Bliss can be found in small things and small moments through a heart attuned to gratitude and praise to the Lord.
"The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed my mind counsels me in the night.
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
Psalms 16: 6-7,11
April is National Poetry Month and here is another poem I like. Many years ago, I heard a woman recite this poem, using a tapestry to show the messy underside that we see in our lives and the beautiful top side seen by God.
My life is just a weaving, between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors, He works in steadily.
Some times he weaves in sorrow, and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reasons why
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful weaver’s hand
As threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
ANONYMOUS
Sunday, April 22, 2012
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
Five years ago, when we were renovating our house, I took down the last of the wallpaper we had hung in the ‘90s, which was still on the kitchen walls. After painting the kitchen and dining room butter yellow, I hung red and white plaid window treatments and looked for other red accents to achieve the cheery and lively atmosphere I wanted.
Around that time, my toaster stopped working, and I was already using my back-up coffee maker, a four-cup Mr. Coffee that I kept for taking on trips. (I’ve never found a clean coffee maker in a hotel or vacation condo, unless the place was brand new.) When I looked for replacements, I found a pretty red toaster in a retro design and several red coffee makers. After reading a bunch of reviews, I decided on a red four-cup coffee maker, that had the two features I valued most– pause and serve and an automatic cut-off 20 minutes after the coffee had brewed. Both the toaster and coffee maker were Cuisinart products.
From one pot, my husband and I could fill our mugs with about 12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee. Although, we had to brew another pot for refills, we considered this a small inconvenience for always having fresh coffee. So for three years or more, we would make coffee several times a day. One day, I turned on the coffee maker, which we kept filled with water and a clean filter and coffee, and nothing happened. We had now had the coffee maker for about three and a half years. It had a three-year warranty.
So, I went online trying to find the same coffee maker and, of course, in the color red. When I Googled “red coffee maker” the one I had immediately came up on the search engine. But I couldn’t find one in stock– anywhere. It seemed this coffee maker was now a discontinued item.
A few minutes later, I went back to the kitchen and flipped the switch again on the coffee maker. This time, the light came on and the brewing started. But I wondered how long it would last. I decided to send an e-mail to Cuisinart telling them what a wonderful coffee maker this was and how much I and all those Google searchers liked the color red. I sent the e-mail in January 2011, and didn’t get a reply.
But the following June, I searched again for the red coffee maker and found it at Macy’s, with a couple of changes and a bit of a price increase. Now the automatic cut-off feature was set at 30 minutes and the plastic housing on the unit was BPA free. Even better. And Macy’s had the coffee makers included in their Father’s Day sale, so I was able to buy my replacement/back-up at the same price I paid for the original one..
Not too long after I bought the replacement, my little red coffee maker did go out. But I had no complaints about it. It had lasted four years and been well used. I brought out the replacement and was so glad I could still enjoy the color red on my counter, while my coffee brewed. Oh yes, I already have another replacement for the one I’m using now.
I can’t say for sure that my e-mail had anything to do with Cuisinart bringing back the little red coffee maker. Maybe they received a lot of e-mails requesting the return of this coffee maker and the 12-cup red coffee maker. Since then, Cuisinart has also brought back a 12-cup coffee maker in red.
This was not the first time I have e-mailed a company about a discontinued product and provided them with a few facts to support consumer interest in the product. In the case of the coffee maker, I mentioned in the e-mail about the coffee maker popping up immediately in the Google search. I also noted that the inexpensive price could mean that those looking for a replacement might just buy two. That’s what I did.
When I have written to companies about other discontinued products, sometimes I will tell them what these products are selling for on eBay or Amazon. It sure doesn’t hurt to let companies know what consumers want.
While channel surfing one night last week, I noticed a Chicago concert was coming up on the Directv concert channel. Although their performance was on very late, I decided to stay up and watch at least some of it or until I heard my favorite song, “You’re the Inspiration.”
For more than 30 years, I have been a fan of Chicago and have attended several concerts, although the last one was nearly 23 years ago, while my husband and I were dating. Chicago was touring with the Beach Boys that year, and they performed each other’s songs. It was pretty amazing to hear both bands playing each other’s music, while staying true to their own “sound.”
Chicago’s music in concert always sounded just like their records–or even better. I also appreciated the wholesome atmosphere at their concerts. It wasn’t unusual to see three generations of a family sitting together enjoying the music. And lots of music – real music – is what concert-goers got–no gimmicks or pyrotechnics or even very much conversation from the stage. Just a long set list of wonderful music. It was wonderful to watch the ease of this band on stage as they seemed to effortlessly play through the difficult arrangements of their songs.
Some skilled and talented musicians I have known have told me Chicago’s arrangements have complex rifts and bridges and are very difficult for many musicians to learn. It’s rare to hear any other bands covering Chicago’s music.Over the years, several band members have left Chicago, and their replacements have blended in with the band’s special sound. Musically, I have held the band in high esteem because of the song writing contributions of most the members, as well as their beautiful arrangements and strong vocals. Chicago could always be counted on for REAL music.
At the opening of the concert on Directv, I noticed something different right away. The band introduced the online winner of a contest conducted on their Web site, who would be singing solo her favorite Chicago song. She did a decent job of singing, accompanied by the band, and I’m sure it was a big thrill for her. But it was a departure for the band, who had in the past avoided the gimmicky route. Another change from the last time I had seen a concert or televised Chicago performance was that Bill Champlin, who had been a powerful vocalist for the group, had been replaced by Lou Pardini. As usual though, the band had chosen the right replacement, and Pardini sounded great and blended right in with Chicago’s sound. Jason Scheff, who replaced Peter Cetera in1985, was still with the band. Scheff’s voice seemed thinner and sounded strained when he reached for notes, and on vocals he formerly sang solo, he was now accompanied by Pardini and Robert Lamm, leader and founding member of the band. Still, these were changes that were probably acceptable to most fans.
As the band launched into “I’m a Man,” I was surprised at how trim and fit they all were, including the founding members who are now well into their ‘60s. Lamm, who never looks like he ages, was wearing his usual suit and tie, with a loosened collar. None of the guys looked beaten up by life or a rock and roll lifestyle.
I hadn’t heard “I’m a Man,” in a while, so I wasn’t sure if it sounded different. But when the band started singing “Just You ‘n Me,” I knew something was not right. All the melody had been stripped from that beautiful, sweet and happy song. This continued with each successive song, and some songs were performed with only partial vocals. Of course, Chicago is known for its heavy brass sound, but for this performance, they seemed to have abandoned vocals for instruments, going for 5-8 minutes with just instruments. Finally, “Saturday in the Park” came up on the set list, and Lamm performed it in its original form. But their performance then continued with remixes of their beautiful classics. Remixes void of any melody. REAL music has a melody. I stopped watching. I didn’t want to hear a remix of “You’re the Inspiration.”
After I turned off the TV, I thought to myself, “Well, no need to follow their tour schedule anymore. I wouldn’t travel or pay to see any of that.” I couldn’t believe what I had just seen and heard from my favorite band..
Why did they do this?
According to some music critics, Chicago’s music is second only to the Beach Boys. As fan of both bands, I would say Chicago is on par with the Beach Boys
But clearly last week’s performance showed Chicago was changing its music for a younger audience in an attempt to be cool and relevant to a new generation. But why? What does Chicago have to prove at this point? Why cheapen great music? Is it just for the sake of relevancy? And when does real stop being relevant?
As I thought about this, I was reminded of a speaker/author I had recently seen on a television program, who had made the statement: “What is ‘real’ about us is what doesn’t change.” He had shown some photos of himself from infancy onward to his current age of 70 to demonstrate that his constantly changing physical appearance wasn’t the “real”part of him. He asked, “What is the ‘real’ part of you?” An interesting question...
I was also reminded of how the word “relevant” is currently used by some groups, who advocate a remix of sorts to Jesus and Christianity in order to appeal to a younger generation.
It’s not a new idea. It’s been tried many times. The created tries to repackage and remix the creator.
What is real about Jesus?
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and yes forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Does Jesus NEED the cool factor?
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created by Him and for Him.”Colossians 1:16
Just some thoughts about remixes, relevancy and real...
It was April 9, 1977, and the day before Easter. We were packed and ready to hit the road for Blytheville, Ark., where my brother, Danny and his wife, Kathy, were stationed in the Air Force. In those days, it was hard being separated from a sibling living 300 miles away. We understood the homesickness of our brother and sister-in-law living a military life, and we felt their loneliness.
When Danny had called and invited us to visit them at Easter, we started making plans. We arranged time off from work and somehow came up with the money for gas and motel rooms. My brother, David, and I would be driving. I would be following David in his car, and hopefully, we wouldn’t get separated in Nashville. I was 27 years old and had never driven in Nashville. I was dreading it.
We met at Mama’s early that Saturday morning. David pulled up in his beat-up Javelin that had a missing gear and four bald tires. My seven-year-old Buick was in a little better shape. At least the tires had some tread. And...we both had CB radios. David, who was 19, bounded out of his car with the energy of three or four people and started loading both cars. Inside David’s car sat his 18-year-old wife, Debbie, holding their 8-month-old daughter, Stephanie. David was two months away from being 20 years and celebrating his second wedding anniversary.
One thing about my car, it was big and roomy. Riding with me were my mother, sister Gaile, who was 25, and her three small children, Robin, 4, and two-year-old twins, Lannie and Jason, along with my baby sister, Susie,15. My younger sister, Teresa, 18, and brother Terry, 17, rode with David.
As we prepared to leave, David and I checked the channels on our radios, and I reminded him I was “Silver Girl” and to please keep me in his rear view mirror. As we drove toward the interstate, everyone was laughing and joking–except me. I was worried about getting separated and lost in Nashville.
The trip, which took about six hours, went very smooth. I managed to keep up with David going through Nashville and the other turns we made after leaving the interstate and heading to Dyersburg and then crossing the Mississippi River for the first time. Now, when I look back on that day, I see so much grace over us. There was no Weather Channel to consult back then, and we were headed for “tornado alley” during the height of tornado season. But all went well. We didn’t have any car trouble or weather problems.
We found our motel without any problem and checked into our rooms. It wasn’t a chain and had a name that sounded western. I don’t remember what it was called, but there were western scenes painted on the sides of it. Inside, it was nicely decorated and very clean and comfortable. Danny and Kathy met us, and we followed them back for a tour of the base.
The next morning, we joined Danny and Kathy at the church they attended, Glad Tidings Assembly of God. As we walked into the church, we all suddenly became aware of the harsh breathing and croupy cough coming from the baby. As Debbie and David stood huddled at the back of the church wondering whether to stay or leave with the baby, Danny alerted the pastor who immediately called the congregation into prayer. As the room quieted for prayer, Stephanie’s breathing could be heard all over the room. David walked with Debbie as she carried Stephanie to the altar. Many left their seats to gather around the parents and child, who were strangers in their midst. The prayer wasn’t that long, and as soon as it was over, the sound of Stephanie’s labored breathing was gone. Church services hadn’t even started yet, and a baby had been healed Watching this baby healed before our very eyes was amazing to all who witnessed it.
Many Easters have come and gone since then. Some I remember and some I don’t. But I will always remember that Easter Sunday, April 10, 1977. I remember the love for a brother who was living 300 miles away and how much we missed him. I remember the love and fun our family experienced on the trip to visit him. I remember the love shown by a church for the strangers who visited that day and stood with them in faith and love. I remember the love of our God, our Lord Jesus, who we went to worship and to remember His resurrection, and how He showed up in power to heal a baby before it was even time for services to start.
