First, The Other Ed (pictured below) and I did two songs with piano and guitar:

God of Wonders

Lord I Lift Your Name On High

It's always a challenge for me to do something new and different with these familiar songs, and I think I got a pretty good mood for God of Wonders--I played off the upper chord extensions a lot, hoping to make it kinda moody.  The Other Ed played his wife's Esteban classical.  With two really great guitar shops in our little town (both on the main shopping street downtown), I can't believe they ordered an Esteban guitar, but the painting on the front was kinda cool. 

We switched to ukes after that, both of us, and did

I'll Fly Away

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

The Other Ed actually threw me a little solo on the uke for I'll Fly Away, and I acquitted myself...moderately well with a little bluesy rambling.  He one-upped me though; he had a uke with a factory pickup.  All I got was an SM57.  This must not go unanswered. 

(This post is part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Set Lists)

Friday I bought two new slides.  At my age, it's a cheap indulgence.  (There's my new band name--'Cheap Indulgence')  Saturday afternoon I spent an hour fiddling around with retuning the guitar and finding some chords and licks. 

We were pretty much just a bunch of fairly good musicians playing all the wrong instruments (some of us).  It worked out pretty good.  In fact, there were some really nice moments.  We didn't start rehearsing until 5:30, and the service started at 6:00, but seriously--you either know the licks in G, or you don't.  Fortunately, our little crowd is up for anything, and we all had a great time.  The songs featured impromptu solos, which mostly went well.  Ed would just point, and we did our best.  I muffed what I thought was the last solo I'd get, but in an act of Christian mercy, The Other Ed gave me another shot.  This is why you should be friends with the music director. 

I'll Fly Away

When The Saints Go Marching In (very lazy and moody--I liked it.)

Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior (The lyrics on this one got mis-typed, so we actually sang Pass Me Not O 'Gentile' Savior.  Not kidding.)

And one more I can't remember. 

So now I'm all jacked up about slide guitar, and thinking about getting a cheap lap steel.  I'm sure I can learn. 

(This post is part of Fred McKinnon's 'Sunday Set Lists')

Clilpped this directly from the email sent to me by Classmates.com.  I'm really considering Gold Membership now, because, well, who would want to miss out? 

Dear Edward,

Did you forget? You've received 0 Classmates Emails from friends—and 0 of them are still unread and waiting in your message center at Classmates.com.

Want to make sure you can read every message you receive? Become a Gold member. You'll also be able to see who leaves their name on your profile, view full profiles and photos, send announcement alerts, and more!

Visit your message center now to see who sent these messages, review your inbox and sent folder, find easy links to the communities you've joined, and more.

On an unrelated note:  yesterday the woman at Apple Valley Health Foods asked if I was 60, and would I like the senior discount?   I politely told her I was far, far from 60, and then later I snuck back in the store and put a used McDonald's bag in the trash behind the counter, hoping she'd get yelled at by her boss. 

Again I went completely unplugged.  We did the Tommy Walker song again:

--How Could I But Love You-- 

(I posted about this song a couple months ago, and threw in a youtube version of the song.  Click here if you missed it.)

Then, by myself I sang an old hymn to a wonderful new melody (by James Ward):

--Rock Of Ages--

I produced a track for a singer many years ago with this new melody, and I kept tearing up during the mixdown, and the song stuck with me.  The new melody completely ressurects the hymn--I highly recommend this for your congregation.  Click on the above link and you can get the CD (not sure which ones it's on).  Anyway, here are the lyrics:

Rock of ages, cleft for me

Let me hid myself in Thee

Let the water and the blood

From thy wounded side, which flowed

Be of sin the double cure

Cleanse me from it’s guilt

And it’s power

Nothing in my hands I bring

Simply to Thy cross I cling

Naked, come to Thee for dress

Helpless, come to Thee for grace

Foul, I to the fountain fly

Wash me Savior, or I shall die

Not the labor of my hands

Could fulfill Thy laws demands

Could my zeal no respite know?

Could my tears forever flow?

All for sin could not atone

Thou must save, and Thou

Yes, Thou alone

When I draw my final breath

When my eyes, they close in death

When I soar to worlds unknown

And see Thee on Thy judgment throne

Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Let me hide myself in Thee

Then we did another hymn:

--Praise Ye The Lord, The Almighty--

And closed with:

--I See The Lord-- (just the chorus)

Another quiet night on the corner of 9th & Central, where God did his thing, and I came away changed a little.

For those of you who love to hear new things, click here for 'Disappointing', by The Mona Reels.  Two of my daughters, and their friend Peter.  I'm so proud of them. 

(This post is part of Fred McKinnon's 'Sunday Set Lists', which you should check out)

"Disappointing"

The Mona Reels is a three-piece band out of Olympia, WA, with two of my daughters--April & Summer--and their friend Peter.  I try not to pass along stuff that only a father would love, but this...this stuff is just so good.  You won't be 'disappointed'. 

So Sunday morning the service was cancelled, and I stayed home and read the paper.  And took a really great nap.

Saturday night, however, was good.  The meeting room was decorated with those little white lights that hang like icicles, giving the room a warm glow.  Small group, as usual, and I played keyboard as Ed led us through:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

The First Noel

What a Wonderful Maker

It was just me on the keyboard for the carols, which was old fashioned--I'm sorry: 'vintage'--and then The Other Ed picked up his acoustic for Wonderful Maker.

Back to me on the keys for:

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Joy To The World

It was nice, with the regular lights turned off and just the Christmas lights lighting the room.  I was basically sight-reading the words/chords charts--if you can say I was sight-reading songs I've played hundreds of times each.  I had one little moment...there was a diminished chord printed over the word "of" in the following line:   'Born is the King of Israel'.  The first time through I skipped it, but curiosity got the better of me, and the second time around I played it.  Yick--it was way too...vintage.  Made me laugh.

If you somehow missed my 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' Christmas story from a few months back, you musicians might enjoy it--click here.  For my take on decorating shows, click here. 

Merry Christmas!  For all you music directors:  I've been there, and I hope you make it through whatever big productions you have planned for Christmas Eve, and still find time for family. 

This post is part of Fred McKinnon's 'Sunday Set Lists'. 

So we no longer call our deck ‘the deck’. Now it’s ‘the lanai’. And the creek that runs behind the deck is no longer a nameless feed into the pond between the condo units – it’s Pointe Lake Bay. Now on hot Augest nights we aren’t sitting on our deck, slapping at mosquitoes from the creek and spilling our Diet Cokes – we’re sipping Long Island Ice Teas on the Lanai, enjoying the view of the bay.

I don’t know if it was the tea, or the view, but I was slapping the back of my neck last summer and had a sudden inspiration for my own decorating show.

Every one of these shows features a phony, self-imposed budget/deadline. They go to commercial break with the teaser, “Will Lulu get the curtains done before the cat comes home from the hospital? She only has $49 left!”

Of course the ridiculous budgets and deadlines are supposed to show what you can do in a weekend, with only a small amount of money. An enormous amount of ingenuity is displayed as they ‘repurpose’ (man, I hate that word) an old credenza into a bookshelf using black lacquer and brackets from Home Depot (a proud sponsor) and ‘just a touch of sweat equity’.

In my show, you would learn what you could do to a room with beer money and about 45 minutes.

The show’s title would be “Why Redecorate At All?” and here’s what would happen:

The host, along with a husband and wife, would stand around in a dim, dismal, junky basement ‘rec room’ complete with milk crates holding vinyl records, grandma’s old couch, a combination TV/Stereo console unit with peeling wood veneer, and a Three Dog Night poster.

Everyone would agree that the room was not being used anymore, that it was ugly, and that something had to change. Then they’d all get in the car and drive to the local watering hole, where they’d sit in a booth and talk about it. This is where the beer comes in. After several Buds (a proud sponsor), they’d start talking about all the good times they had in that room, how two of their three kids had been conceived on that couch, how vinyl records are making a comeback, and how the money it would take to recover the old couch would go a long way toward a week in Key West. This requires ingenuity, as you can readily see. Let’s call it ‘repurposed ingenuity’.

A laptop is produced, and a quick eBay search unearths a windfall; the Three Dog Night poster is worth $1500. The couple starts planning the vacation, and pretty soon they’re giggling and shooting looks at each other and making disgusting gestures behind their hands when they think no one is looking. Everyone would win.

Couples all across the country would tune in for inspiration, brewing companies would line up to sponsor, as would Chambers of Commerce in Florida and the Virgin Islands.

To get your brains working, here’s a form you can cut, paste, print, and take with you to the bar.

Room To Not Be Redecorated_______________________________________

Budget Worksheet:

Estimated Degree of Ingenuity Required, (circle one): 1 beer 2 beers 3 beers 4 beers

Multiply Estimated Degree of Ingenuity by number of participants to compute budget:

( ) participants X ( ) beers = ______(Estimated Budget )

Items that could be sold on eBay_______________________________________

People Who Would Have To Be Lied To Or Otherwise Coerced To Make This Work:

( ) Husband ( ) Wife ( ) Parents

Happy repurposing, and cheers!

It might be the snow, which came early and hard this year, or the two Christmas concerts I participated in last weekend and the weekend before, but this year it's kind of overtaken me in spite of myself. 

Yesterday I was walking around in Lowe's, and I walked through this little area where they had set up a bunch of Christmas trees with decorations.  The area had a low ceiling (it was under a balcony they use to display deck furniture), and the bright lights of the store didn't penetrate.  Suddenly, and really pretty intensely, old sensations rose up:  the sound of Mom playing Christmas carols on the organ Christmas morning, the wonder of presents in red paper that held something mysterious and wonderful for me.  If you promise not to tell anyone, I'll tell you this:  I teared up a little. 

So, I dunno.  I like it.  I'm rolling with it.  Tomorrow I think I'll post, for those of you who might have missed it, my In-a-gadda-da-vida post from a few months ago.  I've been running from morning to night for several weeks now, with no real end in sight until Christmas Eve.  It's all good.  God is good.  

A little Christmas story. 

The Alter of Speech

by Ed Schief

© 2005 Ed Schief

Use by permission only

FADE IN:

INTERIOR. TEMPLE INNER SANCTUM – A SMALL, CURTAINED ROOM WITH AN ALTAR IN THE CENTER. ON THE ALTAR RESTS AN INCENSE HOLDER. THE ALTAR IS FOUR FEET HIGH, FIVE FEET WIDE, TWO FEET DEEP, MADE OF STONE. IT IS POSITIONED SLIGHTLY STAGE LEFT, SHORT SIDE FACING THE CAMERA.

Enter ZECHARIAH, a very tall man wearing a ceremonial robe and hat and carrying a burning oil lamp. ZECHARIAH pushes a curtain aside and steps into the room, stopping just inside.

ZECHARIAH:

(letting out a long sigh)

Sixty three years and I finally made it! I almost thought it would never come. Me—big, backward, boondock-boy Zechariah, standing here...here in the temple at Jer-us-a-freeking-lem. WHOO!!

Realizing the 'WHOO' was a bit much, ZECHARIAH looks up to God and makes a motion with his hand as if to promise he won't do it again. He walks to the altar, puts the oil lamp down on the altar and lights the incense from the lamp. Placing the incense in it's holder, he keeps the incense and holder in his hands and closes his eyes.

ZECHARIAH

Please, Lord – don't let me mess this up. No dropping of the incense, no tripping over my big feet. I mean, a priest only gets one chance ever to do this, and I want to make it good, you know? So I just want to go on record as saying that I'm grateful for this opportunity...and that I'm not angry or bitter anymore that Elizabeth and I never had children. I'm sure you had your reasons, and to tell the truth, this kind of makes up for it, being chosen to offer the prayer in the temple. So, anyway, I'm really okay with the whole childless thing.

While ZECHARIAH prays, GABRIEL materializes, standing at the end of the altar. GABRIEL is considerably shorter and smaller than ZECHARIAH. He wears a white robe and watches while ZECHARIAH prays.

ZECHARIAH

I mean, besides, who am I to tell You what to do...you can do whatever you want, because, well, you know, you're GOD and everything...

GABRIEL rolls his eyes at ZECHARIAH'S rambling, finally clearing his throat to get ZECHARIAH'S attention.

GABRIEL

Ahem...

ZECHARIAH opens his eyes, sees GABRIEL.

ZECHARIAH

Yikes!!

ZECHARIAH leaps backward, dropping the incense and tripping over his feet, ending up on the floor and losing his hat in the process. Without taking his eyes off GABRIEL, he fishes around on the floor for the incense and holder, burning his hand on the incense.

ZECHARIAH

(Blowing on his hand)

Ow. Dang it.

ZECHARIAH looks at his hand, then back up to GABRIEL. He walks on his knees to the altar and places the incense and holder back in it's place, keeping his body as far away from GABRIEL as possible. He crawls back and gets his hat, stands up and puts the hat back on. GABRIEL stands impassively, silently. Straightening up and dusting himself off, ZECHARIAH finally finds his voice.

ZECHARIAH

What are you doing here? No one is supposed to be in here. You could get in a lot of trouble.

GABRIEL

Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard.

ZECHARIAH

(blustering)

Yeah, OVERheard–-by YOU. And it could get you in a lot of trouble, buddy. You really scared me there. Who are you, anyway? You look a little like the guy I buy my chickens from -

GABRIEL

(interrupting)

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

ZECHARIAH

Okay, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave my wife outta this conversation -

GABRIEL

(continuing over ZECHARIAH)

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

ZECHARIAH

You're one of the guys from the gentile crew we hire to clean up, aren't you? Look, you really shouldn't be in here -

GABRIEL

(Fed up with the interruptions)

Will you be quiet? I have a message for you.

ZECHARIAH

(Waving his hand)

Oh, well, of course. Please continue.

GABRIEL

(with the tiniest of sighs)

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah -

ZECHARIAH

(interrupting again)

Elijah! That's good. Nice touch -

GABRIEL

(Continuing over ZECHARIAH)

- to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

ZECHARIAH

(Waits a beat.)

Is that it?

GABRIEL

You're a real yapper, you know that? For Pete's sake; you spend your whole life in the priesthood, and now this thing is just going right over your head like a frisbee on a windy day.

ZECHARIAH

It's pretty impressive, really. You manage to get in here without being seen, you know some details about my life...but you're busted. You're a priest from one of the other provinces, and you're pouting because I was chosen to come in here and offer the prayer. Fine. You want to throw my childlessness in my face, don't do it in here. Show some respect for the temple. We'll take it outside. Mano a mano. And I feel constrained to point out (points at GABRIEL); you're not a very big 'mano'.

GABRIEL

Don't point your finger at me – it's disrespectful.

ZECHARIAH

I'll point my finger -

ZECHARIAH struggles, but can't raise his arm. It's the opposite arm from the one with the burned hand.

ZECHARIAH

I'll point my finger...

GABRIEL

Having a little trouble, boondock-boy?

ZECHARIAH

(looking at his arm)

What's goin' on here?

GABRIEL

A lot more trouble than I had with another fella, name of Daniel. Maybe you've heard of him?

ZECHARIAH

(eyes widening in comprehension)

You...you're saying you're....Gabriel?

GABRIEL walks slowly away from the altar, toward ZECHARIAH.

          GABRIEL

Yep.

Never taking his eyes off GABRIEL, ZECHARIAH circles wide to keep away from GABRIEL. He ends up in standing with his back to the altar. GABRIEL turns with him until they've essentially traded places.

ZECHARIAH

But...you can't...you couldn't...what was your message again?

GABRIEL

Don't worry. I'll see that you dream it about sixty times. Basically, you and Elizabeth are going to have a son, and he'll be great in the sight of the Lord.

ZECHARIAH

I...I'm having trouble believing this.

GABRIEL

I get that a lot. You remember the prophecy in Malachi? It's one of your favorites.

ZECHARIAH

(thinking, then reciting slowly from memory)

“...I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers...”

GABRIEL

Pretty good for big, backward, boondock-boy Zechariah.

ZECHARIAH

That prophecy is about...about my son?

GABRIEL

It is, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard.

ZECHARIAH

Okay, but wait a minute...how's that going to work?

GABRIEL

Like it always does. What do you mean? You and your wife are going to have a son. It happens every day.

ZECHARIAH

(pacing)

I mean, my wife Elizabeth, she's...she's pretty old, you know what I mean? (with a little laugh) And I am too, for that matter.

ZECHARIAH stops pacing and looks directly at GABRIEL.

               ZECHARIAH

Not that I'm admitting anything.

GABRIEL rolls his eyes.

                            ZECHARIAH

                    I mean, I keep in pretty good shape...

                            GABRIEL

(stepping slowly toward ZECHARIAH and emphasizing words with his finger)

You really beat all, you know that? I come all the way here, from the presence of God – which is, by the way, a very pleasant place to be – to give you some good news, and all I get from you is pointing fingers and falling down and stupid questions. You think it's gonna be too hard for God to give you a baby? Like maybe he'll have to lie down afterwards from the effort?

As GABRIEL approaches, ZECHARIAH climbs backward up and over the altar without ever turning his back on GABRIEL, being careful not to touch the incense. This is difficult to do because he still can't use one of his arms, and he loses his hat in the process. He delivers the next lines while climbing over the altar.

ZECHARIAH

Hey...you're not gonna tell God about me dropping the incense, are you? I mean...you have a way of scarin' a guy...

GABRIEL throws his arms up in the air and moves menacingly toward ZECHARIAH, who sinks down until only this head is showing above the altar.

GABRIEL

(ranting)

Right. I'll just HIDE this little conversation from God! I'll go back and tell Him, “Ol' boondock Zechariah's just a peach of a guy. He was right on board from the start.” The Lord won't notice I lied – things go right over HIS head all the time. Sheesh. How in the world did you make it out of Junior High?

ZECHARIAH

I was good at sports.

GABRIEL

(straightening his robe)

Well, Sport, it's time for me to go. You got it straight, now? You and Elizabeth will have a son, and you'll call him John.

ZECHARIAH

I think I've got it.

GABRIEL

(pointing)

You lost your hat again.

ZECHARIAH reaches down with the arm that GABRIEL immobilized, puts his hat on, then stands up, stretching his formerly useless arm out straight. He flexes his it in amazement.

ZECHARIAH

I can move my arm again!

ZECHARIAH rubs his arm with the other hand, then looks at the hand in amazement.

ZECHARIAH

And my hand...it's...it's not burned. I mean, it was burned...I burned it on the incense, but now it's...it's okay.

GABRIEL takes his place at the end of the altar, where he first appeared, facing the way he was when he came in, toward the entrance to the room. He notices a piece of lint on his robe, and flicks it off.

GABRIEL

For reasons that utterly escape me, Zechariah, God is very fond of you. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

ZECHARIAH

(still crouched behind the altar)

That 'mysterious ways' quotation...that's not in the Bible, you know. It's just something people say.

GABRIEL

I can't have a good thought of my own once in a while?

ZECHARIAH

I'm just saying.

As he delivers his next lines, GABRIEL gradually fades from view.

GABRIEL

Well, say it to somebody else – I'm outta here. Don't forget what I told you, and don't make me come back here again. You wouldn't want that.

GABRIEL fades completely and is gone.

ZECHARIAH stands, staring at the spot where GABRIEL stood, then puts one hand to his forehead and starts to laugh, walking around to the front of the altar.

ZECHARIAH

Whoa. WHOA! Nobody is going to believe this! The angel Gabriel came and talked to me! Right here!...he stood right there (pointing) and told me I'm going to have a son. A son that was prophesied about! Oh oh-oh-oh-oh....I gotta tell Elizabeth! I gotta tell everybody! Whatta story! Gabriel!

ZECHARIAH pushes his chest out a little, hooks his thumbs under his arms, and walks to the entrance, then stops, his back to the spot GABRIEL last stood.

ZECHARIAH

Gabriel, who wasn't so scary after all. Gabriel, Mr. 'I hang around with God' angel big shot. (He imitates GABRIEL'S voice) “Don't make me come back here. You wouldn't want that.”

As ZECHARIAH speaks, GABRIEL gradually rematerializes, staring at ZECHARIAH'S back, with his eyebrows arched. As ZECHARIAH finishes speaking, he feels GABRIEL'S eyes, and turns around slowly to face him.

GABRIEL

You know.....that's it. You have quite the little gift of gab, don't you? Tell you what; let's just see how you do without it for a while. Until the baby is born, you will not be able to speak.

ZECHARIAH opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. He puts one hand to his throat. He opens and closes his mouth, but to no avail. He takes a step toward GABRIEL, his hands extended imploringly, trying to say something.

GABRIEL

Have a nice time chiseling your story into a rock.

GABRIEL disappears again.

ZECHARIAH walks over to the altar, stopping short of it by a few feet. Tentatively he bends at the waste and reaches his hand out to the spot GABRIEL last occupied. He waves his hand around in the air where GABRIEL stood. He almost loses his balance, and reaches out to the altar to steady himself. His hand touches the incense and he jumps back, holding his newly re-burned hand. He turns toward the camera and exaggeratedly mouths the word 'OW!')

Fade to black.