June 18th, 2010
"When You open the door I pray that you find me, as a Child that is seeking your face. When you Open the door please give me the courage, to walk through in your mercy and grace - when you open the door"

This is the refrain line from the song "Open the Door" from the upcoming CD and it's been a prayer that I keep praying. See, fear is something I deal with in asking God for things. Fear that I won't get what I hope for... or better yet, that I WILL get it and it will change my life. That's been my prayer for Innovative Weather, which has exciting opportunities and challenges as well as for music and ministry. The idea for the prayer group initially came in a prayer group at The Point of Grace one night, in which a friend had mentioned in his prayer the frustration of walking in a hallway filled with doors with his full intent to reach the door at the end of the hall, because it's the one he wanted. Only to get there and realize it's locked, not for him, not right now - only to turn around and look at all the doors he's passed by to get there. This is a new season for me in music and ministry, exciting and a bit challenging at times when I consider how far God has brought all this. The awesome support of my family and the divine appointments and support people in my life take the fear out of it and God replaces it with joy and a humbling sense of awe, if only I'll be quiet enough to try and understand it all. Read on for the cool things happening!

 

Mike is now officially a part of the Nashville based label "Creative Soul Records"! Over the course of the past two years, Mike has worked more closely with Creative Soul Records founder and producer Eric Copeland on song writing and music consultations and the time seems right to enter into a relationship as he continues to move forward with the music. "Eric's heart of service has really blossomed as he helps indie artists reach a fuller potential in their music and ministry" says Mike Westendorf, Milwaukee based Christian independent artist. "He cares greatly about the quality of the music and the song and works to push the artist out of their comfort zone, while also listening to what the artist wants to do with their music. As an artist, it's important for me to know that the producer gets what I'd like to do and can have the patience and ability to help grow me when I get challenged creatively. Over the past three years, I've developed that comfort level with Eric and I think the music on the upcoming CD is a testament to that comfort and his ability to pull together the best studio musicians in Nashville to help an artist pursue music with a high degree of excellence.

The opportunity to walk for a while with Creative Soul Records allows Mike to continue to develop credibility and relationships while waiting to watch and see what doors open up in the future. Mike comments, "Being a part of the Creative Soul label, is really a mark of quality, that people know that the music has been produced with excellence with the best of the best and that the artists working with Creative Soul are very serious about the music they are creating and the ministries they are led to pursue. So for me, it's another gift as God continues to build credibility with people, organizers, sponsors and churches. I want people to hear the message of Jesus in a relavent way so the quality needs to be excellent and walking with Creative Soul Records is another way to make that statement."

For more informaction about Creative Soul Records visit: Creative Soul Records

For more information about Mike Westendorf visit: www.mikewestendorf.com

"Undefined" Pre-Sale begins

Getting Closer!!!

We're starting up the pre-order for the new CD with a goal to raise the final $5,000 to complete the CD and bring it to a national release! Working with Nashville based Creative Soul Records and producer Eric Copeland, Mike is nearing the completion of a 10 track CD that we hope to release later this fall. With veteran and award winning Nashville session players and Grammy award winning Engineer Bill Whittington, this CD promises to deliver some of Mike's best songs to date. We'll have another CD update here in the next month or so, but for now, check out what's involved with the Pre-Order and how YOU can get your copy of the new CD and support this music mission!

Here's where we're at with the progress on the songs: Updated 7/14/2010

Song	Tracking	Vocals	Final Mix
You Are Amazing	Done	Done	Done
Undefined	Done	Done	Done
Four to Go	Done	Done	Done
Blessed is the One	Done	Done	Done
Coming Soon	Done	In progress
Open the Door	In progress
Eyes on You	Done	Done	Done
The Child Remains	Done	In progress
Four to Go - Radio Remix	Done	Done	Done
You Are Amazing - Accompaniment	Done	no vocals
You Are Amazing - acoustic (download)	Done	Done	Done
Further Up Further In (download)	Done	Done	In progress

 

Building Relationships in our communities for Jesus Sake.

1 Peter 4:7-11 - The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This year we officially introduce you to the ministry of "Share the Hope". The purpose of this ministry is to help churches and organizations create a Benefit Concert event for a "community" that they choose. The "Community" can be internal or external to the church/organization with the primary purpose to build relationships with people and communities. In the spirit of the apostle Peter who encourages us to serve others, faithfully administering God's Grace in its various forms.

This is an event that shares the hope physically and spiritually through a Christian Music Event with Professional recording and touring artist Mike Westendorf. Please READ ON to find out more about how this ministry event works and how your church can bring "Share the Hope" to your community. A full website and much more information will be coming over the course of the new year!

"Daddy Dance With Me"

Mike is making his single "Daddy Dance With Me" available as a free download for a limited time. From his 2008 Release "Color Through the Gray", Daddy Dance with Me is a father's prayer reflecting on the love and uncertainty that comes from being the father of a daughter. This has become an important song for Mike and in his music ministry as he encourages Dads and Daughters to take the time to remember the moments when they danced together and the special moments that exist between Daughters and their Dads. Click the Redeem It link and enter the code: DaddyDance

You can also purchase the single and all of Mike's music at "Indieheaven"

CD Recommendation
Indie Artist Recommendation:Stephen Bautista
Stephen is a good friend of mine and has just released his second CD called "A Childlilke Faith". Steve is perhaps one of the best song writers that I know and is one of the people that has been one of the people to push my songwriting to new levels. Never leaving a lyric untouched until it tells the story that is on his heart, while teaming up with Creative Soul Records producer Eric Copeland, he has again brought forth an album that really does challenge us to consider what it means to live with a child like faith and reach out to others with that same care and concern about Jesus. His music style is likened to James Tayler, easy to listen to in a way draws you into his vocals and the meaning in the words and story he's trying to convey. Hope you can have a chance to check out Steve's new CD at his website: www.stephenbautistamusic.com

"National Artist Recommendation: David Crowder Band
DCB recently released their latest CD entitled "Church Music" and while I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole CD myself, I've been impressed with their latest single called "How He Loves". Passionately delivered in their typical style of moving from slow and thoughtful to outright proclamation, this song has reminded me again of the basic Gospel message that Jesus Loves me this I know. Oh, how he loves us. David Crowder Band has continued to hold to their own way of writing, which could sometimes be called more of an abstract style, breaking down some of the norms of the typical Christian music. I recommend spending some time with them when you get a chance: www.davidcrowderband.com

*A Prayer Request and update for TPOG*

We've hit the summer season and have gone down to one worship service per Sunday and that's the 6:30pm evening worship. I hope you can join us sometime and just have a different worship experience and let the Lord touch you in a new way through his word, through music and communion. We ask your prayers for continued financial support for this ministry, that we can improve the building that is need of significant upgrades (a less leaky roof would be great), but also that we can fully commit to doing some of the things that we feel are opportunities on campus.

We also ask you to pray with us on the vision for College/Campus ministry and how we can serve our students, but also the greater church as we seek to be a place that empowers the ministries of college kids and other people who come into our midst. We need that vision and we need to hold to it as God directs it. Pray that TPOG may be an influence for the Gospel in the community around us and in the hearts of those who intersect with us!

You can visit this link to learn more on how to support The Point of Grace. Please click HERE

"Color Through the Gray" and "Climb the Mountain" are now available on "I Tunes"!!!

Keep in mind that these are also available for download on Indieheaven as well and to be honest, if you wanted your support to go toward this ministry, purchase the CDs/downloads through Indiheaven. IH gives the artist 100% of the donation where as Itunes usually only gives the artist 50% at best. However, we're excited that the music is getting onto other online retailers as a way to reach more people.

*Fan Faves *- You can help out the ministry by voting for our monthly song on the Indieheaven Fan Faves chart. It's an opportunity for fans and supporters to vote once/day to see how high up the chart it can go. The song for June is "Undefined" under the Rock section. So vote once/day if you'd like, we appreciate the support!

*STORE link for online orders* The STORE section has been updated on my website Indieheaven is my national distributor and they handle all the purchase functions. You can trust them with your purchase, let me know if you have any questions. You can also purchase the CDs at Northwestern Publishing House in Milwaukee and at Amazing Grace Bookstore in Bay City Michigan.