Heart & Soul by Jeff Van Houten

100% of the proceeds of Heart & Soul will go directly to 2nd Mile Missions and their High School building project. We have a goal of raising $30,000 by November 25th but I have set no cap.

To find out more visit: http://www.2ndmilemissions.org

It was last year, almost to the day. 

I remember finding myself in the greater Chicago area at a conference with eleven or so leaders from our family business. 

It must have been the end of the last session. A challenge was being delivered to those of us gathered at the South Barrington campus along with tens of thousands of others engaged around the globe via satellite.

I don’t remember too much detail other than this…

He had my attention.

Not the speaker…

I’m not even sure who he or she was, but it was almost as if God himself sat down beside me, gave me a little poke, and said, “Jeff, I WANT IT ALL!”.

My wallet and bank account were both empty, and before I could even think thru what had just happened I found an envelope in my left hand while my other hand was buried deep into my right pocket pulling out a candy bar wrapper, a receipt, and about $.79.   

Let me back up for a minute...

For us, this event was a business trip so our meals, transportation and lodging were taken care of. On top of that, Jen (my wife) gave me $5 to spend however I wanted!

Well, day two of the conference I splurged a little and ended up purchasing a snickers bar and an orange juice, which brings us to the $.79 left over.   

So I’m sitting there with this white envelope in one hand and a small fist full of change in the other.  I stuck every last penny I had in the envelope and just before I sealed it shut I realized He wanted more...

After a few awkward rounds of internal wrestling, I reached down into my left pocket, pulled out my pen and
on the back of the envelope I wrote this...

“Take my music God, It’s yours!”. 

I licked the envelope, sealed it up, turned it over and my eyes were drawn to a quote printed on the other side. 

“God is looking for women and men who are full on for Him—people who have abandoned their own program
and are just looking for how they can use their unique talents and abilities to further God’s activities and programs in this world.  These are the people God will tap on the shoulder and say, ‘Come with me and we’re going to do something great in your lifetime.  Come, we’re going to do this together.’ “

--Bill Hybels, WCA Chairman of the Board

A year later, this is where I find myself. 

I’ve been tapped on the shoulder and I can’t ignore it anymore. I've intentionally chosen to abandon my own program surrendering it over to Him. I have committed to using my unique talent and ability to further God’s activities and programs in this world… Have you?

That’s what this new solo piano album Heart & Soul is all about.  

He plays the base line and we play the melody. For some reason most of us are content just sitting on the bench watching Him play his part over and over again.

My challenge to you is jump in and start playing your part!

This Solo Piano album is a collection of sixteen songs I have written and arranged to quietly help you or a loved one relax your body, reflect on your life, and renew your soul.

In light of the “tapping” I'll call it, I have been moved to donate 100% of the proceeds of Heart & Soul toward the building of the 2nd Mile Education Center (high school)Providing continued nutrition, education and Hope found only in Christ to the children in Bavaro, Dominican Republic.
Construction is already underway!

To find out more about the ministry of 2nd Mile Missions and additional ways you can partner with us visit: http://www.2ndmilemissions.org

Gary Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission put it this way…
“God doesn’t ask for what is needed, He asks ‘What do you have…’ then says, ‘Give it all to Me.’” (The five loaves of bread and two fishes)

What do you have?
Give it completely over to Him and watch it Multiply!

Thanks in advance for listening!

In Jesus name,
Jeff

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