andrew dodson

Who: The Point Community Church
What: Praise in the Park
When: Sunday, August 5th, 2007 @ 4:00 p.m.
Where: Lakeview Park

Who: The Josh Martin Band
What: Live in Concert
When: Sunday, July 1st @ 5:00 p.m.
Where: Leesburg Christian Church | directions

Desiring God has truly gone crazy.  At least, that’s what John Piper thinks.  Dr. Piper proves he has a humorous side in his latest post on the Desiring God blog.  Starting tomorrow, and lasting until Thursday, you can order any of their books for $5 each.  If you haven’t started your Piper book collection, or need to start, this would be a good time.

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Howdy folks.  I’ve received a couple of comments regarding the layout of this site.  Seems that Internet Explorer users are experience a large amount of “white space” between the header and the start of my blog posts.  This is just a temporary design, so I haven’t been worried too much about the look of it across different browsers.  However, I’m working on a new design currently that should be ready very soon.  I’m also in the middle of rolling out a few other web projects right now.  I’m excited about a new photo gallery tool that I’ve come across and will be implementing on each of my sites.  It’s extremely easy to use, so I’m sure I’ll be plugging it for my other web design & blog friends.  Here’s a list of my current projects:

• Redesigning this site
• Lexington Brass Band - new site design for 2007-08 season
• Saxton’s Cornet Band - we’re working to resolve domain name/host issues that we’ve been having for quite a long time.  I’m not really “in charge” of this site - just the design - so it’s up to someone else to resolve the host issues.  But, I have a new design ready to roll once we’re good to go.
• CLS General Store - CLS is working to gain more business customers by offering to sell apparel online to their employees.  This solution has worked very well for a local bank over the last year, and we’re adding another half dozen business customers in the near future.  This will be up-and-running in the coming week.
• Willie Ray - a site for a personal trainer from Lexington.  One cool dude, and someone I hope to stay on the good side of - he’s strong.
• Master’s Church - a friend’s church in Lexington that has contacted me about possibly doing a new website (at the least, a new site design)

So… to my IE visitors - please be patient until I can roll out my new design.  Or… you could jump on board and start using Firefox. 

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My study of I Thessalonians is wrapping up this weekend. While reading this book daily, two particular passages have caught my attention. Wouldn’t it be great to hear this about our churches?

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (Listen)

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8 (Listen)

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

Next, Paul tells us twice that it is God who sanctifies us. How refreshing to know that as long as we allow God to work in our lives, He’ll draw us closer to him. Our sanctification isn’t based on our works, but our desire to allow God to work through us. In fact, have you ever wanted to know the will of God? Paul answers this question in two words - our sanctification (4:3a).

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (Listen)

12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (Listen)

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

We’re told to respect our pastors, elders, leaders & teachers. Be of encouragement to those that may be weaker in the faith, or lack faith completely. Pray continuously and practice discernment:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (Listen)

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

I thank God for the opportunity to learn and grow from His Word.  Just as James tells us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you,” (4:8), I’ve felt extremely close to God in the past thirty days by drawing near to Him daily in my study of Thessalonians.  I encourage all of you to find a way of studying the Bible that works for you and do it.  Do it every day.  You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Thirteen years ago, my mother and I walked into a tiny store on Southland Drive in Lexington - The Drum Center of Lexington.  I had just started high school and wanted to learn to play a drum set so that I could join the high school jazz band.  On this day, I only expected us to be “looking.”  I was quite surprised when my mom told me she’d buy me a set that day.  The owner of the shop, Kevin Toole was more than helpful.  He was great.  I left that day with my very first drum set - a black Mapex Venus series that I still own and use today.

That day prompted me to start buying most of my percussion equipment from Kevin.  He was tremendously friendly and I often wondered how he stayed in business - his prices were great.  It took me a while to figure out that he was more into the business for the love of it than to make a buck.  Over the last few years, I’ve been ordering more of my equipment by way of the internet, so I hadn’t seen Kevin in a good while - unfortunately.  Isn’t it sad when we prefer convenience over relationships?  After all, gas is expensive these days.  So, we pay shipping instead of maintaining good relationships.

I heard several weeks ago that Kevin had developed cancer.  This past week, Kevin finally lost his battle and passed away.  On a local message board, one person said, “The world just lost an amazing person. I don’t know if I believe in
heaven or any of that, but i’d like to think he’s hanging out drinking
a beer with Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, John Bonham, Tony Williams, and all
of the other drum greats that aren’t with us anymore.”

There’s a memorial concert this Friday at UK’s Memorial Hall.  I’m not sure if I’ll attend, but you can find the info here.  God Bless Kevin and his family.

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The Cedarmore portion of the recording is sounding a LOT better than our first attempt.  I took some time yesterday to change the heads on the drummer’s bass drum.  I also took over a different snare drum and set of hi-hats.  I know I’m a drummer and all, and I try not to be too partial, but good drum sounds can make or break a recording.  I should’ve mentioned that in my previous post, but I figured it related to the “Good Gear” portion of that post.  It’s not necessarily the drummer’s fault that the drums didn’t sound good.  They belong to his school, so he wasn’t sure how much he could do to them without permission.  But, now, he’s sounding good.

I didn’t get anything too useful last night, but it gave me a chance to hear the new drum sound, which improved the quality or the overall recording greatly.  Thursday night will be the “make or break” night to see if we can get any usable songs from their band.  I will be recording their evening worship, and they will once again have a late night “concert” to get more material recorded.  Our only obstacle at this point is the lead singer’s head cold.  Several people prayed over him last night, and he actually sounded pretty good by the time worship started - by the grace of God.  He had a little trouble hitting the high notes, but he did a good job of covering it up (backing off the mic, etc.).  Hopefully he’ll be feeling better by Thursday.

More to come…

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I’m about 98% done with the Jonathan Creek mix.  So far, I’m ahead of schedule.  My goal was to have something by Monday, but it looks like I’ll be done by tomorrow (Sunday).  I’ll spend another two or three days next week recording at Cedarmore again, and hopefully will get some usable stuff from their band.

The main problem with the last Cedarmore recording stemmed from poor mic placement on the drums, and only around 200 people in attendance.  This week, Cedarmore has 400, so that will make a huge difference in being able to hear the crowd singing.  J-Creek had around 500 this past week.  The performances should also be better, as the band has now had another week of playing together under their belts.

Here’s what makes mixing a live recording a bit easier (in case you’re wondering):

• Good musicians.  A lot of bands think they can crank out a live album, only to find even the best of mix engineers can’t make ‘em sound like pros.  Knowing the songs and playing them well is a must!  This seems to be a fairly obvious point, but plenty of bands have attempted live recordings only to find they’re not quite good enough yet.  “New” bands (even if they’re good musicians) fall into this trap too.  They don’t have enough chemistry or familiarity of the songs yet to be able to pull off a live recording.
• Good vocalists.  I separate singers from the instrumentalists solely based on the fact that if you can’t sing well, not too many people will enjoy listening to a live recording.  Being able to hit the notes in pitch consistently is a must.  Yes, there’s always the possibility of over-dubbing or using an auto-tune plugin, but where’s the fun in that?  People are more willing to forgive a few band mistakes in a live recording than they are for a vocalist who doesn’t stay on pitch well.  This goes for backup vocalists as well.  If the harmonies aren’t on pitch, it’s not pleasant.
• Good gear.  You don’t have to have a $4000 drum set or $2000 guitar to sound great live, but you have to at least know how to make your gear sound good.  This is usually an issue with drummers who don’t know how to tune their drums well (I’ve been there, trust me!).  But, this issue also comes up with guitarists who have poor tone because of their gear, or just poor tone selection from song-to-song.
• Good crowd.  One of the big differences between the J-Creek and first Cedarmore recording is about 300 more people at J-Creek.  Since it’s a worship album, you want to hear the crowd singing, and that was an issue at Cedarmore.  But, in general, a big, energetic crowd helps the listener get the feel of the concert.
• Good room.  Another difference between J-Creek and Cedarmore is the size of the worship centers.  Cedarmore’s has a pretty small stage, low ceilings and is fairly small (more of a “club” setting).  J-Creek is a big, wide-open room with plenty of room for the sound to fill up the room.  The instruments (particularly the drums) have more room to “breathe.”

Just my $0.02.

Day #1 of recording here at Jonathan Creek has wrapped up.  Bert and myself and now getting settled in at our room at the Kenlake State Park lodge.  The recording from J-Creek is turning out REALLY well.  I mean… it’s gonna be good.  Really good.  So much so, we’re probably going to re-record some stuff at Cedarmore next week.  There’s a pretty significant difference in the sonic quality of both recordings, so we’re going to attempt to get the same quality at Cedarmore that we’re getting at J-Creek. 

I’m really excited about the rest of week and what God has in store.  I’ve already heard several amazing reports of what God has done already here at J-Creek.  My former church’s youth group is here this week and they have experienced five salvations this week.  Praise God!  Just further proof that Christians can “agree to disagree” and still glorify God in their own ways.  Just like Paul and Barnabas separating for the sake of the gospel (

Acts 15 (Listen)

15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

).

Keep the ministry efforts here in your prayers.  Also, the band, tech crew and myself, but more importantly that people will come to know Christ.

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This my last day of work at CLS for the week.  Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Jonathan Creek to record their praise band.  I’ll be back on Friday.  While I’ll be “working” at J-Creek, there’ll be a lot of downtime.  Some of the downtime will be spent getting a jump start on mixing the J-Creek portion of the recording.  Some of the downtime, I’ll actually be doing some work for CLS, remotely.  The rest of the downtime, I hope to be kicked back reading a book or something of the like.

I’m attempting to get everything squared away today, so that my absence from CLS for the next three days won’t be noticed as much.   I’m getting all the art ready, getting orders written up, invoices sent out, etc.  But, it’s difficult when our internet is down!  It seems we had a billing glitch with our service provider, so they shut off our internet.  We’ve been told it will be 72 hours before we’re back up-and-running.  Needless to say, we’re heavily considering making a quick switch of providers.  Not good business on our current provider’s end.

Through all of this, however, I can highly recommend Sprint’s mobile broadband service.  We’re using a laptop with one of their USB cards to get by in the mean time.  It’s very close to broadband speed, and has helped us keep up around here.  My boss’s comment:  “It’s good that it finally came in handy that I also own a cell phone store.”  Yes, that it is.  The only catch to the broadband cards is they only work on Windows PC’s.  Bummer.  Otherwise, I’ve been impressed with its performance.

So, the next time you hear from me, I’ll be blogging from J-Creek.