What inspired you to make the Inspiring Calm CD?
My love of God's wonderful Creation and my desire to seek out peaceful quiet places away from the crowds where I could walk, watch and listen to the birds, enjoy the sunlight streaming through the trees and just share things with God as I'm out enjoying Creation.
A key verse that inspiried me as I was thinking about producing the CD was Mark 6:31 where Jesus invited his busy and probably stressed disciples to 'Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'. I thought quite a lot about that verse and how difficult it seemed in practice to take up that invitation of Jesus' as we lead such busy lives - so I had the idea of creating a kind of 'virtual retreat' in the form of the Inspiring Calm CD so that even if we are busy we can perhaps put the CD on in the background whilst doing the daily chores or play it in the car whilst on the way somewhere.
I also have a strong desire to speak helpful and encouraging words to people that will be a lasting help to them, so that combined with my love of God's Creation inspired me to produce the CD. I wanted the CD to partly be a celebration of what God has given us in the natural world (hence the birdsong, streams, ocean waves and wind swaying the grass that you hear on the CD).
After a Prayer Meeting at our Church I was just chatting to a friend, we were just talking about our jobs and everyday things when I mentioned 'I think what I'd really like to do is produce CD's of Bible Readings to background music and birdsong, ocean waves etc'
My friend simply replied saying 'That sounds like a great idea!' It was just an 'ordinary' comment but God seemed to use that moment as a catalyst to spur me on to produce the Inspiring Calm CD. From that moment on, despite having very little free time I felt compelled to do something each day, however small that would bring closer the goal of a finished CD. A determination grew in my heart that this wouldn't just be a pipe-dream, but that with God's help the CD would actually be completed.
Are you going to produce any new CD's?
With God's help yes. I have started work on another CD which will focus on the Psalms with the main theme being 'Encouragement'. The likely title of the next CD is PSALMS: Hope & Encouragement for our Journey. - LATEST NEWS!! - this CD is now ready - you can hear samples by clicking the radio icon. (samples from Inspiring Calm play first followed by samples from the PSALMS Hope & Encouragement CD)
I would love to be able to produce more of these Christian Spoken Word CDs. God willing I plan to do another Psalms CD with Psalms that were not included on the PSALMS: Hope and Encouragement CD. It has been suggested to me that I also do a 'Words of Jesus' CD so that is another possibility.
If you feel able to promote the Inspiring Calm CD/PSALMS CD and www.inspiringcalm.com website within your own church or sphere of influence I would really appreciate that as it would help make the production of future CDs more viable.
What drew you to a meditative approach on the CD?
I think I probably naturally have a quiet reflective nature and like to think about things before I speak. Whilst being outdoors and enjoying God's Creation communing with Him seems natural and restoring. I don't consciously think 'Hey - I'm meditating here! - I just get on with sharing my thoughts with God, observing Creation around me and try to draw close to Him, praying that I'll be alert to what He might want to share with me.
I find that if I've not managed to get out for a quiet prayer walk (or cycle) for awhile I tend to get a bit restless and long to seek out that quiet place to try and restore perspective in my life. In my full-time job in the centre of a large city I'm fortunate enough to be quite close to a small park, so at lunch-times I can usually manage to escape for 10 minutes or so for a quick walk round the park, have a bit of a prayer and watch the birds/flowers in the park and come back to work for the afternoon session hopefully with a little more peace and perspective and ready to face the day to day work challenges etc.
Delivery/ Postage & Packing Costs. These delivery costs apply to any destination worldwide.
P&P for 1 copy of INSPIRING CALM CD is £1.50 For each additional INSPIRING CALM CD £0.75 is added at the checkout P&P for 1 copy of PSALMS: Hope & Encouragement CD is £1.50 for each additional PSALMS CD £0.75 is added at the checkout
Can I use your CD's during our Church Services as part of the worship?
Absolutely, I would delighted for you to make use of the Inspiring Calm CD in that way and there is no need to especially ask for my permission, although I would be delighted to hear any feedback on the CD from your Church Service.
If you are making use of the CD in that way I would really appreciate it if you could mention the Inspiring Calm CD and the website http://www.inspiringcalm.com/ so that people who are interested can find out how to get hold of a copy should they want to.
Are the CDs suitable for Small Group use?
Yes, many Church Home Groups/Prayer Groups are finding the Inspiring Calm CD and the new CD PSALMS: Hope & Encouragement for our Journey to be very useful Resources.
Me and my wife used to lead a church 'Small Home Group'. It met weekly and the Home Group night always seemed to come round so quickly! we felt we had so little time to prepare and it was always useful if there was a 'ready-made CD' that we could put on that would enhance our prayer or worship time. So when I produced the Inspiring Calm CD and the PSALMS CD I also had in mind something that could be used in Small Group settings (eg Prayer/Meditation groups, housegroups etc as well as for individual use). There are 10 tracks on the INSPIRING CALM CD and 14 tracks on the PSALMS: Hope & Encouragement CD so there is the option to play whichever track/s are most suited to your particular meeting.