***WHAT'S NEW?***

Welcome to the first issue of "Still Standing," the Matt Nightingale Newsletter. I appreciate your support and interest. I hope you've had a chance to check out the website and listen to the music, and if you don't have a copy of the CD yet, you can order one online at www.mattnightingale.net, www.77s.com, www.covenantbookstore.com, and www.indieheaven.com/artists/mattnightingale. You can also pick one up at the Peninsula Covenant Church Resource Center here in Redwood City or The Door Christian Bookstore in San Carlos. I'm also happy to sell you one direct from the trunk of my car!

It's been a great month. We started off by getting the CDs in the mail literally 10 minutes before leaving to lead worship at Mt. Hermon Christian Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I was the worship leader for the Labor Day Family Camp, and it was a wonderful time. I loved the speakers, Rikk Watts and Mark Labberton, and the people were awesome. Mt. Hermon is starting to feel like home to our family.

I had the privilege of leading worship at Higher Power, a Christian Recovery Service in Foster City, CA last Friday night. There is nothing quite like singing and worshipping with people who have experienced the fact that they need God.

My producer, Mike Roe (77s, Lost Dogs), wrote about my album on the 77s website this last week. He calls it "an album of remarkable passion and candid personal confession with a hefty dose of pop confection thrown in for good measure." Check out the rest of what he has to say at www.77s.com. Click on "News."

My song "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" has been included in the soundtrack for a new independent film called "It All Goes Wrong." I don't have a lot of details, but I'll fill you in as I find out more.

***BREAKING NEWS***

"Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" has been accepted by Indieheaven for broadcast on their streaming "radio" station. My song is currently at #13, but I'm hoping that you will help make it #1! If it's in the Top 15 on October 20, it will be included on a Compilation CD released by Indieheaven. Here's what you do: Go to http://indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=radioshow, find my song in the list, click on it and then rate it from one to five stars. Of course, I can count on you to rate it FIVE stars! You can vote for it once every day, so please help!

***HOW CAN YOU HELP?***

Remember, I'm an INDIE artist (Indie=Independent), so I have no label support. I do not have a marketing department, manager or booking agent! I rely solely on word-of-mouth efforts to spread the word and the music! I want to be humble and open to whatever God wants to do with this music... whether that means 100 people hear it or 100,000. However, I have the clear impression that I am to do the best I can at promoting this music and getting it out so God can work through it!

• Pray for me! I need guidance, balance and favor from God in this endeavor.
• Buy a copy! If you haven't yet, please pick one or two up! They make great gifts and coasters too! I make the most money when you buy directly from my site, but I would love for you to buy from the other sites as well. That way we create demand.
• Encourage friends and family to sign up for the "official" mailing list on the mattnightingale.net front page. I promise I'll never use this list for anything exploitative. Some of the online stores and sites I'm trying to utilize REQUIRE that their artists have extensive mailing lists. It shows that we're serious about building a fan base.
• Ask your local Christian bookstore if they'd consider stocking my CD or even allowing me to put it there on consignment.
• If you know anyone in music production, movies, artists, management, booking, promotion, radio... Get them a copy of my music! Ask for a favor!
• Read and comment on my blog and sign the guestbook!
• If you are a member of any online community, i.e. myspace.com or other message boards, please promote my music and encourage people to visit my site.
• If you know of a venue... coffeeshop, church, etc. that would be interested in having me play, let me know!

God bless you! I am grateful for each word of encouragement, each prayer, each CD purchased or shared. I am humbled and amazed that God is working through me in this way. Remember Galatians 5:1 as we make our way through our lives this week: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Much love and many thanks...

Matt

I remember being 12. I was in, what... 6th grade? I had a little brother and sister. I liked to read and sing and play the piano. I had some really good friends. I liked to watch TV and play with my gerbils. I got good grades. Oh yeah, my dad was 34.

Now I'm 34. I have a 10-year-old who will remember me at 34. What will he remember? The stressed-out workaholic? The up-front singer/worship leader guy? The fun dad who tells silly jokes and wrestles and scratches his back? The gentle, firm, encouraging, strong, loving, godly man who walks with him and helps him navigate the path to manhood?

10 wasn't so long ago. 34 is just around the corner for him. God, help us to make this time matter. 

On the music career side, I should be up and running at CD Baby real soon... Tell your friends!

About four years and twenty minutes ago, Luanne said those magic words... "I have to push!" Panicked, I called 911, and paramedics came and carried my amazingly swollen beloved out of the house. I followed the ambulance in the van, praying for a safe delivery... Shortly after one o'clock (only ONE HOUR later), we had our beautiful twins. Emily and Zachary are two of the greatest gifts I've ever received, and I'm so grateful God blessed our family with their lives.

Hey, everybody, I'm on the 77s website! Check out 77s.com and click on the NEWS section.

I played last night at Higher Power, a Christian recovery service in Foster City. Brad Ciraulo joined me on guitar, Janet O'Brien played handdrums and percussion, and Luanne sang. I even picked up a guitar for one song. Maybe I won't do that again.  It was a great experience. I love worshipping with people who really know they need Jesus.

Well, I've had to dive into the world of shameless self-promotion. I am not comfortable with this, so if anybody wants to help, jump in with me! The thing is, I really believe I have something to say... or at least that God wants to say something through me. It's an odd mixture of having to promote myself and the music on one hand, and on the other, realizing that I've had very little, if anything, to do with this from the very beginning. God has been putting this together behind the scenes. A year ago, I had no idea I'd be doing this... I guess it boils down to doing my part, being responsble with the gifts God has given... and then truly trusting Him for the results, whether that means that 100 people hear this music or 100,000.

The CD is now being sold at The Door in San Carlos, Covenant Bookstore in Chicago, 77s.com, the Peninsula Covenant Church Resource Center, MattNightingale.net, and the trunk of my car.

And the next frontier... Radio. I'm looking into the possibility of making a single and sending it to the Christian radio stations that report to the charts. What do you think? What's the single? What's gonna make America sit up and listen?

Church tomorrow morning, then Emily and Zach's birthday lunch. They actually chose Johnny Rockets! If you're in the area, join us for worship at PCC... 9:15, 11 or 6.

G'night.

Tonight was really meaningful to me. It wasn't orchestrated... It unfolded naturally as the Holy Spirit guided us and did His work among us.

Luanne and I had been struggling with the concept of a CD release party... Invite all of our friends and loved ones to celebrate... me? I know I'm the artist here, but I still feel funny being the center of all that attention, especially when God is supposed to be the inspiration behind it all and the One who receives all the glory.

We knew we wanted to seek God, to ask for wisdom and guidance and blessing as we move forward into this season of life. The truth is, we don't know where this is going. Do I hope that people hear the music and like it? Of course... Do I hope Mac Powell hears "God of All Light" somehow and decided to record it on their "Offerings III" album? Bring it on... Am I called to go on the road and try to make a life of this thing? I highly doubt it.

But I gotta say this, too... A year ago, I wouldn't have imagined I'd be sitting in a room, surrounded by friends, listening to my voice blaring out of the speakers, celebrating what God had done. I wouldn't have ever imagined I'd have Mike Roe's phone number on speed dial on my phone. (#7, of course.) God does His thing in His time. Who knows what's next?

So we prayed. My dear friends Tony and Kathy led us in prayer, and people called out words of blessing. I heard Tony repeating again and again that we were releasing this to God, and it struck me that we were truly at a CD release party!

May it be, Lord; may I release this project to You. May it be for Your glory, Your fame.

Sweet Luanne ran the show. She welcomed everyone and emceed the proceedings. Dessert was delicious. People were packed into the Sandquist's home. Brian Rhen ran the merch table to great success. After doing all the inventory tonight, I think I'm missing only two CDs. Not too bad.

Doctor Love did not show up... Didn't really expect him to, but guess who did? Rebecca Miller, my awesome intern from this last summer. She flew in from Chicago for the party! What a cool surprise.

It's late. Tomorrow's another busy day. For tonight, I'm just grateful. I'll sleep well, confident that God has me in His hands and that my future belongs to Him.

But if anybody has connections to Third Day, get my CD to Mac, OK?

PS - It's my dad's birthday. Happy 56th, Chuck Nightingale!

Well, we're back and our time at Mount Hermon was great. Thank you to all who were praying for us. I was encouraged by the reception we received. Many people liked the music; but more importantly, I believe many people were encouraged to give their mind's attention and their heart's affection to Jesus. There were many different expressions of worship, from people standing and clapping to those who sat quietly with hands raised, to those who didn't seem to be doing much of ANYTHING, on the outside at least. I know, though, that it's not what's outside that matters. God sees our hearts and knows our thoughts.

I sold several CDs and signed some people up for the mailing list, so that's great...

Back to the grind of daily life. Auditions for the morning worship teams at church, preparations for this Sunday ("Vision Sunday" at PCC), trying to fix some kinks in the website (shipping methods and some order issues in the store), getting ready for our big blowout CD release party on Friday... Fun stuff, important stuff...

I am longing for some normalcy in my life, but "normal" is not a word often associated with my life. On top of all of this, I'm missing my wife and my kids because I'm so overloaded. Hmmm... I don't want to lose them in this whirlwind.

God of balance and health and peace, grant me serenity and centering tonight. Grant me the ability to prioritize and make healthy choices... for myself, for my family, for my work, for this music thing I get to enjoy on the side!

Good night...

Tomorrow night starts my first big gig since the release of "Still Standing." I'm leading worship for Mt. Hermon Christian Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a beautiful place. Luanne and I have taken the kids there for a week for the past two summers. We were just there in July. This is their last Family Camp of the summer... Only four days, Friday through Monday. I am taking four musicians with me, Travis Smith on bass, Janet O'Brien on percussion, John Dearborn on guitar and Luanne on vocals. We've practiced a few times, and I think it's going to be great.

There's such a funny line between worship leading and performing. I have a deep desire to do well, to impress people, to play the piano and sing with excellence. I want the band to sound great. I want people to hear my voice and my songs and want to hear more, want to check out the site, want to buy the CD... and yet, I know it's not about me. The packaging of worship is a common thing these days. Worship leaders are treated like (and act like) rock stars. There are "worship concerts" where people scream and cheer for the performers more than focus on God...

Truth is, the prideful part of me *loves* attention. I love to have the affirmation of people and the cheers of the crowd. God, help me to humble myself. May these songs lead people to YOU. May this weekend honor and glorify YOU. All I can do is honestly be myself and try to focus the attention on You. Thank You for using me in all my weakness.

I've been in talks with an independent filmmaker about including one of my songs in her movie. It's called "It All Goes Wrong," and the script is actually very funny. My song, "Always Entertaining Me," seems to fit very well with the mood and theme of the film. It's about a reality TV show that attempts to create a lot of tension and hysteria among its participants, but they end up being really nice people and all getting along, so the producers end up basically losing their minds while the "actors" all have a great time.