It’s been a while since I first posted this video, but I think it’s time for a repeat.
A lot of you are new to this blog. You may not be aware that I periodically post videos on Mondays with a puppet monkey, just for fun. This video, however, is one of my favorites, and for good reason: it’s about the story I love to tell.
Benny Berry sang at our church one Sunday. That afternoon I asked if he felt like he could sing for a monkey. He raised an eyebrow, but agreed. The result was genuinely beautiful.
Last weekend was spent sitting in front of microphones.
My daughters and I, along with Daniel Ziegenmier, were in a small recording studio creating what I believe will be a surprise hit – Katie’s debut CD. Would you like to hear about it?
Goat Farmer Records
Believe it or not, Katie (my daughter) was picked up by Daniel’s brother, Joel, at Goat Farmer Records in Nashville, TN. I know what you’re asking – “Goat Farmer Records?” Yes, Goat Farmer Records. We are the label’s first Christian artists!
Being that GFR is not Sony, Capital, or Sparrow Records, the recording budget is limited. We were not flown to Nashville, nor did we receive big bonuses and specially prepared food during sessions. No limo picked us up at the hotel, either. But, what we did receive was a warm welcome, a laid-back atmosphere, and the opportunity to have fun. If nothing else, this poor preacher isn’t having to fork out $10K for studio time. Can I get an “amen!”?
Pictures
Everybody loves pictures, so here are a few images from our sessions.
Mr. Monkey goes everywhere.
Daniel on the cajon, Haley on the Uke, Katie on guitar, Joel setting up, and me on bass (out of view).
It’s hard to explain.
Katie likes the Neuman u87 (microphone).
Steve Castlen on drums.
Unlike many other groups, we get to play our own instruments! No hired studio musicians to replace us – no sir! But of course, that means recording music takes longer and requires a lot of work. Amazingly, one can get tired while having fun.
Requests
I have a couple of requests. First of all, would you please pray for this project? Nearly all of the songs we are recording were written by Katie, and they are meant to bring honor and glory to the Lord. We would love to see God get the glory for taking a simple project and turning it into a miracle.
Secondly, I would ask that you consider purchasing and downloading at least one song when everything is done. Believe me, every song on this project will be worth having, so I hope that you will recommend it to others.
I will keep all of you updated as we get closer to a release date. Until then, stay tuned!
For the record, I think pipe organs are awesome. Even though I love praise and worship music played on a ’71 Les Paul, bluegrass gospel on a Martin D28 (if you have to ask…), and Amazing Grace on bag pipes, a well-played pipe organ can make you think you’re in the throne room of heaven.
This is not a picture of me behind my pulpit. This is not a picture of me in the church I pastor. But this is a picture of what my church could look like if only our building committee would raise a few million dollars (I don’t know what’s taking them so long).
Seriously, if you have never heard a real pipe organ played by someone who knows what he/she is doing, you probably don’t know what goose bumps are, either.
I wonder how a banjo-mandolin-pipe organ trio would sound?
Hey! Did I mention I got a new mandolin?
Anyway, I have work to do, so have a great Monday!
I have heard of those places where one goes to have “dates” with people, only the dates last just a couple of minutes. I think they call it “speed dating.” This is not one of those dates, but it is a “flash post.”
So, if you have never read this blog before, you may walk away never wanting to see me again. But that’s OK. For one thing, I’m married. Secondly, some of the followers I have been getting as of late are flat-out strange (you know who you are).
What It Is
What am I doing? I am writing a “flash post.” What is a flash post? A flash post is a post that is written in just enough time to type the words, edit the main font thingys (is that with an ies?), and hit “Publish.”
I was sitting at the computer watching video of a group called Alabama Shakes(Strange. Not my type. Not my kind of music.). That’s when I figured, since I had 15 minutes before needing to leave the house to go back to work (I just come home for lunch), I could write a quick post about nothing – or just sit in silence until the memory of the music I just heard faded away.
Time to Go
Well, it’s about time to get my things together and go. If I had more time I would write about serious stuff, but I would hate to be targeted by the IRS, even though I know they are honest people and would never harass a conservative minister – no way.
So, move on to your next blogger date and share a few clicks – wait, this wasn’t a date. If you want to meet again, well, you know where to find me. Next time you can buy lunch.
Remember how I just wrote about writing for the sake of writing? Well, here we go again, but on a smaller scale.
The other day I wrote a post about my wife’s grandmother’s 90th birthday. I even included some pictures. What I didn’t include was my favorite picture of the day – Mr. Monkey and the guitars.
In a break between playing music and eating cake, I took this picture of Katie’s guitar and my bass, along with Mr. Monkey striking a pose.
Two Weeks (or so) Left
In two weeks I will be presenting my final paper to my last seminary class. Believe me, I am stressed – it’s nowhere near done! Even worse, I have to present my paper in front of a PhD with a thing for punctuation (“Have you never heard of an Oxford comma?”).
OH! Guess what? My class ring just shipped today! Now, if I don’t pass, I’ll have a ring with the wrong date! Good grief!
It’s Friday. It’s April. And this was written on a Friday 2 years ago, long before many of you began following this blog. So, step back in time and enjoy!
BTW, I’m glad to see Rebecca Black is doing well, recording better music, and has a real future – unlike the mean and hateful losers who bullied and made fun of her. Where are they, now?
“Friday, Friday…”
What would be the chance that we could convince the calender people to change the names of the days? Could we change Friday to something like Frickabrack? How about Flurble? We have to do something, or every time the weekend comes around I’m gonna be singing that song. DANG IT!!
If you have been fortunate enough to have never heard this song, then that is about to change. You are going to submit to the temptation and click the link below. You have to share in the pain. You HAVE to!
Why Me, Lord?
Just because a song is popular, doesn’t make it good. An example would be “Why Me Lord” by Kris Kristofferson. I HATED that song. However, a song I hate more is “One Day at a Time.” Kris co-wrote that, you know. The part that I hated the most was the second verse…
Do you remember (Are you kidding? Ever heard of Omniscience) When you walked among men Well Jesus, you know, if you’re looking below(If? What’s He doin’, cleaning harps?) It’s worse now than then(like when the Romans were feeding lions) Pushin’ and shovin’ crowding my mind(Mental breakdowns are worse than martyrdom) Lord for my sake(It’s all about me, isn’t it?) Teach me to take One day at a time (Just go take a nap, and you’ll feel better)
Well, “Friday” is a popular song, that’s for sure. What started off as an 8th-grader’s dream project has turned into a multi-million dollar success. Once it was posted on YouTube, it went viral. Now, as of this article, it received over 88 million hits (views). I just want to know why I had to be one of the unlucky ones to hear it.
It’s Cute
It could be worse, you know. Rebecca Black could be singing a song about teen sex in the back of a convertible, or drug use while worshiping Satan in the bathroom of a public school. So, from a content perspective, it’s not that bad. The tune is annoying, but catchy, and the lyrics are clean. In short, it’s a cute song. But who on earth thought it was a poetic stroke of genius to end a line in a song with “afterwer-erds?”
The Worst Example for Teens is in the Video
If I really wanted to point out the negatives, it would have to be in the video. Here you have a song about a girl who goes to the bus stop, but instead hops a ride in the back seat of a convertible driven by a 10-year-old. Did her parents say it was OK to ride to school with her underage “friends?” Were any of them wearing seat belts?
The second verse presented some disturbing images. The last time I checked, it was not only illegal for 8th graders to drive alone, much less without an adult, but shouldn’t they sit IN the car, not ON the car? She said “on the highway” while waving at her friends from the trunk of a convertible. Can you say “Girls die in tragic accident after falling out of car – News at Eleven!?”
But there’s another thing – who is this gangsta’ rapper that knows so much about little Rebecca Black and her partying? What’s the deal? If it was my little girl, dude better watch where he parks that ride. I don’t think ANY grown man with gold teeth and “bling” needs to be concerned with my middle school girl, her parties, OR her fun fun fun. Got it?!
Wishing Rebecca Well
I wish her the best. I hope this is the start of something big for her. God bless her, really! She seems like a sweet kid with a monotone voice that grates through my soul like a recurring chalkboard nightmare. All I ask is that she leave all the other days of the week alone – and for Heaven’s sake, find another writer.
Katie and I, along with our youth pastor, Daniel (in the orange UT shirt), went to Nashville this past Friday and Saturday. We were there to begin the hard work of pounding out a quality recording project. And yes, it is hard work.
The only problem is that Mr. Monkey just had to get in on the act. He wouldn’t let it go. So, out of sheer frustration, I finally gave in.
See Mr. Monkey get introduced to his very own musical instrument.
Special Thanks To:
Joel Ziegenmier, for letting a monkey take over his studio
Steve Castlen, for knocking some sense into Mr. Monkey’s head
Roy Cavender, for keeping Mr. Monkey entertained with all his crazy antics
Daniel Ziegenmier, for not acting like a monkey or doing that “call me” thing with his hand
The makers of shaker eggs (Katie loves them)
The makers of polyester fur
Reunion
On a separate note, it was good to get back in the groove with my old friend, Steve Castlen. The best I can figure, the last time he played drums while I played bass was probably in ’94.
It is not often that I take such a liking to a group, but As Isaac is a band that has really made an impact on me.
Not long ago my daughter told me of some kids that went with her to Precept Ministries. She told me they had a band and were going to have a concert celebrating the release of a their first CD. She asked, “Daddy, can we go?”
Well, the great thing was that they were performing at their home church just a few miles away over Lookout Mountain. We went, not knowing what to expect, but left knowing we had heard some seriously talented, humble tools of the Lord.
The Music
One song, written and sung by Rachel Kelly, brought chills the first time I heard it. The name of the song is Speak Lord. So, as you could imagine, I was totally thrilled to find out that the band had come out with a video.
Let me just tell you something that really impresses me about these guys (and girls)…it’s the lyrics. Beside being wonderful musicians, the words of the songs these young people sing show evidence of a deep walk with Christ. These aren’t kids who write fluff just so they can get on stage and rock the house. These are deep, spiritual young men and women of God who have experienced a real walk with their Creator.
Do me and yourself a favor – watch this video. Then, go check out their website and order their music. You will not be disappointed, believe me.
Whether driving down the road, or sitting around the house, Mr. Monkey is always ready to break out into song.
And Mr. Monkey can play the piano! Who knew? When my daughter, Katie, sat down to the Yamaha grand at my mother’s house, he had to play along (Hear that, Yamaha people? My bass and acoustic are Yamaha, also. Do you sponsor monkeys?).
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. – Psalm 98:4 KJV
Before you get mad at me for what you are about to read, it’s only a comparison, not a dogmatic definition of right or wrong.
In Line
Every Tuesday my wife and girls go to Precept Ministries (Kay Arthur) in Chattanooga for Bible study. On some days I go with them and use the time to study. It’s a nice place to study, believe me. However, I am writing this on a computer at Precept while Kay Arthur is talking to someone a few feet away. She is distracting me.
Then, there are other days when my wife and I leave the girls and sneak out to get a biscuit. Today we had to sit in line forever. For jelly biscuits.
Jelly Biscuit – May I insert just one question at this juncture? Why is it you always have to ask for jelly when you order a jelly biscuit? What is it about “jelly biscuit” that confuses people? If I ordered a plain biscuit, I would not expect jelly. But when I order a jelly biscuit, why don’t they assume I want jelly? Why do I always have to ask for it?! Good Grief!
I Hear a Song
It was while we were sitting in line that I heard a song on Christian radio (J103). The song caught my attention because of the lyrics. May I share with you the words from the chorus?
You make me happy…Uhhh
You make me feel the way I do…
You make me happy, Yeah!
I wish the whole world knew you, too! (and then the song ends with a bunch of “la-la-la’s.”)
I started to laugh. Honestly. Was I supposed to be blessed? Encouraged? Uplifted? Edified? Happy?
I know, I know, I know…I know that there are plenty of great, contemporary songs out there. Chris Tomlin, for one, has more than a few. I love several songs from Building 429, Avalon, and the Newsboys. But seriously, why can’t more of them take the subject matter at hand a little more seriously?
I Hear the Past
Some lines from the past need to be heard more often, especially if the best we can come with today is “uhh” and “yeah.”
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righeousness.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bullwark never failing.
Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?
I will cherish the old rugged cross.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise: be thou mine inheritance now and always; be thou and thou only first in my heart; High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
Dear Christian song writers, you can do better than “uhh’s” and “yeah’s” and “la la la la.”
The Recovering Legalist 