NEW! PianoGraphy – Music Licensing Service
Over the past month I have been developing a music licensing service for photographers, videographers and other professionals to use my music in their media projects such as photo slide shows, videos, background music, hold music, etc. There are a ton of music licensing sites out there, but I wanted to do more one-on-one collaboration with this community and to provide extra value with an unlimited-use license and a community of like-minded individuals. So I developed PianoGraphy. Take a look and let me know what you think!
Liberty Is Personal
“Never cut what you can untie.” ~ Joseph Joubert
I have so much news to share, so hang on to your hats! But first, some pondering…
Liberty is defined as “the right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing.” This isn’t just a right to be free from governmental oppression; it applies to our friendships, too. When it comes to relationships, if we wish preserve liberty for ourselves, we must recognize and acquiesce to the liberty of our friends.
For example, a year ago we were deeply concerned for some friends who seemed to be withdrawing from us, from other friends and from church. Our first reaction was to try to fix things by making them conform to our expectations of them (i.e, violate their liberty). Our second reaction was to pray for them, love them with encouragement, and give them the space they felt they needed (i.e., preserve their liberty).
After months of praying, trusting God to work things out, they came to realize their need for us, their friends and their church. But these things take time to ferment. The key is to release them and entrust them to God’s care. Today we are closer than ever before, encouraging each other, and growing together in our walks with God.
So the next time you feel like holding on to someone too tightly, maybe it’s time to recognize their liberty. Let them go. Entrust them to God’s care by praying for them. God and time bring justice and mercy.
Operating At Full Capacity
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:24-34 NLT)
I know some of you have had a rough week this week, so I hope to encourage you as you go into the weekend.
This week I made an important decision to let go of something that promised to bring me a ton of money but would have pulled me away from what God has me doing with my inspirational music and writings.
If the statement, “You cannot serve God and money,” is true, then it begs the question, “Why do we work?” What do we do with the productive hours God grants us in our lifetime? If we work just because we need the money, then we are living below our calling. We are operating below capacity.
So let’s break it down further. We can work for money (i.e., survival), OR we can work for God (i.e., calling) by pursuing the passions and skills He has built into our unique persons. We are His creation, and so we operate best in the way he intended us to be used. What does He intend for you? Ask Him.
Here are some questions to ask yourself while pursuing His answer. What are your passions? Write them down! What are your skills? Write them down! Refuse to think about money. What is it that you alone can do, because God create you you?
Once you discover your calling, don’t set it on a shelf like a book you plan to read someday. Do at least one thing each day to move towards that calling.
You might be thinking, “But how will I pay the bills?” Certainly, your calling includes an economic model that works, but that will evolve as you do what you love to do. At this point, though, let go of the worry about money. Here’s why.
Immediately following Jesus’ statement to serve God rather than money, he says something to ease the transition away from a money-based existence.
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life–whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
“So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
So, dear friend, my challenge going into this weekend is this: money or God’s calling? Choose this day whom you will serve.
NEW! SleepBaby! iPhone/iTouch App
I find great joy when friends tell me how their children love to play my piano CDs at bedtime. Well, I decided to take my softer piano works and turn them into an iPhone/iTouch application.
Thanks to iLike.com, I now have an application, SleepBaby!, available in the iTunes App Store for $.99. Just set your iPhone/iTouch on the bedstand, in the crib or in the stroller and your little one will have peaceful music, including the piano work “Night Falls Softly”, to rest their heads and calm their spirits.
NOTE: Please ignore the ratings warning on the iTunes app page. Apparently all iLike applications were added to the store with this rating set to 12+ years old. There is nothing objectionable in this app.
FREE MUSIC!!!
During the month of July you can download ALL of my music for FREE! Honestly, don’t be afraid to download ALL of my music and to spread the word to your friends. Forward this newsletter or just send them this link. Twitter it. Post it on Facebook. Be creative!
Also, you can add one of the widgets listed at the bottom of this newsletter to your blog or website to help spread the word.
Tip: Keep Your Postal Worker From “Going Postal”
A month ago one of the male postal workers behind the counter asked if I was a minister. I wasn’t expecting to hear that! I looked at him and said, “Yes, kind of. I compose music that ministers to people.” He smiled and we went about our business.
This week I walked into the same post office, but this time I also brought a piano CD. When I gave it to the lady behind the counter, she asked if it was my music. I nodded. No joke, she grew the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on a postal worker.
So, what could you do for a postal worker this week to really make them smile? If not at the post office, what about the person who delivers your mail? the UPS guy? the FedEx guy? Go make their day!
Enjoy your weekend!
John Albert Thomas
New iPhone/iTouch App – SleepBaby!
iTunes just released my new iPhone/iTouch application, SleepBaby!, which is designed to allow parents to play soft piano music as a sleep aid for babies, but is just fine for children and adults alike.
Check out my new iPhone/iTouch application, SleepBaby!, which sells for 99 cents.
For some reason they rated the application for 12-year-olds and older, but there’s nothing offensive about my application. Try it out and let me know if you like it!
Results From June Fundraiser
Here are the results from the June Fundraiser. Thanks to all who participated!
UPDATE: Rob and Andrea Franklin made it to the Mayo clinic. The doctors said Rob has Fibromyalgia…NOT Ankylosing Spondylitis. Fortunately, this is treatable, and so they are home now. Please pray for them as there is still a long road ahead. Read their story.
John Albert Thomas began composing original, melody-based piano works when he was 12 years old. His compositions have the simplicity and thinly-layered delicacy of Mozart, combined with a contemporary sound reminiscent of Enya, George Winston, and Jim Brickman. In 1995, John graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, with a bachelors degree in Music Theory and Composition. Upon graduation he moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he now lives with his wife, Rebecca, and their four children. John has released several solo piano albums, and continues his work on future projects. 
