Happy Easter!  The truth of the resurrection never gets old and the life of Jesus continues to empower me and my family.  We celebrated Sherri’s birthday last week at Filoli and saw some beautiful gardens and flowers.  She’s also reworking our gardens at home.  I thank God for being so blessed with Sherri and my boys.  They bring a lot of joy and fulness to my life.  Sherri held a crafts elective at Mount Hermon a couple of weeks ago for their woman’s retreat and had a blast.  Brandon and Austin are enjoying school and are faithfully involved with staying on top of their studies.  They only have a month left to go.

I could use prayer for the next couple of months as my time with Open Door Church as an Interim Worship Leader will be ending the end of June.  It’s possible I could become the permanent  Worship Leader and I should know by the end of May whether this will work out or not.  I’ve really enjoyed ministering with them, but continue to seek God’s guidance to work with the church-at-large through Heartfelt Music Ministry and work with a local church as well.  I know the poor economy has hit many of you very hard.  We too have been working hard to make it through.  These times have stretched our faith in new ways and continue to bring us back to God and His faithful care in our lives.  We thank God for His resurrection power and the opportunities for ministry He brings our way everyday.

March was full of ministry opportunities throughout the Bay Area.  Thank you for your prayers and support all along the way.  You are a valuable part of the effective work of Heartfelt Music!

BASS Convention in Castro Valley
In early March, I was the Keynote Speaker for the Music & Worship portion of the 2011 BASS Convention giving multiple workshops and playing guitar in the conference band with Nashville artist Don Moen.  There was one workshop with multiple instructors called Worship Band Interactive where participants played along and interacted with the band members experiencing what works and what doesn’t work in leading worship as a band. I was a joy to work with such quality instructors and musicians.Visit the site at http://www.bassconvention.org/.

Helping the Body of Christ
At the beginning of March, I worked with Cedar Grove Bible Church in Livermore with worship leading and coaching.  Just last weekend, I worked with Stockton Covenant Church with a training workshop for those folks involved in the services on Sunday mornings.   I’m continuing to minister with Open Door Church Mountain View.  I am holding training events and Round Table discussion groups to help them advance in their worship experience.  The people have been a joy to work with.

Be Encouraged
I am available to encourage you and your team.  It has been a blessing to have 8 of my recordings now available on CDs (8 CDs available).  I am offering cutting-edge private or semi-private lessons in four different locations throughout the Bay Area (San Jose, Los Altos, Danville, and Mount Hermon).  I am scheduling events in speaking or worship leading (services, retreats, and special events), or a concert artistry (with or without band).  Let me know how I can serve you or your church [(925) 206-9895 or [email protected]].

The band I’ve been playing acoustic guitar with, called Cede, hit #1 on the Reverb Nation Christian/Gospel charts.  Check out the site at http://www.reverbnation.com/cedewest.  Two of my songs will be on the CD which will be released next month (Getting Stronger and Ain’t Nobody).   It’s been such a good experience working with these professional musicians.  We’ll be doing a concert Sunday, May 1, as a CD release party in San Jose.  I’ll fill you in more soon.

I hope you are enjoying the winter.  It’s been so sunny in the Bay Area…beautiful!

Last month held significant ministry events with teaching on “Why Worship God” with the Bay Area Chinese Bible Church in San Leandro, leading worship with Open Door Church Mountain View, the all-day Training Day last week, elementary guitar course with Valley Christian Elementary School, and coaching 25 private and semi-private students  throughout the month.

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VCES Guitar Class

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I will be the Keynote Speaker for the Music & Worship portion of the 2011 BASS Convention giving multiple workshops (Dynamic Guitar in Worship, Bass Guitar in Worship, The Whole Enchilada of Music Ministry, Worship Infusion, and more).  There will be other highly experienced instructors (Keyboards, Worship Leading, Voice, Directing a Choir, Making a CD, Audio Mixing, and more). There is one workshop with multiple instructors called Band Interactive where participants can play along and interact with the band members experiencing what works and what doesn’t work in leading worship as a band. Visit the site at http://www.bassconvention.org/.  It will be at Redwood Chapel, 19300 Redwood Rd. Castro Valley, CA 94546, Friday & Saturday, March 4 & 5.

Let me know if I can be of service to you through encouraging music (8 CDs available), private or semi-private lessons (San Jose, Los Altos, Danville, and Mount Hermon), speaking or worship leading (services, retreats, and special events), or a concert (with or without band).

This year looks very promising as Heartfelt Music Ministry will be doing more training, concerts, and worship leading throughout the Bay Area and nationally. Two new CDs are in the works:  A new solo album with songs never recorded and a new instrumental album with various guitar styles.  Next month, I’ll begin concerts with the band Cede which I’ve been recording with (their new CD has two of my songs on it Ain’t Nobody and Getting Stronger which you can check out at ReverbNation.com).

I just began ministering with Open Door Church in Mountain View part-time as Interim Worship Leader.  This church is an extension of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church which I have been on Staff with before.  I just finished up a fantastic four months with First Presbyterian Church of Hayward as Interim Worship Director.  What a positive experience!

Let me know if I can be of service to you this coming year through encouraging music (8 CDs available), private lessons (still teaching in San Jose, Los Altos, Danville, and Mount Hermon), speaking or worship leading (services, retreats, and special events), or a concert (even with band).

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!  Your contributions make a huge difference in keeping us moving forward.  If you’d like to be a part of what I’m up to, following me and Heartfelt Music Ministry’s activities on any of these Networks, join the “conversation” by clicking on an icon below to jump in.

Looking to Jesus (Col. 3:2),

Reggie

I can’t believe it’s the last day of 2010.  God has shown Himself so alive this year through some of the most memorable times both good and bad.  Watching God work around me and experiencing God work through me is faith-building and incredibly encouraging. “Thank you, Lord, for your presence and care throughout 2010!”

This year has had its ups and downs.  The poor economy has affected me and my family in significant ways.  At the same time, we are amazed at people’s generosity and care.  Friendships are such an encouragement in tough times.  Thank you for your prayers for us and inspirational notes along the way.

We have grown closer as a family also which has given us a stronger platform to minister to others.  We had the scare of health issues which turned out to be nothing.  I lost my job in June which launched me back into a Bay Area wide ministry.  My sons are growing up with such maturity for their age, making great decisions.  They have really enjoyed school this year.  Now 16 and 18, they are both into driving.  Sherri had a blast being involved with the Mount Hermon Christmas Crafts Boutique this month and will be involved with crafts more this year.

I’ve been doing well spiritually, physically, and mentally.  I know it’s not an accident as it takes work (or should I say God compels me to be disciplined?).  I’m still daily reading Scripture and regularly study God’s Word which gives me perspective, direction, and nurtures/renews my spirit.  I’m thankful to a handful of guys that meet with me monthly to hold me accountable and faithfully pray for specific needs in my life.  Time alone in the car traveling has given me hours of prayer time to grow more intimate with God.  Physically, I’m daily exercising and keeping in shape.  I just performed a demonstration of Tae Kwon Do, Korean sword fighting and nun-chucks for about 100 children at a church in Martinez…very fun!  And I’m staying sharp mentally as I work with so many people, helping them on their journey, encouraging teamwork and leading them toward intimacy with God.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen!

I now have eight of my recordings available on CDs.  People have been asking me to put my first 3 recordings on CD since they were created on cassettes only.  Now they are available!  Also, Confidence and Intimacy have been out of print for some time now, but they are available now. You can even pick an 8 CD Bundle of all my CDs available for a fantastic discount.  The CDs included are:

~ Here To Worship
~ Heartfelt Praise (Disc 1)
~ Confidence
~ Intimacy
~ Heartfelt Celebration
~ Take It To Heart
~ No Greater Love
~ Living In Jesus

Click here to go to our updated “Products Page” and order some.  You’ll hear songs such as All For You and Peace which are award winning songs recorded only on these early collections.

I have accepted a new position as Interim Worship Leader with Open Door Church in Mountain View as I continue ministering with Heartfelt Music Ministry as well. Thank you for your prayers during this decision of which position to take and continue to pray for this new adventure starting the end of December.  I’ll be finishing up as the Interim First Service Worship Director of First Presbyterian Church of Hayward at the end of this month.  It has been such a good experience and I have grown in love with the people.

Private lessons are one of the most fulfilling things I do.  Training and coaching musicians to thrive in their skill and use it to glorify the Lord.  I am teaching in Danville, San Jose, Los Altos, and Mount Hermon.  If you know of anyone who would like private lessons, let me know. [click here to find out more about lessons]

December sometimes means an end-of-the-year giving for businesses and individuals.  However, this year is pretty tight for everyone.  As you know, Heartfelt Music Ministry is partially supported by contributions, so if you feel led to give at this time, we would appreciate it so much.  We are behind this month and could use some extra help.  Thank you for your generous support!  Each gift is tax-deductible [click here to read more about donations].

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Marty Nemko was speaking on KGO radio last night (he’s the Career/Education/Life Advice guy) and brought up the issue of a lack of ethics in society and the workplace.  Since I was driving home from a concert in Santa Rosa, I gave him a call.  I agree that we need to teach our youth about ethics and train parents to pass it on  to their children.  But training in ethics should be more than merely identifying good and bad behavior.  We should include “consequences,” “resolve,” and “hedges.”  If we can somehow give people a vision of the consequences of their actions (such as the destruction it would cause), it would help motivate them to make a resolve to act with integrity (such as “I will never cheat on my wife, but will reserve my romance for only her”).  Then, we can think of what “hedges” to place around us to protect us from bad behavior (such as accountability with friends).  Unfortunately, there is a lack of ethics in the church as well.  What do you think?