Pat,
wow, thanks so much for the detailed critique! I truly appreciate this and every comment from everyone!

let me address comments individually below.

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Hi Beagle,

here are my thoughts:

1) I thought the chords and melody in the "when I pray.." part complemented each other extremely well, which made it very catchy. I can imagine this being a favorite congregational sing-along in your church.


personally I thought this wouldn't necessarily make a great "congregation" song, but you're not the only one who has said that, so maybe it will! I have presented it to some churches for their use if they want.
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2) Regarding voices in the intro and again in the middle of the song:
I like this concept a lot... the idea of believers from all over the world lifting up their voices in prayer is absolutely spine-tingling! However, if you hadn't posted the credits stating the different languages I am almost certain that I would not have understood your intention. I would have wondered why you inserted random noise into the song. Something like this would work better if the song had an accompanying video, because the graphics could help to define the specific intent of the voices.

Having said that, the target audience for this song is a church congregation, and I think they would be more oriented toward recognizing the significance of the voices than a general audience would be.


Thanks! I was really looking for a creative way to get the point across and this idea came to me when we had a service with different people reading the bible in different languages. It made me think of all of the different languages that are lifted up by the millions at the same time and how God must "hear" us as a bunch of chaotic noise, but yet still hears each of us as an individual voice.
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3) I was a bit surprised but pleased when the song changed from a minor key to a major key, because that is an excellent musical adaptation of how prayer works in the attitude of the person praying. Prayer often begins mournfully, focused on self and personal need, but then elevates the inner man to an awareness that is larger than these pieces of meat we're trapped in, and eventually focuses on the joy that is available only in the new man

("For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind"... that verse, if put to music would start out in a minor key, and end up in a swelling major key)


FANTASTIC! that's exactly what I wanted to convey with that change! it's subtle since it goes from Cm to C but the feel gives you an uplift at the point where the singer "gets it".

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4) Josie is right.. if you look down the list of songs in the user showcase, those that are Christian in content consistently have fewer comments. This is partly because religion has a polarizing effect, and many here steadfastly avoid any reference to it... so the potential number of people who might comment is automatically smaller


yes, I am seeing that and I understand. that's OK. I like to listen to all kinds of music myself (as long as it's not offensive), but I know that's not necessarily true for the "other direction." thanks for the helpful direction on that!

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But shame on us of like faith if we fail to encourage one another in the use of music as a ministry. But even having said that, I'm a little cautious about dispensing praise for faith-based activity, because praise is a powerful drug that often addicts well-meaning people to the affirmation of men instead of from God.


that is absolutely true! it's a two sided coin and we have to be careful we're not praising man just for praise, but that we are encouraging each other as we are supposed to do. it's a balance!

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I doubt that's a problem for you though.. the above comment says more about me than it does about you. I hope your songs minister to your congregation, and to the world if you make them avaialable.




thanks Pat! I try, but of course we all fall short!

thanks so much for the great comments, Pat! I appreciate it and it seems like you do like the song! thanks again!

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