Debbie Fortnum
SINGER / SONGWRITER / SPEAKER / WORSHIP LEADER / PIANIST
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December 11, 2007 -- I'm sitting in my very cozy living room, yet my feet are freezing! (Nothing new during the winter, and yet the 1960's home which has lost much of its insulation makes them seem a little colder!) My new green candle that I bought in Vancouver a few weeks ago is burning like an old, consistent friend on the mantle. It smells like some amazing men's cologne, and yet twinges of cinnimon and vanilla are floating in the air... enough to remind the right side of my brain that it is Christmas! I am tired yet so very home. It was a long, 10 day Christmas Tour in Alberta. I hate being away from my family that long. Very simply, it is the sacrifice of this season of our lives. But we made it and I no longer have 21 Christmas Concerts / ministry expression times awaiting me ... now it is only EIGHT! Plus, I get to attend our Christmas Eve Service at our church!
Time to go help the kids with their homework... Although, sheesh! I'm convinced they are smarter than I, now.
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November 17, 2007 -- Greetings from this rainy but unbelievably gorgeous community of Chilliwack! Just got home from Abbotsford where I gave a 30 minute concert for over 1,000 people gathered in the streets awaiting the "LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE!" What a fun and festive time...it was so cold! Thank God my fingers remained attached to my hands through it all! I closed off with The Music of Emmanuel, so who knows... there might be some hate mail coming!
I had a fabulous time in Calgary, and I brought home the 2007 Covenant Award for INSTRUMENTAL SONG OF THE YEAR (Easter Morning Sunrise!) THANK YOU for all your wonderful support, voting and congratulations! It was wonderful to minister with Brian Doerksen that night (who brought home 6 Cov's!) The week was full of teaching, serving, ministering, mentoring other Indie Artists. I ended the week/end off with ministry at Calgary's First Alliance Church, singing two songs in each of their 3 Missions Worship Services. I came home tired, and yet very fulfilled. God is good!
Some good news: I have just signed a distribution contract with Universal Records! Here's the scoop: This February 2008, they will re-release The Beautiful Piano throughout Canada (to the secular market). This means that my little piano CD will be available in every Wal-Mart in the nation! They have been knocking on my door for 18 months now, and the Lord made it very clear to both Scott and I that it was time. More good news: They want to re-release The Christmas Piano throughout the nation next Fall 2008! It looks like I'll still be recording The Healing Piano this February as well, but that it will not be released with Universal until the Spring of 2009! You'll be hearing more about The Healing Piano this January...! PTL!
As you can imagine, you'll see some changes coming down the pike this year! While we have unspeakable peace, we still need great wisdom from God in these new waters we're treading. God is truly growing faith deep within us.
A few weeks ago, I found out through a friend and former pastor in our community, Kevin Pentland, that three teenagers became orphans when their mother died suddenly of a heart attack. (No father in the picture at all.) Charlie (19), Kati (17) and Cassie (15) Tapper have no father or extended family in the picture whatsoever. Devastated and alone, the kids were graciously taken in by Charlie's boss and family while they grieve. My mama's heart was wrenched once again by the plight of orphans. It was almost as if a lightning bolt struck my mind, and I told Kevin my crazy idea...
Long story short, Kevin and his wife Dianna rallied an amazing team from the community to make my 'lighting bolt' happen! (It's a good thing too, because I could never do anything like this alone.) Last Sunday night, November 11th at First Avenue Christian Assembly, many in the COMMUNITY and the CHURCH of CHILLIWACK gathered in an unprecedented public display of loving support for these orphaned teens! I (along with three other artists www.CourtneyRae.com and www.ChristineMagee.com and www.LisaAdrianne.com ) gave a musical concert of encouragement and those that came brough practical gifts of canned goods, toiletries, gift certificates, and a love offering to go towards the kids' special fund that is being set up with the awesome folks from the Royal Bank! There was so much stuff given that our one table turned into 10!
Last week, I was in the Seattle area attending a wonderful conference with my brother, called The Christian Musician's Summit, including an intensive Songwriting Bootcamp with folks like Brian Doerksen and Paul Baloche. Outstanding! Can't wait until next year. Unbelieveable worship leading times + concerts from Lincoln Brewster, Paul, Brian and Leanne Albrecht. All you musicians, no matter where you live, you should really think about saving up and attending this next year! http://christianmusiciansummit.com Then, my brother Matt and I led worship at his church on the Sunday with a scaled down team with Chris and Craig! (You guys were great!) It was so meaningful to lead worship with my brother!
Please do check the website calendar to see where I'll be ministering in November and December! That can guide your prayers for me. (I have 22 more 'concerts / ministry times' and one TV appearance between now and Christmas Eve!) Thanks for your prayers for Scott as he dives into Hebrew, and for the kids as they work hard at school, preparing for their Christmas Musical! Please pray for ME, my health, my heart, and that God would protect me in every sense of the word as I minister in and through His Grace this Fall and Christmas Season. FYI, I have taken many "Sabbaths" this Fall already (including a retreat just for me at a little cabin!) plus I am taking almost the entire month of January off.
With much love and gratitude to the Lord for you, my Far Away Family,
DEB :)
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AUGUST 18, 2007 We are now HOME! It is so good to be back in our home. All our patio furniture got dragged out yesterday and the trampoline put up again ( it was stolen and dumped, but we were able to retrieve it and put it into storage until we got home again. We are determined to enjoy the rest of summer to its fullest! Scott is painting the outside of our garage right now. It's looking mighty fine around here. Soon, he'll be preparing to replace the door that the robbers ruined in our home-invasion...lots to be done!
Shanna's birthday was last week. Our little smiley face just turned 12! She just changed instruments and picked up her shiney new saxophone yesterday. She has already picked it up remarkably and is playing complete songs. Moriah is keeping herself busy with Nancy Drew books and Noah is caring for his new frogs and constantly playing in his tackle box, dreaming of catching big fish with Daddy!
Tomorrow, I am ministering at Sevenoaks Alliance in Abbotsford, BC. I'm going to be singing my new missions song called SHINING LIGHTS...never sung it publically before. It is actually 95% finished, so I need to sign off, go to the piano and finish this song in honour of my friends Jack and Lynn Campbell, who will be commissioned tomorrow to the field Directors in Cambodia for Samaritan's Purse! But before I do, I want to leave something with you...
I just received the most encouraging note from a New Zealander going through a very difficult time of life. I'll tell you what I told him: Life is full of trials, disappointments, unexpected twists and turns in the road. All I can do is pray for you, and reassure you again that God is faithful and merciful -- and His grace is enough for what we face today and there will be fresh grace for tomorrow. I love Paul's words to the Church in Corinth:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
I pray that God will bring much encouragement to you today and in the days ahead. May you know that you are loved and treasured by your Father in heaven.
In His Everlasting Love,
DEB :)
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AUGUST 3, 2007 Warm Beach Camp is awesome! Scott, Moriah and I faced our fears (well, MY fears) and did the 25 feet high ropes course! I tell you...faith just isn't faith until you're walking on an Indiana Jones kind of bridge 25 feet above the earth -- and that little tiny strap hooked to the cable is going to catch you if you fall. Whew! Makes me woozy just thinking about it! I hate heights...but I'm always up for facing my fears. A good challenge is so healthy for the mind. I think our whole church needs to do something like that!
Kids all went horse-back riding today! I wish I would have had a camera so you could see Noah's face light up when he exclaimed, "Mom! That huge horse obeyed me!"
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JULY 29, 2007 My dreams woke me up early this morning with a heart full of anticipation! I was dreaming about Warm Beach Camp!!! Tomorrow a.m. we will head down to Stanwood, Washington again for for days of family camping, soul-stirring memories with 600+ other humans, and crazy FUN-filled activiites for the whole family. But today will be a day of preparation. We will begin by attending our beloved home church, and then come home to laundry and last-minute packing. Whew! It'll be a long one...
The house is 97% cleaned / organized again since the break-in. I'm not sure why, but the break-in helped us clear out even MORE stuff that we didn't need and we actually had a garage sale with my neighbour yesterday. Now THAT was one fun day in the neighbourhood!
Shanna just woke up early and so instead of blogging, I spent some precious time with her. That's all for today. Time to wake the family for church now....!
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JULY 18, 2007 We have decided to stay in Cle Elum for another week. Scott and I will be ministering together AGAIN this Sunday at Dad's church, while he and mom take some much-needed holidays away in their trailer. They LOVE camping, and this is truly the most relaxing thing for Dad to be doing. We're helping them pack the trailer and will send them away while we stay here at their home and take little day trips out to visit them. The kids are ecstatic!
I went shopping in Ellensburg, WA with my girls today. Thrift shopping, that is! We had some great 'Fortnum Girl Time' together... We got them outfitted for camp with some awesome T-shirts and shorts. Thank God for Good Will!
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JULY 17, 2007 We are incredibly grateful. Dad's heart-attack scare was an angina attack. but the cardiologists say that whatever's wrong is getting worse. They were able to get his a-rythmia settled, in order to avert a stroke, and are still alert for possible blood clots. We are glad that he's coming home! (In Dad's typical fashion, he says he's "grateful he's coming home to us too, and not feet - first!")
We love you Far Away Family. Like my sister-in-law recently said, "I am grateful for every moment of life God gives us with one another!" After all, we are here to love and to be loved...
Thank you also for your prayers, as we return home this week to grapple with our break in. Yes, while on holidays, our home was robbed. We actually took a very quick trip home last week to assess the damage and board up the back door. About $1,300+ worth of earthly stuff and cash was taken. It could have been much worse.... we actually don't own much "stuff", and everything of value (laptops, credit card stuff, printer, etc...) we brought with us to the states. PTL. The faith battle rages on...
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JULY 16, 2007 My Dad is in the back of an ambulance right now. He was having chest pains at 7:00 a.m. and mom came out to the trailer to wake us up. He needed quite a bit of convincing to go to the clinic here in Cle Elum, WA. After assessing him (and not having the proper equipment to even see if he's had a heart attack) they sent him straight across the mountain to Overlake Hospital where the best cardiologists are located. He is in good human medical hands, but even more so, he is in the best, most CAPABLE HANDS of all ... our loving Heavenly Father. Thank you for your prayers...
Heidi's wedding was beautiful. They are coming home from their honeymoon today... We'll see how this day unfolds...
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JUNE 29, 2007 "Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God's goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most disciplined. It's not a title bequeathed to the most religious. Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will be there to pull us out of the water. The apostle Paul wrote about this kind of faith: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast". Ephesians 2:8-9. The supreme force in salvation is God's grace!"
~ From the book, Grace For The Moment: Volume 1 by Max Lucado.
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JUNE 28, 2007 YAY! School is DONE! We are all relieved. The children finished well, indeed! We're kinda looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning!
Lisa and I just returned from an amazing trip to Toronto filled with new friends, radio interviews, TV, Blessings Bookstores (Brampton & Hamilton), and church services... I got to witness Lisa do her first 100 Huntley Street taping! At first she was a little nervous, but by the second song, she was her smiling self and very at home on the stage! It was wonderful to have her along. She picked my brain on music, ministry, theology, etc... every chance she could get, and I was extremely blessed by her eagerness to learn.
As soon as Lisa began to sing, I watched the faces of the producers turn from mildly interested to "wow, this girl can sing!" I took the opportunity to share with them a bit of her story, and the executive producer said, "That's it. We need to get this girl back and interview her so that others can hear her story." Yes, you can call me a proud "big sister"!
One of the most precious moments we shared together was meeting a missionary "Mini" in Brampton. She spoke such intense, empowering and personal words of encouragement into Lisa's life and then prayed for us. We were undone and could hardly go to sleep that night even though we were tired and had been ministering all day! www.LisaAdrianne.com
Now Scott and I and our kids are packing for family holidays / ministry in the States througout the month of July. If you live near the Leavenworth area, you are personally invited to my concert next Sunday night at the Church of the Nazarene in Leavenworth, Washington! Bring the church vans for a night of encouragement through music!
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JUNE 18, 2007 Just kissed the kids goodnight! They are tuckered out, physically and emotionally. Here in Canada, school is still going strong...although, I fear, the kids are not! They're quite done, and waiting for the school year to come to an end, officially that is! We have likened it to the most recent, real-life illustrations of Track & Field in our home. Therefore, these words ... "Press on kids!" "Keep up the great work!" "Finish, and finsih well!" "You can do it!" ... are being said and heard often around here these days.
Do you need to hear those words for yourself today? I know I do! Hang in there, friend. Keep on keeping on. Run like the wind until you reach the finish line. Don't stop! Give it your all. Huff and puff and use those lungs to breathe in His oxygen! For some of you, the finish line is in sight. For others of you, your powerful second wind is on its way. And you can faintly hear the roar of the great crowd of witnesses, almost as if it were in another dimension, yet closer than your skin. And best of all, Jesus Himself is running with you...right by your side...until the very end! Your Father is waiting for you at the finish line, and there is one very proud smile on His Face!
Love in Him,
DEB :)
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MAY 3, 2007 What a whirlwind these past several weeks have been. I am at my Dad & Mom's right now helping to care for my mom, who just had a massive knee replacement surgery! Poor thing! What a trooper she is. Today I helped her into a wheelchair and wheeled her up and down 3rd Street in Cle Elum! The birds were singing and the sun was shining bright; it was the first time she'd been outside for weeks. Then Dad, Mom and I went for an awesome drive in the country ... the Washington countryside is SO beautiful!
Tomorrow, I leave from Dad & Mom's to go straight to Warm Beach Camp for their second Women's Conference! Last weekend was fabulous -- so many wonderful women from all over Washington, about 450 of them. To hear these gals singing Fairest Lord Jesus and How Great Thou Art at the top of their lungs with me was simply heavenly.
What a privilege to do it all again this weekend with a whole bunch of new gals in the gorgeous setting of Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA!
On Tuesday, all three of our children were in their school musical. Our little Noah sang proudly in the choir, Shanna danced for several of the songs, and Moriah our almost-13-year-old who looked 28 with that stage make-up -- played the main character of Dr. Newheart! To see our 'little' Moriah in a long white Dr.'s lab jacket, a stethescope around her neck and a clipboard in her hand was like seeing a glimpse of the future... They all did a fabulous job and we were incredibly proud of each of them!
Please pray for Scott as he "Mr. Moms" it right now while I finish my week in Washington!
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MARCH 29, 2007 Today, thanks to ExoMedia in Langley, THE BEAUTIFUL PIANO has just come home to Mama! It is home now ...and now we're sending it away!!! The children are being so helpful as we engage in our typical mailing rituals! We're almost getting it down to a science. Thank you to many amazing people (Chris Janz, Helma Sawatzky, Pete Friesen, Craig Waddell, and all the folks at ExoMedia) the final product looks and sounds AWESOME! Thank you, thank you, thank you, to absolutely everyone who helped me create a CD that I am so proud to share with you... (Oh, and yes, thank you JEN, my dear sister and make-artist!)
Speaking of Jen, she is now managing the InSpaRation Day Spa in Abbotsford. Check it out... www.InSpaRation.ca More about that soon...
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MARCH 14th, 2007
Well, the project is officially behind schedule -- however, we have done all we can and it is flowing along 'beautifully' regardless! (People's health has to come first.) Graphics are done, and this is THE FINAL COVER! Helma has been a gem to work with. I'm still praying that it will be off the press by March 30th, but it all depends on the pressing schedule in the next 2 days matches MY schedule! I am a "volleyball mom" plus planning Noah's 8th Birthday Party tomorrow...so life is beautifully full with family right now. Thanks for your prayers for us, and my upcoming Women's Retreat this weekend in the states...
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MARCH 9, 2007
My dear friend Tia from Ohio and I were talking on the phone yesterday; Tia is also a singer / speaker! We were pleasantly surprised at how many people are buying our CDs for the express purpose of gift-giving! This warms my heart and is one of the underlying core purposes of Far Away Music's continuous discounted pricing system. My own dear mom is one of the most giving people I know. She has a gift cupboard and throughout the year, she shops for great gift items on sale and stocks her cupboards with special gifts for all kinds of occasions. She is also one of the most encouraging people I know. She has a card ministry and also stocks up on beautiful, unique encouragement cards as well. As I've heard from her and others, my TEN PACKS are being sent to specific friends and family members in order to love on them in a way that is only possible through music... You are helping to fulfill the purpose behind my music! Thank you... The world is a tough place to live sometimes. Maybe we can all help...
1.) SHARE THE LOVE! We all need little reminders that we are loved. CDs and cards are great ways to let people know you LOVE them, and that God does too! 2.) SHARE THE JOY! Life is full of reasons to celebrate! Share & spread the joy of those you love by wrapping up a CD and a card today! 3.) SHARE THE COMFORT! Sometimes we humans have difficulty with empathy. When comforting words are hard to find, sometimes a CD full of comforting, soothing music can say it best for you! (Just one song has the potential to make a heart sing forever!) Touch the hearts of those you love with the tenderness of instrumental music and / or the timeliness of prayerful, Scripture-based songs.
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MARCH 1, 2007
Well, this is the final cover that Helma and I put together after a few rounds of "E-mail Laser Tag!" Wow, I'm so grateful for computers right now...sure saves on gas! Thanks Helma, for doing such a fantastic job on on the artwork. We were trying to find 'just the right roses' when I remembered that I had taken a picture of a beautiful rose garden right here in Chilliwack. Sure enough, my own rose garden photo made it onto the front! ...
There is also a beautiful picture of a Grand Piano on the back of the cover, with the same rose theme throughout the CD! (You've probably guessed by now: I LOVE ROSES!)
Thank you for your continued prayers for this project to bless -- and reach -- many people! Love, DEB :)
The Beautiful Piano CD photo. The piano still isn't in there, but I just wanted you to see how the cover artwork is evolving! Thank you for praying! Keep up-to-date below...
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FEB. 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day! YAY! The CD is DONE! It is being mastered by Craig Waddell and the artwork is being completed by Helma Sawatzky, and I am working on the text for the CD jacket. When those are completed, we get to send it to the manufacturing plant in Langley, BC (ExoMedia Inc.) What a long and FUN process...whew! FYI: here are the songs and my line-up so far:
1. Dance of the Angels (Song for Moriah)
2. Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D
3. Easter Morning Sunrise (a tribute to Christ's Passion Week)
4. Love Divine (arrangement inspired by Mel Bowker)
5. I Thirst / Hungry (a medley of my song "I Thirst" with Katherine Scott's "Hungry")
6. Let Me Comfort You (Song for Noah--he wanted electric guitars, so he got 'em!)
7. A Shelter in the Time of Storm (with real thunder claps & rain!) arrangement inspired by Mel Bowker
8. Morning Has Broken (an uplifting hymn)
9. A Beautiful Story (also titled "Tell Me The Story of Jesus") played like a lullaby
10. Tears of Joy (Song for Shanna)
11. The Music Box Dancer (for all the little girls in the world!)
12. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (in my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs Johann Sebastian Bach ever penned)
BONUS VOCAL TRACKS
13. Love Never Fails (Duet with Chris Janz) (my tribute to marriages and families everywhere!)
14. I Am Yours
(Song for Scott) (the song I wrote for -- and sang to -- Scott on our Wedding Day on August 25, 1990)
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FEB. 10, 2007
Well, I had an unbelievable trip home last night. I was listening to Scott's Regent Professor's (Dr. Rikk Watts) lectures on my iPOD -- I was SO into it, just absolutely eating up everything I was learning; kind of in 'auto-pilot', when all of a sudden the car sputtered. I suddenly remembered in a fraction of a second that I'd forgotten to fill the car up with GAS! Yup, you guessed it...fortunately I was able to steer the car to the side of the incredibly busy #1 Hwy in between Langley and Abbotsford and took a deep breath while cars and trucks thundered past me by the hundreds. Fortunately, my cell phone was fully charged, and my dear hubby Scott drove 60 minutes to come rescue me and put enough gas in my car to get me to a gas station. I felt so stupid! He got out of the van, smiled and wrapped his arms around me and asked, "How ya doin'?!" Suddenly, I didn't feel stupid. I felt loved. Hmmmm ... I hear my own voice in the room next to me belting out the phrase, "Love never fails...".
Speaking of "Love Never Fails" ... Chris just played me his part of our DUET for "Love Never Fails" from 1st Corinthians 13! Gulp! All you Chris Janz Fanz will LOVE this collaboration indeed. (Anybody getting married this year?! I think I just recorded a song for your wedding!) I told Scott this morning that I do believe this needs to become the theme song for our entire family! I think it is very interesting that Jesus prepared his disciples for the birth of Christianity saying that people will know that they were HIS, due to their love for one another. Unfortunately, our evangelism strategies reflect everything but this, sometimes.
I'm gonna head to the piano room to prepare for my Ministry at Sardis Community Church tomorrow a.m. ...
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FEB. 9, 2007
Just got out of the vocal booth, where I recorded vocals for Scott's Love Song (the song I sang to him on our wedding day), and Love Never Fails (from 1 Corinthians 13) and some cool 'oooohs' for Easter Morning Sunrise. Now Chris is setting up his acoustic guitar to play along with me on my medley of "I Thirst" and "Hungry". Just got a phone call from my dear hubby and it is time to sign off in the studio for the day and go put my 'mommy hat' back on! However, Chris will remain on for a very late night of recording his part of the duet and mixing...
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FEB. 8, 2007
I love my family more than words can say -- I've written and dedicated a song to Moriah, Shanna, Noah and Scott on this new CD, which I think you'll love! The song I wrote for Scott was originally written and sung for him on our wedding day. (He was a bumbling mess of tears!) I was simply going to keep it as an instrumental and save the words just for us. But Chris REALLY wanted to hear the words -- so I sang it for him. He then proceeded to tell me that it is one of the best songs he's ever heard from me and strongly urged me to record the words also. I guess we're going to have TWO bonus Vocal Tracks on this instrumental CD!? So, I called home and asked Scott if he'd mind if I shared "our" song. He laughed and assured me (the hopeless romantic) that it was indeed alright if I recorded it and shared it with the world!
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FEB. 7, 2007
I have fallen in love again...with music! This might seem a little weird, or even self-agrandizing -- I don't mean it to -- but I love the music that God has put in my heart. It is a language that I love to speak. It is definitely the best way I can communicate. Even as I play the piano, record it and prepare to share this music from "The Beautiful Piano" with the world, it is comforting my own heart. It is inspiring me. It is healing me. It is giving me joy.... and the Lord knows I need His joy right now. This journey of faith that our family is traveling is both difficult and exhillarating! There have been many tears -- wondering how in the world we are going to do this! Lord...thanks for your peace and your JOY, and for the few little reminders today that You are taking care of us.
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FEB. 6, 2007
Wow...did that ever go FAST! We were on such a roll today and laid all the piano tracks -- ALL 15 of them -- in one day! In fact, we are now AHEAD of schedule! I have been in the studio for 12 hours and Chris is going strong ... right now he is adding the most unbelievable eastern / ethnic instruments to add to "Easter Morning Sunrise"! This is my song for the Church. It is a tribute to Christ's Death, Burial and Resurrection and my deepest prayer is that it will be used in combination with powerful visual aids to help seal the power of His Resurrection in the hearts of all who sea and hear it. I love the fact that it allows the visual creators in your church room to actually create! As I listen, I am lost ... in the wonder of the Biblical reality ... and the memories of scenes from the movie "The Passion of the Christ" ... in amazement that Jesus went through it all for me!
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FEBRUARY 4, 2007
Someone asked me today, 'What in the world does TTYS mean?" I laughed out loud (LOL) and said, "I can only imagine how that looks / soundsif you are not familiar with 'e-mail jargon! (And believe me, I have much to learn when it comes to e-mail jargon.) It means "I'll talk to you soon!" Isn't it funny how some of our words (in this case, lazy abbreviations) can sometimes be completely missed, glossed over or mis-understood? Chalk it up to being human. Hmmm...Talk To You Soon. It's a funny little promise, but somehow it comforts me, in a warm fuzzy, relational way. Jesus said something similar just before He ascended into Heaven. He said, "I'm going to send my Holy Spirit to be with you..." Something similar in the book of Hebrews: "I will never leave you or forsake you." He also said something similar at the end of Revelation (the final book in the Bible): "Behold, I am coming soon." My friend, those are no empty, flippy promises. Period. Take comfort and live with renewed hope today because of them!
Well, the kiddos are all tucked in bed. I'll be heading there soon myself. It is good to "get out of the way" and let God be God while I do a very human thing: SLEEP! Tomorrow, I head into Surrey to the very awesome Whitewater Studios owned by Roy Salmon, where I will begin recording my second PIANO CD with my Canadian Producer, Chris Janz. Do you sense a piano-series coming on? Ding, ding, ding - you are correct! Thank you, Far Away Friends, for your continued prayers for me as I record "The Beautiful Piano" ... another evangelistic-worship-without-words project that I think will be delightful to your senses in every way...
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JANUARY 29, 2007
Happy New Year, everyone! I have an exciting announcement to make: I am recording another CD! Next week, I'll be in the studios recording my fourth (the second in my PIANO SERIES) CD -- called "The Beautiful Piano!" Stay tuned for the play-by-play details of studio life, and my reactions as the songs come to life ... In the meantime, I'm practicing -- AND PRAYING -- like crazy! Please do join me in prayer as I prepare for this very important CD... TTYS!
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DECEMBER 25, 2006
Come be my guest ... Let me invite you into my new living-room! I am sitting on my couch with our twinkling Christmas Tree before me, my fireplace decorated with stuffed stockings, and new little "treasures" that Noah puts on the mantle every day! It is early Christmas morning and the family is still sleeping. THIS is what I love about Christmas! I can do without all the shopping malls. I can do without the traffic. I can do without the nauseatingly busy busy-ness outside the walls of my new quiet home. But inside, there is PEACE that reigns, and I am forever grateful for the PRINCE OF PEACE for coming to reign in my heart and my home this Christmas -- in a miraculous way. My prayer for each of you this Christmas: That the PRINCE OF PEACE would come to your heart and home in a miraculous way again today also...
As I stare at our twinkling Christmas Tree, awaiting the joyful chaos that will surround it in the next few hours, I am flooded with recent memories of decorating it last week! This year we broke with tradition and didn't play the Tunney's Christmas CD -- we played mine!!! (I'm sure they'll understand!) It is something I have looked forward to all year! I am also reminded of how giddy our children got that night! Our Noah even poked his head up the chimney and yelled, "Yo Santa! Y'up there?! His big sisters laughed hysterically...
I am also reminded that the living room of this house was empty two weeks ago. But when we moved in, it became a HOME! We had originally expected to move in January, but because of several factors, we were constrained to make the move in December. We were nervous because it was such a crazy time of year -- plus, I was in the middle of my Christmas Tour! The children's stability was our priority through it all, and several of you prayed heaven down upon us! (Thank you!) Scott and the kids did famously because they did ALL the packing! Funny ... we are already seeing the Lord's Hand in the weird timing of it all -- something we would have NEVER have chosen on our own because, well, I don't need to tell you how much I hate being nauseatingly busy! But it is now HOME.
The kids are doing so well with our transitions! We downsized a bit with a darling little 1960's home (in Chilliwack, 12 minutes from Ruger Place) with original hard-wood floors, and an unfinished basement for Scott to finish! Right now, I'm listening to pure silence, with the exception of the soothing sound of the furnace and the clock ticking, but in a few days I will hear saws and hammers downstairs again...I tell you, my husband is experiencing untold JOY as he works with his hands and rests from preaching and pastoral ministry. The kids not only LOVE our new home, they LOVE the huge park next door with Mt Cheam towering in the distance! Mom and Dad Fortnum have graciously come from Kelowna to Chilliwack for the month, mom is helping her daughters and grandkids, Dad is helping Scott finish the basement, and both of them are busy attending all of their grandkid's Christmas programs!
This Christmas morning, my heart is with our soldiers and their families, the war-torn countries and families therein. My heart is with my missionary friends in very dangerous lands this Christmas. My heart is with the precious orphans in Africa, and the millions of homeless, hungry individuals on this spinning planet. The lost, the last and the least. I can only pray that the PRINCE OF PEACE will reign in them as well. May the Lord free us from our 'captivity of activity' (as Beth Moore puts it) long enough to ponder what most of the world is experiencing this Christmas...and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the rest of the world as well... God is so very Sovereign, and a Masterful Story-teller. His Story isn't finished. We have one glorious future awaiting us, friends! ...
Last night, when I was singing "The Music of Emmanuel" for the final time in 2006 … on stage before 1,000+ people at Sevenoaks Alliance Church in Abbotsford, I was arrested again with a 'picture' of His Music soaring above the stratosphere and surrounding, envoloping this little planet He created! My prayer is that you will hear His beautiful music in your heart and home today ... in the silent moments (don't be afraid to make/take those silent moments throughout the next few days!) and in the joyful chaos, and even in the very difficult moments. He is ALWAYS with you. He will NEVER leave you. May His Music produce sheer gratitude in your heart and home this Christmas and throughout the whole year... Merry Christmas!
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OCTOBER 5th, 2006
I'm writing this on the way back from a very special weekend in Toronto, where I attended the 2006 Canadian Maja Awards Gala! Sitting next to me here on the plane in my bag, is a very shiny award! Far Away Friends, "To Love and to Be Loved" was awarded BEST INSPIRATIONAL / PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUM of the year! It was an incredible cultural experience as the Maja Awards is seeking to honour excellence in the Christian Music Industry and to celebrate our vast Canadian Cultural Diversity! The night included performances from Canadians of African, Caribbean and Spanish decent. It also featured the Gospel Stars Competition in which 10 outstanding Canadian singers and 6 Junior Gospel Stars competed for judges and the wildly enthusiastic crowd! Wow!
I met so many wonderful new artists & friends. Right now, I am listening to the beautiful soprano (opera!) soloist and my new friend Gratiela ( www.Gratiela.com ) sing "The Lord's Prayer" on her hymns CD, just as she did in the openning ceremonies of the Maja Awards Gala. I also met up and coming, Maja-Award-Winning Canadian Worship Artist, Tim Milner ( www.TimMilner.com ) and his adorable wife Doralee. We, and Craig Learmont of Calgary (Maja Awarded Producer of the Year) and Carolyn Friesen (Covenant nominated artist for best country gospel song of the year) all went to Boston Pizza at 1:00 a.m. and laughed at Craig's antics until we cried!
I also met beautiful French singer / songwriter Dianne Tarantino www.dtarantino.com who won the Maja Award for Cultural Performer of the Year! Then there was Toronto's own Roxanne Flagler ( www.RoxanneFlagler.com ) who won the award for Song of the Year for her breathtaking song "It Was Your Cross". After the awards, I met the amazing black singer Carlington Roberts -- oh my stars -- the boy can sing! And I'm not the only who thinks so -- he was awarded the Top Male Caribbean Gospel Singer in 2005 www.CarlingtonRoberts.com by the Caribbean Gospel Association! I came away from the Maja Awards with a deep appreciation for the INCREDIBLE intercultural talent in Canada that is still undiscovered and unrecognized. I was blown away by the absolute power-house vocal ability of these black gospel singers above the border, which are rare-er in the West than the East side of this country. It made me want to fly all of them here for my next recording!
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OCTOBER 3rd, 2006
You, Far Away Friends, are some of the coolest people on the planet. I could tell you story after encouraging story about the e-mails I get from people all around the world because YOU are talking! I know I say it often, but I mean it from my heart: Thank you! But I'm wondering if you're interested in talking some more?!! We have just learned that there is another significant way for you to support my ministry that won't cost you a dime--just 3 minutes of time. Here's how!
CCM Magazine's People's Choice Awards are in effect online, right now! There is a "tiny wittow category" for Best Independent Artist. Yup, this is where YOU can tell the largest Christian Music Magazine in the world about -- me! If you'd still like to vote for ALL your favourite artists, and include me in this "Independent Artist" category, then cast your important VOTE(s) now! Click here . The VOTING ends October 13th, and the results will be published in the January 2007 issue! (Yes, please feel free to include me in every category you wish, but you may only cast ONE e-mail ballet, otherwise you'll be disqualified.) Those in Canada or the USA, if you'd like to see 'The Great White North' (personally, I included Brian Doeksen in my voting) represented a bit more, then vote accordingly! Thanks so much, and I'll keep you posted.
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AUGUST 3rd, 2006
Just returned home from our holidays on the Oregon Coast -- AWESOME sunsets, s'mores, campfires, sand-castles, many pictures, and now -- many memories! We stayed in a lovely beach home graciously provided by a dear Far Away Friend who I met at The Firs in Bellingham, WA this past Fall. Our kids LOVED every minute of it....
We had to make some quick changes to our plans, and actually ended up sweeping through my home town of Veneta so the kids could see the home I grew up in. This is the very home where I became ill as a child, the home where God miraculously healed me, the home we laughed and cried in, my pets burried in the back yard! (My, how it has changed -- with a chimney sticking right out of my bedroom window now!) My old street, Woodland Avenue, seemed much smaller to me than it did as a kid. Oh, the hours I spent biking up and down that street!
But I also wanted to see 'Eldora's' home (we all called her 'Me Me' -- an adopted grandmother who taught me how to love, pray -- and bake!) I could hardly believe my eyes when I drove past and realized her home (which was right next to my elementary school) had been made into a little gift shop! I went in and was overcome with amazing memories and choked back the tears! (Friends, not only did I consume many cookies and drank much tea in that house, it represented a place of true safety and genuine hospitality for me and my family!) It almost echoed with Me Me's laughter! It even smelled like her--I could hardly explain to the shop owner why I was there, but after I choked it out, we ended up laughing and discovering we were both Christians! I returned to our van to get my family. You can imagine their curious looks when I threw the van door open explaiming, "You've all got to come in here and smell Eldora!" Well, long story short, that little shop ("Saving Grace Supply") is now carrying my CD's! My deepest apologies to all my friends in Veneta / Elmira / Eugene that I didn't get to see this time. There'll be a next time for sure!
The last few days of July was my Mom & Dad's 40th Anniversary / Mom's 60th Birthday Celebration. What a blast to have the entire Knighton Clan together in our parent's tiny home. We even had to put some of us in a borrowed motor home and camper. My brother Matt, and sisters Jen and Heidi and I led worship for Dad's church on Sunday! What a sweet and truly amazing time of worship. I let my big brother take the reigns in leadership and I just hung back and assisted him on vocals and keys, along with my talented sisters. It was a nice change, and I really enjoyed the rest. We haven't sung &/or worshipped on stage all together like that in 19 years! Mom and Dad felt incredibly blessed. Then, we had a big party / potluck for them afterwards! Their church (particularly Minette and the gals!) did a fantastic job of preparing for this, and bringing their best, mouth-watering dishes for all of us to share. My mouth is watering just thinking about that great food!
It is good to be home. Not sure how long this "house" on Ruger Place will be our dwelling place, but here's what I do know: we have to work like mad canines to get this place up to snuff by September. Our little house has been well-loved by the Fortnum's and our three kids! So, with our restful holidays behind us, it is now time to WORK! Here goes... !
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JULY 15th, 2006
We're all HOME now -- what a LIFE-CHANGING MISSIONS TRIP TO MEXICO -- an incredible time of building a home for the Hernandez Family in Vincente Guerrero, Mexico. There were 44 of us on our team in total, including leaders, drivers, & translators and 29 of us from our church family, Yarrow Alliance Church. Some of us built the new house; some were simply playing with/ loving the 50+ children each day that gathered around (crafts, stories, piggy back rides -- these children are neglected and adults don't 'play with them'!) And then some of us made up the 'Extreme Makeover Team' (I was on THIS team--what FUN!) Together, we lit a candle of love in that Mexican neighbourhood, so full of neglect and abuse. We know God will cause it to become a raging fire for His Glory...
It turns out that one of the most powerful experiences of my entire trip was with the mother of the house (Lucia) and my Extreme Makeover Team when the translator brought us into her existing "home". She began to weep uncontrollably, gushing her praise and thanks to GOD in the most beautiful prayer of gratitude that I've ever heard. Thank God, the translator was there with us and translated every word, things like, "Thank you dear Father for your MERCY! You have brought us friends! Your Mercy is HUGE!.... You've rescued us! Thank you..." We were weeping with her, as she then told us, that she was at the breaking point, and then the Lord answered her cries and sent US to her and her family!
The Extreme Makeover Team then went to the market, bought them new dishes, bowls, cleaning supplies, personal items, beds, bedspreads, stuffed animal for each of the kids, broom, chairs, and then took up a collection from the team members of around 3,000 pesos ($300 American) for them. I tell you this family was sleeping 6+ children on the concrete floor of a 'house' which was smaller than our bedroom. We quadroupled their space by building them a four bedroom home in 3 days with two sets of double bunk-beds! We even did a little land-scaping for them, and bought her some beautiful flowers to give them some beauty in their world of dust, rocks, concrete, brown and grey colours of the Mexican desert... (You women know these things that a hard-working mother can especially appreciate!)
The night we finished their home, we had the most beautiful time at the beach (15 minutes away from our base-camp) then an exhuberant worship time around the fire -- and then an absolutely CRAZY FUN time of fire-works and silly songs! Scott, my dear hubby was the ring leader when it came to facilitating the crazy ape behaviour! But, oh what a necessary way to unwind!
There were many experiences, including A BLACK WIDOW IN OUR TENT!! (Daddy saved the day!) On the way home through California, we travelled through 119 degree F temperatures. We all ended up jumping into Shasta Lake with all our clothes on just to try and cool off for the rest of the drive home. What an incredible journey. What love and community was shared with us as a team. This Missions Trip changed me, Scott and our two girls, age 11 & 12. We have come home with hearts overflowing with gratitude for the privilege of living in Canada...
I could write so much more, but I just wanted to THANK you for praying for me... I felt the prayers of God's people in a remarkable way as my back pain (due to my degenerative arthritis) actually decreased every day -- there is simply no explanation for this. PTL! Please continue to pray for Scott, Moriah and Shanna as they are still experiencing some symptoms of a little Mexican bug that came home with us! (Scott says they are "illegal aliens" that they hid in their tummies!)
Love always, DEB :)
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I found this today on a church website...
EIGHT WAYS YOU CAN ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTOR
1. Cut the criticism
2. Pray regularly
3. Express appreciation in writing
4. Use your skills to bless
5. Squelch gossip
6. Be openly responsive
7. Throw away the measuring stick
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MAY 27th, 2006
I'm a treasure-hunter! I love to find great stuff! I came across a great quote today, on the back of one of my 'caffeine-free' tea boxes of all places! I have been thinking about goals a lot lately, so this was interesting. It is by a gal named Joyce Sequichie Hifler from the book When the Night Bird Sings (Council Oak Books): "Plan for good. Give yourself something to look forward to and it will motivate you. When our enthusiasm lags, energy vanishes for lack of nourishment. . . . Open your mind and spirit to new understanding and new ability to overcome any problem -- especially inertia. What appears to be impossible may be the wall you can only see from your present stance. If you are willing to give thanks for something you want before you see it, you will not be disappointed. Be constant to your goals, show gratitude and one day you will look back and wonder why you doubted."
Here is the overaching Proverb (wisdom from above) that needs to guide the above wisdom: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your won understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
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One of my Far Away Friends from the Vancouver area graciously e-mailed me the other day saying that she'd love to hear more of my music on our area Christian Radio Station. But then, she went a step further and gave me some amazing advice! She told me that she didn't have the phone number or the contact email to it handy, so she asked if I would be so kind as to put this info on my website, so that even more fans could access it! What a great idea (that I should have thought of long ago!) I love it when people go the extra mile to be involved in my ministry in this way, small as it is! So here it is: If you live in northern Washington or the Lower Mainland of BC, then go ahead and REQUEST MY MUSIC ON PRAISE 106.5 FM
E-MAIL OR CALL (360) 354-5596 ! If you think that your the only listeners when it comes to Radio Stations, think again! THEY listen to YOU -- and take your suggestions very seriously, particularly when they come in consistently from fans who are loyal listeners like you!
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MAY 22nd, 2006
I'm guessing you have more blessings in your life than you realize. One billion kids on our planet went to sleep hungry last night. Why do we always seem to focus on what we DON'T have, rather than all that we DO have? We're fretting about what we'll wear in the morning, or that it doesn't quite fit right. I have visited children in Makhai, Uganda AFRICA who've never owned a pair of shoes. Hmmmm. Lord, give us the gift of perspective. Gratitude. I'm so looking forward to taking our girls to Mexico with us this July-- to gain a greater perspective on our world. I long to be a family where we celebrate every tiny little blessing. This way, we can continue to understand how fortunate -- blessed -- we are. Sometimes, we cannot appreciate all we have until we have lost it.
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MAY 13TH 2006 ("The Brilliant Family Circus") by Debbie Fortnum
The love and respect we felt from our people this past Sunday -- our RESIGNATION SUNDAY! -- was overwhelming. Several have asked “Why in the world are you leaving Yarrow Alliance when things at church have never been better?!” Well, they’re right. In one sense it is crazy to leave when things are going so well. (But what better time to leave, eh?!!) We and our church have in fact, recently come through a very difficult season that I have chosen not to share about in my newsletters or on my blog page. I do, however, speak freely about this wherever I go. However, the time has come for me to put some things in writing. I have been a Pastor's Daughter for 36 years. I have been a Pastor's Wife for almost 16 years. I have been a 'lay pastor' for over 10. I have grown up in the Evangelical Culture, and when it comes to speaking honestly and putting some indictments out on the table, I believe I have earned the right to do exactly that! Maybe I am feeling a strange kind of freedom to REALLY speak the truth in love, now that I am stepping out of the "Pastor's Wife" shadow for a while...
God’s great healing has come to us, and our church in a variety of forms; I will expand upon those forms some day. But one of the most significant forms of healing have come through the majority of respectful, Godly people that chose to stay among us and stand behind our leadership! (This week, I heard of another world-renown Leader in a nearby community who chose to do just that with his own Sr. Pastor also – we feel honoured to call this man our friend.) This corporate healing at Yarrow Alliance Church, along with renewed visionary purpose to be a Kingdom Outpost that lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ out loud, has seen a stronger Body of Believers rising up again, and growing weekly! We love our church, and we love every single human that has ever come through our doors, stayed a while, then felt they needed to leave for whatever reason. It's all very COOL! But church life has taught me/us much.
Our consumeristic, self-centered culture makes pastoral life more difficult than ever, and even dangerous to our physical, emotional and spiritual health sometimes. Everybody’s flesh is alive and well -- combined with the un-earthly expectations that can be heaped on a single servant of God, the pastor --is a poisonous, deadly combination!!! But the different forms that our evangelical culture takes, OFTEN enable our flesh to masquerade as the Spirit, which has left a wake of destruction behind many a church. As a result, in many circles, the Body of Christ is becoming more known for being “Wounders of the Healers” than “Healers of the Wounded”. (Please pray for your pastors, and resist the urge to compare and judge!)
Here's a tiny example, not from my experience. There is only one Chuck Swindoll. I love Chuck Swindoll. Have several of his books and love hearing him speak because he is one great communicator. But keep in mind that because the age of Radio and Internet has the ability to create 'instant icons' (combined with our need to compare), there are now thousands of people who wish their pastors could be, speak and write just a little bit more like Chuck Swindoll. There are several other factors contributing to this also, but suffice it to say that a quiet, dis-satisfaction is brewing in and with the real (not the radio) Church of Jesus Christ -- and it is becoming disappointed with Godly, anointed pastors who are humans too!
Swimming in this toxic soup of "disguised-flesh and un-earthly expectations" is dangerous. But I'd like to call us all -- myself included -- to step out of the poison! Let's stand up and choose to be brilliant! The kind of brilliant light that illumines Christ to a dark, dying world means stepping out of 'needing to be right' and stepping into 'wanting to be nice'! (Oh, friends let me tell you -- I struggle with this constantly and have failed at it miserably!!) It means stepping out of the inability to lovingly disagree with someone, and stepping into true, deeply-human respect. It means stepping out of 1 Corinthians 12 behaviour into 1 Corinthians 13 behaviour ("and now I will show you the most excellent way!") It means stepping out of the problem and into the solution. Stepping out of spiritual preferences, and stepping into Truth. You have no idea how much the "cringe-factor" on all of these things is crushing my conscience!!!
As a USA-bred highschool student, I will always remember the story of Cortez. Cortez was the Spanish Explorer who landed on the shores of Mexico in 1519 who endeavoured to conquer the entire land for Spain. Great hardship, difficulties and a severe battle ensued with Cortez's army, where disease and almost no resources threatened their lives. They marched inland, when Cortez suddenly ordered one of his lieutenants back to his boats. His orders were "BURN THEM"! In other words, he wanted his entire army to know that there was no escape! Retreat wasn't an option. How would your presence in your church change if you knew that retreat or escape just wasn't an option?? Would you work hard at discovering and being the solution to the problem in a Biblical way that reflected Christ's Love for His Bride -- if you knew that you could not escape to the church down the block!!?? Would you try and suck every last molecule of nourishment out of the Pastor's Sermon, even if it was "Soup and Buns" instead of "Meat & Potatoes" for a while? Would you think twice about sacrificing your loving relationships for 'being right'?!
We live in an age where the gift of choice abounds! Don't get me wrong: Choice is good! And sometimes, the puzzle pieces just can't fit together no matter how hard you try. That's not what I'm talking about. Rather, the "Choice to move to another church" is excercised far too quickly in the Body of Christ. The words "God told us to leave" are much easier to say than "God told us to stay in the most un-comfortable environment possible for my flesh!" As a result, God gets the blame for more than He cares to, and many life-lessons are unfortunately bypassed. Many relationships go unnecessarily sour. Way too many hearts get broken. Pride becomes an un-stoppable virus that gives birth to destruction. True spiritual growth becomes stunted because we have not learned to weather the storms that come with every season of every single church. Personal perfectionism masquerades as spiritual dis-satisfaction. Godliness masquerades as Pharisee-ism! Folks, I have the privilege of ministering in many churches and this 'universal disease' is rampant...and it is breaking my heart.
I'll close my BLOG BOOK with a true, personal story! A few years ago while I was still serving as the Director of Women's Ministries, my heart was broken aching with a sudden relationship-gone-sour. A gal in one of my Women's Groups "blew"! I tried hard to repair the relationship, but the harder I tried, the more I was rejected. I was forced to leave it in the very capable hands of God. Six months later, my answering machine spoke her beautiful voice into the air of my kitchen saying, “Deb, we gotta talk. Please come to my home for lunch tomorrow.” I was nervous. I was in no condition to get blasted again, because we were still going through one of the greatest hurricanes of our lives!
I pulled up into her driveway and took a deep breath! Oddly enough, her door was already open and as I stepped up to it, there she was with her arms outstretched all but running towards me. She had the biggest smile on her face that I’d ever seen. She wrapped her arms around me and wouldn’t let me go. And then she did something I’ll never forget as long as I live. It was a beautiful spring day and she took me outside to her backyard overlooking the gorgeous Chilliwack Mountains. She sat me down on a big stump and asked if I would take my sandals off. Then, she took a bowl of warm sudsy water and proceeded to wash my feet, weeping as she washed. “I’m so sorry, Deb. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for treating you like the enemy when I have been the enemy all along. Please forgive me for not respecting your leadership and for not trusting you and Scott! I’m begging you to forgive me.”
Now, you need to believe me friends, that I’M USUALLY THE ONE BEGGING FOR FORGIVENESS. No one had ever done that to me, and it hasn’t happened since. I was undone.
Immediately, as her Jesus-humility began to express itself to me, my spirit was quickened to a couple of comments that I made to her during the course of her blow-up. She didn’t remind me of any of those comments; my issues were the farthest thing from her mind—she was taking responsibility for hers! As she sat weeping at my feet, I put my hand on her shoulder and told her that I’d forgiven her long ago -- and that I was sorry for my ill-timed comments as well. We embraced, but what she did afterwards took the cake…
She took me inside to her kitchen table, reached up into her cupboard and pulled down a silver chalice. Then she plopped a Ritz cracker on a single china plate, poured Cool Aid into the chalice and read the Communion Passage from the Bible. We shared communion together! Then she served me a fantastic gourmet lunch (garlic buttered shrimp linguine) she had prepared -- just for me.
What happened that day was brilliant. It looked, smelled and felt a lot like JESUS. There we were. Two broken, weeping sisters, so very in need of our Saviour, enabled by His example and the power of the Gospel to choose to see and call out the goodness of JESUS CHRIST in the each other, instead of the sin!