Just too funny . . . and still great to boot! Outstanding!!!
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
A friend of mine recently met a hero of mine . . .
My young friend, Christian brother and fellow singer/guitarist Joshua Ingram (who by the way is one of my favorite professional singer/guitarist types) recently got to meet one of my all-time favorite music hero's . . . Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame.
I don't know the specifics . . . other than Josh got to spend a few minutes with Paul at a gathering in Ft. Worth, and during the conversation, Josh received Paul's blessing to sing his songs.
Special? . . . . Indeed!
I have written before that Pete Seeger, along with Peter, Paul and Mary, have shaped me musically more than any other singer/instrumentalists . . .
Well, with the possible close exception of the Beatles, The New Christie Minstrels, John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot and Crosby/Stills/Nash among about 50 others. But songs by Pete and P.P and M. were the first songs I ever learned to sing and play on guitar. I bet I have about 10 P.P. and M. CD's.
I actually had a chance a year or so ago to attend an event in the DFW area, where I might have gotten the opportunity to meet Paul Stookey. Don't know what came up that prevented me from going . . . but I would have liked the opportunity to shake his hand, and just say, "Thank you!"
That Josh had the chance to meet Paul, and be blessed by Paul to sing his songs . . . I think that is most fitting. In fact, it is very fitting indeed.
I wanted to sing professionally. In fact, it was what I was called to do. However, I lacked the courage and self-esteem, and perhaps the faith as well to risk trying to do music as a career. I guess I just cared too much about what I "thought" family and friends wanted me to do.
Josh is a courageous faithful man, husband, father . . . who is taking the risk, and from what I am learning, he is doing OK. I have been playing his CD in my office for weeks now.
Perhaps I like what Josh is doing because I am living a little vicariously through his music. Well, just a little bit.
But if anyone could add his own flair to a Paul Stookey or P. P. and M. song . . . and be successful at it . . . it would be Josh.
Josh's webpage is www.joshuaingram.com, or click here.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Thursday, October 15, 2009
To all the kids who survived the 1930 - 1970"s . . .
I received this today . . . I've seen it before, and if you know who to give credit to for writing this, I will post that info ASAP.
I was born in 1957, so I can relate to a lot to the contents of this article. It was a different day and time . . . and granted, children had an "innocence" back then. We played outside . . . a lot . . . and we went on adventures . . . we made discoveries, like watching a cocoon for hours at at time until a butterfly emerged. We wrestled, rode bikes, played sandlot sports . . . without adult supervision, because we knew that our parents would know, before we got home, if we had done something wrong or illegal.
It was a time when the trust parents had for their children, and the trust that children had in their parents was THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. We we told to act responsibly, and then given opportunity after opportunity to practice being responsible. We did chores, mowed the grass, cut down tree limbs with big hand saws, . . . we respected tools, and knew to put them back in their proper place, clean, after we were finished with them. We made our beds, helped wash the dishes, got to lick the cake batter bowl, took out the trash, washed the family car . . . all before getting the "privilege" of watching black and white TV, which in my case, only got 2 channels.
That's right . . . two channels . . . ABC and CBS. That was OK back then, because the college games, Wild World of Sports and the American Sportsman were all on ABC, and the NFL was on CBS.
We rode our bikes everywhere . . . rain or shine. And if we did something stupid, like cutting in front of a car, or riding close to someone causing them to drop a package . . . we never got a chance to make it home before another parent stopped us and gave us our "come uppence." One time I was stopped and spanked by one of the local policeman in the town we lived in . . . right in the middle of the street. (For the record, it was a fitting punishment for what I had done.) Then we had to go home, and face whichever parent who had already received a phone call about what we had done. More than once my Mom was outside waiting for me in front of the the carport, with the look which translated . . . "GET INSIDE NOWWWWWWWWW! I honestly remember the look of dissappointment on her face being far more painful for me than any spanking she ever gave me.
Some would call that "abuse." Good grief! We called it "love" . . . and were greatful our parents loved us so much that they would not offer excuses on our behalf. They marched us to whomever, and stood behind us as we formally confessed, asked forgiveness, and arranged how we would work off the damage.
Yeah, that's right . . . all the window's I broke in my life . . . I had to "work off" the cost of replacing them. That meant hard yardwork and tree trimming, or cleaning out a garage or storeroom . . . or even worse, for me . . . babysitting! M worse punishment in this regard, was shoveling 3 pickup loads of dirt and manure into a neighbors garden bed . . . and I shoveled the dirt into the pick up, and then shoveled it out onto the garden bed . . . did it all in one day.
Maybe, as I ponder it now . . . we were more a "tribe" back then . . . as it took the entire community to raise up the children. Our parents were not the only ones to hold us accountable. The neighbors and other people in the community did as well.
Today, I think I am better for it having been that way.
I feel sorry for parents today, who believe they are raising up their children alone. But, I know it is a different day and culture.
As much as I enjoy the ease technology has provided in my life . . . in the end all it has meant is my being able to do more work . . . and have time for less play.
Please read on and feel free to comment.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
To all the kids who survived the 1930 - 1970"s . . .
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered
with bright colored lead-base paints.
W e had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OKAY.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem
We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping pong paddles, or just a barehand and no one would call child services to report abuse.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn
to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all..
If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!
I was born in 1957, so I can relate to a lot to the contents of this article. It was a different day and time . . . and granted, children had an "innocence" back then. We played outside . . . a lot . . . and we went on adventures . . . we made discoveries, like watching a cocoon for hours at at time until a butterfly emerged. We wrestled, rode bikes, played sandlot sports . . . without adult supervision, because we knew that our parents would know, before we got home, if we had done something wrong or illegal.
It was a time when the trust parents had for their children, and the trust that children had in their parents was THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. We we told to act responsibly, and then given opportunity after opportunity to practice being responsible. We did chores, mowed the grass, cut down tree limbs with big hand saws, . . . we respected tools, and knew to put them back in their proper place, clean, after we were finished with them. We made our beds, helped wash the dishes, got to lick the cake batter bowl, took out the trash, washed the family car . . . all before getting the "privilege" of watching black and white TV, which in my case, only got 2 channels.
That's right . . . two channels . . . ABC and CBS. That was OK back then, because the college games, Wild World of Sports and the American Sportsman were all on ABC, and the NFL was on CBS.
We rode our bikes everywhere . . . rain or shine. And if we did something stupid, like cutting in front of a car, or riding close to someone causing them to drop a package . . . we never got a chance to make it home before another parent stopped us and gave us our "come uppence." One time I was stopped and spanked by one of the local policeman in the town we lived in . . . right in the middle of the street. (For the record, it was a fitting punishment for what I had done.) Then we had to go home, and face whichever parent who had already received a phone call about what we had done. More than once my Mom was outside waiting for me in front of the the carport, with the look which translated . . . "GET INSIDE NOWWWWWWWWW! I honestly remember the look of dissappointment on her face being far more painful for me than any spanking she ever gave me.
Some would call that "abuse." Good grief! We called it "love" . . . and were greatful our parents loved us so much that they would not offer excuses on our behalf. They marched us to whomever, and stood behind us as we formally confessed, asked forgiveness, and arranged how we would work off the damage.
Yeah, that's right . . . all the window's I broke in my life . . . I had to "work off" the cost of replacing them. That meant hard yardwork and tree trimming, or cleaning out a garage or storeroom . . . or even worse, for me . . . babysitting! M worse punishment in this regard, was shoveling 3 pickup loads of dirt and manure into a neighbors garden bed . . . and I shoveled the dirt into the pick up, and then shoveled it out onto the garden bed . . . did it all in one day.
Maybe, as I ponder it now . . . we were more a "tribe" back then . . . as it took the entire community to raise up the children. Our parents were not the only ones to hold us accountable. The neighbors and other people in the community did as well.
Today, I think I am better for it having been that way.
I feel sorry for parents today, who believe they are raising up their children alone. But, I know it is a different day and culture.
As much as I enjoy the ease technology has provided in my life . . . in the end all it has meant is my being able to do more work . . . and have time for less play.
Please read on and feel free to comment.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
To all the kids who survived the 1930 - 1970"s . . .
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered
with bright colored lead-base paints.
W e had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OKAY.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem
We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping pong paddles, or just a barehand and no one would call child services to report abuse.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn
to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all..
If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My friends new song has started me thinking . . .
Eric Folkerth is a pastoral friend of mine. He is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, poet and human rights advocate. His new song, "Tell Myself" has been speaking to me.
Now to be completely honest . . . I still don't know why . . . but then, I love and appreciate process, and I love mysteries . . . there is an answer to the question, "Why has this song moved me?" and I will discover the answer in time.
My first initial attempt at trying to figure out how this song has connected to me is perhaps somehow attached to two things I am working through in my own heart and mind.
First, one of my best friends experienced a very big emotional / relational hurt last week. And as his friend and brother, I am longing to discover how to control my own emotions to the situation, and not put on my "Superman" cape and fly in to help him . . . no I can't do that. But what I can and want to do is to become able to better listen to him as he shares his grief. He has been a friend for a long time . . . he has earned and deserves from me a listening ear and calm non-anxious presence/spirit.
Second, the fall calendarleading up to Advent and Christmas this year, both the churches calendar and my own, are as full as I have ever seen them. And, wouldn't you know it . . . I have realized that in my own anxiety, I have, at times, begun to "do things and act" the way others want me to act. That is what I promised myself several years ago that I would stop doing. Doing so is not necessarily bad . . . but I end up being so drained by the experience . . . and get out-of-balance in my life. Getting back in balance then takes an equal amount of effort.
So, I continue to ponder . . . wonder . . . pray . . . think . . . stay in balance . . .
God's grace amazes me . . . ><>
Now to be completely honest . . . I still don't know why . . . but then, I love and appreciate process, and I love mysteries . . . there is an answer to the question, "Why has this song moved me?" and I will discover the answer in time.
My first initial attempt at trying to figure out how this song has connected to me is perhaps somehow attached to two things I am working through in my own heart and mind.
First, one of my best friends experienced a very big emotional / relational hurt last week. And as his friend and brother, I am longing to discover how to control my own emotions to the situation, and not put on my "Superman" cape and fly in to help him . . . no I can't do that. But what I can and want to do is to become able to better listen to him as he shares his grief. He has been a friend for a long time . . . he has earned and deserves from me a listening ear and calm non-anxious presence/spirit.
Second, the fall calendarleading up to Advent and Christmas this year, both the churches calendar and my own, are as full as I have ever seen them. And, wouldn't you know it . . . I have realized that in my own anxiety, I have, at times, begun to "do things and act" the way others want me to act. That is what I promised myself several years ago that I would stop doing. Doing so is not necessarily bad . . . but I end up being so drained by the experience . . . and get out-of-balance in my life. Getting back in balance then takes an equal amount of effort.
So, I continue to ponder . . . wonder . . . pray . . . think . . . stay in balance . . .
God's grace amazes me . . . ><>
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
1st Church String Band at Heritage UMC this Sunday, Oct. 11th . . .
We are singing four songs this Sunday at Heritage UMC, and I will be bringing the message, titled "Witness."
The church is located on Heritage Ave. between Glade and Hall-Johnson. Services start at 10:30 AM.
Hope to see you there!
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Dear Lord ... please break me . . .
Dear and most gracious Lord, my God . . .
Please, break me.
The older I get, the more I understand how amazing your grace really is, the more you bless me with a dose of wisdom here and there . . . the more I realize how little I really know . . . and how in a state of confusion, and fear . . . I do not yeild to the Spirit . . . but try to control . . .
And at those times . . . I am probably standing more in Your way than by Your side . . .
Please Lord, break me . . . from wanting to be in control because of my being afraid of the unknown. If You are leading the way, then why am I still afraid? Break me Lord, of all that keeps me fearful.
As my personal mission in life becomes more clearer day by day . . . and as You ask me to do more things that are out-of-my comfort zone . . . to be honest, way-out-of-my comfort zone . . . things that cause my heart to leap for joy, yet which causes my mind and body to cry out in fear . . . I ask that you would give me an ample portion of Your Holy Spirit, comfort, peace and strength to make up for my sometimes weak-as-water backbone.
Please Lord, break me . . . of those things I let keep me weak . . . that keep my response on the slow side. Break me from ever thinking again . . . "I am only human." Break me from fretful worry about limits . . .
I hear you Lord . . . "Play the guitar and sing in more places . . . Learn to play piano . . . Go to Kenya . . . Pray harder and more often for more people . . . Teach more people to both learn about and live out the Bible . . . Take my ministry more to the community . . . Take members of my church with me . . . Reach out to the poor, the hungry, the naked, and to those who have no voice . . . "
Please Lord, break me . . . of my stuttering excuses and weak willed replies . . . for nothing is impossible with You . . . with You, all things are possible.
I am afraid . . . I am doubting . . . yet I will step forward because of my faith in you.
Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah . . .
Amen ><>
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Deja Vu all over again . . . I now have my grandmother's piano . . .
Wow! It's finally here.
I'm sitting only 5 feet away from it. It's like facebook in a way . . . meeting again a long lost friend.
My "friend" is my late maternal grandmother's Ivers & Pond piano. When my mother asked me what I wanted from my grandmother's estate after her death earlier this year . . . all I asked for was "Granny's piano."
When my family moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1966, my grandfather was serving the church in La Feria, TX. I think my grandmother had this piano then in the church parsonage . . . but for sure in 1968, when my grandpa retired, and they bought a home in La Feria, this piano was in their formal living room . . . in fact, it was really in the one spot that was the exact center of their home. And every where they had lived since . . . this piano went with them.
My grandmother would have it no other way.
That is how important music was to my grandmother.
That is how important this piano was to my grandmother.
This piano has most always been my friend . . . but it didn't start out that way . . . In our family, there were some holidays hosted by my grandmother, in which the children were required to sing before they got to eat.
And I was always a hungry child.
So I would stand by the piano as Granny played, and sing along the song she had chosen for me to sing. Family favorites like "Texas, Our Texas," "San Antonio Rose," "Oh, My Papa," "I'm a Little Tea Pot," and of course every Christmas song known to humanity.
Aw, who am I kidding . . . it was a blast. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Granny later bought my family a piano for our home, and gave me lessons for a while. I had my own piano book . . . and could do basic scales, etc. But I was also an athlete, and there wasn't much time for piano practice after sports practices and homework . . .
And then, I discovered the guitar. Funny thing . . . the more I had spent time on piano, the better I would be playing the guitar. I have heard this said so many times now . . . and I regret that I didn't carve out time for piano.
But then, I am such a "people person."
Anyways . . . after many years separated . . . my Granny's piano is here in my study .... oh wait, it's no longer a study . . . now it's a "studio" . . . along one wall is the piano, metronome, amp, and the guitars I have at home.
Awesome.
I played "Joyful, Joyful" on it a little while ago.
John Fogerty was right . . . it's deja vu all over again.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Monday, September 21, 2009
Upcoming dates for the 1st Church String Band . . .
The 1st Church String Band will be singing again at Heritage UMC on October 11th at the 10:30 AM worship service.
Heritage UMC is located on Heritage Avenue between Hall-Johnson and Glade.
The Band will also be performing on Friday, December 4th, at the Grapevine Housing Authority Tenants Association Christmas Party. More info on the exact time of this event to come.
We love to play and sing for people, and for charitable causes.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Friday, September 18, 2009
A tribute to Mary Travers . . . Let's all start singing!
Those of us who are in our 50's and 60's, and who got caught up in folk music when we were teens and in college, owe a lot to Peter, Paul and Mary. They have shared 50 years of singing together. And now that has come to an end with the death this week of Mary Travers.
Ah, yes . . . our beautiful, vibrant, endearing, wonderful Mary.
Yes it is a sad day, for someone we love has died . . . but, it is also a day of challenge.
Many of us can sing, many of us can still play instruments, but for many various reasons we have stopped singing over the years . . . perhaps singing became less of a priority in some way . . . perhaps at the suggestion of "other people", we were encouraged to have a more "adult" focus . . . there were families to raise, money to earn, careers to pursue.
Perhaps, it was suggested that singing was just not as important as other activities, or other more "adult" pursuits.
Can you imagine . . . being a singer, and not singing to your family?
Can you imagine . . . being a singer, and not singing with your friends and workmates?
Can you imagine . . . being a singer, and choosing to adopt other ways of dealing with life . . . seems to me that singing is a lot healthier than booze, drugs, etc., and a far better way to reduce stress and anxiety . . . plus when singing with others, you build community!
I don't know about you, but in Mary's death, I hear a call for us to rise up again . . . to dust off our instruments, and tune them up . . . and start singing . . . because it matters!!!!
We need to sing . . . and we need to sing together! And we need to make it a priority to do so in our lives . . . and if others disagree . . . we just need to tell them in grace and love, "It's what I am supposed to do."
And then . . . we need to find friends . . . children . . . youth . . . other adults . . . to sing to or to sing with. I don't mean to quit your job . . . or to try out for American Idol (go ahead if you want to, but that ain't for me) or go on tour . . . rather, there are probably so many "venues" within a mile or so of your home or business . . . where a song leader or singer would be welcomed as a volunteer. For someone who has the fire in their gut and heart to sing . . . it could make all the difference in someone's world . . . including your own.
I sing at nursing homes . . . and let me tell you . . . you have never had a more appreciative audience than people at a nursing home or rehab center.
One of the things that marks my personal singing ministry . . . is that I do like to perform . . . in fact, singing before an audience is a thrilling thing for me . . . it feeds me in a way I cannot easily explain. I sing at my church, I sing for children in schools and parks, I sing with a great band . . . tomorrow I will be singing with the band at a wedding!
But even more importantly, to me, than being a singer . . . is how I have much more enjoyed getting people to sing with me.
Why?
Perhaps because, as a young singer and guitarist years ago, I had the best teachers anyone could have . . . Peter, Paul and Mary, Peter Seeger, John Denver . . . and other artists whose albums (now there is a "dated" word) I purchased and listened to as often as I could . . . playing my guitar and singing along. That is why I like folk music so much . . . because in folk music you are encouraged to interact with the singers and musicians.
I mean, my singing "This Land is Your Land" is a good thing . . . but it sounds a lot better, and means a lot more . . . when I sing it with a bunch of other people.
Another teacher was Johann Anderson, whose "Song's book gave us so many songs to share and sing with others. I have never met him, but his little book on song leading greatly changed my life.
So, in tribute to Mary Travers . . . let's get together . . . and start singing with each other.
Let's start singing about important stuff . . . love, friendship, peace . . . and faith . . . both in God and in our own willingness, at a more advanced age . . . to make a difference through music.
Rest in peace, dear sweet Mary. Our tribute to you, is to keep singing!
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Monday, September 7, 2009
Crummy ceiling fan . . .
Today was not a good day to be a ceiling fan.
Today, my wife and I emptied out our attic . . . we have service people coming on Wednesday to apply a radiant barrier in our attic, and add more insulation.
I lowered the attic ladder, and proceeded to climb into the attic, and while standing the ladder, half in the attic, and half out, I lowered the first box to my wife.
As I was handing the box to my wife, I felt the "pow-pow-pow" of the ceiling fan hitting the ring finger on my left hand . . . I realized I had not turned off the ceiling fan before climbing up.
Out of instinct I guess . . . or my old police training . . . or out of a rational desire to never experience the same situation ever again, I pulled the ceiling fan from the ceiling and stomped it into little bitty pieces.
Nah . . . I'm just kidding . . . I did call it some choice names . . . probably hurt its feelings . . . if ceiling fans can have feelings.
Crummy ceiling fan!
I jumped down to make sure my finger wasn't broken . . . and was glad this it only sustained a blood bruise. I put ice on it for 15-20 minutes, and it was good to go.
Guess I will remember to turn off the ceiling fan the next time I go up into the attic, which will be this next Saturday, putting back all the stuff I took down today.
God's grace . . . and my stupidity . . . still amaze me . . . ><>
Today, my wife and I emptied out our attic . . . we have service people coming on Wednesday to apply a radiant barrier in our attic, and add more insulation.
I lowered the attic ladder, and proceeded to climb into the attic, and while standing the ladder, half in the attic, and half out, I lowered the first box to my wife.
As I was handing the box to my wife, I felt the "pow-pow-pow" of the ceiling fan hitting the ring finger on my left hand . . . I realized I had not turned off the ceiling fan before climbing up.
Out of instinct I guess . . . or my old police training . . . or out of a rational desire to never experience the same situation ever again, I pulled the ceiling fan from the ceiling and stomped it into little bitty pieces.
Nah . . . I'm just kidding . . . I did call it some choice names . . . probably hurt its feelings . . . if ceiling fans can have feelings.
Crummy ceiling fan!
I jumped down to make sure my finger wasn't broken . . . and was glad this it only sustained a blood bruise. I put ice on it for 15-20 minutes, and it was good to go.
Guess I will remember to turn off the ceiling fan the next time I go up into the attic, which will be this next Saturday, putting back all the stuff I took down today.
God's grace . . . and my stupidity . . . still amaze me . . . ><>
Dr. John Francis (Planetwalker) lecture video . . .
Last year, I read PlanetWalker by Dr. John Francis. Most of my favorite books are about travel, especially by foot (hiking), which explains why the John Francis, Bill Bryson, and the late Colin Fletcher are my favorite authors.
John is an environmentalist, a PhD, and a former UN Goodwill Ambassador. He did not speak for 17 years of his life, and walked across a good portion of the United States and Central America.
Below is a video of a lecture he gave this past year, describing that how we treat each other is how we treat the environment. An interesting concept . . . he goes on to share that basic communication is instrumental in bringing about any kind of change.
My wife and I have discussing what our personal actions in support of improving our environment should be. We have started to recycle, and will have a radiant barrier and more insulation put in our attic. We want to move away from using styrofoam cups, but I am finding that harder to do than I first realized.
We know we want to do something . . . and we are learning more every day about what we can do.
Please watch the video . . . whether you agree with John or not, at least give it some thought.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Getting the chance to check out another guitar . . .
This is a blog entry about guitar stuff - if that isn't your thing, then skip this and continue reading further down my blog, or check back later. Either way, I appreciate you! RM ><>
For those who know I promised a blog on my "inept" attempts to discover "sound" . . . it's coming soon.
In the mean time . . . Sean at Dallas Used Guitar has loaned me an Ibanez Montage MSC700NT acoustic hybrid guitar. He thought I might be interested in it, and as usual, he was right.
In honest, truthful reality . . . I am not a guitarist as much as I am a singer who plays guitar. And since I do a fair amount of "solo" work singing at nursing homes, schools, etc., I have been trying to find a guitar I can take with me, which would have a few effects options.
My beloved Martin D-15 GTE has been showing some wear after the past 4 years of regular use. I acquired a Tacoma jumbo from Sean a while back, and have really enjoyed it, but it has no on-board tuner/eq/etc.
But it sounds really good.
The Ibanez Montage . . . well I would classify it as a hybrid. You can play clean acoustic and it sounds pretty good. It also has settings for clean electric, and a setting where you can had some gain/"crunch" to it. In addition, it has chorus, notch and reverb controls as well. There are several YouTube videos out there which show/explain the controls and features better than I can. It used 4 AA batteries, and has easy behind body access to the control wiring. It has to be plugged into an amp for the on-board tuner to work.
I have put it through two good trial runs here in my office . . . and hope to use it at our jam session this Thursday evening . . . before it has to go back on the shelf at the Dallas Used Guitar Showroom at the Grapevine Antique Mall.
I wish I had known about this guitar earlier. I know something about the Line 6 hybrid (my good friend Floyd has one, and has used it some in the prasie band he plays with.). I've played a Taylor T-5 at a nearby Guitar Center . . . and seen, but not played a Parkwood hybrid.
For someone who is playing guitar to back up their singing (solo gig) . . . this might be a good guitar to consider. It is thinner than a standard acoustic, but also heavier. But, for anyone who can mess with an amp better than I can (which would be about 99% of you!) you could experiment and get some great sounds. In a band situation . . . I would only use the clean acoustic or electric settings. I'm just the rhythm player after all.
This guitar won one of the 2009 Best New Guitar awards given each year. It will not appeal to everyone. But it will appeal to some, especially those like me, who only want to carry one guitar and an amp, without carrying pedals, extra cables, power strips, etc. After all, I drive a Saturn Vue. The poor thing can only carry so much!
Thank you Sean, for letting me play around for a while with this guitar.
God's grace, and my friends, it all still amazes me . . . ><>
For those who know I promised a blog on my "inept" attempts to discover "sound" . . . it's coming soon.
In the mean time . . . Sean at Dallas Used Guitar has loaned me an Ibanez Montage MSC700NT acoustic hybrid guitar. He thought I might be interested in it, and as usual, he was right.
In honest, truthful reality . . . I am not a guitarist as much as I am a singer who plays guitar. And since I do a fair amount of "solo" work singing at nursing homes, schools, etc., I have been trying to find a guitar I can take with me, which would have a few effects options.
My beloved Martin D-15 GTE has been showing some wear after the past 4 years of regular use. I acquired a Tacoma jumbo from Sean a while back, and have really enjoyed it, but it has no on-board tuner/eq/etc.
But it sounds really good.The Ibanez Montage . . . well I would classify it as a hybrid. You can play clean acoustic and it sounds pretty good. It also has settings for clean electric, and a setting where you can had some gain/"crunch" to it. In addition, it has chorus, notch and reverb controls as well. There are several YouTube videos out there which show/explain the controls and features better than I can. It used 4 AA batteries, and has easy behind body access to the control wiring. It has to be plugged into an amp for the on-board tuner to work.
I have put it through two good trial runs here in my office . . . and hope to use it at our jam session this Thursday evening . . . before it has to go back on the shelf at the Dallas Used Guitar Showroom at the Grapevine Antique Mall.
I wish I had known about this guitar earlier. I know something about the Line 6 hybrid (my good friend Floyd has one, and has used it some in the prasie band he plays with.). I've played a Taylor T-5 at a nearby Guitar Center . . . and seen, but not played a Parkwood hybrid.
For someone who is playing guitar to back up their singing (solo gig) . . . this might be a good guitar to consider. It is thinner than a standard acoustic, but also heavier. But, for anyone who can mess with an amp better than I can (which would be about 99% of you!) you could experiment and get some great sounds. In a band situation . . . I would only use the clean acoustic or electric settings. I'm just the rhythm player after all.
This guitar won one of the 2009 Best New Guitar awards given each year. It will not appeal to everyone. But it will appeal to some, especially those like me, who only want to carry one guitar and an amp, without carrying pedals, extra cables, power strips, etc. After all, I drive a Saturn Vue. The poor thing can only carry so much!
Thank you Sean, for letting me play around for a while with this guitar.
God's grace, and my friends, it all still amazes me . . . ><>
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Understanding the concept of multi-tracking . . .
Check out this video. Awesome.
May we all make, in some way or another, a joyful noise of some type every day.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
May we all make, in some way or another, a joyful noise of some type every day.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Proud Papa . . .
I'm a proud Papa.
My eldest daughter and her husband have a new art blog, sharing about pieces of art they create together.
Check out their new blog Edwin/Oliver Art and Design.
My youngest daughter has begun a home cake decorating endeavor. Pictures I have seen of what she has done just blow me away. Best I've seen in a long time . . . and I'm a pastor . . . I see lots of cakes.
I am one proud Papa.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Several months ago, I was loaned the use of a 1956 Silvertone "Twin Thin" guitar by a family in our church. The intent of the gift was I would use it during the Children's Time at 8:50, 10:10 and 11:15 am services, as well on a children's worship CD we have been talking about.It needed a bit of work . . . which was finished this last week. My thanks to Kerry Cash at Kerry's Guitar Shop for resetting the neck and making some needed adjustments.
This past Sunday, I used this guitar for the first time in worship, and the children helped in blessing it for use in ministry.
God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>
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