Rambling Psychoses

We Don't Need No Steenkeeng Sound Gear!

2012-01-07T22:10:00.002-06:00

When I was in college the first time, I was in an a cappella chorus. No sound reinforcement. No instruments. Nothing but the human voice. Depending on which year we're talking about, there were anywhere from 25 to 60 young college students singing together. The sound from the risers was completely different from the sound in the conductor's position (I was chorus VP and student conductor for a while). Both of those positions were, of course, completely different from being in the audience.

But even better than that was when the bus broke down (small Christian university, not much money, it happened a lot) and we practiced on the bus to while away the time. Simply magic.

The church I worship with is in the a cappella tradition--no band, no instruments whatsoever other than the human voice. My particular congregation seats anywhere from 900-1,200 at any one time, depending on whether school's in session or not. Shame on me for getting jaded by hearing great singing every Sunday (about 50%-60% have been in choruses before), but every now and then, I hear that magic again. Goose bumps for real.

What I dig about some of the flash mob phenomena is that you don't expect to hear great singing--but when it happens, it's awe-inspiring and very moving. I remember going to a workshop in Tulsa, OK a few years back when the crowds were pretty big. A bunch of us who didn't know each other from Adam all went to eat at a huge restaurant nearby. Probably 200-300 of us in line started singing hymns together. Unexpected goose bumps!

There's nothing like live music.

Especially when you have nothing between the performers and the ears in the audience.

The sound of the Public Address gear takes a li'l something away from the performance, as the state of sound reinforcement in general is pretty poor right now. You don't get to hear an acoustic guitar, a violin or a human voice in an amplified concert quite like you do in, say, a house concert or a small club. Even a top-notch recording is not the same.

BTW, I just happened across this video on YouTube. It's Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale in an impromptu a cappella performance for a stewardess aboard a jet waiting on some maintenance. It kind of captures the feeling and atmosphere from my chorus days on the broken down bus. The poor stewardess didn't know what hit her. ;^)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ynyt7fshIY&feature=share

---Jeff

Music: Technical vs Expression

2011-12-31T22:22:00.003-06:00

I was in a discussion online in a USENET newsgroup today.

In this particular newsgroup having to do with sound engineering and pro audio, most posters discuss technical specifications, signal-to-noise ratio, microphone arrangements, and the like. Recently, one poster posed a question to the group about how to get the best sound out of a cassette tape--he had some stuff archived on it and he wanted to digitize it and store it on CDs.

He received quite a few replies with great technical information, where to get the best gear, what setup to use, and so on. There were a number of individuals, however, who questioned why even try--if it's on cassette tape, the reasoning went, the sound quality is horrible--it's not worth it!

One of the other posters said that some people get paid to make the most of the situation, regardless. The original poster also piped up with this gem (I'm paraphrasing) :

"A late friend of mine recorded this back in the seventies. The master tapes from which the cassettes were copied have all disappeared. The studio where we recorded him no longer has any of the material. Do you really think I ought to toss the cassettes away? Not."

Since I'm not always capable of keeping my nose out of a good rant, I of course had to butt in. Here's what I replied with:

"Some of my favorite music was recorded to much lesser-quality mediums than cassette tape. Hank Williams Sr., Robert Johnson, some good a cappella choruses from my alma mater among others.

One of the best vocal takes I've ever heard was by Aretha Franklin in which she overdrove the fool out of her mic--but you don't scrap an inspired take like hers was--you don't know if you're getting *that* take again. I think it was on "The Weight."

I say all of that to reiterate some of what's been said already: technical quality is not the be-all or end-all of musical enjoyment. Some folks need to loosen up and realize the FUN and INSPIRATION in music rather than looking down their noses at what they believe to be inferior quality without understanding what's important in music.

I've some friends who think Mahalia Jackson is laughable because she didn't have proper grammar or diction. I think she had more emotive expression in her pinky than many will ever have in their entire lives.

Of course, I say all of that and recognize that I've some blind spots myself. Musical training makes it harder to just enjoy music--I almost always end up picking it apart and analyzing it. But then again, it helps me to really enjoy a good performance that much better.

I think some of that probably holds true when we talk about recording quality--when you spend your life trying to get high quality sound, you're probably gonna' have less tolerance for low quality. It's certainly had that effect on me. I know I do all I can afford to do in order to get higher quality sound to my ears.

Heck, as a U.S. Marine no longer in uniform, it's hard for me to watch a combat flick (or any kind of shoot-em-up, really) without picking apart the technical issues. But I still try to enjoy the movie.

Now that I've rambled, it's time for me to shut up.

Good post, (name redacted). I completely concur."

---Jeff

Feel--A Work In Progress

2011-12-19T22:20:00.003-06:00

Okay, so... Ummmmm... I haven't written in a while, aaaaaaand I have to catch up on adding to the blog since I done got married n stuff, but I want to get this out there while it's still warm on the mind.

I wrote a song called "Feel," (using Band-In-A-Box and Pro Tools) and I'm mostly done with the lyrics, melody and backing chords. I'm planning on adding a bridge/ending to it, but I want to see what folks think about the main song idea first.

You see, I'm worried that it might be an unconscious plagiarism because it just sounds too familiar somehow. Of course, that's how a songwriter generally knows if a song is good or not: it sounds familiar, and just right. I'm hoping that's the case here.

Tell me what you think, my friends.

---Jeff

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11302784

Feel

I sat down to write a song
Of promises
But the words came out all wrong
In broken sentences
Turned around
Raised my mind
The fog before my eyes had given way
The clouds had parted like a veil

A girl had a man for whom she longed
In widowhood
She didn't really feel all that strong
She was broken good
She read the Book
And cried a prayer
And all around her world became still
Like a rainbow after the storm

Feel the pain
That you feel when you meet disaster
It fades away
No medication for this pattern
My God is there, so bathe it in prayer
Then you can sing a new song
About how grace will overcome.

Once was a man without a home
In childhood
They had left him all alone
He understood
While on his knees
He cried out please
And all around his world was a light
In the darkness piercing the storm

Feel the pain
That you feel when you meet disaster
It fades away
No medication for this pattern
My God is there, so bathe it in prayer
Then you can sing a new song
About how grace will overcome.

(c) 2011 Jeff Henig

Special Fruit Salad

2010-08-20T22:44:00.003-05:00

Just experimenting tonight with a new dessert. It's my Special Fruit Salad.

Watermelon, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi Fruit, Blueberries, Peaches, Strawberries. Nummy!

Try it, you'll like it.

---Jeff

Weight Loss Much?

2010-08-08T14:19:00.003-05:00

As a new member of First Day, took my first photo shoot with them in August of 2006.
I weighed roughly 203 lbs. Very opportune time to see me at my heaviest. Icky, to say the least.

Smiling, but hating all of that extra weight. For the next few years, I was yo-yo-ing down to 172, up to 195, down to 169, up to 180, down to 175, etc. Finally, when we got back from Panama a couple of months ago, I had gotten back up to 189. I think the analog scale was off, because I bought a digital scale when I got down to 175 on the analog scale and the digital scale showed me at 178.

I've spent the last two weeks between 177 and 178 at a plateau that my body refused to budge from. However, on this past Friday, I weighed in at 174. Since a couple of people noticed I'd lost some weight, I thought I'd take a picture of myself today to see if one could see a difference.

By the way, if anyone wants to know how I did it, I didn't go to Health Corps or even the Harding gym. I've been moved inside the plant at Road Systems and the past month has been excruciatingly hot. Working in a commercial cargo trailer putting in flooring. Using an air drill, impact wrench and sledge hammer--not to mention just getting in and out of the trailer--have given me both strength training and endurance/cardio training.

I'm planning on getting down to 160 lbs, which was my boot camp weight.

Pray for me. I'll need it. (Yeesh!)

---Jeff

Jack Tatum R.I.P.

2010-07-28T20:18:00.004-05:00

I remember as a child wanting to play like Jack Tatum. So much so, in fact, that I wore his number when I played organized football for the first time.

Not much to do but to raise a glass to toast in his honor.

May you rest in peace, Jack.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/20234/ronnie-lott-pays-tribute-to-jack-tatum

http://www.knbr.com/portals/3/podcasts/fitzbrooks/0727lott.mp3

http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2010/07/27/more-tatum-reaction/

---Jeff

What's This?

2010-06-10T22:32:00.003-05:00

I saw this bug in the parking lot at Road Systems today.

Anyone know what this might be?

---Jeff

I Love You In Every Way (Rough Draft)

2010-05-09T12:52:00.003-05:00

I've had a song kind of germinating in my mind for several years, and it finally decided it wanted to hit the page. It came from studying Koine--Biblical Greek.

The Greeks had many words for love, three of which are in the New Testament. In this song I use all three: Agape, Phileo and Eros, along with Storge which isn't found in the New Testament, but was a fairly common word in that culture.

Agape is Godly unconditional love. Phileo is brotherly love--which is how the city of Philidelphia got its name. Eros is the love that you'd find between honeymooners. Storge is the love between family members.

Here goes:

Agape
To love without condition
Is loving by God's grace
When I see you with this love
I see you with His face

I wanna tell you -- you should know
You know that I love you -- this is how
I agape you, I phileo you, I eros you, I storge you
If you don't quite understand, well then I'll make it plain
I love you in every way

Phileo
A brotherhood of lovers
A sisterhood of faith
A friendship grows before you
Beside me is your place

I wanna tell you -- you should know
You know that I love you -- this is how
I agape you, I phileo you, I eros you, I storge you
If you don't quite understand, well then I'll make it plain
I love you in every way

Eros
Serious the pledge I make
To give you my whole life
Serious the pledge between
A husband and a wife

I wanna tell you -- you should know
You know that I love you -- this is how
I agape you, I phileo you, I eros you, I storge you
If you don't quite understand, well then I'll make it plain
I love you in every way

Storge
Turning to the future
And gazing joyfully
To think that you and I'll
Become a loving family

I wanna tell you -- you should know
You know that I love you -- this is how
I agape you, I phileo you, I eros you, I storge you
If it sounds like Greek to you, well then I'll make it plain
I love you in every way

---Jeff

The Piper's Song

2010-02-13T18:07:00.002-06:00

I wrote a song 13 years ago called "The Piper's Song."

Jeff Kreh and I got together and arranged it in instrumental format with my lead vocal, then we recorded it a cappella with Kreh singing the lead for the Variety Show album. I had lost this original arrangement, but I just found it again while cleaning the house.

I hope you like it!

A cappella version

Instrumental version

The Piper's Song

Play that Piper's song
Over land and sea
Call the wayward home
From their foggy dream

My inner man the Piper sees
Watching my heart, it's all very clear
Clutching my bag of favored things
Unto my chest and keeping it near

I cannot hide my jaded eyes
Pride dripping through the words that I say
Scoffing and laughing all through the night
Standing alone all through the day

Play that Piper's song
Over land and sea
Call the wayward home
From their foggy dream

Hearing the drone of the Piper call
Casting my cares unto the wind
Dropping my pride before the fall
Seeking the way my soul to send

Play that Piper's song
Over land and sea
Call the wayward home
From their foggy dream

Floating alone, I'm out to sea
Listening for the Piper's song
Out from the shore, I can hear it ring
Guiding me home where I belong

Play that Piper's song
Over land and sea
Call the wayward home
From their foggy dream

---Jeff

Saturday? Nay! Caturday!

2010-02-13T16:04:00.002-06:00

Snow Day!

2010-02-08T20:22:00.003-06:00

The yard.

Dead basil. Awwwwwwww...

The car gots a blankey. Yay!

---Jeff

The Best Day Of My Life

2010-01-31T14:13:00.003-06:00

I just finished writing this a li'l bit ago--Jeff Kreh and I arranged it and recorded the rough edit last night.

It's called "The Best Day Of My Life."

You can listen to it on Soundclicks.com.

From up in those hills
They came one cloudy night
Destroyers all, they jumped down for a fight.

With poison pen
And forked tongues aflame
A character assassination game.

And the shills
I hear them thundering
"You know you're ill!
Why don't you lay down and die?"
I've had my fill
And with my Holy Friend
I'm gonna' make today
The best day of my life

I've got some skills
Out with a motley band
A nasty brew can swelter out of hand

But I can't tell
If they're satisfied
With filthy ships sinking out of pride

And the shills
I hear them thundering
"You know you're ill!
Why don't you lay down and die?"
I've had my fill
And with my Holy Friend
I'm gonna' make today
The best day of my life

I'll bend my will
Avoid the hucksters' game
Of candied hearts provoking haughty names

I hand my soul
To You, my Friend
I won't walk alone; a changing story's end

And the shills
I hear them thundering
"You know you're ill!
Why don't you lay down and die?"
I've had my fill
And with my Holy Friend
I'm gonna' make today
The best day of my life

---Jeff

What Is A Vet?

2009-11-12T01:22:00.004-06:00

I was reading myself to sleep tonight and came across this piece written years ago. It's called "What Is A Vet?"

Thank you, veterans, for all of your sacrifices.

I also came across something a bit more salty, a bit more harsh, a bit more "colorful," so to speak. However, I think it brings the real fear of war home in a very visceral way.

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2009/11/ksk-off-topic-some-thoughts-on-veterans-day.html#more-21205

I'm not going to post it in its entirety on my page, but suffice it to say, it is about as real world as it gets.

However, I *will* post "What Is A Vet?" below:

---Jeff

WHAT IS A VET

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg – or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can’t tell a vet just by looking.

What is a vet?

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She or he—is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another—or didn’t come back AT ALL.

He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat—but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.

He is the parade—riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket—palsied now and aggravatingly slow—who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being—a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot, “THANK YOU.”

Remember November 11th is Veterans Day.

“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC

Happy Veteran's Day 2009!

2009-11-11T11:43:00.004-06:00

Since I'm an inactive Jarhead, I hafta' give props to the USMC Silent Drill Team.

Enjoy!

---Jeff

Happy USMC Birthday!

2009-11-10T12:31:00.006-06:00

Happy 234th birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

10 November, 1775 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Here's the 2009 USMC Commandant's video message:

Semper Fi!

---Jeff

The Most Perfect Silence

2009-11-06T22:53:00.002-06:00

Back in early 1996, I came across a website called Jollyroger.com. It was devoted to the Great Books, Sonnets, and outstanding literature of all kinds.

I went to visit tonight, and found no trace of the original site. Every attempt ended with a page load error. So I conducted a search and found another site: Jollyrogerwest.com. Unfortunately, this one is on its last legs, with forums filled mostly with unkempt spam messages.

So sad to me is the demise of the "literary renaissance," and the death of the "literary resistance," that I conducted another search for one of my favorite poems published there, called "The Most Perfect Silence."

It turns out that someone had archived and published it on their site--so I've captured it and am publishing it as a tribute to Drake Raft, one of the founders of the "literary renaissance."

Here it T.I.issssssss:

======

The Most Perfect Silence

I know where the most perfect silence is,
Seen it in the wild blue off Hatteras,
A mile out, rainbowed sails in silent bliss,
Looked like they'd collide, but they safely passed.
I know when the most perfect silence is,
Down a dusty Ohio road, high noon,
No shirt on, being burned by the sun's kiss,
Sixteen, takin' my time-- it was still June.
I know what the most perfect silence is,
It's what we say when falling out of love,
It roars and thunders right through the kiss,
Says all that no words can ever speak of.
I know why the most perfect silence is,
It is there for the whisper to be born,
The whisper in her ear became the kiss,
Just a dream on the sea early one morn.
I know who the perfect silence is for,
It is for the ones whom we love the best,
It is there to protect them from our core,
By the silent trust we all seek to rest.
And I know how rare that silence can be,
With everyone talkin', it's hard to hear,
But I know I felt it, on the crests of waves,
The sound in her eyes-- it was crystal clear.
And it brought back to mind the rainbowed sails,
And the way it looked like they would collide,
Like two souls set upon fate's iron rails,
But the most perfect silence never died.

--Drake Raft

======

In case you were wondering, he's published some co-written stuff in hard copy form, which is available at Amazon.com:

Jollyroger.com: Navigating an American Renaissance

The After Dark Field Book

Eternity in a Grain of Sand: The Most Perfect Silence of Jollyroger.com Poetry

---Jeff

What A Wet

2009-10-29T19:50:00.008-05:00

Okay, so, like, we're under a Flash Flood Warning right now.

Of course, that doesn't mean I believe it, right? So's I gotsta' go outside and take a look-see.

Yikes.

The carport.

The front yard. Yeah, yeah, I know: "It's too dark to see it!" Shadaaaap.

The back yard.

---Jeff

A New Raider Legend Is Born

2009-10-19T12:23:00.003-05:00

Watch this pigeon help the Raiders take on the Eagles.

I have it on good authority that it's the ghost of Lyle Alzado.

---Jeff

ACORN is nuts.

2009-09-17T11:42:00.001-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of Jon Stewart, and he uses some bleeped out foul language in this video, but this is ridiculously funny, and he says some stuff that absolutely needs to be said.

Take a look:

---Jeff

The Audacity of Hos

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

So Near, Yet So Far.

2009-08-04T13:53:00.003-05:00

I'd completely forgotten about this. I'm taken back to my childhood and Grover on Sesame Street with this video---fun times!!!!!

Some of the things we leave behind when we "grow up" are too precious...

---Jeff

The Revenge Deer Cometh!

2009-07-27T17:58:00.004-05:00

The Revenge Deer Cometh!

This is crazy.

I was riding my bicycle home from the County Jail last night. Nothing major. I do it quite a bit, actually. I'm a jail chaplain, and I'm out there twice a week, and I often ride my bike out there on accounta' I need to lose weight. But I digress.

It was around midnight, and my headlight and tail light were both on as I took the bike trail home. For those who don't know, I usually come from the White County Law Enforcement Center where the jail is housed down Queensway to just past the gymnastics place on the right. The entrance to the bike trail is really close by.

I made my right hand turn and realized exactly how dark it is when there are no street lights.

Really dark.

There's somewhat of a long bend to the left after a couple of early turns in both directions. This is where the deer hit me and I went horizontal. Of course, I had no idea that it was a deer. All I knew was that something heavy had hit me and my bike frame at the same time from the left. I was conscious of the fact that I should've hit the ground immediately, but something was keeping me from hitting the ground. As I look back on it, the deer was supporting all of my weight for a short distance. Ride 'em, cowboy! Yee, haw!!!!!!

Then I hit the ground. Hard.

My knuckles curled under the handlebars, and my shoulder hit the pavement while I skidded toward the dirt. When I came to a stop, whatever it was that had been under me wasn't there anymore, and I was curled up over the handlebars with my feet just under the seat.

I looked up to my left, and there was a short period of scuffling (I imagine this was the deer getting to its feet), and then the deer and I were looking each other dead in the face. I'm pretty sure it was laughing at me, having gained revenge on a 12 year old offense—my first deer hunt back in about 1997 or so. It stayed there for about maybe a second and a half and ran off the trail in front of me and to my right.

I extricated myself from the bicycle mess and stood up, carefully taking inventory of my prized extremities that had inadvertently been ground into pastrami upon landing. Just a li'l bit of road rash, bruises and oozing skin. No biggie. The bike was fine—just a bit of straightening the gooseneck and the seat was in order. I was worried about my iPod Classic Video that was clipped to my backpack strap on the same shoulder that I landed on—I've had to fix a shattered screen on it before—but it was none the worse for wear.

As I got back on the bike with slightly elevated respiration and blood pressure, I thought back on the deer's assassination attempt with a bit of sarcasm. No, really. Anything worth doing is worth doing sarcastically. I thought that this deer could bring back my Oakland Raiders' playoff hopes by being hired on as the tackling coach. Maybe playing at Linebacker or Strong Safety.

Oh yeah, this deer is gonna' be an NFL tackling coach. Perfect pursuit angle. Perfect form tackling. Perfect hitting motion. Perfect blind side anticipation.

Come to think of it, I'm calling Al Davis right now...

---Jeff

First Day Practice (July 18, 2009)

2009-07-20T12:27:00.004-05:00

We had an all-day practice with sound gear and groupies. Someone actually took pictures this time.

This is I think my first attempt at a slide show with Photobucket.

Enjoy.

---Jeff

Rain On The Roses

2009-07-17T20:52:00.003-05:00

We had a pretty good rainstorm here in Searcy, Arkansas the other night. The next morning, while surveying the effects, I happened upon my roses out front.

Opportunity!

Here's a couple of the shots I took. I kinda' like the water glistening off of the roses and the droplets on the leaves.

Thank you Lord for simple pleasures.

---Jeff

Blueberries!

2009-07-17T19:28:00.002-05:00

I bought this Blueberry plant back in March of this year. It took about a month and a half to show any positive signs--primarily, I think, due to the unseasonably cold weather snaps.

It has proven to be fairly hardy since then, but the berries would get to a certain point and shrivel up and fall off. These berries are the first that have actually gotten to the edible stage.

Oh, and...

They're pretty good. ;^)

---Jeff

True Bravery

2009-06-04T14:37:00.003-05:00

Today is the 67th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Midway. It was true bravery on display. As I am not a historian, There is a link to a well-written summary of the battle here. Please read it and think about the men who gave their lives, not only in this battle on 4-6 June 1942, but for all of the men and women who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our country before and since.

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of June 5th, 1989. Below is the "Tank Man." He stood in the path of an oncoming tank. When it stopped, he spoke with the tank driver and was ultimately taken away by two Chinese officials. We don't know what eventually became of him, but he is remembered as one who helped change history.

There are lessons to be learned here.

A group working together, focused on one goal can accomplish great things. Jesus plead for His church to have unity, to be as one body. This body changed the world.

However, one man can change the world through his example. I believe Jesus taught that, as well.

A little faith, a little bravery, and great things happen.

---Jeff

God Is Good

2009-06-03T11:27:00.003-05:00

God is good.

I can slander Him.
I can question His authority.
I can give His credit to someone else.
But none of that changes the fact that

God is good.

And He doesn't change.
His love, His grace, His peace, His joy,
His kingdom, His Shalom is not a moving target.
If I miss the mark, it's not His fault.
It is I who need to adjust my windage,
my sight alignment, and point of impact.

God is good.

---Jeff

Remember The Troops On Memorial Day

2009-05-25T22:20:00.002-05:00

It's been a good day today. We've relaxed, played Wii Madden 2008, stuffed ourselves twice and generally fellowshipped and enjoyed each others' company. We did all of this while others are fighting and dying for us in the mountains of Afghanistan and in the sands of Iraq.

Please pause at least for a moment to reflect on what these proud warriors are doing for us now. Reflect on what the brave fighters of our past have done for us. Think about what future conflicts will cost.

And pray for all of them.

Semper Fi to my USMC brethren.

Carry on the good fight, my brothers and sisters in all of our armed forces.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

---Jeff

Drinkin' the Raider Nation Kool-Aid

2009-05-23T00:35:00.002-05:00

I was in a rather raucous mood today, reading about my Oakland Raiders in the blogosphere and on UseNet and on the message boards--taking in all of the negative comments, flak and general flotsam and jetsam when I came upon a post asking for a positive take on the Raiders' offseason and chances for a winning season in 2009.

"Self," said I, "you need to write an exhortation to the Raider Nation, one that moves the Nation's faithful to positive digs and to break the chains of the oppressive mediots who only serve to drag us down."

So I sat down to write an exegesis of whimsy, an ode to the famous Raider Nation Preacher commercial a few years back. Here it T.I. IS:

"And comes the hour when the ENTIRE nation shall rise with one voice, exclaiming the praises of the victorious on the field, waxing eloquent in boisterous fashion, spying the multiple playoff wins of the vaunted Silver-and-Black and the vanquishing of its foes and getting to the task of relishing the Super Bowl trophies to come!

We are victorious!

We are champions!

We are the RAIDERS!!!!!!!

Where, oh death, is thy victory? Where, oh death, is thy sting?

We who have languished in the deserted wastelands of loss and losing seasons have seen the mountaintop. We have seen the river. We have seen the valley. We are well nigh upon the land of milk and honey! Let us cross, not with the trepidation of the fearful nor the weak, yet with the confidence and yea, the fearsomeness of true victors coming to claim our rightful place atop the league!

Let the church say amen, yes, and amen...

Hallelujah, Halle Berry, Hallelujah."

Yeah, I'm down with the sickness. That Raider Nation Kool-Aid beckons...

---Jeff

Baby birdssssss!!!!

2009-05-21T11:35:00.003-05:00

I got a chance to see a pretty cool event and take some pics yesterday: Poppa bird feedin' his chickzzzzz... ;^)

The babies are asleep, but the first one wakes up, ready for chow.

Feed us, daddyyyy!!!!!!!

Ahhhh, much better. Yummmmmm...

The Music Boat

2009-05-20T11:48:00.007-05:00

First Day went on a Music Boat cruise a couple of weeks ago, and I thought I'd share some videos and photos from the event.

Mike Williams caught us on video at the concert in Lakeland, Florida the Sunday before the cruise. Here's two videos: one is a montage of the entire concert, and one is a clip of Kyle's vocal percussion solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgi5QTH6vik&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qi7E1Y0gMk&feature=related

Here's a couple of pics from stage from the same concert:

Actually, the last was as we were walking out, but they seemed to enjoy themselves.

We got to perform three times on the boat--said boat is pictured here for your viewing pleasure:

Here's some stage and audience pics from our concert around the dance floor--I don't know who thought it was cool to have an acappella group sing in front of a dance floor, but here we are in all of our glory...

Hey! You're facing the wrong way! The audience is THATAWAY!!!!!! ;^) Bruce and Tim are the only guys facing the audience, including me...

Here's an audience shot, while we performed. The guy in the center with the blue striped shirt and khaki pants was absolutely killin' me. I think he was enjoying himself.

Oh, by the way, the private beach was wonderful.

One of the great perks of this cruise was that we got to meet some really good people and see and hear some outstanding music. I was initially against taking band pics for feelin' like a groupie, but I was "ordered" to bring some back via a friend's phone call about halfway through the cruise. The next pic is of a Christian metal band called Pillar. I'd never heard 'em or of 'em before, but we met them in the hotel lobby before we went on the boat--these are great guys! Very personable.

And this is Taylor, their drummer. He shared our flight back to Memphis. It was a blast!

...And a glorious time was had by all!

---Jeff

First Bloom 2009

2009-04-27T15:26:00.006-05:00

I took this shot a few weeks ago, and the rose bush has since exploded in vibrant color, but I wanted to post this shot to mark the event.

New Web Video at Southside

2009-04-21T12:53:00.002-05:00

Okay, so it's been a minute or two since my last post. Ummmm... Motivation much?

I preached a sermon at Southside church of Christ in Rogersville, AL. a few weeks back, and they've seen fit to post it to the 'Net.

A little bit of background is in order: I was a member of that congregation for two and a half years, from 2000 to 2003. I was also a member of their traveling chorus, and the only Caucasian in the bunch.

I absolutely adore Southside. They're an outstanding congregation.

The sermon's text is on my blog here. The video is on Southside's site here. If the video link doesn't work, keep in mind that it'll likely only work if you're using MS Internet Explorer. Another way to get to the video is to go to Southside's link:

http://www.southsidecocinrogersville.org

and go to the media link, after which you'll see a link for "The Three Storms" with my name, Guest Speaker Bro. Jeff. (I guess they forgot my last name. HAAARRRR, HARRRR!!!!)

I've gotten some very good responses from them, and I'm very thankful for their desire to have me speak.

Benjamin Zander

2009-01-10T21:15:00.001-06:00

Our professor showed this clip in class yesterday. I was absolutely amazed.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-27T12:50:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful for family and friends.

I'm thankful for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

I'm thankful for the things I've seen as roadblocks, for the things I've seen as hurdles, for the things I've seen as trials, disappointments, temptations, storms, and the battle scars of life. These things are blessings that God has seen fit to shape me with.

I'm thankful for second chances. At this point, even seven thousandth chances.

Most importantly, I'm thankful for the One who created me and Who died for me so that I might truly live.

Thank You.

---Jeff

I Step Aside

2008-11-14T23:21:00.001-06:00

I've not posted in entirely too long.
Time to get the juices flowing again...

---Jeff

I Step Aside

You in your world and I in mine
With a tear in my heart, I step aside

Such times God's will the hurt sustains
Lately seems a constant refrain
Yet who am I to block your path?
To be His hands, a worldly salve

You in your world and I in mine
With a rip in my heart, I step aside

A heavy chested, bellowed roar
Frustrations I allow no more
In my meekness your embrace
For your love I fear to chase

You in your world and I in mine
With a wound in my heart, I step aside

A final grasp, chest to chest
Yet longer still at your behest
Oh, how I wish your heart to tend
But with a sigh and a tear I'll let it end

You in your world and I in mine
With a weakened heart, I step aside.

Mt Hutchison church of Christ VBS 2008

2008-08-14T11:59:00.004-05:00

Just thought I'd post a few pictures from Mt. Hutchison church of Christ's Vacation Bible School from last week. It was a whole lotta' fun!
Hey, wait a minute! No dancing, folks!!!!! ;^) The kids had a skit every day this week based on the VBS theme "Can You Dig It?" It was all about digging for treasure and archaeologists as a metaphor for uncovering the hidden treasure of the heart. Good stuff.

Not a bad showing for a country congregation. Actually, a pretty good teen turnout. I thought this next picture captured this guy's general attitude pretty well. He's a funny dude. ;^)

One of the younger students drew this picture up for me. I consider it a pretty cool award! Being that this was my first VBS (I've never even attended one, and I taught this one...), it's pretty high praise, indeed. Thanks, Cheyenne!

I Place My Faith

2008-07-19T01:04:00.001-05:00

A new song I'm working on:

I Place My Faith

I have no faith in human institutions
I have no faith in the things they say
I have no faith in government illusions
I have no faith in the taxes I'll save

But I have faith in Your Holy Son
And I have faith in what He's done
And I have faith in what He'll do
I place my faith in a loving You

I have no faith in worldly contributions
I have no faith in the price I'll pay
I have no faith in people's resolutions
I have no faith in preventing the grave

But I have faith in Your Holy Son
And I have faith in what He's done
And I have faith in what He'll do
I place my faith in a loving You

Out of the grave, into the sun
How does it feel to know that You've won
Out of my sins, into Your blood
I know it's real, I'm Yours to become

Out of the grave, into the sun
How does it feel to know that You've won
Out of my sins, into Your blood
I know it's real, I'm Yours to become
Once I put on Your mighty armor...

I have no faith in printed distributions
I have no faith in the words on their page
I have no faith in mass hallucinations
I have no faith in a worldly sage

But I have faith in Your Holy Son
And I have faith in what He's done
And I have faith in what He'll do
I place my faith in a loving You

Happy Birthday, America!

2008-07-04T09:03:00.005-05:00

The reason for our holiday celebration today:

Thanks to all of the veterans who helped to make this possible, and those who helped and are helping to keep this nation free.

Here is the text:

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Raccoons!!!!!!

2008-06-17T11:18:00.004-05:00

I've a family of raccoons in my attic!

No kiddin', I saw 'em yesterday morning. I was headed out the back door to get my watering can to water my plants, and stopped before I opened it because I was staring straight at a pair of baby raccoons sitting on my trash can on the back deck. If I'd opened the door, I could've touched 'em--they were THAT close!

So I ran to get the camera, but it was out of batteries. All I had was my cell phone, and it only had room for two pictures. Grrrrrrr....

So once I had my cell phone ready, I got that first pic--and then Momma showed up. I watched her pull another baby out of the opening to the attic and then she carried it in her mouth up over to the rooftop.

Okay, so I printed out that second shot and gave it to Keith and Stella (my landlords), slipping it under the door just before Stella went to work. It must've made quite an impression, because Keith came over a li'l over an hour later to discuss this latest development. (;^)

Breakfast Change-Up

2008-06-14T14:35:00.004-05:00

I had a li'l extra time this morning for a good well-cooked breakfast. But instead I decided to cook it myself. Heh.

I went with a familiar recipe and changed it up a bit. The original came from "The Joy Of Cooking," and consisted of:

1. Fry up some bacon.
2. Spray the inside of a muffin tin with Pam.
3. Sprinkle some Chile Powder on the bottom of the tin.
4. Wrap a strip of fried bacon around the inside of the tin.
5. Crack an egg into the tin.
6. Sprinkle Paprika and Black Pepper on top of the egg.
7. Bake for 20 minutes at 350.
8. Chow down.

I started off by putting on a Tony Bennett album. This is important!

Well, I changed the recipe by making scrambled eggs, adding 1 cup of milk to 12 eggs in the bowl and beating it until it was well mixed. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, I gathered some Basil, Thyme, Rosemary and Parsley from my front porch planters.

I got the Green Onions and Bell Pepper from the fridge, brought the spices inside and chopped up everything but the Parsley. I also got out the Peppered Bacon and the Colby/Jack Cheese. From left to right you see Rosemary/Thyme, Bell Pepper, Green Onion, Basil.

Chopped Bell Pepper, scrambled eggs, chopped Rosemary/Thyme, chopped Green Onion, Peppered Bacon, chopped Basil, shredded Colby/Jack.

The Peppered Bacon was fried up, but was pretty greasy, so I drained it and allowed it to get somewhat sopped up by the paper towels on a plate.

I sprinkled some Chile powder in the tin, then dropped in the Basil, Thyme and Rosemary.

Then I wrapped the Bacon around the inside of the tin and filled the tin with the chopped Bell Peppers and Green Onions.

Then came the Scrambled Eggs.

Finally, I sprinkled the grated Colby/Jack on top and put it in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes. I change the baking temperature because my oven cooks it a li'l differently somehow...

Then, since Tony was done singing, I switched to The Oscar Peterson Trio and waited for the breakfast to bake.

It's ready!!!!! You can tell because the eggs and cheese are rising up over the tin like a muffin.

Now, we add the whole-grain toast, orange juice and Sumatran Sunset coffee by Boca Java, and we're ready to dig in. Mmmmmmmmm... Scrumptious.

Buddy wanted some, but he had to settle for cuddling up into the good-smelling cooking spot.

Absolutely Inspirational

2008-06-11T10:53:00.004-05:00

I just saw this video for the first time this morning. All I can say is, "wow!"

Some of you have probably seen this before, so it's no big thing to you, but this impresses me to no end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QEmp7tbqoM&NR=1

Edited to say: Okay, so the video won't embed into this post for some reason. It's a woman with no arms taking care of her newborn baby, among other things. Truly impressive. ---Jeff

The Longest Day

2008-06-06T12:52:00.010-05:00

[Photo: Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard]

It has been called "The Longest Day." In fact, a movie by that name was released several years later with John Wayne. The opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan captured the absolute chaos of the event that occurred sixty-four years ago today.

D-Day. The Invasion of Normandy. The largest amphibious landing in history. Out of a total of 130,000 troops landing that day, 29,000 were killed. But it was the beginning of the end for that era's "Axis of Evil."

I salute all who participated, and I salute your entire generation. As Tom Brokaw noted, yours has earned the right to be called "The Greatest Generation."

(Edited to say: I saw this speech on YouTube. It's by Ronald Reagan on the 40th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion.)

President Ronald Reagans Speech at Point-du-Hoc, Normandy:

Oooooh! A Bug!

2008-06-03T14:45:00.004-05:00

I saw this bug this morning, and I haven't a clue what it is. It looks cool, though. Kind of looks like a cross between a Mosquito Hawk and a tiny Grasshopper.

Any experts out there know what this is?

Edited to say: One of the guys I sing with, Bruce Caldwell, sent me an email and said,

"Hey, thanks for the photos. I have gone through all the insect guides I
have, and My best guess is a nymph, narrow-winged tree cricket (Oecanthus
niveous), but body shape across the back (winged area) and the "striped"
antennae don't really match exactly. So... Answer...I think it is a species
of tree cricket, but don't know which one for sure. BC"

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T14:06:00.004-05:00

I took these pictures in 1988 on the big island of Hawaii.

We were on a training mission to Pohacaloa Training Area and we happened upon an old memorial site. If I remember right, it was a helicopter crash that happened back in the late 1970's sometime, killing all aboard.

As time goes by, the memory fades and names go away. Here's to not just remembering, but honoring those who've fallen in the service of our country.

Lonely Egg

2008-05-23T21:37:00.002-05:00

I saw a robin's egg out in the front yard today. After doing some other things and thinking about this egg on the lawn, some words came to me, and I'll probably put them to music. This is my first draft, so bear with me. Man, I still don't even have a title or a chorus or a bridge...

Is this what it's like to be alone?

Is it what it's like to be on your own?

Oh, mama take me back to my home.

Because I sure don't want to be alone.

I'm rollin' here, and it's far too far

From home

Sitting here in the open green

Not too far from the city streets

Or from the frying pan into the heat

They step heavy and I'm close to their feet

I'm rollin' here, and it's far too far

From home

Did you kick me out when I fell from the nest?

Did you move my burden from upon your chest?

Does my absence maybe give you a rest?

In your trial did I not pass the test?

I'm rollin' here, and it's far too far

From home.

They Smell Beautiful

2008-05-22T15:24:00.002-05:00

...but it's most definitely allergy season. Nothing like going around with broken glass at the back of your throat. Blech.

Ah Gots Uh Frawg In Duh Gahrdayn....

2008-05-19T13:54:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I was watering the garden today and found a frog. Just an ordinary frog.

I'm pretty sure he's camera shy, but he posed for this shot.

And then he tried to run. RUN, I SAY!!!!

But he wasn't fast enough for THIS frog-chasin' paparazzi!

Yeah, I know. It's not easy bein' green. Heh.

Edited to say: I've just been informed that this is not a frog but a toad. I obviously had no idea. The person who gave me the info also gave me a couple of sites that give the run-down on toads and frogs here:

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Themes/frogs/frogtoaddiff.html

http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/frogtoad.html

First Day At Broken Arrow 5/9-5/10-2008

2008-05-13T13:07:00.001-05:00

First Day at Broken Arrow 5/9-5/10 2008

2008-05-13T12:49:00.005-05:00

Boy, did I mess THIS one up. I've reposted with the next one.

Yeesh...

Finals Week... Aaaaaaarrrrrrghhrghrghlglglrrrhhh!!!!

2008-05-06T12:26:00.002-05:00

It's Finals Week. Blech. I'm soooooo bitter...
I'm stark. Raving. Mad. Mad, I say! Mmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaad!!!!
The question is: Why? Hmmmmmm...
Oh, I know, and I'm not happy!!!
Youuuuuuuuuu!!!! No, not you the reader...
Greek class!!!! Oh, OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Man. Glad I got that out of my system. Whew.

Yay! Caturday!!!!

2008-05-03T11:27:00.002-05:00

It's Caturdayyyyyyy!!!!! Yeah, I've got papers to write and Finals Week starts Monday, but dagnabbit, I'm gonna' enjoy at least a li'l bit of Caturday amusement. Especially since the catz are oblivious...

This is one of the best parts of Caturday: Caturday morning breakfast!
And my Dill is finally starting to sprout!
The Rose bush is bloomin, still. I was particularly taken by this pair.

Enjoy yer Caturday, folks!!!

Pretty Bloomin' Fast!

2008-04-26T13:41:00.005-05:00

Okay, so now the blooms are comin' in sooooo fast I can't keep up! This initial picture is the first Purple Iris bloom for Spring 2008 in THIS garden, at least.

I've also some Yellow Iris's (okay, so what's the plural for Iris? Iri? Iris'? Iris's? Irises? Yeesh!)

This poor li'l Yellow Iris in the foreground got stepped on or something. I've tried to prop it up and tie it off, but it's just bent beyond all recognition. I'm so sad. *sniff*

By the way, the wooden ammo crate is another planter box in which I've planted Dill, Thyme and Parsley. Something should be sprouting soon. I can't wait! Good cookin', there...

I tried the macro function on my camera with this one. Actually did that with the first picture for this post as well, but I like this one a li'l better. I think it's a bit more interesting, and has more character to it.

There's my pics, and I hope you like 'em! By the way, Jeff Montgomery says that I need to put my best shots up because he got some really good Purple Iris pictures with his snapshot camera this weekend. Yeah, right. He's a REAL photo artist. All my pics are doing is whetting the appetite for his masterpieces. As soon as he has them up I'll add his link to this post.

Edited to say: Yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about. Jeff Montgomery rocks the Casbah.

Oh, it's most DEFINITELY Spring!!!

2008-04-24T19:30:00.002-05:00

Some Springtime pictures for your perusal.

This is the first bloom from the rose bush this Spring.
This is a picture of the first gathering--I managed to get the purple ones from the lawn just before the ole' landlord mowed. These went to Sue Jinn the next day to take with her for her mother's funeral.
Oh, by the way: That rose bush gots a robin's nest wif eggseses... ;^)
Oh, and it's a bloomin' beautiful bush, now!!!!!
Enjoy!!!

Bristow, Oklahoma!!!

2008-04-22T20:47:00.012-05:00

Mannnnnnn.... I didn't realize I'd let this go for so long. Here's some First Day pics of the second stop on our April 11th, 12th and 13th tour:

Before the concert, we ate at Russ' Ribs. It was a very fine dining experience!

And then, the owners of the graffiti-laden joint allowed us to make our mark in a less metaphoric way...

So now, we're gettin' ready for the concert...

Too late. It's time to go on!

In case you didn't know, Bruce is a ham. Naturally.

Some kids are just havin' waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too much fun.
So much fun that Tim wants to join in. Good ole' MacDaddy Tim. TIIIIIMMMMM!!!!
And this guy does all of the work and gets none of the credit. He's Gary Cremeens, our soundman. Time for tear-down, bro!

And a wonderful time was had by all!

First Day sings at the Fayetteville Lutheran Preschool 4-11-08

2008-04-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

Okay, so we show up at the Fayetteville Lutheran Preschool for a concert fer da' kiddoes and Jeff decides now would be a good time to take pictures.

Kyle and Matt disagree. I dunno why...

Time for sound czech...

Not too bad of a crowd. They seemed to have a pretty good time.Especially this li'l grrrl who was enjoying the race track in front of the stage. Those kids were killin' me! Quite humorous. At one point they were holding hands and dancing in their little circle, and in mid-song, Tim decided to join in. I didn't get a picture of that, but I think he scared 'em.

Yes, Kyle spits very well. You've been caught! Heh.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're done.

See you in Oklahoma!

I Can Has A Spring-Times???

2008-04-10T00:14:00.003-05:00

It was a beautiful day out on Monday, so I made some time to clear out all the crab grass and clover from around the Irises and planted some other stuff. Stuff like Kalanchoes, Dianthus "Super Purples," and Yellow Gazanias.

After this Super Cell weather of ours passes by, I plan on planting some bulbs: yellow Calla Lillies and the red and white Dahlias.

Upon reflection, I should've left the clover for ground cover around all of the other plants, but I'll just have to remember that next time.

I'm not much of a gardener, but I'm tired of the drab and depressing--and I'm really enjoying the colorful entryway that this flowerbed provides.

I guess I'm easy to please...

It's Caturdayyyyyyyy!!!

2008-04-05T11:19:00.005-05:00

Nothin' special today, so I just thought I'd take a page out of some other blogger's notebook and have a Caturday, just for Buddy and Boots. Buddy's the Orange Marmalade, and Boots is the Siamese.

Have a grrrrreat Caturday, folks!!!

Deal With Your Storm

2008-03-30T02:58:00.002-05:00

How do you deal with troubles in your life?

Wouldn't you like to know if there were examples left for us?

Jesus has done this. I'm going to take a few examples from Jesus' life to show how we can deal with our problems.

======

Mat 8:23-27

23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

==============

Mk 4:35-41

35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

===============

Lk 8:22-25

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

===============

So we have a situation here where there is a storm that seems pretty monstrous to the disciples, but Jesus is sleeping through it. This tells me that there are a number of things that I'm going through in life that I make a bigger deal out of than is absolutely necessary. I might have some financial worries or I might be worried about how I'm going to get through this semester at school, but it all boils down to much ado about nothing. I'm making this minor event into a soap opera, and it's causing me to lose sleep.

How does Jesus deal with something that's blown out of proportion? He gives it the attention it deserves--none. He's not wasting any energy on it. He's sleeping.

However, we see something else at work here, and that's His compassion for the disciples. They wake Him up because the storm is scaring them, so He does something about it--He tells the storm to be quiet, according to Mark. Matthew and Luke both say that He rebukes the winds and the waves. Like he just looks at the storm and shouts "Shut up!" Sounds to me like someone I don't want to wake up without some coffee ready. (Just kidding) For the disciples' sakes, Jesus takes care of what He thinks is a minor issue. But Jesus Himself is quite prepared to just sleep it off.

Next is a little bit more serious of a storm.

============

Matt 14:22-33

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

===========

Mk 6:47-53

47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

=========

John 6:16-21

16When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

=========

Now we have a situation where Jesus has sent the disciples on ahead of Him so that He can have some alone time with the Father. He's coming down from the mountain, it's getting late, and a storm has started whipping up. The disciples are working their hearts out, trying to get across the lake, and here comes Jesus, walking on the water. And the disciples freak out. "It's a GHOST!!!" Well, kind of a Holy Ghost. (Sorry, couldn't help that one.)

Remember how He calms the storm for the disciples the first time because He's compassionate for them? He calms their fears this time in a related way, except He's nicer to them than he was to the first storm. He says, "Hey, it's Me!" He's just kind of reaching out to them verbally.

Well, what happens next? Ole' Peter, impetuous as ever, says "Oh, yeah? If it's You, tell me to come out on the water!" So Jesus says, "All right, bring it!" (That's my translation.) So Peter climbs over the side and starts walking. He's walking. He's walking. He realizes he's walking. He realizes WHERE he's walking. aaa-AH!

You ever watch the Road Runner cartoons? You know, where the Road Runner is being chased by Wile E. Coyote down the highway, and the bridge is out? The Road Runner is going so fast that he is able to jump the divide. Wile E. Coyote is not so fast, but he thinks he is, and he's out in the middle of the air before he realizes it. He's standing still in the middle of the air, looking at you, the viewer. Then he looks down, looks back at you and holds up a sign that reads "mother." Then he falls.

That's kind of what Peter does. As long as he's keeping focused on Jesus, he's able to walk on the water. But as soon as he takes his eyes off of Jesus and pays attention to the water and the waves and the wind, he sinks. As he's falling, he reaches out and cries for Jesus, who saves him.

You think there's a metaphor there for us?

Do you think that we sometimes pay too much attention to our surroundings instead of the One who gets us through?

Do we allow ourselves to be distracted from Jesus by the cares of this world? Uh, yeah. Probably so.

How about this one? Jesus had to work His way through this storm. He had a task to finish. And on the way, he stopped to help a brother out. He stopped His walking on water long enough to lift Peter out of his fallen state.

Well, I think most of you know where we're headed now. The last storm that Jesus goes through is the Cross.

===========

Matthew 27:26-54

26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

==========

Some storms are minor squalls, and we make more out of them then they are. Some storms we have to work and push through while focusing on Jesus and we get past them.

For some storms, however, we just have to hang there and take the punishment while we stay in contact with our Maker and wait on His timing. Some situations just aren't going to be worked through. While Jesus was on that Cross, He was vulnerable to every insult, every dart, every punch, every spear, every indignity that could be thrown at Him. And yet He had to wait on the Father's timing.

But the other side to this is that if we wait on the Father's timing, good things come. On the third day, Jesus rose. He conquered death. He conquered His last storm while in the flesh.

Something to note is that, in conquering Death, Jesus also conquered Sin. In winning His own fight, He helped us to win ours. This is something we can apply, as well.

If you're going through a storm, who do you want to talk to? Probably someone who's been through it already. If your spouse leaves you, one of the best comforts in the world is to spend time with someone who's been there. If you're a child who's been abused, some of the best medicine is to hang out with someone else who's been there. If life is bringing you down, you want to talk with someone who has felt that pain. That's part of why Jesus has been there and done that. It's so that we can have that High Priest, that Advocate who's no stranger to pain or temptation or humiliation.

Jesus has been there.

Jesus will also conquer at the end of time. The final storm. The big one. When that trumpet sounds and those who are in Christ are raised, we'll find that final peace, the calm that comes after the storm has passed. And we'll sing the New Song together without any tears, without any fear.

And a heavenly chorus it will be.

Catchin' Up With Friends

2008-03-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

One of the wonderful things about the Internet is having the ability to run into long-lost friends.

A guy I used to hang around with at Freed-Hardeman, Ed Humphries, caught up with me through Facebook the other day. All I can say is the dude rocks. He's calling himself Ed Lee. I guess that's a professional name. We've not talked about that yet.

If you like Christian Rock, go visit his website. No, REALLY. He's good. Of course, I'm a li'l biased, he's my friend. But the music is outstanding.

http://mycf.mycrossfactor.com/members/304/blog.php

It's a short blog update, but I'm going back to listen. See ya'...

Buddy's Bath

2008-03-25T17:20:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when I take a shower, my cat Buddy decides that he needs to follow suit. I think it's something about a cold house with a warm sink (usually I've just finished shaving), and he digs warm.

So this time I took a picture. It wasn't quite as cute as when he was huddling with his head down in the sink, but this was pretty cool, too.

Don't mind the fog. I just got out of the shower. No, I'm not nekkid, either. I just got dressed before I ran out and got my camera.

He jumped out right after I snapped these two shots. In fact, it looks like he was headed that way on the second shot...

Lake Searcy

2008-03-22T13:12:00.011-05:00

When I woke up this morning, it was such a beautiful day out that I decided to go for a walk. As I headed down the path I usually walk, I noticed that one long stretch had been flooded out.

A couple of curious things about this: 1) It hasn't rained in a few days; 2) It's been warm enough and dry enough that any serious flooding should've dried up by now; 3) A jogger who I talked to on the way back said that he was out there yesterday and it wasn't flooded at all at that time.

My guess is that a farmer opened up his levee gate or something. Not that it's a crime or anything, but it did cut a lot of walks short this morning. Oh, well, it'll only be washed out for a li'l while, and then we can all go back to our regularly scheduled exercise.

(Edited to say: Boy do I feel dumb. I forgot that rivers often crest AFTER it's stopped raining. This means that the White River would have fed that creek several days after the rain stopped.)

On another topic, Spring is definitely here. The beautiful weather has brought out some gorgeous blooms. Enjoy!

Buckwheat Pancakes, Pt. Deux

2008-03-16T16:14:00.001-05:00

After last week's fiasco, I decided to try it again.

It worked this time. I added some regular white flour to the buckwheat flour (half buckwheat flour, half white flour) and monitored the pancakes much more closely. They didn't turn out too bad this time.

I also had my patented egg-filled bacon rings along with fresh-ground (Folger's whole bean) Vanilla Biscotti coffee.

Mmmmmmmmm.... Scrumptious.

Buckwheat Pancakes

2008-03-07T22:00:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I, like, had bacon and eggs for breakfast again, but I did a switch-up and had buckwheat pancakes.

I about burned down my kitchen.

I didn't know that buckwheat pancakes cook faster than regular white flour pancakes. I also didn't realize that you're only supposed to mix in some buckwheat flour to the white flour rather than replace the white flour. Boy was THAT a mistake.

Something else--they didn't bubble much on the edges like regular flour pancakes. They kind of rounded out a bit, but that's it.

It looked as though I'd cooked my first few pancakes with a blowtorch.

No pictures this time. I'm afraid I'd burn my camera after THAT fiasco.

I'm not a bad cook, honest. I just need to stick to the recipe the first time around.

Lost Child

2008-02-21T23:37:00.001-06:00

Here's a li'l somethin' I dredged up from 1994 and thought I'd share with ya'. By the way, this is a very young Jeff with a lot of hair and thinkin' he's playin' a git-tar. My, how things change...

Lost Child

When a child is lost
How much can
The inherent cost
Be weighed in hand?

Do we value birth
Children to see
Or is life worth
But a doctor's fee?

Does a mother dream
To hear baby cry
Or does it scream
Before it dies?

How many more
Must we lose
To win the war
And life we choose?

This I pray:
(The Lord IS able!)
Fill no grave
But fill a cradle.

(c) Jeff Henig 1994

My Life, Such As It Is...

2008-02-16T13:11:00.007-06:00

Study.

Study, study.

Study, study, study...

Yikes. That's my life, such as it is right now.

But that's okay. I'm sure that light at the end of the tunnel isn't an oncoming train, right?

This is quality time in the Greek with the Synoptic Gospels:

This is my Official Office:

This is my Amen Corner:

This is a closer look at the bookshelf in my Amen Corner:

But every now and then, I get a break and get to catch priceless moments.

The birds. Have. Landed. Oooh! Wuzzat?!?!?!?!?!?

Moar have time for beddybye????

Works for me.

Funny Super Bowl Story

2008-02-04T10:17:00.001-06:00

I frequent a Raider-related Usenet group, to which my friend TRoaR posted this gem:

Yeah... a lot has happened since my last report.

I'd been hearing from different people that tickets were going for
pretty large sums of money and on a whim I put my ticket up on
Craiglist. Bad idea using my cell phone as I got 50 calls in a hour.
My boy got sick right as I was leaving Hawaii so I had no choice but
to leave it on and let them roll in.. so I decided to do a little
dealing. I quickly learned the area codes in New Jersey and New
England and after a while, I developed a script that went something
like this if it was a NE fan.

Aloha...

Yo...You still got that ticket? How much?

Yes sir and thanks for calling. Allow me to put something out front
before we talk about you buying my ticket. There are special
requirements for purchase. I am a Raider Fan and I'm going to need
you to admit that we got [messed over -- my edit] in the Tuck Rule incident.

You serious?

Yes, I have a ticket in my hand (gave out the section and seat) it is
a great seat. If you want me to sell it to you, then I am going to
need to hear these words. New England did not deserve to go to the SB
the year of the Snowjob. It was a bad call and a fumble. We don't
talk about it but we all know it deep down.

The first guy sez in an accent that sounds like he has a wad of bread
in his mouth, "aw forget about that, do you want to sell the ticket?"
I hang up. Went to the next caller on my list. Chowder head calls
back and sez.. are you fricking serious? "About a serious as a heart
attack; Sir this is your Karma you have on the line. I have the
ticket and you are going to have to sing to get it." Do you have your
confession ready or should I move on to your next door neighbor that I
have on hold?" "Listen, I'm in a hurry. Click.

Before I sold the ticket to a Giants Fan of 30 years for an obscene
amount of money, I garnered eight confessions. After a while, I put
the calls on speaker and had a little crowd at a table outside of my
hotel room. It was the most fun I had in years.

Sporting my throwback Wheatly Jersey, I watched the game at one of the
best sports bars I have ever been in called Fox Sports Grill. There
was a table of four Chowder Heads (two couples) in full gear making a
lot of noise. Yelling "18-0" and then "18-0 and a half" at the
intermission. I just kept making a motion of a video camera with my
hands at them.

After the game, I watched both the female chowder heads weep
uncontrollably after Eli engineered that sweet last minute drive. I
thought about the guy that I sold the ticket to. This was meant to
be. He was meant to be there and to witness that and I was meant to
be there to enjoy every last tear.

'Scuse Me While I Snark A Bit...

2008-02-03T22:59:00.000-06:00

Muahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

No offense, folks. I just really didn't wanna' hear about 'em for the next, ohhhh, millennium or so.

They shall now and forevermore be called the *Chokeriots of Cheatergate.

Heh.

Oh, and The Book? Take a look:

Priceless. Arrogance gets its come-uppance.

Untitled New Poetry

2008-01-21T20:29:00.000-06:00

It's been too long since I've blogged.

It's been WAY too long since I've written poetry.

No better time than the present, I guess.

This is a work in progress, as yet untitled:

I wish to do great things

Accomplish what I dare

Stirring songs to sing

Great anthems to share

The cowardice within

My emboldened heart shatters

If I can but win

Self to greater matters

I wish to inspire souls

And wither temptations

While I perspire cold

Drowning imagination

One can see me through

The streaming dark night

Dare I but listen

I'll lift by His might

If you've a title in mind, let me know...

---Jeff

Stages of Faith

2007-12-31T22:23:00.000-06:00

"What stages has your faith gone through?"

I had faith from even before my birth in Christ. I always knew somehow that someone was watching out for me for some reason. I couldn't really put my finger on God for that, because I didn't really know Him. As a result, I flitted about from false religion to false religion to no religion at all for a large portion of my life. But this doesn't mean I had no faith. It was merely misplaced faith.

At one point, I was involved in the New Age movement. You know, "I am that I Am," and all of that. I was getting into the candles and the crystals, thinking that I could channel the power inherent in them to bring my life under my control. You can't, you know. I don't know of anyone who has gone that route who has been able to get their life under their control by sheer force of will. Since we're all unfinished business, we usually end up fouling up what we have control over. Or, at least, what we think we have control over.

The next stage of my faith was my attempt at following Christ while mired in denominations. I was still in the Marines at that time, and on my dog tags under religious preference I had entered "Christian." I knew denominationalism is wrong, but I couldn't quantify it. Just as importantly, I didn't know how to find other people who believed the same way to worship with. So I prayed about it.

As I wrote earlier, I met Tommy Thompson at a swimming pool party in Santa Cruz, CA back in 1989. It was Tommy who taught me about the Lord's church, about denominationalism and about baptism. He baptized me and helped me further both my knowledge and my faith.

I left Santa Cruz in 1992 to go sing with a singing group in Arkansas and immediately my faith leaped to another level. I'd never been on the road with a Christian singing group before, so I got to learn many new things. In singing with several singing groups now, along with Christian education, the added knowledge along with experience has brought my faith to unbelievable levels.

Ironically, the thing that did the most to build my faith was my divorce in 2000. I remember a family taking me in and sharing their roof and food with me while I looked for housing. I remember waking up with a bible in my hand, reading through teary eyes. I remember praying with a soggy voice to a God that I know was the only hope in that dark time. I recall being reminded that God always answers, but sometimes the answer is "no."

Somehow, I was brought through the other side. I don't know how God did it, but here I am. And that has brought me farther along than just about anything else I've been through. I think it helped me to minister to jail inmates in their dark times. We share something in common, they and I. Rock bottom can be a real bear.

Is God Fair?

2007-12-21T21:55:00.000-06:00

"In view of Romans chapter 9 have you ever wondered whether God plays fair?"

Of course I've wondered whether God plays fair. I don't know if fair is what God is shooting for. I know God is just. I know God is love. But a "fair" God would not have allowed me to grow up in group homes. A "fair" God would not have allowed a philandering politician to cheat on his wife some 70 years ago and have an illegitimate child whom he then ignored. A "fair" God would not have allowed a musical child prodigy to gradually go deaf.

A "fair" God would not have allowed a barren couple to have a baby and then force the dad to attempt to sacrifice his son. A "fair" God would not have allowed a liar from a family of liars to be the genesis of God's chosen nation. A "fair" God would not have allowed a murderer and an adulterer to be labeled as a man after God's own heart. A "fair" God would not have ordered a man to marry a prostitute and still require him to preach to His chosen people.

A "fair" God would not have allowed a persecutor to write most of the New Testament. A "fair" God would not have allowed a Jesus denier to preach the first Gospel sermon. A "fair" God would not have allowed His new people to be persecuted by the Jews AND the Romans.

And a "fair" God absolutely, positively, most certainly would not have allowed His only Son to die for the sins of all mankind.

The wonderful thing in all of this is that God is merciful, not just "fair." He is merciful in that the group home resident is now able to minister to inmates in a county jail. He is merciful in that the illegitimate child became a great gospel preacher. He is merciful in that He gave us some of Beethoven's greatest works AFTER the composer went deaf.

He is merciful in that many nations were raised from that barren family. He is merciful in giving imperfect people a chance to take part in His Kingdom.

He is merciful in redeeming us with His only Son.

I'm thankful that God is more merciful than fair.

A Sad Anniversary

2007-12-08T21:20:00.000-06:00

On this day 27 years ago, the world lost quite a voice. A mind. A musician. A poet. An artist.

December 8, 1980 was the day we lost John Winston Lennon.

I remember that day for the Howard Cosell announcement on Monday Night Football. December 8, 1980 had a huge impact on me, though not on that day. I was a Beatles listener, though not yet really a fan. I had just owned a hand-me-down copy of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for about a couple of months, maybe, and, since I was only 13, the full weight of what had happened didn't really strike me at the time.

As I got older and the Beatles' influence grew in my life, the realization of just what had been lost began to dawn. John Lennon meant a lot to me, personally. I remember listening to Plastic Ono Band, crying myself to sleep over "Mother" as I mourned the loss of my own mother's relationship. I remember pantomiming "I Am The Walrus" in time to the music in front of my foster brothers. I remember listening through headphones in absolute wonderment to "A Day In The Life" and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." I also remember singing along with "Watching The Wheels" on lazy Summer days.

When I got a little older, I realized that I had some disagreements with his political stance and his religious (or non-religious) views, and I had some problems with the simmering cauldron of temper that seemed to continuously find its way to the forefront. However, I never lost my love for his ability to craft poetry and set it to music. We can look past certain things to appreciate beauty, you know.

It's a dirty rotten shame that the man who wrote "Grow Old Along With Me" didn't get to. It would have been interesting to see how age would have affected his writing and his public persona.

We miss you, John.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

2007-10-03T21:01:00.000-05:00

"What are some of the implications of (Romans) 3:23 that we are all sinners?"

There is exactly one Person who has ever lived a perfect life, and we killed Him. We seem to have a habit of doing things like this. What does that say about us as a people? We get jealous of people who we think carry on better lives than we do, and so we do as much damage to them as we can. We may not physically put them on the Cross like Jesus, but we commit character assassination and libel and slander. We call such people "do-gooders" and "holier-than-thous" and publicly castigate them.

Meanwhile, someone like Mother Teresa, who has been put up for sainthood by many in the Catholic faith, has been discovered to have had doubts about her faith. As though she hadn't done enough in Calcutta. As though her work for the poor was just business as usual. As though her example wasn't good enough somehow.

We are too quick to believe the very first bad report, the first bad news about someone. Who doesn't know the story of Richard Jewell by now? The man finds a bomb at the Atlanta Olympics just by doing his job, and the next thing we know, he's accused of planting it himself.

We've heard of the downfall of many a televangelist such as Jimmy Swaggart and Jim and Tammy Bakker and cheered their fall. We jeered at the Catholic church for the habits of some of the priests in her service. We take pleasure in pointing out the infidelities of our political leaders, such as Bill Clinton and John Kennedy. We love to point out the drinking and frat-boy habits of George W. Bush. Not to put them on the same level as biblical figures, but this is nothing new--Scripture says that the Jews of old did the same thing to the many judges and prophets who were called by God to lead them.

If everyone has sinned and fallen short of the kingdom of God, we need to be a little more forgiving of those around us. Don't be so quick to believe a bad report about someone. Don't believe every rumor you hear. There's more than enough bad news to go around without trying to dig some up.

We also need to be less harsh on ourselves. If Mother Teresa thought she wasn't doing enough, that her faith was lacking, then I'd say that anyone is susceptible to worrying about that very thing. It is destructive, it weakens us, and it keeps us from seeing God's glory because it can put a wedge between us and God. We start to think that even God Himself can't move us to where we need to be. We should know by now that this is far from the truth, that God can take us right where we are.

He can, you know...

That family relationship.

2007-09-27T22:01:00.000-05:00

In our Romans class, we are asked to write an answer to an application question at the end of each chapter. Out of six possible questions, this is the one I picked:

"Paul says he is a 'slave of Christ.' If you wrote a self-introduction what words would you use to describe your relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?"

This is how I answered:

I think that there are a number of words I would use to describe my relationship with Christ. Words like 'family,' 'mentor,' 'counselor,' and 'savior,' among others. However, if we are to focus on just one, I think 'family' is the one I'll choose. By way of explanation, I need to start with a story.

There was once a young boy who was born into a family of strife. His parents were constantly at odds with each other--fights and arguments were the currency of his world. When his parents divorced, the four year old boy went with his mother to Colorado while his father stayed in California. While with his mom, he was in and out of foster care.

When he was seven years old, there was a hearing to see who would get custody and, since his mom never showed up to court, his grandparents ended up getting custody. His dad asked if he could have the boy for a half hour for lunch, and his grandparents agreed.

He never came back.

His dad had spirited him away, managing about 15 minutes for lunch.

The boy stayed with his dad until he was nine, when he showed up at school with bruises on his hands and arms. The principal had a police investigator take pictures of the bruises on the rest of his body that day...

The boy ended up in group homes from nine years old to 18 years old, when he graduated high school. After high school, it was off to the Marines (a little bit of adolescent rebellion, as both parents were Viet Nam War protesters), and a spiritual search commenced. He bounced around from denomination to denomination, much like his family life had been.

When he got out of the Marines, he came back to Santa Cruz, California. He went to a swimming pool party put on by a high school friend, where he met Tommy Thompson. Tommy took the young man under his wing, but killed him by drowning a month later on July 31, 1989.

When I came out of the water, my old self having died, I found that I had a family. This family is so large that it would not be possible for me to meet every living member of it. I have many spiritual parents along with brothers and sisters worldwide.

Jesus is the one who gave me that family. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Boy. What A Weekend.

2007-09-14T23:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I got to visit with my cousins from Montgomery, Alabama. My cousin Michael Henig plays starting Quarterback for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, so I was in Starkville, Mississippi for a Thursday night LSU game. It was wonderful to stay with the family and tailgate a bit.

The game was enjoyable, even though the Dawgs got blown out pretty bad. (It's okay, Michael led the Dawgs to a really good game the next week!!!)

As wonderful as it was, the family visit was only the beginning of an extraordinary weekend.

On the way back home on Friday, my car started making some funny noises. It was like the fan had gotten loose somehow and was rattling against the housing. Since there was no indication of any other problems like overheating or lost oil pressure, I started looking for an exit rather than pulling over immediately. Well, I heard a "pop" underneath the car, and immediately found that I had zero power, so I pulled over. I was about a mile from exit 81 on Hwy 78 in Tupelo.

I took a look underneath the hood and found that I had very little oil on the dipstick. When I pulled the dipstick though, there were still no signs of overheating to be found. So I decided to walk to the exit and over to the nearby truck stop. I hadn't made it but about 25 yards before a motorcyclist stopped for me. Since he didn't have an extra helmet, he couldn't give me a ride, but a man in a pickup truck stopped less than thirty seconds later to give me a ride to the truck stop.

Amazing but true, no one in the truck stop could give me any ideas as to where I might find a good mechanic. I made my way across the road to Belden Baptist Church, where I met a man by the name of Kelly McGinnis. This kind man gave me a ride to a reputable mechanic's garage--Tri County Auto Repair--just a few short miles away. Nick and John Hazel were more than gracious and helpful. They took me out to my stranded car to find the problem. When it sounded like the car wasn't gonna' make the drive, they got a tow truck for me. When I got back, Kelly was waiting for me with money for an overnight motel stay. He couldn't stick around very long, but he had Nick and John drive me over to the motel and he called in the bill on his card.

After a good night's sleep, I started making some phone calls to try to get home. My first shot was trying to find a Harding student in the area who might be going home. So I called some area churches, but didn't have much success. However, the folks I talked to were more than helpful, many offering a place to stay the night, or to help find one.

I finally ended up staying in the household of Mark and Julie Halbert. What an outstanding couple! The two of them and their three boys made for an exciting stay, playing Wii games and talkin' and jokin' the whole time. They took me out for dinner that Saturday night and brought me to worship on the Lord's day the next morning.

Lee Acres church of Christ. Now THAT'S a good congregation, right there. Their hospitality knows no bounds. Brad Carman preached that morning and taught the auditorium bible class--a class on benevolence. Kirt Hunt, Glenn McCullough Jr., and Jerry Grammer, among others, were quick to step in and lend a helping hand. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the loving kindness you showed me.

That Sunday, Jeff Montgomery drove out with his Suburban from Searcy, AR to pick me up and tow my car on a UHaul trailer. Boy was THAT an interesting ride. For those who have never towed a car on a car trailer, let's just say that you have to get used to swayin'! We got back in time to drop off the trailer and get back to the jail by 7:30 that night--and Jim Galyan came back to his ministerial stomping grounds to cover for us early, so we wouldn't be behind the eight ball that night.
Since this blog entry is already rambling, I'm gonna' go ahead and cut it short, but not before I thank a few people by name:

Chad and Beverly Ramsey, and Russell and Rennie Smith. These two couples helped a lot by just being able to direct me to someone to stay. Both Chad and Russell were out of town, so staying in their homes wasn't gonna' work for obvious reasons, but they gave me Marlin Williams and Mark Halbert to talk to. Marlin was out of town, but he came up with Mark's name as well. Guess what, Mark, you came highly recommended! I also want to thank Anita Llewellen for her help. Jeff Kreh, you came up with some good ideas as to locating folks in the area.

Thanks especially to Jeff Montgomery, who went well out of his way to help a friend in need. Thanks, bro!

Boy. What a weekend.

We MUST remember.

2007-09-11T14:33:00.000-05:00

I'm not feeling particularly eloquent today.

In the midst of my pity party over financial issues, my broken-down car and school pressures, I received a visual reminder of the need for a rearrangement of my priorities.

I was clearing my mind to write a paper for school by doing a li'l web-browsing. I do that a lot. Maybe too much. However, I came across Michelle Malkin's website and her tribute/coverage of the sixth anniversary of 9/11.

Yeah, it's been six years. Six years since 3,000 folks lost their lives in a grisly real-life version of Towering Inferno. Six years since New York City and the Pentagon irretrievably lost these precious souls. Six years since a visit to an elementary school was interrupted by national tragedy. Six years since impact, concussion and burning jet fuel overcame concrete, glass and steel. Six years since we saw the results of people having to make a decision to die in pieces on the pavement rather than burning to death. Six years since a brave group of passengers stopped another attack with the words, "Let's roll!" Six years since time stopped and our hearts beat as one nation. Six years since 285 million people cried with one tear.

And six years since an entire nation prayed to God with one voice.

I read a wonderful news article today in the Christian Science Monitor via Yahoo News. In the article, mention was made of making September 11 a day of service and self-sacrifice every year. I second that motion. Instead of allowing September 11 to resemble December 7 and fade out of our collective memory, we need to remember it with the things we should be doing anyway but don't.

Here's to remembering.

There is some strong language in this video, and it'll probably ruin your day. But I reckon you'll remember.

What makes me tick?

2007-08-24T17:35:00.000-05:00

I was assigned the task of writing a short paper for my Romans class entitled "What Makes You Tick?" Well, I dunno if it's interesting reading, but here 'tis anyways:

=====

What makes me tick? Good question.

First, I'm a man fully in love with the Lord my God. I've a funny way of showing it sometimes, but He is ever-present in my thoughts and activities. Sometimes I think of myself along the lines of David or Paul wherein my desire is to fully dedicate myself to the Lord, but my flesh has this nasty habit of getting in the way. Of course, I'd hardly elevate myself to the level of David or Paul, but that is the comparison--albeit on a lower scale.

Of a much lesser note, I dig coffee. Hearty, robust, fresh-ground coffee. Straight from the bean. There are many flavors of coffee that I've found enjoyable, such as Snickerdoodle, Hazelnut, Egyptian Harrar, and even Blueberry Creme, but none can replace a good ole' fashioned French Roast. That's right, I said French Roast. Due to the election of a conservative hard-liner in France, I no longer feel compelled to boycott all things French. I'm not worried about calling it "Freedom Roast" or anything like that. I am kind of worried about the packages with the white flag on the label, however.

I truly enjoy singing. I've always had a love for music. The first "favorite band" in my life was the Beach Boys way back in the fifth grade. "Endless Summer" was the album (remember vinyl albums?) that I wore out for about a year. Soon after that, I discovered "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles. This plunged me into an extensive love affair with the Beatles' music--mostly their later material, but also including their earlier stuff to a lesser extent. When I got to high school, I was introduced to Led Zeppelin, which proved to be a gateway drug that lead me to myriad types of other music, such as the Blues, Jazz, and Classical. The problem I found with the groups I lionized was that I tried to sing along and butchered it badly. This lead to the thought that I couldn't sing and never would be able to. When I became a Christian many years later and sang in worship, I discovered that my vocal range was Second Bass. Well, no wonder! You see, all of my favorite bands growing up had extremely high tenor lead singers, and I was a bass trying to sing along with those jokers! Once I started singing along with other basses, I learned that I could, in fact, carry a tune. There's a lesson in there somewhere...

I am currently working in the White County Detention Center as a jail minister, which is a rather fulfilling task. For the last two years, I've been going in on Sunday nights and Tuesday nights to take care of Communion and the library cart along with other administrative duties--basically clearing the hurdles for the volunteers. Whenever someone doesn't show up, I go in their stead to lead singing, lead Communion or give the lesson. I've also had occasion to baptize folks, and that has been VERY rewarding. I must say that it is an awe-inspiring thing to be present at the birth of a new babe in Christ, especially when the baby has been through the mill, battle-hardened, broken, scarred and tested like these folks behind bars have been.

Well, that's what makes me tick. Of course, this isn't everything there is, but this is only a two page paper...

I Had A Dream

2007-08-18T03:48:00.000-05:00

No, it wasn't some Dr. Martin Luther King thang...

Last night I dreamed one of the funniest dreams I've dreamed in years.

First, the stage needs to be set. Jeff and Julie Montgomery have a large family by today's standards. They're raising a basketball team. A large brood. Three girls and two boys. Lots of funny stories about raising them.

Well, last night I dreamed they had another one. This would be baby number six. I guess he'd be the equipment manager.

We were in Jeff's front yard talkin' and jokin' when his newest baby (didn't have a name yet in the dream, even though the boy was about a year old) says, "I go boo-boo." Jeff checked the diaper, but there wasn't any evidence. "You didn't boo-boo." "I go boo-boo," replied the boy. Jeff checked it again, and the boy released a stream of kimchi gas straight up Jeff's nose.

"WHOA!" Jeff flinched like he'd been punched in the face. The next thing we knew, Mt. Saint Helens was erupting in the boy's shorts. Seriously, it was like the bubbling mud puddles at Mount Lassen. Geysers were shooting out of the leg holes and gurgling out of the waistband.

Something you have to know about Jeff is that he's a very resourceful parent. He told me that he once had a child throw up in church--something like a gallon of oatmeal and orange juice--and he cleaned it up with a church bulletin, a diaper bag, and baby wipes.

Well, out of nowhere, a 13 gallon kitchen trash bucket appeared--kinda' like out of a Looney Tunes cartoon with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck--and he scooped up the diaper with the overflow straight into the bucket. Now, don't ask me why he worried about the mess, since it was on the grass in his front yard, and all he'd have to do is spray it off with a garden hose, but this is MY dream, not what Jeff would actually do.

When Jeff was done cleaning up the mess, he started on the baby boy with a miraculously appearing box of baby wipes. I probably would've sprayed the boy with a shot from the garden hose, but Jeff is a li'l more compassionate than that--and it's also a dream. Come to think of it, Jeff might've sprayed him with the garden hose, too...

As Jeff was wiping the boy down, tears were streaming down Jeff's face. It smelled truly bad. Kimchi gas. If you don't know what kimchi is, you're in for a treat. It's a Korean dish made with fermented cabbage. They take cabbage and bury it for a while, and then serve it on your plate. Ick.

So Jeff wiped the boy down and looked at him mournfully, saying "You make daddy cry."

I laughed so hard I woke up.

Usually when I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm bothered about it because I'm truly a man in need of beauty sleep. Not this time, even though I couldn't get back to sleep. No, I was too busy giggling. Man, I'm STILL giggling.

Maybe I should start a blog.