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“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

Category: Notes Anthology

Great Weekend

Our weekend was exciting and enjoyable. It started with working Friday at Ichthus and a storm that ended our day and cancelled the events for Friday evening including the championship little league game. Saturday started off with a visit by Margaret Jenkins who rode up with Melissa who came to pick up Tyler. It ws really good to see her.

The afternoon was spent at the ball park. We had a picnic and awards before the big game. Jerod received the Most Improved Player award for our team. We played the Athletics for the tournament championship. We got off to good start. Jerod and Blake both hit well. Things seemed well in hand until the fourth inning when the Athletics had a big rally. It was pretty anxious. Jerod made three errors. It is usually a reliable fielder but it happens. He was really devastated and inconsolable. In the top of the fifth, we got into a two out rally which has become a regular thing with the Rangers. With two runners on, Jerod came up to bat. He swung and missed the first pitch. The next pitch he drove the ball into deep left center field for a home run. It was amazing. We went on to win the game 13-8. That was better than Tiger Woods’ final round performance in the Open.

Saturday evening we went to Ichthus and enjoyed worship with 20,000 +/-. In addition to music by Matt Maher, David Crowder Band and Casting Crowns, Jon Weece spoke and we celebrated communion together led by J.D. Walt. It was quite an experience.

Sunday we went canoeing with the Crocketts as a Father’s Day treat. It was a really great time. It was a memorable father’s day for me. I am so proud of all my children. It was good to hear from each of them.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:



 

Ichthus

Today was my first experience with the Ichthus Christian Music Festival. Admittedly, today’s experience was not anordinary Ichthus experience. Ann and I volunteered to work an eight shift. Our work and $20 gets us a pass to all of the event. We will probably only get attend tomorrow evening. My assignment was grounds (garbage detail). There was plenty of garbage to pick-up and in the process I got to see everything but the performances. They say 20,000 + attend and I believe it. There is every conceivable kind of camping gear on site. It is well organized and the crowds seem to be enjoying themselves. The music begins around 11:00am and continues to midnight each day. There are four different stages that cover all the bases for Christian music genres. Had I not been at the festival, someone would have had to tell me that some of the music I heard was “Christian”. I would have never guessed.

I was able to see both the spectators and the back stage areas and some of the performers and crews. I must say that the festival, as well as, Christian music is BIG business. The crowd was definitely “Christian” in it demeanor and appearance, for the most part. Their garbage is without a doubt more holy. There was a really strong emphasis on being environmentally responsible. Recycling was almost mandatory. I realized that when a young woman came up to me with piece of paper the size of a business card and asked if I was recycling paper.

Our shift ended with a bang, literally. A sudden thunderstorm came up with terrific lighting and fierce straight-line winds. The big tent Ann was working in lost a center pole and people panicked, rushing outside only to find themselves in a torrential downpour and lighting. Not a good thing. As far as I could see, no one was injured. Just wet and scared. We made it home fine. Unfortunately there are additional heavy storms continuing tonight,

Our championship little league game this evening was postponed until tomorrow at 4 pm. It is going to be a busy weekend. Grandson Tyler has been here this week and I’ve enjoyed him. He is a good worker and helped me tearing out a basement window that I needed to replace. 

Facebook

George

I’m so out of date. I just recently discovered Facebook. It is really interesting and I am attempting to incorporate my blog posts into Facebook. This is a test of a plugin I just loaded.

Hope it works!!

Life Goes On

It has been a busy and good week. I have gotten several of my projects completed. In the carriage house I built a work bench, installed some lighting and organized a lot of my tools and stuff. I have to admit it looks pretty good. Our yard and flower beds are looking nice. The real test comes as we hit these hot and humid days. We turned on the A/C for the first time this year this week.

It was good to have Melissa and her kids visiting Thursday and Friday. The kids are in a growing phase and their change is obvious each time we see them. Tyler will be staying with us next week. I expect that each of them will spend some time with us this summer.

I have been working out regularly. Riding my bike to High Bridge and back has become a enjoyable routine. However, the heat gave me all I wanted and more on Friday. It is nice to have the hot tub to relax in after a work out. We got a new grill and I have been grilling quite a bit. I cooked chicken last evening for dinner. Our friend and financial advisor Tracy was here from Louisville.

Tomorrow is our 46th wedding anniversary. We are going to Louisville to celebrate. After attending church at Okolona and having lunch we are spending the night at a nice hotel. We plan to have dinner at our old favorite restaurant, The Bristol Bar and Grille. After dental appointments Monday morning we will pick up Tyler and return to Wilmore. Monday evening is the start of our baseball tournament.

This evening we attended the first summer concert on village green. It was nice and we look forward to the rest of the season. This week is the Ichthus Christian Music Festival. I hope to attend as many session as possible. Ann and I are working all day Friday. We get festival passes at a discount for volunteering. It should be a really interesting experience.

How Does It Feel?

George

A couple of years ago I heard a lesson in which the speaker presented an interesting question: “What does it feel like to be a Christian?” It is an intriguing question, particularly for me. Growing up, feelings were not something that was important. In fact, to express a feeling about what you believed would immediately discredit your belief i.e. “I just feel as …”. What was most important was truth … objective, verifiable and certain. Feelings were not apart of a truth equation. In that context, feeling like a Christian would most likely be akin to the the feelings we enjoy when we are proven to be right. A sense of self-satisfaction, self-rightness. It is a great feeling to know that you KNOW.

Describing what it feels like to be a Christian takes on a different dimension when the question is modified. “What does it feel like to have Christ living in you?”… What does it feel like when you are abiding in Christ and he is abiding in you?”… “What does it feel like when the Holy Spirit lives within you?” …”What does it feel like when you no longer live but Christ lives in you?” What these questions, and numerous other similiar ones we might ask, presume/imply is an intimate relationship.

I do not suppose there is a “correct” answer but there are two metaphors I have used that I believe helpful in my search to understand what it feels like to be Christian. The first metaphor comes out of my own childhood experiece and the second is one I read and have long since forgotten its source.

One of my earliest childhood memories is an occasion when I was riding in the back seat of our family’s car. My mother and father were in the front seat. It was a summer evening and we were driving home. The windows were down and the cool wind was blowing across the backseat. I had curled up on the seat and was listening to my parents’ casual conversation. I distinctly remember the overwhelming sense of comfort and safety as we drove along. The breeze was like a refreshing warm shower. My parents voices were audible remeinders of their presence and protection. Even now as I write these words while on my front porch, there is a gentle breeze blowing across my neck that recalls that occasion. I cannot explain how such an apparently insignificant experience has remained with me. In that experience I believe there may well be a glimpse of what it feels like to be Christian.

The second metaphor is a scene in a lovely city park. A park with lush green grass and tall shading trees. There is a playground with a child and his mother. While the mother is seated on a nearby bench, the child,  by all appearances, seems to be totally unware his mother’s presence. He is happily playing and exploring. It is obvious his mother is continually aware of him but he he is not concerned. He knows that she is there and that she loves and cares for him but his focus is on being a boy. Only his occasional glance to verify her presence betrays his concern for her presence and protection. Suddenly the scene changes dramatically, playing on the gym bars, the child loses his grip and falls to the ground suffering a painful scrape to his knees. In that moment, he cries out for his mother and rushes without hesitation to her arms where he is comforted, reassured and healed by her gentle kisses. In a short time he returns to his play confident in his trust of his mother.