FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Ya’ll,

For those who are Methodists, you may recognize this immediately. I’ve taken this from the inside pages of the Methodist Hymnal … and it’s quoted from John Wesley’s “Select Hymns” of 1761. John Wesley thought these were the “best of the best” and had specific instructions on singing praises to God … and although we sing a lot more than these “Select Hymns”, I think that his challenge is fitting for us all.

“Directions for Singing” from John Wesley’s Select Hymns, 1761

1. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
2. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
3. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.
4. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
5. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the hamorny; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
6. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before or stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
7. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

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Hey Ya’ll -

A couple of quick notes for ya:
1) I’m off to Midland, TX for the Annual Keyboard Extravaganza Concert at St. Lukes United Methodist Church. This is a concert featuring four grand pianos with pipe organ. I’m one of the four pianists …

I’ll fly out early in the morning (Thursday) and we’ll rehearse Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and will perform in the Sunday Am service at St. Lukes and the concert will be Sunday night. Typically, we get either piano/organ duet music, or “double piano and organ” music, arrange it, and play together. Some of us read the sheet music as is … others improvise … it takes a few days to figure out the best arrangements, but it’s always lots of fun.

Also - I mentioned that I may be doing something “different” with my Highest Praise Worship Podcast a few days ago … well yesterday I did JUST THAT … releasing “World Wide Worship, Volume 1“. This is a simple, 22-minute podcast of me “leading worship and ministering”, just as if I were at your church or sitting in your home, bringing you a ‘personal’ worship time.

Check it out, and let me know what you think.

Pray for Joy, Jon Michael, Will, Rebekah, and Baby #4 (eta May 2006!) while I’m gone.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

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Hey Ya’ll -

Hope everyone is well. I wanted to take a minute and tell folks about what I’m doing with “podcasting” these days, explain it a bit more, and then ask for your help.

I’ve mentioned “podcasting” in previous blogs - it’s the craze online these days. Basically the word “podcast” comes from “Ipod” (Apple’s portable media player) and “broadcast” (we know what that means already, right!?). A podcaster would typically do the following:
1) create media (whether audio, video, text, or a combination - on any type of subject, etc)
2) upload media to a web server that supports “RSS” (Really Simple Syndication) feeds.

The end-user has a variety of options for enjoying a “podcast”. They can:
1) visit the website and listen to the podcast online (only if the podcaster puts a link or “play” button referencing the audio file - most do)
2) subscribe to the podcast with special software that receives “RSS” syndication (ie. ITunes, IPodder, or web-based content systems such as your My.Yahoo.Com page).

For the end-user, the advantage to podcasting is that:
1) you don’t have to keep checking a web site to see if there is new content - when the new content is published (broadcast), you automatically receive the content.
2) after receiving the content, you have many choices of what to do with the content (ie. listen to it on the website, listen on your computer, burn a CD and take with you, or transfer to your portable media device, such as an IPod, Rio, Palm, etc).

OK - so much for the tutorial. I’ve been doing a “Highest Praise Worship Podcast” for a while and have really enjoyed hearing back from those who listen. It’s like having my own “radio show” for the whole world to subscribe to. Sometimes listeners will return to the “podcast page” and leave comments about the episode.

Personally, I think this is a golden opportunity for the church. It’s been my experience that the church, for the most part, usually slides into last place when it comes to utilizing technology. I would guess that the overwhelming majority of church leaders have never even heard of a “podcast” or what it’s all about. Then again - because “podcasting” is so popular online and is quickly becoming one of the best methods of media delivery, the church should be jumping on this like crazy!

That’s where HPP Christian Web Hosting comes in. I’ve just created a new web hosting account that is targeted for those in the ministry who wish to get involved with podcasting. It’s very affordable, and has all the tools someone would need to begin a successful podcast. Churches could do a “podcast” of their sermon each week. Laypersons who have the gift of teaching, but no pulpit to teach from - can have the world to teach to. Musicians and songwriters can “podcast” their new songs and ideas to everyone.

The HPP Podcast Plan (view details) is $9.95/month, and has plenty of storage and bandwidth to do the job. I’d like to ask for your help - tell your friends about this. Tell your church leaders about it. Help rally the Kingdom so that they can take advantage of this technology. Sure, this is a business appeal too … we could really use the business right now! At the same time, nothing would make me happier than to see all the “podcast directories” on the internet filling up with Christian-oriented content.

For a limited time, we’ll be offering a free $10 Gift Certificate to the ITunes Music Store for new customers on our podcasting plan as well!

I have several ideas of things I’ll be doing w/ the Highest Praise Worship Podcast - and because the two main ideas are so vastly different, I’m not sure if they’ll be the same “podcast” or not - I may have to create a new one. I’m already doing the podcast that features praise, worship, and instrumental music. I’m also considering a more “personal”, intimate podcast - where I’d simply sit down and play the piano and “lead worship” (singing and playing, ministry) for about 15 minutes. That podcast would be for no other purpose than to take myself into your living room, and assist you … your own personal “worship leader” (ha!). Subscribers could listen on their computer, or burn a CD and have their “worship session” on the way to work. Interested in your feedback and comments on that idea.

Thanks for helping me spread the word. I hope you have a great week.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

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Hey Ya’ll -

Yesterday was interesting - I received a royalty check from “BMI” (www.bmi.com). For those who aren’t aware of how performance licensing works, songwriters and publishers choose to affiliate themselves with one of the major “PRO’s” (Performaning Rights Organizations). The 3 well known ones are “BMI”, “ASCAP” and “SESAC“. Since SESAC is a special “invitation only” type organization, most writers make a choice between BMI and ASCAP.

I chose BMI when I initially started publishing my writing commercially - and I’ve only seen a handful of pennies from them ever. I can’t say it would be better with ASCAP because although I’m a BMI writer, I own several songs that are published by ASCAP writers, and we never see royalties on that either.

PRO royalties come from “performances” - TV, Radio, Internet, etc.

Yesterday, I celebrated a whopping check of $12.00 and some change for the “Internet Performances” of the following songs:
“Open Door”
“Peaceful River”
“Pressing In”
“Rejoice In the Lord”

These are titles of themes on my original “QuietTimes” Keyboard Instrumental, which isn’t even “in print” anymore except on cassette.

No clue where this came from - a long time ago, I uploaded these exact songs to IUMA (Internet Underground Music Archive) so that’s the only way I can figure those songs got “reported” on and paid. Whatever the case, I thought it was cool … small, but cool.

Oh yeah - and finally - because I failed to ever post the results of the ongoing “Ebay Saga” (see previous threads in the archives) … after two months, my Ebay account was reinstated. No excuses, no reasons, no explanation - just a short email saying “we’ve reviewed your appeal and we are happy to reinstate your account”. Lost income for two months, and they have yet to tell me why - go figure!

Oh well - lots of work to do today - but gotta go.. just wanted to share that.

Don’t forget the “Highest Praise Worship Podcast!”

For the Kingdom,
Fred

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