I am still around, although I have been more involved behind the scenes, writing and arranging, recording when necessary.  Please keep in your prayers the process of a particular Christmas song I have written down.  It’s being shared with a few important people in the Nashville music industry.

I’m also getting out there in the world of choral sheet music publishing.  No idea where to start, but I figured I’d email some publishing companies and one of my favorite church choral arrangers to see if there are any words of wisdom out there before I submit anything.

Be on the lookout - this year, I’m going to do some simple recordings - probably just guitar and vocals - POSSIBLY simple hand percussion - and I’ll release it digitally so you can get your hands on the collection.  Way..too…much…music…in…my…head…

If you need me for a youth event, church pot luck, or summer barbecue, just let me know!

God’s blessings to you all!

Be assured that I’m still available around the Portland Metro area to play for whatever your church’s needs might be.  It may be a little while longer before I can begin a regimen of calling around - but I’m always willing to answer the phone, set something up, and minister in your neck of the woods.  If you have ANY questions, don’t hesitate to call or email!

I look forward to the opportunity to record another album - I have more material than I know what to do with; now it’s all about finding the time.  Maybe if I kept it simple?  Let me know what you think - acoustic guitar and vocals - with some hand drumming by myfriendJess?  Would anyone be interested in that?  What about an “all original” worship songs CD recorded in this manner… there may be a few repeats from previous recordings, but we’d simplify and re-record everything, so you’d have a different “acoustic” version… Hmmm… I’d love to hear your feedback!  Feel free to comment below.

God’s blessings to you all!  I pray our paths will cross sometime this summer.

-Mike

Mike makes his Texas debut at - where else? - a Coffee Shop! Come listen, sing along, and participate in a program designed with the whole family in mind. Oh man, that rhymed! And so did that - well, sort of…

Click Here for directions to

Starbucks Coffee - Longview, Texas
407 W Loop 281
Longview, Texas 75605

For those of you who want to make the trip - or if you’re already halfway there… Mike and Jess are proud to be part of River of Life’s summer Concert Series. Come listen, sing along, and participate in a program designed with the whole family in mind. Oh man, that rhymed! And so did that - well, sort of…

Click Here for directions to

River of Life Assembly of God
45 Main Street
Cathlamet, Washington 98612

Sherwood High School is the place to be the first weekend in August for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Jess and I will be providing music during the lunch hour on Saturday. To find out more about the American Cancer Society, the Relay for Life, or how to set up a Relay in YOUR community, please visit the American Cancer Society’s homepage at www.cancer.org and click on “Get Involved.”

Click Here for directions to

Sherwood High School
16956 SW Meinecke Rd.
Sherwood, Oregon 97140

In this issue:

• Upcoming Events! (There’s one this Friday, November 2!)
• A New Freebie - Sheet Music!
• Did you miss out? Find out!
• Mike’s Winter/Spring 2008 Availability

Upcoming Events

Click on the venues below for more details regarding these events.

• THIS FRIDAY, November 2, 7-9pm at Wilsonville Coffee Co. (Open to ALL)
• Sunday, November 11, Youth and Family Night at Bethlehem Lutheran in Aloha
• Friday, November 30, Youth and Family Night at Community of Hope in Wilsonville
• Wednesday, December 5, Community Dinner at Peace Lutheran Church in North Portland, begins at 6pm (Open to ALL)

More Freebies!

Check out the Freebies Page for all the freebies, including instructions on downloading ringtones, and now there’s a Lead Sheet for Lord I’m Yours. Give it to your piano player, guitarist, singers, and worship our Lord Jesus with this easy to sing praise song. Need the recording? Visit the Music Page and get a CD, or order it from iTunes!

Previous Event Blogs

Whether or not you missed an event over the past month or two, be sure to check out the following Event Blogs - you might even see your picture in the gallery!

• September 9 - Our Savior’s - Lake Oswego
• October 6 - Good Shepherd Lutheran - SW Portland
• October 13 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Oregon City

Availability 2008

Mike is currently booking a few events each month beginning in January 2008. The schedule is pretty open, so get creative and visit the Booking Page to connect with Mike. OH, and if you have ANY questions regarding what Mike does, how he does it, what he charges, etc… PLEASE visit the FAQ Page. It’s all there!

That about wraps things up for now…hope to see you at an event, or speak to you about putting one on! God’s many blessings this November. We have SO much to be thankful for - God’s forgiveness being at the top of the list!

-Mike

Mike and Jess are at it again… this time at Peace Lutheran Church in North Portland.  The whole community is invited to come, have some dinner, and listen to (and sing ALONG with) some fun Christian music.  This event is designed for you to bring a friend!  Hope to see you there…

Click Here For Directions:
Peace Lutheran Church
2201 N Rosa Parks Way (formerly N Portland Blvd.)
Portland, OR  97217

Please note: There will be a freewill offering (which means optional) to cover their expenses.

Mike and Jess are headed to Wilsonville to play for a special Friday Night Youth and Family Program. This program is intended for the Community of Hope Youth Groups, along with their friends and families.

Youth Directors and Pastors: Contact Youth Director Marty Welch at (503) 682-8855 if you’d like to come check out this program.

Click the Picture above to check out the Gallery

“Search” is the name of Trinity Lutheran’s Saturday evening 5:30pm worship service - it’s a much more informal worship setting that is comfortable to as many as possible. I think Jess and I mixed it up a little - oh, but it was quite comfortable! I truly believe the Spirit was moving… You know, it’s hard to gauge. I don’t really know how the Spirit works sometimes. Can you quantify it? Should you try? I think giving total control of the ministry to God means I shouldn’t try to quantify the amount of “Spirit-movement” in any given program. I mean, the interaction with the congregation was AWEsome, and I feel like we really connected - during the songs, and in the in-between times…

My prayer on an evening like this is simply that God’s Spirit will continue to encourage the Body of Christ - to strengthen their faith in ways that will reach those outside the Kingdom of God, long after Jess and I have left the building. I pray the Message will not be forgotten. And I leave it all up to God. Maybe some day, I’ll find out that one of the programs Jess and I put on changed someones life in a substantial way. Maybe I’ll have to wait to find out until I reach the arms of Jesus in heaven. Thus, the struggle of the Christian musician.

Okay - back to the evening…Before and after the program, Jess and I got the chance to meet most everyone. Everyone was so friendly. We wrapped up the evening with some bottled Frappucinos and some unbeLIEVably scrumptious crunchy nutty chocolate sumthinerother someone got at Costco. PLEASE don’t tell me what it is, or I’ll be 400 pounds by Christmas. Yum. I think we’re coming back sometime soon… Until then - God’s many blessings!

-Mike

Awww man! I didn’t take pictures again! Doh! Somebody’s gotta remind me at the next event that I need to take pictures.

Okay - seriously, what a great night! The crowd assembled in the fellowship hall at Good Shepherd was AWEsome. I’m really thankful to God for SO much that happened.

• The kids in the back. You guys ruled. Thanks for coming up and leading actions (I wanna fall asleep, fall asleep, fall asleep…) NICE!
• The loud volume of the singing coming AT us during songs of worship. What a blessing.
• When there’s native Oregonians around, Jess seems to always know a friend of a friend…uncanny!
• For being invited back! We can’t wait ’til next year…

Okay, so here’s a serious “behind the scenes” look at the reality of ministry. I got some things fixed and got some new equipment over the past few weeks. With all the things that could have gone wrong, Jess and I are also thankful to God for the things that DIDN’T happen:

• No hum from my guitar
• No strange buzzing noise from my guitar
• No major craziness from the new vocal effects pedal

Well, and as far as pictures, we’ll get some next time. Thanks again to Pastor Paul for inviting us, and to everyone who came out and supported the ministry. Enjoy the music!

God’s blessings,

-Mike