Latest Updates
Thank You For Your Help!
June 23, 2005
The CD entitled, "How do I begin to tell you..." is finished! What a journey of music it has been. We want to thank all of you who prayed and contributed financially toward this journey. We are excited with all that God has done and look forward to sharing it with all of you!
As the CD is now finished and other aspects of the ministry begin to take shape, more than ever we need your continued prayers! Specifically, for God's direction and guidance as to how He would have us use this tool of music to help the brokenhearted. If you know of someone who may need a copy, please contact us personally or through our website and we will make that possible for you.
Our hope and prayer is that this first endeavor with the music God has given us will not be the last. If God sees to use this in a mighty way, our heart's desire is to continue on with future musical projects that will help to get out the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
If God puts it upon your heart to help us with the last details of this project or on some future part in this ministry, we will be extremely grateful. Ultimately, we know that God is our Provider and what He asks us to do, He makes possible!
All the praise and glory belongs to the Almighty!
It's in His name and with His power that we will continue on,
Rick & Cindy
Jim & Diane
Any future donations may be made to:
Journey Through Ministries
6832 Lacey Court
Chino, CA 91710-7350
or by clicking the "Make a Donation" button.
April 1, 2005:
CD Update - Recording Begins
This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!
And what a day it was! Actually, two days full of music and creativity as the Spirit flowed through the musicians at the practice and recording session this week. The recording for the CD, “How Do I Begin To Tell You…” has begun! In some ways, it has been long in coming, in other ways, how did it get here so fast? What an amazing time!! I’d like to share some of the events of these two days with you and also some pictures that were taken!
On Wednesday, March 30th, we gathered at New Hope Christian Fellowship Church and did a practice run through for each song. It was inspiring to see musicians who had never played these songs before, play them together and bring the words and the melodies to life! “Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Eph. 4:16 (NLT)
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 Diane and Rick |
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We met at around 6:30 p.m. on the 30th, and worked into the early mornings hours, preparing the songs for laying down the first tracks on Thursday the 31st of March. Each musician brought his gifts to this session, even one who would not be on the actual recording of the CD but came along anyway, just to help fill in the gap during the practice session. (Thanks so much Clay!) “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Eph. 6:7 (NLT)
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During this practice session, the songs started to take on a life of their own, and Rick and I were amazed at what God was doing! I know as I write the words, and then pass them along to Rick, they seem to spring off the page when he sings them, but when other musicians are added in, they take on a whole new dimension! What a wonderful, creative process God has allowed us to be a part of!
After a late night, we headed home to catch a few hours of sleep, only to start in again the next day at Jeffery David’s Studio. On this day, the drums and bass guitar were recorded for the CD, while the piano, singing and guitar would only be a scratch recording, coming back later to layer on top of the drums and bass in the following weeks.
 Recording Session |
 Charted Music |
 Bobby,Matt,Scott,Rick,Diane,Jim,Jeffery,Jim |
Now, I have to be honest with you here, when I listen to a song, I can hear the drums, but I cannot hear a bass guitar all that easily. Some ears are more tuned to these things, as Jim’s are, especially when it comes to percussion since that is what he plays. He’ll say, “Do you hear the congas there?” And honesty, I have a hard time. But after being at a recording session for 12 hours, and listening to the drums and bass guitar parts being isolated and recorded, I have a whole new appreciation for them now. Just the next day I heard some music in a movie we were watching and I could pick them out no problem, enjoying now picturing the process those musicians must have gone through to see the finished product of that song!
God truly blessed the time we spent with these musicians! The heart that each one brought and the gifts God has given them to share with us had Rick, Jim and me just shaking our heads at God’s goodness! “--he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ.” Eph. 4:7 (NLT)
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The engineer, also named Jim, made sure every mike was in its perfect place. The drums were recorded with at least eight different mikes, and we could not begin until the engineer was satisfied that each drum and cymbal sounded just as it should. He even had the drummer remove the front part of his bass drum so the mike could be placed inside instead of in front of it, looking for just the right sound. |
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The producer, Jeffery, oversaw the whole project. As the hours wore on, he took charge, kept everyone on track, encouraged, and perfected each song, all with a heart of gold and a smile to match. |
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The drummer, Bobby, worked as though this project was his “baby” and gave his all to each song. During one song, he was required to create a beat sounding like a train going down the tracks, and he continued with that beat until his hands felt like they would fall off. |
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For some reason, Rick continued to play this song filled with the train beat, and the ending stretched out as Rick enjoyed a little creativity on the piano, not tired at all. Bobby just hung in there with a joyful heart, laughing when it was over. |
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The bass guitarist, Matt, also had his endurance tested on the song as he played a continuous beat on the strings of his guitar, practically wearing his thumb out in the process. Like I said, I have a new appreciation for what these two instruments and musicians bring to music! |
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The lead guitarist, Scott, though not recorded on this day and barely able to hear his own guitar during the process, pitched in when the musicians needed to bring a song home in just the right way. Directing as well as playing on one song, to make it all that it should be. |
Jim and I were there through the whole process, providing food, support and prayer for all that needed to be done, especially as the hours grew long and the musicians needed a little pick-me-up from time to time…nothing that a trip to Starbucks can’t help!
I was in the control room with the engineer when the last song ended…we heard the musicians out in the other room calling it a “wrap” but the engineer knew he needed to go out and have them run through that ending just one more time…something was not as it should be. He was tired, he was ready to go home, but he did not quit. Out he went, he let the musicians know what needed to be done, and brought the perfection to the project that would honor God all the more! I was so grateful for his heart on this project.
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The foundation has been poured with the bass and drums having been recorded--and now in the coming weeks the piano will be added, as well as other instruments that will color these songs, like a cello, an accordion on one song, a flute, vocals, percussion, and whatever else is called for to bring even more dimension to the messages shared in this music. What fun!
Please continue to pray that we will follow God’s direction on this in the coming weeks. We don’t know what we are doing but we know that God has brought the people needed to us to help guide the way. We look forward to watching God work through all those involved as these songs are brought to completion.
Please send all prayers for this CD project directly to our Father through Jesus Christ his Son--and if you would still like to contribute financially, checks can be sent to:
New Hope Christian Fellowship
Attention: Rick Beyer Project
13333 Ramona Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
Thank you to all those who have already helped us in a most generous way!!
I’ll leave you with the verse God put on Rick’s heart during the recording session:
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He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3 (NLT) |
February 13, 2005:
As of this writing, the CD, "How Do I Begin To Tell You," is about to go into
production. Rick, Cindy, Scott, Cyndi, Jim and Diane continue to walk by
faith through this whole process, not knowing exactly where it will lead but
knowing that God desires their obedience in seeing this project through to
completion.
