14
Who Am I and Who Are You?
Posted on June 14th, 2008 in Old-General by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everyone,
Saturday is a s-l-o-w- day for traffic on my blog. On the flip side, it’s one of those days I finally get to catch up on reading blogs. So, I’ve just scanned through about 150 new blog posts and was encouraged and entertained my lots of your posts.
Today I’d like to invite you (my handful of loyal readers and friends) to find out more about me …. so, ask away … and I’ll try to answer your questions.
Also, I’d like to know all about you. So I’d like to invite you to leave a comment and tell me about yourself. Who are you, what do you do, where are you from? It’s a roll-call, so everyone please participate!
Lastly – if you visit here, consider adding my two links to your blogroll, if they aren’t there already … and of course, if YOUR LINK isn’t on my list of links, let me know so I can trade the link love.
My Blog: www.fredmckinnon.com (if you are reading via RSS, visit the site to comment)
TheWorshipCommunity.Com: www.theworshipcommunity.com (in maintenance mode, but the /forums are thriving, and v2 will launch very soon!)
So … let’s get started. Ask your questions, and answer the call – who are you? No lurkers now, everyone get involved … please! Click to comment!!
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35 Responses to “Who Am I and Who Are You?”
Would you join in the discussion? Checkout the responses below, and click "reply" to reply to someone's comment, or scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to leave your own comment in the box!
Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?
I hate ants!
and….i did not forget about the post im doing…i promise!!!
Hey Fred,
So what is a “bubba” anyway?
Tam,
In 5 years, I’d like to see myself more solidified and focused on the areas I’m most gifted at. I still find myself trying to wear too many hats at one time – for random reasons … I dunno, financial goals, insecurities, scratching the “can I do that” itch of an entrepreneur, etc . But lately, I keep asking myself “what legacy do I want to leave” … and some of the stuff that really occupies my time doesn’t fit into that answer. So, I can’t offer a geographic location (I’d be thrilled to be right here on St. Simons Island, God willing), I’d like to be in a place of leadership where I’m impacting worshipers and worship leaders through teaching, mentoring, music, and writing. And THANKS for the upcoming post … as you are led.
And speaking of ants – we had a horror story like explosion of them under our deck last week.
Hey Billy -
A “bubba” would be a good ole’ boy … a Southern guy who is easy going, loves life, and is a die-hard dude from the South. “Bubba” also refers to what I’d call a good friend, a go-to guy … like “I’m gonna call in the Bubbas on this one”.
Hope that makes sense. if not, keep hanging around in Huntsville, and it will.
Speaking of Huntsville, shared a plane with a nice young couple from H’Ville last night … forget which church they are in but they were at Willow Arts, just purchased some property (currently meeting in a school) … any ideas?
I don’t come around a lot, but I should more. I’m also not on the blogroll, & about to make sure you’re on mine & add you if you’re not.
I’m a fellow worship leader (though part-time), living in NC.
A.s last blog post..Compassion Friday
Hmm, doesn’t sound familar, but I’m still getting to know the local crew. I still haven’t connected with your pals at the Rock either…
I might have to call in the Bubbas on this one
Billy Chias last blog post..The Lo-Fi David Crowder Band
So, does your redneck accent come out stronger when “yer out ‘der fishin’”? and Do you believe “iy’ll go tyen”?
You’ve always been on my blog roll
Oh yeah, I’m Brooke and you know where I live!
Leslie Brookes last blog post..Giant Jay #2
Hey Fred!
I’ve just discovered your blog recently – haven’t read much of it yet, but I plan to soon! My question – what got your started in worship ministry and what is the most pivotal event that God has ordained to put you where you are now?
Who am I? I’m Ryan. I lead worship at Living Word Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. I went to the Free Lutheran Bible School (AFLBS) for two years. I worked as a director of worship at an LCMS church for almost five years. I now work as a graphic designer, but my heart is still in worship and music ministry and I hope to work in it full time again some day soon.
Hey Fred!
You’re one of the few bloggers out there who does the contemporary stuff and still seems to have one foot in the charismatic realm – that’s one of the reasons I’m always attracted to your posts.
What’s your background? Does the church you’re in now reflect your theological beliefs (feel free to email you answer to that one)?
mjd
Matthew Daniels last blog post..Keep it Simple Stupid (The KISS Principle) Pt 3 of 3
My question: for what are you most grateful for in life? What is it that allows you to best understand the grace and mercy of Christ? AND – who was your favorite speaker at the Arts Conference?
I’m Beth, I lead creative arts at a church outside of Richmond, I was blessed to shake your hand at Willow Creek, and I blog at http://www.graceeveryday.blogspot.com, where you reside on my blogroll.
beths last blog post..Nancy Beach On Leadership Challenges
Oh yeah, and I’m Matthew and I’m not sure what title you’d give me these days. I’m a worship leader, who pastors, but not right now, at least not officially, so I work as a training developer, but volunteer at Oasis Worship Centre in Nashville, TN to help with worship, greeting, parking, technology planning (specifically web 2.0 integration), develop training, and whatever else the house needs.
Matthew Daniels last blog post..Back in the Game
Hey Fred! You’re right about Sunday traffic; not a huge day.
Happy Father’s Day everyone!
Ronnies last blog post..Fishbowling the Drummer
Hello,
I’ve listened to your podcasts and to the wonderful worship music you have produced, my only question is why don’t you produce and release more?
An aunt of mine recently passed away and I put together a video slideshow with pictures of her and her family taken throughout her lifetime. I included episode 8 as background music, this song worked perfectly and imparted a feeling of reflection as images of the past were displayed. Thanks for offering this wonderful worship song for free and please develop more!
Rick Behymer
Brooking, SD
So a Bubba is like a homie. Sort of. Some of us call in the Bubbas, and some of us roll with the homies.
Bobby Gilless last blog post..Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Sojourn’s Worship Music Set List For Sunday Morning, June 15, 2008
Be Thou My Vision – thanks for stopping by, and yes, I hope you’ll be here more often. I’ve added you to the blogroll!
Brooke – I realized that since your URL change, you weren’t on my blogroll, so I updated that, along with your husband (who hasn’t checked in here yet, so get’er done).
As to the redneck verbage, my accent comes out very quickly within minutes in the woods. And something comes over me and says “yeah, this is who I am”.
If they were to write a movie about your life…what songs would be on the soundtrack?
I’m Mandy. I’m a stay at home Mom. I hate getting flack for that because we work really hard. I think this is going to be my new response when folks say “what do you do for a living?
“I am socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation.”
Think that sounds more acceptable?
Mandys last blog post..RagamuffinTop Challenge
BTW – No…I didn’t write that myself.
Mandys last blog post..RagamuffinTop Challenge
Mandy – I love that you’re a stay-at-home Mom. Ladies like you don’t get nearly enough credit! I have a little one and I get exhausted sometimes after just a few hours with her!
Ryans last blog post..Extensive Interview with Bob Kauflin and Mars Hill’s Tim Smith
Maybe I should be the one to tell folks who you are?
Robert McKinnons last blog post..Free Money!
Ryan wrote:
what got your started in worship ministry and what is the most pivotal event that God has ordained to put you where you are now?
Great question, Ryan … and thanks for asking. In my early teenage years, my parents helped to form a new church in my hometown … we’d grown up in the United Methodist Church, and this was a new thing … my Dad was the volunteer worship leader. He played guitar and since I’d played piano since I was old enough to climb on the piano bench, I played the piano. So I had exposure to this as a teenager, and I was later captivated by some of the instrumental worship and live “praise and worship” music that launched when Integrity Music started. HM003 “All Hail King Jesus” was probably their first album and I was blown away as a kid. I loved the music, loved the arrangements, and grew more and more in love with what I was hearing. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be involved in the creation/production of worship leading … it was years later that I finally decided that maybe I’d better get over my insecurity of singing in front of people, and learn to lead corporate worship, instead of just writing, arranging, and producing it!
Thanks again for the question – more Q&A’s to come.
Fred
PS: Forgot to answer the second part .. I’d say the pivotal event was my risk to leave the position I was in, and to step out in faith and obey God, even though I had no promise of a job, no open doors, and no clue what we’d do to provide for ourselves financially. It was that leap of faith, and act of obedience that landed me in the place of ministry where I am now, quite fulfilled and blessed.
Hi, Fred. I’m a worship leader on staff at a church in Wichita, KS. I’m a wife to an amazing, creative soul who worked 12 years as a youth pastor, and is now on ‘sabbatical’ from ministry while sharpening his creative skills as a video producer for a local media company. And I’m the mom of two crazy kids. Thanks for asking about your readers.
My question for you: in your role as worship leader, what’s the part of your job you love the most, and how have you been able to leverage your time toward those things?
kims last blog post..Worship Reflections 06.15.08
OK – still catching up here … me thinks maybe it would’ve been a good idea to answer each of these separately as a new blog post … then again, that might be a bit much, eh?
OK, Mathew Daniel writes:
What’s your background? Does the church you’re in now reflect your theological beliefs (feel free to email you answer to that one)?
—–
Mathew,
Great question … glad to have another Charis-maniac out there. (haha). My background, as I’d stated earlier, was United Methodist. In my teen years my parents were exposed to more “charismatic, or full gospel” teaching regarding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the sign gifts. This caused a shift in our place of worship, a new church plant in our small town, etc. Over the years, I’ve gone back to the Word of God and challenged almost everything I ever learned growing up in church, which has shaped (and continues to shape) where I stand today.
As for my church, the answer to that question is “yes” and “no”. Yes – they know where I stand, clearly. Yes, many on our staff believe the same way, and would fall into the same, or at least “somewhat similar” camps. On the other hand, our church has focused on unifying our “foundational doctrine” around the main elements of the Gospel – more of what you’d read in the “Apostles’ Creed”. So, for the more Charismatic leaning, this falls under our “Structural Doctrine”, which isn’t required for “membership”, etc. It basically expresses that our leadership gives the people the freedom to search the Scriptures and discover for themselves how they wish to interpret Scripture in these areas. If asked individuall, you will get a direct response from the leadership; however, it’s not a structural part of our Sunday AM teaching or doctrine every week. Clear as mud?
More answers coming … in stride.
Fred
Hey Beth,
Great to hear from you, and always a big treat to actually MEET someone from blogworld in person. You asked three questions, so let me see what I can do:
“for what are you most grateful for in life?” …
well, an obvious answer is my Savior, Jesus Christ. But since that should already be understood, my next response would clearly be my family – I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving for them.
What is it that allows you to best understand the grace and mercy of Christ?
>>> that would be every time I realize that Chris loves me, in spite of myself. I screw up all the time, so often. I say, rehearse, and think things in my mind that should never be public, and wrestle with thoughts, issues, motives, selfish ambitions, and all sorts of wicked things (like most of us, I suppose), and I then come face to face with the reality that Christ still loves me. So, I’d say living with, and knowing MYSELF is the best thing to keep me amazed at His mercy and grace.
AND – who was your favorite speaker at the Arts Conference?”
Hmm … the worship was my favorite! I enjoyed Franis Chan, though I was so tired, it made it a bit more difficult. My least favorite was McLaren, but I could’ve predicted that before I went. I also really enjoyed Richard Allen Farmer.
There ya go!
Fred
Fred McKinnons last blog post..Father’s Day
Rick from SD wrote:
“I’ve listened to your podcasts and to the wonderful worship music you have produced, my only question is why don’t you produce and release more?”
Ah, Rick. That’s a great question, and one that is troublesome to answer, because I’m just as grieved that I don’t put out more. There are several reasons, all of which could lump into the “excuses” category.
1. time … with all the hats I wear these days between my full-time job at the church, my e-business, theworshipcommunity.com, blogging, and of course, being a husband and father of 4 kids, I don’t seem to find much time in the studio these days. Which is a shame.
2. response … I’m so grateful to hear of your testimony, but the testimonies and/or podcast comments are far and few between … obviously, I should do it regardless if I feel I’m led to do so … but I’d seldom get any response, making me feel like I was just wasting my time. Response, testimonies encourages me that it’s not a waste of time, and that people really DO subscribe and really DO get ministered to from the podcasts! Your story really helped today!
For the Kingdom,
fred
Mandy wrote:
“If they were to write a movie about your life…what songs would be on the soundtrack?” …
Well, the title track would most likely be:
“My Stupid Mouth” by John Mayer.
Then, there is a old, but favorite by Gary Chapman,
“A Man After Your Own Heart” that would fit the bill, I hope.
Followed by,
“Send in the Clowns” (as I tend to be a clown sometimes!)
Bobby, yep – never thought of it like that, but bubbas can be homies.
Robert – that could be catostrophic.
Kim wrote:
“in your role as worship leader, what’s the part of your job you love the most, and how have you been able to leverage your time toward those things?” ….
Kim, my favorite part is the actual corporate worship time … leading worship corporately … I just love it. It’s not really something I have to leverage my time for, as it happens regardless – actually, I do this LESS, because part of my role is training and enabling new worship leaders … but this is turning out to be quite fulfilling as well!
OK – that’s got me caught up … I know a bunch of blog buddies who have NOT checked in yet … so c’mon gang, get with it!
Fred
Hi Fred,
My name is Alastair. I’m from Northern Ireland but have just moved out here (to NC) a few months back. Loving it so far, but very few people understand my accent.
Question: How did you end up on the island? Do you need to stay on a particular bearing to get there?
Alastairs last blog post..Cool Firefox Plugin : PicLens
Hey Alastair (aka snowjunkie) … I didn’t know you were from Ireland – you should hookup with Gary Holdges @ http://www.garyandbeth.org
Well, I was living in Vicksburg, MS … so my bearing was hard due East. Basically, I was flying onto the mainland several times a year from MS to produce and record in the studio at Christian Renewal Records (no longer an entity, but a studio/label we’d started out of Christian Renewal Ministries in Brunswick, GA). The Worship Pastor there, Mack Tucker, indicated that the smaller “Christian Renewal” church on St. Simons Island was in need of a music minister, so I jumped at the chance. The rest was history for nearly a dozen years before I felt it was time to step away from that ministry and make myself to available for whatever God had for the next season of my life, which in this case, was a great church a few miles down the road, still on St. Simons Island!
Some visit sometime!
Fred
great blog idea!
my lame question: which one of these questions was your favorite?
mandys last blog post..Favorites: nickname
Welcome, Mandy -
I don’t like to play favorites, but since you asked, I guess my fave thus far would belong to Ronnie (MandoRon) above.
Hey Fred,
-The name is apparent!
-I’m an Electronics Technician in the US Navy and currently stationed at Assault Craft Unit 5 in Camp Pendleton, California.
-I’m originally from Reno, Nevada and grew up every summer at Lake Tahoe from the age of five till I joined the Navy when I was twenty.
-I was actually born in Davenport, Iowa and lived in St. Thomas, USVI the first year of my life.
-I’m married to the most wonderful woman in the world, Stephanie, and have Ryan who is almost a year old, Sadie who is a 3 yr old Chocolate Lab, and Joey who is a Shepperd Mix about the same age.
-What else do you want to know?
The link love is there. My site is going thru some changes, but is currently up at thestoutsonline.com/blog1. I’ll change it to just the thestoutsonline.com when Network Solutions will release the Domain…
Hi Fred,
Yeah, Gary and myself have exchanged a couple of emails already.
Alastair.
Hey Fred,
If you weren’t in leadership in a Worship/Arts position, what would you be doing right now? (what is your second passion in life?)
Russ
Media/Music Coordinator (some call it pastor) House oh Joy, Valdosta, GA
Russs last blog post..Creaky Boards vs. Coldplay (ht: Worship Trench)
Russ,
I just realized I never answered your question … I’d probably say a film composer. I love soundtracks and film composition. When I go to a good movie, I usually get pretty emotional if the soundtrack is amazing, especially the orchestral stuff, and I begin to ask myself “maybe I’m supposed to be doing this” …
Thanks for asking!