October 2006 - Posts
My blog page will be getting a new look in a few days. I picked out a theme and Bryson the Magnificent is going to set it up. The new software will also help with what Simon calls the “dodgy” posts that blog spam robots leave on the site. I have to delete them by hand every day. It is a pain.
This weekend we are doing a huge block party at God's Resort. That is a name for a set of apartments in town owned by one of our members. It used to be known as “The Last Resort” because it was one step away from being homeless. The city is blocking off the street and setting up a temporary power pole. The Lions Club is bringing in their food wagon with popcorn, hot-dogs, etc. We are bringing in huge inflatable play areas for the kids. We will have a dedication prayer service for a recently remodeled ministry house that was donated there. The choir is going to sing “Orphans of God”. Then we will have the party! We have been prayer walking this nine block area for a month and there are already stories floating in of victory. Please pray for this coming Sunday, Oct 29. This is a dark area that needs the light of Christ.
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What an amazing weekend at Write about Jesus Songwriters Workshop!!!
Highlights:
1. Catching up with wonderful friends and meeting new ones.
2. Seeing the look on Joel's face when Kristie played “Faith without Fire” in the master class. What a moving time hearing the songs coming from these special friends. Thank you Joel and Wayne! You guys are the best!
3. Hearing Simon sing “Unfair” (writen with Gina and Lisa) at the clinician's showcase and hearing him teach his classes.
4. Seeing James T. smiling all the way through his first his first WAJ.
5. Leading worship with Gina B. who worked so hard behind the scenes with Melissa and Lisa, among others to make it a great year. Also taking part in a panel with them.
6. Taking in the great classes.
7. Setting up a bunch of new cowrites.
8. Sacrificing my sleep because I just had to write a lyric to Kevin's great melody.
9. Decompressing with my wonderful wife who is so patient when I get “wired“ on songwriting.
10. Seeing the fruit of all that Sue has invested in her love for people
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It all started with the chestnuts. You know “Chestnuts roasting by an open fire“...and the other song “Sleigh Ride” where you “watch the chestnuts pop”
A friend of ours has some of these trees on their farm. We decided to gather some that were left (most were eaten by the squirrels) and find out what they taste like. Their husks are like cactus with painfully sharp spines. I figured they must be good if the squirrels would deal with the pain to get at them. We found a recipe...roasted in butter and salt, so we could taste what they are really like. Delicious!
Mom and the older girls were away at a conference last week end. Somehow it was just feeling like Christmas the other night, so Jubi and I put in “The Santa Claus” to finish the evening. She has decided to call her new toy Clydesdale “Chestnut”.
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Let's see..
Our "Theme Team" met today to create a theme for the series of Sunday's on Isaiah leading up to Christmas. "Your God is Coming" is what we came up with. I'm getting ready to lead worship next week for a college chapel. It is a little more challenging. They are studying through the seven deadly sins. Any of my writer friends have any worship songs on greed? Next comes Write About Jesus. Gina B. and James T. are helping me out with the worship there. Gina and I are getting close to finishing a song I'm feeling good about. After WAJ, I am leading in series of meetings at another church.
Ivy, Rachel, and I are getting together next week to write. Both are writers who have been part of southern gospel groups. Talented people! It wll be fun to see what we some up with.
Reheasals for Christmas continue tonight...auditions for solos and such.
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Some gracious friends took us to the Dixie Stampede tonight. I must say, it was a wonderful show- beautiful horses, great riders, wagons going at break neck speed, ostrich and pig races, good food, and great conversation on the way home. Jubi was especially thrilled. Horses are her thing. Of course our friends couldn't resist going through the gift shop with her to find just the right stuffed horse...or two. She fell asleep in the car hugging them on the way home. What a nice evening.
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She did it again...
Splay... I don't think I have ever used that word. Have you ever used it?
How come my seven-year-old used it today in perfect context. She told us that in order to keep her balance while skipping she needed to splay her toes. It stopped me cold (Mr. Concentration) while I was typing something on the computer. I had to chase her down to find out where she learned it. “Where did you learn that word? Do you say that in Karate class?” I asked. She shook her head “No, I don't know”
I'm thinking her vocabulary just buzzed past mine.
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Well, It's sitting in our Atrium. A 9 foot Baldwin SD-10 Concert Grand. Not new but in good shape. It took a bunch of people to move it here. It will go on our stage in the new auditorium when it is completed.
I played this exact grand piano when I was in college. It was brand new then. I used to sit in the dark and play it on occasion when no one was in the chapel, just worshiping the Lord there.
I was also in the choir at Ozark Christian College when Mrs. King played “Jesus is All the World to Me“ on it as only she could and George Directed. My friend Gary who masterminded it's acquisition tells me it was a demonstration piano for this area that was used in concerts promoting Baldwin. The school bought it from the company for $10,000 in 1973- half price in those days. It has been restored to some degree and is a joy to play, especially the full long bass strings. I sang in a trio called the Joyful Celebration (don't you love college group names) with Melanie and Michelle (Melanie now plays piano for our choir). I played for the group and we song a lot of 2nd Chapter of Acts and Andrae Crouch songs for specials. I have led many a Chapel worship service from that piano.
What a joy it will be to play it before the Lord here.
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We got a couple of e-mail notes today about the worship times on Sunday. It was a special Sunday for sure. I thought I would post them...
“Since I got in my car to drive home yesterday, I have felt like I am existing in this wonderful "glowy" place that is the effect of the worship services yesterday. They were so awesome - especially the 8:00. I don't know why, but that is the service that was the most intense for me.“
“Greetings. Sunday a.m. was not a good day for me, so I didn't get to sing with choir. I was disappointed, but decided to stand in the back of the gym at 9:30 to hear how it went. (Guess what--you didn't need me anyway) WOW There was an incredible spirit in the entire gym. Not only during the special, but the whole song service. I literally felt like I had my big toe stuck in the door of Heaven! I've talked with at least 3 people who felt the same way. The special just literally lifted people off their chairs!”
The Dwelling Place of God's Spirit is amazing - It's called His Church, the Assembly, the Flock of God, the Temple of God, The Body of Christ, The Family of God, and a hundred other things...
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