More Holiday Announcements – and Some Freebees

Last week I made an announcement that was “time sensitive,” as Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

(2.) And as Christmas is coming shortly after …

We are finishing up the audiobook version of my book Vision, the second book in my trilogy, Awakening. This has taken longer than the first book, Counselor, because, as some of you know, we are adding music to the Christmas portion of the book, which takes place against the backdrop of a Christmas Eve performance of Handel’s Messiah, and the reading of the story without the music just didn’t sound right. Further complicating the project is the copyright law; the music is hundreds of years old, but most recordings of it are copyrighted and need permission and royalties paid if recorded less than 100 years ago. I obtained a recording from 1918 and borrowed an old record player. The antique could play a record at the necessary 78 RPMs but couldn’t connect to the sophisticated equipment that my recording engineer, Jeff, worked with. Jeff tried playing it with the mic at the speaker but was able to hear the motor in the background! He went ahead and recorded the track, and with its just playing in the background, I couldn’t hear the motor. So, for the time, we “settled.”

Audiobook Update (What’s Taken So Long)

I have since located another recording, and this time it’s not just Hallelujah, but also the four other songs that are part of the story. This record set is only about 65 years old; however, it has no copyright notice on the record, the box, or the literature that came with it, so we can legally use it! After all the hours Jeff had put into adding the old recording of Hallelujah to the mix, I was hesitant to ask him about including the other songs. But when we listened to the four songs on the like-new records, he got excited about adding them, too. He even suggested we redo Hallelujah – an idea I had thought of but wouldn’t have dared to say out loud.

So, the saga continues. We’re still hoping to get the audiobook released in time for Christmas listening. Although not all of the story takes place at Christmastime, the last few chapters, I hope, will get the listener into the spirit of Christmas – the miracle and glory of the Incarnation – as well as the peace of “letting God be God.” Handel’s heavenly music adds so much to the story – the vital, “divine perspective.” I’m grateful to be working with a believer, who shares my vision and (at least from what I see) doesn’t sigh and roll his eyes whenever I suggest one more thing to make it better that’s going to involve more work for him.

Meanwhile, if you would like to (re)read the Christmas Story portion of the book, for your quiet time or with loved ones, here are the links:

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story)

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 2

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 3

Mr. Walker’s Miracle, a Christmas Story, Part 4

Mr. Walker’s Miracle, a Christmas Story, Part 5

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 6

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Final Chapter and Epilogue

AND FINALLY …

(3.) If you’re involved in music at your church …

Last year, one of the surprising “firsts” for me was hearing the 700-or-so voices of my church singing song lyrics I had written! A few years ago, our choir director had made a passing remark about how much he loved the Advent song, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and wished there were more than two verses. The songwriter part of my mind declared, Challenge accepted! I went home and wrote two more verses.

Jesus’ “coming” has several meanings: His Incarnation (entering the world as one of us), His Resurrection (coming out of the grave), and the still “long expected” Second Coming.

The following verses are the ones I wrote. They are not copyrighted. I am OK with other churches singing them, in fact, I would be thrilled. So, please feel free to use them, or give them to your choir director or worship leader with my blessing. And please, let me know if you do and how it went. I would consider it a wonderful Christmas gift. ❤

Come, Thou whom the prophets promised,
Thou of whom the cantors sing.
Come, Immanuel, God, be with us,
Thou our Prophet, Priest and King.
Jesus, Thou art all perfection,
Thou, whose fellowship we crave;
Thou the Life and Resurrection,
Come redeem us from the grave.

Come, Thou King, receive Thy kingdom;
With the angels, split the skies!
Come with clouds and trumpet sounding,
Bid Thy slumb'ring children rise.
Gather in Thine arms so tender
Sinners saved through faith alone,
Through the gates of heav'nly splendor
Unto our eternal home.

Prayer: Lord, our calendars say there are busy times coming! No matter how full our schedules become, help us always to make You the center of our festivities – and our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.