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Road Doggin'.... - 6/20/2006 2:27:12 PM
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tafkam
Posts: 1397
Joined: 9/23/2005
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From 5/12/06....
LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK...
Spring fever has hit. It must have. It's the only reason I can come up with for my lack of motivation the last few days. My desk faces the window, which overlooks our backyard, so I not only get to view the gorgeous day that God has made, but also my kids playing ( who do stop occasionally to run up and tap on my window and wave to the monkey in the cage). I'm off this weekend, looking forward to T-ball games, birthday parties, and just going to church with my family (a decidedly rare occurrence).
It's also that time of year where everything just feels so good after a long cold winter. Like the payoff for all the downtime. You get reinvigorated and feel like facing the world again. I know that's happened to me in the last few weeks. I had a rather lousy four week stretch as I found myself having to deal with a situation that put me in contact with people who bring nothing positive to your life's table. And it is difficult to hear people who barely know you making disparaging conclusions on your character and integrity. It's one thing to say you're going to take it to God and leave it with Him, but quite another to actually follow through on it. Let's be honest, it's hard to let go of a grudge!
Fortunately, the last three weeks have put me in some rather incredible churches, who really took me in and loved me as a Christian brother, lifted my spirit, and really re-validated who I am and what I do. Like coming out of the cold into the springtime sun. A big "thank you" to the folks at each church I've been to since Easter, for showing me the kind of encourager I want to be in my walk with God. You guys were so awesome! Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “The tongue can kill or nourish life.” And Ephesians 4:29: “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Lord, make me one of the good guys!
Aquaphobia: My wife is dragging me on a cruise in June. Now I'm petrified of the water (I can't swim, and AMC showed "The Poseidon Adventure" last night), so the idea of being on top of water WAY over my head for a week is a bit daunting. Somebody pray for me to loosen up enough to have a good time!
NEW CD: When we get back, I'll be starting work on my next CD, which will be a hymn project. I've noticed a disturbing trend among some church circles, that of discarding these classics of the faith because "they're old". I believe that you don't throw something away just because it's old, so I'm gonna do a whole project devoted to the great hymns I grew up on, some traditional, some with a "new suit of clothes", and a couple of downright unusual twists. Stay tuned.....it's gonna be fun!
1 Peter 3:8 puts it this way: “Love one another with tender hearts.” I love you guys! Thanks for putting up with these miscellaneous ramblings! Have a great weekend!
_____________________________
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan
Tafkam
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RE: Road Doggin'.... - 6/20/2006 2:28:27 PM
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tafkam
Posts: 1397
Joined: 9/23/2005
Status: offline
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BACK ON THE BRIDGE -
Why is it that every time you return from a vacation, you always feel like you need a few days off? My family and I just returned from a marvelous week aboard Disney's cruise ship "Magic", and for all the "relaxing" I did, I'm beat right down to my socks. But does the Mouse ever know how to throw a party! For a week there was no end to food, activities, food, games, food, shows, food, music, food, movies, food, ports of call, food (do you see a pattern here?), comedians, magicians, etc etc. And almost as if to prove what a class act the Disney company is, when Kayla (my nine year old) came down with a slight bug, and subsequent confinement to cabin for 48 hours, the Concierge Desk immediately sent up a VCR, movies, and board games for her (not to mention the full dinner menu!). As her daddy, I was impressed with these folks!
Probably the one low point of the trip was my wife and I meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse in a hallway, alone, just the four of us, without a camera to be found. Adding insult to injury, I ran into Mickey again just a day or so later, again just me and him, yet again, with no camera. Have you ever seen a grown man cry?
But for all the activity and ports of call, I must confess that I enjoyed the days at sea the best. And my single most favorite spot on the ship was the bow. When you're in your cabin, or reading a book by the pool, you're not really all that aware of the ship's movement, but up on the bow, you not only see the foremost section of the massive hull, but you see the sweeping expanse of the ocean before you, accompanied by a wind that, at the right moment, can almost push you off your feet and quite literally take your breath away. It's an exhilarating experience, especially at night, and I found myself being pulled back to the bow every chance I got to go topside. (I had this irresistible urge to shout "I'M KING OF THE WORLD!", but I figured the men in the white coats might come and take me away, ho ho, hee hee, ha ha......)
Of course God nudged me on one of these trips, and I was reminded how easy it is for us to get comfortable and relaxed in our Christian walk, lounging "below decks" while not really aware of the movement and activity around us. But to stand on the bowsprit, the precipice, of God's will for our lives, and watch as God steers us steadily through His ultimate plan for each of us...how much do we miss when we get complacent? I don't know about you, but I want to stand at the fore, with my face to the wind, so that I may clearly see what God has in store on the horizon of my life. It's an experience and feeling of awe that I hope none of us will miss out on!
BRAGGING RIGHTS - I've got to brag on my wife, Chelle. Traveling through Florida, we witnessed a terrible motorcycle crash on Interstate 95, and we were one of two cars that pulled over. Being a nurse, Chelle immediately jumped out of our van and was the first person to reach the injured rider, where she rendered aid until paramedics and police arrived. The best I could manage was getting yelled at by the 911 operator for not being able to tell her exactly where we were (hey, I'm from Georgia, lady!). Chelle, I'm proud of you, baby! You did great! How awesome God is to put us right where He needs us at the appropriate times!
But it's great to be home, ready to hit the road again, and working on songs for a new CD project (the hymn project mentioned last time is on hold). Thanks as always for your prayers and encouragement, and I hope to see you on the road soon. Anchors aweigh!
_____________________________
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan
Tafkam
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RE: Road Doggin'.... - 6/22/2006 11:33:00 AM
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tafkam
Posts: 1397
Joined: 9/23/2005
Status: offline
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WHEN THE WORLD GETS IT RIGHT
Lessons can be learned in the oddest of places, and our recent cruise ti the Carribean was no exception.
One day I had to go to lunch by myself, and I ended up being seated at a table with two other families. Now I was not in a very social mood that day, and I really didn't want to talk to anybody. I just wanted to enjoy a meal in peace.
But in the course of about five minutes, we were all talking and laughing as if we had known each other forever. It was a thoroughly enjoyable time. And scenarios like this were repeated throughout the week.
It was then that I noticed, almost EVERYBODY on the ship smiled and spoke to us. From the stranger passed in the hallway to the lady who cleaned our stateroom everyday, I don't think I met a person the entire week that didn't make some form of communication overture, and I lost count of the number of people with whom I unexpectedly found myself in good, entertaining conversation with. It was without a doubt the friendliest, warmest week I've ever spent.
Which of course begs the question, how can the world get this sort of thing so right while our churches get it so wrong? I've visited churches where no one AT ALL spoke to me or even acknowledged my existence, and no doubt many of us have heard similar stories from friends or family. Why do our churches have such a reputation for distance, coldness, and unfriendliness?
We should be the FIRST people to acknowledge the strangers in our midst, the first to welcome them, get to know them, and strive to make them feel at home in our fellowship. Why must I as a Christian give the "Most Friendly" and "Most Courteous" superlative labels to the Disney Cruise Line and it's passengers?
Not that Disney has a monopoly on this sort of thing. In my pre-Christian life, I also found my secular haunts to be much more welcoming and inviting. If I missed an event, rest assured I got a call. To be welcomed, to be valued, to be appreciated, and to be missed.....all are agreeable concepts.
Perhaps this is one area where the church could borrow a page from the world's playbook?
Just a few random musings on a slow day at the office.....
_____________________________
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan
Tafkam
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