God’s grace us as broad as the world is wide,
But narrow the door to enter faith’s side…
So I’ll answer this question in two parts because I was drawn to music much earlier than I was drawn to songwriting. I started playing piano when I was 5, and I played for five years which gave me a really strong background in basic musicality…
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An early temptation was to perform. I don’t mean a song or dance. I mean, I desperately wanted to bring something of value to people’s lives. We all know pastors who are great counselors. I should be good at counseling. We all know pastors who are…
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In this episode, Blake sits down with the team behind Storymakers. They discuss the process of taking a story in written word and turning it into a fully interactive zine for kids.
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Words by John Newton & William Cwirla
Arranged by Blake Flattley
LEADER: Heavenly Father, we come to you today as a worrisome people.
We become anxious about everything, and we let our concern for tomorrow consume us.
In your mercy,
Darrin Stephens on Bewitched. He was an advertising guy and I just loved the whole idea of making words and pictures work together. From a very young age I started telling people that I was going to be in advertising, “the word part, not the art part.”…
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I’m not really sure how it started. I just know it never stopped. The experimentation and play, the endless capacity for questioning and sense of wonder I had as a child were something I never quite outgrew. The impulse to create. The pursuit of the new.
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In this episode, Blake sits down with painter, Richie Deegan. They discuss his journey, moving from drumming in a rock band to becoming a full-time painter.
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Oh Spirit of Truth,
help me in my weakness
to be still and to know
that the former things have
passed away…
I grew up in a musical home. My mother played and taught piano and was the Music Director for our church and my father played acoustic guitar and sang. They also had their own Folk trio, along with a friend, and they would travel…
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An influencer tweets on Saturday night, “If your pastor doesn’t at least mention __________ today, you might want to find a new church!” A YouTube Religotician (religious politician), or is it Poligionist (political religionist), confidently proclaims that your pastor must…
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In this episode, Blake sits down with songwriter, Bill Brimer. They discuss the vocations of musician and songwriter, and where Bill finds creative inspiration.
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Text: William W. How & Blake Flattley
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams & Blake Flattley
Lord, You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
You made no mistakes when you stitched me together as a unique creation.
When I was twelve years old I started playing the guitar. I had an incredible guitar teacher. His name was Tommy Hiett. He is sort of a legend in the Dallas music scene. His approach was to have me bring him what I was listening to and he would teach me the songs I wanted to learn. I was listening to metal and punk music.
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If you have ever planted a church then you know it is nothing short of God speaking life into the daily laments of anxiety, despair, and uncertainty. Trust me, church planting is an exercise in utter self-conscious dependency.
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In this episode, Blake sits down with designer and illustrator, Tim Bauer. They discuss the creative process, finding inspiration, and knowing the why behind creating.
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Text & Tune: Martin Luther
Arranged & Performed by Blake Flattley
How Long, O Lord, Will We Be Exiled from Your House?
How long, O Lord, will we be exiled from your house?
How long will we dwell in a dry land where there is no water?