Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tired Tuesdays
There is no reason for me to be tired. Yesterday was a play day and we had fun at Opry Mills outlet mall. I slept pretty good last night and there's really no explanation for feeling tired this morning. I was up late working on some projects but that shouldn't have me worn out already. I probably just miss Kim and Spencer, and miss being at home. I think I'll buy some tickets to go back home some during the week once the boys go back to school. Then make it back up north and work around those days that I am home. Yeah! That sounds like a great idea. I've got a lot of things in the cooker that I'm hoping to pull together in the fall. God is blessing us while on the road. We've had great services, good health, and He has kept us safe while traveling. I felt impressed to go out on the road this summer for several reasons I've already written about in earlier blogs. It seems that God has done His work in us. He is preparing us for something wonderful in the days ahead. There are some things that only God can do in our lives. Sometimes we just need to get away from the normal routines in our life, and allow Him to speak to us. He has done that very thing in the lives of my boys and myself. I have confidence that in His time, all things will come together. And on that note, I don't have any reason to worry. But I am still tired this morning.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Answer
What a wonderful morning it is here in Nashville! Actually, I haven't been outside yet, and our room is completely dark, which is conducive to a good night's rest. When you think on it, any morning you are able to wake up, that is a great morning! And today is such a day. Today I am thankful for a wonderful family, good health, a sound mind, (we all have our own opinions), and a great expectation in my heart for all that God has in store for me and my family. I also found the answer to the origin of the saying, "The early bird gets the worm." The meaning is "success comes to those who prepare well and put in effort." This was first recorded in John Ray's A collection of English proverbs 1670, 1678: "The early bird catcheth the worm."
Clearly, the title of the work indicates that this was considered proverbial even in the 17th century. It also held true yesterday.
Yesterday was everything I thought it would be! The worship was anointed and the preaching was right on target for our lives. My boys have been so blessed to see and experience such positives moves of God this summer. As Colton was praying last night after the message, I was reminded of my growing up days where we played music and sang as teenagers. It was refreshing to see him praying when he could have been playing instead. We need more of that in our churches. We need singers and musicians who desire to pray more than they desire to play or sing. Often we see the complete opposite.
This summer I've tried to teach the boys to practice and prepare as much as possible. We've had one big summer-long music lesson, and its been so much fun! I love my boys very much. Kim and I are so blessed to have them in our lives. I also love my boys being boys! I'm glad they love to play ball, and do things that guys normally do. I've seen them in many different situations this summer. They've met a lot of new friends. They love God, and they love girls! I'm not complaining, especially when I think about the alternative. Are they perfect? No way! Am I perfect? Not hardly. But I love watching them grow up, learning to love God, and wanting to be used by Him. We've also learned the importance of relying on God, and needing Him to bless everything we do. Along with practicing and planning musically, we're also discovering the need for spiritual preparation. We're on a journey ... and I'm excited to see where God will take us, if we allow Him to lead the way.
Our short-term journey led us to Opry Mills outlet mall today. We visited the Gibson Showcase guitar center and it is unbelievably expensive! (We didn't stay long.) I ripped off a Jaco Pastorious solo on a $7,000.00 upright acoustic bass and honestly, I laughed out loud at that crazy deal. Then I played "Cripple Creek" on a dobro with the plastic keychain in my pocket, even though it is a banjo tune. Next I tickled out a tune on the mandolin, and even impressed myself, seeing that I don't even know how to play one that well (or at all). Ha! Finally, I picked up a banjo and was going to play it... until I nearly threw my back out! If they sold banjos by the pound, it would cost a fortune for a good banjo! It weighs more than the RV we are driving! I breathed deeply and played another version of "Cripple Creek" which was not much better than my attempt on the dobro. At this point, since there was no circle of people around me requesting Ricky Skaggs or Marty Stuart tunes on another instrument, I quickly bought a Jim Dunlop purple plastic guitar gadget that helps unwind the tuning pegs when changing out strings. $2.50 total. Ladies and gentlemen, the Graham's have left the building...
The rest of our mall experience is as follows: After the guitar shop catastrophe, I bought The Prayer of Jabez book for $2.00, an Orange Julius from DQ, and a massage at the Lil' Asian Rub-Down kiosk. (I'm almost certain those lil people are licensed. They have to carry some type of credentials to be that good.) And even if they aren't licensed, or even legal citizens of our great country, today's rub was my way of helping strengthen the world's economy. What's $20 +tip for 25 minutes of quiet time with the Lord, right? I just didn't appreciate hearing people snicker as they walked by... even if they are my own children. The purpose for the mall outing was that I needed a pair of dress shoes, so I bought a new pair. I'm not going to justify this purchase because well, I'm just not going to. All I will say is, I bought a man's shoe for a man's foot. In other words, the end of the shoe stops at the end of my toes. They don't continue on for another 18-22 inches. They are shoes made for men. Next stop: the jewelry cleaning guy. Did he really think I was going to purchase that magic liquid? Why did I need it? He just cleaned my ring! And the Dead Sea girl with the seductive accent... I knew more about her product than she did. I can't tell you how much of that stuff I've bought Kim in the past two years of traveling. At least I had my right forearm cleaned, along with one of my hands, and one arm lotioned. Why should I buy from her? My skin was in better shape than hers! The first asking price was "only" $80. One eye-roll later, it came down to her cost, which was only $39. As I was walking away, I heard something like "I will throw in a bunch of extras... etc.", and I have to admit, this time I felt a wee bit guilty for telling her no. That quickly faded as I looked up and saw the food court.
Clearly, the title of the work indicates that this was considered proverbial even in the 17th century. It also held true yesterday.
Yesterday was everything I thought it would be! The worship was anointed and the preaching was right on target for our lives. My boys have been so blessed to see and experience such positives moves of God this summer. As Colton was praying last night after the message, I was reminded of my growing up days where we played music and sang as teenagers. It was refreshing to see him praying when he could have been playing instead. We need more of that in our churches. We need singers and musicians who desire to pray more than they desire to play or sing. Often we see the complete opposite.
This summer I've tried to teach the boys to practice and prepare as much as possible. We've had one big summer-long music lesson, and its been so much fun! I love my boys very much. Kim and I are so blessed to have them in our lives. I also love my boys being boys! I'm glad they love to play ball, and do things that guys normally do. I've seen them in many different situations this summer. They've met a lot of new friends. They love God, and they love girls! I'm not complaining, especially when I think about the alternative. Are they perfect? No way! Am I perfect? Not hardly. But I love watching them grow up, learning to love God, and wanting to be used by Him. We've also learned the importance of relying on God, and needing Him to bless everything we do. Along with practicing and planning musically, we're also discovering the need for spiritual preparation. We're on a journey ... and I'm excited to see where God will take us, if we allow Him to lead the way.
Our short-term journey led us to Opry Mills outlet mall today. We visited the Gibson Showcase guitar center and it is unbelievably expensive! (We didn't stay long.) I ripped off a Jaco Pastorious solo on a $7,000.00 upright acoustic bass and honestly, I laughed out loud at that crazy deal. Then I played "Cripple Creek" on a dobro with the plastic keychain in my pocket, even though it is a banjo tune. Next I tickled out a tune on the mandolin, and even impressed myself, seeing that I don't even know how to play one that well (or at all). Ha! Finally, I picked up a banjo and was going to play it... until I nearly threw my back out! If they sold banjos by the pound, it would cost a fortune for a good banjo! It weighs more than the RV we are driving! I breathed deeply and played another version of "Cripple Creek" which was not much better than my attempt on the dobro. At this point, since there was no circle of people around me requesting Ricky Skaggs or Marty Stuart tunes on another instrument, I quickly bought a Jim Dunlop purple plastic guitar gadget that helps unwind the tuning pegs when changing out strings. $2.50 total. Ladies and gentlemen, the Graham's have left the building...
The rest of our mall experience is as follows: After the guitar shop catastrophe, I bought The Prayer of Jabez book for $2.00, an Orange Julius from DQ, and a massage at the Lil' Asian Rub-Down kiosk. (I'm almost certain those lil people are licensed. They have to carry some type of credentials to be that good.) And even if they aren't licensed, or even legal citizens of our great country, today's rub was my way of helping strengthen the world's economy. What's $20 +tip for 25 minutes of quiet time with the Lord, right? I just didn't appreciate hearing people snicker as they walked by... even if they are my own children. The purpose for the mall outing was that I needed a pair of dress shoes, so I bought a new pair. I'm not going to justify this purchase because well, I'm just not going to. All I will say is, I bought a man's shoe for a man's foot. In other words, the end of the shoe stops at the end of my toes. They don't continue on for another 18-22 inches. They are shoes made for men. Next stop: the jewelry cleaning guy. Did he really think I was going to purchase that magic liquid? Why did I need it? He just cleaned my ring! And the Dead Sea girl with the seductive accent... I knew more about her product than she did. I can't tell you how much of that stuff I've bought Kim in the past two years of traveling. At least I had my right forearm cleaned, along with one of my hands, and one arm lotioned. Why should I buy from her? My skin was in better shape than hers! The first asking price was "only" $80. One eye-roll later, it came down to her cost, which was only $39. As I was walking away, I heard something like "I will throw in a bunch of extras... etc.", and I have to admit, this time I felt a wee bit guilty for telling her no. That quickly faded as I looked up and saw the food court.
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