Did you hear?

Sunday really moved many into the next step...serving others in love...some have called to get information to put out in their communities, some have decided that they would like, to give to more school supplies to the local families in need here in Fauquier County...some have decided to help with the Christmas Kids Program...some have decided that coming for one Sunday service and handing out bulletins would bless someone...some have decided to have yard sales and will be donating the proceeds to the Building Community Fund...WOW...MANY ARE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX ...MANY SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES...Some need help to see where they fit ...sign up for a two day class: LibertyLife 301 which will be on September 22nd and September 30th right here at LCC beginning at 6pm.

This is cool stuff...So far 11 people have taken the step and signed up for the Liberty Life 101 class which is led by Pastor Wes...This class offers the biblical foundation of why Liberty Community Church is in this community and how we fit in to the vision to reach the 12,000. August 28th at 6pm down in KIDSZONE. Signup in front foyer this Sunday!

Would you be interested in working with a FEW GOOD MEN to form a group...to go to football games, bible studies, dinner...email us and let us know...lauren@lccbealeton.com

BRING A GUEST...Superintendent Larry Hickey is VISITING LCC this Sunday...he is not a humm drumm speaker...be prepared for an awesome time...9am;10:30am & 12noon

We are so excited about the PET BLESSING...we even have people bringing snakes and birds...WOW...that will be advertised as Sunday, October 5th at 12noon...YEP...all pets will be welcome inside the building! Want more info to participate or donate...contact Amy at Email:noahs-ark@comcast.net

October is Pastor Appreciation Month...got any great ideas? Want to help? Contact lauren@lccbealeton.com
NOW A SPECIAL INSIDE SCOOP from Worship Leader: Bryant Osborn (he rocks the stage come see this Sunday)
Pastor Wes has a saying that he uses all the time:

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

What this means is that the thoughts rolling around in our heads are vague, abstract and fragmented. These thoughts won't ever become complete thoughts and concrete ideas unless we either speak them out loud, or write them down.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

This is why Pastor Wes keeps encouraging everyone to write in a prayer journal.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

There is a famous book titled "What Color is Your Parachute", which is the definitive book on job searches and career changes. Part III of the book is all about how to figure out what you want to do. There is a famous exercise named the "flower exercise" that is basically to write down ten answers to the question, "Who am I", and then sift thru your answers to create a summary that fits in the shape of a flower (hence, the name of the exercise).

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.
I was at a workshop one time given the Paul Baloche, and he said, "songwriting is nothing more that praying with a guitar in your hand." I would change that a bit to say that songwriting is nothing more that setting you prayer journals to music. Same idea.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

Being a creative activity, the songwriting process can be helped along by input and suggestions from others. This means that songwriting can be a social activity. Songwriting groups are common in Nashville. Perhaps the most famous Nashville songwriting group is the Muzik Mafia (website www.muzikmafia.com). This is the songwriting group that launched the careers of Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, John Anderson (the country singer, not the lead singer of 'Yes'), and many others.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

The Muzik Mafia songwriters get together to study songwriting and work on each others songs. Most of you know this by now, but the song that launched Gretchen Wilson's career, "Redneck Woman", was not written by Gretchen. It was written for Gretchen by John Rich (of Big & Rich). You get the idea of how this works? (BTW, the other half of Big & Rich, "Big Kenny" Alphin, is from Culpeper.)

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.

The Muzik Mafia also performs together at local Nashville pubs every week, so they get an opportunity to play their music in front of live audiences. There are a lot of venues, like coffee shops, that love to host things like songwriter's showcases. And of course, LCC has the quarterly Night of Worship evenings.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.
Most of the LCC people I have talked to have said week nights are bad for them. So I'm thinking about having a songwriter's group that meets maybe once a month on either Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening. The way this would work is we would spend 15 or 20 minutes talking about the elements of good songwriting, and then we would work on each other's songs. It would also be a open jam for anyone who just wants to come and hang out. Each person who has a song to work on, would bring six or 8 copies of their song, and we would work on them as a group.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.
Songwriting is much more than just an occasional activity. It really is a different way of looking at the world and life. I once heard someone call songwriting the worlds only therapeutic addiction. Once you start doing it, you might be surprised how often you catch yourself saying, "that would be a great hook for a song." And, of course, the trick is to capture those thoughts so you don't forget them. And songwriting is a great way to discover what is really behind all those vague, abstract and fragmented thoughts rolling around in your head. I'm currently working on a song titled "Empty Chair" that was sparked by something Pastor Wes said in one of his sermons. (Hint: I've just given you an idea about a rich source of ideas.) You never know where ideas will come from.

Songwriting is really just like anything else that is worthwhile: if you want to get good at it, there are elements that you need to practice, practice, practice. Songwriting groups help you practice and develop those elements.

And I would like to leave you with one final thought:

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass thru the lips and fingertips.
Let me know if you are interested.

In Christ,
Bryant