose the question, moving forward in 2012 is this:

Who do I want to be?

1.  I want to be more devoted and close to God.  Not just a worship leader.  A worshiper.  On and off the stage.  Deeper.  More authentic.
2.  I want to be a creative artist.  I’m saddened at the lack of art that I created the past few years.   I’ve allowed too many other things to steal away more than it’s share of creative time.
3.  I want to be a much better husband and father.  This is where it really counts.

So, what about you … if you’re still there, if you still subscribe, if you’re reading this …

What do YOU want to be, or better yet, WHO do you want to be in 2012?

Hey Gang,

A few years ago I started this little “blog carnival” called “Sunday Setlists” here at FredMcKinnon.Com.  After running it a year or so, I decided to let TheWorshipCommunity.Com host this weekly event.  TWC had a much bigger audience and it just made sense.

We’re delighted to share that the readers of Worship Leader magazine have selected the “Sunday Setlists” event to be included in their “Best of the Best 2011″ edition.  The magazine is out now.

Read the full press release over at TWC.
Now, I guess I should get back on the wagon and start participating in it again!

Hey Gang,

I’m still here.  If you follow the blog posts at all, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that I’ve not blogged or written much in the past couple of months.  “Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  (name that movie quote)

Fall is always the busiest season for me.  We add soccer to our schedules – so we have games every weekend.  (Thus, the absence of the popular “Small Town Stories” series I was doing on Saturday mornings).  I’m gearing up for the busy retail season with HPP Enterprises, my e-commerce company, and church is bustling along as always.

In less than two weeks I will be hosting my first ever event here, “Refuge“.  I am so excited to be hosting this event and several of you faithful blog readers are attending – can’t wait to hang out with you for 3 days!  It will be an incredibly powerful time and it’s not too late to join us – just register at RefugeSSI.Com.

With everything that’s been going on, the blog is usually one of the first things to take the back burner.  The early morning time that I’d normally be writing my blogs is now used to train new workers and product source for e-biz.  The late evenings, selfishly, but rightfully, are used to just slow down, relax, and watch some of our favorite TV premiers and seasons with my wife.  A Summer transition in our worship ministry at SSCC added a considerable layer of responsibility, meetings, followups, and work to my plate at church.  So … although the blog topics are present in my mind (and my potential blog articles list in Evernote is growing quite large)!, I’m just not able to take the time.

This is just an 8:30 AM check-in to say I’m alive and well.  Maybe we’ll bring back this space but for now, you get what you get, when you get it.   Yeah, I know – that breaks all the rules about blogging … but this blog ain’t my God, and although I’d love to have a huge readership, this space is more for my own downloads, so the timing is all mine.

Hope you understand.

Are you still with me?