My dad, his fisherman friend, and my brother

What to get for my dad?  My dad has very simple tastes.  He seems to get just as excited over a Starbucks card and bags of goldfish crackers as getting a nice tie.  In my family we always emphasized being cost effective.  If we got a bargain on something, we could actually tell the receiver and they would in turn rejoice at our finding.

Unfortunately not everyone these days has a father to get a gift for.  They call this the fatherless generation.Donald Miller’s writing really comes down to this.  Through the books you can trace the journey of a disheartened young man who grew up without a father to a breakthrough when he finally met his real dad after many years and then started his own mentorship program.  If you haven’t read ‘em check it it out.

Back in the 90s there was a new emphasis on the Father’s heart in the worship.  For some reason I’d thought of Jesus as the loving God, but God the Father as the wrathful God in the Old Testament.  I suppose some might compare God the Father to Gibbs on NCIS.  Man’s man.  Firm at times, but passionate loyal, and loves his crew like his own kids.

The verses on adoption took a while to sink in.  I like the “Abba” view of God.  Some get into this whole “Daddy” thing where they’re all jumping on Daddy’s lap or whatever.  That doesn’t really appeal to me.  I view God seeing me as a man after His heart, and He’s rooting for me.  He’s worked patiently with my issues in the past and now He’s cheering me on as I go for the unique purpose He put within me.

The Call to Relationship

Grandpa and Dad visiting Grandma's gravesite

At work today we have a father and daughter that happened to be working the same area today.  The dad would purposely do embarrassing things like dance.  The daughter would in turn roll her eyes, and say “C’mon, Dad…”, then start laughing.  Hilarious, I guess you’d have to be there…

Being without fathers has left a hole for many.    If you have no reference for manhood in the appropriate spiritual context, how do you teach it and live it out?

I’m not a big fan of tight jeans and peachy shirts for guys, but rather than getting on people’s case over an apparel issue, let’s get back to the relationship issue.

These days everyone’s talking about Rob Bell and his recent weird views.  Some think he’s great, some are mad.  Even when I read a lot of emerging church discussion a few years ago I didn’t care much for Rob Bell.  I didn’t get it.  Why’s everyone so excited about this guy?  And why did people trust some guy they didn’t know?  Personally I’d rather spend my attention elsewhere.

So now people are angry about the issue of homosexuality.  The sermon last Sunday was about how these issues of belief come down to relationship.  You get your relationship with God right, and the beliefs fall into place.

Many gays struggle with identity, because of fatherhood issues.  Instead of casting stones, the church needs to see this.  We see the styles, politics, weird ideas and immoral acts.  God sees the broken ones who were abused when they were young as well as those that have just rebelled with less excuse.  Draw lines in the sand of where you stand on an issue, while loving and restoring people at the same time.

Take a Stand

The grace of a father is so needed today.  God knows the hearts of all those living in Portland from the sinners to the saints.  Yes, He could judge the city at any time, but I think He wants to extend His mercy for now, and moves in us to pray for the city.

How do we show the Father’s heart in our churches today?  I could say the generic stuff we already know, love everyone, give grace, pray hard, which is definitely true.  But really it comes down to relationship with our spiritual Father first, which comes through spending time in His Word and prayer.  Let HIM show us how to love and accept people beyond what we could ever do in ourselves, and He will show us how to deal with the issues.

Seems like I start writing and then someone disturbs me with this or that.  I get irritated, because I’m finally about to get into flow.  For a writer, distractions can be like driving a convertible top-down on a sunny day, wind blowing, music blaring…only to hit another red light.  Your inspirational moment collides with another moment.

There’s a lot of great teaching on productivity and making the most of yourself.  We need it, when we come up with rationalizations not to do our purpose.  You know how it is, when you know you need to exercise or pray or work on an assignment and you rationalize resistance with, “I’m tired.”

But I’ve noticed one thing, no matter how disciplined you are, relationships do not fit with your plan.  I’ve remember times in the past when I’d planned to approach a girl and bombed it, then other times an unexpected connection was made, but didn’t grab ahold of it, when it didn’t fit my plan.

Learning from John Maxwell Rhymes

Pastors seem to love John Maxwellisms like “Teamwork makes a dream work.”  Ever noticed those people on Twitter who make no attempt to make relationships?  (Ahem…corporate attempts)  You somehow connect, but no “Nice to meet you.”   Just an automated message saying, “Like my Facebook page too!”  Dude, I barely know you.  I’m not quite ready to be Facebook friends just yet.   “Buy my stuff”, “Read my blog”, “I’m coming to your area!”.  When you never truly listen or connect with others, that’s not how you make a dream work.

In my dad’s tax appeal business, he wanted to support his main client by going to one of his get-togethers.  He didn’t go to make a sale or be the “networking guy”, but while there happened to meet up with one of the major property owners of the city who later became a client.  It was one of those moments where God just happens to set us up with the right people at the right time.

Recently I just ended up having a couple great new guitar students, when I woke up from my own sleeptime after work and took a call.  Social situations are more like freestyling jazz music than strict notes on a page.  Naturally the more you practice an instrument, the better you’ll be.  But I’ve also found that if a creative moment happens in your practice time, it might be time to throw away the plan and write your greatest song ever.

Interruptions or Opportunities?  You decide.

Allow people into your life.  Yes, there are times you’ll need to say “no” to others in order to get anything done.  Turn off the email, and especially the social media and work.  I know writers with kids who have to set aside “undisturbed” times.  Other times you just need to go with the moment.  After all it is people who make your dreams happen.

Let God give you those rare interruptions with His presence.  You know when prayer seems so dry for weeks at a time, then we see a sunset, or truth is found in a conversation, or maybe even see a movie and God suddenly reveals Himself to us.  We have a choice.  Go with your plan or seek Him while He may be found.

Embrace the moments of relationship.  It’s worth it.

We all have things we need to get done.  How do you deal with the social tug-of-war?

I can’t remember exactly where I met Autumn Dawn Leader, perhaps in a random Twitter encounter, but I enjoyed the music when I took the time for a listen.  Autumn is an indie songwriter who is also a worship leader.

Autumn grew up in the US, but now lives in UK with her British photographer husband.  She once sang with “The Chairs”, but has sung on her own the last five years.  Last year she released her album, “Gloriously Autumnal” and recently released a new single, “Waterfall.”  Her story is found on her site: www.autumndawnleader.com.

So in linking up with other’s dreams like I mentioned in my last post, I reached out to interview Autumn.  She has a great story and brings a lot of really great insight into the creative process.  So here it goes.  Take a listen to her music when you get a chance.

So is your name really Autumn Dawn Leader? That’s too good of a worship leader name so I don’t believe you.  :-) Is there a story behind this?

Well, Josh. I hate to disappoint you but Autumn Dawn Leader is my really real name. The Autumn Dawn part is thanks to my mother who named me – back before the name “Autumn” became popular – because Autumn is her favourite time of year and dawn is her favourite time of day. The “Leader” bit is thanks to the lovely Englishman I married – it’s his surname. I’d like to take credit for making it all up, but it is, indeed, my given name.

How did you get started in music and what brought you to this point?

My beginning in music started at a very early age. My mother, who had a secular music career as well as being the Minister of Music at her church, latched on to the talent God gave me and often used me in her various concerts and shows, as well as at church events. After all, a little bitty girl who can belt out a song with a strong contralto voice, like a grown woman, is a novelty that can be quite entertaining and moving. I sang in concert for the first time when I was the tender age of 4. I never looked back. It was all I ever wanted to do.

Until the age of 16, I was more than content to sing other people’s songs. Then I went to a worship conference that changed the direction of my life and music forever. At that time I was bitten by the songwriting bug and felt called to lead worship. Now I was going to have to begin to take playing an instrument seriously instead of depending on others to accompany me. I left that worship conference and went straight to the piano my mother and grandmother had tried for years to teach me, and I got down to business with it. It wasn’t long before I’d written my first song – a worship song I still use on occasion – called “This Is Where I Want To Be”. It was slow going at first, but others followed that first song, in a sort of trickle.

During this time I was involved with praise and worship in church. I kept writing and I sang anywhere and everywhere there was an opportunity.

I had some turbulent years then; I got married to the wrong person (because I was impatient…patience, it’s still something I struggle with) and had two children. God still used me in music and to lead worship during these years. But, without getting far too lengthy, this is where a very dark time in my life began. God delivered me, but it was quite a process to get me to where I am today: in England, re-married to a wonderful man, singing (performing solo and with my band), writing more songs than ever before and leading worship on a regular basis. God is so good and so faithful.

I see you have a new single, “Waterfall.” Supremely dark and disturbed, which for some reason makes it fun to listen to. Do you feel having an honest outlet for themes like depression can be positive if approached the right way? Some of the sadder Psalms come to mind.

I find great inspiration and comfort in the Psalms. They are so raw and real. They are the stuff of the heart and some of that heart-stuff just isn’t pretty, is it? “Waterfall” is about my own struggle with depression. I agree, it is very dark and disturbing. Depression is just that: very dark and very disturbing. I do like being able to have a creative and positive outlet for that. Isn’t it just like God to take something so painful and make something beautiful out of it?

What’s the story behind the lyrics of Bottle?

Ah, “Bottle”. This is probably my favourite of all my songs. Funnily enough, I wrote it in all of about 10 minutes.  I was at musicians’ practice at church one Thursday night when one of our other worship leaders thought it would be fun to have a quick songwriting challenge. We would each be given a word and 30 minutes to write a song about that word.  I was given the word “Bottle”.  Now I generally don’t do anything well under pressure.  However, the words and music to “Bottle” just poured out of me.  In ten minutes it was finished. When I perform it now in a gig, I almost always tell the story behind it. The first few lines led me to believe the song was going to be funny…and then it began to take an “Autumn-shape”. “Bottle” is about life, dreams, and most of all, regret.

Can you tell us something about your songwriting process?

I tend to get lyrics and music simultaneously. Inspiration can hit at the strangest (and sometimes most inconvenient) times – I have learned to keep a notebook and pen handy. Modern technology makes it easier if I am out and about when I get hit with inspiration; I can hum the melody into my phone. I prefer it when I can easily get to my piano when an idea strikes me. Then I can sit and play and sing as it comes to me and jot down both lyrics and music, letting it all unfold naturally.

A lot of my worship music comes out of my own personal quiet times and, as I have mentioned, Psalms, and Scripture in general can be a big source of inspiration.

Two very different song stories come to mind:

1. I was sitting outside in my back garden, in the middle of solving a sudoku puzzle, in the beginning days of Summer turning to Autumn. It’s a glorious time of year in England. Very heady, very passionate. I love it. There I was, when the words and tune to “Gloriously Autumnal” came to me. I scribbled them in the margins of my puzzle book and then went inside to the piano to allow the song to fully come into being.
2. During a recent time of worship I sat at the piano to play and sing to the Lord.  I had been thinking about the story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10, and thinking how I want to choose that good part, just like Mary did. Out of that time of worship and meditation came my latest song “Just Like Mary Did”, where the words just flowed as a prayer. There was a bit of musical tweaking to get all parts of this heart-cry to flow together, but it mostly came to me “intact”.

I rarely write with other people, however, one of my most popular songs (I get this one requested more than any other) I wrote with my husband Jamie. He wrote the lyrics (as a poem which, as soon as I had read it, I knew had to be sung) and I wrote the music to “Journey’s End.” As I say, I get asked for this song probably more than any other.

Do you have any creativity tips to share with the rest of us songwriters, writers, or artists?

I used to sweat dry periods where I’d go for weeks or months on end without writing anything. But now I’ve come to realise there are seasons where the creativity is inescapable: everywhere I turn there’s a song to be written, and then there are seasons of rest. I have begun to look at the “dry” times as times of rest rather than times of fruitlessness. The best thing we can do during those times is to listen and look at artists we admire – those who minister and speak to us. Take time to feed and refuel.  Don’t push what isn’t there.  If I take a step back and go do something else, I find that sooner or later (sometimes much later), I can come back and produce something. But if I push it, it’s just not going to work. Be willing to let a bad idea go.

@songmistress Yeah, definitely.Keep at it Autumn.You have a great gift to share with the world.

— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorSongs) May 5, 2013

Who are your musical or artistic influences?

My mother was the first to influence me, and her approach to music still does steer my own approach very much. My singing style has always been both distinctive and very unique to me as well as being versatile (in other words, I’ve never tried to sound like anyone else). My writing has evolved. Although I still sing in a range of different styles, I tend to write a lot of what would be classified mostly as folk and, thus, artists like James Taylor, Carole King and the late Sandy Denny have influenced me. The good friends and excellent musicians I am blessed to play with now – Rebecca Reedman and Bob Breeze – have also been great influences. They have made me a better musician, and I can’t thank them enough for both that and, most of all, their enduring friendship.

When you lead worship, do you use your original songs, more well-known worship songs or hymns, or a combination of both?

A great many of the Christian songs I have written (with the exception of a very few) have “congregationally unfriendly” vocal ranges and, therefore, lend themselves more to being done as solos. But, there are times, if the Spirit leads, when I will pull out one of the more simple of my worship songs and add it in. Most of the time it’s a mix of the contemporary, the classic choruses and hymns. If it has an anointing on it, it’s good to go!

Do you know of any other great independent artists we should check out?

Take a look and listen to my friend Ellen Lockwood: talented, anointed singer/songwriter, worship leader and preacher.

Keep believing. Sometimes that’s really hard. When no one seems interested in what you have to offer and people are ignoring your work in droves, it can be very disheartening. But, be faithful in the small things. Always give your all whether you are performing for 20 or 20,000 and, even if you are only going to sing to 20, prepare like you were going to be singing to the 20,000. And, get people around you who believe in you. Try to limit your time with the scoffers, because all they’ll do is bring you down more. If you know you have a gift, give thanks and keep taking it to God, and allow Him to show you the direction He has for you to go with it. He is faithful.

“Nothing like real books over tech. The feel of opening the book, turning the pages without the worry of expensive equipment being hauled around. And of course there’s the real scent of the paper which bring to mind adventure and other worlds, awesome info, or whatever else the book brings to mind. Yes, it’s true, people still buy, read and enjoy real books. -Josh’s lesson for the day. Amen. “

Recently I finally broke down.  I bought a Kindle E-reader.  This device reads in the dark, has a dictionary feature to easily increase my vocab, gives me access to a ton of free classics, and gives good deals on newer books.  Reading is becoming a joy for me and I can’t wait to dive in for more.  A distraction that improves my life, as I’m devouring books as much as possible so I can learn what I need to.

So I changed my tune a bit.  I’ll still rummage for used books, but you see my point. My life has improved for the better by embracing innovation rather than pushing it away, just because it’s different.

The Difficulty of Change

Things people said:

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

In the last chapter of “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs”, Carmine Gallo calls innovators to really go for it.

It’s very difficult for most people to embrace the unknown, yet the unknown is a world in which innovators feel the most at home. -Carmine Gallo

When dealing with the stress of life, it’s hard to embrace change even if it’s for the better.  When people just want repair their car, heal their broken marriage, or find a job, they’re not always interested in your latest and greatest gadget, song, book, or idea.

In stressful times people need stability.  Brand names represent that stability and trust.  That’s why Starbucks shops are busy when so many other great coffeeshops and restaurants struggle for business.  I used to hate this, but now I’m understanding a bit more.

New ideas often take time for the world to embrace.  Maybe you’ve written a great song others just aren’t embracing yet or maybe the song still needs work.  I don’t know what to tell you on that.  Bach was prominent in his lifetime, but became world famous after he was discovered by Mendelssohn 73 years later.  Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime.  All I know is you have to find ways to help the world, not fight against it, just because it doesn’t understand your dreams just yet.

As cliche as Steve Jobs references are becoming these days, I still have to mention one more nugget I took from that book by Carmine Gallo. Apple showed how their products could help others in their dreams.  Mac users are often creative types.  They understand this and swear by it.

My Own Creative Journey

In the book I’m reading right now, Entreleadership, Dave Ramsey gives this great quote:

I think there is something more important than believing: Action!  The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision. -W. Clement Stone

As far as my album, it’s mastered.  The music is done.  The CD still is not released in physical form, but the tracks themselves are ready.  After much thought, I’ve decided to release them for download.  I’ll promote one track each month to give away for free and the rest can be downloaded for an email address.

Why am I doing this?  As a not so well-known independent artist, I can’t yet compete with Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift.  It’s been suggested to keep giving till something sticks.  Part of the process of pursuing dreams God’s way is that He often asks us to let go of our own dreams.

I’ll also be trying to include other people in that dream.  Helping other indies, writers, and small businesses realize their dreams is part of the process.

This blog chronicles the last year of my journey. Since the first blog post when I launched Uncharted Streams, life has taught me so much.

Through this journey I’ve realized that music is just one part in the grand scheme.  Music is just a current representation of my creative nature and message.  No, it’s definitely not done, but as I pursue business, marketing and technology, somehow it will all fall together.

Your Unfulfilled Vision

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs speaking to graduates of Stanford University.

If you’re a creative of some sort and your dream hasn’t been realized, all I can say is keep giving that dream to God.  He put those dreams in your heart for a reason.  He has a grander purpose than you would’ve ever imagined doing things your way in your little world.

Keep at it!  Like running a marathon, push through the fatigue.  Let God help you up when you fail.  Push through the brokenness, the failures, the false pretense of safety.  Now run for the prize!

Brennan Manning used so many ways of describing God’s grace with the gift of words.  He brought a new way of thinking to the church, well, not new, but new for some that grew up in the church.

It’s not so much that church has too many rules, but it’s so easy get used to keeping score when you try to do the right thing.  Not like an obvious inquisition, but more an under-the-surface type of thing. Why else do we put on the church mask on Sunday, especially if we’re in leadership?

The problem is when we keep score, no matter how good we get, we always lose eventually and grace is the only thing keeps us in relationship with God, whether we’re “mature leaders” or struggling addicts.

If you want a book that truly help your relationship with God, check out Ragamuffin Gospel, The Furious Love of God, or any other book he’s written.

Brennan Manning.  A life with meaning.  I can’t thank God enough for that message.

As for the bombing, pray for our nation, guys.  There’s no greater time than now.

A long time ago, before even I was born was the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. The crowd awaited Bob Dylan’s usual appearance as the roadies started setting up equipment. But something was wrong…wait a minute…guitar amps? Drums?!!

Wasn’t this the darling of true folkies who followed the footsteps of Woody Guthrie? Dylan eventually appeared with a full-fledged rock band to amplify his message loud and clear. Some clapped and some booed, but it made music history.

Bob Dylan refused to be categorized or plastered to a mold. He had a message to bring to the world, and he would use whatever method, whatever style he had to play to bring it.

To read more visit Puttylike.com.