I'm Taking Sundays Off

Since Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest (whose crazy idea was that??), I have decided to make RevKev's blog a Monday through Saturday "thang" .. starting today.

I can't do much about my church schedule, but I can do something about the number of updates that appear here.

So .. go watch some quality television (okay, there's no such thing .. just go watch some television).

I'll see you in the morning.

I'm Forever Grateful

I received pies, candy, some country ham, gift cards, etc. (the list goes on) over the holidays and I am, finally, getting around to writing "thank you" notes (I'm blogging about it to 'force' my hand and make me accountable .. I'm such a procrastinator).

I, usually, do this before the first of the year (or .. just after the first of the year .. January 2nd or 3rd). However, with the kids home and the cats hopping from table to table, I had a difficult time staying focused (I have all the symptoms of ADHD .. I'm not on medicine .. I need to be on medicine, I'm pretty sure) enough to write them.

People are always so kind during the Christmas season (it soothes their conscience when they treat me like dirt the rest of the year .. just kidding .. for the most part) and I want them to know how much I appreciate their thoughtfulness.

A little note is the very least I can do.

When I say it's the least I can do .. I mean it (I make my own cards from old 'thank you' notes: you can cut off the old names or just black them out with a pen .. I leave them in a stack in the office .. no stamps to buy .. and I just email everyone and tell them to pick up theirs between the hours of 8:30 and 5:00, Monday through Friday).

I had better get started. Each card is unique ('Dear (fill in name) .. Thanks for the Christmas gift .. Kevin') and this takes longer to write.

Also, I need to finish off a few more "thank yous" from a previous event: My high school graduation.

I told you I was a procrastinator.

It's Friday .. Just the Fact(s), Ma'am

I have the day off from church related duties (the word still cracks me up .. actually, 'cracks' is pretty funny, as well .. my brain is still at a fourth grade level), but there is enough to do around the house to put in a "full" workday (that's four hours, for those of us in ministry .. ministry hours are kind of like 'dog years').

To say that I'm not your typical minister, would be an understatement.

I don't walk around with a pious look on my face (except on 'headache' days). I don't use a lot of "religious language" in my everyday conversations (.. 'sir, do you want fries with that?'.. 'hold on, my child and let me pray about it'). I don't carry a "coffee table sized family Bible" (KJV, of course) under my arm when I go to Walmart.

I'm something of a cross between Hugh Laurie's, Dr. Gregory House and Don Rickles. These guys are my heroes. They say what they think. More importantly, they say what everyone else thinks (granted, those 'duty' and 'crack' thoughts are a little disturbing, even to me).

I just want to be real (or, at least do a good job faking it).

Ministers are, sometimes, put on very high pedestals and this is wrong (I'm afraid of heights). When that happens, someone is going to be disappointed or disillusioned when they fall off (and they will fall off .. some, willingly jump off .. some, willingly jump off and do a fancy somersault before hitting the ground).

I'm just a regular guy (most mornings .. bran muffins help) trying to live out God's calling in my life.

No plastic smile when I'm feeling bad. No "pat answers" when asked the difficult questions.

God has used some really "off the wall" weirdos in His service. This is a great encouragement to me.

Can you pass the locusts and wild honey, please?

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

This morning's blog entry was a bit brief, to say the least, and I promised to write something a little more "substantial" when I got home, tonight.

Well, I'm at home, and .. I've got nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

When I woke up at seven o'clock and realized I had "overslept," panic set it. The little counter at the bottom of my blog site tells me more information than just how many of you stopped by for another exciting look at my life: I drank a cup of coffee .. I ate a bowl of cereal .. I put on some pants (btw, when I do things in this order, I never spill coffee or cereal on my pants .. however, this can cause quite a stir at Cracker Barrel).

Back to the "hit counter."

It's free and links to a website where I can tell the IP address of your computer and what operating system you use. I can, also, tell what city you are in and what time you read my blog (just call me 'Big Brother').

Interesting enough, several of you stop by RevKev's blog very early in the morning and when (on occasion) I decide to "roll over and play dead" when the alarm goes off, you are deprived (or is that depraved?) of starting your day with a smile, chuckle or laugh.

I just hope you aren't replacing "Our Daily Bread" with "My Daily Blog." If that is the case, I need to pray for your spiritual well being.

A merry heart (isn't she on Entertainment Tonight?) does do good, like medicine (take two jokes and call me in the morning). However, it is the Great Physician Who has the power to heal the "sin sick" soul.

I'm supplemental reading.

Experiencing Some Technical Difficulties

They have been waxing the gym floor (wax on .. wax off) at church this week and I went to bed, last night, with a horrible headache (Cheryl says she goes to bed every night with a horrible pain .. however, it's much lower and toward her back side).

Fortunately, I'm feeling a little better (there's still this 'dull thud' .. again, Cheryl says she lives with one, daily .. she really needs a good check-up). Unfortunately, I overslept (all the way to seven o'clock! .. how often does that happen?) and running too late (baby, now it's too late) to spend much time, here.

I have a meeting, first thing this morning, hospitals to visit, an order of service to complete, and a monthly YY (senior adult) meeting to attend, tonight. Add the normal, everyday "surprises" that take place and you end up with a busy day (no fair .. ministers are only supposed to work on Wednesdays and Sundays!).

When I get home, tonight, I'll try to write a few more words of wisdom.

Okay, make that just .. a few more words.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Those of you who know me, which is pretty much becoming anyone who follows this blog .. I bare my body (functions), mind (losing it) and soul (does the man really have one??) .. know I'm a "Mac Guy." Since the Macworld Conference & Expo is taking place (January 5-9 in San Francisco) as we (make that .. I) speak, today's blog is Apple related.

There was a time when I was made to feel like a second class citizen or uninformed about what a real computer was capable of doing (for crying out loud, Sandra Bullock practically saved the world in 1995 with an Apple Computer and a 3.5" floppy diskette .. didn't you see 'The Net?').

Well, it's a new day.

Even the most diehard PC geek (and I use the term affectionately .. geek, not PC) probably has an iPod (granted, they could own a Zune, but .. who would admit that?) which requires the user to have Apple's iTunes installed on their Windoz based computer.

I realize the PC dominates the market when it comes to sales and the number of PCs far exceeds the number of Macs. There are, also, more cockroaches than humans on the planet. Which do you think is the more intelligent life form?

At the present, I have at my house: a "fruit-flavored" iMac, an upgraded "Sawtooth" G4, a Mac mini, a MacBook Pro (core duo 2), a first AND second generation iPod Shuffle, an iPod Touch, and an iPhone 3G. I, also, own a lot (this is a relative term .. there's not tons of software by the mother company) of Apple software (iLife, iWork, Final Cut Express, etc.).

If you add to this list, the hand-me-down iPods, iMacs and eMacs my kids have, you can see that I am sold on the product. In fact, I could be a spokesman for the product to potential "switchers" (or 'dyed in the wool' Winblows users, as far as that goes).

You can tell, I'm a very vocal Mac fanatic.

I am, also, a "Christ follower" who has seen the Light (of the world) and experienced, first-hand, the love and forgiveness He has to offer.

Lord, help me to be as passionate for You as I am for Steve Jobs.

Full Speed Ahead

After three weeks (almost four, for some) off, all music groups are back in the "sing" of things at First Baptist Church.

The SonShiners (our choir for 'seasoned' singers) were scheduled to meet yesterday for their first rehearsal of 2009. However, the weather was very cold, it was raining, and freezing rain (plus a winter storm advisory) was in the forecast. I just knew our numbers would be slim.

We had thirty one in attendance with one new member.

I don't know why I ever doubted this bunch. They are the ones who had to walk ten miles (both ways) to school .. every day .. uphill .. in the snow (at least that's the way I remember hearing it from my dad).

Senior adults never cease to amaze me.

They are early (most of them .. there's always one who can't seem to get going .. more fiber, please) for everything and you can pretty much count on them for anything.

Wednesday, the Preschool/Children's Choirs and our Adult Choir will have the same opportunity to "wow" me.

Their schedules tend to be a little more hectic (I'm really not so sure this is true .. talk to mom and dad about all their 'free time' since retiring) and, though it pains me to say this, they just don't live and breathe to come to choir (stop that foolish talk).

I am remaining optimistic (it's something new I'm trying, here at the beginning of 2009) and trust everyone will be able to remember how to get back to their respective rehearsal rooms (Google it).

Since we have been out for such a long time (three weeks during the holiday season is like having three months off, any other time of the year .. I think it's the tryptophan from all the turkey consumed), at our first rehearsal, we will be reviewing the basics.

"Good evening choir. This is your robe. The zipper goes in the front."