Why I like bluegrass and folk

I catch a lot of "flack" from people because my I like bluegrass and good folk music. Good folk actually tells a story. Folk is not just music with a British voice and a cute guitar player. I like these two forms of music because they tell a story. A story that is not often heard in most modern music. "Oh baby," and songs that contain the word "whoop" are not worthy of being called stories unless you consider the degradation of people and circumstances stories worth telling. My favorite musician is Doc Watson. Doc was discovered by a recording agent in the late 50's as he was on his way to a music festival in Virginia. A person told him that he should listen to this blind guy in the hills who could play guitar and sing about things that actually affected the local people. Like the bootleggers, absentee fathers. He rode in the back of a flatbed truck for an hour bouncing through the hills until he came upon a cabin with a blind guy with a homemade banjo and guitar. When he played the producer knew the stories had to be told. Now, I like other music but when I really want to get into the music I listen to Doc. That is his pic here.

Things that make me happy.

This is a list of random things that make me happy.
-My wife.
-My nephews.
-Golf in the mid 70s.
-A nice deer hunt.
-Pheasant hunting with friends.
-Real people.
-Good movies.
-Being outside, I hate the indoors.
-When God's people sing their hearts out.
-The humanity of Jesus.
-The deity of Jesus.
-Wake boarding.
-Snow skiing.
-Days I don't have to be around negative people.
-Good chile rellenos, like Aylenes (sp?)
-Old books by old religious people.
-Good salsa, like Sandi Durbin's.
-Spontaneous trips.
-Camping at the Littlefield's May place.
-Driving a tractor as the sun goes down.
-The feeling I have after I have taken communion.
I could go on but I just wanted to share a few, with no real reason just some things that were on my mind, and some that came to me as I wrote.

Who is Jesus? Who am I?

I just started preaching through the book of Mark. I have preached through the gospels before and I love the study of the life of Christ. A real man who was really God. Amazing. However, most of the time that I had studied the life of Christ I analyzed his movements and His teachings to find out who my Savior is. I think now that it is appropriate to look into the life of Jesus and ask the question "who am I." Who do I live like. Do my actions and thoughts mimic those of Christ. As we study the life of Christ I believe it is most important to learn to become like him. Knowing where He went and when and even what He taught is important but it the starting point of a life continuing on His legacy of service. Mark says "the beginning of the gospel." I believe the continuation is in the life of His followers. When you study who Christ ask yourself who you are.

Who knows?

It seems as if there is a trend that says that all can equally and authoritatively interpret the Bible. (Usually the "authoritative stance" is the one from the mouth of the person who raises his or her voice the loudest.) This seems problematic when you consider the thousands of divisions that have come from this idea. How do we know which interpretation is the correct one. I believe in the inspiration of scripture but to say that well intended and studied Christians all come to the same conclusion would be ignoring the obvious fact that we do not. My thought is this...should there be a larger counsel of scholars in their respective fields that help us understand the real meaning of a text or can anyone understand scripture? I am not talking about God's plan to save us, I believe the core of that message is generally accepted. Interpretation has changed throughout time. As of now I think it is a combination of the two. I think that we need help from learned people in their fields as well as the witness of faithful servants of Christ to help us wisely apply what the text teaches us. More importantly I don't believe faith is about the right interpretation it is about life and the way the scriptures manifest themselves in a person's life. Take one look at the lives of people who insist they are right, not very compelling. I bring this up because we need to look into why we are doing what we are doing and what authority it has. We also need to be weary of following unscrptural practices that stem from obstinant heart that refuses to listen to anyone other than self. I don't know...just some thoughts. What do you think? Do you think that all people can interpret the Bible with equal authority? Who in the congregation is best equipped to help aid translation? Would we listen if it contradicted us? How can we get to what the text is saying? How can we live more like Jesus in a Biblical manner?

Ipod and sermons.

I was watching something the other day where people listed their ipod lists. Here are ten songs on my ipod that are a good representation of the music I like, some are my favs but most are just in category lists and represent what I like.

1. Country Blues by Doc Watson.
2. Deacon Blues by Steely Dan.
3. One by Creed and Metallica.
4. If we are the body by Casting Crowns.
5. NPR morning edition, when I remember to download it.
6. Man in Black by Johnny Cash.
7. The road goes on forever..., Robert Earl Keen.
8. Easy for you to say by Linda Ronstadt.
9. In the air by Nonpoint.
10. Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder.
That was a good old music list but it works.

Some have asked if I would post sermons on my blog. I haven't been able to figure that out but here is a link to the church's website where many Sunday AM sermons are posted, most of the sermons on the right hand side of the page. http://www.coctulia.org/sermons.htm. If you have any questions let me know.
God bless all of you and I pray the peace of our Lord would be with you with this week.

My Ideal Day

If I had one day to do whatever I wanted, wherever I wanted and time and money were not an obstacle this is what I would do:
I would wake up and have breakfast in Mexico City, atole and tamales. Then I would pick up my nephews and take them to the park. After the park we would go to the White River in Arkansas and swim and fish. I would then float the river down to Stone Gate Meadows and play 18 holes before lunch with my wife and Jesus. I probably wouldn't ask any questions because I would be too shocked. After lunch with Jesus and Jennifer at La Hacienda in Fayetteville I would drive my Aston Martin over to my best friend Reece's house and say "I have an Aston Martin and you don't." Then I would go to the bank after selling the car because when this day ends I will be broke. I would then go skiing in Crested Butte. When I got back I would drive up to our land in Kingston and chill while my dad played old bluegrass and folk music. Then for dinner I would take my mom, sisters and Jennifer to some fufu restaurant because that is the kind of thing they like. Close the day reading and praying with my wife.