After Saturday morning Eucharist
The house is quiet. The taste of the consecrated bread and wine is still in my mouth. I have a large cup of black coffee next to me, ready to be enjoyed, but wait -- I want to enjoy the moment. I have just received Christ in a special, indescribable way, in the Eucharist. And the taste remains in my mouth to remind me, and to enjoy. Enjoy Him. I'm still habited, and haven't yet removed my stole.
The habit is a gentle reminder that I am not only a Franciscan, but I'm also a part of that universal order of monastics John Michael Talbot wrote of in his book "Hermitage" -- all who are drawn to be monastic in some way in their lives, vowed and joined to an order or not. I am reminded this moment that for me it was either be monastic, or dead. Either way, in a way I had to die to this world -- due to my own fault and that of others, the world had lost its charm. Yes, there is something of the world I still enjoy, mainly the Creation and the arts (people are interesting, too -- personalities made in the image of God), seeing God's hand at work, and a returning to those things that really matter -- family one of them, and love for my Shirley.
The stole and the taste in my mouth remind me that I've been ordained and set aside to the sacred order of priests. My hands were anointed and consecrated with oil and set aside for God's use. Not only was evil I had done with them forgiven, washed away and "thrown as far as the east is from the west" (the Psalmist wrote), and not counted against me by God (Paul wrote), but even better -- they are set aside to bring the Body and Blood, to bring comfort and healing. Only God can do that. The world cannot, neither does it want to -- it wants chains on those hands and wrists, and to keep us in bondage. I will have none of that. That is not what God wants for us -- He wants us set free from our chains and free to live anew in His mercy and love, to enjoy Him and serve Him as He wills. I have chosen to live in the true freedom Jesus gives, and what He gives no one can take away.
So I sit and enjoy Him this morning -- Him who loved me and died for me, so that I might live. And I live in that truth and in Him. My prayer is that you do, too.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Quiet morning
We enjoyed eggs and toast together for breakfast, and Shirley has left to go to her second job. This afternoon, we'll head over to Tulsa to lead the student service we do.
The house is quiet. A good cd of Benedictine monks praising our God in chant is on in the Bonny room, and I'm reflecting on what they do. We do Morning and Evening Prayer, and daily Communion, but these monks stop several times a day to praise and pray to our great God. I was reminded of that this morning as I listened to them, and I wondered yet again -- why do they do it?
Mercy. God's mercy. Mercy covers all. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them." I need that, more then anything in the world. Not becaue I'm a notorious sinner, or that I've sinned more then anyone else (I won't waste my time arguing that point -- I know it's true, I live with me). It's just because God loves me and made a way for me to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. And as I said, I need that, more than anything else in the world.
I love and need Shirley. Yes, I know, I've heard and read all the arguments about how when we "need" our spouses we set ourselves up for trouble. I've already HAD trouble -- I was married to an unfaithful spouse the first time around -- so I know what trouble is. Shirley is definitely NOT that -- she's not trouble, she's a wonderful woman. And yes, I need her. Not that I couldn't live single -- I did it after my divorce, and I lived fifteen years of my adult life single before I married the first time. (And please don't waste your time emailing and rebuking me for marrying a second time and then submitting for ordination -- go read Paul again, where he wrote that in the case of desertion, the believing spouse "is not under bondage." Yes, we interpret that to mean that the offended spouse may remarry, and be ordained, if he/she is so called.) But I'm not called to live single or celibate, and so I am married.
Yes, I need Shirley. As Tom said, "You complete me." Yet, as much as I need to be with her, that pales in comparison to how much I need God and His mercy. Without that, I would despair. I've seen and dealt with enough of the world to see the effects of sin on it -- how self comes first, and how it tramples over others to get what it wants. I've seen it from the time I was a kid in the 60's, and it's quite a bit worse now. Yeah, I see it. I have despaired of life without Him, when it seemed He was far away. But He never is, it just feels like it. So I call out to Him, and beg and plead to feel that Presemce again, and to enjoy His Presence again. God, take away my despair, and give me peace.
Shirley can't take away my depression, when I'm dealing with it. She helps me deal wih it by reminding me that she is here and that most of all that He is here. Same with despair -- only He can remove it.
God, without Your mercy, I despair. I need You, more than anything else in the world.
We enjoyed eggs and toast together for breakfast, and Shirley has left to go to her second job. This afternoon, we'll head over to Tulsa to lead the student service we do.
The house is quiet. A good cd of Benedictine monks praising our God in chant is on in the Bonny room, and I'm reflecting on what they do. We do Morning and Evening Prayer, and daily Communion, but these monks stop several times a day to praise and pray to our great God. I was reminded of that this morning as I listened to them, and I wondered yet again -- why do they do it?
Mercy. God's mercy. Mercy covers all. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them." I need that, more then anything in the world. Not becaue I'm a notorious sinner, or that I've sinned more then anyone else (I won't waste my time arguing that point -- I know it's true, I live with me). It's just because God loves me and made a way for me to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. And as I said, I need that, more than anything else in the world.
I love and need Shirley. Yes, I know, I've heard and read all the arguments about how when we "need" our spouses we set ourselves up for trouble. I've already HAD trouble -- I was married to an unfaithful spouse the first time around -- so I know what trouble is. Shirley is definitely NOT that -- she's not trouble, she's a wonderful woman. And yes, I need her. Not that I couldn't live single -- I did it after my divorce, and I lived fifteen years of my adult life single before I married the first time. (And please don't waste your time emailing and rebuking me for marrying a second time and then submitting for ordination -- go read Paul again, where he wrote that in the case of desertion, the believing spouse "is not under bondage." Yes, we interpret that to mean that the offended spouse may remarry, and be ordained, if he/she is so called.) But I'm not called to live single or celibate, and so I am married.
Yes, I need Shirley. As Tom said, "You complete me." Yet, as much as I need to be with her, that pales in comparison to how much I need God and His mercy. Without that, I would despair. I've seen and dealt with enough of the world to see the effects of sin on it -- how self comes first, and how it tramples over others to get what it wants. I've seen it from the time I was a kid in the 60's, and it's quite a bit worse now. Yeah, I see it. I have despaired of life without Him, when it seemed He was far away. But He never is, it just feels like it. So I call out to Him, and beg and plead to feel that Presemce again, and to enjoy His Presence again. God, take away my despair, and give me peace.
Shirley can't take away my depression, when I'm dealing with it. She helps me deal wih it by reminding me that she is here and that most of all that He is here. Same with despair -- only He can remove it.
God, without Your mercy, I despair. I need You, more than anything else in the world.
Monday, August 04, 2008
mercy covers all
It does. God's mercy covers all. I got the new Glory Defined: The Best of Building 429, and the song "You Carry Me" is on there. The phrase "'cause mercy covers all!" from the song is stuck in my head. And that's good, because I need to be reminded.
I guess you did, too, 'cause you're reading this. Don't forget it. No matter what we've done, in Christ we're forgiven and made new. His mercy covers all.
It does. God's mercy covers all. I got the new Glory Defined: The Best of Building 429, and the song "You Carry Me" is on there. The phrase "'cause mercy covers all!" from the song is stuck in my head. And that's good, because I need to be reminded.
I guess you did, too, 'cause you're reading this. Don't forget it. No matter what we've done, in Christ we're forgiven and made new. His mercy covers all.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Friday morning thoughts
I was just thinking this morning abut how incredibly blessed I am. My beautiful wife Shirley is asleep across the hall (it's 5 am) and our bird Abbey Ruth is down the hall. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I have the privilege of serving as a priest and playing drums in Fung-eye and Sanctus (our worship band). And I'm blessed with friends and a lot of other great things. I'm thankful.
Biggest blessing is that I can feel His Presence right now.
I was just thinking this morning abut how incredibly blessed I am. My beautiful wife Shirley is asleep across the hall (it's 5 am) and our bird Abbey Ruth is down the hall. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I have the privilege of serving as a priest and playing drums in Fung-eye and Sanctus (our worship band). And I'm blessed with friends and a lot of other great things. I'm thankful.
Biggest blessing is that I can feel His Presence right now.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Moving Church
Shirley and I, for the first time in the year-and-a-half we've lived here, have re-arranged our living room. You may question that, but I'm honestly kind of reluctant to move furniture. Part of the reason, at least for the living room, is that Chapel of St. Francis parish worships there. So we have to have the furniture arranged in such a way that everyone can face the altar, with its Celtic cross and the icons above it.
So yep, the altar was moved. We drove over to Home Depot last night, and bought a wooden shelf and some hollow wall anchors for the cross. I'm actually amazed at myself -- hanging the shelf and icons was much easier than last time. No frustration, which really is a miracle.
I think it looks pretty good. We're looking forward at our worshipping community's reaction tonight. No, we haven't told them. So it'll be fun. If you're in the OKC area, come worship with us in Eucharist (Communion) tonight at 7. I'm the Celebrant (worship leader), and we welcome you. Come as you are, 5901 NW 62nd St. at MacArthur, brick house nw corner. You'll see the vehicles.
Why did I title this 'moving church'? Because this is only temporary -- our Sunday morning worship will be moved to a more "public" place -- I'm working on that right now. As a matter of fact, I'm headed out the door right now to meet with someone at another church to tour and discuss meeting in their facilities.
God's blessings be yours in abundance.
Shirley and I, for the first time in the year-and-a-half we've lived here, have re-arranged our living room. You may question that, but I'm honestly kind of reluctant to move furniture. Part of the reason, at least for the living room, is that Chapel of St. Francis parish worships there. So we have to have the furniture arranged in such a way that everyone can face the altar, with its Celtic cross and the icons above it.
So yep, the altar was moved. We drove over to Home Depot last night, and bought a wooden shelf and some hollow wall anchors for the cross. I'm actually amazed at myself -- hanging the shelf and icons was much easier than last time. No frustration, which really is a miracle.
I think it looks pretty good. We're looking forward at our worshipping community's reaction tonight. No, we haven't told them. So it'll be fun. If you're in the OKC area, come worship with us in Eucharist (Communion) tonight at 7. I'm the Celebrant (worship leader), and we welcome you. Come as you are, 5901 NW 62nd St. at MacArthur, brick house nw corner. You'll see the vehicles.
Why did I title this 'moving church'? Because this is only temporary -- our Sunday morning worship will be moved to a more "public" place -- I'm working on that right now. As a matter of fact, I'm headed out the door right now to meet with someone at another church to tour and discuss meeting in their facilities.
God's blessings be yours in abundance.
Things to think about if you're a christian
What is a christian? A person who believes in and has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior into his/her life. It does NOT mean a person who doesn't struggle with our faith, or how to live it out in our lives. Remember that our salvation is not dependent on us, but on God -- we are saved by His grace through our faith. So if we've received Jesus into our lives, we have salvation and forgiveness in Him, and a relationship with Him -- and, just like any other relationship, we have to spend time with Him for that relationship to be good.
How are some ways to spend time with Him? Well, if you know me, you know where I'm going for the answer to that question: the Bible and the practices of the early christians.
1) Pray -- talk to God, any time and everywhere (prayers are our own words, Psalms, other written prayers that we like and are comfortable praying). Our houses should be houses of prayer, places where we welcome Jesus in our midst.
2) Read the Bible -- chose a version (a few versions) that is easy for you to read. Either read a small book or a few verses at a time, or even just a verse or two and meditate, think about, what it is saying. The Holy Spirit qill teach you and change you when you do this. (A good study Bible is helpful, and if you'd like recommendations for one, email me.)
3) Church -- the early christians gathered on Sunday morning and different times during the week to worship together. They sang, prayed, had Bible readings and a sermon, and Communion together. So, of course I would find a church that does these things (email if you'd like recommendations). The early christians had Communion often, because Communion draws us closer to Christ and deepens our relationship with Him (yes, the early church taught this). It was common for christians in the early church to gather in homes for prayer and teaching, and a meal and Communion during the week in homes, and then a larger gathering on Saturday night and/or Sunday morning for the same.
What is a christian? A person who believes in and has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior into his/her life. It does NOT mean a person who doesn't struggle with our faith, or how to live it out in our lives. Remember that our salvation is not dependent on us, but on God -- we are saved by His grace through our faith. So if we've received Jesus into our lives, we have salvation and forgiveness in Him, and a relationship with Him -- and, just like any other relationship, we have to spend time with Him for that relationship to be good.
How are some ways to spend time with Him? Well, if you know me, you know where I'm going for the answer to that question: the Bible and the practices of the early christians.
1) Pray -- talk to God, any time and everywhere (prayers are our own words, Psalms, other written prayers that we like and are comfortable praying). Our houses should be houses of prayer, places where we welcome Jesus in our midst.
2) Read the Bible -- chose a version (a few versions) that is easy for you to read. Either read a small book or a few verses at a time, or even just a verse or two and meditate, think about, what it is saying. The Holy Spirit qill teach you and change you when you do this. (A good study Bible is helpful, and if you'd like recommendations for one, email me.)
3) Church -- the early christians gathered on Sunday morning and different times during the week to worship together. They sang, prayed, had Bible readings and a sermon, and Communion together. So, of course I would find a church that does these things (email if you'd like recommendations). The early christians had Communion often, because Communion draws us closer to Christ and deepens our relationship with Him (yes, the early church taught this). It was common for christians in the early church to gather in homes for prayer and teaching, and a meal and Communion during the week in homes, and then a larger gathering on Saturday night and/or Sunday morning for the same.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Chapel of St. Francis
Chapel of St. Fancis (CSF hereafter) is our church. Last Sunday we began a new chaper in the life of this ten year-old parish. I am now the celebrant on Sundays, and we began with some music and liturgy changes this past Sunday. Until we get some more folks for our worship band, a lot of what we're singing will be on cd. My friend Paul from New Jersey is to move here and be a part of our church. He plays guitar, and the plan is for him to be our music director (whatever we decide to call that!) So for now, I'm the pastor, the outreach pastor (I'm developing a strategy to grow our church -- more on that in a bit!), and the music pastor. Whew! So, we all agreed -- the music was great last Sunday. Yeah!! Our worship was enhanced and was wonderful.
Strategy? When Shirley and I married and moved here a year and a half ago, CSF met in the bishop/abbot's home, then moved to ours a few months later. I am now beginning a search to find us a public place to worship -- a storefront, an abandoned church, an earlier (9am?) service in somebody else's sanctuary, or a larger church's chapel. Once we get moved into the new worship space, the fliers will go out on people's doors. We'll take out an add in the paper ($120 a month, which is why we don't have one now!!) Of course, our first strategy is prayer: that God would be glorified, be in our midst, lead, and bring the people HE wants to us.
As I said a moment ago, it's a new chapter in the life of CSF. I, for one, am very excited. We've begun to see the Spirit move, and my plan is to be right in the middle of the movement.
Chapel of St. Fancis (CSF hereafter) is our church. Last Sunday we began a new chaper in the life of this ten year-old parish. I am now the celebrant on Sundays, and we began with some music and liturgy changes this past Sunday. Until we get some more folks for our worship band, a lot of what we're singing will be on cd. My friend Paul from New Jersey is to move here and be a part of our church. He plays guitar, and the plan is for him to be our music director (whatever we decide to call that!) So for now, I'm the pastor, the outreach pastor (I'm developing a strategy to grow our church -- more on that in a bit!), and the music pastor. Whew! So, we all agreed -- the music was great last Sunday. Yeah!! Our worship was enhanced and was wonderful.
Strategy? When Shirley and I married and moved here a year and a half ago, CSF met in the bishop/abbot's home, then moved to ours a few months later. I am now beginning a search to find us a public place to worship -- a storefront, an abandoned church, an earlier (9am?) service in somebody else's sanctuary, or a larger church's chapel. Once we get moved into the new worship space, the fliers will go out on people's doors. We'll take out an add in the paper ($120 a month, which is why we don't have one now!!) Of course, our first strategy is prayer: that God would be glorified, be in our midst, lead, and bring the people HE wants to us.
As I said a moment ago, it's a new chapter in the life of CSF. I, for one, am very excited. We've begun to see the Spirit move, and my plan is to be right in the middle of the movement.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Cool morning
It's been hot and humid lately here in OK City. Nice thing is, it's not always humid the whole Summer, like it is in Houston where we came from -- we get a break sometimes.
A front came through this weekend, and after the rain, the humidity and the temperature dropped. Shirley and I did Evening Prayer Sun evening by the lighthouse at Lake Hefner. And we had a nice walk together, except for the gnats. But the weather was nice.
I walked out the door this morning to go to work, and it felt so much better -- a lot cooler and the humidity was low. It was very refreshing, and a surprise, and nice to begin the day with. Our great God comes to us like that -- with His refreshing peace and Presence, and it changes everything.
It's been hot and humid lately here in OK City. Nice thing is, it's not always humid the whole Summer, like it is in Houston where we came from -- we get a break sometimes.
A front came through this weekend, and after the rain, the humidity and the temperature dropped. Shirley and I did Evening Prayer Sun evening by the lighthouse at Lake Hefner. And we had a nice walk together, except for the gnats. But the weather was nice.
I walked out the door this morning to go to work, and it felt so much better -- a lot cooler and the humidity was low. It was very refreshing, and a surprise, and nice to begin the day with. Our great God comes to us like that -- with His refreshing peace and Presence, and it changes everything.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
So go out and live real good
and I promise you, if you do, you're gonna get beat up real bad. But, a little while after you're dead, you'll be rotted away anyway. It's not gonna matter if you have a few scars...when you wash up on that other shore, even though you've been disfigured beyond any recognition, the angels are gonna see you there and they're gonna go, 'What is THIS? We're not even sure if it's human!' But Jesus will say, 'No...that's human. I know that one.'
-- Rich Mullins, shared at a concert on his last tour
and I promise you, if you do, you're gonna get beat up real bad. But, a little while after you're dead, you'll be rotted away anyway. It's not gonna matter if you have a few scars...when you wash up on that other shore, even though you've been disfigured beyond any recognition, the angels are gonna see you there and they're gonna go, 'What is THIS? We're not even sure if it's human!' But Jesus will say, 'No...that's human. I know that one.'
-- Rich Mullins, shared at a concert on his last tour
Making art
Mike Roe, incredible guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the 77's, the Lost Dogs, and a solo artist, was asked what the role of a christian is in making art. "I would say that the first role would be to do art, and then, to do it as good as you can with as much attention to quality as possible....When that's happening, then the art will reflect who you are, and if you're a christian, it will reflect where you are at that moment, the amount of faith you have, and the journey of your life with Christ, with its ups and downs."
Mike Roe, incredible guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the 77's, the Lost Dogs, and a solo artist, was asked what the role of a christian is in making art. "I would say that the first role would be to do art, and then, to do it as good as you can with as much attention to quality as possible....When that's happening, then the art will reflect who you are, and if you're a christian, it will reflect where you are at that moment, the amount of faith you have, and the journey of your life with Christ, with its ups and downs."
John Michael Talbot’s Little Portion hermitage chapel and common bldg destroyed by fire
From JMT - Written on Tuesday, May 29,2008
Greetings!
Last night the sleep of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, Monastic, was interrupted close to midnight as a raging fire burned our Chapel and Common Center to the ground. Viola and I were the first on the scene as I saw the orange/red glow through our hermitage's back windows. Upon arriving we found there were no hoses capable of stopping the raging flames. I ran up the hill and woke up the community, and we started the almost futile task of spraying down the part of the Common Center that had not yet burned and retrieving anything from inside we could still find.
Although I have seen some house fires, I have never seen anything this big. The flames reached high into the sky. The smoke was very dense, as was the heat. Despite this, our people ventured into the smoky building to retrieve whatever they could reach. Some of us suffered from smoke inhalation. I spent a lot of time trying to get people out of the building before it exploded into flames. We finally surrendered to the inevitability that our Chapel and Common building were going to burn to the ground before the fire company could get to us.
After 30 to 40 minutes the firemen and women began to arrive, followed soon after by the fire trucks and water trucks. Four fire companies responded and did heroic and valiant work at saving the other buildings from being consumed. We are most grateful for our volunteer fire departments!
We lost some most valuable things in the fire. Our community archives were lost and all of the books in our library. The Troubadour stockroom and inventory were lost to the flames. All of the various awards received were melted in the intense heat of the fire. We have some back-ups from computers, but nothing current. It is our hope that most of this is covered by our insurance.
God gave members various words or locutions. I shared that God is stripping us back to what is really essential to our way of life and that we will rebuild with greater efficiency, but in stone. Someone got the image of Gideon, who was repeatedly told by the Lord that he needed fewer men, but men well-prepared for battle. Another said that she got a word that God is with us through this trial. These served to inspire us and to keep our spirits hopeful and filled with faith, hope, and love. I believe we may have lost some buildings, but He will make us stronger for going through this together.
For the immediate future we will pray at our Portiuncula Chapel, which was untouched by the fire (as was most of our Prayer Garden). We will use some vacant hermitages for common meals and community meetings. Another will serve as a temporary office. Many have offered their homes and guest houses to us, but we will get by and keep the praying heart of the Hermitage alive in the months ahead.
Eventually we will have to rebuild. We will rebuild with stone and earth in a way that is environmentally "green." At that point we may ask for donations from our benevolent benefactors. We are humbled and grateful beyond mere words for the outpouring of offers to help with food, housing and other things.
In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder, and Spiritual Father
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage
Would You Like To Help?
We sincerely appreciate any donation you can make to assist in the rebuilding of Little Portion Hermitage Monastery. Your kind donation is tax deductible.
Your continued prayers and generosity are greatly valued. Please know that our community prays for each of you.
Sincerely,
Jim Cosgrove, Operations Manager
John Michael Talbot Ministries
Troubadour for the Lord Music
www.myspace.com/johnmichaeltalbot
www.johnmichaeltalbot.com
From JMT - Written on Tuesday, May 29,2008
Greetings!
Last night the sleep of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, Monastic, was interrupted close to midnight as a raging fire burned our Chapel and Common Center to the ground. Viola and I were the first on the scene as I saw the orange/red glow through our hermitage's back windows. Upon arriving we found there were no hoses capable of stopping the raging flames. I ran up the hill and woke up the community, and we started the almost futile task of spraying down the part of the Common Center that had not yet burned and retrieving anything from inside we could still find.
Although I have seen some house fires, I have never seen anything this big. The flames reached high into the sky. The smoke was very dense, as was the heat. Despite this, our people ventured into the smoky building to retrieve whatever they could reach. Some of us suffered from smoke inhalation. I spent a lot of time trying to get people out of the building before it exploded into flames. We finally surrendered to the inevitability that our Chapel and Common building were going to burn to the ground before the fire company could get to us.
After 30 to 40 minutes the firemen and women began to arrive, followed soon after by the fire trucks and water trucks. Four fire companies responded and did heroic and valiant work at saving the other buildings from being consumed. We are most grateful for our volunteer fire departments!
We lost some most valuable things in the fire. Our community archives were lost and all of the books in our library. The Troubadour stockroom and inventory were lost to the flames. All of the various awards received were melted in the intense heat of the fire. We have some back-ups from computers, but nothing current. It is our hope that most of this is covered by our insurance.
God gave members various words or locutions. I shared that God is stripping us back to what is really essential to our way of life and that we will rebuild with greater efficiency, but in stone. Someone got the image of Gideon, who was repeatedly told by the Lord that he needed fewer men, but men well-prepared for battle. Another said that she got a word that God is with us through this trial. These served to inspire us and to keep our spirits hopeful and filled with faith, hope, and love. I believe we may have lost some buildings, but He will make us stronger for going through this together.
For the immediate future we will pray at our Portiuncula Chapel, which was untouched by the fire (as was most of our Prayer Garden). We will use some vacant hermitages for common meals and community meetings. Another will serve as a temporary office. Many have offered their homes and guest houses to us, but we will get by and keep the praying heart of the Hermitage alive in the months ahead.
Eventually we will have to rebuild. We will rebuild with stone and earth in a way that is environmentally "green." At that point we may ask for donations from our benevolent benefactors. We are humbled and grateful beyond mere words for the outpouring of offers to help with food, housing and other things.
In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder, and Spiritual Father
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage
Would You Like To Help?
We sincerely appreciate any donation you can make to assist in the rebuilding of Little Portion Hermitage Monastery. Your kind donation is tax deductible.
Your continued prayers and generosity are greatly valued. Please know that our community prays for each of you.
Sincerely,
Jim Cosgrove, Operations Manager
John Michael Talbot Ministries
Troubadour for the Lord Music
www.myspace.com/johnmichaeltalbot
www.johnmichaeltalbot.com
Hello all,
Sorry I haven't posted anything here in a while. I've been quite busy, and caught the myspace disease, and things I would have posted here ended up on that blog. So today I'll cut and paste a couple of things over here.
Peace of Christ to you,
Fr. Francis Robert
monk/priest/husband/father/drummer & writer
Sorry I haven't posted anything here in a while. I've been quite busy, and caught the myspace disease, and things I would have posted here ended up on that blog. So today I'll cut and paste a couple of things over here.
Peace of Christ to you,
Fr. Francis Robert
monk/priest/husband/father/drummer & writer
Thursday, March 27, 2008
We don’t find happiness by......
"We do not find happiness by being assertive. We don’t find happiness by running over people because we see what we want and they are in the way of that happiness so we either abandon them or we smash them. The Scriptures don’t teach us to be assertive. The Scriptures teach us—and this is remarkable—the Scriptures teach us to be submissive. This is not a popular idea."
-- Rich Mullins
"We do not find happiness by being assertive. We don’t find happiness by running over people because we see what we want and they are in the way of that happiness so we either abandon them or we smash them. The Scriptures don’t teach us to be assertive. The Scriptures teach us—and this is remarkable—the Scriptures teach us to be submissive. This is not a popular idea."
-- Rich Mullins
We lost our beloved cockatiel Athalia
Sunday morning about 8:45 or so, I was making lunch for everybody to eat after church. Athalia began chirping in a strange way I had never heard from her before. So I came around the corner asking, "Whatcha doing, little one?" and couldn’t see her. When I got to her cage (we call it her room), she was sprawled out on the floor with her wings spread. She looked up at me, I picked her up, and she was lifeless. I freaked! I ran out of the house with her and drove her to the pet ER. Shirley wasn’t far behind me. Dr. Jones there said she had no heartbeat and there was nothing he could do. We think she had a heart attack. Lotta crying in our house yesterday!
Our bishop blessed her little self and sent her on. We know she’s with God, the angels and saints around the throne, and we will see her again.
We visited a person who raises birds yesterday afternoon (not yet intending to buy!), and a little one chose us. She’s a pyrrhura (conure, the parrot family -- and can be taught to talk!), green, with some blue feathers and maroon tailfeathers. We couldn’t resist!
So we welcome little Abbey Ruth to our family (I keep threatening to call her Abbey Road! haha).
Sunday morning about 8:45 or so, I was making lunch for everybody to eat after church. Athalia began chirping in a strange way I had never heard from her before. So I came around the corner asking, "Whatcha doing, little one?" and couldn’t see her. When I got to her cage (we call it her room), she was sprawled out on the floor with her wings spread. She looked up at me, I picked her up, and she was lifeless. I freaked! I ran out of the house with her and drove her to the pet ER. Shirley wasn’t far behind me. Dr. Jones there said she had no heartbeat and there was nothing he could do. We think she had a heart attack. Lotta crying in our house yesterday!
Our bishop blessed her little self and sent her on. We know she’s with God, the angels and saints around the throne, and we will see her again.
We visited a person who raises birds yesterday afternoon (not yet intending to buy!), and a little one chose us. She’s a pyrrhura (conure, the parrot family -- and can be taught to talk!), green, with some blue feathers and maroon tailfeathers. We couldn’t resist!
So we welcome little Abbey Ruth to our family (I keep threatening to call her Abbey Road! haha).
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Larry Norman on divorce
"It takes two people to get married, but it only takes one person to get a divorce."
How true, my brother, how true! And now you can rest from that with our Lord, and from the slander and persecution you endured over the years. Thanks for being true to your calling and to our Lord no matter the assaults.
"It takes two people to get married, but it only takes one person to get a divorce."
How true, my brother, how true! And now you can rest from that with our Lord, and from the slander and persecution you endured over the years. Thanks for being true to your calling and to our Lord no matter the assaults.
Larry Norman has passed
Larry Norman, the "father of christian rock," has passed on to be with the Lord. Larry's concert in Houston in 1979 was the first christian concert I ever saw, and I will never forget it. (ArkAngel, Kemper Crabb's band opened, and we were on the 4th row -- it was quite deafening!). Larry showed me it was OK to be a christian and yet be myself, and rock. He made some great music (rock, folk, and worship) over the years, and challenged us to love God and live for Him.
www.larrynorman.com
I'll keep a Larry song and video up for a few days at www.myspace.com/chapelofstfrancis.
May the angels receive you into Paradise, Larry.
Larry Norman, the "father of christian rock," has passed on to be with the Lord. Larry's concert in Houston in 1979 was the first christian concert I ever saw, and I will never forget it. (ArkAngel, Kemper Crabb's band opened, and we were on the 4th row -- it was quite deafening!). Larry showed me it was OK to be a christian and yet be myself, and rock. He made some great music (rock, folk, and worship) over the years, and challenged us to love God and live for Him.
www.larrynorman.com
I'll keep a Larry song and video up for a few days at www.myspace.com/chapelofstfrancis.
May the angels receive you into Paradise, Larry.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Roy Schieder
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Roy Schieder at 75. According to his wife, Brenda Siemer, he had suffered from multiple myeloma for several years, and died of complications from a staph infection.
Schieder starred in numerous movies, and the one released in '76 is one of my all-time favorites.
May the angels receive you into Paradise, Chief Brody.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Roy Schieder at 75. According to his wife, Brenda Siemer, he had suffered from multiple myeloma for several years, and died of complications from a staph infection.
Schieder starred in numerous movies, and the one released in '76 is one of my all-time favorites.
May the angels receive you into Paradise, Chief Brody.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A short prayer
This is a prayer of Ignatius of Loyala. We don't know if it was actually written by him. It's a meditation on the cross.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Oh good Jesus, hear me.
Within thy wounds hide me.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me,
and bid me come to thee,
that with thy saints I may praise thee,
forever and ever. Amen.
This is a prayer of Ignatius of Loyala. We don't know if it was actually written by him. It's a meditation on the cross.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Oh good Jesus, hear me.
Within thy wounds hide me.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me,
and bid me come to thee,
that with thy saints I may praise thee,
forever and ever. Amen.
Friday, February 08, 2008
I love music
"Circles" by Switchfoot is on. Sounds great. It's Chinese New Year, and since my wife is mostly Chinese and part Japanese, I'm heading over pretty soon to an authentic Chinese restaurant and pick us up some lunch, to celebrate, when she comes home for lunch. (We both work tonight, so that's nixed us going anywhere tonight.)
I was just sitting here, enjoying my coffee, and kind of thinking about/wondering why it is I like music so much. Shirley likes it, too, but not even in the ballpark of how I like it. Now "Awakening" is on. Cool band, I like 'em. Would like to see them. I remember as a kid building a fort in our garage, and bringing out my transistor radio, comic books, and chips and a soda. I remember my fascination with the music on the radio -- KILT in Houston was the station, it was Top 40 -- and one day they played Cream, Helen Reddy, and Zeppelin all back-to-back. And then their cool jingle aired -- "The Big Six Tennnnn....!" And I was blown away. The music and radio fascinated me all at once. Mom had a great record collection -- everything from the Beatles, to the Ventures, some country and pop -- I grew up listening to all kinds of cool stuff.
My taste all these years later is still as varied. I grew up wanting to play drums, but my parents didn't want the noise, even from the garage! So I began playing in my late 20's. I was adopted, and my understanding is that I've got a biological relative who was a concert pianist....! So I'm probably going to learn how to play piano (banged on the keys yesterday, writing a song for Fung-eye). This music thing must be in my genes. (Maybe I also need to find out who this person is.....)
Music has been a joy and a comfort to me my whole life. I love immensely listening to and playing it. I am thrilled to watch other people play live. I love hearing music with energy and that is well-played, in nearly whatever genre.
Thank God for great and wonderful music.
"Circles" by Switchfoot is on. Sounds great. It's Chinese New Year, and since my wife is mostly Chinese and part Japanese, I'm heading over pretty soon to an authentic Chinese restaurant and pick us up some lunch, to celebrate, when she comes home for lunch. (We both work tonight, so that's nixed us going anywhere tonight.)
I was just sitting here, enjoying my coffee, and kind of thinking about/wondering why it is I like music so much. Shirley likes it, too, but not even in the ballpark of how I like it. Now "Awakening" is on. Cool band, I like 'em. Would like to see them. I remember as a kid building a fort in our garage, and bringing out my transistor radio, comic books, and chips and a soda. I remember my fascination with the music on the radio -- KILT in Houston was the station, it was Top 40 -- and one day they played Cream, Helen Reddy, and Zeppelin all back-to-back. And then their cool jingle aired -- "The Big Six Tennnnn....!" And I was blown away. The music and radio fascinated me all at once. Mom had a great record collection -- everything from the Beatles, to the Ventures, some country and pop -- I grew up listening to all kinds of cool stuff.
My taste all these years later is still as varied. I grew up wanting to play drums, but my parents didn't want the noise, even from the garage! So I began playing in my late 20's. I was adopted, and my understanding is that I've got a biological relative who was a concert pianist....! So I'm probably going to learn how to play piano (banged on the keys yesterday, writing a song for Fung-eye). This music thing must be in my genes. (Maybe I also need to find out who this person is.....)
Music has been a joy and a comfort to me my whole life. I love immensely listening to and playing it. I am thrilled to watch other people play live. I love hearing music with energy and that is well-played, in nearly whatever genre.
Thank God for great and wonderful music.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Dealing With Me
OK, I'm letting Lent happen. (Of course, what choice do I have -- it's here !) What I mean is, if you read in my previous post, I always come to Lent with a jumble of emotions, and even as a monk, I've never seemed to completely get my brain around this idea of "soul-searching" and the like. Yes, I enjoy being quiet and still before our Lord, and enjoying Him. And hearing from the Spirit concerning me, and where I am to be led.
But today, it's a bit deeper. Shirley and I are "Shorty-sitting." Shorty is Sr. Clare's miniature dachsund, and he's been an honorary brother in our order since day one (he's even got his own little habit...!). He's more than a mascot, he's our example: he loves unconditionally. Shirley's at work, I go in later, so it's me and Shorty and Athalia hanging this morning. And the folk-rock band "Seeds" is on -- they're form the Jesus People Covenant Church and community in Uptown Chicago, a group I had the privilege of living and ministering with in the early 90's. Great band and great bunch of people who love and serve.
In "Never Be The Same," here's the line --
So surrender your heart
To the maker of the stars
And the mover of the great four winds
And the healer of your soul
Shirley and I know about the four great winds and the surrender -- we're in Oklahoma City! We moved here from Houston in late '06 without jobs waiting, believing it to be God's will. And He has provided. AND blessed.
But I'm restless. Some of it is good and some of it is not. Time to be transparent: since I've been ordained, I've felt the call of the world stronger than I have in years. Yep, it's true. Now, don't misunderstand -- I'm happy and content with all God has given: my wonderful wife Shirley, our home, all His blessings to us, my new service as a priest (yeah, that's cool, still gettin' my feet wet!), and my awesome daughter Cheyenne, even if I rarely get top see her -- maybe I'll finally post on here about that. (Although, as a priest and a christian, I must try to do it in a way that doesn't directly slam anyone -- I'll let my writing with Fung-eye handle the slam, www.myspace.com/fungeye, check out the song "Fly Me Away.")
Music is one of the pulls. Let me be very straightforward here -- a christian is to do what he/she is called to do. Some of us are to make music and art, period, and that making isn't (for some) supposed to be an evangelistic tool. You may disagree with me. That's OK. Take a look at Bach, and then email me, and we'll talk. Some others are supposed to do music as a ministry. I'm probably supposed to do that (more than just playing in the church worship band). It's easier to just write for, and play in Fungeye. We'll finish the cd (full-length, 11 or so songs) and play out in clubs or wherever. Fungeye is not an evangelistic tool, nor is the band a ministry. Yeah, we're all christians. But we write about life, and have fun doing it. My life personally is to help people come to Christ and walk with Him, but the band's purpose is not to do that. It's to make good music. Honestly, that's easier for me. I want to just go and rock. And do ministry in another part of my life.
Doesn't work that way. Our lives are not to be compartmentalized -- one part christian and another part just regular. No, ALL of our life is christian. He is to have everything. But, homnestly, right now, the pull is very hard from the world, the flesh, and the devil, to do a lot of things I should not do -- things I am commanded to NOT do. Don't act shocked. Here's why I wrote this -- because you feel the pull, too. It's human and normal, we just feel it in different ways. Being tempted is not a sin. How we feel is not a sin; it's the dwelling on something that's wrong and the acting on something that's wrong -- now, THAT IS sin.
This Lenten season, join me, as weak human beings, in drawing closer to our great God, Who loves us in spite of ourselves. Remember: He lived on the planet for 33+ years, and felt everything we do, the writer of Hebrews tells us. So He knows how we feel. This minister, your brother in Christ, isn't going to sugar-coat anything about the christian life to make it go down any easier. You'll get the whole truth here. Truth: life is hard (yet joyful), and the world will pull hard. We are weak, but we musn't give in and then have to deal with the consequences of whatever it is (been there, done that, no shirt). The writer of Hebrews also wrote that our Lord won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. So grin and bear it, and draw close to our God in this Lenten season, and enjoy Him. Be strong and at peace in Him.
Email if you need prayer, the sacrament of confession, or to talk, or if I can help you in any way. Peace of Christ be with you.
OK, I'm letting Lent happen. (Of course, what choice do I have -- it's here !) What I mean is, if you read in my previous post, I always come to Lent with a jumble of emotions, and even as a monk, I've never seemed to completely get my brain around this idea of "soul-searching" and the like. Yes, I enjoy being quiet and still before our Lord, and enjoying Him. And hearing from the Spirit concerning me, and where I am to be led.
But today, it's a bit deeper. Shirley and I are "Shorty-sitting." Shorty is Sr. Clare's miniature dachsund, and he's been an honorary brother in our order since day one (he's even got his own little habit...!). He's more than a mascot, he's our example: he loves unconditionally. Shirley's at work, I go in later, so it's me and Shorty and Athalia hanging this morning. And the folk-rock band "Seeds" is on -- they're form the Jesus People Covenant Church and community in Uptown Chicago, a group I had the privilege of living and ministering with in the early 90's. Great band and great bunch of people who love and serve.
In "Never Be The Same," here's the line --
So surrender your heart
To the maker of the stars
And the mover of the great four winds
And the healer of your soul
Shirley and I know about the four great winds and the surrender -- we're in Oklahoma City! We moved here from Houston in late '06 without jobs waiting, believing it to be God's will. And He has provided. AND blessed.
But I'm restless. Some of it is good and some of it is not. Time to be transparent: since I've been ordained, I've felt the call of the world stronger than I have in years. Yep, it's true. Now, don't misunderstand -- I'm happy and content with all God has given: my wonderful wife Shirley, our home, all His blessings to us, my new service as a priest (yeah, that's cool, still gettin' my feet wet!), and my awesome daughter Cheyenne, even if I rarely get top see her -- maybe I'll finally post on here about that. (Although, as a priest and a christian, I must try to do it in a way that doesn't directly slam anyone -- I'll let my writing with Fung-eye handle the slam, www.myspace.com/fungeye, check out the song "Fly Me Away.")
Music is one of the pulls. Let me be very straightforward here -- a christian is to do what he/she is called to do. Some of us are to make music and art, period, and that making isn't (for some) supposed to be an evangelistic tool. You may disagree with me. That's OK. Take a look at Bach, and then email me, and we'll talk. Some others are supposed to do music as a ministry. I'm probably supposed to do that (more than just playing in the church worship band). It's easier to just write for, and play in Fungeye. We'll finish the cd (full-length, 11 or so songs) and play out in clubs or wherever. Fungeye is not an evangelistic tool, nor is the band a ministry. Yeah, we're all christians. But we write about life, and have fun doing it. My life personally is to help people come to Christ and walk with Him, but the band's purpose is not to do that. It's to make good music. Honestly, that's easier for me. I want to just go and rock. And do ministry in another part of my life.
Doesn't work that way. Our lives are not to be compartmentalized -- one part christian and another part just regular. No, ALL of our life is christian. He is to have everything. But, homnestly, right now, the pull is very hard from the world, the flesh, and the devil, to do a lot of things I should not do -- things I am commanded to NOT do. Don't act shocked. Here's why I wrote this -- because you feel the pull, too. It's human and normal, we just feel it in different ways. Being tempted is not a sin. How we feel is not a sin; it's the dwelling on something that's wrong and the acting on something that's wrong -- now, THAT IS sin.
This Lenten season, join me, as weak human beings, in drawing closer to our great God, Who loves us in spite of ourselves. Remember: He lived on the planet for 33+ years, and felt everything we do, the writer of Hebrews tells us. So He knows how we feel. This minister, your brother in Christ, isn't going to sugar-coat anything about the christian life to make it go down any easier. You'll get the whole truth here. Truth: life is hard (yet joyful), and the world will pull hard. We are weak, but we musn't give in and then have to deal with the consequences of whatever it is (been there, done that, no shirt). The writer of Hebrews also wrote that our Lord won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. So grin and bear it, and draw close to our God in this Lenten season, and enjoy Him. Be strong and at peace in Him.
Email if you need prayer, the sacrament of confession, or to talk, or if I can help you in any way. Peace of Christ be with you.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Ash Wednesday thoughts: or, Don't be an ash
As a priest, I feel it is my duty to post an Ash Wednesday devotion here, to help us get going on this Lent thing. Why do I say it that way? Because honestly, I seem to always come to Lent with a jumble of emotions and struggle to get myself in a "Lenten" mode. This year is no different. This is my first year to do Lent as a priest, and I'm used to just showing up at church and the priest doing the service, and doing my prayers at home. Not so, this year.
OK, I've got a good way to start. Shirley and my friends, Todd and Becca (guitarist and vocalist for "Stage Dive," the band I played drums with in Houston), were adopted by a cat a few years ago, on Ash Wednesday, so they named him "Ash." Nah, that won't work. OK, maybe I should get a little more personal. St. Francis, whose name I took at my monastic vows (for many reasons), called his body "Brother Ass." There, that's personal -- because that's me. He called himself that because he had a hard time doing what God asked him to do. And so do I, sometimes very much so. Paul wrote that he did the things he didn't want to do, and had a hard time doing the things he should do. We all do. We fool ourselves into thinking that if we are humanly fulfilled -- married to the right person (and when things are going well in our marriage), blessed financially (our bills are paid, even if just barely!), are able to do what we're called to do, and have other stuff in our lives that are enjoyable -- when things are going right, so to speak, that we'll be OK, there won't be any struggles in life.
Sorry (I say this to myself), life doesn't work that way. We will always struggle with -- self. We are selfish. It's never enough. It's our nature to always want more, to not be content with all that God has given us. It's easy to look at other people and envy them, and think, "Man, if I could only make what they make, and have that car and that house......" Well, we get the point. Spock once told Kirk that the wanting is often better than the having. And he was right.
A brother of Francis' found him outside one cold winter's night, building snowmen. And talking to himself -- calling them his wife and children. I'm glad our monastic order is modeled after the ancient Celts -- we can marry. But he couldn't. So he built those snowmen and called them wife and children, and reminded himself that with that privilege (as with anything else God gives us) comes the responsibility of taking care of it.
God has given us what we need, and what He knows we can take care of. He gives us all we need, the Bible teaches us. One night, Francis was found rolling in the snow naked, and once into a thorn bush. Why? To deal with himself, so he could continue to do what God had asked him to do. Thankfully, God doesn't call us to literally roll in snow or thorns. But He calls us to do that in our own way. This Lent, we have the privilege to draw close to Him, and tell Him what's on our mind and heart: that we want more than what we're already blessed with, that we sometimes aren't thankful enough -- and that we don't want to be that way. It's our human nature. To ask Him for help. To have my roll in the snow with God.
So today, whether your church does ashes on the forehead or not (ours does -- come get 'em tonight if you want), today it's OK to be an "ash" -- to be humble before God and enjoy Him.
Now, it's time to go sit behind my drum kit and pull another muscle -- I pulled one at work yesterday moving crates, I pulled one last night behind my kit (when I got quite animated!), and now it's time to go do it again! I have a goal to reach. And, as with all goals, especially spiritual ones, we have to expend a lot of effort. The peace of Christ to you.
As a priest, I feel it is my duty to post an Ash Wednesday devotion here, to help us get going on this Lent thing. Why do I say it that way? Because honestly, I seem to always come to Lent with a jumble of emotions and struggle to get myself in a "Lenten" mode. This year is no different. This is my first year to do Lent as a priest, and I'm used to just showing up at church and the priest doing the service, and doing my prayers at home. Not so, this year.
OK, I've got a good way to start. Shirley and my friends, Todd and Becca (guitarist and vocalist for "Stage Dive," the band I played drums with in Houston), were adopted by a cat a few years ago, on Ash Wednesday, so they named him "Ash." Nah, that won't work. OK, maybe I should get a little more personal. St. Francis, whose name I took at my monastic vows (for many reasons), called his body "Brother Ass." There, that's personal -- because that's me. He called himself that because he had a hard time doing what God asked him to do. And so do I, sometimes very much so. Paul wrote that he did the things he didn't want to do, and had a hard time doing the things he should do. We all do. We fool ourselves into thinking that if we are humanly fulfilled -- married to the right person (and when things are going well in our marriage), blessed financially (our bills are paid, even if just barely!), are able to do what we're called to do, and have other stuff in our lives that are enjoyable -- when things are going right, so to speak, that we'll be OK, there won't be any struggles in life.
Sorry (I say this to myself), life doesn't work that way. We will always struggle with -- self. We are selfish. It's never enough. It's our nature to always want more, to not be content with all that God has given us. It's easy to look at other people and envy them, and think, "Man, if I could only make what they make, and have that car and that house......" Well, we get the point. Spock once told Kirk that the wanting is often better than the having. And he was right.
A brother of Francis' found him outside one cold winter's night, building snowmen. And talking to himself -- calling them his wife and children. I'm glad our monastic order is modeled after the ancient Celts -- we can marry. But he couldn't. So he built those snowmen and called them wife and children, and reminded himself that with that privilege (as with anything else God gives us) comes the responsibility of taking care of it.
God has given us what we need, and what He knows we can take care of. He gives us all we need, the Bible teaches us. One night, Francis was found rolling in the snow naked, and once into a thorn bush. Why? To deal with himself, so he could continue to do what God had asked him to do. Thankfully, God doesn't call us to literally roll in snow or thorns. But He calls us to do that in our own way. This Lent, we have the privilege to draw close to Him, and tell Him what's on our mind and heart: that we want more than what we're already blessed with, that we sometimes aren't thankful enough -- and that we don't want to be that way. It's our human nature. To ask Him for help. To have my roll in the snow with God.
So today, whether your church does ashes on the forehead or not (ours does -- come get 'em tonight if you want), today it's OK to be an "ash" -- to be humble before God and enjoy Him.
Now, it's time to go sit behind my drum kit and pull another muscle -- I pulled one at work yesterday moving crates, I pulled one last night behind my kit (when I got quite animated!), and now it's time to go do it again! I have a goal to reach. And, as with all goals, especially spiritual ones, we have to expend a lot of effort. The peace of Christ to you.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Austin Wayne Dyson has Arrived!!!!
Kim and Austin are doing fine. Austin came into the world Saturday afternoon January 26th at 2:14pm weighing 8 lbs 5.1 oz 20 1/2 inches.
It was a great adventure as we almost didn't make it to the hospital. Kim says she never really had labor pains, just heavy pressure. Heavy pressure was 15 minutes apart for about 45 minutes, then it went quick to 3 minutes apart for about 10 minutes. We broke all traffic laws when they went to 2 minutes apart and she said "I need to PUSHHH!!!!" I said NOOOO!!! screaming "NOT YET!" We were in the middle of a major intersection not moving as heavy cross traffic wouldn't let us through. I guess they wanted to see a birth right there in the intersection. Well we got to the hospital and still chaos, no wheelchairs as I ran around with my head cut off screaming for help. I found a wheelchair as the nice lady said "do I need to call a nurse?" I'm sure I had a stupid look on my face when I said "call everyone we're having a baby in the parking lot!!" I ran back to the car to see Kim's face and it said we're about to give birth Right NOW in the car! Once I got her seated in the wheelchair I ran with her through the halls to the third floor with all personnel in harmony running to the room where we would deliver. We barely got Kim into the delivery bed when Austin came. Wow... I couldn't believe my eyes.
The first 48 hours have been real rough for this 42 year old. My body says 8 hours sleep, not 1, maybe 2, or 3. This will take some getting used too. Hope to be back on the air soon. Kim and I need much rest. We are so grateful to all who have been praying for us. It was real neat to witness one of our Lords amazing miracles take place with my very own eyes.
one new proud daddy!!!!
Otis Dyson
Kim and Austin are doing fine. Austin came into the world Saturday afternoon January 26th at 2:14pm weighing 8 lbs 5.1 oz 20 1/2 inches.
It was a great adventure as we almost didn't make it to the hospital. Kim says she never really had labor pains, just heavy pressure. Heavy pressure was 15 minutes apart for about 45 minutes, then it went quick to 3 minutes apart for about 10 minutes. We broke all traffic laws when they went to 2 minutes apart and she said "I need to PUSHHH!!!!" I said NOOOO!!! screaming "NOT YET!" We were in the middle of a major intersection not moving as heavy cross traffic wouldn't let us through. I guess they wanted to see a birth right there in the intersection. Well we got to the hospital and still chaos, no wheelchairs as I ran around with my head cut off screaming for help. I found a wheelchair as the nice lady said "do I need to call a nurse?" I'm sure I had a stupid look on my face when I said "call everyone we're having a baby in the parking lot!!" I ran back to the car to see Kim's face and it said we're about to give birth Right NOW in the car! Once I got her seated in the wheelchair I ran with her through the halls to the third floor with all personnel in harmony running to the room where we would deliver. We barely got Kim into the delivery bed when Austin came. Wow... I couldn't believe my eyes.
The first 48 hours have been real rough for this 42 year old. My body says 8 hours sleep, not 1, maybe 2, or 3. This will take some getting used too. Hope to be back on the air soon. Kim and I need much rest. We are so grateful to all who have been praying for us. It was real neat to witness one of our Lords amazing miracles take place with my very own eyes.
one new proud daddy!!!!
Otis Dyson
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Be
It's Tuesday morning, and I'm dealing with me. We all do it -- we fall short, either in attitude, thought or action. And we go to our Lord and receive forgiveness. And that's an awesome thing. Yet we are beset by sin, and by ourselves -- our propensity to sin, and things we are trying to overcome.
The good thing is that our God calls us to be. Just be. Be in relation to Him. Be as close to Him as we can. And to do our best. He is a good God, and He walked here -- He knows how we feel. That helps. But He calls us to be -- so, even when we blow it (and it will happen) -- we can rest in Him, receive His forgiveness, and get up and go on again. Sometimes it takes us a while to enjoy that forgiveness. And that's OK, too.
But in Him, we can rest -- just be -- in Him.
It's Tuesday morning, and I'm dealing with me. We all do it -- we fall short, either in attitude, thought or action. And we go to our Lord and receive forgiveness. And that's an awesome thing. Yet we are beset by sin, and by ourselves -- our propensity to sin, and things we are trying to overcome.
The good thing is that our God calls us to be. Just be. Be in relation to Him. Be as close to Him as we can. And to do our best. He is a good God, and He walked here -- He knows how we feel. That helps. But He calls us to be -- so, even when we blow it (and it will happen) -- we can rest in Him, receive His forgiveness, and get up and go on again. Sometimes it takes us a while to enjoy that forgiveness. And that's OK, too.
But in Him, we can rest -- just be -- in Him.
Monday, January 28, 2008
God's Mercy
I am thankful God's mercy to me isn't dependent on my faithfulness. It's Monday, and it IS a Monday today. It's human to get restless, and to find that in any moment in any given day, in your heart and mind, you're not where you want to be. I don't mean physically, although that may factor into it. What I mean is, we at times find that we are not behaving or thinking in line with who we are in Christ. Thank God that His mercy isn't dependent on me or you.
Blessings,
Fr. Francis
I am thankful God's mercy to me isn't dependent on my faithfulness. It's Monday, and it IS a Monday today. It's human to get restless, and to find that in any moment in any given day, in your heart and mind, you're not where you want to be. I don't mean physically, although that may factor into it. What I mean is, we at times find that we are not behaving or thinking in line with who we are in Christ. Thank God that His mercy isn't dependent on me or you.
Blessings,
Fr. Francis
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Austin Wayne Dyson Comes Into the World
Austin Wayne Dyson came into the world Saturday, January 26, 2008, in Houston Texas, at 2:14 pm. The proud parents are Shirley's and my friends Otis and Kim Dyson. He was 8 lbs., 5 oz., and 20 1/2 inches. When Otis and I were on the phone, he demonstrated his good set of lungs!!
Of course, Otis will have him on the radio with him ASAP (Cheyenne has been on numerous times with me!). Father, we ask for Your hand to be on Your child Austin. Bless Him as he comes into the world. Protect Him from all evil. We pray He would grow up knowing You, and serve You with all his might. Let Him be a joy to his parents and let them be a joy to him. Fill him with your Spirit and give him the joy of knowing and serving You. We ask for Your blessing on Austin now in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.+ Amen.
Austin Wayne Dyson came into the world Saturday, January 26, 2008, in Houston Texas, at 2:14 pm. The proud parents are Shirley's and my friends Otis and Kim Dyson. He was 8 lbs., 5 oz., and 20 1/2 inches. When Otis and I were on the phone, he demonstrated his good set of lungs!!
Of course, Otis will have him on the radio with him ASAP (Cheyenne has been on numerous times with me!). Father, we ask for Your hand to be on Your child Austin. Bless Him as he comes into the world. Protect Him from all evil. We pray He would grow up knowing You, and serve You with all his might. Let Him be a joy to his parents and let them be a joy to him. Fill him with your Spirit and give him the joy of knowing and serving You. We ask for Your blessing on Austin now in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.+ Amen.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saturday Morning
Athalia and I are enjoying a little Daddy/daughter time this morning. (Athalia is our cockatiel. Maybe I should say we're her humans.) Shirley is at work and I go in later. The house is quiet and peaceful, and we're enjoying the morning together. I'm enjoying some good black coffee. And looking forward to worship tomorrow.
Have a great weekend!
Fr Francis
Athalia and I are enjoying a little Daddy/daughter time this morning. (Athalia is our cockatiel. Maybe I should say we're her humans.) Shirley is at work and I go in later. The house is quiet and peaceful, and we're enjoying the morning together. I'm enjoying some good black coffee. And looking forward to worship tomorrow.
Have a great weekend!
Fr Francis
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thursday Morning
We have Morning Prayer and Eucharist here at Mercy House every weekday morning. We use the St. Augustine Prayer Book (as does the rest of our Order, the Order of St. John the Beloved (Franciscan)) with a prayer of St. Francis, and our Eucharist liturgy a mix of a couple of different Anglican liturgies and the Roman Rite. We light candles on the altar (in addition to the sanctuary lamp already burning there -- this is the altar where the Reserved Sacrament is kept), burn incense and have a Chant cd on low most mornings, and of course, enjoy good coffee.
One day last week that it was especially cold outside, and due to the fact that the Bonny is heated by a space heater, it was cold in the room -- but I'm guessing another 10 degrees warmer at the altar after we've received (hmmm, wonder why -- maybe the Presence of the Lord? :)). (The "Bonny" Room is the Oratory of St. Bonaventure, our combination chapel/library/music room.) Today, Clare and Shirley have left to go to work (I go later), and I'm walking back into the house proper, when I notice that the incense has wafted its way into the rest of the house. Mmmmm. Love the smell. It always reminds me that out brothers and sisters the saints are already there praying for us, that He is receiving their and our prayers, and of His Presence and peace with us. Alleluia.
Fr. Francis
We have Morning Prayer and Eucharist here at Mercy House every weekday morning. We use the St. Augustine Prayer Book (as does the rest of our Order, the Order of St. John the Beloved (Franciscan)) with a prayer of St. Francis, and our Eucharist liturgy a mix of a couple of different Anglican liturgies and the Roman Rite. We light candles on the altar (in addition to the sanctuary lamp already burning there -- this is the altar where the Reserved Sacrament is kept), burn incense and have a Chant cd on low most mornings, and of course, enjoy good coffee.
One day last week that it was especially cold outside, and due to the fact that the Bonny is heated by a space heater, it was cold in the room -- but I'm guessing another 10 degrees warmer at the altar after we've received (hmmm, wonder why -- maybe the Presence of the Lord? :)). (The "Bonny" Room is the Oratory of St. Bonaventure, our combination chapel/library/music room.) Today, Clare and Shirley have left to go to work (I go later), and I'm walking back into the house proper, when I notice that the incense has wafted its way into the rest of the house. Mmmmm. Love the smell. It always reminds me that out brothers and sisters the saints are already there praying for us, that He is receiving their and our prayers, and of His Presence and peace with us. Alleluia.
Fr. Francis
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Trying to See the Miracles
I came across this great interview the Phantom Tollbooth did with Mike Roe. He's the frontman, guitarist and vocalist of the 77's, and other great projects like the Lost Dogs. (Go to www.myspace.com/okcdrummerman or www.myspace.com/fungeye, and in the friends section click on "77's", and check out their music.) Mike tells it like it is.
Roe: Now I’m staring down a whole other part of my life I never could relate to except from parents and grandparents and I always looked at this part of your life as boring, and staid and stoic and consumed with money making and bill paying and aches and pains and, presto! That’s what it is! Sure enough. But I’m doing it my way. I’m not doing it the way my parents did it. I’m in pain, and I’m paying bills in my own style.
Tollbooth: So you’re hanging on to some of that identity you forged in your youth.
Roe: Well, they say in your forties you exchange all your emotional problems for physical ones. That’s a half truth. You retain your emotional problems, and add physical ones.
Tollbooth: Oh, lovely.
Roe: That’s if you haven’t lived right, if you haven’t done your homework. I don’t know, everyone goes through their own thing in their own time. Everyone has their own challenges and if you don’t screw up, someone else will, or some other thing will come along that will present you with a problem. Or several.
The Kingdom of God
What I’m trying to do, as much as possible, is focus on the positive, wonderful things about my life more, rather than when I was a lot younger, I took for granted those things. Because you feel like you are going to live forever, and you just assume the world owes you happiness and living. Now I don’t take anything for granted. Or I try not to. I still do, but I’m more conscious of being grateful rather than expecting that life is just going to go my way. I try to see the miracles in what I have.
It’s like, why doesn’t God heal anymore? Well, God just healed you of this, that and the other, it’s just that you take for granted the fact your body heals itself ninety-five percent of the time. It’s more like that. I’m living miracles every day., but that’s where you have eyes to see it and ears to hear it. I think that is the essence of part of what Christ’s teaching about the kingdom of God was about. That it’s within you, it’s around you, but you have to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He spent a good deal of his time telling stories in ways that would get people’s eyes and ears open to see what it was they could already be in possession of it they would just see it and then receive it.
Tollbooth: Yes, and that was God’s only son telling them those things.
Roe: Yes. So I have to believe that’s kind of a good paradigm for life, especially this part of my life where every day is a privilege.
Tollbooth: And you are very involved with your daughter, despite your divorce. Is that part of that paradigm?
Roe: That is absolutely. That is the paradigm. My daughter is just everything to me. I see the world through her eyes now rather than my own That’s made a big difference.
Yeah, the interview is copyright, so don't sue me. I liked a lot of things the Mike said here. One is learning how to be who you are, wherever you are in life. "I’m doing it my way. I’m not doing it the way my parents did it. I’m in pain, and I’m paying bills in my own style."
And that when you hit your forties, "Well, they say in your forties you exchange all your emotional problems for physical ones. That’s a half truth. You retain your emotional problems, and add physical ones." People will "screw up" -- "if you don’t screw up, someone else will, or some other thing will come along that will present you with a problem. Or several." Yet, the way is "being grateful rather than expecting that life is just going to go my way. I try to see the miracles in what I have. You have to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He [Jesus] spent a good deal of his time telling stories in ways that would get people’s eyes and ears open to see what it was they could already be in possession of it they would just see it and then receive it....I have to believe that’s kind of a good paradigm for life, especially this part of my life where every day is a privilege."
Good thoughts for today and every day.
Fr. Francis
I came across this great interview the Phantom Tollbooth did with Mike Roe. He's the frontman, guitarist and vocalist of the 77's, and other great projects like the Lost Dogs. (Go to www.myspace.com/okcdrummerman or www.myspace.com/fungeye, and in the friends section click on "77's", and check out their music.) Mike tells it like it is.
Roe: Now I’m staring down a whole other part of my life I never could relate to except from parents and grandparents and I always looked at this part of your life as boring, and staid and stoic and consumed with money making and bill paying and aches and pains and, presto! That’s what it is! Sure enough. But I’m doing it my way. I’m not doing it the way my parents did it. I’m in pain, and I’m paying bills in my own style.
Tollbooth: So you’re hanging on to some of that identity you forged in your youth.
Roe: Well, they say in your forties you exchange all your emotional problems for physical ones. That’s a half truth. You retain your emotional problems, and add physical ones.
Tollbooth: Oh, lovely.
Roe: That’s if you haven’t lived right, if you haven’t done your homework. I don’t know, everyone goes through their own thing in their own time. Everyone has their own challenges and if you don’t screw up, someone else will, or some other thing will come along that will present you with a problem. Or several.
The Kingdom of God
What I’m trying to do, as much as possible, is focus on the positive, wonderful things about my life more, rather than when I was a lot younger, I took for granted those things. Because you feel like you are going to live forever, and you just assume the world owes you happiness and living. Now I don’t take anything for granted. Or I try not to. I still do, but I’m more conscious of being grateful rather than expecting that life is just going to go my way. I try to see the miracles in what I have.
It’s like, why doesn’t God heal anymore? Well, God just healed you of this, that and the other, it’s just that you take for granted the fact your body heals itself ninety-five percent of the time. It’s more like that. I’m living miracles every day., but that’s where you have eyes to see it and ears to hear it. I think that is the essence of part of what Christ’s teaching about the kingdom of God was about. That it’s within you, it’s around you, but you have to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He spent a good deal of his time telling stories in ways that would get people’s eyes and ears open to see what it was they could already be in possession of it they would just see it and then receive it.
Tollbooth: Yes, and that was God’s only son telling them those things.
Roe: Yes. So I have to believe that’s kind of a good paradigm for life, especially this part of my life where every day is a privilege.
Tollbooth: And you are very involved with your daughter, despite your divorce. Is that part of that paradigm?
Roe: That is absolutely. That is the paradigm. My daughter is just everything to me. I see the world through her eyes now rather than my own That’s made a big difference.
Yeah, the interview is copyright, so don't sue me. I liked a lot of things the Mike said here. One is learning how to be who you are, wherever you are in life. "I’m doing it my way. I’m not doing it the way my parents did it. I’m in pain, and I’m paying bills in my own style."
And that when you hit your forties, "Well, they say in your forties you exchange all your emotional problems for physical ones. That’s a half truth. You retain your emotional problems, and add physical ones." People will "screw up" -- "if you don’t screw up, someone else will, or some other thing will come along that will present you with a problem. Or several." Yet, the way is "being grateful rather than expecting that life is just going to go my way. I try to see the miracles in what I have. You have to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He [Jesus] spent a good deal of his time telling stories in ways that would get people’s eyes and ears open to see what it was they could already be in possession of it they would just see it and then receive it....I have to believe that’s kind of a good paradigm for life, especially this part of my life where every day is a privilege."
Good thoughts for today and every day.
Fr. Francis
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thoughts at 45: I am me, not who you wish I was
After all the fun posts, time for some seriousness. Some of you may think, "He's having a midlife crisis." No, far from it! First of all, I'm not at midlife! It's not here yet! And if it is, it's midlife happiness!
One great thing I've benefited from reading Thomas Merton (Trappist monk) is a freedom to be me. No front, no trying to be a certain way because it's what everyone else wants -- no, I have the absolute freedom and joy in Christ to be ME. A redeemed me, thank God, but me with no pretense. Lionel Richie sang it well:
Why in the world would anybody put chains on me,
I've paid my dues to make it,
Everybody wants me to be what they want me to be,
I'm not happy when I try to fake it, no
I've never been happy trying to be someone that someone else wants me to be. God made me who I am. And at 45, I'm very comfortable with that (except my tendency to sin....!).
My friends, whether you feel comfortable calling yourself a Christian, or not -- yourself is the best. God does not make mistakes. There will always be people in the world who have THEIR idea of who you should be -- what you should think, how you should feel, what you should do, who you should be. My whole life, people have tried (with good intentions, I'll give 'em that) to define me, and mold me into their image of me. I'm sorry, and I really shouldn't apologize -- but the best me is the person God made me to be, serving Him and other people the best that I can, doing the things He's called me to do, and being the person He made.
We aren't the same people. God made us different. But, we're both precious in His eyes. He created you and me very unique and special. I like the me He made (except, as I said before, without the tendency to sin -- but God didn't put that in me).
As Merton would say, be yourself. And be yourself for God and you. When you do that, then you can be yourself for other people. But be you. And be happy.
Blessings,
Fr. Francis
After all the fun posts, time for some seriousness. Some of you may think, "He's having a midlife crisis." No, far from it! First of all, I'm not at midlife! It's not here yet! And if it is, it's midlife happiness!
One great thing I've benefited from reading Thomas Merton (Trappist monk) is a freedom to be me. No front, no trying to be a certain way because it's what everyone else wants -- no, I have the absolute freedom and joy in Christ to be ME. A redeemed me, thank God, but me with no pretense. Lionel Richie sang it well:
Why in the world would anybody put chains on me,
I've paid my dues to make it,
Everybody wants me to be what they want me to be,
I'm not happy when I try to fake it, no
I've never been happy trying to be someone that someone else wants me to be. God made me who I am. And at 45, I'm very comfortable with that (except my tendency to sin....!).
My friends, whether you feel comfortable calling yourself a Christian, or not -- yourself is the best. God does not make mistakes. There will always be people in the world who have THEIR idea of who you should be -- what you should think, how you should feel, what you should do, who you should be. My whole life, people have tried (with good intentions, I'll give 'em that) to define me, and mold me into their image of me. I'm sorry, and I really shouldn't apologize -- but the best me is the person God made me to be, serving Him and other people the best that I can, doing the things He's called me to do, and being the person He made.
We aren't the same people. God made us different. But, we're both precious in His eyes. He created you and me very unique and special. I like the me He made (except, as I said before, without the tendency to sin -- but God didn't put that in me).
As Merton would say, be yourself. And be yourself for God and you. When you do that, then you can be yourself for other people. But be you. And be happy.
Blessings,
Fr. Francis
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Story #7: Sick on the Overnight Shift!
I worked at a country station in a small city north of Houston, and began there on the midnight shift (12-6). Thankfully I eventually got moved up to 7-midnight. The 3-7 guy used to say to me every night when he gave me the board at 7: "It's all urine, pee-pee!"
One night on the midnight shift, I had a virus. I was pretty poor in those days, and the company that owned the station didn't give us sick days -- so I came in to work. I'd start a song, run down the hall as fast as I could, use the restroom, wash my hands, and RUN as fast as I could back to the studio! (this was before everybody started using automation) I'd get back in there just as the song was fading out, and barely got another one started before the last one played all the way outI When I ran back and opened the mike, I tried to talk, but many times that night I was all out of breath from running.
After 3 hours of this, I gave up -- I broke format. At a couple of minutes before 3am, I opened the mike, told my audience I was sick and had been running up and down the hall to the restroom all night, and that I was about to throw on the new Brooks and Dunn cd: and let it play all the way through!
That helped a lot! Thankfully, my boss was very understanding, and told me if I was ever that sick again to let him know, they'd have a fill-in for me, and I'd still get paid. "Great, I thought -- wish I'd known that yesterday.....!" He was a great boss, too -- but he wasn't as understanding when he was up at 3 am another night to change his kid's diaper and heard me playing Lynard Skynard's "Free Bird" on the air. :)
Fr. Francis
I worked at a country station in a small city north of Houston, and began there on the midnight shift (12-6). Thankfully I eventually got moved up to 7-midnight. The 3-7 guy used to say to me every night when he gave me the board at 7: "It's all urine, pee-pee!"
One night on the midnight shift, I had a virus. I was pretty poor in those days, and the company that owned the station didn't give us sick days -- so I came in to work. I'd start a song, run down the hall as fast as I could, use the restroom, wash my hands, and RUN as fast as I could back to the studio! (this was before everybody started using automation) I'd get back in there just as the song was fading out, and barely got another one started before the last one played all the way outI When I ran back and opened the mike, I tried to talk, but many times that night I was all out of breath from running.
After 3 hours of this, I gave up -- I broke format. At a couple of minutes before 3am, I opened the mike, told my audience I was sick and had been running up and down the hall to the restroom all night, and that I was about to throw on the new Brooks and Dunn cd: and let it play all the way through!
That helped a lot! Thankfully, my boss was very understanding, and told me if I was ever that sick again to let him know, they'd have a fill-in for me, and I'd still get paid. "Great, I thought -- wish I'd known that yesterday.....!" He was a great boss, too -- but he wasn't as understanding when he was up at 3 am another night to change his kid's diaper and heard me playing Lynard Skynard's "Free Bird" on the air. :)
Fr. Francis
Story #6: Carts in the Air
A lot of radio stations now are automated at least part of the day -- that is, everything is played from a computer. (Nice technology, but it's cost us a lot of jobs in the industry.) Some still play cd's live. Back in the day, though, we used carts and vinyl.
What's a cart? It's short for cartridge, and it's an 8-track shaped thing, with 3 tracks--the song is on 2 tracks, and an inaudible tone is on the other track, so it'll cue back to the beginning of the song when it's done playing. (It was never fun when someone played the cart, stopped it before the song had cued, and put it back in the rack -- when the next person tried to play it on the air, the song didn't play! We had dead air, which is silence on the air, something you should never have in radio.)
I was hired to do mornings at an AM Christian station. A guy was hired after me, and he wanted my air shift, but I was already hired, and the boss liked me on the air. So they hired him to do PR work. He grew angry with me, and one day when the boss was out of town, he came across the hall to express his anger.
I asked him to leave the studio, that I was working, but he didn't leave, and he got louder. He was telling me how much better he was on-air than I was (I questioned that!), and that he should have that air shift. I told him to leave, that I was working, and he started throwing carts at me! He threw 3, and the fourth hit me in the head! Then he ran out of the room.
I put on a 6-minute worship song, walked across the hall (he had already way crossed the line and left me no choice) -- I literally got in his face, and yelled in a very menacing way that if he ever did anything like that again, I'd "stomp" him all over the studio. I stood there staring at him, and I had caught him off guard, and he didn't answer me -- until I walked toward the door. Then he said, "Some Christian you are -- come in here threatening people." I answered, "No, some Christian you are -- God gave you a good job here and you want to be all jealous and bitter, and throw stuff at me while I'm trying to work. Grow up, man," I retorted, and went back to the studio.
No, I'm not proud of that, and I wouldn't have threatened him like that if it was today--not with anything physical, but probably with a meeting with the boss.
Even Christian radio can be like any other radio station in the world -- sometimes worse.
Fr. Francis
A lot of radio stations now are automated at least part of the day -- that is, everything is played from a computer. (Nice technology, but it's cost us a lot of jobs in the industry.) Some still play cd's live. Back in the day, though, we used carts and vinyl.
What's a cart? It's short for cartridge, and it's an 8-track shaped thing, with 3 tracks--the song is on 2 tracks, and an inaudible tone is on the other track, so it'll cue back to the beginning of the song when it's done playing. (It was never fun when someone played the cart, stopped it before the song had cued, and put it back in the rack -- when the next person tried to play it on the air, the song didn't play! We had dead air, which is silence on the air, something you should never have in radio.)
I was hired to do mornings at an AM Christian station. A guy was hired after me, and he wanted my air shift, but I was already hired, and the boss liked me on the air. So they hired him to do PR work. He grew angry with me, and one day when the boss was out of town, he came across the hall to express his anger.
I asked him to leave the studio, that I was working, but he didn't leave, and he got louder. He was telling me how much better he was on-air than I was (I questioned that!), and that he should have that air shift. I told him to leave, that I was working, and he started throwing carts at me! He threw 3, and the fourth hit me in the head! Then he ran out of the room.
I put on a 6-minute worship song, walked across the hall (he had already way crossed the line and left me no choice) -- I literally got in his face, and yelled in a very menacing way that if he ever did anything like that again, I'd "stomp" him all over the studio. I stood there staring at him, and I had caught him off guard, and he didn't answer me -- until I walked toward the door. Then he said, "Some Christian you are -- come in here threatening people." I answered, "No, some Christian you are -- God gave you a good job here and you want to be all jealous and bitter, and throw stuff at me while I'm trying to work. Grow up, man," I retorted, and went back to the studio.
No, I'm not proud of that, and I wouldn't have threatened him like that if it was today--not with anything physical, but probably with a meeting with the boss.
Even Christian radio can be like any other radio station in the world -- sometimes worse.
Fr. Francis
Story #5: Plywood Under My Rear End and more....
I've done my share of messing with people while they were on mike. I've crawled on the floor and untied their shows, pulled on their pants leg, pushed their chair, tried to pull their copy away ("copy" is what they're reading over the air), turned the lights off while they were reading copy over the air, made faces at them, and thrown things at them (mostly chips and pretzels), while they were on mike. (Now, look -- don't think badly of me -- all this was done to me, and more! It was pretty common then for us to do stuff like that!)
One day, at the Christian music station in Houston, I was filling in for the weekday afternoon guy. I was doing my last break (weather) at about 10 minutes before 4, when the guy who was on from 4-7 came up behind me and started trying to shove a small piece of plywood between my posterior and the chair I was sitting in!
When I didn't laugh and mess up my break, he kept shoving the board, and then started jerking my chair! I lost it, and busted up laughing over the air. Thankfully, our boss wasn't listening to that fouled-up break!
Fr. Francis
I've done my share of messing with people while they were on mike. I've crawled on the floor and untied their shows, pulled on their pants leg, pushed their chair, tried to pull their copy away ("copy" is what they're reading over the air), turned the lights off while they were reading copy over the air, made faces at them, and thrown things at them (mostly chips and pretzels), while they were on mike. (Now, look -- don't think badly of me -- all this was done to me, and more! It was pretty common then for us to do stuff like that!)
One day, at the Christian music station in Houston, I was filling in for the weekday afternoon guy. I was doing my last break (weather) at about 10 minutes before 4, when the guy who was on from 4-7 came up behind me and started trying to shove a small piece of plywood between my posterior and the chair I was sitting in!
When I didn't laugh and mess up my break, he kept shoving the board, and then started jerking my chair! I lost it, and busted up laughing over the air. Thankfully, our boss wasn't listening to that fouled-up break!
Fr. Francis
Story #4: Water On the Air
I had the privilege of working several full-time radio jobs over the years. At the country station I was at when i had the apartment fire, I worked the midnight shift (12-6) during the week, and Saturday nights 6p-12a.
Our Program Director my boss, who was a great guy and easy to work for, would typically show up late on Saturday nights (after eating good Mexican food!) and hang out for a while. One Saturday night, it was a couple of minutes to 12, and I was doing my last break. Usually I wear my headphones -- because when you open the microphone, it cuts off the monitors--so you can't hear anything going out over the air. Headphones allow you to hear what is going out over the air. Well, I was tired that night, ready to get off, so I did the break without the headphones. I was nearly finished with the weather when I felt ice cold water coming down on my head!
My boss dumped an ice-cold picture of water on my head ! (If I had my headset on, of course he wouldn't have done it.) I tried to not say anything over the mike, but there was no way! Of course I busted up laughing over the air, told our audience what was going on, and then he started laughing, too. I finished the break and closed the mike, and the next element in programming aired.
More to come.
Fr. Francis
I had the privilege of working several full-time radio jobs over the years. At the country station I was at when i had the apartment fire, I worked the midnight shift (12-6) during the week, and Saturday nights 6p-12a.
Our Program Director my boss, who was a great guy and easy to work for, would typically show up late on Saturday nights (after eating good Mexican food!) and hang out for a while. One Saturday night, it was a couple of minutes to 12, and I was doing my last break. Usually I wear my headphones -- because when you open the microphone, it cuts off the monitors--so you can't hear anything going out over the air. Headphones allow you to hear what is going out over the air. Well, I was tired that night, ready to get off, so I did the break without the headphones. I was nearly finished with the weather when I felt ice cold water coming down on my head!
My boss dumped an ice-cold picture of water on my head ! (If I had my headset on, of course he wouldn't have done it.) I tried to not say anything over the mike, but there was no way! Of course I busted up laughing over the air, told our audience what was going on, and then he started laughing, too. I finished the break and closed the mike, and the next element in programming aired.
More to come.
Fr. Francis
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Story #3: Coffee in the radio console and a Full Moon
It's January 8, 5:20 pm, and I'm waiting for my lovely and awesome wife Shirley to get home. We're going to eat together tonight for my birthday. We ate with friends last night at the Cattleman, a 100-year-old steakhouse here in OKC. If you ever get the chance, go check it out. great food.
So while I'm waiting, it's time for another story.
I've decided to not name the radio stations in any of these stories, for obvious reasons. But this one--it may not be difficult to figure out. After submitting a resume with only two radio stations on it--one a college radio station and one a Christian talk station (I did do mornings there, at my first paying radio gig--not bad, huh?), and what must have been a lousy air check (a recording of me on the air, so they can hear me and see if I fit at the station I'm applying at), and several calls to the Program Director Mark Rider, and volunteering at the station--he finally gave me a 10a-3p Saturday air shift at THE Christian music station in Houston.
Man, was I stoked! First of all, I got hired to work at my favorite station, and I got to play some of my favorite music on the radio! (I found out over the years that if you wanted to work in radio, many times you took a job at a station where the music might not have been your "cup of tea.") And, I got to work with some great radio veterans, who taught me a lot while I was there (I came back and worked for them again in the 90's). With this awesome privilege came a lot of nervousness. Hey, let's face it--I was green. And unlike other jobs, your boss could evaluate your performance at work even when he/she wasn't there--they heard you on the air. So, needless to say, I listened to everybody on the air in Houston, and learned as much as I could from all the air talent on in Houston at the time. I eventually got to move to the Saturday 3-7p air shift, assist with the Christian rock show "Rock of Love," which was on 8p-12a Saturday nights--I did music news and production, artist interviews, etc., I filles in pretty often for the full-timers during the week, and did a lot of production work for the station during the week (at the same time I did full-time midnights at KRTS Classical 92--you can do all that at once when you're in your 20's). The Rock of Love was a very cutting-edge show--we played Daniel Amos, U2, Simple Minds, Kansas--everything cutting edge we could get that was made by Christians. I got to guest-host the show a few times. And I was also on Sundays 9p-1a.
We had a "Body Life Bulletin Board," a box of 3x5 cards with prayer requests to read over the air and ask listeners to pray about. It's always a good idea to pre-read what you're going to read over the air, but one Sunday night I didn't pre-read a card--and I pulled one out of the box about a husband and father who had been killed. I was completely caught off guard, and was doing the best I could to read it--when I glanced out the studio door into the volunteer room, only to see a co-worker, standing on top of the table-- mooning me!
It was everything I could do to keep from busting out laughing. I cut the microphone off for a couple of seconds, regained my composure, and then resumed, not without a quick prayer under my breath. When we played the tape back later, you could hear my long pause, but my voice didn't shake--I tell you, that was a miracle!
Most stations have a rule about not having beverages near the console (I'll refer to it as the "board" from now on--it's what we call it). One Saturday afternoon, I sat my coffee on the board over top of the board, where we kept our "copy" to read on the air. Then, true to my usual form, I knocked the cup down onto the board! The coffee was running down into the board! I don't think my volunteers ever saw me move so fast. I ran into the little kitchen, grabbed the roll of paper towels, and ran as fast as I could back into the studio. No problem yet--the song was still playing! Thankfully, the Autogram board we had easily opens up--and I quickly sopped up all the coffee in the board, praying and sweating buckets the whole time. It never stopped working! Praise God! I learned invaluable lessons--keep my coffee away from the board! And don't look at anybody when you have your mike open! :)
Fr. Francis
It's January 8, 5:20 pm, and I'm waiting for my lovely and awesome wife Shirley to get home. We're going to eat together tonight for my birthday. We ate with friends last night at the Cattleman, a 100-year-old steakhouse here in OKC. If you ever get the chance, go check it out. great food.
So while I'm waiting, it's time for another story.
I've decided to not name the radio stations in any of these stories, for obvious reasons. But this one--it may not be difficult to figure out. After submitting a resume with only two radio stations on it--one a college radio station and one a Christian talk station (I did do mornings there, at my first paying radio gig--not bad, huh?), and what must have been a lousy air check (a recording of me on the air, so they can hear me and see if I fit at the station I'm applying at), and several calls to the Program Director Mark Rider, and volunteering at the station--he finally gave me a 10a-3p Saturday air shift at THE Christian music station in Houston.
Man, was I stoked! First of all, I got hired to work at my favorite station, and I got to play some of my favorite music on the radio! (I found out over the years that if you wanted to work in radio, many times you took a job at a station where the music might not have been your "cup of tea.") And, I got to work with some great radio veterans, who taught me a lot while I was there (I came back and worked for them again in the 90's). With this awesome privilege came a lot of nervousness. Hey, let's face it--I was green. And unlike other jobs, your boss could evaluate your performance at work even when he/she wasn't there--they heard you on the air. So, needless to say, I listened to everybody on the air in Houston, and learned as much as I could from all the air talent on in Houston at the time. I eventually got to move to the Saturday 3-7p air shift, assist with the Christian rock show "Rock of Love," which was on 8p-12a Saturday nights--I did music news and production, artist interviews, etc., I filles in pretty often for the full-timers during the week, and did a lot of production work for the station during the week (at the same time I did full-time midnights at KRTS Classical 92--you can do all that at once when you're in your 20's). The Rock of Love was a very cutting-edge show--we played Daniel Amos, U2, Simple Minds, Kansas--everything cutting edge we could get that was made by Christians. I got to guest-host the show a few times. And I was also on Sundays 9p-1a.
We had a "Body Life Bulletin Board," a box of 3x5 cards with prayer requests to read over the air and ask listeners to pray about. It's always a good idea to pre-read what you're going to read over the air, but one Sunday night I didn't pre-read a card--and I pulled one out of the box about a husband and father who had been killed. I was completely caught off guard, and was doing the best I could to read it--when I glanced out the studio door into the volunteer room, only to see a co-worker, standing on top of the table-- mooning me!
It was everything I could do to keep from busting out laughing. I cut the microphone off for a couple of seconds, regained my composure, and then resumed, not without a quick prayer under my breath. When we played the tape back later, you could hear my long pause, but my voice didn't shake--I tell you, that was a miracle!
Most stations have a rule about not having beverages near the console (I'll refer to it as the "board" from now on--it's what we call it). One Saturday afternoon, I sat my coffee on the board over top of the board, where we kept our "copy" to read on the air. Then, true to my usual form, I knocked the cup down onto the board! The coffee was running down into the board! I don't think my volunteers ever saw me move so fast. I ran into the little kitchen, grabbed the roll of paper towels, and ran as fast as I could back into the studio. No problem yet--the song was still playing! Thankfully, the Autogram board we had easily opens up--and I quickly sopped up all the coffee in the board, praying and sweating buckets the whole time. It never stopped working! Praise God! I learned invaluable lessons--keep my coffee away from the board! And don't look at anybody when you have your mike open! :)
Fr. Francis
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Story # 2: Apartment Fire
After the last story, you're probably thinking, "What's he going to tell us now.....that he started an aprtment complex on fire?" No. Just mine.
I shared an a apartment with a friend of mine back in the 80's. He was taking college classes, and I did the midnight shift at a country radio station about an hour south of us. I also did the Saturday 6 to midnight shift there.
It was winter time, and we had been using the fireplace a lot (it actually was cold enough in the Houston area to use the fireplace that winter!). I told him to leave the vent in the fireplace open, and we always did. Until one night.
I came home late one Saturday night after I got off the air, and walked into the apartment to find it about 40 degrees--he had turned the heat off. I went out onto the balcony, grabbed some wood and set it in the fireplace, threw some stuff under it to kindle, and lit the kindling. Then I went to the bathroom.
I came out about a minute later to find smoke in the air and flames going up the wall! He had closed the vent! In my panic, I stuck my hand in the fireplace to open the vent, but that didn't work--too hot! I burned my hand pretty well! I found the poker and attempted to open the vent--no way! My panic was pretty high at this point!
I ran into the kitchen and saw two big Slurpee cups on the counter--thank God they were there! The faucet went on, and they were filled, and I ran and threw the water on the flames, believing that my effort would be in vain, to tell you the truth. Five trips later, and probably at least that many pounds off me, the flames were out. I stood there in front of the fireplace, gasping for air (I was out of breath, to say the least!) and thanking our Lord.
I opened the sliding door out to the balcony and the front door to air out the place, and realized -- it was going to still be cold in there for a while yet, because it was cold outside, and I needed to air the place out. Monday, I went down and told the manager, and got permission to re-paint the wall above the fireplace. The mantle, which was wood, I thought looked a little cooler due to being licked by the flames.
Two things came out of this -- I was immensely thankful we were spared our place. And second -- make sure the vent is open before you light the fire. :)
blessings,
fr francis
After the last story, you're probably thinking, "What's he going to tell us now.....that he started an aprtment complex on fire?" No. Just mine.
I shared an a apartment with a friend of mine back in the 80's. He was taking college classes, and I did the midnight shift at a country radio station about an hour south of us. I also did the Saturday 6 to midnight shift there.
It was winter time, and we had been using the fireplace a lot (it actually was cold enough in the Houston area to use the fireplace that winter!). I told him to leave the vent in the fireplace open, and we always did. Until one night.
I came home late one Saturday night after I got off the air, and walked into the apartment to find it about 40 degrees--he had turned the heat off. I went out onto the balcony, grabbed some wood and set it in the fireplace, threw some stuff under it to kindle, and lit the kindling. Then I went to the bathroom.
I came out about a minute later to find smoke in the air and flames going up the wall! He had closed the vent! In my panic, I stuck my hand in the fireplace to open the vent, but that didn't work--too hot! I burned my hand pretty well! I found the poker and attempted to open the vent--no way! My panic was pretty high at this point!
I ran into the kitchen and saw two big Slurpee cups on the counter--thank God they were there! The faucet went on, and they were filled, and I ran and threw the water on the flames, believing that my effort would be in vain, to tell you the truth. Five trips later, and probably at least that many pounds off me, the flames were out. I stood there in front of the fireplace, gasping for air (I was out of breath, to say the least!) and thanking our Lord.
I opened the sliding door out to the balcony and the front door to air out the place, and realized -- it was going to still be cold in there for a while yet, because it was cold outside, and I needed to air the place out. Monday, I went down and told the manager, and got permission to re-paint the wall above the fireplace. The mantle, which was wood, I thought looked a little cooler due to being licked by the flames.
Two things came out of this -- I was immensely thankful we were spared our place. And second -- make sure the vent is open before you light the fire. :)
blessings,
fr francis
Friday, January 04, 2008
Story # 1: The Apartments
I don't remember how old I was, but I was a teenager, probably away from the Lord. It was June, and I was in West Virginia for a month visiting relatives.
I was over at my cousins' house, they live in apartments, and I don't know whose idea it was--mine or my cousin's. I'm talking about my cousin Sam here, he's four years younger than me, and he went to be with the Lord when he was 17--cancer got him.
But one of us got this wild idea to shut everybody's power off in his complex. The breakers for each building were in the laundry rooms (why they were designed like that, don't ask me). So we ran, as fast as we could, into each laundry room and threw the breakers. And then ran as fast as we could to the next one. And so on, until we turned off the lights in every building. By the time we got done with all of them, we heard a lot of yelling behind us. We didn't look back, but ran up the hill into the woods and hid out there for a long while.
We were laughing so hard the whole time it was hard to breathe.
Sammy, we love you. And we miss you. Pray for us, my brother. See you when I get there.
Confession is good for the soul,
fr francis
I don't remember how old I was, but I was a teenager, probably away from the Lord. It was June, and I was in West Virginia for a month visiting relatives.
I was over at my cousins' house, they live in apartments, and I don't know whose idea it was--mine or my cousin's. I'm talking about my cousin Sam here, he's four years younger than me, and he went to be with the Lord when he was 17--cancer got him.
But one of us got this wild idea to shut everybody's power off in his complex. The breakers for each building were in the laundry rooms (why they were designed like that, don't ask me). So we ran, as fast as we could, into each laundry room and threw the breakers. And then ran as fast as we could to the next one. And so on, until we turned off the lights in every building. By the time we got done with all of them, we heard a lot of yelling behind us. We didn't look back, but ran up the hill into the woods and hid out there for a long while.
We were laughing so hard the whole time it was hard to breathe.
Sammy, we love you. And we miss you. Pray for us, my brother. See you when I get there.
Confession is good for the soul,
fr francis
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Stories
OK, my birthday is Tuesday -- and I'll be 45, just 5 years away from half a century.
And I'm cool with that. My forties have been the best years of my life so far. I know who I am, I am married to my wonderful wife Shirley, I'm a monk, get to serve as a priest, enjoy my full-time job (for the most part!), and get to play drums in a rock band and at the worship band at church. I could go on, but that's enough!
I thought I would tell a story or two on myself. We gotta be able to laugh at ourselves.
Watch for the posts. Gotta make lunch now.
francis +
OK, my birthday is Tuesday -- and I'll be 45, just 5 years away from half a century.
And I'm cool with that. My forties have been the best years of my life so far. I know who I am, I am married to my wonderful wife Shirley, I'm a monk, get to serve as a priest, enjoy my full-time job (for the most part!), and get to play drums in a rock band and at the worship band at church. I could go on, but that's enough!
I thought I would tell a story or two on myself. We gotta be able to laugh at ourselves.
Watch for the posts. Gotta make lunch now.
francis +
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Playing drums in the Bonny
I got to go out into the Bonny and have some time behind the kit today. The "Bonny," short for the Oratory of St. Bonaventure, is our combination music room/library/chapel. It's a special room in our house.
We have Morning Prayer and Eucharist in the Bonny Mon - Fri. And we usually burn incense when we're praying.
When I went out there today to play, the incense smell still hung in the room. I love it! When I sat down to play, and put on my headphones, the smell reminded me that our brothers and sisters the saints, who are in heaven, are praying with and for us. (We see this truth brought out by the apostle John in Revelation.) This is a comfort to me, that they have left the planet, and all its struggles, and have gone to be with Christ, our Redeemer--but they haven't forgot about us. They are praying for us.
And I had a great time behind the kit today. Got to play some Bonham.
Francis Robert +
I got to go out into the Bonny and have some time behind the kit today. The "Bonny," short for the Oratory of St. Bonaventure, is our combination music room/library/chapel. It's a special room in our house.
We have Morning Prayer and Eucharist in the Bonny Mon - Fri. And we usually burn incense when we're praying.
When I went out there today to play, the incense smell still hung in the room. I love it! When I sat down to play, and put on my headphones, the smell reminded me that our brothers and sisters the saints, who are in heaven, are praying with and for us. (We see this truth brought out by the apostle John in Revelation.) This is a comfort to me, that they have left the planet, and all its struggles, and have gone to be with Christ, our Redeemer--but they haven't forgot about us. They are praying for us.
And I had a great time behind the kit today. Got to play some Bonham.
Francis Robert +
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