FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Everyone!

Thanks a million again for everyone that prayed this week for me. It’s been a long week, but a successful one. I’m sorry that I had to be so vague, but that’s how it goes sometimes …

I’ve got an announcement to make … and it will probably deflate a bunch of you who expected something spectacular or flashy … but the truth is, I think this is pretty spectacular and is a huge “God thing” for me.

If you paid attention to the “Categories” I clicked for the “pray for me” posts … I was giving a little hint … one of the categories was:
“The Entrepreneur In Me” …

As of the stroke of midnight this past Wednesday, August 30 … HPP Christian Web Hosting Solutions, my web hosting business for the last 10+ years, was acquired by Advanced Online Solutions of Tulsa, OK.

You see, life has been spread way too thin for me … I embraced a new full-time position as the Worship Director at my church back in March … all the while, continuing to service and support my full-time web company, not to mention some of the additional ventures I have in online e-commerce and the worship-related side of my main company, Highest Praise Productions.

I have to confess, reading “Good to Great” did me in .. if you’ve not read it, I highly recommend it. As much as I fought it, “web hosting” just wasn’t in my “Hedgehog Concept”. I began to pray that God would either bring me “self-disciplined” people to hire to run this business, or that He would provide a buyer for it.

Long story short … a Christian company in Tulsa was very interested in purchasing the company – not just my customers, but the name “HPP Christian Hosting”, the site, the identity, the vision … all to take it from “good” to “great”. I actually spent a couple of days with the President of the company who flew here from Tulsa. After spending our time together, I knew God had provided the right person to pass the baton to.

So, what does this mean for me?

More time to focus on the things I’m passionate about!

… more focus for my role as Worship Director at SSCC
… more focus on my passion to equip the Kingdom of God in worship …

How does that look? Well, for starters – I hope to finally have time to write and record. I’ve got some incredibly exciting stuff happening in the “culture of worship” at church … more on that soon. I hope to be more intentional about blogging and podcasting. Starting this weekend, I hope to finally release a new “Highest Praise” podcast.

I’ve unloaded a major responsibility … one that has been rewarding, but at times was immensely stressful, especially the past few weeks leading up to this transition.

So, as “non-wow” as this announcement may be to you … it’s a big deal for the McKinnon Family. I feel 10 years younger and 100 pounds lighter.

Now, I’m curious … all this vague “pray, something’s up” talk surely got some of your minds wandering …

What did you THINK this was all about?

For the Kingdom,
Fred

Hey Everyone -

Episode #19 of the Highest Praise Worship Podcast is now live.

iTunes: (the best way to go!)

Web: www.highestpraise.com/podcast

Hope you enjoy!
Fred

Hey Ya’ll,

A good buddy of mine, Ben Harrel, came in a couple of weeks ago and recorded the first “guest worship leader” segment for WorshipInterludes.Com. Ben is an anointed worship leader and is sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit. Hope you enjoy the ministry time as much as I did!

Web: www.worshipinterludes.com

Or, subscribe for free in iTunes:

(as sent to the mailing list for Highest Praise Productions, HighestPraise.Com) 

Hey Everyone!

Hope and pray that you’ve had an awesome week. I wanted to send a quick email update to all those on the “Highest Praise” mailing list about a few things, so … check it out!

#1: Worship Artist of the Year, 2007 – THANKS!

First, I’d like to express my gratitude to those of you who graciously gave your support to me in voting for my songs and music at IndieHeaven.Com. Because of your support, I was honored with the “2007 Worship Artist of the Year” Momentum Award a few weeks ago in Nashville, TN at the Christian Indie Alliance Summit. It was a huge honor and I am forever grateful, and give God all the glory for it.

As you have been reading, I’ve been using IndieHeaven.Com as my “home base” to make my personal worship and instrumental music available. They have now launched a brand new, redesigned site. One of the coolest features is that you can now play ALL of my music on my page by pressing ONE SIMPLE PLAY BUTTON. The first songs on my page are the newer piano/instrumental compositions, followed by some worship music. I hope you’ll consider bookmarking the site, and listening to the music each day while you are at work. To make it simple, here’s how it’s done:

* go to my IndieHeaven Artist Page

* click the “play” button on the top left to begin playing all songs.

* leave this window open in the background or minimize, and open a new browser window to do your work!

Also …. my version of the very popular praise song, “You, You Are God” as recorded on Worship Under the Stars is currently on IH’s “Fan Faves” chart. Today it was at #8. Would you consider going to Fan Faves and rating it? Thanks a ton! You can rate it once per day from each computer you have.

#2: The Worship Community

In our last newsletter, I mentioned a new forums site that we’ve launched called “The Worship Community”. It’s located at:
www.theworshipcommunity.com

This place has been amazing, and it’s still in pre-launch. Already we’ve got great relationships being forged great discussions and networking. We’re discussing everything from favorite worship songs, albums, worship leading, in-ear monitors versus headphones, how to best mic or shield real drums, band rotations, etc. Will you come check it out and join our community!?

Currently, the Featured “Sticky” Thread is:

“Why Men Hate Going to Church” – it came from some discussion some people were having about some of the more “sappy, passionate/loving” lyrics found in today’s contemporary worship music. We’d love your input. All you have to do is:

* Register as a New User at www.theworshipcommunity.com

* Post your responses, or create a new discussion yourself!

#3: Worship Interludes

I recorded a new worship interludes podcast last week. If you’d like about 20 minutes of quiet, spontaneous worship, ministry, prayer, and meditation, I hope you’ll check it out. You can listen on the web at www.worshipinterludes.com or the best way is to subscribe through iTunes.

#4: Personal News

I’ve really fallen off the wagon in blogging. I love it. For those of you who have enjoyed emailing back and forth and following the more “personal side” of HPP, my own life as a Music Minister, Father, Husband, etc … I’d encourage you to check out my personal blog at:

www.fredmckinnon.com

If you’re familiar with subscribing to blogs or “RSS” feeds, you can do so from my “feeds” page. You can also add my blog posts to your Google Home Start Page, your Yahoo Home Start page, your AOL Home Start Page, etc … all from the “feeds” page. Below is a little “ticker” of recent posts that you can click on as well:

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Until the next update – may God bless you incredibly!

For the Kingdom,

Fred F. McKinnon, Founder/President

Highest Praise Productions, Inc.

Worship International, Inc.

Hey Everyone -

FYI, I’ve been in the studio over the weekend, and released a new “Worship Interludes” podcast … so, download it in iTunes, find a quiet place, and worship with me!

The theme that came forth on this episode was:
“The Restorative Character of God”

For the Kingdom,
Fred