Have you been called by God for a purpose?

Philippines 3: 14 tells us to keep pressing forward. If you're calling is songwriting verse 13 tells us to stretch ourselves. How do we do this?  Keep learning, building upon the techniques used by other people that makes songs work. The Internet is a vast resource for us as songwriters. Ask what am I pressing towards this week or today.  Are you distracted by your own callings or the callings of the world. Maybe we can slow down enough to ask ourselves how much time can I commit To God. Devoted to my higher calling. Find your goal and press towards it.

Happy 35th Anniversary TO Minnesota Association of Christian Songwriters!!

A LOOK BACK AT  M.A.C.S. [35 YEARS AND COUNTING]

In 1989 John Bennett attended a local songwriter meeting bringing his Christian songs to be critiqued.  Here is the account of what happened next: “At that meeting I heard a bunch of hopeless heartbreak songs, but I was surprised to hear someone with a soulful voice sing a Christian song, the only other one that evening. That person turned out to be Christine Fox. After attending a couple more of these secular meetings Christine and I realized that this was not a good place to get support for our Christian songs. So she invited a few of us to the first Christian songwriters meeting at her home. That first meeting was a blessing for me and I continued to go every month with a few others.  We began to meet in a Church and there we’re only four of us that regularly attended, then there were six, then there were eight. We met there for about a year and a half and things kind of fizzled out. At that time I wanted it to continue and I began having the meetings at The Church of the Open Door and called the group the Minnesota Association of Christian Songwriters. That first meeting was in a small room crowded with about 20 people. Then more and more people came, we had guest speakers come talk, we held concerts, and we listened to each other’s songs. When I asked for help to run the group many people came to my aid, and began taking over the duties of diligently sending out the newsletters, being responsible for the MACS library, leading the meetings, writing the Bylaws, helping with the concerts. I saw God’s blessings in many forms in many ways all along the way. When we needed a new place to meet, our current meeting place was provided. When we needed a volunteer lawyer to make us a nonprofit organization one was provided. When we needed a graphic artist for our brochures God provided. When we needed a website you brought us people who came forward to make one.  When we needed new places to have concerts God provided. When we asked for a compilation CD God bought us a leader. When we needed other volunteers they came forward. Everything fit into place, every need was met.  Since then, we have experienced much growth, with a mailing list of over 400 Christian artists.  In 1999, we became a non-profit organization, governed by an elected board of directors, dedicated to serving local Christian songwriters. MACS met on a monthly basis to network with members and sharpen our songwriting skills.  Some exciting events have taken place at MACS throughout the years. We’ve hosted many songwriters showcases over the years at coffee houses, Famous Dave’s BBQ and Blues, the Crossroads Chapel, and various churches.

“I wasn’t educated or experienced in becoming a non-profit arts organizer,” John explained, “but I and others made ourselves available and God did the rest. Who knows how much it has helped to bring others into God's Kingdom.”  Over the years MACS has helped countless songwriters, listened and evaluated over 2,000 songs written by Minnesota Christians, hosted numerous songwriter concerts, brought many people together in recording studios to record their music,  published quarterly newsletters, released 3 compilation albums, and has begun a thriving Christian networking community.  MACS hopes to continue to help and nurture Christian songwriters, as they seek God's will for their individual ministry.

MYSTERIOUS GOD?

                                                                                             by John Bennett

        A while ago someone described God as a mystery which has given me much thought to ponder.  So, after researching the matter and talking with friends I have come to the conclusion that God has mysteries that we cannot know for now, but there are many many attributes we CAN know about God. After all how can we say we know Jesus if he is a mystery? Of course, we know that God's wisdom and knowledge is unfathomable and it's impossible to reveal everything that God knows in our miniscule minds. Our brains would disintegrate with that amount of knowledge. God never gives us more than we can handle. So in a way God is trying to protect us from the huge amount of information He stores up.  After all He knows and counts each hair on your head.  He knows all, see’s all, holds all together.  David tells us that God's greatness is unsearchable and infinite. There is no boundary in which God's greatness can be confined.

A mystery in the Christian sense is not something that we do not happen to know; instead, it is something that we cannot know by the very nature of our finite minds .  We cannot fathom what eternity is: that there is no beginning or end, or even how did God begin.  Was God always here?  These things can leave our minds boggled and it’s much better not to lean on our own understanding.  

        

            Here is the point I'd like to make; that God wants us to personally know and understand Him: what He wants us to do, who He is and what He’s going to do. So, let’s look at what the Bible says about what we do know about God that is NOT a mystery. Daniel 2:22 says: “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”  How does God reveal himself to us?  God has revealed himself to us in the glory of creation, in the perfection of the written word, and in the personal experience of all who seek Him.  Verse 23 Goes on to say:  “God…hast made known unto me.”  

God wants us to know, up to a point what He knows.  The whole point of prophecies given to His chosen Prophets is that He wants us to know about future events.  The book of Revelation actually means God is revealing or making known to us.  Some prophecies were so unknowable at the time that God wanted them to be sealed.  Daniel 12:4 says; But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end.  Until now we did not know how the whole world could see something happening at the same time.  We now know they can by cell phones and TV.  God revealed to Daniel the succession of all the great Kingdoms of the Earth in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  Everyday as we mature in the faith and read the Bible new insights are being revealed or unsealed.

God has shown us the future, now let’s ask can we know who God is?  The entire Bible reveals the nature, character, and work of God.  I can’t describe here the multitude of the ways in which He describes himself.  It would take volumes of books in which all the libraries of the world could not contain.

Even though God is Spirit he also has form and substance, a being that can be discerned by the five senses. God hears, sees, touches, smells and tastes like we do.  “Let us make man in our image” The Bible describes God as having emotional feelings, not sinful like ours, but Holy and Righteous feelings like anger, frustration, jealousy, love, compassion, who listens to us, communes with us, comforts us and has personal relationship with us.  He walked and talked with Adam and Eve and they could even hear His footsteps. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” After His resurrection Jesus showed people that he as spirit has both form and substance: They could touch and feel him. He even walked with them and sat down and enjoyed a meal with them.  God loves beauty when He said, “It is good”.  God is vastly creative by creating a million and a half different species in the world. God is strong by parting the waters and calming storms.  God is caring by feeding the people in the wilderness and He made a way for all living things to thrive.

What does God want us to do?  My Bible has 1377 pages and I read it as my guidebook of what God wants me to do.  It’s all in black and white with some red printed words.  There are no grey areas in my Bible.  In other words it is completely truthful and says exactly what it means.  Anyone with a strong belief in God is given special insight into God’s word.  They study it and try to follow how God wants them to live out their lives.  2 Timothy 3:16 say: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”   God gave us these scriptures so we don’t go down the same wrong path but to understand what is the best path to walk.  Solomon asked God for wisdom and it was given to him to write Proverbs.  Just in that book alone is more wisdom than all the self  help books in the world put together.  Solomon was wise but one who was wiser than anyone who ever lived was sent by God so that we would know God better.  His name is Jesus and He showed us more of who God is than words ever could.

So is God a mystery?  Yes and no.  There are still questions that we’ll never know in this lifetime, but there in Heaven all our questions will be answered.  Until then we can get to know God and have a personal everyday relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  So in conclusion I leave you with this verse to dwell on. 

Colossians 1:26-29

…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

Stage Fright: A Frightening Experience

    Today I'd like to talk about one of the most spine tingling gruesome, heartstopping phobias known. We're talking real fear here folks. It’s called stage fright. I remember my first time going up alone on stage. I experienced all the normal cliches; sweaty palms, butterflies in the pit of my stomach, shaky knees and just an all out feeling of doom. All this occured during the hour long wait before hand. Then it was my turn. My name was announced. I felt my body float up to the stage and there I was in the spotlight. What was I doing here in front of all these people? Then I started strumming my guitar and realized with a sinking feeling that my mind had gone totally blank. Well after a few moments of stalling I suddenly remembered the title of the song and the rest was easy. 

    Even after many years of playing on a stage I still get these feelings. But now I use them to my advantage. Somehow the excitement gives my music more energy and an extra edge. Confidence in the song, knowing it frontwards, backwards and sideways will let me concentrate on the message I'm trying to get across instead of the delivery. When I'm up there feeling vulnerable I try to focus my attention on anything but myself; like that guy's hairdo or even that speck on the back wall. I like to pretend the audience is one person or my best friend who I'm playing for in my own living room. Anything to make myself feel comfortable. 

    I think the coffee house is the perfect place to work on your stage skills. You could start out playing at informal jam sessions until you're comfortable enough to try playing at an open stage. By then you will be among friends in a supportive relaxed atmosphere. I guess the single most important thing to remember is to be honest and genuine in your own unique way. It's your time to claim your place on this stage and give it all your best and that's the gift of yourself. Have fun.

 Album Review of BEATEN PATH by Paul Nye

These days I only listen to music while I’m driving my car when I have time to really listen.  Lately I’ve put on a couple of CDs sent to me by Paul Nye who lives in a small town up north. Paul’s CD called Beaten Path has been playing over and over again for the past 2 weeks so I’ve become quite familiar with every nuance of the thirteen songs and let me be the first to tell you;  Well done! 

This CD is full of ear candy that would delight any hi-fidelity aficionado.  Once in a while I will hear an album that is so perfectly done and so lovely to listen to that I just can’t get enough of it with one listen.  Produced by Scott Malchow who has a whole slew of mixing and mastering credits to his name and who plays a variety of instruments here and peppers this album with tasty B-3 organ parts.  The clarity of these recordings are pristeen in quality mastering by Malchow and the mix is as perfect as you can get.  At first listen I was impressed by the impeccable drumming by the Greg Gaston that fit the style of each song well and having a modern feel.  Next my ears perked up at all the beautifully layered guitar parts played by Paul and Scott like ear candy in the selection of the pure guitar tones and effects that perfectly match the style of each song.  The guitar solos as good as any any Pink Floyd, Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, George Harrison sliding, and I even heard some Neil Young style shredding. For a little trivia Paul mentioned he and Scott Malchow decided to add some Eagles-sounding riffs as a sort of “musical hats-off” way to pay homage to Eagle guitarist, Don Felder, when he left the group.

The Album starts out with THE SCOTTS I KNOW a sort of humorous look at having a lot of friends by the name of Scott who leave a phone message to call back Scott and Paul trying to recognize their voice to figure which Scott it was.  The line “some of you Scotts are creators, others craft with your hands” fits some of my artist friends who happened to be named Scott.     

Paul shows us he has a great feel for playing the blues on acoustic guitar in his song DO YOU REALLY KNOW.  Blind Lemon Pledge (which is evidently Paul’s alter-ego) dished up a sizzling guitar solo while Malchow added tasty Hammond B-3 organ and stirring the pot with steady bass guitar from John Wright. 

In THIS SMALL TOWN where “everyone gets along and roots breathe deep” Paul demonstrates his ability to write a great feel good pop song.  I love the guitar tones that has sort of a Beatles feel.  I can’t tell what a joy it was to hear this song over and over again with its soaring Eric Clapton LAYLA style lap steel guitar and Beach Boys style harmonies.  How this song is not a bonified hit is beyond me.  It should at least be in a movie somewhere; hint, hint.

The next song, WISH I HAD THE FAITH OF AN ATHEIST, really takes the cake.  If you liked Pink Floyd this one’s for you with it’s machine gun style vocal delivery and a blistering guitar solo.  Oh by the way it’s a song dealing with the theory of evolution and having Faith in a Creator of whom Paul is not ashamed to write about without being overly bearing.   

As a Christian myself I catch many meaningful phrases throughout the album like the interspective “all my righteous acts are like dirty rags” “I stand naked before you” or the conviction in “he loves the Lord when it's convenient”  and “sent to be lovers, we fight with each other.”

There’s even a country blues song here in LET ME GROW with cool dobro and lap steel parts by Scott Malchow (I love this guy) and a Sonny Terry style harmonica solo played by Bruce "Creeper” Kurnow.  (only the greatest Blues harp player ever.  Did you know Hohner named a harmonica after him?) 

        The piece de resistance for me came in the final song MY PROVIDENCE a contempory Christian song with huge production worthy of any Christian radio airplay.  Over all I would recommend this album for anyone to hear for yourself.  As a novice recording artist myself this album gives me a higher level of excellence to aspire to. It’s a lesson in using the right guitar tones, tasteful keyboard playing, tight harmonies, great mixes and mastering.  It's a great lesson in how to reach perfection in your recordings and class is in session.  Listen and Buy at:  paulnye.com or iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and other online music sources.

LYRICS I'LL NEVER USE IN A SONG AGAIN

CUTS LIKE A KNIFE

A NEW YORK MINUTE 

COLD AS ICE 

LIKE A ROCK 

BABY BABY 

FEELS SO RIGHT 

DOWN A DIRT ROAD 

TEARS FALL LIKE RAIN 

ROCK AND ROLL 

THE THE TEST OF TIME 

RHYMING LOVE AND ABOVE 

I WOULD DIE FOR YOU 

TURN IT UP 

TAKE MY BREATH AWAY 

ON MY KNEES 

STRIKES A CHORD 

LIKE A FIRE 

AS A GOOD AS IT GETS 

RED SOLO CUP 

SHAKE SHAKE YOUR ANYTHING 

MAKE YOU MINE

SIPPING SWEET TEA

A Songwriters Study of the Hymn: Joy To The World! by John Bennett

Joy To The World! originally title The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. His words were inspired by Psalm 98 in the Bible and is actually a song collaboration of over 100 years. The music was adapted by Lowell Mason an American church musician who used musical phrases from Handel's The Messiah within the song. ( I've heard of modern day songwriters lifting parts of other classical songs like in Dan Folgelburg's "Same Old Lang Syne" Listen to the first verse and compare the music to the 1812 Overture.) The overall theme of Joy To The World is all about the first and second triumphant coming to the Earth of Jesus Christ, God personally revealing Himself to the World! Let's take a look at the lyrics:

Joy To The World! originally title The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. His words were inspired by Psalm 98 in the Bible and is actually a song collaboration of over 100 years. The music was adapted by Lowell Mason an American church musician who used musical phrases from Handel's The Messiah within the song. ( I've heard of modern day songwriters lifting parts of other classical songs like in Dan Folgelburg's "Same Old Lang Syne" Listen to the first verse and compare the music to the 1812 Overture.) The overall theme of Joy To The World is all about the first and second triumphant coming to the Earth of Jesus Christ, God personally revealing Himself to the World! Let's take a look at the lyrics:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come 

There was great joy at Jesus' first coming but at His second  coming not everyone will be joyful.  Only those who have accepted His offer of eternal life by His grace.  

Let earth receive her King 

He was declared King of the Jews by Pontious Pilate and given a crown of thorns. On His second coming He  will be declared the KING OF KINGS

Let every heart prepare Him room 

This is asking; Have you received Jesus into your heart? Have you made preparations of where you'll spend eternity?

The next 3 lines repeat to drive home that all of nature and Worship Jesus:

And Heaven and nature sing 
And Heaven and nature sing 
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Angels in heaven worship the Lord Jesus. The Bible tells us that this worship has lasted from the beginning and will through all of eternity.

 

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! 

The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns after the Tribulation  He will rule over all the nations of the whole World

Let men their songs employ 

I like this line. Our purpose as Christian songwriters is the mission to put our songs to work for the Kingdom of God! 

While fields and floods, 

Again we see that all of nature Worships God. The Bible 

rocks, hills and plains 

tells us that if we didn't worship Him that the rocks will.

Repeat the sounding joy 
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

Even all of nature is joyful and will repeat joy for eternity.

 

No more let sins and sorrows grow, 

As Christians we are to grow spiritually and not carnally 

Nor thorns infest the ground; 

Jesus' parable of the sower of seeds Matthew 13:3-8 The seeds represent God's Word the thorns choke it out.

He comes to make His blessings flow 

As God's Word grows so do the blessings you receive.

Far as the curse is found, 
Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed  our sins from us. (when we receive Christ)

 

He rules the world with truth and grace, 

On His second coming He will rule over all the Earth. His judgment will be righteous and true. His grace will  forgive the sins of all those who accepted Him into their hearts.

And makes the nations prove 

We will prove our acceptance of Jesus by what's in our Hearts. We will bow down and worship who He is.

The glories of His righteousness, 

In Heaven and on Earth Jesus is Gloriously worshipped and is Worthy to receive all the Honor due to Him.

And wonders of His love, ​​​​​​​
And wonders of His love, 
​​​​​​​And wonders, wonders, of His love.

We cannot fathom the depths of His love for us. God  so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (to suffer death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins) so that none would perish but have everlasting LIFE!  HALLELUJAH!

A SONGWRITERS STUDY OF "OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"

A SONGWRITERS STUDY OF "OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"

I was so inspired by Phillips Brooks' song OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM written in 1868, I wanted to do an evaluation of the song.   After Brooks visited the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, he wanted to write a song for the children's Christmas program at his church. He  was so moved my his experience in Bethlehem that he completed the lyrics in one evening. Then he asked his organist Lewis R. Redner to compose a melody that the children could sing.  On the evening before the program Redner woke up suddenly from a dream with the melody in his head and he quickly wrote it down.  A Hebrew word study of the meaning of the name of Bethlehem is a combination of two Hebrew words. Beth means the House and the Hebrew word Lehem means of Bread. The “House of Bread” [footnote 1]  Jesus is the one who said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

So, in reviewing the song I find such a glorious Christmas message beautifully phrased set within a perfect melody.  Here are my thoughts about the song:

1. O little town of Bethlehem          Talking to the town?  How interesting sets up next line
How still we see thee lie                  The set up is present day, the last note is not resolved
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep    Time passing peacefully with inner rhymes
The silent stars go by                         This last note resolves here before a melodic change
Yet in thy dark streets shineth                 A minor note here brings about sense of conflict
The everlasting Light                              This is line gives us a counter point to the darkness
The hopes and fears of all the years        Inner rhymes adding more conflict
Are met in thee tonight                            This resolution is an answer to the conflict

2. For Christ is born of Mary         2nd verse adds more to the plot that's set up by verse 1
And gathered all above                            Not clear but explained in next line
While mortals sleep, the angels keep       Humanity was not aware of God's plan
Their watch of wondering love                God becoming man was even amazing to Angels
O morning stars together                          Interesting line that the stars worship Him                            
Proclaim the holy birth                            Did the stars announce His Birth?
And praises sing to God the King           proclaiming the Holiness and future reign of Jesus
And Peace to men on earth                     This peace will come about in His future Kingdom

3. O holy Child of Bethlehem                Verse 3 addresses Jesus in the present day  

Descend to us, we pray                         Our only future hope that Jesus come again 

Cast out our sin and enter in                 This is the salvation prayer to be born again
Be born to us today                               The time is now to accept Christ as your savior
We hear the Christmas angels              We can still hear this message every year
The great glad tidings tell                      We also call tell others about Jesus
O come to us, abide with us                 Asking the Holy Spirit in is what it's all about
Our Lord Emmanuel                              His name is God with us 

                                                              Verse 3 is the culmination of the whole song

This is a fascinating further study on the name of Bethlehem
1.  Hebrew Word Study website

Prolific Songwriters

These songwriters have been very busy and prolific in using their creative gifts. I need to buckle down.

HYMN WRITERS
Isaac Watts 600 hymns 
Fanny Crosby over 2500 hymns
Charles Wesley 6,500 hymns 
Horatius Bonar wrote over 600 hymns 
William Howard Doane 2000 melodies for hymns
Daniel Brink Towner over 2000 hymns melodies

SECULAR WRITERS
Dolly Parton, who has written 3,546 songs (and counting)
Irving Berlin more than 1,500 songs, 20 Broadway shows.
Woodie Guthrie 25,000 songs [not a typing error]
Paul McCartney over 500 songs and cowrites
Rodgers and Hammerstein 900 songs and 43 musicals
Bernie Taupin well over 600 songs
Bob Dylan well over 500 songs

101 reasons why we write Christian songs.

A while back I posted on Facebook to give reasons why we write Christian Songs, hoping to inspire people to write more songs and attend songwriting workshops.  Here is a list on what people posted:

1.  For the Glory of God
2.  For private or personal worship
3.  To reach others through identifying with their situation
4.  To make a living to fund a ministry
5.  As an extension of our creative spirit
6.  As a legacy transfer to children and grandchildren in order to win them for Christ
7.  Something I needed to learn or hear that would benefit me. 
8.  For healing in times of need.
9.  To help memorize scripture for myself and my children and beyond
10. Write to process pain
11. To help strengthen our realization of core values and eternal truths 
12. To explore revelation and words given by God
13. For healing of marriages
14. To bring love to others
15. To help with romance
16. A private song for my ears only
17. To bring peace
18. To offer an alternative for what the world brings
19. Music therapy for the aged and afflicted
20. As a hedge against evil
21. As a prayer
22. As an art form
23. To deepen my relationship with God. Maybe others too.
24. The enjoyment of creativity.
25. Being able to thank God for the talent to do so.
26. To help lead others into worship
27. To help others be open to hearing the gospel message
28. To help change a life
29. To help stop a suicide [true story!]
30. Researching the song subject helps me to study the Bible
31. The excitement of coming up with a new idea or song title
32. Being able to look deeper into myself and life
33. The enjoyment of communicating connecting with others
34. Showing others who Jesus is
35. To serve as a ministry
36. Enjoying the beauty of Christian music and melody
37. Being able to enjoy the beauty of language and poetry
38. Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
39. Psalms 98:1 - (A Psalm.) O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
40. Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
41. Psalms 40:3 - And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
42. To be able to use my gift
43. To encourage people in going through hardships
44. To help people turn from sin
45. To assist people in recovery
46. To comfort those injured and with illnesses
47. To help with reconciliation
48. Out of loving obedience to His calling for us
49. In order to better realize the hearts of the songwriters of the Bible - to understand and see them as real people like us - Moses - David - Mary - Elizabeth.... heart-sisters, heart-brothers
50. Songs to tell stories , people in the bible or our heros
51. songs to express ourselves and our journeys. 
52. Testimonies to what GOD has done and is doing in our lives , other's lives and our families. 
53. Holy Spirit inspiration and being used as a vessel also is totally awesome!! grateful to be used I am 
54. To share with others what GOD has given to me. 
55. There is such joy and release in putting words, experiences, and emotions into an original song.
56. RESPONDING to His Love and Goodness.
57. Fullfilling your purpose in Him.
58. Because this is what we will be doing for eternity in our Heavenly Kingdom. [When we've been there ten thousand years. Bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise. Than when we've first begun.]
59. To reclaim music that was stolen by Satan. See Christian blues. Blues came out of Spirituals and R&B came out of Gospel.
60. To sing about the attributes of God.
61. As a question for God.
62. How my life was changed by God.
63. Attributes of living a Godly life.
64. Because singing a new song is what we shall do for eternity. What else can be better once we are in His presence?
65. That’s what I was born to do.
66. Because you love God
67. To declare Jesus Worthy
68.  As a witnessing tool.
69. To encourage discipleship
70. To direct people's attention toward God
71. To be inhabited by the Holy Spirit
72. To bring a fresh perspective to the listener.
73. To not put God in a box
74. To sing something completely new and different
75. To follow the commandment to love God.
76. To feed people on the Word of God
77. To declare God's greatness
78. As a way express our brokenness
79. To show a path towards healing
80. As a tool to change lives.
81. To reawaken the Church towards revival
82. For making melody in your heart to the Lord.
83. To express God's truth.
84. To help shape a wayward culture
85. To focus on a men's ministry
86. To focus on a women's ministry
87. To focus on a kid's ministry in Sunday school
88. To focus on a teen's ministry
89. To focus on a marriage ministry
90. To focus on Biblical prophecy
91. To focus on a particular Bible story
92. To focus on a Bible character or hero.
93. To promote Christian values
94. To bring someone peace and comfort
95. To help someone through grief
96. To bring joy to the downhearted
97. As a cry to God
98. To fuel a passion for God
99. To cause more love for God.
100. To write a three minute effective sermon
101. Practicing for when we finally go home to glory or are raptured. 

102. So we can glorify God along with the Angels of heaven in praise to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
103. For help in Bible study
104.The pastor wants a song for in a coming sermon message
105. For help in evangelizing others
106.To write about a verse in the Bible
107. To study a sermon you've heard
108. As an Invitational song to bring people to the Lord
109. Inspired by a sermon or Bible verse
110. When you were suddenly moved by the Holy Spirit
111. When a song pops into your mind
112. To reflect God's greatness his love and holiness
113. Because you felt an impulse to write
114. Writing from a belief in God's promises
115. Because God revealed new wisdom and inspiration
116. Because something born in your soul compels you
117. Because I'm in emotional feeling or struggle
118. A problem that became God's opportunity to work for the good
119. Green on the Christmas story in the Bible message
120. Out of a cry to the Lord
121. Out of a poem you wrote
122. Out of trials
123. When you hear a still small voice whispering to your heart
124. Because a Co writer inspires us
125. When your mind becomes flooded with new songs
126. When you heard a statement in conversation when an idea drops out at you
127. When all seems lost and only Jesus can offer hope
128. To write a sermon within a song
129. To write a song as if we will sing it in heaven for eternityprovide a biblical      answer in time of need to someone who needs encouragement
130. to give a new insight in a refreshing way
131. to provide a vehicle for our fresh outpouring from God
132. to help revive A lukewarm church
to encourage evangelism
133. To help bring a rich harvest of souls

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

A song critique of The Star-Spangled Banner

A song critique of The Star-Spangled Banner

In becoming more aware of great songwriting I would like give my evaluation of this great song of victorious hope we’ve sung by memory all our lives:

O SAY [this line is saying Hello? Can I have your attention?]

CAN YOU SEE     [can you identify the same thing I see? Even though you’re not really there.  Can you picture it with me?]

BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT    [this is possessive noun that shows ownership by adding an apostrophe, an “s”.  It’s interesting that the end of the story is already being told to us.  This makes us want to know more of what happened before this]

WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED    [When we hail something we: cheer, salute, acclaim; approve enthusiastically.  Francis Scott key who witnessed from a ship in the harbor as the British fired upon a Baltimore fort was proud to still see the flag flying by the light of explosions of the cannon balls.  I can hear the cheers as if a crowd was watching a firework show]

AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING?    [again with a possessive noun telling us it was dark hours before this.  I looked up the word gleaming: to shine with or as if with subdued steady light or moderate brightness. 2 : to appear briefly or faintly a light gleamed in the distance.  This boy did his homework!  In completing the question we have identified when it took place, that there are other people there and what they were feeling at the time] 

WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS         [this line a matter for those advanced songwriters out there.  It’s a double alliteration which means: a repetition of letters and sounds in this case the two B’s and the two S’s.  We are now told what it was they so proudly hailed last night.  Describing the stripes as broad has the underlying meaning of strength bright gives stars a meaning of clarity, shining, a bright future]

THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT   [the outcome of this battle is yet to be decided.  The people who were defending the fort must’ve had a terrible night with much death]

O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED,  [this is interesting.  I always thought ramparts was the railings of a ship.  A rampart is a wall that is built to protect a fort.  So they were watching what was happening on the inside of the fort.  Huh who would of known?]

WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING [identifying that the flag was still blowing in the wind.  Now a flag itself cannot be gallant but the soldiers protecting that flag were the brave ones]

AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR   [Now we’re taken back into the past again and we’re given another gift of a double alliteration.  Amazing!  ps.  I guess they already had rockets back then instead of the cannons]

GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE    [this is the payoff line or the satisfying conclusion usually found at the end of the chorus.   It provides the emotional punch, or surprise, and adds impact to the lines that precedes it.  It is the line that ties the whole song together like a bow.

O SAY  [again with Hello? Can I have your attention?]

DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE   [ the writer is asking you in the present time you are in:  Is it still there?  Spangled what an interesting word besides using another alliteration it tells us it’s glistening, gleaming, shining. Something to admire like a diamond clear and strong.  I’m glad the writer didn’t use the redundant word FLAG but renamed it banner which is a cloth that carries a message and design that is hung in a public place. 

O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE    What land is this?  The one we’re standing on.  We are tied to the land.  Land is important to our identity.  It provides all of our needs, gives us a home and supports our family, brings us security.  The writer here tells us that this is the place that is free of the monarchy when he wrote it, but also for all future citizens.  Using the word BRAVE identifies with the people in the fort as well as future citizens.  The word also says, hey, don’t mess with us.  We’ll stand up for our freedom here.  It’s important to us.  This is the huge grand final payoff of the song.  Musically FREE is held a long time.  Then HOME is held out while OF THE are accented 16th notes to drive it home to a held BRAVE.

ps. I understand that currently in 2020 there are folks that want to replace the national anthem  with John Lennon’s song for peace, ‘Imagine.  Well that’s another can of worms to leave unopened.  In this day and age it’s against political correctness to say you should stand proudly to salute a flag that so many have died for while singing this song.  Whoops, now the worms are out of that can!  I have written a couple of anthems about the flag myself:  Have a listen here:

 

https://youtu.be/yY6F0F45yKA FABRIC OF AMERICA

https://youtu.be/Tzaz-iRV0yY             I’LL STAND UP FOR YOU

Other Websites for John Bennett:

https://www.reverbnation.com/507197

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB8kZ_1SeK4wsNtEoYwlEzCbGVt0XA6ny

https://soundcloud.com/storehousepro

https://www.facebook.com/storehousepro/

SONGWRITERS ANNONYMOUS

Hi I’m John, and I’m a songwriter.  Whew, that’s a hard this to say.  It took me a long time to admit to anyone much less than to a meeting like this, but I AM a songwriter.  I’m really glad to be here at Songwriters Anonymous.  I’ve been coming here for a while now and I finally got the courage to come up here.  There is really a sense of belonging here to find support in a safe environment and know there are others who have the same problem as I do with this crippling disease of songwriting.  For many years I was in denial about my problem.  I was enslaved by my addiction keeping myself isolated and hoping no one would find out about my terrible secret.  I would stay up for long hours in the evening trying to get that initial rush that get when you finish a song.  I couldn’t wait to get started on my next one, and the next one after that.  Sometime I would have several songs going on at one time.  I would walk around all day in a daze looking for deeper meanings on everything I saw or heard, waiting for that perfect title or getting hooked on a melody that keep repeating in my head.  Songs would pop into my head all day and I would constantly be writing in my little notebook, compulsively jotting down ideas.  I can’t tell you how many songs I have finished.  I have them stashed all around the house, in my car, at the office, uh, here right now in my pocket.  Eventually everything took on the meaning of a song.  I couldn’t distinguish between the song and reality.  It was taking a toll on my health, my marriage, my family, job and my friends.  I was losing sleep because of dreaming songs.  I would hear beautiful music in my dreams and wake up and rush to my recorder and try to capture what I heard. I would wake up the next morning and listen to what I had recorded and it seemed like I was in a stupor and it did not make any sense.  Somehow I had lost the initial beauty of it. 

I think back to how it all started as a teenager in high school.   I started out by reading poetry books out back by the dumpster.  But then I graduated into music and I started listening to likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Jim Morrison [all addicts like me] and then it happened;  A friend of mine left a guitar at my house overnight.   When I picked it up it gave me a sense of power like I never felt before.   There’s nothing like the feeling when you play your first Am chord and then it happened; I started putting words in the form of lyrics to that chord.   I was repulsed at first, but as I grew to like the taste of putting words to music the songs became easier to swallow.  Eventually my habit grew until I was doing 3 songs a day.  I was happy to spend long weekends alone with just a pencil and paper and tape recorder.  I put all the songs into a notebook that just got thicker and thicker everyday.   I knew about other addicts like Paul Simon, Neil Young, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell who like me had thick books of songs too.  I wanted to be just like them.  I took my songs to local coffeehouses and sang them to unsuspecting audiences.  Eventually I was spending a lot of money recording my songs and demoing them, joining websites, songwriting organizations, and entering contests.  I'm talking thousands of dollars here.  Putting songwriting above everything else.  Fame addiction was now taking over.  My creations had to be heard by the whole world!  Some people used my addiction to get more money from me.  They understood this desire towards fame.

Finally I had to admit to my problem and that I was out of control.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m powerless over this self-destructive behavior; with the help of the program and God someday I will be free to live a normal sane life.  Ok, sometimes I still have relapses and slip but now I can see a ray of hope and with all of you here and the program’s help I know that one day I can break out of this cycle of addiction and continue to walk along this road to recovery.  Thank you.