oasisCHURCH

Fellowship Songs Vol. 2...yes...2...

Even though I won't start the recording process for FSV2 until January it doesn't mean I won't be thinking about it. A while ago Kenny says to me, "Have you given much thought to what we'll put on volume 2?" After staring at him with my best deer in headlights impression for a little while I replied, "Not really :-(" 

Since that time I have given it some thought but as I sat here this evening I had a brain spark...what if you helped us put together the next set of songs that go on to FSV2.  Do you have a favorite Oasis original that you would like to see get the studio treatment?  If so start responding to this post and give us your feedback.  There's no reason the creative process should be completely bogarted by Kenny and I...that's a scary thought for those of you that know us. 

On a related note...if you're writing any songs...you need to let us know so that we can work it onto a future installment of Fellowship Songs.  Enough of my yap...if you want us to record a certain song that you know is an Oasis original just tell us in this post.  If you're not sure if that song is an Oasis original...just ask.  After all, I think the stuff coming from our fellowship is every inch as good as anything you'll hear on Christian radio today :- )

We'll be eagerly watching for your responses. 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Today was the official release day for Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 and your generosity was absolutely overwhelming.  So far the donations that we've received have gotten us well on our way to not only covering our expenses in this first project, but in the next one as well.  I hope you have a great time worshipping to this first volume of original worship songs that God has gifted on the hearts of our fellowship.  

Several people also need recognition:

Kenny McKnight - My constant companion during the recording process and a phenomenol contributor to the music you hear (drums...guitar...bass...pretty much everything)

Jimmy Durst - For laying down some thumping bass lines

Mike Kennedy - For laying down some insanely great harmony work...including two part harmony on at least one song.

Miranda McKnight - For assembling all the CD cases and jackets this morning...she cut those case inserts by hand.  

Sydney (sorry if I didn't spell it right) Kennedy - For helping me burn the remainder of the CD's this morning.  

While none of these folks desire any recognition for their work on this project I thought it was only appropriate to make mention of all their amazing contriibutions to this first of many more projects to come.  I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many talented individuals.  I can't wait to start work on the next one.  January can't get here fast enough.  

Thank you again, church, for your amazing outpouring of support this morning.  Your generosity touches my own heart very deeply.  I promise you that we will keep working hard to glorify God through this music that he has allowed us to use to bring great reknown to His name.   

Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 - COMPLETE

About an hour ago I returned from test drive #2 of FSV1.  At this point the project is as good as I know how to make it.  I'm very pleased with it and I think it is the best quality project that we have yet turned out as a praise band.  In the meantime I will be taking the remainder of the year off in regards to recording for the Fellowship Songs projects.  In January the praise band will begin work on Fellowship Songs Vol. 2.  Our speed is continually increasing as we become more adept at the recording process.  With any luck you can expect FSV2 some time in late March.

As far as getting your hands on a copy of FSV1 this coming Sunday...it's simple.  Chris will explain it more on Sunday but for now just know that the whole process of procuring a CD for yourself is as simple as taking one.  The only thing that we are asking is that people who take a CD make some kind of financial donation.  If that's a dollar...great...if that's five dollars...that's extra great.  There is no set cost for any one of the CD's.  Any donations that we receive will go directly to future expenses related to all recording projects we do at Oasis.  Having said that...we're not demanding that you drop money in a can to take a CD home for yourself...if you can't make any kind of donation...just take one.  This project has nothing to do with money.  It has everything to do with sharing the gifts that God has given us in the form of song.  The purpose of the Fellowhip Songs projects is twofold:

1.  To glorify God with the gifts He has given us.

2.  To edify the church body.

The praise band doesn't need any financial incentive to continue in that purpose but we thank any of you in advance who decide to make a contribution towards the betterment of future projects.  The praise band hopes you enjoy Volume 1 of Fellowship Songs.

FSV1 Thanskgiving Listening

After 4 hours of listening yesterday morning/afternoon I decided it was time to take a break and come back to FSV1 the next day.  Today I've managed to sneak in some more mixing and the project is at least 97% done. 

The King is completely done.

Wonderful is completely done.

Whisper to Me is completely done.

Grace Poured Out is completely done.

I See You is completely done.

The only tune left to finish off is How Great is Your Name.  Have a great Thanksgiving.

Test Drive #1 - FSV1

Just to clarify I will now be referring to Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 as simply "FSV1". It's much faster to type. Now that we have our acronyms all cleared up...LET THE POST GO ON!

One of my favorite bands is a group called Filter.  About 8 or 9 years ago I was watching a DVD about one of their albums.  At this time I had no recording experience to speak of in terms of doing recordings on my own so I had no idea what the process entailed.  I was, however, beginning the learning process of how an album gets produced.  When a Filter project got close to its completion they would make an early copy of the CD and then drive around while listening to it.  The idea behind it was that listening to a CD while driving would be one of the primary mediums in which that album would be listened to once it got into the hands of the average consumer.  So, in the spirit of one of my favorite bands, I now do the same thing.  

Around 1 p.m. on this Wednesday afternoon I loaded up in the car with an early copy of FSV1.  Normally I get a project in a car and hear about 30 different things that I need to go back to the computer and fix.  Such was not the case this time.  I heard about 5 things that I needed to go back and fix before it could get into your eager hands.  So, barring some kind of major computer catastrophone between now and Sunday, FSV1 will definitely be ready to take home.  I probably have at least 2 more test drives and a whole series of non-stop listenings before mass production of the project starts.  Come Saturday FSV1 will be in full duplication mode so that you can have your own CD to worship with as you head home from our Sunday morning gathering.  

Break's over...time to get back to finishing.   

Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 Track Listing

As of now Fellowship Songs is still well on track for its November 29th release.  Here are the songs you can expect to hear on this first project...this is in no particular order:

The King - Done
Wonderful - One harmony part to record...but otherwise done
Whisper to Me - Done
Grace Poured Out - Just a few minor tweaks left
How Great is Your Name - Just a few minor tweaks left
I See You - Done...maybe...still not sure

By the weekend at least 4 of these six songs should be completely done.  I think this project will be burning up your music machines for a while to come.  ENOUGH TYPING DODSON....BACK TO WORK!!!!   

Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 in 2 Weeks!!!!!!

Two weeks from tomorrow Fellowship Songs Vol. 1 will be available at an Oasis gathering near you. That's right....SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29TH!!!!!  Working on this through football season proved to be a little bit of a challenge but in a mere two weeks volume 1 will be ready for public consumption.  Right now I'm typing while listening to a near complete cut of Grace Poured Out and man does it sound good.  I think everyone will be really pleased with this first of many projects to come.  So mark your calendars...November 29th...Fellowship Songs Vol. 1...available at our Sunday gathering.  Trust me...you're not going to want to miss this one. 

Listen

 This past Sunday as the band met to pray before the service started, CHad shared with us that shook me to my core. He said that all during practice, he was stuck on one word; listen.

 I have been very neglectful to listen for God's guidance over the past few months. The week leading in to this past Sunday was a particularly rough week for me. As I prayed over the song selections for the weekend, two words hit me; listen and repent. When Chad said "listen," all I could think was "repent."

 I know that God has called me to serve Him, that He has drawn me to Oasis, and that He has called me into ministry. I have been learning more about what it means to serve as an Elder, and as a Deacon, and that's why I felt the need to share this with everyone. I want to make myself completely transparent, to hold myself accountable.

 As I write this, I repent of my sins; from my anger and cynicism, which fuel eachother and cause many vile thoughts and actions, to my bitterness toward my family. I repent of my selfishness and pride, of my hypocrisy. I claim to love the truth while embracing lies, and I repent of my problems with pornography, and my lack of communication and often miscommunication with my wife. Most of our fights and arguments are because of my lack of communication with her. I trust her completely but my actions don't always show it. I repent of my lack of time invested in the Bible; I claim hunger for the truth, yet too often I neglect to spend time reading and studying the truth.

 I repent of my lack of faith, of not trusting God as I should; of my own self-pity as well. Too often I neglect to repent, and end up trying to justify my sin by saying I'm too dirty to even ask to be clean. I am a filthy sinner, we all are; Nothing good dwells within us. That is what makes Jesus' sacrifice so amazing; we don't deserve it. I know I fall short, I know I will let myself and others down from time to time, but I take comfort in knowing that Jesus paid it all.

 Lord, Thank you for the cross. Thank you for making me lsiten. Thank you for my family at Oasis, for the wife I don't deserve, for the family I sometimes resent. You are the indescribable God, and it is you who can and does give this dead sinner life. I pray that you would tear me completely open and replace that filth that is in mie with the greatness that gives you glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

Glorious Cross

This is a song that was recorded by Smiles Welch during his long journey from California to Ohio. Smiles recorded this song as well as three others on September 9th in Belgrade Montana. We are so blessed here at Oasis to have Smiles and his family here with us.

Click here to listen to Glorious Cross by Smiles Welch