Volunteering

Yesterday I went with 6 others to the old auditorium to help with a Hands on Birmingham - http://handsonbirmingham.org - event. You can read about it here: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/hundreds_of_homeless_in_birmin.html

Our team was 4 employees and 3 non-employees of the new Baritones Karaoke Lounge and Grill - http://www.baritonesgrill.com/ - a couple of blocks from my house. The owner is Jason, the cute guy in the middle. He had put a sign on the door that Baritones wouldn't open until 5 yesterday afternoon. The blond is Betty, the waitress with her husband Mike behind her. Tony and Jack are the 2 tall guys who are the cooks. Dena, next to me, is Jack's sister.

It was interesting. I had 2 clients for which were I was unable to get much help. Dena had one nice one but was unable to get much help. Betty had one who she said was the client from hell. I'm not sure about what all the guys did.

We all rode in Mike and Betty's SUV and were at the auditorium about 11 - 3:45, then Jason was kind enough to let Dena and me eat without paying (though Tony still had to cook it).

The group picture was made just before we headed home. It's hard to take a self-picture. I put the shirt on backwards after I got home, to show it. The lower line says VOLUNTEER TEAM.

When a Christian Dies

This was posted yesterday on the Legacy on-line guest book for preacher Barney Keith, who passed from this life recently. I didn't know him well, but he seemed to be such a "gentle" man. I am omitting the writer's name, but what the person wrote was so lovely that I think it's worth sharing.

"I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Keith, if only for a short time, as his mail carrier. Though our acquaintance was an informal one, I'll appreciate him for his warmth and his smile. I knew he must have been special to many as I've never delivered so many cards of condolences to a single address in my entire 15 year career. I should have known he was a man of God. Please accept my condolences as well."

The Judge

Even though I do repent, when I do something wrong,
My life will still be scarred; I don't feel that I "belong".

A friend asks my forgiveness after they treated me bad.
But there'll always be some mistrust. Such wariness makes me sad.

I may love someone so dearly, but still - personalities clash.
That "line" between birth and death -- is how we live our "dash".

We must carefully live our life, and go to God in prayer.
The Righteous Creator reigns. Our Judge is always fair.

We each make our own choices: do right, or wrong and try to dodge.
One day we'll face that throne. I'm glad God is That Judge.

- by Netagene in about 10 minutes today, March 27, 2011 - I know the meter isn't real good, but I wrote it during this morning's sermon at worship. And yes, I know what Steve preached about - it was about Saul's conversion in Acts 9, then went into a little about the Ethiopian's conversion in Acts 8. And yes, I'm glad God, rather than me, is the one who will judge Jim (my friend since 1959 who passed from this life 3 days ago), me, everyone (II Timothy 4:8) -

On This Bench ...

I found that after reading an article in today's paper about Margaret Roach. This is from her site and the artist's site: http://awaytogarden.com and http://abeautifulrevolution.com

Music and more

I've been remiss in posting here, partly because of posting more quick, short ones on FaceBook. A group of us were to have played in palliative care at the VA today. I would have taken my autoharp (not my harpsicle) because I've had one of those 25+ years and of course can play it. I had the bus scheduled, but forecast was not good. I could have gotten there, but rain started before I would have left to come home, and even with my a'harp in a padded gig bag, walking with that, plus a white cane, plus holding an open umbrella - well, I simply didn't want to try to juggle it all.

I've tuned my new harp only once since I got it, but have GOT to start tuning it at least once a day, preferably more frequently, so that the strings will settle so that I can learn to play it. I signed up for group lessons which will start next week.

In the otherwise time, I've been reading, knitting, and crocheting.

And I went to a pot luck supper and a free concert last Saturday night. The chorus from the college I attended left Tampa early that day. This was their first stop on their spring tour. They now cut CDs, but I was in the chorus when they cut their first recording (a 33 1/3 LP) the spring of 1953! The first 2/3rds of the concert was on the Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and was very moving. After intermission, they performed a few secular songs, mostly from musicals.

Flatsicle Arrived!

Yep, it got here about 3 weeks before I was expecting it! UPS arrived at 5:30 p.m. yesterday. The harp weighs a little less than 5 pounds, but the box total was 13 pounds - full of the last 5 of the music books from the site, and the harp. Because I've played piano for 60 years (groan ... THAT many???), rather than getting the harpsicle (plays in only C major and A minor) or the sharpsicle (plays in 3 majors/3 minors), I got the next one up. The flatsicle plays in 4 majors and the relative minors. The lowest note (longest string - they are nylon) is a low C. The C strings are red; the F strings are black. I debated about getting a red or blue harp, but decided on the natural maple. Later if I want to, I may paint a bit of design on it, or buy some decals or do a bit of woodburning on it. That will wait. Because it was getting late last night before I got it all unpacked and in the house, I didn't tune it then. I had to check the tuning on my autoharp (you can see a picture of me playing that, which I posted January of last year) because some of us are going to play at the VA on Monday for the vets in palliative care - I've been asked to take my autoharp, so I did that, and 1st time tuned my harp about noon today. For now, I've got to learn to play more than one note at a time on the harp!

IMPS and ANGELS

I'm down in the Grumpies and I know the cause.
Satan is hovering and he knows my flaws.
He knows my weaknesses. He digs where I hurt.
His imps subtly whisper, and make me feel worse.
Despair whines, "You're hopeless." Insanity screams, "You're mad!"
Futility moans, "Give up. Of course you are bad!"
Black demons are beckoning: "Turn loose. You can't win.
We've got you. You're hell-bound to us, so give in."
But God's host is hovering. They keep me afloat.
They help stop the cries that are stuck in my throat.
When bad things happen, and I get distressed,
Thankfulness reminds me: "You are so very blessed!"
Hope assures me, "There's better things! Don't give up your life!"
Peace tells me, "Be still." Joy sings, "Look high!"
Patience whispers, "Hold on." Cheer tells me I'm sweet.
Stamina shouts, "You'll make it! You'll land on your feet!"
If the whole world falls 'round me, I'm sure in my mind -
God's love will surround me, and I'll be just fine!

- by Netagene, September 12, 2002 - A girl at work had been having some rough days, and said that I seemed like someone who would have cheerful things. She asked if she could borrow some such things. I didn't have anything at work, but told her I'd see what I could do. I wrote 7 verses in about 15 minutes at work, and 2 more in my mind on the way home. Some of the images are what I saw in my mind's eye when reading a novel by Frank Peretti. -