But first…

NEW WINNERS!

Congratulations go to  Terry Kelly of Kentucky, USA, who is our CD winner for this issue. Please use the “Contact” link at purepiano.com and send your name and mailing address, together with your choice for a free CD!
Congratulations also go to Rick Paulus of Indiana, USA, who is our sheet music winner. Please also use the “Contact” link and send your choice for a free sheet music selection!

The post Spring 2013 appeared first on Pure Piano.

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New Year’s Resolutions: An Oxymoron?

 By Jeff Bjorck

 Oxymorons like “rush hour” and “government intelligence” make us chuckle when we stop and think about them. I propose that we add “New Year’s resolutions” to the list of such contradictions, with the accent on the word “New.” For most of us, there is nothing new about our year’s resolutions. We simply lift old goals from the mothballs, where they have gathered dust since roughly the previous Jan. 2, and resolve that this year we will accomplish them. Christian songwriter Carolyn Arends says it well in her song New Year’s Eve:

I buy a lot of diaries
Fill them full of good intentions
Each and every New Year’s Eve
I make myself a list.
All the things I’m gonna change
Until January 2nd…

What prompts us to make New Year’s resolutions? Psychologically, points in time arbitrarily designated as beginnings, like New Year’s Day, seem to have special significance even though Jan. 1 is physically no different than Jan. 2 or Dec. 31. The same is true of arbitrary endings (e.g., 30^th birthdays, the stock market’s closing bell on any given day), and such endings and beginnings can prompt illogical behavior. For example, consider the fact that Mardi Gras—a time of feasting, decadence and impropriety—occurs the day before Lent, a time of fasting, sacrifice and contemplation. Could it be that new beginnings give us permission for both a last chance to “sin and sin boldly” and an opportunity for a renewed focus on excellence?

Striving for excellence is admirable, of course, and resolutions can be one good way to focus on doing our best. Let me suggest, however, that the main attraction of such arbitrary new beginnings is their pledge of a fresh start and a clean slate. We humans seem quite motivated to feel self-sufficient and error-free, but a quick review of even our recent past provides stark contradictory evidence. Still, fresh starts can renew the illusion of sufficiency, if only briefly, and also give us permission to ignore past failures. It is as though we bargain with ourselves. For example: “If I start a regular exercise program and stick to it, starting today, I will have permission to erase the previous months of inactivity. It will be as though I have always been in shape!”

Of course, failing to keep such bargains is costly. When we blunder, memories of previous failures gain strength, march through our present, and spill out into the future, fueled by thoughts like, “I will never be able to change this habit!” Indeed, any benefit related to all-or-nothing resolutions is quickly outweighed by their cost in the face of even one failure. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous is well known for its philosophy that an alcoholic who abstains from drinking is still only one drink away from losing sobriety. This all-or-nothing approach provides strong incentive to stay sober, but it can also prompt a person who makes one slip to feel as though “I might as well really blow it” and give up altogether.

Am I suggesting that we should abandon New Year’s resolutions? No, they can be helpful! I would, however, recommend taking a different perspective when trying to start new positive habits or eliminate old bad ones. For that perspective, I return to Carolyn Arends’ song:

….I believe it’s possible
I believe in new beginnings
‘Cause I believe in Christmas Day
And Easter morning too
And I’m convinced it’s doable
‘Cause I believe in second chances
Just the way that I believe in You

This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year’s Day

Of course, Ms. Arends is not the first person to suggest such an approach. The apostle Paul also suggested that we “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The key is found in realizing the great news that we don’t need to create “fresh starts” or “clean slates.” Christ has done both for us! Yes, it is great to initiate new attempts toward goals on Jan. 1, but Feb. 3 is also good, as is July 23 or Nov. 5! “Every day is New Year’s Day.”

Are there any practical ways to have more success when approaching resolutions? Let me make just a few observations. First, initiating resolutions requires overcoming our fear of possibly having to live with another failure. This is hard, though, because we know that we will cling to our failures, with thoughts like, “I will never forgive myself for doing that!” Why do we cling to failures? I think we do so because we want to cling to our successes, and fair is fair! If all our actions are totally within our control, then we cannot cling to successes without clutching failures too. With this in mind, try developing the following approach:

Don’t cling to your successes! Hold them loosely and release them to God with a thankful heart. Then when failures come, you can release them to God too.

Releasing both our successes and failures requires that we also stop valuing ourselves based on our accomplishments. This is hard in a world that always values persons this way. The Gospel offers a better values system, though, whereby our sense of value comes from the love that God showers on us, and by the intimate relationship into which God invites us! Of course, successes will still be fun and failures will still be sad, but they will no longer be tyrants that rule us.

Second, people typically initiate resolutions with an all-or-nothing approach. This can be a great incentive initially but it backfires with our first failure, often prompting us to discard our resolution in despair. With this in mind, try regularly repeating the following maxim to yourself:

“I am one mistake away from making one mistake, not one mistake away from spoiling everything!”

All-or-nothing approaches are perfectionistic; and perfectionism denies the human condition, our need for a Savior and His effective gift of grace! Instead, try Ms. Arends’ approach, and you will have much greater success in accomplishing your resolutions, one small step at a time!

This could start a revolution
Every day is…

One more chance to start all over
One more chance to change and grow
One more chance to grab a hold of grace
And never let it go

(C) 1997 running arends music/New Spring Publishing, a division of Brentwood Music Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)

As for me, I plan to begin my own New Year’s resolutions on January 1….and January 2….and January 3…etc.! Happy New Year!

Jeff Bjorck
 

The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Pure Piano.

NEW WINNERS!

Congratulations go to  Cathie Escorcia of Chicago, IL, who is our CD winner for this issue. Please use the “Contact” link at purepiano.com and send your name and mailing address, together with your choice for a free CD!

Congratulations also go to Nixon Joseph of Kolkata, India, who is our sheet music winner. Please also use the “Contact” link and send your choice for a free sheet music selection!

As always, EVERYONE wins with the new free download. This month’s selection is “Once In Royal David’s City” a classic Christmas carol not yet available for sale.   Click here and enjoy! (link for subscribers only)

Please remember that this download should not be copied or forwarded to anyone else. It is only for your individual use. Thanks!

CD SPECIAL ONLY FOR YOU!

In appreciation for your support, I am providing a truly special package for you as a newsletter subscriber. This unpublished link will take you to a page where you may purchase three copies of The Wondrous Gift for only $30, with free shipping in the USA. I believe this is the lowest price ever published for this CD, which lists at $14.99 at Amazon.com. Please consider solving three gift shopping needs in one step, with priority shipping that should have your CDs arriving within 2 – 3 days. There will also be no limit on quantity, so you can order 6, 9, 12, or  more if you are so inspired! This special will only last until Christmas, so check it out now, and thanks! Click here. (link for subscribers only)

NEW SHEET MUSIC AND E-SONGBOOK

As promised, all 15 hymn arrangements from my CD This I Know: Ageless Hymns of Faith are now available at terrific savings (50% off individual pricing) as an e-songbook (click here). Ordering this songbook instantly provides you with links to all 15 pdf files for you to print at home. Of course, if you already have many of these, you may still purchase those you do not yet own as individual files. Enjoy!

And remember that there are now five Christmas Carol titles available, with the recent addition of “O, Holy Night.”

Plus, remember that whenever you order four sheet music titles at one time, you automatically get one free at checkout!

NEW CD UPDATE

Work is still underway for my next CD. This new project will be a return to my own original compositions, although I will likely keep my tradition of including two hymns as bookends.  I hope to begin recording next year, and I will post updates as the project progresses.

NEW VIDEO (ALMOST)

I still plan to release a new Youtube video ( high definition) soon, featuring breathtaking images from the Hubble telescope.  Look for it in the new year.  If you have not enjoyed all my previous videos, you can do so here.

REFLECTION FOR CHRISTMAS

For those who enjoy a Christian perspective on the holidays, I offer a brief Advent Reflection which is featured on Fuller Seminary’s website, with a link to my Silent Night Video. I hope this is an encouragement.

The post Happy Holidays! appeared first on Pure Piano.

This is the text from my latest newsletter. To sign up and be eligible for prizes and free downloads, click here: NEW WINNERS! Congratulations go to  Kaitlyn Enfield from CA, who is our CD winnerfor this issue. Please use the “Contact” link at purepiano.com and send your name and mailing address, together with your choice for a free CD! Congratulations also go to Dan Griffen from MI, who is our sheet music winner. Please also use the “Contact” link and send your choice for a free sheet music selection! As always, EVERYONE wins with the new free download. This month’s selection is “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” from This I Know: Ageless Hymns of Faith.   Click here and enjoy!  Please remember that this download should not be copied or forwarded to anyone else. It is only for your individual use. Thanks! NEW SHEET MUSIC (Two New Selections!) After you listen to “‘Tis So Sweet…” please consider purchasing the new sheet music for this piece available now!  In addition, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross is also now available.  I plan to release all remaining hymn selections before the holidays, so stay tuned. Also coming soon, more Christmas Carols! NEW CD Work is underway for my next CD. With this new project, I am excited to return to my own original compositions, although I will likely include two hymns as bookends to keep with tradition!  I hope to begin recording early next year, and I will post updates as the project progresses. NEW VIDEO! I plan to release a new Youtube high definition video shortly, featuring stunning images from space.  If you have not enjoyed all my previous videos, you can do so here.   Thanks again for your support of my music! I hope to hear from you!   With appreciation,   Jeff Bjorck

The post Latest News: New Sheet Music appeared first on Pure Piano.

It is hard to believe that Purepiano.com has now been live on the Internet for roughly 15 years, virtually since the World Wide Web began going world-wide. Things have certainly have come a long way since those early days when websites were so much simpler, as the below screen shot of the first Purepiano.com home page clearly shows!

Since that time, thousands of visitors each year from around the globe have visited, shopped, or just enjoyed the music.  The site featured one CD back then, and this has expanded to a current selection of five, with a sixth on the way. In addition, an ever-growing sheet music library has proved to be a popular highlight for many Pure Piano fans. The new site adds to these popular features. Now, for the first time, every single Pure Piano track is available as an MP3, and the same is true for MP3 albums.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in my music. I hope this new website is truly enjoyable and convenient for you. Shoppers will be glad to note that every page of the store is secure (https 256-bit). Purchases are now all possible directly on site, with secure processing of credit card transactions, as well as Paypal for those who still prefer that service. All MP3 downloads are instantly accessible at considerable savings compared to other download sources, and sheet music PDFs are also instant downloads.

If you haven’t already, you will want to sign up for the Pure Piano Post, the free e-newsletter that brings you all the latest updates, as well as free downloads and prize drawings to your inbox. Enjoy your surfing, thank you for your support, and please tell a friend or two…or a thousand!☺

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