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
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
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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