Archive for October, 2009
Fike & Dana YouTube Video Contest!
Hey worship lovers!
Got video production skills? Are you a YouTube junkie?
Announcing the Fike & Dana YouTube Video Contest!
Pick your favorite song off one of the 3 F&D CDs, or from the 7 recordings (Baton Rouge Live) found here: CLICK HERE FOR SONGS
…and make a YouTube video inspired by the music! Try to stick to the themes of the songs, as you are creating your masterpiece.
Please title the video: Fike & Dana - Song Name or Fike & Dana - Song Name - Live in Baton Rouge (for the live recordings)
We will judge the videos on December 1, and the winner will receive 2 ROUND TRIP TICKETS from/to any major city in the continental US where Southwest offers service! The travel dates will need to be 6 to 12 weeks after the winner is announced.
Good luck, and have fun getting creative! Feel free to respond with questions.
Thanks!
2 commentsLet the wild Rumpus begin!
Last night, I watched a documentary on Maurice Sednak, acclaimed writer/illustrator of the beloved book, ‘Where the Wild Things are’. The film was enchanting to me.
You may not know this, but “Murray” Sednak is now 83 years old. He wrote & illustrated ‘wild things’ when he was a sprite 32 year-old man, having drawn and doodled his whole life, mostly as a hobby, but for some years prior to that breakout hit, he was contracted to illustrate other writers’ work. He had done this so many times, and yet, he was waiting for his moment to be discovered.
“Where the Wild Things Are” is my favorite children’s book of all time. I remember feeling feelings I’d never felt when my Mom first read it to me. The trailers for the Spike Jonze movie bring tears to my eyes, and I don’t know why. I cried again in watching a ‘making of’ piece about the movie when Mr. Jonze said, “I set out not to make a children’s movie, but to make a movie about childhood.” Wow.
But, as I was watching this documentary on Mr. Sednak, I couldn’t help but think about the parallel occurrences of this year. (This blog will serve as the announcement many of my friends and family have been waiting for…) For a VERY long time now, I have faithfully cultivated the gift the Lord gave me to communicate through music. Great friends of mine like Sean Mulholland, Ben Kennedy, Robbie Seay, and Jon Shirley have cheered me on along the way. Dana Fike has known since she met me (as she would say it) that some day, my songs would reach far beyond my ability to sell them. She has always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Much of what I have written will never see the light of day. But, every word , and every relationship, and every chord has contributed to the success we have experienced in this season of life.
Just this morning, I signed the contract between Integrity Publishing and myself to become a published writer with their illustrious company. The songs from our ‘Fike & Dana’ albums will now be given a broader audience. And, the songs the Lord births in me for the next 4 years will be granted higher scrutiny. I will be given the opportunity to co-write with some of my heroes in the field of songwriting. The Integrity stable of writers and leaders is unmatched. You don’t believe me, check out their roster…
The thing that was so evident to me in watching that documentary, though, was how terribly unsatisfied Mr. Sednak is and continues to be with the work he’s done. No accolade has gratified his hunger for success. No praise has been enough.
And, I find him to be a sad and lonely man.
Oh, that our hunger for accomplishment would never exceed our brokenness.
I am humbled and honored that God would use me to further His Kingdom. Let’s keep it real… that’s what life’s supposed to be about! And, I’m THRILLED at what has happened… the dream that’s kept me up nights has materialized into something real. This is nothing short of miraculous!!!
We just sang what I think is the finest worship song written in the last 10 years at vanguard on Sunday… Matt Redman’s ‘Blessed be your name’, and I hope I can live its ideals:
“EVERY BLESSING YOU POUR OUT, I’LL TURN BACK TO PRAISE”
Amen.
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and prayers. You have fanned into the flame the gifts the Lord deposited into my heart.
Mr. Sednak, if you should happen to google your name and find this blog posting, thank you for your work. Please know that the impact you’ve made on millions of lives is real, and that ain’t nothing. I pray that you would discover the very REAL love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and that you would open your heart to what He has to say to you…
So, this marks day one as an Integrity writer… LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!!!
Fike
6 comments
