I Want This Bible

Yes, this is a strange title, but soon you’ll understand. The following link will take you to the blog “A Boomer in the Pew”, which I discovered from the “Between Two Worlds” blog. If I jump through a series of hoops and hold my mouth right, I may win a sweet ESV Study Bible in premium calfskin. If the calf knew his ultimate fate, his departing may have been made sweeter… I already have a nice ESV Reformation Study Bible, my everyday read. I also was blessed by my wife with an ESV Study Bible in hardback. Honey, I do love it, but it would last longer with a calfskin sister in the house. Anyway, check it out!

  http://www.boomerinthepew.com/2009/02/win-a-calfskin-version-of-the-esv-study-bible.html

New Feature

Hey folks. I’m going to try something new. I lead a Sunday school class of young-but wiser-than-their-years adults, and this will be the first post dedicated to sharing my notes on the lesson. I hope to do this every week as time allows. Why do this, you ask? Well, usually one hour isn’t enough, what with all the lively banter generated in our class! Also, I try to cross reference other scripture as much as possible-you know, interpret scripture with scripture-and that is where we usually run out of time. So this is mainly for my class, but if anyone else wants to read, that’s great! You’ll see the box.net area down low and to the right. No…a little..lower….there, that’s it. Just click if you wish. Thanks to my volunteer blogfessional Jason Sessoms, who patiently (I hope) walks this ludite through the basics. Be back soon!

Some Rice For Your Diet

This is just to let you inside my crazy head for a moment. You may love his music or hate it, but you are sure not to be unaffected by the amazing Tony Rice. He’s kind of known as the greatest guitar flatpicker of all time, mainly tied to bluegrass. But some of my favorite tunes of his are jazz-inflected, like this version of  “My Favorite Things”- yes, the one of Rogers and Hammerstein fame that “The Sound of Music” made a household name. And by the way, John Coltrane also had a nice cover of this tune. Enjoy. And salivate, guitar players.
BTW, that is Wyatt Rice, his brother, playing rhythm guitar and Mark Schatz, the wonderful upright bass player keeping time.

Some funnies…..

I am selfishly posting this for me. I have a nasty head cold, laughing is pretty good medicine, and it’s all about me, right? So here it goes…..

Always remember that you’re unique- just like everyone else.

If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is probably not for you.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

If you lend someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably a wise investment.

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

I know it ain’t Proverbs, but you must admit there’s some truth buried in here…..

A growing family

Meet heart-belly. Otherwise known as Marley, our new addition to the family. She is a 4-month old Golden Retriever, a bundle of sharp teeth, furry coat, waggin’ tail, and loving heart. It’s just like having a newborn (not really, but close) all over again. I get up twice during the night to take her outside to do her thing. She has regular feeding times. The discipline is rendered when necessary. The love is always flowing.

One of my favorite “Marleytraits” is that, when I read my bible early in the morning, she jumps up on the ottoman, then the chair, gives me a loving nudge on my face, then returns to the ottoman, burrowing in between my calves for an hour nap. Though I still love our former dog Oscar, Marley has stolen my heart-for now, that is…..

Mighty Mouse

It is amazing how a cute little furry creature, no more than 4 inches long and 5 ounces light, can strike utter terror in creatures 1000 times their superior. But that very thing happened just yesterday.

Evidently, a cute little beast decided that a 2000 Toyota Sienna would make a great home. My wife was sitting in her van reading while on her break at work, when she saw our little friend on the passenger front floor. He saw her too, and took off for the back of the van. Of course, Jamie called me to come and “get this van”, then she said,” I will not ride in this van until the mouse is out!”

I went to get the van and leave her my car. Lest you think I was brave, on my way back to work, I had a rubber band wrapped around each leg of my pants at the ankle- no mouse was going to find a new home up my pants!

Once at work, three technicians practically tore apart our van looking for this mouse. They found evidence of his inhabitation- an insulation “bed” under the center console and in the rear cargo area- behind the inside trim. I still can’t figure out how he got there. Anyway, their search was fruitless, besides me having to clean and vacuum the van so they could look for him.

So, for right now, I have a new set of wheels. If you have any ideas on catching the mouse, besides a trap (which I am going to try today), please bring ‘em on.

Or for tricking out my new minivan…

Happy Birthday to my baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some decades ago today, the Lord God Almighty must have stood back and marveled at the beautiful creation He brought forth, for He knew the seed He created would become a beautiful flower. Today I am wishing my flower happy birthday. Jamie, I love you very much, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you if I could! I hope you have a wonderful day, and people- give a shout out to my wife! She’s twenty-nine and holding, and just seeing the faint outline on the horizon ahead of her prime. Thanks be to God for this gift!

It’s “What I’m Looking For”

I love double entendre. The ‘it’ I am referencing is the new offering from Eric Brown, titled “What I’m Looking For”. I was graciously asked to participate in something with which I was unfamiliar: a blog tour. It’s a neat concept-send out some CD’s to folks who you think might listen, and ask for reviews on the album during a certain period of time, to be posted on the respective blogs of said individuals. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy, and have put together a few notes on what I’ve heard.

My first thought was, “Wow, a young Elvis Costello.” For those too young that are saying, “I thought his last name was Presley”, give Elvis C. a listen. Then I was reminded of a cross between Dylan and Neil Young, circa ‘Harvest Moon’ . I would say that Eric has an earthy, narrative kind of voice, with a hint of desperation-perfect for storytelling. As I eased into this CD, I was struck by the calming effect it had on my soul. It took me to different places. I wasn’t always sure where, but I knew I was a long way from the confines of my office at a car dealership, which is always a good thing. A few memorable lines :

- Till this world here is redeemed, gonna see wrong in everything, so I might just sit right here

- Sweet Jesus, take me home to where the blacktop ends

- Truth is truth, no matter what you feel

- When I ventured on my own, I forgot to leave behind a trail of crumbs

Musically, I consider myself a bit of a snob, but I likes what I likes. This album is filled with tasteful keys, beautifully melodic lead lines, soothing rhythms, and nice bits of harmonica. A very tasteful mix, always pointing back towards the story, and not some instumental ambush.

However, having said that, my only longing upon listening to this music was that I kept hearing a mandolin and/or banjo. But that may be the result of my bent towards bluegrass, or my senility kicking in.

Overall, a great get, especially for fans of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and the like. Speaking of getting, here’s how:

 

For i-tunes, go to http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?
id=293889623&s=143441
If Amazon is more to your liking, go to http://www.amazon.com/What-Im-Looking-For/dp/B001IT4OQI/
ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1227122137&sr=8-6

Either way, get it. And travel the backroads of the mind of Eric Brown. But make sure to gas up before you go!

Eye Opening Interview

I am posting this link not to seem bitter or angry with the election- just as information about how our president-elect explains his faith. Please pray for a genuine conversion, that God would change his heart. I feel sorry for him. But I know there are many “christians” that believe these same things.

It is a longish interview, but well worth the read. No filter of Fox News or CNN (right or left), just straight from Obama’s mouth.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/obamas-interview-with-cathleen.html

The Void

Do you ever get the feeling that you are out of place? Even when it seems you are where you need to be?  If you are a believer and reading this post, you should  feel at least slightly out of place all the time. I have this feeling sometimes, but have trouble articulating it. Then I read this article in Christianity Today, and now I will read GK Chesterton’s Orthodoxy, for sure.    http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/novemberweb-only/147-11.0.html

Anyone else feel this way?