Instrumental Reflections #4
Jun 27, 2009 Free Stuff
This past week I spent leading worship for elementary age kids at Lakeview Church Camp, so the instrumental reflection for this week is a song I have put up here previously. This song is probably still my most requested piano piece I play, and the one I enjoy playing the most. It was written on an old piano at a church on the Mexico Texas border while I was on a mission trip there in college. It’s called Angelise. Please enjoy.
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
To listen click play!
Tags: angelise, Free Song, Instrumental, piano, Prayer
Instrumental Reflections #3
Jun 19, 2009 Free Stuff
This is the third in the new “Instrumental Reflections” series. If you like it check out the first and second songs.
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
To listen click play!
Tags: Free Song, Instrumental, Music, piano, Prayer
I Missed My 100th Post
Nov 28, 2008 Uncategorized
Apparently I missed one of my first milestones in the life of Fork In The Road Blog. Two posts ago was my 100th blog post. I guess that would make this 102. In this brief time of I have learned much about blogging and have apparently written some things that others have learned from and enjoyed. Here are my top 10 viewed posts so far.
Youth Worship: Worshipping without a band
Cardboard Testimonies
Free Stuff: Angel Background
Free Backgrounds
Resources
Music Ministry
Removing Distractions
How to- Make Your Own Worship Background
Free Song: Awaken Our Hearts
What To Do With a Youth Worship Team
Do you have a post on Fork In The Road that was extremely helpful or inspiring for you?
Tags: angel, Background, band, blogging, fork In the Road, Free, Free Song, Free Stuff, How To, Resource, resources, Team, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
Free Song: Awaken Our Hearts
Sep 27, 2008 Free Stuff
This summer I was sitting down and I was thinking, “If I were going to write a prayer for the church of today to pray to God, what would we say. I was thinking it should be a song of revival but yet a song of confession. The words to this song just flowed out. It was probably the first time a song has come so quickly and completely.
So I wanted to share this song with you. Maybe you can use it in your worship services. Maybe you can use it in your own personal time. All I ask is two things. 1. Don’t record, take credit for it and keep all the money.. and 2. Let me know how it works in your service. If you are interested in the Chord Sheet contact me and I will send it to you.
This was recorded at our church a few weeks ago. It’s by no means a professional recording but you can hear the words and music clearly. Please enjoy!
If you liked this then check out these other freebies from me. You can also download Unfailing Love now on itunes.
Tags: Church, Free, Free Song, freebie, Prayer, Recording, summer, work, Worship
Free Song: Angelise
Aug 23, 2008 Free Stuff
I think that God speaks to us in many different and unique ways. I think also that we can speak to him in different ways. Some of us prefer to express our thoughts in poetry, some by serving and building things, some on our knees in prayer. I have always felt connected most when music is involved. Music is the way I express myself, my thoughts, my emotions. My mom said I used to come home after school, go to the back room where the piano was and play. If I had experienced a particularly rough day, my song would start out fast, furious and angry , but as I played would mellow out, become more lyrical and peaceful.
I still continue to play. I mean I write and lead music on the piano as part of worship, but sometimes I really like to go in and sit down and just play whatever comes to mind. I am amazed how much i can work things out, how long I can spend thinking about God, talking to God and expressing through the keys.
Angelise was written in one such session while I was on a mission trip in Mexico. I found a few minutes after a long day of work, sat down at a slightly out of tune piano and began playing this simple melody. The name of the song comes from a french baby name meaning angelic.
I put it up here for you to listen to. I have not yet written out the music or know if anyone would be interested in it. For now though just listen, and enjoy.
Right click on ANGELISE and save as to save to your computer. The recording comes from my CD “From Me To You” which is available on my Indie Heaven Website.
Please reply and let me know what you think.
To listen click play!
Tags: angel, CD, Free, Free Song, Prayer, Recording, Thoughts, work, Worship
Free Stuff: Song-Breathe Your Love In Me
Jul 28, 2008 Free Stuff
The other night our youth director Russ Bowlin, led a discussion based on the song “Instead of a Show” by Jon Foreman. He has promised me he is going to write a post on it for FITR so I will not share reflections on that right now. During the course of the discussion, the conversation kept going to how we so often read the words, say the words, sing the songs and go through the motions without even thinking about what we are doing in church. Immediately this song called “Breathe Your Love in Me” came to mind. It is basically a song of confession and a prayer that God will revive us. I wanted to share it with you. Maybe you can use it in a worship service, maybe it is something you can play or listen to as part of your own prayer time. I am including a link to the song and to the chord sheet.
Breathe Your Love in Me mp3
Breathe Your Love in Me PDF
(You have permission to use this song for corporate or personal use. Just don’t record it and tell people it’s your own. I’d love to hear how it is being used so send me an email.)
If you have resources you would like to share please email them to me. If I post them I will give you a link back to your site and a huge thanks.
To listen click play!
Tags: blogs, Church, Free, Free Song, Free Stuff, Prayer, Resource, resources, Russ Bowlin, Russell Martin, Songs, Worship, youth
Looking for Contributors
Jul 20, 2008 Uncategorized
This Fork In the Road blog was started as a way to encourage and share ideas, thoughts, advice and tips about worship leading in various settings from camps and retreats, to church services, to youth praise teams. I can write and share many things but I know that there are many more of you who have your own experiences, thoughts, and tips to share. So I am looking for some contributors. I am looking for people who work with worship teams in churches and youth groups, I am looking for pastors, and youth leaders, I am looking for musicians, and worship leaders who travel, leading worship in various situations. I would like to hear from songwriters, bands and individuals. It would even be nice if there were those who work with recording, graphic design, media, video etc…
So you might ask what do you get out of it. Each submission will include a link back to your website. Regular contributors interested in joining the Blog will get a blog profile page including a picture, contact information and a link on the front page.
The second goal of this website is to create a place for those who are looking for worship leaders, musicians etc.. a place to connect.
If you are interested in either writing an occasional entry, or joining Fork In the Road as a regular contributor please let me know. You can email me at russellmartinmusic@gmail.com
Here is a list of possible topics I am looking for:
Working with youth bands?
What to do when a youth band member graduates?
Songs We Use for Christmas?
Devotionals for Worship Leaders?
How to build a website for your ministry?
Top Ten lessons learned?
Worship leading without an instrument?
Recording a Worship CD?
How to Write worship songs?
It would also be cool to have people submit original songs with a link to chords and audio file for something like a weekly free song.
Tags: band, blogging, camp, CD, Chords, Christmas, Church, Devotional, fork In the Road, Free, Free Song, How To, lessons, Recording, Songs, Team, Thoughts, video, work, Worship, Worship Leader, youth, Youth Band
Free Song #2- Hey I Love Jesus
Apr 17, 2008 Free Stuff, Youth Worship
This is the second in the Free Song Series. Links at the bottom will take you a free mp3 file of the song to listen to, and a free PDF file of the chords to print and use.
Hey I Love Jesus is otherwise known as the vowel song because each line of the chorus starts with the sound of a different vowel.
A-Hey I Love Jesus
E-He Loves Me
I-I got to tell you
O-Oh how he set me free
U-You may be wondering
Y-Why I feel this way
At camps and concerts I generally have the youth spell out the letters with their arms and legs, kinda like the motions to YMCA. This makes for a great active icebreaker or a way to get them moving after sitting for a while.
You are free to use this song in worship or youth group. It would be great if you could let me know how it is being used and what response you had. Just respond to this blog or go follow the link at the bottom to my indie heaven page. Thanks so much.
Hey I Love Jesus Mp3
Hey I Love Jesus PDF
Tags: camp, Chords, Free, Free Song, Russell Martin, Worship, youth
How To – Youth Worship in a Small Church
Apr 8, 2008 Uncategorized
Wanting to start a contemporary worship service for youth in a small church with little resources? This was just the situation a friend of mine asked me about this weekend.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Use the talents that are in your church- Find out the youth who play guitar, or piano. Even those that think they can’t play well. It’s amazing what happens with a little encouragement. Also don’t just think of youth… do you have adults who could help out. They may be looking for a way to use their gifts with guitar, or drums that may not always find its way into the more traditional services.
2. Start Small- You don’t need drums, 2 electric guitars, a bass, keyboard and 4 vocalist to have a worship service. Small and simple is a great way to start. A guitar or keyboard is a good beginning, then slowly add things like hand drums, bass etc.
3. Start Simple- The latest worship band CD is great but your group probably will not have the instruments, or ability to play some of the songs that way. Choose simple arrangements of music. Preferably songs that use repeating chord patterns for the chorus and verse. Teach these patterns to the group and as they keep playing you will see that they reoccur in variations in many other songs. An example of a simple song can be found in my Free Song#1 Lord Let your Love.
4. Be Sensitive- If you are starting a service that you are inviting your whole church to be sure that you choose music that they may be familiar with. There are many hymns that work well in a contemporary setting. If you are going to do more recent songs then make sure that you provide words either by printing them out or by putting them up on a projector or overhead transparency.
5. Be Consistent- It takes time. It takes time to find musicians. It takes time to learn music. It takes time to build a service. Just be faithful to what God has called you to do. Encourage your participants and encourage your congregation. Be consistent in all you do.
I hope this atleast gives you a place to start
Tags: band, blogs, CD, Church, drums, Free, Free Song, guitar, How To, Resource, resources, Songs, work, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
Free Song#1- Lord Let Your Love
Apr 3, 2008 Youth Worship
“Lord Let Your Love” was written one summer while I was leading worship at Lakeview Methodist Church Camp. Many of the groups I was with would head down to the lake for a morning devotional or would be in a place that didn’t have a way to get words up on a screen or even printed out. I was looking for some songs that were repetitive and easy to learn. I also wanted kind of an opening fast song that was fun to sing. This is where “Lord Let Your Love” came out of.View this Post
Lord Let Your Love MP3 (To download- right click and choose “save link as”)
Lord Let Your Love Chord Sheet.pdf
Hopefully this will be the first of a series of free worship songs for you to use. Each time I will include a link to the original mp3 as well as a PDF chord sheet. I am starting off with some of my songs because that is what is available but I would love for you to share your music. If you have a song you would like to share please send the link to the song along with a chord sheet to rgmmusic@gmail.com. If I post your song I will give you credit and a link to your website. By sending the link you are allowing other worship leaders to use but not sell your music. For more information check out the creative commons license website.
To listen click play!
Tags: camp, Chords, Church, Devotional, Free, Free Song, Songs, summer, Worship, Worship Leader
