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).