Sleepers Awake

It's after 8:30 p.m. and I am just getting around to today's post. I could have written it at 2:00 o'clock this morning, but I wasn't thinking very clearly at that hour.

Yes, I had another sleepless night.

It wasn't because I had the upcoming week's hectic schedule on my mind (though it is a busy one) or because I ate too much (though I did). It was because of drug use. That's right. I took some 12 hour allegra-D® earlier in the evening and the "D" which may cause nervousness and sleeplessness .. did cause nervousness and sleeplessness.

I tossed and turned all night and Cheryl had to peel me off the ceiling this morning to go to church. The upside was we did all the music (congregational and choir) in less that 4 minutes flat (a couple more minutes were sharp). The Tennessee Highway Patrol wouldn't be able to clock the speed of my tempi this morning.

Most days, I can be just a bit "high strung" (I know that is hard to fathom). Add some time-released chemicals into my system and get out of the way .. I'm a steamroller, baby.

Now, things have leveled out and I'm back down to earth walking with ordinary men. All is well .. until my next sinus attack.

When that happens .. be afraid. Be very afraid.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and that can only mean one thing; we are going to decorate the house for Christmas. I can't wait .. I tried, but Cheryl won't let me.

When the kids were still at home, this was a happy, joyous occasion. When they were young, their little eyes would sparkle when we hung the stockings on the mantle and they wanted to help put the ornaments on the tree (I had to re-hang them .. equally spaced, of course).

When they got to be teenagers, they would sleep until noon and "wait it out" in their rooms until the "dirty work" was all done. However, at least they were still home to experience the holiday season with mom and dad.

Since Drew and Megan are gone, decorating for Christmas is right up there with having a root canal .. or colonoscopy.

I'm no Scrooge (although he is a huge role model .. along with Dr. Gregory House) but it just seems like too much of an effort for a season when neither of us is home enough to "enjoy" the tree, tinsel and trappings.

Cheryl has a different opinion and since marriage is "give and take" (she gives the orders and I take them), we will be doing things her way.

After all, tonight I want to "sleep in heavenly peace."

I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing

Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, but it will continue to linger in our hearts, minds and .. waistlines.

Why do we torture ourselves this way?

I knew from experience how miserable over-eating can be and I sat down at the table with good intentions. However, all those selections (so many choices .. so little time) and the peer pressure overwhelmed me and forty five minutes later, I was on the couch with my pants slightly unzipped, rubbing my stomach and singing, "Nearer, My God, to Thee."

It's not right.

This year we tried something very different from the traditional Thanksgiving meal. We had omelettes .. yes, omelettes. My brother-in-law cooked them to order and they were great. If we had stuck with the planned menu (the omelette, the whole omelette and nothing but the omelette), everything would have been fine. However, that didn't happen.

In addition to omelettes, we had biscuits, pork tenderloin, chicken and dumplings, dressing, grape salad, cinnamon rolls, sweet potato casserole, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture.

Self- control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but it's one we don't really like to think about .. or practice. So, I am starting the day with this terrible feeling of guilt. Guilt for what I did yesterday and guilt over what I will do today .. and tomorrow (there are leftovers in the fridge).

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

To Stuff, or Not to Stuff

Have a Great Day!

I've Got a New Attitude

Today is Wednesday and I will be off to my "men's prayer/bible study/book reading/breakfast group" very shortly.

Today's chapter (we are still studying Max Lucado's, Just Like Jesus) is called "Finding Gold in the Garbage." In other words, if life gives you lemons .. make lemonade.

I have to admit, I tend to be just a tiny bit cynical, at times. Okay, let's cut through the bologna. I can be very cynical, at times (since the bologna has already been cut, let's fry it, put it on some bread and say.. most of the time).

I lost my rose-colored glasses (they made me look a lot like Elton John) several years ago and I tend to see the "worst case scenario" in almost every situation.

This is a terrible testimony for anyone, especially for someone in the ministry (negativity is a no-no .. gluttony is widely accepted and practiced without fear of retribution). I need to put a more positive spin on things and look at life through the eyes of hope.

Yeah .. like that's gonna happen.

Our attitudes can really set the tone for the day and determine how we approach "the good, the bad and the ugly" (ah-ee, ah-ee, ah .. wah, wah, wah .. that is the theme song to the old Clint Eastwood spaghetti western by the same name .. a stretch, admittedly).

Give a brand new bike to a pessimistic child and he can't be happy. He just knows he's going to wreck it and get hurt.

Wrap up a pile of manure and give it to an optimistic kid and watch his face light up. He just knows there has to be a pony somewhere nearby.

This Thanksgiving, I am determined to have an attitude of gratitude and see only the good in every situation.

Friday, I'll be my same old cynical self you've come to know and loathe.

I'm Re-Tired (Tired Again)

It's not quite 5 A.M. (that's sleeping in, compared to yesterday) and very quiet around here. I wanted to stay in bed, but there's so much to to do and so little time.

This is a short work week (that's good) and I have to have everything ready for Sunday .. today (that's bad). Wednesday rehearsal is now on Tuesday (tonight at 6:30) for the adult choir and we must go through Sunday's music and work on our Christmas pieces, as well.

We did have a bonus rehearsal last Sunday (that was just the day before yesterday) after church, but since the morning worship hour was more like the morning worship two hour, I cut it short (much like Cheryl's new 'do).

One of our members said later it was like we were just "going through the motions."

Just going through the motions.

When did we lose the magic? When did we start taking one another for granted? When did extra rehearsals become .. regular rehearsals?

I, for one, am not willing to give up on this relationship. We've been together for over nine years. I've invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears (what goes up, must come down) and I'm going to do everything in my power to "make it work."

So .. I'm doing the "Choir Love Dare" to help strengthen the bond between choral director and choir.

I will be doing acts of kindness every day for forty days (this will have to start in January .. I'm a bear to be around before Christmas) in an effort to make me .. fireproof.

With this economy, I can't afford to be fired.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

The hour is early (4 o'clock) and it's raining outside to "beat the band" (an expression that brings back painful memories to this former clarinet player).

I used to do some of my very best sleeping while it was raining. There was nothing better than a Sunday afternoon nap .. unless it was a Sunday afternoon nap with the gentle sound of rain outside my window. Now .. it just makes me have to go to the bathroom. Oh, what a difference a few years can make.

The forecast is calling (softly and tenderly) for A.M. showers (that's when I like to take them .. my hair is too oily to do it at night) and I hope the prediction is correct. The SonShiners choir is at 1:30 and I don't want anything to discourage them from coming (who am I kidding .. the people in that age category would walk five miles in the snow, if necessary).

Young people (a term that I now use for anyone under fifty) are not quite as reliable. On Sundays, if there is the slightest (or a snowball's) chance of precipitation, they turn off the alarm, roll over and .. play dead.

The days of having perfect attendance or bringing back a bulletin from where you went to church while on vacation .. are over.

I am fifty one. This means I fall (to pieces) somewhere in between these two philosophies. I would never think of missing church, but going in late to the office on a Monday morning because it was cold and rainy?

I'm no Joan of Arc.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Once again, I am writing a "late night" (all that's missing is a top ten list) edition of the blog. This is starting to become the "norm" for Sunday .. the day of rest. However, I'm not complaining.

This morning's service lasted an hour and forty five minutes (it didn't feel like a minute over an hour and forty) .. and no one seemed to mind. Granted, there was a little bit of squirming down front .. but, Greg always does that.

Today was our annual Celebration Service where we look at the past year and all that God has done in the life of our church. He has done many wonderful things and it took a while (an hour and forty five minutes, to be exact) just to "count our many blessings."

I was amazed that most of the people "hung with us" for the entire service (only two or three left). The fact that we fed them afterwards at our traditional Thanksgiving luncheon, didn't hurt.

A great day with great results: two professions of faith, several college students joining by letter or watchcare, and four surrendering their lives to the call to missions (through the two year Journeyman program).

God is good ALL the time.

Real Men Dust

It's Saturday. Most of my friends will be watching sports or doing some type of sports-related activity. I will be doing some cleaning up around the house .. and liking it .. I am told.

This is the weekend before Thanksgiving (in case you have forgotten) and there is plenty to be done before number one son gets here on Wednesday (he is such a 'neat freak' and likes a place for everything and everything in its place).

Megan and Will won't be able to come home until Christmas .. ☹ .. which means I can give my undivided attention to Drew for two days (I'm sure he will be thrilled .. who wouldn't be?).

Chattanooga is only four hours away (it used to seem so far .. until number one daughter moved to North Carolina .. ☹), but Drew rarely makes it over in this direction. It could have something to do with the fact that I am always giving him advice and trying to tell him what to do (something any Hamilton really loves).

I don't mean to meddle. I just want him to be happy .. and this will only occur if he does exactly what I say. Why is that so difficult?

The problem is, I know this ticks him off (from the original Greek which literally means .. "ticks him off"), yet I continue to offer my opinion on everything from where he should buy gasoline to how he should cut his hair.

Part of this is genetic. My dad did .. and still does, on occasion .. this to me and I am simply trying to carry out a family tradition (btw, I tend to react the same way Drew does).

No one likes to be told what to do (this is especially true for me). However, we can usually learn a thing or two about ourselves that might help just a little bit in this journey called life.

Speaking of being told what to do .. I must go.

Evidently, there's a toilet with my name on it that needs cleaning.

Nacho, Nacho Man

Yesterday was rather long (per usual for Thursday) and when I got home, I just wanted to do some "chillaxin" (that's chillin' and relaxin' .. I forget not everyone here talks gangsta' like me). Cheryl had made some delicious black bean soup (which. by the way, I have enjoyed all night long), so we ate in front of the television .. something we would never let our children do.

When we finished watching a couple of programs we both enjoy (I love the DVR) and the playlist only included shows on HGTV, I retired to the back room and checked email (I'm so glad I did .. I won a free ipod, laptop, $100 gift card, and I can stop snoring like magic).

The Movie Gallery in Humboldt is closing and I had purchased a few "must see" flicks (using a couple of gift cards) for 60% off (which is still $8 or $9 more than Amazon's price). I decided to get in bed and watch one of them on the computer. Since Nacho Libre was ninety minutes long, it was the winner .. and I use that term very loosely.

While not a Citizen Kane, the movie provided a few laughs to a, mostly, serious-minded person like me.

I may not be giving this flick all the credit it deserves. In all fairness, I did sleep through (I told you I was tired) portions of the movie and probably missed some of the critical plot twists and turns associated with a typical Jack Black film.

I give it one thumb up or two stars.

YMMV.

Just Like It Never Happened

Yesterday is gone and I am so grateful (most appropriate in this Thanksgiving season). It was not a bad day. In fact, it was not bad at all. I just needed to have a couple of RevKev clones (isn't that a scary thought) to accomplish everything that needed to be done.

I usually start the day with some type of "to do" list (wake up .. drink coffee.. blog .. it's sort of sketchy from there). Yesterday, that "to do" list never got "to done."

Wednesdays are tough for music ministers. We only work two days a week (in the eyes of many) and we have to get a lot done in preparation for our other work day .. Sunday.

Several weeks ago, we ordered a new monitor system (ear buds) to help me with the sound levels on the stage area. To be honest with you, I can't hear it thunder (thank goodness I'm not in a profession that requires good listening skills).

Yesterday, in the middle of preparing for rehearsals and a special .. even more so than usual .. Sunday service, they were finally able to get it installed. I was in and out of the sanctuary, up and down stairs, and back and forth between the first and second floors all afternoon. This is a far cry from what I usually do on Wednesdays .. sit at the computer on my "rusty dusty" (a term my aunt used .. I'm not sure why).

With Christmas fast approaching (the panic attacks have already started), I wanted to have this new system in place for a few weeks to get used to it. I got my wish, but .. why on Wednesday?

On a positive note, this baby has a built in AM/FM tuner and I can listen to the radio while Greg is preaching.

Totally worth it.

SonShiners .. Sensational Success!

The SonShiners made their debut last night at the Humboldt Music Club and they were a BIG hit. All those grueling Monday practices with that slave driving director paid off with a great program, "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs."

When we started this choir for "seasoned singers" ('old vocalists' didn't sound politically correct) in September, I had no preconceived idea what would transpire. I wanted to provide an opportunity for seniors with a song to continue singing. If they sounded decent, that would be icing on the cake.

I've heard senior adult groups before and, while I applauded their effort, I was not quite as impressed with their execution (firing squad at dawn).

Make no mistake (okay, maybe a few .. very few) about it, this group can sing .. in parts. Many are former choir members who sang for years. Others have always wanted to sing, but never had the chance .. until now.

Humboldt and the surrounding metroplex area, look out for the SonShiners.

We're here. We're clear. Get used to it.

Just Say "No"

There is plenty happening in my life right now and today is going to be another one of those days.

I will be speaking (I'm so glad we are speaking .. we had such a bad falling out the last time we were together) to the XYZ Club at Ellendale Baptist Church in Memphis at 11:45 AM.

I am their standing November program (many of their speakers just sit, I'm told) and have been for well over ten or twelve years.

I don't think they like me that much, but it's easier to just "pencil me in" when they do their yearly calendar planning. Actually, pretty sad when you think about it.

When you go back for a repeat performance, or in my case, "repeat performances," it is hard to find something new and fresh to say and do. I struggle with this every year, yet I keep saying "yes" when they ask me to come back (they don't really ask me anymore. I receive a form letter in the mail with the date I am to appear .. it's like being called to jury duty .. hehe .. there's that word again).

As of this writing, I have no clue what I am doing (for today's program .. it's a 'given' I don't know what I am doing in every other aspect of my life). Since this is the case, I probably don't have to worry about being asked back for next year's program.

Most people .. especially church people .. don't like change.

I suspect that's going to all change after today.

Hello, Dolly? I Wish

Today's post will be brief (not boxer) because I have to get ready and be at the church by 6:30 this morning.

The YYs are leaving for Pigeon Forge at seven o'clock .. and I am not going.

I always look forward to trippin' with the seniors, but this time they will have to "go it alone" (okay, they won't be alone .. but I still feel really bad).

When we planned this trip (Monday through Wednesday), I didn't realize it was going to conflict with the Humboldt Music Club quarterly meeting .. which I am supposed to be in charge of (I know you shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, Katie .. let me rephrase .. which I am supposed to be in charge of, smarty pants).

However you say it .. I ain't going.

The scheduling conflict is bad .. my bad, but to make things worse, ten of the YYs are in the SonShiners choir .. who will be singing for the music club on Tuesday. When I blow it, I really blow it!

There is a great heaviness in my heart, right now.

I most go and observe a moment of silence (don't get too excited, Cheryl .. it's only for a moment).

Send the Light, Send the Light

I arrived early (6:15 a.m.) at the church this morning and it was much darker than usual. After some investigation, I discovered the main breaker in the outside electrical panel had been tripped.

After trying to reset it several times (and by resetting I mean .. hitting it on the side .. like the Fonz used to do), it was obvious I needed to call Humboldt Utilities. The phones were dead (much like a good portion of the morning service that followed) in the office, so I needed to use my cell. Guess what? I had left it at home (I try not to take outside calls on Sunday mornings .. it distracts Greg). So .. I made that long trip back home (three minutes) and called the emergency/night/weekend number that was in the phone book (btw, the emergency/night/weekend number is the Humboldt Police Department).

The police got in touch with the utility company and, shortly, one of their workers (a member of our church) was on the scene.

I think I was more glad to see Jason than he was to see me (it's 6:30 in the morning), but he didn't seem too bothered and went straight to work trying to reset the switch .. by hitting it on the side (it's in all the training manuals). When that didn't work, he turned off several other switches to "lighten the load," and then pulled (actually .. pushed) the switch. Everything came on and FBC was back in business.

The early Christians didn't have luxuries like lights and heat, yet that didn't stop them from worshipping the one true God.

We have gotten pretty "soft" in today's modern society and I wonder if church would have been cancelled if the electricity had failed to come on?

What .. no coffee or donuts?

I'm going home.

Singing in the Rain

It's cold and rainy here in Humboldt and this would have been a great Saturday to sleep in. However, that failed to happen. I didn't exactly "catch the worm" (no, that's not code), but it couldn't be too far ahead of me.

We are having the piano in the fellowship hall tuned this morning and I had to go set the thermostats to the desired temperature (a challenge in itself .. Baptists are like the three bears .. this room is too hot .. this room is too cold .. this room is just right .. okay, they are like the two bears .. it's never just right).

I am "project oriented" and "crisis driven" which means the piano has needed tuning for some time. However, it has not been critical (another fine Baptist trait) until now.

Tuesday night, November 18, the Humboldt Music Club (the oldest club in town .. trust me, most of our members are ancient) will be meeting in the fellowship hall at FBC for a program entitled, "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs." As the name implies, there will be quite a bit of music and I thought it would be nice if we could actually stand to sing (some will have to sit) with the piano (it is so bad, tone deaf people were complaining).

Bob Hull will be there this morning to tune around 9:30 am and, by lunch time, everything should be up to pitch (the count is three and two) and ready to go for Tuesday night's program.

I wonder if he can help tune up a couple of my singers?

Freedom!

I'm off today (not the 'a few bricks shy of a load' off that is so readily associated with me .. I don't have to go to work) and I am looking forward to accomplishing .. absolutely nothing.

Most Fridays come with a "honey do" list (not a very extensive one, but a list, nonetheless) so, I am trying to stay clear of Cheryl this morning (I'm writing this on my laptop .. under our bed). I'm trusting the saying, "out of sight, out of mind" is more than just a clever quip. In fact, I'm banking on it.

Cheryl doesn't know how to just stay home and do nothing. She's the kind of person who can walk by the venetian blinds in the den, notice a tiny bit of dust, and start cleaning them with a wet rag. However, when that doesn't quite "get it," she ends up taking down every blind in the house and soaking them in a bathtub full of water and bleach. A three minute project has now taken several hours.

Women notice things that guys don't.

I look in the back yard and see a storage building. Cheryl looks in the back yard and can see into that same storage building (I think women have some type of x-ray vision .. like Superman) and know that it needs to be swept, cleaned and organized (I'm thinking of joining forces with Lex Luthor .. I curse you, Superman).

Women have different standards than men.

A woman will spend thirty minutes carefully ironing a blouse that she will be wearing .. around the house. A guy can find a shirt in the sewer, stick it in the dryer on "fluff" for three minutes, and wear it on a date.

I need to go. Cheryl is calling my name and I can't afford to have her find me.

I am now establishing radio silence (I just turned off the radio).