Brother Richard(Christian Crusaders)and I came upon this trailer while checking out this year's sights on main during the Blackhills Motorcyle Rally(Sturgis). It may not seem as ironic to some as it does to me, but if this trailer were hauling my sins it would be much fuller. Having just shared lunch with the upper great plains theological group(offshoot of the recently demised ELCA)it puts me in mind of our lives and how we live them. To live wholely and holy we must die unto ourselves and our sins. That does not mean that the sin is not a part of us, it will always be until we escape from this earthly venue. I guess that we don't think about this stuff a lot, and that is okay, 'cause if we really stop to think about it we have to change. Change is something that does not come easily to most of us, me inparticular, but it happens. That's like that fairly new addage #$@&% happens! Please, if you are reading and thinking, do not let it be too late for you. There is another road, one that is much smoother and less burdensome. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

January 14, 2007

Changes In Latitude

The top pic is one of the "new" home in the process of creation. It is 100 plus years old(maybe closer to 125) and is about to be removed from it's site to a new location. We have a piece of ground outside of the city and plan on putting this, along with a matching garage, out on the Great American Desert. In addition to what you see here there will be an adjacent(as in new construction attached)kitchen\dining\utility room of about a thousand square feet. Whoosh! I didn't think I would ever move again, and my wife, Cheryl, said she would 'never' do a move from our present location, but it would seem that God has other plans for the two of us. The old portion of the home is complete with some of the most beautiful oak floors and woodwork I have seen in years. It was, at one time after retirement from residential use, a "Bed & Breakfast." The multitude of options the new home will afford us is awesome. A year from now when the itinerant Christian musicians drop through we will have sufficient space(not to mention baths)to accommodate at least a dozen in extreme comfort and another half dozen in semi comfort. The spacious formal dining room will give us an opportunity to stretch our culinary expertise with the aid of a brand new kitchen built for cooking for people. We love to do that! So far this fall we have baked apple pies and cobblers, not to mention crunches for at least 30 folks and best of all, the apples were, for the most part, donated. That is another facet we shall have time(God willing)to enjoy together. I guess I've always enjoyed entertaining, but not always for the right reasons. With my grand piano sitting in the most formal living room it has ever had the pleasure of occupying space we will begin the task of making this beast of a house an inviting home for everyone who knows us and many friends we have yet to meet. Robin & Matt's new baby is doing really well, and Clayton and Mandy announced via E-mail that they are expecting in about 7 1\2 months. The troop from Montana is planning on a return trip to South Dakota next year while performing on the Christian circuit, so maybe with a little prayer and a lot of hard work we can be ready for 20 guests at the drop of a hat. Then there are the bikers on their way to and from Sturgis that we will be blessed to house for a short time. Whoosh! Lord, can it ever get better than that? Probably not until I get to return home and spend time with everyone, everyday, that preceded. That's all I can think of to share right now. Oh, about the pic of the car; We were on our way to a gathering in Sioux Falls when the little van we just purchased quit running. I had asked Cheryl if we had sufficient fuel for the journey right before we left and she informed me that the gas gauge showed plenty. It was not correct. We have only had the vehicle for six weeks and it does not(1995 Trans Sport by Pontiac)need to get far into the orange on the way to the E before running out completely. The car with the big dents and front end damage(an apparent refugee from the reservation)was driven to our rescue by son Travis and his girl friend( do people still use that term)Shantel. Anyways, I thought I should explain the picture for enquiring minds. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

January 14, 2007

What Have I Been Doing?

I suppose one might say I took a break after the winter 's thaw to stop and smell the flowers along life's paths. The truth is I have not got a clue as to what I have really done other than the time spent on stage, street, and studio. The life that I had begun to think was settling in quite nicely has taken another strange turn. I'm moving, again!
I do give thanks to God each day that my roots did not protrude too far beneath the surface of this piece of ground. I also give thanks that not everything got unpacked(more than 7 years here and I never really believed I'd be staying)'cause now I can look forward to moving "stuff" and unpacking it(maybe)in the new place. It seems that my wife, Cheryl, and I landed in one of those zones on this planet that is a very desirable location. What we have is wonderful, and we are whole heartedly planning on recreating this private piece of paradise in the new location(yes, that has already been decided). It may be as much as a year before we move in, but I can envision it now as I would like it to be. Isn't that the human way? We think first of how we'd like things to be and then struggle with getting out of the way so that God can work His wonders on our lives and put the "me" and "us" in the background. Perhaps it's like a picture that several folks can take at the very same time, but we are all getting a different angle on the subject. I for one would prefer it if things always came out my way. That is truly selfish and probably as human as one can get. After all, didn't I once say that this earthly existence is only temporary and heaven is my true home? Yes, I have said that in about as many different ways as one person can expound. Now, if I could just live that way everyday and let God do the big portions of planning.
Enough already!!! The past months have seen thousands of miles roll away behind the Harley, and more music & laughter shared than I could have imagined. The photos have continued to pile up in the 'puter along with the smiles of folks from the length and breadth of America as we
shared our lives and our experience of faith our here on the Great American Desert. The nights are getting quite chilly again, and Cheryl worries about what we are going to do with the ducks in the backyard(I never thought for a moment that we were not going to eat them), and that brings with it another cause for concern. Not the ducks, I know what to do with them, they roast up real nice. This year we have had more flowers than ever and now it is time to begin wintering the ones we wish to keep. Decisions, decisions!!!
I'll try to keep up with this blog thing better in the future along with posting pics of our piece of paradise that will fade away rapidly under the churning wheels of progress. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

January 14, 2007

Into Every Life

Into every life a little rain must fall! Isn't that one of those old sayings? Sometimes I wonder if I'm remembering lyrics or something that I've heard or read.
My wife, Cheryl, and I were at the Post Office when I saw what had happened to this innocent bush. A line for summer watering had broken on the side of the building and the aftermath of the deluge froze(probably very fast)all over, around, and through the now hidden bush. Parts of it had broken and parts were crushed. As I moved about with the camera for different views it occurred to me that in places the same water that had broken some branches encapsulated and protected others. The whole presentation looks ominous at first and then takes on a surreal beauty under closer inspection.
Our lives can be a lot like that little bush when we are caught in the throes of life's "happenings." At first the water just gushed all over like rainfall, and then it began to freeze. Parts of us are all wet, other parts break away and are washed aside by the storm, and yet that same destructive force is busy protecting and preserving all that is left. It will be some months before the bush is seen again, and the ice may be the death of all that it was. Right now there is water washing away at lives around us. I pray that the fridgidity and ridgidity of folks does not cause them to shatter. Perhaps if the bush could have moved a little it might have suffered less. Thank God we can get out of the rain once in a while and let God protect us from becoming broken, brittle, and totally frozen. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Smiles

January 14, 2007

Happy New Year

Our season of celebration ended last evening for 2006. Whoosh, what a year! Throughout the festive days of December on the Great American Desert we had an opportunity to rejoice with friends(old & new)and family. What a time of blessing for my wife, Cheryl and I! We hosted our first ever "open house" with food and fun for everyone. We decorated more extensively than ever before and as of tonight we are basking in the afterglow of days and nights well spent. It doesn't end here. Tonight we will be hosting Crusaders from Wisconsin on their way south to minister for the winter. Others are off to the north working in the venue of music. I am quite content to be where I am, finally. I suppose the best part of being somewhere this long is the knowledge that everyone knows where to find us. The phone number has not changed in years, and the address is on labels we haven't used for a long time. Sitting here in front of the screen I can only share that which is on my heart. God has blessed our lives together! I pray for all as we begin another journey toward spring. It cannot be too far away, I can hear the birds singing when I lie down at night. Maybe that is just me, though. Happy New Year to all, and may this year exceed your greatest expectations of peace, love, and harmony. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

A Break At The Well

 
Listening to the sounds of Duke Ellington and tossing thoughts back and forth in my mind this morning. It feels somewhat like a tennis match as I watch the flickers of ideas stream through the visions of color on my monitor. Windows Media 10 is installed and functioning flawlessly. Amazing what we can do with these 21st century beasts of entertainment. Cheryl is busy about the task of paying the "bills" which is something I have not done for a long time(at least not so you would notice)and she is having a good day. Our family has grown, as you may have noticed, we now have a "Mexican Healer" which is another term for a little bitty dog that acts like a cat. Sometimes he thinks he is a squirrel, but that is mostly when he's out back eating nuts. My guitar playing friends are not far away from me as I listen to the strident tones of "Big Band" as it was meant to be.
It is that time of the year when we have to put away the cycles and 'hunker' down for the winter. The fireplace in the backyard is seeing daily use, as is the grill on the patio, but it will not be long before the snows encompass us and we will have to dig our way out to the cars. This is the time of the year when one can truly appreciate the convenience of a car. They provide shelter from the cold as well as taking us from place to place in a heated environment that is comfortable. I suppose that is another reason why I really need God in my life. He keeps me from getting too uncomfortable with the circumstances I am presently in. That is cool.
Then, a few days ago, I was talking with a friend on the phone about faith and the thought occurred to both of us that maybe in fact man was not created by God, but God was created by man to fill the void of human experience. Nah! But it does give one pause to thing. In Christ's Love, Preacher.