For the last five years, I’ve been recording all the messages preached at my home church on audio tape, experimenting occasionally with different forms of digital audio.

At the beginning of this year, I took the plunge and started publishing the morning sermons as an audio podcast using Wordpress and Feedburner.  Here is my current (very inefficient) workflow:

1. Record the morning message  on audio  tape.
2. Create tape label in Avery Design Pro, print and paste on the master tape and 1 copy for the tape lending library.
3. Record audio from tape to digital with laptop using Goldwave Audio Editor.
4. Save as 16bit 44.1khz .wave audio and burn 1 Master Audio CD.
5. Rip MP3 version at 44.1khz 24kbps variable bit rate stereo and upload to the  website.
6. Create entry for recording in Google Spreadsheets and link to audio file (for printable database).
7. Create Wordpress blog entry at newhopemennonite.org with full link to audio file (Feedburner takes care of the rest of the podcasting goodness).

So, what I’m looking for, I think is an efficient way to incorporate live recording direct to digital.  Maybe the best way is to just use a laptop and record direct to Goldwave or Audacity, though this may present its challenges in correct line levels etc.  A standalone MP3 recorder would probably work.  Problem is, which one?  Any of you anonymous readers have ideas?

This winter has felt unusually rainy in my experience, though that’s to be expected here in the Pacific Northwet. Today though, the sun is out in all its glory and I am loving it!

I wonder if the sun was shining when Eliza Hewitt penned the following words:

Sunshine In My Soul

There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my Light.

Refrain
O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
When the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face,
There is sunshine in the soul.

There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King,
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The songs I cannot sing.

There is springtime in my soul today,
For, when the Lord is near,
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flowers of grace appear.

There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope and praise and love,
For blessings which He gives me now,
For joys “laid up” above.

Here’s an interesting graphical depiction of all the Churches in the US. Can you picture what would happen if every one of these churches lived out true Christianity and were united under the authority of Jesus Christ?