Ministry in Music - SPIRITWIND - News

Where'd January go?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Does the word BLUR mean anything to you? This new year has taken off like a rocket! I mean it's like didn't we just celebrate our Savior's Birthday and now we're starring at a Groundhog's shadow!

We've been busy in the studio with Brother Dan and I'm so happy to say that number four CD entitled "I call Your Name" is about to roll off the assembly line. (Thank you Jesus, it's only been like two years! uh yeah!) Hey we've been writing and writing and playing all over, then Jim had his near death encounter on route to the studio back at the end of July, so our only excuse is, well, uh, mmm, uh, busy!

{can i really cop-out with a well used Christian phrase, "we've been waiting on the Lord" uh yeah that's it.}

All kidding aside, I for one think the wait will be worth it. I'm amazed at how the Lord has helped us put these songs together and touched our hearts as we recorded every note. It has been an awesome journey and we all feel honored that He would choose a bunch of folks like us to deliver these messages.(Especially Baby sister, oops! Sorry I couldn't resist getting a zinger in there.)

We put the final vocal's and music down on the last song this past Saturday. The anointing showed up big time, I mean BIG TIME!!! Sonnie knocked her vocal out of the park and Brother Dan laid down the sweetest piano track to date. As the songwriter I was blown away and can't wait to hear your feedback on the song.

We just got the prayer inspired cover art sent to us yesterday from our dear friend Mike 'Mountain Man' Lamborn from up in West Virginny and he did an absolutely awesome job!

( The Man's got talent! Best of all it's God inspired!)

We have about a week's worth of mix down and polishing to do then off to the mastering lab then off to the CD Factory to produce copies.

If all goes well we should have your copy of "I Call Your Name" with us at our table at CMA Florida State Rally and at every event we play there after.

I'm excited to see how the Lord uses the songs He gave us to touch hearts and lives. (We know for a fact the enemy of our souls didn't want this CD to get done. It has been a battle, but we serve a Big God and Light always defeats darkness! Hallelujah! (Somebody say "Amen" please.)

We hope to see you all real soon and get a chance to share some time together, worshiping, laughing, crying, praying and praising our Lord.

Please ride safe and share the love of Jesus everywhere you get a chance.

We love you all,

Dale

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Twas the night before Christmas

at Ron and Dee's house

not a creature was stirring

not a cat or a mouse

Ron in his recliner

taking a snooze

Dee in her closet

looking for her Christmas shoes

Ron wakes up with a great huge yawn

disturbed from his sleep

by the ringing of Dee's phone

Dee shouts "Hey Ron,

there's a man on the other end

he wants to know if you want to go for a spin"

then up on their tin roof there came such a noise

it sounded like bike week was back in full force...

as they looked out the window to their amazement and delight

sat a sleigh being pulled by eight valkyrie bikes

the man in the sleigh was a jolly old fella

all dressed up in red beneath his leathers...

He said "hey Ron get up, wipe the cobwebs from your eyes,

it's not Santa, Oh no, it's Mountain Man, hop on, lets ride!"

As the kick stands went up and the bikes were all started

just over the roar you could hear Mountain Man shouting

With a boom in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes

this is what you heard in the Holly Hill skies,

"Now Jim Dasher, now Sonnie Dancer, now Dale Prancer,

and Patty Vixen, on Cheryl Comet, on Biff Cupid,

on Richard Donner and Ellie Blitzen,

there's no time to waste, we've got lots to do

remember why you wear the colors you do

remember the Cross, what you stand for,

you ride for the child that was born on Christmas,

Our Savior, Our Lord,

Jesus Christ,

Christmas blessings to all and to all good night!"

[By Patty Kugler]

Ok I know!

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Ok, Ok, I know it's been like a hundred years since any of us have posted anything on the website. It's been a blur of sorts since Jim's accident and all the stuff in between. We've been recovering, Praising God! Working in the Studio as much as we've had time to. (God help us!) Living, working our day jobs! (Thank you Lord that we have them!) Got through Thanksgiving, ate a lot of great food, watched some awesome football, wrote a couple of new tunes, most of all we had the opportunity to play and minister at some events where God showed up wonderfully! (He never ceases to amaze!)

We are excited to have Jim back at 100% and we'll be able to get into the Studio again real soon to finish up number four CD entitled, "When I call Your Name"...we're really excited with this one! We're also beginning to plan the recording of number Five, as yet untitled. for you rockin folks you'll like this one from our electric side which may have some surprises you'll enjoy! We're still praying about the direction God wants us to go with this particular project. Can't wait, I love studio time, it's grueling sometimes and hard work, but getting the chance to slow down and work out the music is exciting.

Now that Christmas is almost here and then New Year's coming, we're really thankful that we made it through another year and can't imagine where the time went and so quickly to boot. We hope that you and your family will get totally blessed this year and that the Peace of God that passes all understanding will reside upon you.

We hope to see you all soon and have a chance to worship and praise together. Pray for us as 2012 approaches. We want God's direction and His anointing to precede us as He sends us forth.

God Bless you all

Dale

The Devil is a Lie!!!

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Most of you probably know by now that our dear brother Jim Stewart was hurt last Saturday while riding his motorcycle South bound on Rt 415 in Osteen. Ron and I were in the truck and follwing Him, as the three of us were heading down to Dan McCraw's house in Stone Island to begin some prelimary work on the next CD at Dan's studio in the Oaks.

We were a couple of cars behind Jim when a young girl lost control of her car, went off the road onto the grassy shoulder of the north bound lane, over corrected and came completely across the road into the extreme southbound lane and hit Jim...

I must admit that this was one of the most petrifiying moments I've ever experienced as I ran to where Jim lay sprawled on his back on the roadway, some 25 yards or so away from where what was left of his bike had come to rest... (my initial reaction was to ask God for His life to be spared, because fear gripped my heart and I thought he was dead as Ron and I ran to His side.)

Ron told me later that he thought the same thing.

Thank God he began to move and moan in pain, as I knelt down beside him on the hot pavement. Everything happened so fast, I grabbed his his left hand, he gave me a gorilla grip (he's a very strong fella!)and we began to pray for Jesus' help.

I have to tell ya, I haven't felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so intensely in a long long time. He relaxed and began to breath very calmly. Thank you Holy Ghost! Praise God!

(Someone said, I can't recall who it was now, that Jesus was there healing and working miracles on that roadway on that hot afternoon!) Amen!

Ron had the hardest job of all, he had to call Sonnie with the news. I think he made about ten to twenty phone calls to different people asking for prayer.

God is so good and merciful. After spending nearly a week in the Hospital and some touch and go moments, I was thrilled when Jim left a voicemail on my phone last night as He and Sonnie were on their way Home. Thank you Jesus! He's got some broken ribs and is recovering from a small lung puncture, lots of bruises and very little road rash.

It's a miracle that he survived at all, which is what one of the Deputy Sheriffs said to me at the crash site. I er we know better. The Devil is a lie and God watches over and protects his anointed servants, it's as plain and as simple as that! Recall the scripture, "touch thou not mine anointed.", {my paraphrase}

Our Friend Dan McCraw borrowed his neighbors truck and trailer and came to the crash site to get Jims bike. He said that Jim was going to have a new testimony to share about god's mercy and that obviously the Devil didn't want this new CD done and he was trying to stop it, but what was meant for evil God has turned to Good! Hallelujah and Amen Brother Dan!

There is so much more to this story than I can recount here. I do want to thank everybody who stopped immediately from what they were doing and prayed. Our Friends in CMA, ESPECIALLY!!!

There have literally been overwhelming numbers of emails, voicemails, facebooks, tweets,etc from all around the world from folks who prayed and continue to pray for his swift recovery.

Spiritwind is so grateful to everybody and we want to say thank you to the following folks; the Volusia County Sheriff's Deputies who were absolutely awesome at the scene, the EVAC team of young people, who cared for Jim at the crash site and took him to Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach, FHP Trooper Willis, who gathered all the evidence and statements from witnesses, to the young guy and young lady who stayed, saying they weren't leaving till they told the police what they witnessed, To Stanley the big fella who lived across the street,who brought out his bobcat to hoist the bike off the road and onto the trailer.

Our CMA Brothers, Biff and Terry who came to get Jim's bike from Dan's House and take it back to Daytona, the Doctors and nurses at Halifax hospital, especially the Christian one's who prayed as they served Jim's physical needs...

to all the Pastors and Churche families who went to prayer on Jim's behalf, and to those of you who support us continously with your prayers anyway, we are so touched and honored by your compassion.

Truly God is Great and His wonders will never cease to amaze and bewilder us! I believe we witnessed a miracle and the power of Jesus Christ in action last Saturday. Once again he turned trajedy into triumph for His Kingdom's sake!

It's absolutely awesome to live in His kingdom and to be under the Protection of His Mercy and Grace!

We give all praise and honor to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who truly is our shield and buckler, our high tower, our place of refuge in times of trouble. Hallelujah!

There's so much more to this story and more to come I'm sure.

Just felt I needed to post a few comments here. Keep prayin and ride safe!

God's gotcha in His hands and His eyes are upon you!

God Bless you all!

Dale

Studio Time!!!

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

We hope you all have been enjoying your summertime pursuits as much as we have.

We've been hanging out at Brother Ron's studio in Holly Hill Land working(if you want to call it that! It's hard to say it that way when it's something you love and has the anointing on it!) on CD number 4 which will be a follow up to "Arise" similar in tone and scope, a lot of pretty songs which many of you have been asking for and some new surprises.

We've also been laying down basic tracks for songs going on number 5 and 6. Both of which are probably gonna rock a tad more. Wait and see!

I'm looking forward to getting back to the Studio in the Oaks and working with brother Dan McCraw, the grand poobaah of anointed musicians and producers! Where we'll finish up all the vocals and overdubs and mastering stuff that He does so well.

We're all doing pretty well for a bunch of older guys and gals. (Sonnie's not included, She's just a kid compared to the rest of us! Oh! I almost forgot,there's little Mikey , he's the bouncing baby boy of the group, so he doesn't qualify as an old guy either, quite yet.)

Everybody that went to National East came back so blessed. Sorry I missed it, again. I've started a new job and don't have the liberty of movement at the drop of a hat that I once had. No complaints though, God gave me the perfect opportunity and I'm very humbled, blessed and amazed at just how accurately and most specifically the Father answers prayer.

I learned that if we pray His will and be absolutely honest about what we're desiring, He'll answer in His way and it's usually far better than we initially articulated. So if you need something specific done in your life, humble yourself to His will and word, make your request known in exact detail, thank Him for His gracious provision and be patient, His answers always come just in time. (His timetable not ours, by the way!) (it's called Faith for a reason.)

Would appreciate your prayers as we continue to pursue the recordings. It is fun as I've said before, but it takes a lot of work. But I guess anything worth doing well, is well worth the effort, eh? It's all the more thrilling when you do things as unto the Lord. His burden is light and His way is easy. Hallelujah!!!

We praise God for you and your ministry to the lost and hurting and lonely and unloved. We pray fervently that you never loose your zeal and compassion. God Bless you all! Ride safe!

Blessings,
Dale

Summertime!!!!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Well here we are again. It's good ole summertime and we're just starting our annual break to get some recording done.(finally!) Take some trips, Jim and Sonnie, Ron and Dee and Mikey and Patty are off to CMA nationals in about a week. That will be an exciting time to hang out with friends and CMA family up in Georgia. Pray for safety on the road and that they come back refreshed and excited for the Kingdom!

Please keep us all in your prayers as we are in studio mode. All though extremely fun to do, It's a lot harder than you may think and can get very tedious at times. We pray constantly for a fresh anointing as we begin each track and press that record button. We also have a few new tunes to finish up so they can get tracked as well.

As a songwriter nothing is more satisfying than to hear one of the tunes finished just like you heard it in your head when the Father gave it to you. It's a true warm-fuzzy moment. I think the Heavenly Father feels that way about us, everytime we make a growth spurt or two in our journey to become more Christ-like. At least I'd like to think He does!

All of us need a pat on the back once in a while and we want to give one to all of you faithful brothers and sisters who support us with prayer and words of encouragement and your finances. Cause every time you buy something or other off of our table you're giving us resources to continue to travel the roads and play.

We're all in this Kingdom building process together and any of our small successes for Christ are yours as well. I guess you could call us a team of sorts and we love having you along with us.

We pray you have a blessed summer and ride safe!
Blessings
Dale

Back in the Saddle Again!

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Some of you may be old enough to remember the great Gene Autry classic. Some of you are probably scratching your head going Gene who? uh Simmons maybe! i dunno? Well some things in life are absolutely timeless and if you were born after 1970 or so, all I can say is sorry ya missed it.

(Kinda sounds like what you hear from your friends at church when you sleep-in or skip a Sunday once in a while doesn't it!)

Being an incessant fan of Saturday morning tv re-runs and serial westerns as a kid in the, oops, dare I confess it? the 1950's, must have had a fairly profound impact on me as an average American kid growing up in a small rural town.

Nowadays I often look around at the world and wonder how in the heck did we get where we are at this point in time and what happened to that laid back help yer neighbor, leave the doors unlocked,fair-play and if it ain't yours leave it be, world I once knew.

Where men were men and women were women, a marriage was between a man and a woman, on Sunday most folks went to church, stores were closed and Tv and movies were a safe form of entertainment, where the whole family could gather together and watch and laugh and even on occasion cry and not one time be embarrassed by profanity, senseless violence and gore,sexual inuendo, alternative lifestyles or worse filth, such as we are bombarded with today.

Movie theaters used to be a sanctuary of sorts, an almost magical place where a tired soul could spend about $.50 cents (which we earned by doing chores. That's country for working, for all you citified folks!) and see bigger than life heroes and heroines on the big screen.

Real actors and actresses with talent, not these mindless numbskulls of today, who we gladly plunk down $9 or 10 bucks to see. (I rarely do!)

I don't even want to get into the state of so-called music and videos of this day and age. You're smart and know what I'm talking about without me saying a thing.

All of these observations and ponderings have left me wondering quite a bit lately about just how far as a culture we've declined in the past 30 to 40 years. We've supposedly had all kinds of significant advancements in technology and information sharing along with social reform and enlightenment, Sadly however, something mysterious and dreadful has taken place, a sublime innocence or sense of kindness has escaped us along the way, which has left me somewhat puzzled and fraught with questions.

When did we loose our common national morality and sense of decency? While on this subject, what became of everyday ordinary folks conducting themselves with civility and basic respect for each other. When did honor and integrity depart from our moral code? It seems that just yesterday dignity and humility meant something. How did we loose it?

I recall that we were taught right from wrong and good manners. Also that some behavior was totally unacceptable and punishable by a good switching.

(I don't know about you but it didn't take too many for me to wise up! And for all you liberal minded folks who just fainted at the thought, I thank God I had a Dad and Mom who loved me enough to administer some good old fashioned attitude adjustment to the seat of my understanding.)

How can a nation that has "IN GOD WE TRUST" engraved on our money and monuments have become so blatantly hostile to the notion of "ONE NATION UNDER GOD?".

After revealing His power of protection and Grace and Mercy upon this nation time after time after time in our History, How could we turn our backs on our Father God and His blessings, even to the point of not allowing Him access to our schools and public gatherings.

(Have we learned nothing from History or the Scriptures of the effects of abandoning our reliance on Father God!)

I recall a simpler less arrogant time, when we had preachers come into our school during assembly to preach the good news and tell us about the kingdom of God, and some of our teachers actually prayed for us and read from the Bible in class.

We just celebrated Memorial Day and rightly so. It is a time that the whole nation should honor those brave men and women who supremely sacrificed their time, blood, and many with their lives to preserve freedom for this Great Nation.

I watched several Christian programs about veterans who did amazing things in the midst of violent conflict and everyone of those folks acknowledged that without God's help and divine protection they wouldn't be here to tell their stories.

Thank you for indulging my rambling on like this. But I do so because I think it's time we got "back in the saddle again" as Christian Americans and reminded our neighbors and fellow citizens that me must stand up for what matters in this country.

That the right to pray anywhere and anytime is a fundamental right. That the name of Jesus and God are not dirty words, but Holy Names, worthy of all honor and reverence. That God is our provider and protector and America would not be, nor can continue to be, without honoring the Holy word of God and humbling ourselves before His awesome might and power, without which, we shall surely perish.

I believe the decline in our country is directly proportional to the decline in our recognizing the need of God's presence in our everyday lives.

Father forgive this nations great sin, restore America to it's greatness, and open our eyes that we may see your truth and light. Fend off the darkness that would besiege our minds and lives with your Holy Word and by the power of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. Amen!

Blessings,
Dale

Off to State Rally 2011!!!!!!!!

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Yeahhhh!!!! It's here again! The Florida CMA State Rally! In beautiful Keystone Heights! We're on the road today to spend the weekend with many of you I hope. Yahooo! RIDE SAFE, RIDE SMART, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Can't wait to see what God has in store for us as we gather to celebrate the presence of the Father, the son Jesus Christ and the precious Holy Spirit! The goal is sharing the love of God with conviction and boldness and compassion with all those folks who are at this very moment riding down the highways of America heading for Bikeweek in Daytona Beach!

We've been looking forward to this annual event for quite a while now and sense that something special is about to unfold right before our eyes. A Kingdom moment if you will.

I pray that the Lord of the Harvest will empower, embolden and help us to gird up our loins to do the work that is required over the next several days!

I hope you can make it to the rally, if not join us in the spirit and allow the mind of Christ to infill you with His desire and purpose for you as you come to Daytona to minister.

Please pray for us as we are going ahead of the troop as the Levites of old leading the worship and praise into the fray.

I'm reassured in the peace of knowing that "the Battle belongs to the Lord" and He is well able to overcome every adversary and any adversity!

We praise God for you and maybe we'll get to share a laugh or two and a tear and prayer over the weekend!

Blessings upon you all!

Dale

We did not drop off the Earth!!

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

You may have thought that we had disappeared completely off the face of the Earth. Translated like Philip? Maybe? Or taken up by a whirlwind like Elisha or was it Elijah? I get those two mixed up all the time! Why didn't God give them normal everyday names like Billy Bob and Earl, you know down to earth monikers that we could keep separated and not confused in our little noggins. (oops I digress! Another subject for another time.)

Not to fear my friends! Just like the Holy Spirit, we've been here all along, just working and getting some rest behind the scenes, so to speak.

We've started recording the songs for CD Number 4 and 5. We've also been rehearsing new material and Praise and Worship music for the CMA Florida State Rally next weekend. We have maximum anticipation of what the Father is going to do over that weekend, to get hearts and spirits aligned to implement His plan for reaching out to all the folks who will be here for Bikeweek 2011!

We are all well and ready to get busy and can't wait to see you all at the Rally and around town during Bikeweek.
Don't forget the 9am morning services at Oasis Christ Fellowship off Rt 40 in Ormond Beach every day!

Please pray for us and that the Lord of the Harvest will infill the laborers with boldness and love for the lost who are all around us.

Ride safe, be the light, but don't forget to pass the salt!

God Bless you all!
Dale

Merry 'CHRIST'mas

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I think I can give out a hearty Christmas greeting to you from all of us at Spiritwind Ministry! Here we are less than a week away from the big day and I for one am getting into the spirit of it all finally! What I love about Christmas is when I see people genuinely loving each other and giving of themselves without hoping to receive anything in return. It's what I witnessed yesterday morning during the event at little Hollyland park in Holly Hill! A whole group of Christians from different houses of worship coming together as the body of Christ giving time, food, clothing and a whole lot of prayer to folks who don't even have a warm bed to sleep in most nights or a place to hang a hat on, much less a Holiday wreath!

We were so blessed to be asked to come and sing and play for these folks. Unfortunately for me I didn't get a chance to stay for the entire event! I know in my spirit that lives were touched, souls were saved, bodies were healed. How do I know that for sure, you ask? There was such an anointing and presence of the Holy Spirit there, it was so sweet and heavy you could cut it with a knife. I knew that our precious Heavenly Father was going to move on the hearts of all those present! I've witnessed it before and know the feeling in the spirit.

Though the morning was overcast and we had an occasional spit of rain and drizzle, nobody seemed to mind and nobody gave up on the day!

Please pray for us as we are back in the studio again and need all the help we can get. Looking forward to 2011 and the awesome move of God we're expecting to witness in this new year ahead.

We hope each and everyone of you have the most blessed Christmas ever and an extremely over the top New Year filled with God's Blessings...

Peace and Good Will toward all Men! Keep Christ in Christmas!

Dale