A Little Shrimp on the Mall of Life Treadmill

If I were to go out today shopping, this video shows exactly how I would feel!



Good thing I have no plans to go shopping, other than maybe for a Christmas tree!

Real Men Do Cry

Here's the warning for today. Go ahead and grab a tissue. You'll need it as you watch this video.



Mark Shultz is one of my wife's favorite artist. This song is powerful.

Today, I pray for all Mark's out there who have been given up for adoption. I pray for all of the moms of children like Mark, who for various reasons have chosen to give them up for adoption. You are in my prayers.

While your sacrifice was great, thank you for giving life to your child and making a difference in our world through them!

How Does It Feel?

Okay, this post today comes with instructions. It is very important that you follow these instructions. If you don't, the post may not make much sense! (Hey! No snide remarks about whether or not any of my posts make sense!)

Okay...watch...enjoy...then, read the rest of the post.



Now, why have you watch that video? Am I a secret Bob Dylan fan?

While I am not a huge Dylan fan there is a spiritual truth to be found in that song.

Guitarist Al Kooper, known for organizing Blood, Sweat, and Tears and discovering Lynyrd Skynyrd (now, there's a great band!), showed up hoping to play guitar for Dylan's recording session. But, another guitarist had been chosen, so Kooper was banished to the sound/production booth by the superior skills of Michael Bloomfield.

Kooper refused to just sit and do nothing. He wanted in on the recording session. So, quietly, he made his way back into the studio and sad down at the vacant organ bench in the corner. When Dylan began recording the song, Kooper threw into the mix of sounds some organ chords that he made up on the spot. If you listen carefully to the song, you will notice how these chords are stutter-stepped into the sound. That's because Kooper didn't know how to play the organ. He wasn't even sure what chords he was playing until he heard them.

When the producer realized what Kooper was up to, he ordered him back into the sound booth. But Dylan was caught up in the moment. For him the recording was more free play than planned execution. He heard a rare sound being born with the mix of cymbals, organ, and guitar. And he famously shouted over the confusion: "Turn the organ up!"

Here's the application. This should give all of us something to consider as we approach Sunday.

Ralph L. Lewis has studied the 125 incidents where Jesus encountered people in the New Testament. Of those 125 times, roughly 54% of those encounters are initiated by His hearers! Instead of standing up and proclaiming the message He wanted the people to hear, He responded to His audience's questions, objects, doubts. He allowed and welcomed their involvement.

I wonder, can the same be said of our preaching, worship, and teaching today? Are we telling them what we think they need to hear or are we listening to what they us they need?

Powerful message. All from a Dylan song.

Now. For those who didn't follow the instructions, now would be a good time to go back and listen to the video. Listen to the organ. Remember what happened. Learn how it applies to your work for the King.

If you did follow the instructions, you might want to listen to the video again anyway. This time, focus on the organ and how it was a response to the moment and not scripted movement.

Sure make the song make sense! And worship, for that matter!