Fall 2017

(Hoping this is a good year)

 

Aww…some Monday

Momma’s Got a Six-Pack

Monday’s Music Moves Me

It’s another freedom of choice week at 4M and I believe I will, once again, dip into the genre of Gospel music. I grew up with the hymns of the church. By the late 70’s contemporary Christian music had separated itself from the rest of gospel music and become its own genre. It is still alive and well today. Early artists included The Imperials, Sandi Patty and Dallas Holm. Today the genre features such gifted souls as Mercy Me, Selah, Crowder, Zach Williams, and Lauren Daigle and there is a song for every occasion.

There was an occasion many years ago when I lost my job. In the construction industry that is not an unusual thing. In fact, I had been laid off work from five positions in a ten year span and this was the last one. Those first few days of unemployment I was depressed to say the least. I came home one day and found that my wife had put an (vinyl) album on the turntable. It was the Imperials and the album was Priority. One song on that album spoke directly to me in a very special way. It reminded me of who I was and that I had reason to rejoice, even in a difficult situation. I was a child of the King of kings and a member of His family. The song…”Trumpet of Jesus”.

One of the most powerful songs to come from the early contemporary Christian music scene was recorded by Dallas Holm and Praise. It speaks of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ…”Rise again.”

The premier female artist of the early days was none other than Sandi Patty. She was the original “Glory note diva”. Sandi had a vocal range that most artists could only dream of and one of her most popular recordings speaks to the moment described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that describes the rapture of the church., “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” In that moment, “We Shall Behold Him”.

Another group from the early days of contemporary Christian music was Phillips,Craig & Dean. They had a softer sound and their message often came in the form of praise & worship songs. Every time I look at my life and see just how I was disappointing the One who died for me, I can only bow my head and tell Him, “Your Grace Still Amazes Me”.

Finally, a group that is anchored in Southern Gospel has released a new song and for those of us who claim the name of Jesus as our Savior we are ever grateful to be able to say, “I’m a Child of the King”! Have a blessed week.

 

 Aww Mondays

I like the woodsy flavor of a real chew stick.

Linking to Sandee at Comedy-Plus

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week our host Mary at Jingle, Jangle, Jungle has chosen a truly unique and awesome theme. The songs are to come from artists that have performed at Farm-Aid concerts. Farm Aid started as a benefit concert held September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, spurred on by Bob Dylan‘s comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers in danger of losing their farms through mortgage debt. So who are some of my favorite artists from this growing list of musicians?

The organizers are among artists that I like to listen to from time to time. I can remember when Willie Nelson became a mainstream artist. The mid-seventies saw country music become enormously popular among young people. There was a group of “outlaws” that included Willie Nelson, Waylen Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Hank Williams Jr. among others that played a new mix of country. These “Outlaws” shunned the rhinestone suites and white hats of traditional country music and chose long hair, jeans, and leather vests for their attire. They were country hippies. Willie’s first big album at the time was Red Headed Stranger and the biggest hit off of that album was “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”.

Beginning in the 1969 as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, the group later added Neil Young and became Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Neil Young also recorded a solo album during those late hippie/drug culture days. The Harvest album was in my collection almost as soon as it was released. You can hear the roots of folk rock in the cut Heart of Gold.

A perennial performer at Farm-Aid is Sheryl Crow and this video, The First Cut, is from her 2003 set. Have a blessed week.

Wall sculpture from Crystal Bridges Museum of Modern American Art

Bentonville, Arkansas

Aww Mondays

“One of these days I’m gonna be a show stopper!”

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week is a free choice week at 4M so I am going to wander off of the dance floor and into the inspirational genre of music. Inspirational music can mean a lot of different things to different people. One could stay in popular music and say that Old Blue Eyes recording of “My Way” is very inspirational. Others, including some sports teams, might declare that “We Are The Champions” by Queen is the ultimate inspiration for conquering one’s adversaries. I choose Christian music for my inspiration. My preference is Gospel and the Hymns of the Church. Many of the hymns are inspired by verses from the Bible and music is one of the best ways to memorize Scripture.

In times of trouble people turn to all types of resources for strength, perseverance, comfort and inspiration. Regardless of the situation that I find myself in, I only need one thing. Just give me Jesus. He will provide everything else.

One of the early hymns I learned was Blessed Assurance. Even most Christians have spent time doubting their salvation. The truth is, if one has truly repented of the sin in their life and sought forgiveness from the only one able to forgive that sin, salvation and the gift of eternal life is available. That doesn’t mean that we won’t disobey and disappoint our Creator, nor does in mean that we have “fire insurance” and are free to do do whatever we please. It simply means that if one has sincerely sought eternal life in Christ, it is available.

Life provides many choices and there are a multitude of avenues that I can travel, but there is only one way to arrive at the throne of the King of kings. Given the choice and using scripture as my GPS, I choose to travel the Holy Highway. It is not a super-highway. It is a narrow road and is filled with ups and downs, but it is the only road that leads to the throne of grace. Have a blessed week.

Maybe the coolest bird bath/feeder combo I have ever seen.

Aww Monday

These two give a whole new meaning to the “Dog Days of Summer”. I am linking to Sandee at Comedy-Plus.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

I am a little behind in my post preparation. Last week week we had a cousins reunion and spent four days at the lake. It took a couple of days of rest to recover from all of the activities, but everyone had a great time. Time spent with family is priceless.

Now on to the business at hand. It is Labor Day and that is the theme for this week at 4M. Our honorary hostess Mary from “Jingle, Jangle, Jungle” has challenged us to build a playlist that spells Labor Day. Let’s get on with it shall we!

The first song not only starts with the letter “L” but begins with the word Labor. Regular readers of this blog know that I have a passion for inspirational music, especially Southern Gospel and the Hymns of the church. My few regular readers also know that I do a Christmas Music Marathon every year from Thanksgiving through Christmas day. One of my favorite groups in the Southern Gospel/Bluegrass genre is The Isaacs. This song is new to me, but I am sure I will be using it again during my eleventh annual Christmas Music Marathon.

Next up is a blast from the past with a little country/bluegrass twist. The group is Pure Prarie League and the song is “Amie”.

Country music is filled with songs about love lost and early rock ‘n roll had plenty of country musicians crossing over into this new genre. Out of that blend came the beginnings of hillbilly rock. One group with classic harmonies and all the tools to become rock ‘n roll legends were the Everly Brothers and for the “B” in Labor, I give you Bye Bye Love.

As long as we are stuck in classic rock ‘n roll and country cross-overs, we might as well pick “Only the Lonely” as the “O” in our Labor Day play list.

Labor Day always falls on Monday and sometimes it rains so let’s finish up the first word in our theme with “Rainy Days & Mondays”.

For many of us Labor Day has always been the official end to summer. Back in the stone age our summer vacation from school would begin the Friday before Memorial Day and end the Tuesday after Labor Day. During those lazy, hazy days of summer, we spent a lot of time day dreaming. While the Monkees were the first to release Daydream Believer in 1967, I personally preferred the alto voice of Anne Murray.

Okay, it is no secret that Dwight Yoakam is one of my favorite country artists of all time. For the “A” in day I have chosen a song that blends a little bit of Western Swing, a little bit of Do-Wop, and a a whole lost of classic Yoakam in “Always Late With Your Kisses.”

And that brings us to the final song in this tribute to Labor Day playlist. I began this post with an inspirational song so I think I’ll end it with one as well. One of the hottest artists in Christian music today is Lauren Daigle. Her most popular song to date is, “You Say”. Well, I say, “That’s a wrap.” Have a blessed week.

High School Senior

(Youngest Grand Daughter)

Aww Monday

Today is National Dog Day!!! The image above is a portrait of our dog Lucy. My wife had it painted and presented to me as a birthday present last year. No, Lucy is not a rescue dog but I think she believes that I am her rescue human.  She is a 2-1/2 year old American Cocker Spaniel and every day is made a little happier and a little better because she is in the family.

Whether she is inspecting a bug, taking a nap, playing fetch, looking like the “House Princess”, or tolerating a selfie portrait shoot, Lucy is my pal for life. She is the fourth cocker spaniel I have had in my lifetime and will always be my favorite breed. There is a store here in town that makes healthy dog treats on site, so I think I’ll stop by and get Lucy a pound of snacks.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Since this week at 4M is free choice, I think I’ll continue the National Dog Day theme with songs feature dogs in some way. Since Lucy is our “House Princess” how about a song from “The King” himself.

Of course, if your going to bring a pet into the family you need to be aware of the cost. There is the purchase price or adoption fee, then there is the food, annual check-up at the vet, vaccinations, grooming, toys etc. One thing I would say, “Don’t buy your pet at a pet store because they are likely to come from a mill. Rescue the animal from a local shelter or purchase directly from a reputable breeder. Also micro-chip your pet as it will make them much easier to locate if they should wander off. So, what’s the answer to the question…How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

Dogs love their pet humans unconditionally and all they expect is the same in return. So, if you want to know, Yes, I love my dog. Have a blessed week.