Time Well Spent
Recently I was asked to participate with two other churches in town in recording daily "Message Minutes" for a local radio station. I enjoyed doing this several years ago when I was pastor at Paoli United Methodist Church so I jumped at the chance.
I love radio. As an Amateur Radio operator, I have been talking into microphones for about 40 years. My "radio shack" is set up in a spare bedroom at the parsonage and has grown over the years to include, among other things, a studio microphone like the "big boys" have, a studio mixer and computer audio recording and processing equipment. So I decided this time that I would record my messages in my "home studio" instead of scheduling time in the recording booth at the radio station.
It has been a enjoyable experience. With no pressure from anyone else looking over my shoulder, I am free to record and re-record each spot until I get it "right." (sometimes as many as 5 - 10 times on some spots if mt tongue gets tied.) Then I can simply edit the clips on my computer, and email them to the radio station.
My how things have changed since the days of reel-to-reel tape recorders and cart machines!
The last time I did this (the mid-90's) we just started a reel-to-reel machine running, did a count down for each "take" and if you flubbed, you kept the machine running and just started over with a new countdown. Then the studio tech would find the "good" takes and dub them over to an endless loop "cart" machine that made cartridges about the size of an old 8-track tape that the DJ would play at the appointed hour.
Now I have my mike mixer connected to a USB port on my computer, and record to a data file that I can edit and enhance digitally with a piece of software. Then I can convert it to any of a number of different data formats which can be emailed to the station. All without leaving my home office/studio. And instead of shuffling papers, I can read my script from my computer screen or iPad. Isn't technology wonderful!
It has saved me a bunch of time and effort. But it still takes most of the morning to write, record, edit and email five one-minute devotional minutes. There is no "gadget" that will replace the hard work of wordsmithing this pastor's thoughts to fit a 60 second radio spot. (It's hard enough to make them fit into the time slot allocated for a Sunday morning sermon!)
But it is enjoyable and rewarding work. And my prayer is that the pay-off will be that this effort, and that of two other local pastors, will touch the lives of some folks who may never darken the door of any of our churches. If it does, it is time well spent and I am happy to use the talents developed through my hobby in order to help someone else.
How about you? Is there some talent or ability that you have developed through your hobby or recreation activities that God can use to touch someone else? You might need to be creative in how you apply your gift. but that just makes it all the more fun!
Jump in and have fun touching people's lives!
I'll see you in church!
Pastor Ken
I love radio. As an Amateur Radio operator, I have been talking into microphones for about 40 years. My "radio shack" is set up in a spare bedroom at the parsonage and has grown over the years to include, among other things, a studio microphone like the "big boys" have, a studio mixer and computer audio recording and processing equipment. So I decided this time that I would record my messages in my "home studio" instead of scheduling time in the recording booth at the radio station.
It has been a enjoyable experience. With no pressure from anyone else looking over my shoulder, I am free to record and re-record each spot until I get it "right." (sometimes as many as 5 - 10 times on some spots if mt tongue gets tied.) Then I can simply edit the clips on my computer, and email them to the radio station.
My how things have changed since the days of reel-to-reel tape recorders and cart machines!
The last time I did this (the mid-90's) we just started a reel-to-reel machine running, did a count down for each "take" and if you flubbed, you kept the machine running and just started over with a new countdown. Then the studio tech would find the "good" takes and dub them over to an endless loop "cart" machine that made cartridges about the size of an old 8-track tape that the DJ would play at the appointed hour.
Now I have my mike mixer connected to a USB port on my computer, and record to a data file that I can edit and enhance digitally with a piece of software. Then I can convert it to any of a number of different data formats which can be emailed to the station. All without leaving my home office/studio. And instead of shuffling papers, I can read my script from my computer screen or iPad. Isn't technology wonderful!
It has saved me a bunch of time and effort. But it still takes most of the morning to write, record, edit and email five one-minute devotional minutes. There is no "gadget" that will replace the hard work of wordsmithing this pastor's thoughts to fit a 60 second radio spot. (It's hard enough to make them fit into the time slot allocated for a Sunday morning sermon!)
But it is enjoyable and rewarding work. And my prayer is that the pay-off will be that this effort, and that of two other local pastors, will touch the lives of some folks who may never darken the door of any of our churches. If it does, it is time well spent and I am happy to use the talents developed through my hobby in order to help someone else.
How about you? Is there some talent or ability that you have developed through your hobby or recreation activities that God can use to touch someone else? You might need to be creative in how you apply your gift. but that just makes it all the more fun!
Jump in and have fun touching people's lives!
I'll see you in church!
Pastor Ken
posted by Pastor Ken Wells | 10:02 AM
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