FredMcKinnon.Com

OK – this is no typical blog entry – I’d say this was my “2004 in review and 2005 to come” christmas card/happy new year letter to all my friends, family, relatives, mailing list, and whoever else cares! It’s a long post – so hey …. proceed at your own risk (and with your own time!). Would love your comments and feedback anytime…So here we go …

Dear Friends -

WOW – here we are … 2005!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I uploaded a “home photo” of the family in my Merry Christmas entry so I’ll just leave it there instead of having the two photos load on the same page. I also just uploaded a few new photos of the kids from our trip to McRae at Christmas time … check-’em out in the photo gallery.

Well, what a year we had in 2004. We finished building our new house. Our family grew by one with the addition of Rebekah Grace. She’s nine months old now, she’s pulling up on the table, cutting teeth, and stealing my heart more each passing day. I can’t help but think she’s the most beautiful little girl on the planet. The boys just keep growing up more and more and they keep us entertained (and on the run), no doubt.

Our home church, Christian Renewal Church of Saint Simons Island, had a great year full of ministry and excitement. I’m looking forward to continuing in ministry there as the part-time Worship Pastor. I also completed my first full year as the part-time worship leader for our neighboring church, Wesley United Methodist. It’s been a blessing to help lead their “early contemporary service” and we’re starting back up tomorrow morning.

As I look back over the 2004, I am amazed at how God continued to bless the vision I’ve had with Highest Praise Productions. Several of the goals I’d established for the year came to pass. Thousands and thousands of worshipers were blessed by the praise and worship music we’ve produced and published at www.highestpraise.com – well over 100,000 visitors just at highestpraise.com alone. HPP Christian Web Hosting , the “internet” company continued to grow and I was able to make several strategic moves in that business to position it for more growth in 2005, but more importantly, to establish a solid foundation that can be built upon without my needing to “run the show”. Chris Moncus came aboard the HPP team as the Director of Sales and Design and has been a great asset already. We’re updating the company site to reflect an expanded vision and scope – look for the “new” HPP Web Solutions in early 2005. We’ve got a cool idea to finally design THIS site as well – so maybe it’ll all be taken care of soon.

Those of you who have kept up with my lil’ “blog” via email subscription or RSS feeds learned about my latest business venture of the e-commerce variety at the end of 2004 as well. I’ve pulled all of that together into an entity we’re simply calling “HPP Enterprises”. I put together a simple little site for this venture and added a “word from the owner” that will serve as a testimony to God for all our “e-commerce, retail” customers. Check it out and pray for God’s favor on that business, and for all the folks online who are purchasing from “HPP Enterprises” to be drawn to the little “behind the scenes” page so that they can be exposed to the “higher purpose” of what we’re up to. Already I’ve been able to have interactions with lots of new customers – especially from the new Amazon.Com Marketplace store we launched in coordination w/ HPP Enterprises.

Still, 2005 lies ahead. Last year I determined to focus on getting help, distributing some responsibility, and multiplying my efforts. I believed God gave me a clear direction to do this so that I’d be more free to proceed with some of the things I’m most passionate about … playing piano, leading worship, and ministering to others in music and song. That’s where my focus will be in 2005 – if I can just stay on the path.

I’d hoped to have a new piano record released in 2004 as well as a worship recording. It didn’t happen … but I’m encouraged because I didn’t realize how much change, restructuring, and strategy would be necessary to complete the foundation for HPP that would be required for me to accomplish the vision. I look back and see that much of this has now been accomplished and I’m grateful that God gave us his Holy Spirit to show us the way. I know there is more to be done, but I’m encouraged.

So for 2005 – pray for me to fulfill the vision and dream to complete this new piano project. As much as I love leading worship and as much as I desire to record some of the corporate worship songs that I’ve composed, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the piano project is foremost on God’s agenda for my life. Pray for me to have the inspiration to finish composition on the last few songs.

I’ve been so grieved and heart broken over the devastation we’ve seen across the world because of that horrific earthquake and tsunami. I’m feeling a burden to take that grief and the heart of God over that situation and interpret it musically … what a challenge. Pray for guidance.

Ya know, when it’s all said and done – I have to sit back and remind myself of one of the greatest, most incredible callings and destinies that I have … that of being a Godly husband for Joy and a Godly father to my wonderful children. What a task. One thing is for sure – I love them with all my heart and truly desire to be that man of God for our family.

Well it’s late and I have the honor of leading two congregations of God’s people in worship tomorrow morning. For those who actually read this – well, first – I’m flattered that you are actually THAT INTERESTED! But thanks … it means a lot to know there are folks on our side. Besides, it sure is fulfilling to just sit down and journal in this blog – even if nobody in the world ever read a word. Technology – how cool it is.

I pray that you will have an awesome, blessed, peaceful, and prosperous 2005. When the apostle John wrote “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers…” – I believe he was expressing not only his desire, but Father God’s desire for all mankind. May that be your blessing as well.

Love and Laughter, as my buddy Rob would say …
For the Kingdom,
Fred