Someone came up to me this morning and said that they didn’t realise that I was ‘Ian Smale’ the songwriter. They had just seen my name under some songs in a songbook. You see, Cathedral people only know me as ‘Deacon Ish’. I thought that is wonderful, it’s good to be ‘sort of’ incognito. Most of us Christian songwriters do not choose to become well known for writing a song, but it does give us great joy when we see people enjoying singing and playing our song and the Lord using it both to speak to and bless believer and non-believer. But…in the end all true Christian songwriters know that…

Guidance is not always easy but if we are a proud person, it will be even more difficult to hear God’s voice For any interested. Please do take a look. Every Wednesday and Sunday I post up a brand-new short Scripture song’ video on my Ishmaels Songs YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@ishmaelssongs7693 May I encourage you to subscribe and watch, and encourage others to listen to, and maybe learn 2 short and simple new Bible verse songs each week. I’d love to come and visit your Church in 2025 and I’m really excited as invites are already coming in. Please do contact me direct ( e mail ishmael@ishmael.org.uk) if you wish to…

After prayerful consideration, having had to drive in the dark through gales and rain to reach my last 2 events, I’ve decided that I will only start taking longer distance gigs after the April 5th, 2025, when I look forward to restarting my distance tours by visiting Walsall…. after the clocks have moved forward, and the evenings have got lighter. But I feel I need to still be available to visit any local Churches for a morning or early afternoon matinee event. These could be weekdays or weekends as the ‘Rough and Steep’ concert does seem to attract the more middle aged / senior audience and a midweek matinee might…

Ideal song for this Sunday Advent 2 Mentioning John the Baptist Being prayed for to be baptised / filled with Holy Spirit was one of the key moments in my life. My life / ministry would seriously be lacking in power had that not happened For any interested. Please do take a look. Every Wednesday and Sunday I post up a brand-new short Scripture song’ video on my Ishmaels Songs YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@ishmaelssongs7693 May I encourage you to subscribe and watch, and encourage others to listen to, and maybe learn 2 short and simple new Bible verse songs each week. You’ll thank me in the long run. If you are…

‘I do believe, Lord please help my unbelief’ I make the most of every opportunity to share Scripture whether in speech or in song. I didn’t do a Cathedral Family Service Talk this month so I thought I would share with you one of my favourite stories from the book of Acts. Forgive me if I speak a little quickly at times but when it’s not ‘live’ I like to keep it to around 5 minutes, when live, I allow myself a few minutes more because I’m actually there facing you and talking to you. https://www.youtube.com/@ishmaelssongs7693 You can watch it here on Ishmaels Songs YouTube channel.