Hey Everybody,

I'm writing from Chicago, where I'm taking a class at North Park Theological Seminary called History and Theology of the Evangelical Covenant Church. This class is the first of many over the next several years as I pursue ministerial credentialing in my denomination.

Theres a lot of news, so I'll try to keep this short and get to the good stuff.

Thanks to your support, "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" finished at #5 on the Indieheaven Radio chart December 31. For about 24 hours there, I was even at #1! This means that my song will go onto the Indieheaven compilation disc and distributed throughout the United States in approximately 1200 Christian bookstores! That is good news! You can look for the compilation disc to hit stores sometime April - June 2006.

I have submitted a second single to the Indieheaven Radio chart. It's called God of All Light, and I would love your support in voting for it. Remember, to vote, go to Indieheaven Radio, scroll down to my song and click it so that the song plays. Then scroll back up to the top and click on the stars. You can give me anywhere from 1/2 star to 5 stars. You can vote once every 24 hours.

I have been nominated for four Momentum Awards, including Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Artist of the Year. The Momentum Awards will be handed out at the Christian Independent Artists Summit in Nashville on March 25. You can vote for me here: Momentum Awards. You can only vote once.

Rockin' Ron, a DJ from KBCU in North Newton, Kansas, has been playing my song every Saturday night on his program. "Always Entertaining Me" ended up #16 for the year, based on listener requests and feedback. Ron is now playing "God of All Light," and both songs continue to be in his program's Top 40. Thanks, Ron!

I'm excited to be getting my first reviews in national publications. First, you can check out the current issue of Worship Musician Magazine. Reviewer Shawn McLaughlin writes, Another example of the fine music being made recently without the benefit of conventional industry distribution or marketing techniques (i.e. indie), Still Standing presents Matt Nightingale, a California area pastor of Music and Creative Arts, as a purveyor of worshipful, if not conventionally worship music that is rich in literate imagery and emotional import. It helps, of course, that the man possesses a remarkably rugged and soulful voice (think Michael McDonald minus the cotton balls) and is backed up by the legendary 77s, whose leader, Mike Roe, provides empathetic production to this collection of solid pop/rock tunes. Nightingale's vision is neatly encapsulated in a strong trio of songs that form the capstone of Still Standing. "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" is a joyous little pop gem that speaks of the wonder of God's presence in even the mundane moments of everyday existence. "Oh My Child" is breezy folk/jazz/pop that relates the joys, fears and expectations of parenthood, eventually drawing a parallel to God's role as Abba Father, while "God of All Light," perhaps the most likely congregational worship number on the disc, is a humble invitation for God to take control of every area of the worshipper's life. Amazingly enough, Nightingale has created a disc that, for all its artistic accomplishments, is most notable for how relatable it is, both thematically and in a musical sense. There is no reason that, with a little providence, Still Standing couldnt be heard on ANY Triple A format radio station in the country... it is that good.

The Phantom Tollbooth is a website that I've read for the last ten years. Its a thrill to be reviewed in its hallowed pages. Check out The Phantom Tollbooth for that very positive review.

I am excited to be one of the contributing writers on a new blog by dads, for dads called Dadbloggers. I submit an article every month on the 7th, so please check it out and join the community! While you're there, check out my latest entry, "Belonging to the Brotherhood of Men." I have appreciated seeing the responses to it. One man, a writer named Kevin Klein from Australia, enjoyed my post so much he is quoting from it on a website he writes for: www.babyzone.com. Be watching for that article to appear in the next week or so.

Remember: Still Standing is available on iTunes and at the following online locations:

www.independentbands.com
www.indieheaven.com
www.cdbaby.com
www.towerrecords.com
www.bestbuy.com
www.covenantbookstore.com
www.mattnightingale.com

All of these sites accept customer reviews, so I'd appreciate your support in that way as well. Get on there and rave about the music!

I think that's it, my friends Thanks again for all your love and support, and I'll write again soon.

Matt

I'm in Chicago today. It's Day Nine, and I still have eight days left. I am ready to be home. For those who don't know, I'm studying at North Park Theological Seminary, taking a class called "History and Theology of the Evangelical Covenant Church." It's part of my process of commissioning in the Evangelical Covenant Church. I am happy to be here, especially with good friends Tony, Brian and Sid, but it's a lot of work. 

Just a few highlights...

We arrived last Tuesday night and we've been staying at the Skokie Comfort Inn. Kinda old and run-down, but comfortable. There's a pool, weight room, free breakfast and (supposedly) free wireless access in all the rooms. Ours is intermittent.

Class... Eight hours a day learning about Swedish Covenant history. My brain reached saturation mode about three hours in. We had our first big exam yesterday. Blue book. 2-1/2 hours.

Last weekend, I was able to go to my folks' house in Mishawaka, Indiana. Saw my mom and dad; my beautiful sister, Sarah, and her beautiful family; and my grandpa... 87 next month! I can't say I miss snow, but it's fun to experience it sometimes.

While in Mishawaka on Sunday, I ran into a great old friend, Josh Petrillo, aka Wonderbox. Click here for a great account of our surprise meeting.

Watched The Producers with mom and dad before I headed out. It was  funny. Totally light, over-the-top, zany humor and great music. I think it would be much better live, but it was nice to see it...

Monday night I got to visit Jesus People USA, or JPUSA (pronounced Juh-POO-zuh). I have been interested in this community since I was in high school. I used to read their magazine, Cornerstone Magazine, and I always wanted to attend Cornerstone Festival. A small group of us got to have dinner with Glenn Kaiser (one of the founders of JPUSA and leader of Rez Band) and then get a tour of the place. It's remarkable. Hundreds of people choosing to live in community. Elderly people, handicapped people, young and old, Christian and not. It's amazing. Tons of outreach. Homeless shelter. Outreach to single moms. Education. Oh yeah, and they're a Covenant Church too. I was amazed to realize that Glenn and Wendi Kaiser have raised their family in this place... these little, hotel rooms and the community kitchen/dining room downstairs. Two of their daughters live at JPUSA along with sons-in-law and grandkids. I got to see the Cornerstone/GRRR Records offices, meet Tom, the guy who runs GRRR (gave him and Glenn copies of my CD), and hear unreleased mixes of Glenn's newest blues stuff.

Tonight Tony and I are going to see Walk the Line. Should be cool... Remember, I'm predicting Reese and Joaquin will win Oscars for their performances, especially now that they've won Golden Golbes. Unless of course Heath Ledger wins for his role in Brokeback Mountain. I think he's the only other possibility.

Over the next couple days we'll connect with some North Park University students who are connected to our church in some way: Debra, Rebecca, Jenny, Evan and Paul.

Then Saturday we move over to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and start the next phase. Saturday and Sunday I'm involved in the Worship Connection, for Covenant worship pastors and leaders. Then Tony and I have another class: Mission and Ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Then I stay for another two days, hear Brennan Manning speak at the Midwinter Conference, and head home on the 3rd. I can't wait!

Here are some cool pics from home. Apparently we've acquired a new family member in my absence. Jacob chose him. His name is Scamper.

Most of all, I'm anxious to be with my beloved Luanne again and to see these four awesome kiddos... Get ready for some big hugs, snuggles and TICKLES, you guys!

I'm totally behind in my blogging, and I don't have much time now for anything original. (Still trying to slog through my Covenant History book.) BUT, whatever you're doing... take time out and check out the BEST BLONDE JOKE I've ever read. My friend Curt over at The Happy Husband unearthed it.

I'm honored to be one of the regular contributors to a site called "Dadbloggers." My monthly offering is up today, so come check it out!

I leave in eleven days for Chicago. I'm going, along with some of my very best friends, Tony and Brian, to take a class at our denomination's seminary, North Park. It's on Covenant History and has been affectionately dubbed "I Love the Cov" over the years. I'm really excited about it on some levels, but I'm overwhelmed with everything that has to be done before I leave and all the prep for the class itself. Yesterday I got the textbook I'm supposed to read before I get there. It's called "By One Spirit," and it's only 811 pages long. Take out the footnotes, and it's still 643 pages. I just grabbed a calculator and did the math: I need to read 59 pages every day before I get there. Now normally, 59 pages a day is a cinch for me, but this material is a little... how shall I put it kindly?... dry. Let me give you a sample sentence, pulled at random from the book:

Nelson published The History of Puritans and Pilgrims in Sweden in 1901 - an obvious effort to find identities between the Mission Friends and the Congregationalists.

Here's one more, just for kicks:

Hasselquist's task in the face of these developments was to try to develop a church which would embody Lutheran structure and pietistic fervor - a church, in short, which would be enough like the Church of Sweden to placate "state church" Christians and yet devotional enough not to drive away the Revivalists.

Mmmm... Now that is some tasty reading. Light, yet flavorful.

Anyway, I'm stressed again. And as the beginning of the year has come around again, I have really been trying to live more simply... to focus on only that which is truly important. To trust in God to take care of the rest. One of the things that I'm having to face is that I do not give God enough of my time on a regular basis. I need so badly to spend time in prayer and meditation. To read the bible and seek the word of the Lord for today.

I'm attempting a new practice... well, it's really a very ancient practice... called lectio divina. Basically, you focus on a small passage of scripture and really go deep with it, trusting that God has a word for you today. I've been spending 30 minutes every morning since December 31, and it's really been good. Every day I sense God giving me a specific word to focus on... The first day was so powerful. I was away at Mission Springs for a personal retreat that morning, and I got down on my knees with Psalm 23 (from The Message) in front of me. I zeroed in on the first three verses:

GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

You can imagine what words almost leapt off the page: Catch my breath. It was like God was saying to me, "This is the path... Slow down. Seek me. Let me refresh and heal you. Catch your breath."

So that's my theme this year: Catching my breath. My blogging, which has been pretty intense in the last month or so, will have to slow down. My soul needs some time. My wife and kids need some time. I want them to see my face rather than my back sitting at this damn computer.

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Weight Watchers: My first week I lost 11 pounds, my second week I gained 4 back - Christmas - and today I had lost 7. So, in three weeks, I've lost something like 14 pounds total. Not too shabby. Anyone else out there doing WW? How's it going?

I loved this article from the Washington Post. Could it be that our world is actually becoming a more peaceful place? According to the statistics, yes.

The new issue of Lark News is out. It's fantastic as usual. Check this out: They've actually named the Most Relevant Pastor in America.

On a very sad note, Joshua's teacher from last year, a long-time Roy Cloud teacher named Bonnie Scheppler, lost her battle with lung cancer on Saturday. Peace to her memory, and comfort to her friends and family. Josh and all the kids who are mourning her loss right now, too. God, rescue us from this cursed existence of flesh and sin and death. Thanks be to Jesus, who overcomes the world!