It’s late in the day, but it is still Monday. So, why not a Monday Monkey episode?
Actually, this is a video I made for Christmas 2012 (I think). My wife, Valerie, should have gotten an Oscar for the “scream.”
I promise, more Monkey videos are on the way. Promise.
Filed under animals, Christmas, Humor, Monday Monkey, Relationships and Family
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, including all my friends and blog subscribers all over the world! For even though Thanksgiving is an American holiday, we all have reason to be thankful. After all, for most of us, things could be worse.
I am not going to go into detail and recount the history of the Pilgrims or the reasoning of George Washington’s proclamation. I am not going to talk turkey, Indians, or Sacajawea, either. If you want to read about all of those things, including the godly, religious heritage of our nation that the atheists and humanists are trying to sponge away, then take the time to visit other blogs which are carrying the torch of freedom.
Essentially, everyone should be thankful to God for his grace and mercy, no matter the country in which they live. Americans should be grateful for the rare freedoms we still have, despite the current administration’s attempt to presidentially-mandate them away. And on top of that, each of us should be thankful for health, shelter, food, and any family or friends we have.
But there are other reasons to be thankful…reasons you may have never thought of. Let me give you a few.
First of all, you all should be thankful you don’t have to dress up like an elf in order to pose for Christmas card pictures for your oldest daughter. As you can see, even though Lily and Henry are the cutest grand-dogs any man could have, there is a slight sense of humiliation being experienced by all.
Secondly, you could be thankful you are not a dog, especially a dog that is forced to dress up like a little Santa Clause.
Third, you should be thankful you do not have green hair. Even though my little dogs know me, and even though Lily and Henry like me, they don’t like men in green wigs.
Fourth, be thankful you are not an elf. Their big, pointy ears are hot, and the bells they wear can be distracting while preaching on Sunday.
If you don’t have any other reasons to be thankful on this day, then at least be thankful for the following:
“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.” – Psalms 105:1
“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalms 106:1
Filed under America, animals, Christmas, Food, General Observations, Humor, Relationships and Family
Every once in a blue-moon-while I try something new, something out of my comfort zone. So, when I was asked if I’d like to sing with a barber shop-style men’s chorus, I had apprehensions. I mean, was it time to do something new? Did I need to wait until the next blue moon?
Practicing on the risers. Can you pick me out on the right? (Photo Credit: Steve Wixson)
You see, our new choir director, Chuck Wilson, sings with the venerable Choo Choo Chorus. He had been inviting me to come join a community chorus for Christmas, but I didn’t know if I would really be up to it, or if I would like it. I was wrong on both accounts.
Singing acapella with a bunch of other talented men has given me the opportunity to ride on their coattails. The opportunity to sit under the instruction of such an experienced music director, Paul Blazeck, makes me smile as much as I sing. But hearing 4-part harmony sung by 80 men gives me goose bumps.
I would encourage you, if you are in the area, to come hear the Chattanooga Community Christmas Chorus and the Choo Choo Chorus during the month of December. My little girl, Haley, not knowing what to expect, came with me to practice and left saying, “That was awesome!” You’ll say the same thing, too.
(BTW, Jason Sneed, one of our writers at Proverbial Thought.com is in the picture on the left. He’s singing tenor.)
But even though the guys in the chorus may sound “awesome,” I can hardly wait to hear how another choir will sound – the Heavenly choir.
Every time our men’s chorus sings “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel,” I get chills. But we are just men, flawed in every way imaginable. What will it be like, I wonder, to hear voices innumerable in perfect, flawless harmony singing praise to God in His presence?
Mr. Blazek is always having to work with us amateurs in order to get a half-way decent sound. What will it be like when millions of the redeemed let loose with vocal chords untouched by sin, but empowered with joy unspeakable and full of glory?
Hallelujah! I’m getting chills and tearing up just thinking about it!
This weekend I went with our youth pastor, Daniel Ziegenmier, to Conclave 2013, “a training conference to equip and rejuvenate your youth ministry team.” The great thing was that it was here in our home town, not across the country.
While strolling through the exhibit hall where various ministries had booths and displays, I came across this neat fake camp fire. The flame in the middle was made of a fabric that fluttered above a silent fan and colored light. From only a few feet away it looked real.
It would have been nice to have one of these back in 1984. There would be less emotional scars.
In my junior year of high school the junior/senior speech class wrote and performed a Christmas play. I had a part in everything, from acting to writing and prop design. It was the prop design that had serious flaws.
The Stage
The play was held in the auditorium of Hamill Road Baptist Church in Hixson, TN. The set took up the entire stage where the pulpit usually sat, along with most of the choir loft. It was a big production in a very nice, carpeted church.
Hamill Road had light blue carpet…really nice, comfortable, flammable carpet.
The Set
In one of the scenes the cast went Christmas caroling, so there was a set complete with houses and front doors.
Following the caroling, all the cast went to a house to sit around and talk about the Christmas story. There they drank hot chocolate as they sat around a fire place…
…a fire place in church.
The Prop
It essentially came down to 2 or 3 other guys and myself. We had to figure out how to build a fireplace that looked real enough, but didn’t actually burn wood or gas. Unfortunately, we had no prior special effects experience.
I don’t know if it was Jeff DeHart, Brian Gibson, or myself who decided it was a good idea to take a candle, lay it on its side, notch it out, and expose 3 to 4 pieces of wick. I don’t know who it was, but one of us thought that we could light a candle in front of tin foil, surround it with dry wood, and make it would look like a burning fire place.
Did you know that when you notch out a candle, pull out the wick, light it, and let it burn during a 10-minute scene that the flame would eventually burn through? Nobody told us!
The Fire
I was proud of all of us. Like true professionals, when the fire hit the carpet…that beautiful, baby-blue carpet…we were able to smack the floor with our hands to the beat of another Christmas carol. Nearly in a panic, knowing our semester grades were on the line, not to mention our eternal souls, we put the fire out with our bare hands. Our parents didn’t have a clue.
Providentially, the next to the last scene involved the death of a character and a real casket. Without going into much detail, the layer of smoke created by the fire became a special effect worthy of an Oscar! It was beautiful!
For some reason the air conditioning system didn’t come on, and the smoke spread out like a sea over the congregation. When the rented spotlight in the back came on, the exposed smoke made the congregation look like an eerie cemetery full of dressed-up headstones. I got chills.
Well, we got a standing ovation and an “A” for the project. Unfortunately, because the play was so well-received, we were asked to do an encore.
That’s when the church burned down…
…Just kidding.
Filed under Christmas, General Observations, Humor, Independent Baptist, Life Lessons, ministry
At some point in your life you have probably experienced the “blues” after Christmas. You know, those sad, melancholy feelings that come after all the expectations of Christmas day are over? They’re the “now what?” feelings.
Well, it took a while, but sometime this afternoon I began to feel depressed and kinda sad. In one way I was glad everything was over, but then I was also sad that there was nothing more to look forward to.
Next on the list? Clean house, clean carpet, paint a cabinet, plan sermons, clean a garage, wash windows and blinds, and wonder how to repay what we just borrowed to make people happy for one day.
But if you have experienced the blues after Christmas, be thankful. Being sad that the expectations of this world only bring temporary happiness is a good thing – actually, it’s a great thing! It means that there is something else…something more…something better…something that won’t get old the next day…something that will leave you never having to wish for anything ever again.
C. S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
The post-Christmas blues are just reminders that I haven’t made it home.
Several years ago I wrote a song talking about a place better than this one, a place called Heaven. This year, standing beside a Christmas tree and surrounded by crumpled wrapping paper, my daughter wanted to sing it.
You can believe that this world is all that there is, and that’s OK. If you are right, then an infinity of nothingness won’t bother either of us. However, since no experience in this world, even the best Christmas present, can satisfy for long, I am going to assume there is better place, somewhere beyond the “blues.”
Filed under Christmas, Faith, Future, Relationships and Family, the future, Uncategorized, World View
The first Sunday of December brought with it many sermons about Christmas, I am sure. Riverside Baptist Church was no exception. The message this morning had to do with Christmas, but especially the “good news” of Christmas…the Gospel.
You may never have the opportunity to visit our little church in Chattanooga, but today I am going to give you an opportunity to hear what I preached. The recording isn’t fancy, but it is understandable. I recorded it on my iPhone…the same one I used to record Mr. Monkey acting like a fool (or is that me?).
Pick up a Bible and turn to the book of Luke, chapter two, and follow along.
Listen: Christmas is the Gospel
What does this video have to do with a recovering legalist? You will actually see me dancing! Really!
If you have never been to Rock City, then you need to go. But if you have never been to Rock City at night when it has been lit up for Christmas, then you are missing a treat.
This week Katie sang with her home school chorus at Rock City, so we went to watch and listen. However, one can only listen to so much Christmas music when there are elves begging to be talked to.
Rock City is on Lookout Mountain, which is in Chattanooga. However, Rock City is actually on the Georgia part of Lookout Mountain, just for your information.
And for the record, I never found my missing glove.
Filed under America, Christmas, Homeschool, places, Relationships and Family
Christmas wish lists can be really amusing. Recently a mother of a needy family gave me a list of requested items for her children. I was told that the children would be happy with anything. Really? Would her children be happy with chalk, a box of Crayons, a wooden train, and a slinky? What about a stick?
Today’s children are more spoiled today than ever before. Not only do they want the newest toys and gadgets, but the toys and gadgets they want are more advanced than anything Captain Kirk used.
And then there are the wishes that people make around Christmas time. Some people wish for world peace. Others wish for Michael Jackson to return from the dead to do a benefit concert for world hunger.
Teenage girls have the most annoying wish lists. They usually involve a prepubescent rock star who thinks he’s tough taking them on an exotic date to an awards show at Nickelodeon. If not that, then it’s sparkly vampires carrying them off into a never-ending twilight. Gag me with a spoon.
So what’s my wish? My wish is that things would just go back to the way they were when this picture was taken.
Other than for the goofy safety glasses, I looked pretty cool!
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I worked for a company that serviced nuclear facilities. My job involved flying on commercial aircraft all over the country. And whenever I flew on a new or different airliner, I asked to take a picture of the cockpit.
Here, the pilot actually told me to sit in his seat and wear his hat while he took the picture. What’s even more incredible is that while I was sitting there the engines were still running. He told me to put my hand on the throttles while the engines were still running!
Can you even imagine this happening today? Not hardly. That’s why I wish we could go back to an earlier, more trusting day and age; long before 9/11 and the jerks that ruined everything.
Well, even though things may never be the same again, there will come a day when peace will fill the land. There will come a day when men’s swords are beaten into plows. But that day will only come when the Prince of Peace assumes the throne.
When He came before, He came as a humble baby.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
The next time He comes, things will be a little different.
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:” – Luke 1:32
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” – Matthew 16:26-27
What a Christmas that would be!
Filed under America, Christmas, General Observations
Off to the Mall…
Believe it or not, I went to the largest mall in Tennessee (Hamilton Place) with a puppet monkey on my arm…and we had fun.
Actually, if you want to know the truth, we went to the mall, but left Buddy (Mr. Monkey) in the van. But once I saw what was for sale in Teavana (the tea shop that replaced my favorite coffee shop), I had to go back out and get our favorite furry friend. That’s when the fun really started.
Note: Kids love puppets. However, parents tend to look with skepticism at grown men who talk to puppets in public, especially when there is no puppet show.
Mr. Monkey and I hope you enjoy the video. If you do, would you please forward it to a friend? We would really appreciate it!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. WE did. More than anything, the service at church was extra special. Several gave the gift of worship as they knelt by a manger.
Next week is going to be another busy one, so I am not sure if I will be able to write much…we’ll just have to see. There are a lot of things on my mind, just not enough time.
In the meantime, keep in mind my challenge…100 subscribers by the end of the year!
Filed under Humor, Monday Monkey
This episode of Monday Monkey features my beautiful wife, Valerie. Also, by her side is our little “boy,” Nugget.
I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, then please pass it along, recommend it, forward it…whatever!
Just do this first – warn those who startle easily. Otherwise, you might ought to have an ambulance standing by.
1Peter 4:10 – As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Filed under Christmas, Humor, Monday Monkey
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