Did you just say that? Seriously? You want to take on that topic online? REALLY??
I was wondering if this kind of controversial opening line hooked you or did you just read on because you wanted to? What did you think I was going to talk about? Sex, Religion, Downloading music? Did you say downloading music??
Yeah...that's right I said it! I am curious...Do you think that downloading music for FREE (without the writer or the performer saying it's ok) is wrong.
Now let's just say it was legal (which is not...it is stealing!!) BUT - because of the amount of this going on I have a couple questions. I would love to understand your thoughts about the following:
1. Do you feel ok about not paying for music?
2. Do you think the law should and will change?
3. Are you more willing to go see an artist in concert if you like their music that you tried for free?
4. Would you consider paying for the entire CD if the price was right and it was easy?
5. What price point would a CD have to be for you to pay for it rather than download it for free??
I know the music biz is changing...I would love to know your thoughts. Be honest...there is no judgement here...the landscape is changing and I would like to see what your opinion is!
Thanks for your time to discuss this topic!!
Kevin
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
its been a while...
I am lying here in my bed in VANCOUVER...pondering all things, my career, my family, my friends...being away from home sometimes really feels ugly. I miss my family so much and yet I am doing what I am called to do. (Called: a Christian word totally overused...however I just used it!)
I am reviewing my dreams and my hopes for my career...my music! I am also pondering how they intersect with my family...my friends and my faith...deep thoughts!
I have been "dreaming" of this career thing for so long, it almost feels as though there is nothing left to dream about...it feels so unattainable...it feels as though my dreams were just torture. Go after it, you can do it...or NOT!! I feel as though the last 15 years have been a constant grasping for the infamous dangled carrot, that always feels out of reach!
My dreams are still there and seem to always re-surface, but the light is dimmer all the time!! I am struggling to come to grips with reality...is quitting the reality I need to embrace...or is continuing to battle this my reality?
It's strange, this battle never gets old. I battled this at 16 and I feel I will battle this until I die.
Here is the piece of this puzzle that I truly believe is the KEY TO SUCCESS...seriously, keep reading...
As I look back...a ton of my BIG dreams have become a reality!!!
1. I sang on tour with the Gaither's
2. I sang with my vocal hero's...Michael English, Steve Archer, Russ Taff
3. I toured with Avalon
4. I am on 2 Platinum video's (one that debuted #1 on Billboard)
5. I have been full-time in music for 10 years
6. I have toured Canada, from coast to coast MANY times!!
7. I am able to pour into the lives of other artist's with my LIVE MUSIC PRODUCING
8. I have recorded 6 CD's
You see...when I look back there are many things I can see that I have accomplished...the only problem is...the dream keeps getting bigger!!! There are new dreams that I need to fight to grasp! There are new goals I need to reach...
The problem is, the striving for new goals needs to be balanced by the looking back and having gratitude!
I have the most amazing wife, 3 wonderful kids, I am doing what I believe I was made to do...and I am surrounded with incredible friends and peers that make my life rich!!!
So...have I stopped striving...NOT A CHANCE!! But with a good dose of seeing where I have come from...taking stock in where I have been and what I have done...I can continue to strive for bigger and better...
One last thing...I have to tell you that this journey without a relationship with the Almighty God is fruitless. Nothing without him is worthwhile!! HE is the reason I get up everyday and HOPE!! HE is the reason I sing...HE is the reason I love!!
Jesus Christ gives me the courage to HOPE, and DREAM when it feels like I can't go on!!
Make HIM a part of your world...your life, your dreams...HE, afterall, is the dream-maker!!
Blessings,
KP
I am reviewing my dreams and my hopes for my career...my music! I am also pondering how they intersect with my family...my friends and my faith...deep thoughts!
I have been "dreaming" of this career thing for so long, it almost feels as though there is nothing left to dream about...it feels so unattainable...it feels as though my dreams were just torture. Go after it, you can do it...or NOT!! I feel as though the last 15 years have been a constant grasping for the infamous dangled carrot, that always feels out of reach!
My dreams are still there and seem to always re-surface, but the light is dimmer all the time!! I am struggling to come to grips with reality...is quitting the reality I need to embrace...or is continuing to battle this my reality?
It's strange, this battle never gets old. I battled this at 16 and I feel I will battle this until I die.
Here is the piece of this puzzle that I truly believe is the KEY TO SUCCESS...seriously, keep reading...
As I look back...a ton of my BIG dreams have become a reality!!!
1. I sang on tour with the Gaither's
2. I sang with my vocal hero's...Michael English, Steve Archer, Russ Taff
3. I toured with Avalon
4. I am on 2 Platinum video's (one that debuted #1 on Billboard)
5. I have been full-time in music for 10 years
6. I have toured Canada, from coast to coast MANY times!!
7. I am able to pour into the lives of other artist's with my LIVE MUSIC PRODUCING
8. I have recorded 6 CD's
You see...when I look back there are many things I can see that I have accomplished...the only problem is...the dream keeps getting bigger!!! There are new dreams that I need to fight to grasp! There are new goals I need to reach...
The problem is, the striving for new goals needs to be balanced by the looking back and having gratitude!
I have the most amazing wife, 3 wonderful kids, I am doing what I believe I was made to do...and I am surrounded with incredible friends and peers that make my life rich!!!
So...have I stopped striving...NOT A CHANCE!! But with a good dose of seeing where I have come from...taking stock in where I have been and what I have done...I can continue to strive for bigger and better...
One last thing...I have to tell you that this journey without a relationship with the Almighty God is fruitless. Nothing without him is worthwhile!! HE is the reason I get up everyday and HOPE!! HE is the reason I sing...HE is the reason I love!!
Jesus Christ gives me the courage to HOPE, and DREAM when it feels like I can't go on!!
Make HIM a part of your world...your life, your dreams...HE, afterall, is the dream-maker!!
Blessings,
KP
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
reflections of Return to Grace...ELVIS!
Well, I just finished nearly 4 weeks of living at Fallsview Casino performing RETURN TO GRACE...a tribute to Elvis Presley. The show was fantastic!! The players in the band were amazing, the singers were all top drawer and the one who played Elvis...WOW!! STEVE KABAKOS
I had a thought...if Steve, who is paying tribute to Elvis can be so good at bringing us joy and remembering a singer...is there a lesson to be learned??
We are (those of us that call ourselves followers of Christ) called to imitate Jesus. We are called to study His life, and to be like Him in this world. Do we do a good job? When people look at our lives do they see Jesus? Do they see a good representation of Christ? Are we bringing people joy, and leaving them wanting to know more about the one we serve?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Blessings,
Kevin
I had a thought...if Steve, who is paying tribute to Elvis can be so good at bringing us joy and remembering a singer...is there a lesson to be learned??
We are (those of us that call ourselves followers of Christ) called to imitate Jesus. We are called to study His life, and to be like Him in this world. Do we do a good job? When people look at our lives do they see Jesus? Do they see a good representation of Christ? Are we bringing people joy, and leaving them wanting to know more about the one we serve?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Blessings,
Kevin
Monday, February 14, 2011
Inside OUT...
good morning...this is our 25th Valentines Day together. 25 times that we have had the opportunity to say I Love You! 25 times that the day has dictated we say, I Love You...I really like Valentines Day! I haven't always performed well...some years I totally blew it and others I went over board as if to make up for lost time. This year i went pretty traditional. Saturday I went out in the morning and bought a dozen roses. My wife still loves flowers. We decided that we would do dinner and a movie tonight and just have a relaxed time together. No big expectation, but simple signs of our love and the fact that we still like to be together!!
Now, Valentines Day has not always been a huge priority because I try and make as many days as possible "I Love You" days! BUT - there is something special about a public day, that begs us to act out in a loving way. So I embrace that today and publicly say I LOVE YOU to the most wonderful women I could have ever married. I am glad that we are life partners...Wendy Pauls - You are my Valentine!
The interesting thing is that I have daily tried to make this relationship work. It was not always perfect and it still is not perfect...BUT - I do remember praying many days..."God, let me love Wendy more today than yesterday..." I prayed that for years. I prayed that I would continue to love her like we were newlyweds! I saw a lot of people after 20 plus years just living with someone...not passionate anymore, not really happy - just living with them!! YUCK! I did not want to be 50 - empty nest and alone with my spouse and say - honey, this is boring!!! SO - I have worked at loving my wife with everything I have...(I have fallen short far more than I have hit the mark by the way...) BUT I have tried and that has paid off.
So - this last Sunday at the Meeting House (our church) the pastor Tim Day was preaching the final message on the topic Inside Out...Real Change. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - kinda change! This type of change does not happen all of a sudden. I realized the correlation of this kind of change to my marriage. A good marriage does not happen over night...it is a process! Real change is a process...
We cannot view God as a microwave of change. He does not normally zap someone and they instantly become free of all their "stuff". Often this is a LONG process...it is driven by US!!! This "renewing of our minds" is deep stuff. it is not as simple as "Lord, I want to be better...Help me!" This is a daily process of laying down our will, seeking His and applying it. Making decisions that lead us closer to His way of thinking. I am trying to lose weight...this is a moment by moment struggle - decision after decision - choosing the right foods...not tempting myself by sitting in front of a Krispy Kreme and hoping God will reduce my cravings!!
I have some of the same issues that plague me today, that plagued me 20 years ago...WHY? I think it is because my thinking has not changed. I have been asking for symptoms to be removed, and when they are not I simply give up!
I need to transformed by the renewing of my mind!!! What I put into my mind dictates what will come out of it...What I watch, what I read, where I spend my time...what I ponder...
If I think loving thoughts towards Wendy - I seem to find it easier to love her. If I think sinful thoughts, negative thoughts...put inappropriate images into my head...interestingly I do not feel like loving God's way...My mind is not transformed...
I am going to work hard at changing my patterns...changing the things that I can, and than allowing God to work on my heart!
This Valentines Day I want to work towards a renewed mind! Start changing my thought patterns, my reading patterns...If you do the same thing expecting a different result...well you know!
"Be transformed by the renewing of your MIND!!" I am excited to start this journey again...I love knowing that my God is the God of 2nd chances...over and over and over!!
Love your spouse, Love your God...and LOVE those around you!!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Kevin
PS - Check out a new LOVE song that will be on the upcoming CD "Missing You To Death"
Now, Valentines Day has not always been a huge priority because I try and make as many days as possible "I Love You" days! BUT - there is something special about a public day, that begs us to act out in a loving way. So I embrace that today and publicly say I LOVE YOU to the most wonderful women I could have ever married. I am glad that we are life partners...Wendy Pauls - You are my Valentine!
The interesting thing is that I have daily tried to make this relationship work. It was not always perfect and it still is not perfect...BUT - I do remember praying many days..."God, let me love Wendy more today than yesterday..." I prayed that for years. I prayed that I would continue to love her like we were newlyweds! I saw a lot of people after 20 plus years just living with someone...not passionate anymore, not really happy - just living with them!! YUCK! I did not want to be 50 - empty nest and alone with my spouse and say - honey, this is boring!!! SO - I have worked at loving my wife with everything I have...(I have fallen short far more than I have hit the mark by the way...) BUT I have tried and that has paid off.
So - this last Sunday at the Meeting House (our church) the pastor Tim Day was preaching the final message on the topic Inside Out...Real Change. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - kinda change! This type of change does not happen all of a sudden. I realized the correlation of this kind of change to my marriage. A good marriage does not happen over night...it is a process! Real change is a process...
We cannot view God as a microwave of change. He does not normally zap someone and they instantly become free of all their "stuff". Often this is a LONG process...it is driven by US!!! This "renewing of our minds" is deep stuff. it is not as simple as "Lord, I want to be better...Help me!" This is a daily process of laying down our will, seeking His and applying it. Making decisions that lead us closer to His way of thinking. I am trying to lose weight...this is a moment by moment struggle - decision after decision - choosing the right foods...not tempting myself by sitting in front of a Krispy Kreme and hoping God will reduce my cravings!!
I have some of the same issues that plague me today, that plagued me 20 years ago...WHY? I think it is because my thinking has not changed. I have been asking for symptoms to be removed, and when they are not I simply give up!
I need to transformed by the renewing of my mind!!! What I put into my mind dictates what will come out of it...What I watch, what I read, where I spend my time...what I ponder...
If I think loving thoughts towards Wendy - I seem to find it easier to love her. If I think sinful thoughts, negative thoughts...put inappropriate images into my head...interestingly I do not feel like loving God's way...My mind is not transformed...
I am going to work hard at changing my patterns...changing the things that I can, and than allowing God to work on my heart!
This Valentines Day I want to work towards a renewed mind! Start changing my thought patterns, my reading patterns...If you do the same thing expecting a different result...well you know!
"Be transformed by the renewing of your MIND!!" I am excited to start this journey again...I love knowing that my God is the God of 2nd chances...over and over and over!!
Love your spouse, Love your God...and LOVE those around you!!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Kevin
PS - Check out a new LOVE song that will be on the upcoming CD "Missing You To Death"
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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