FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Everybody -

Well, I’m a bit tired still, but rejoicing over yet another glorious time of worship at the annual “Worship Under the Stars” event. This year’s event was a 2-night event on Jekyll Island and both nights were full of genuine praise and worship. The band and singers did a fantastic job and we had no technical issues at all! The crowd was off a bit from last year, but then again – we did two nights instead of one, and it was a ticketed event this year instead of “free”. Regardless, people came and were hungry for God – we had the best time.

The week of “Worship Under the Stars” (last week) culminated into an explosion of various things in my life – not just the huge production itself, but a couple of other biggies.

Most notably, I received my first ever court summons … I only wish it were jury duty … but I finally got official notice of a lawsuit that my company got pulled into. I heard a couple of months ago that it was ‘coming’ but had been in contact with the Plaintiffs and had all hopes that my company would be dismissed before we ever actually got to “papers being served”. No such luck, so I have my first legal appointment on Friday. Please join me in praying for favor and provision. Even the Plaintiffs in this case have told me directly that they weren’t going after me, but I was initially added to the case because of some audio that was stored on one of my company’s web servers. I’m confident it will be resolved, but wish it could’ve been resolved earlier so that no legal expenses were incurred. I don’t always feel so great when I see myself listed as a Defendent when the complaint is filed for compensation “in excess of one million dollars”. PRAY!

Also, one of my e-commerce/e-biz sites that I’ve been working for a year sold last week. That was a huge burden lifted off of me – I was working an average of 3-4 hours per day (many times, much more) on that e-biz, and although it was somewhat profitable, I really began feeling the conviction of the Lord that it was time to take what I’d built and pass it along. I prayed a classic “Gideon’s Fleece” prayer … “God, if you want me to get rid of this, please bring a buyer” … and a buyer he brought – HOORAY.

So, the dust is starting to settle after the big concert, the business I’d put most of my time into this year is sold … and it’s getting colder outside. Joy even turned on the heat this morning in the house. Seasons are changing, and I feel and see it in my heart and spirit as much as I feel it outside in the air.

I’m looking around my office/studio … trying to wrap up some lose ends, but the question that is screaming at me, whispering at me, and silencing me all at the same time … it is always there … asking … “so … what now”.

God has heard me asking that for weeks … “so Lord, what now”. I’m not a very patient person, so I’ve always had a “project” that I’m poured into. Right this minute, there are no real “open doors” or “plans” – so I’m just waiting. Waiting on His leading.

I guess if there is ANYTHING that is smoldering down in my spirit, it would have to do with the “worship podcast” that I’ve done before. I dunno if you’ve ever listened, but you can find it at www.highestpraise.com/podcast

I do two formats … one is like a radio show – where I’m like a host who puts together a show of some great worship-related music that I discover from various “Indie” artists or labels that are open to my broadcasting their music. That’s fun – I guess the most fulfillment in that is the reality that I’m helping other writers and artists get their material “out there”.

The other format is totally different – it’s like a “spontaneous, prophetic” worship session. I just worship, and then mix it and upload it for others to use in their own devotional time. It’s like a way I can go home with you and lead you in a personal time of worship.

Hands down, I always get the most feedback when I do that. It’s been months since I did, though. Another reason I knew the Lord was calling me to step away from all the “business” and get back to “ministry” in that area.
So, I’m torn – I like both formats, and I’ve entertained doing two separate podcasts – one like the “radio show” (I’ve even had vision of that show being syndicated on “real” radio stations”) AND the “worship podcast”. Then again, I know that there is a special “gift” on the ones where I just sit down and minister/lead in worship … and all my studying of leadership development reminds me to focus on “what I can do that nobody else does as well” … I’d not be so presumptious to say nobody else does a worship podcast like that as good as I could … but I can easily say that there are TONS of folks out there who could put together a “radio-show” type format. Like I said, I enjoy both, however, each takes a good amount of time, and honestly … neither has EVER contributed a single dollar to my every-day life which unfortunately requires finances to operate. I want to spend the time doing those things, and I can honestly say I will do my best to trust the Lord in it … but in times past, I’ve gotten discouraged because when it’s time to pay bills, I always feel forced back to the “business”.

Well, didn’t mean to ramble on that – God always proves to be faithful. But I do ask for your prayer in this area. I know God’s up to something. I know He was asking me to step out – to lay down a profitable business to free up more time to be about His Kingdom – I’m just not quite seeing what He’s up to yet – the season is changing.

I’d love to have THOUSANDS of people who subscribe to the podcast – to think that God could use me to minister to folks every week through it – but maybe God wants me to quit trying to get “out there” so much, and just hide away “in here” with Him.

OK, enough rambling. I’ve finally unloaded my stuff from the concert, and I hope to do a new podcast this week … worship that is … maybe it will be a hybrid – maybe I’ll open up the podcast with a tune I’ve found, do some worship/minitry, and then close up with a tune to end it .. I dunno .. I’ll just pray.

God bless ya tons!
Fred