So much has happened since my last blog. The end of the tour is in sight, so I'll attempt to bring you up to date with things. As difficult as it was to leave Apopka and fly back to Memphis, it was a bit easier knowing that I would be on my last leg of the summer/fall tour. A week ago Monday, I flew back to Memphis and spent some quality time with family, my siblings and stepdad, and friends. It is always good to "go back home" and re-live some childhood memories.
After resting up a day, I was in service at my home church and thoroughly enjoyed the pastor's message. After service we went to a local hamburger joint and endulged ourselves. (At least I did.) The next day I visited the college campus where Kim and I met nearly 25 years ago! I walked around the campus, viewed some yearbooks in the library, took plenty of pictures, etc. I was fortunate enough to sit in on a rehearsal of one of the bands that I played in back in 1983. Wow! Then the dean of music and I discussed life and music in his office for about an hour. What a delightful day it was! I was missing Kim pretty badly by this time. Later in the afternoon I drove to visit a friend who owns a recording studio and was able to see his new studio (in the process of being built), and enjoyed talking old times and friends. I rushed back to my hometown to watch the vice-presidential debate with my stepdad and wasn't disappointed with Sarah Palin's performance. On Friday night, my siblings, nephews and their families met for dinner at Cravin' Catfish. Catfish is one of my main weaknesses, although I suppose it could be worse, right? Saturday morning I drove my stepdad down to visit my Uncle Fred and Aunt Linda. Uncle Fred is my mom's only surviving sibling. Aunt Linda walked me down to their catfish pond and she fed the fish a plate filled with homemade biscuits. I immediately asked if I could "borrow" a rod and reel, and quickly caught about a 5 pounder. I set the hook in his mouth so hard, I had to call for Uncle Fred to help me with a pair of pliers. (I know how to get a hook from the mouth of a fish.) Uncle Fred cleaned the fish, as Aunt Linda made lunch. There must have been a dozen vegetable selections on their table. It was veggie heaven! After lunch we drove to a motorcycle shop to see a bike that my cousin is trying to sell. I have no idea why I went there, except maybe hoping for a miracle that somehow, this time, I would make a purchase. No such luck. Later that night I left for Florence, AL so I'd be there for service the next morning. On the way, I stopped at Catfish Country in Booneville, MS for one last taste of Mississippi catfish before I head home...
Sunday services in Florence were fantastic! The music, worship, and the Word was just what I needed. I always have a wonderful time with friends in Florence. Monday morning, I stopped by the mall for a few new shirts, a haircut, and lunch, before heading to Athens, AL to see more friends on my way to Knoxville. I met a friend at Starbucks for coffee (which doesn't sound like me at all), and enjoyed our discussion on the changing times of music and ministry. He is younger than I am, and that always seems to bring a proper balance into the discussion. Then I went over to visit some friends who I hadn't seen in a long time. We talked politics, the upcoming presidential election, kids, food, life's necessary changes, etc.
I left for Knoxville, TN on Wednesday morning and drove all the way in a rainstorm. I finally arrived at my friends' house, just in time for visit a while and drive over to a music conference I was attending in Maryville, TN. Again, the music, worship, and Word was awesome and just what I needed! There is no substitute for God and His anointing in our music. Many times we don't see anointing in our music is because there is too much of "us" present, and we leave very little room for God. We try to make things happen on our own, and what eventually begins to happen is we find ourselves in a rut... of going through the motions and relying on our human abilities instead of God's anointing. Going through the motions is no way to live life.
Thursday night I was in service in east Knoxville and had an incredible time there! Little did I know the church had just completed a ten day fast and there was a wonderful presence of God in the place. It made ministering in song so much easier. There was no set list or long outline. There was no agenda. There was no pre-concieved idea of what was supposed to take place. The only thing that we wanted was a powerful display of God's presence. Wow! It is amazing at the differences in flowing in the spirit and following a song or service outline. It's like eating a cheap hotdog or a filet mignon. I love it whenever God's presence is so strong it seems the only thing to do is simply stand still and be reverent and quiet. To be in awe of his greatness. In awe of His might. Less of me, more of Him. I am so undeserving. None of us deserve His blessings.
Just a few more days and I'll be heading back home to Florida! I can the end now... and really, it is only the beginning.
