Ode 17

Music Atlanta 2010

I just finished my stint at Music Atlanta for this year. It was great to hear some new music, lead worship with Marty Parks at the opening session, and spend some time getting refreshed spiritually. Most of all, it was truly a blessing to see old friends and make new ones. Scott Revo and Dawn Johnson, along with the Pine Lake Music staff put this event on every year. It has got to be a lot of hard work, but it's worth it. Many thanks to everyone who made it a very special three days.

Really God?

When I heard Hurricane Ida was on its way up to Gulf Shores I had to double check the calendar to see  what date it was. Then the next thing out of my mouth was, "Really, God? Really?" Here we are at the end of the season, enjoying fall colors and cooler weather and we have a category 2 hurricane coming through the Gulf of Mexico. Who would have guessed. The season has been so unpredictably quiet that the storm chasers on TV were acting absolutely giddy with delight that they would finally get to be in a storm, reporting on the tube one last time this season. Just as the official time for hurricanes...

It's So Good to be Home

The best part of pulling up into my driveway Saturday night was seeing my wife and my pup. That makes this one of my favorite postings in a long time. It's just so good to be home. 

My Christmas Recording is Almost Finished

After several months of work, my new Christmas recording, O Holy Night, is about to be completed. We finished the vocal work this evening after a grueling day at the famous  
Quad Studio in Nashville. My engineer, Daewoo Kim is a total professional and genius. I joked that he could even make me sound like Taylor Swift! (Oh, to be young and pretty. Hah!)

After that, I met up with my friend, Phil Barfoot for a nice late dinner, and thanked him for his incredible efforts in helping me get this project completed. Phil is one in a million. I highly recommend working with this guy.

Tomorrow, I'm off to visit my friend Michael Smith here in the area and have a 'catch-up' breakfast with him before heading to Hiwassee College near Madisonville, TN. I just can't wait for Saturday night when I pull in the driveway and park the truck at ...home. Blessings!

What a Great Week!

I am really looking forward to finishing this week. I will have loads of experiences that are behind me. I have spent the past two days writing a paper for a class I will be attending this week up in Madisonville, TN. I am just about to finish it up and go off to the office to get ready to meet with the choir tonight. Tomorrow morning, nice and early, I'll be heading up to Nashville to finish recording my new Christmas album, O Holy Night. I'll be in the studio with Bobby Shin until Friday noon at the latest. Then I'll hop back on the road to drive to Madisonville where I will be in class Friday night and all day Saturday. I'll tell you this, when I get home Saturday night I will be awfully happy to see my lovely wife and the incredible Mr. Bean.

While I'm posting this blog I'll insert one more picture from our California trip last week. (Pictured from left to right is me, Una Schluer, Pastor Floyd Overstreet (hard to believe he's turning 85!), Jerry Schluer behind Floyd, Sally German and her husband Jerry behind her, the lovely Mrs. Parker, Steven Schluer and his two little kids.) It was awesome being with such great friends!

 

Yoo Hoo!

That's what one of my readers said to me, followed by "Where are you?" I know I have been lax of late in getting to my blog. My plate has been a bit overflowing. I'll get back to regular blogging in a while. In the meantime you can look forward to a new blog design that will be coming soon. In it, you will have an easy way to listen to our music, purchase materials, and an ease of navigation. I'm looking forward to it. Meanwhile, I am still here taking care of some pressing issues. Keep checking in. I appreciate it.

This Coming Sunday at Sugarloaf

I hope all of you who attend Sugarloaf enjoyed the wide variety of worship styles we have experienced over the past three weeks. We've gone unplugged, country, and Beatles with our themes. From the outpouring of emails and calls I have received, the people of you have really enjoyed experiencing worship in such unique ways.

This coming Sunday will be yet another great experience as singer, songwriter, David Glenn joins us to lead in his style of contemporary worship. I'm looking forward to having this guy here. His heart is all about leading congregations in a relevant journey of worshiping God. You are going to like this guy.

So, there it is, my reminder that you won't want to miss this Sunday. I sure hope to see you there!

Andy Brophy

You guys just have to take a look at Andy Brophy's site. This young man has an unbelievable talent for shooting the stuff you don't see. It's there but you just don't think to photograph it. I am really proud of him. I could really learn from him, but he's moving ahead with his talent at light speed. There's no way to keep up!
Here is the link to his website. By the way, he's another of the talented staff members at Sugarloaf UMC.
Andy Brophy

A Moment of Thanks

There has never been a time when I was so busy that I actually have seen the Pacific Ocean from Central America and Northern America in one week. With the mission trip to Nicaragua and the quick visit to my dad out in California, welcoming a new pastor, and trying to keep a department running on extremely limited funding ...well, life has been a bit hectic. In the meantime, I neglected to say a word of thanks to Tommy Willingham. My apologies to Ode 17 readers and to Tommy.

Tommy,
It was a tough two and a half years but you weathered it well. Thanks for your service to Sugarloaf UMC in such a hard season. I learned an awful lot of stuff from you and you impacted my life greatly. I'll never forget our time together at SUMC. I will keep praying that God uses you in a great way in this new time of your life. Please know that you are loved as you go about God's work in the North Georgia Conference. Blessings to you as you go!

Memorial Day

This is a day to reflect upon the courage and the loss of those who died in the service of our country. All are encouraged to stop activities at 3 PM today for a moment of silence and reflection.

Yesterday, our team performed, Til the Last Shot's Fired. It was truly a special moment. My music associate, Harrison Hinson, and I put together our version of the song, adding Taps to the front and back of the piece. It made for a great tribute on this Memorial Day weekend.

Remember to remember. So many have given their all, so that we can enjoy these freedoms we take for granted.