Tried, failed; Tried, failed; Tried, failed, gave up!

I have decided that attempting to "save" time is kind of like drilling a hole in the opposite end of the canoe that is leaking in an attempt to let the water out. It just doesn't work. I managed to make it "on time" for a few things, but that was only by the skin of my teeth and everyone else was having the same problem, time was slipping away too fast. This is the final day of June, and as I see it by the 'puter clock, the final forty minutes(forty in Hebrew is an indeterminate number), are swiftly approaching. I have only one last item on my agenda to attend to "on time," bedtime!
This was one of the days that it would be nice to have a "time card" that I could punch into a conveniently placed clock and pull out some of those hours I have so desperately tried to save in the past six months. Dream on, Preacher! I was so frustrated at times that I believe my tongue slipped into the realm of foreign vernacular, but only for a "short time." Of all my personal conglomeration of carefully planned and placed body parts my tongue, which is right under my nose, is the part that causes me the most grief. Time after time it seems to take on a life of it's own as it wastes precious time on the phone, happily enunciating my thoughts as the clock ticks and more time slips away. Fact, no matter how hard we try, there is no way to redeem time that has passed us by, unless, of course, it was well spent. It is for this reason that I share with you the secret of time. I believe that God(the same one who set everything in motion including how we determine our time)has allotted to each of us just enough time to get everything done that we have to do before adjourning to somewhere not measured by the world's standards. A fellow by the name of Paul spoke with me today while I was in the process of a time consuming 45 minute wait. He took a little time to share with me a philosophy which I had not before considered. His words were, "All religions are false, all beliefs are true!" I asked him if this were an original thought, and he said, "it certainly is." I believe him, because I can't ever remember anyone saying it before, and I know I haven't read it anywhere, that I would remember. What Paul did was give me something to do with my time (it might have been wasted on something really non-productive such as sitting on my Harley sulking because someone was wasting my time), we formed a philosophical bond in less time than it takes to tap out these words. Tonight I feel good about the day, but while it was happening it hurt worse than an abscessed tooth. We look forward to spending time with folks, we take time to do all of the things on the daily list, and then, if there is a little time to spare we might consider giving some of it to our Maker. My take on time is this, "no matter how we spend it, we are not going to be entirely satisfied, unless we can see somewhere in the midst of each day the "good times." You can't save it, so the best way to get along with it is to redeem as much of it in your mind as possible, and that includes praying to God for assistance when it feels like it is all just "slipping away." Incidentally, I really didn't give up, I kept at it until the percentages were in my favor, and now, as the day closes, I know for certain that I made the best of every possible moment today! I pray you did, too! God bless, Preacher.

We are seeking someone to enlighten us as to how one goes about opening a "time saving" account locally! 

Always Use The Right Tool For The Job And Be Prepared For Life's Surprises! 

Until That Storm Passes Over!

My wife and I love to travel on two wheels, in fact that is one of the many ways we combine fun, faith, and fellowship on the road. Life is not always kind, and many of the bumps in the road we don't see until we've hit them, and I'm not referring simply to a Harley on the highway. Our day to day lives encounter the same obstacles that we run into on two wheels. The unforeseen storm that pops over the horizon, the occasional animal that unknowingly lurches into our headlights, and the mechanical problems that can "happen" to anybody. We try very hard to avoid the worst of what nature throws our way, but there are some events that you can't go around or under or over, for that matter, so you have to go through them! If it's rain on the asphault we stop and put on our rain gear and keep moving, sooner or later we come out of it. When it's rain in our lives we stop, pray, and then slip on the armor of God, mount up and keep on going. Large raindrops at 55 or 60 miles an hour can really hurt, but are nothing compared to the slings and arrows of adversity that life can throw at us. I guess that's why we have a Bible on the scooter along with the tools and the rain gear. It would be nice if we didn't have to use some of what we carry "just in case," but the truth is, our Bible is the best emergency kit we can have on board. The instructions for dealing with all of life's problems are contained on it's pages. Have you ever seen those manuals like "Car Repair For Dummies?" Well, if there were an apt subtitle for God's Word it would probably be "Life Maintenance For The Wise!" Between the covers(ours is missing one I think)you will find not only great ways to protect yourself and those you love, but also complete instructions for how to repair problems and maps showing the best way to get where you'd like to be. For some this message may only last as long as it takes to click away to somewhere else, for others.....take a look at the picture above. Just like that cloud covering the mountain, God's Grace covers each one of us that avails ourselves of the knowledge needed to come through this life and enter into another, safely. So, next time you pack for the journey be sure to take along the guide book, life can be hazardous to your health in more ways than one! May you have a wonderful day! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

If you're on the interstate and you can see it coming, now would be a good time to look for an underpass! 

The Spirit Of The Old West Survives In South Dakota, Still A Frontier State 

Is it legal to take digital pictures of one's own television screen and put them on the net or web or, well, you know what I mean, out here? 

Cowboys And Christ Outgunning The Bad Guys!

My age probably shows when I say that I love cowboy movies. The "real" kind where the plot involves some serious blood shed and the bad guys get beat in the end, guy gets girl and all the rest of the schmaltz that goes with the territory. "Open Range" captured my imagination and kept it thriving throughout the " same old cowboy plot" length. In one of the scenes "Boss" and "Charlie" are burying "Mose"(killed by the bad guys along with Charlie's dog) and Boss doesn't want to say anything to God because he is angry with Him. Hey, pardner, can we not identify with that? It's okay to get angry with God. I believe God expects that of us every once in awhile. After all there is no human being that can know us as well as we know ourselves, and God knows us even better than that! I believe that being acknowledged as being "there" all of the time is a part of what God truly wants from us. Not just the praise and thanks He collects on Sundays, but the rest of our emotional beings as well. We can be more honest with God then we would ever dare to consider being with anyone we know, and it's just between Him and me, or Him and you. I guess what I'm saying is that it is really confidential. This is the first time since landing in Brookings that I have actually rented a movie myself, and it was not an entirely bad experience, but I have to admit I was surprised at the blood test(that's a joke)required. Great panoramic scenes burst across my screen, and the sounds(400 watts surround)made the whole thing just sort of come alive. I was rooting for the home team from beginning to end. That's how I believe God wants us to be in life, cheering the good on and wishing we could help. We can, every single day we can help. Life becomes even better than the movies when we are actively pursuing a course of fighting alongside the hero against the forces of evil. We don't have to go out with a six shooter on our hip(wouldn't that be nice, though). All we have to do is identify the bad guys (workers of evil), and join forces against them and we shall have earned the honor of rejoicing in the triumph of good over evil. Kevin Costner played a great "savior" role in the movie, but in real life we have one in Christ, and He is truly the greatest of heroes. Whatever the trouble, no matter how dire the circumstances, He is ready to ride through the storm with us and help guide us to the safe haven of a heavenly camp at the end of the roundup. Not to mention the good folks we get to share with along the way and all the great times we have together riding the range of life rounding up strays. Y'all have a really good one now, ya hear! God bless, Preacher.

Looking At Life Through 21st Century Lenses! 

A couple hundred years before my Savior arrived people were writing about faith to one another. I guess that would have been in Old Testament times. Amazing what you can do with the mail! 

Preacher Going On About Politics!

Today The Supreme Court once again voted against God as an active participant in our way of life. It seems the "Ten Commandments" are too "religious" in the state of Kentucky. Have our nation's leaders failed their mission of interpreting the constitution? Looking to the east from SD I don't see any states on the map that have a problem with the 10 big ones for over a thousand miles. Due south 1200 miles is Dallas, Texas, and I never found many people there that didn't understand the connection between the fight for freedom and how God honors those that are on His side(I'm thinking, I was there for at least 6 or 7 years and then back quite often, strike that, I can't think of a single human being straight south of me that would have voted for this sort of stuff). Now, let's head west from here a thousand miles. Nope, I can't say that I've ever run into anyone that thinks this way out there either. So, where are these strange thoughts coming from? Sure, we have some liberal folks in our country, and that's okay, my heaven might have gotten way too crowded if they hadn't chosen the other team. There have to be some that don't agree with me, surely. I think one of my representatives from SD has a hard time with maintaining a Bible based faith perspective, but I'm certain somebody will tell him about what's going on in Washington sooner or later. We'll just pray for Mr. Johnson along with all the people that supported him and hope that he gets wind of this before it spreads back to his home state. That's the thing, the legal types that make these decisions don't have to live with them on a day to day basis, unless you consider the money they're paid and every single dollar says, "In God We Trust." I don't believe a preacher should get involved in politics, so I guess I'd just have to say if they don't want anything to do with the God who built the country let's give those "In God We Trust" dollars to somone who will truly appreciate them. Now somebody for sure is going to take this the wrong way, but it's as simple as I stated it, and it is exactly what I meant! So, if you see something in here, tell your neighbors and tell your friends and your family, let's all get to work on this and see if there aren't a few changes we can make that will help the USA get it's governing heads on straight again. After all, if we don't do it, who do you think is going to keep winning these "battles" in our country? In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Perhaps these are the duct works servicing the chambers of our Supreme Court in the US. I wonder if they realize they were installed by Old Testament Constructionism?  

This "happening" has grown to proportions that now have the locals coming down to sit on bleachers and take in the "scene" compete with R & R blasting from street based speakers! 

Sounds Of Thunder, Flashes Of Light!

Once a year we have a street celebration for the Harley Davidson afficionados. It's a local SD thing called the "Jim's Tap Ride Through," and the name says it all. It began more years than I care to think about, ago, and has grown to include the blocking off of several streets downtown, riding skills demonstrations by local motor patrol officers(these folks are good!), contests for the bikers in attendance, and the grand finale is the riding of motorcycles through the tavern from the alley to main street. Sound like fun? It is! In an agriculturally based society where we have tractor pulls and corn events, this is another way for mid-americans to celebrate the summer. Food is vended on the street, folks mill about in crowds looking at the creations of the riders, and in an era where the chopper is celebrated on cable TV, we have them live and in living color! My youngest daughter has decided to start riding(I didn't remind her that she's been doing this since she was a baby, but back then, of course, it was on the tank in front of me. That's illegal today, it might have been back then, but in towns with less than 2500 people in residence nobody really worries too much about it)Jasmine made the ride through with her Godfather, Gino, of Raymond SD. He's been a part of my life for 25 years, it was sure great to see him! All in all, my wife referred to the day as, "PERFECT," and I have to admit, on this we were 100% in agreement.
Paul is pictured here with his lovely bride to be(I'm not sure he knows they are getting married yet. Don't tell him, I want it to be a surprise.) They're the ones blurred just a little, along with the unkown young lady on her own scoot coming through the lines of people. She was sure smiling for the camera, though. God provided us with a wonderful opportunity for true street ministry, and the following night the church's outreach concert provided a perfect vehicle for sharing the Word of God. There is not a single set of circumstances which I consider to be of the inappropriate type for sharing our love for the Lord, but there are some that work better. If you're out there practicing the "Great Commission," I encourage you in every way possible to get a handle on what works best for you and then do it and keep on doing it until you are certain it's complete. Have a wonderful week! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Saturday Night The Manmade Sound Of Thunder, Harley Style, Shook Our Streets!  

Patience Takes Time, But Holds Many Rewards, For Those Who Can Afford To Wait! 

Precious Beyond Belief Are The Lives Of Our Children! 

Values We Place On Life

Tonight a concert was hosted by our First Baptist Body of Christ in Brookings, SD. Jay & Jodi Marcum were the featured musical artists. The combination of a very old fashioned cookout and concert brought in a harvest of persons seeking. I'm doing the photo historical(hysterical)thing for the folks, but my sense of humor sometimes gets away from me. Crowbar and I were standing out by my scoot between shoots and there were two unnamed persons working at the grill. One of my favorites, Mel(not her name), was hanging out with us when a thought occurred to me, "I wonder what the reaction to a blood-curdling scream from a 9 year old might be for the two at the grill?" I asked Mel if she could provide the proper setup and she readily agreed. I got the camera in position and focused for the shot, she let out the scream, and the two turned in complete concern. It was so good, the picture, and the rest! I can't share it here, I would be sued, but let it be sufficient to say that all parents react in very much the same way when a little one is thought to be threatened. The little duck below got separated from his mom today. My wife hovered over it protecting it to the point that I had to call her into the house. I told her, "The mama can't come get the little one until you're gone." Sure enough, within a few minutes the mother wooduck was back to retrieve her little lost one. We watched as she got all of them in a row again(ducks really do this, that's where the saying came from)and led them off to somewhere for awhile. They're safely back in the nest at night, high up in the tree. We pass by them on the street, the squirrels, cats, rabbits, and dogs, who've been run over, and we don't really think too much of it, until it's close to us and it's alive, and we have to take care of it. Maybe that's more a female thing than male, but I don't think so, I believe we all care deeply about the lives around us, the cute ones, anyway. I know for certain if it had been a baby rat in the yard my wife would not have been protecting it, but then again, who knows? I know this much from the "kodak moment" I had this evening that there is very little that can spur people to action faster than an endangered little one. That gives me some very real hope for all of our human race. We really do care, even if it isn't ours, we care, and that is so real you can see it in the eyes of a lady caught on camera in a beautiful and terrifying moment of concern. I don't suggest anyone try this, it may be hazardous to your health mentally and physically down the road somewhere if my interpretation of the moments that followed are correct. My wife has advised me that she will assist with the preparation of the noose if I ever, 'ever' do that again!
The value that we place on life is directly proportionate to the lives that we take responisibility for, and we never stop counting those. People are, in this respect, as instinctive as mama wooduck. God is the ultimate author of all these emotions and instincts that impact our lives. So much so, in fact, He has known us and cared for us since before the bones were knit together in our mother's wombs. Care and concern are beautiful emotions. Enjoy them, nurture them in others, and observe how they are expressed in the lives around you. You won't be disappointed, and you can see first hand just how much it is that God cares for you. So much so that He gave His Son that we might live. Through God's gift we truly can see the "value" to be found in every life. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

This is year # 3 for the pair that live in the tree on the corner of our patio. They are becoming more prolific each year!  

Feelings, Somewhere Inside The Heart! 

Abandoned Places In Our Hearts

I stumbled upon a site dedicated to ghost towns throughout the US. Surveying the list of places the photographer had gone I found, much to my surprise, a list of places I have been with my camera, too, some of them over 30 years ago. I haven't been to as many as the person shooting these great shots, but the impetus for doing so has got to be much the same. A desire to visit the past, and in so doing, envision how things might have been. We can even go so far as to search out historical records to provide greater details for the background on the "ghost towns." I''m still doing this today, though it is now on a more localized basis than when I traveled the US as an itinerant musician doing rock & roll shows. My favorite way to enjoy days off wherever I landed was on two wheels exploring the past of the area I was in. It occurred to me that we have these same types of places in our hearts, the homes, relationships, loved ones, and circumstances that long ago we left. Time changes these locations in the same way it altered the ones in the picture below. Broken glass and doors fallen open allow nature an entry by which, eventually, all traces of people are gone, except for the structure. Should we be blessed to live so long, eventually we will find places within us that we abandoned long ago. God has fostered within the human heart a wonderful ability to remember the good things quite vividly. In fact, as many folks a lot older than me can confirm, even the worst of it gets better with time. If you haven't seen the movie "Driving Miss Daisy," I would reccomend it highly. It points directly to what I am trying to express in words. I use the term, "remembering in our hearts" in such a way as to suggest that the heart has a memory, and feelings that it stores up because that is the only way I can explain it. Any logical person will tell you that all of the emotions I'm referring to have to come from our brains, and I would agree, that is logical. I just take it one step further. I believe that we are not just physical and mental beings. We are tripart, just as our creator is tripart, and we are physical, mental, and "spritual" beings. That's where the memories of the heart enter in and that is where God enters in when we extend an invitation. Until we are truly whole(all of our 3 parts joined)we are shells that can be easily emptied by the forces of nature, and we, also, fall into utter disrepair. Not sure about this? The easiest way to test yourself is to seek out some of your abandoned places and see how they "feel" to you today. If your heart is remembering, your spirit is alive and well. Invite the Lord to dwell in that heart and not only will your spirit be well off, the rest of you will, too! God also helps us to remember in our hearts those "abandoned" places without fearing "ghosts" that may linger there. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

These collaged photos are captioned with a misnomer, but I didn't think of that until now! 

A beautiful butterfly flutters no more. This part of God's creation reminds me of the spirit within each of us, and the care it must be given! 

Butterflies, Beauty, And The Bear!

I took a quick shot of my grand daughter as we were in the process of completing our meal this evening(actually she was through, and I was working my way down to the surface of a plate filled by a slice of key lime pie). I began the work on the butterfly I found(dead)and was simultaneously putting the text in while she played with the leggos and I ate the pie. It occurred to me that Kyra is very much like a butterfly as she grows. She wanted to know about the picture and I always try to come up with a story, so this was first hers.
A long time ago a bear was growing up in the woods far away. The bear was lonely and had nobody to play with until he found a valley filled with beautiful butterflies. He would watch them and chase them as they fluttered about and often tried to play with them, but every time he caught one it would die, so he was sad. The butterflies noticed the bear's sadness and that made them sad, too, so they stopped their fluttering all over the valley and just sat watching the bear. Soon the young bear wandered off to find something else to play with and then the butterflies all felt happy and started fluttering again because that is what they love to do. When the bear returned(yes, he was about your age)he was filled with smiles because the butterflies were all fluttering about. This time he knew that if he caught them they wouldn't flutter anymore so he chased them, laughed at them, and he tried to flutter too, but he couldn't, and this made him very sad, so he just sat down and began to cry. All of the butterflies saw the deep sadness in the bear and they came and sat on his shoulders, and on his head, and even right on the tip of his nose, and he was so happy, but he never, ever touched them. Even though he could not flutter with them, they could all enjoy one another and they lived happily ever after. It's only a silly made up story, but the truth of it is that there are many things in life that we can only enjoy the beauty of when they are free to flutter. Grab hold of them with a net or your hands and soon they no longer bring joy, only sadness. In capturing them we take away their freedom and the "essence" of their beauty. So it is with learning as we grow that there are things we desire which only retain their essence until obtained. The human spirit(I'm referring to the kind we all possess) desires to flit about and joyfully explore creation and be happy. Our task is to be careful not to swat them in our attempt to play with them. Mine (pictured above)was probably hit by a vehicle while fluttering around. I brought it home to reflect on the greater beauty it had when it was alive, and in the process a lesson was taught to Kyra and I through the beauty of the butterfly and the innocence of the bear. None of us runs around trying to end the life of a butterfly or a spirit, but it happens just the same. Perhaps when we examine ourselves and realize what we have done to one we can learn not to do it to another, or one another! God bless, Preacher.

My Grandest Daughter, A Treasure, A Pleasure, A True Gift From God. 

Mr. Art Slumskie Of Sioux Falls, SD On Delivery At First Baptist. Thanks Art and Julie! 

Stopping In To Take A Little Down TIme!

What a rush the last ten days have been in my life! There are times when it feels like everyone needs just a little bit more from me than I am able to offer them. Perhaps this is the "American" way, but I can't help believing that life is like this anywhere you go that you are involved with people and intrapersonal relationships. Perhaps that's why I sometimes start pondering the places I can go that I won't find anyone that needs anything. Some place where the phone doesn't ring, and their are no emergencies. Do you ever get to feeling this way? I'm sure everyone does, but we all have our own ways of dealing with the feelings. One of my(thinking about it honestly, I've got a lot of these) favorite "personal places" for getting away is deep inside the music that I create. I get in there and the distractions, worries, and bothersome details of living(like paying the electric bill on time and in full this month)just seem to slip away and the focus becomes an intense process that requires all of the attention I can bring to bear on the progressions and melody that become part of the "next" song. Usually the lyrics take shape well after the music has taken on form, and that's when the real work begins. To actually express my feelings through the vehicle that music provides I have to first take the time required to let God work in and(hopefully)through me. There was a time when I would plop down in front of the TV, catch the sci-fi channel, and zone out big time! That was happening six months ago when we still had cable. I find myself being much more productive without it than I ever was with it. All any one of us has to offer others is our time, and we must also set some aside for ourselves so that we can recharge our batteries for the next needed surge of power. That is where God enters in to my "personal place" and provides the time away that I need to refresh myself. The truth is, none of us can do it alone, and when we try we only give frustration and disappointment a foothold on our feelings and that can make our "time" miserable. I believe that I need some down time every day, and if that is true for me it could be true for you. If it is you might consider finding one of your "personal places" and giving yourself permission to get away, every day! I pray you have a wonderful day! Spend your time wisely, it's all you have, and we never know how much of it there is really going to be. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

It Seems To Me That We, As A Nation, Have Forgotten Most Of What We Learned In Kindergarten! 

My Steed These Days Is Forged From Steel, But We Visit The Same Old Places To Find Answers! 

Getting Away From It All

Rumbling along a forgotten highway beneath a full moon, stars twinkling vividly in the sky above my desert home, could be the beginnings of another poem. It also could signal the start of a deep longing that few of us ever give voice to, that ancient desire to know what is really out "there." We are fascinated by the mystery of space for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is a hunger that each of us is born harboring. Nights such as this my heart longs to run free in the moonlight and dance by the fire, expending every last ounce of physical energy that is left in me, until I quite literally collapse on my back staring into the depths of the universe. I can shout my questions at the top of my voice as I listen to the pounding of my heart as it, also, awaits a reply. There are no walls of rock to throw back an echo, no living persons within earshot to shout back at me, and so I linger there on the ground, filled by the solitude of the moment praying for a response that can only come from my Creator. God probably thinks me silly, but I know He hears me, and I know that if my cries are persistent He will send some of His angels to minister to my spirit. He always has, and He always will, that is if I don't fall asleep before they have time to arrive. I can hear them conversing about it now, "Well, that was a waste of time. We beat our wings to the bone getting down here and he falls asleep, again. How many times do we have to go through this?" They'll probably get a good laugh out of this when they get to the big locker room to slip out of their work wings, and they will probably tell all of the other angels about their "uneventful" journey to find that eccentric preacher sound asleep on the desert floor. There is one thing of which I am certain though, if they stick around for just a little while they will hear me mumbling in my sleep about the children that are lost, and the inhumanity of man, and the injustice of the world, and the hunger that so many face each day, because they are always with us, even when we set ourselves apart. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Everyone Has Something That They're Looking For.  

Thunder And Lightning Never Felt So Good 

How Much Enjoyment Do We Really Deserve?

God only knows what can be accomplished through faith. With this thought in mind I headed back to Gordon's studio this afternoon, with my wife's blessing, I might add! Cheryl has got to be the most understanding female it has ever been my honor to meet. The three musicians and the owner of the facility were waiting when I got there. I have a hunch they warmed up before my arrival. Old R & B, country and some blues beget an afternoon of musical delight. Thanks, to four fine players for more fun than I think people are supposed to have! We were once again treated to a cloudy afternoon which made the lack of air conditioned surroundings more than comfortable. There were the required amounts of coffee consumed and with head properly bound for keeping perspiration from dripping into eyes, it began. Hours of innovative lead lines laid down by the artistic talents of Gordon and Rod, backed by the percussive efforts of yours truly and a pair of veteran bass enthusiasts, Ken and Darrel. Gordy and I took a few turns at pounding out some rhythm on the drums, and a "machine" was employed for that task when everyone played their chosen instruments. The clash of shared styles would have been pleasing only to the ears of another musician, but it was good. The easy fellowship we shared, and the enervating, enthusiastic, and innovative manner in which the various parts and pieces came together was a joy(but then I like thunder and lightning, too). Excitement is the theme that so many of us look for in our lives, those moments that "stretch" us and help us to get beyond ourselves. We can do all of this and more within the context of our daily lives if we are willing to let God's Spirit flow around, and through us in all that we share with others. Not everything we do has to be "great," it's enough that we are entering in to the experience of life with others and taking a little time to enjoy. The key is(pardon the pun guys)to allow ourselves the freedom to express whatever it is that waits beneath the surface for an opportunity to shine. The elements are these, get everyone on the same page, start together, finish together, and in between our beginnings and our endings, enjoy what's happening. Sounds too easy doesn't it? Just maybe it is all part of a plan. Listen to the music of life and fit your part in where and when it's needed, it's bound to be "great!" You deserve it! You owe it to yourself to enjoy the blessings you've been given, and only Satan can take that away from you! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Okay, We Ended Up Doing Two Days, But I Can't Do It Again For Awhile! 

It's A Really Good Looking Animal, But I Was Raised Never To Shoot Anything That I Wasn't Willing To Eat!!! 

Remembering This Day And The Joys It Held

This was a fantastic day! Fellowship and music for 13 hours, and now it is drawing to a swift close. New friends met, old friends greeted, and not a single thing to dampen the spirit other than a little rain late in the evening. Musicians, Lord, I thank you for musicians! Twenty miles from my doorstep a studio beckoned early this morning, and that was the beginning. Out in the country, just far enough that the rabbits don't run away when you're walking around where they live, was my location for 8 great hours. For those of you haven't been afield much, rabbits, even in the wild in SD, are very tame. Why would they be any other way, nobody ever bothers them and the rest of us that walk through their world are only momentary interruptions( if even that). This is SD where the entire state is comprised of less than a million people. If you talk to anyone from here, and you happen to be from here, you both know a lot of the same people. That never ceases to amaze me! In the process of meeting new guys that play I learned that although we come from different areas of the state, we all worked the same places during the sixties and seventies, and we all know dozens of the same people. Every state has a history and a heritage to be proud of, and ours is no different, only ours tends to hinge on the "big things" that get SD attention, other than the "big thing" that makes us totally unique in the country today. Mount Rushmore is a national monument, the Corn Palace in Mitchell is the only one like it in the world, and the other high spots you can read about for yourself. The thing you won't read much about, though, has to do with the people and their collective personality based on numbers. Because we're few, we are mighty in the sense of how we deal with one another and how we deal with the stranger in our midst. We're like the rabbits, there really is no need to be alarmed for any reason. I'm sure this sounds like a naive approach to life in the 21st century, but I think if you're one of those folks who is also a non-threatening individual you will find an entire state where you can wander and spend time with people that you'll love meeting. Who knows, you may even wish to come live here, but I hope not too many do because that would put an end to some of what I'm writing about. The communities would be altered for ever. We've probably got all the bad stuff the rest of the world has, you just have to look harder to really find it. Just a quick tap on the calculator just informed me that I'm a blood relation to about 1% of the people in the state. Whoosh, where else in the US could one find that much togetherness? (Don't even go there, I know what you thought of, and yes, it is possible) Just please remember this, if you want to meet the people you have to go where they are, and that means actually setting aside the regular tourist stops. Stop at the visitors place on the interstate, or at a service station, get a map, and find the places where the rabbits don't run when they see you coming. That's when you'll know you've arrived in the heart of SD. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Thoughts On Being From A Less Populated State, South Dakota!