One Solitary Life

This is always my favorite thing to listen to at Christmas. We have a recording of Gene Autry reciting it.. it's pretty moving and I hope you all enjoy it.

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I just wanted to leave a little note to wish all of my friends and family a very Merry Christmas. I'm about to go and see what Santa brought me, but before I do that, I'm going to say a prayer for all of the men and women that fight for our freedoms everyday. The ones that don't know when, or if, they'll make it home. And another prayer for my Savior, Jesus Christ. After all, He is the reason for all of this... and in keeping with that sentiment, here's a reprint of the poem I posted last year. I hope you all enjoy it and have a merry, merry Christmas. Oh, and I got a JOB for Christmas. I'm going on tour with the Larkins. You can check them out at www.larkinmusic.com.

~The Meaning of Christmas~
When winter arrives and snow coats the ground,
Thoughts of friends and loved ones begin to come 'round.
Wreaths of green and bows of red,
Announcing a season that some of us dread.
Shoppers race to-and-fro, they push and they shove,
To secure all the gifts that their family will love.
Houses aglow with twinkling lights,
As children await the most famous of nights.
When a jolly, old elf will alight on their roof,
His reindeer step lively, quick on the hoof.
The old man descends,
Down the chimney he comes.
To munch cookies and milk,
To leave dolls, trains and drums.
With a flick of the nose he'll be back up the chute,
To continue his journey, delivering loot.
When morning has broken,
The children awake.
They rush to the tree,
Of the gifts to partake.
Ripping at paper and pulling on ribbon,
They don't stop to think why these gifts they've been given.
So please, won't you turn to your children and say,
"These gifts are not why we are all here today."
Christmas is not for the presents or carols or lights,
For Santa or reindeer or snowflakes of white.
But for a sweet baby, a manger-born boy,
Sent down to guide us and bring us great joy.
The angels they lifted their voices on high,
To soothe the dear child with God's lullaby.
Peasants and shepherds, mighty lords and great kings,
All came to town, great gifts they did bring.
Gold and silver, incense and myrrh,
Rubies and diamonds and coats made of fur.
All for the child, who knew not His power,
But who knew now of love in this glorious hour.
"Merry Christmas" alone does not say it all,
"Happy Birthday dear Jesus" should be what we call.
For Christmas is not just a gift-giving season,
The birth of our Lord -- now there, that's the reason!
So when you say "Merry Christmas," please remember one thing:
That this day is for Jesus our Savior
The newborn King!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (reprise)...

Hello again...

I'm heading home to Iowa today to spend Christmas with the folks. As I was killing time waiting for Lauren to get off of work, I thought that I should re-post my blog from last year that spoke of my favorite memories of Christmas. Here's hoping you and yours have a very Merry Christmas...

The feeling of excitement when the first load of firewood arrives at the house (although I always put up a fuss when Dad asks me to help unload it!)...

Grinning like a Cheshire cat when the first fire is lit in the woodburning stove...

Shopping for the perfect Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine with Dad at Mr. Homegrown...

Mom bitching when we bring the tree inside because we're getting needles all over the carpet... (Mom, the carpet is green... it'll blend in!)

Excavating beneath the stairs to retrieve all of the Christmas decorations...

Mom and I spending a Saturday afternoon turning the house into a Norman Rockwell painting...(I still don't understand why we can't leave the decorations up all year... they look so pretty!)

Waiting with baited breath for Dad to return home from deer hunting in Clermont so we can decorate the tree...

Decorating the tree to the strains of Gene Autry singing all our Christmas favorites...

Dad cussing the tangled extension cords as he wrestles with the bubble lights...

Mom grinning from ear-to-ear as each one of my "baby" ornaments is found and hung...(Who says Mom's not a packrat?!?)

Dad smiling bigger than I've ever seen when the ornament with the picture of Grace and Len is found...

Feeling the lump in my throat, the tears in my eyes and the pride in my heart as I get to hang my sister Brandi's ornament at the top of the tree...(Forever my guardian angel...)

Watching our current dog (Rex, Brandy, Frannie and now Delsie) help Dad and I hang the tinsel on the tree...

Seeing the space below the tree grow smaller and smaller as more and more gifts are placed there...

Gathering as many family members as possible to spend the night on Christmas Eve...

Dad's Prime Rib for Christmas Eve dinner...

Christmas carols by the fire...

B&B, coffee and RumpleMintz in chocolate shot glasses as we wait for Santa...(a new tradition, but a favorite nonetheless)

Christmas morning hangovers!

Racing to the banister to see what Santa left in my stocking...

Heading downstairs with coffee in hand (hangover!) to see what Santa brought me...

Watching Allyson and Dylan pass out the gifts and remembering when it used to be MY job...

Noticing that as I get older, my gifts get fewer... (Or do they?)

Dad's famous Christmas morning breakfast and then a NAP!!

Heading to Durant for the Thoma/Hansen family gathering...

Stopping off at ITC (now the Checkered Flag) to make the next day's pizza dough...

Arriving first at Grandma Chrystol's no matter WHEN we leave our house...

Getting more and more excited as each family member arrives...

Grandma Chrystol in her red sweater with the Christmas lights on it...

Stuffing myself with Grandma's Christmas cookies...(None will EVER be better than hers!)

Passing out the gifts in Grandma's black and white checkerboard tiled basement...(Sadly, never to happen again... sigh...)

Returning home to unwind by the tree, watching the lights glow and smiling because I realize how lucky I truly am to have such a wonderful family...

I hope you all enjoyed my trip down memory lane... I know I did.

One more note before I sign off... No matter how much the inconsiderate jerk who's in front of you at the store may upset you, or how much the stupid drivers may tee you off, don't succumb to holiday rage. Remember the spirit of this holiday... and no matter how much the media and corporate America may want to "commercialize" Christmas.. they can't change the spelling! Christmas is, was and always will be a birthday party for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season, and I, for one, will NEVER forget that. I pray that you don't either.

Adios!

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day...

I heard the Johnny Cash version of this song today and it touched me quite deeply. It really speaks of the state of the world today and of how God is downplayed by many. Perhaps if we take heed and listen, really listen, to the lyrics we might begin to live in harmony as He intended... Merry Christmas everyone.


I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Bless All The Dear Children In Thy Tender Care...

"... and take us to Heaven to live with Thee there." ~ Away in a Manger, P.D.

My post today is of a somber tone. On this day in 1975 my sister, Brandi Chrystol Thoma, passed away. I know precious little about what caused her death, except that she too had heart problems.

I've never asked many questions, as I know it's still hard for my parents to talk about. I can't imagine what it must be like for a parent to lose a child. Especially after only having them for six months.

Often times I wonder why Jesus gave Brandi to my parents only to take her away a short time later. I can't come up with any valid reasons, but I don't think I'm supposed to. All I know is that I miss her even though I never knew her. I know that I feel indebted to her because she died so that I could live. I also know that it would have been really cool to have a sister close to my age.

One thing I don't understand is why I feel sadness when I think of her. I never knew her, so why should I cry when I hang her ornament on our Christmas tree? Why should "Silent Night" and "Away In A Manger" turn me into a sobbing mess? Maybe it's sympathy for my parents' loss. Or maybe it's that Brandi and I do share some sort of a spiritual bond, even though she left this life before I arrived. Either way, I know that I can't wait to get to Heaven and meet her.

My thoughts and prayers are with my parents today, and also with my sister Kathy, brother David, and all the other family members that were blessed to know Brandi.

If you have children, never miss a chance to hug them. If your parents are still alive, call them and tell them you love them... you never know when they might be taken away.

I love you, sis.

"Sleep in Heavenly peace..."

Imagine all the people...

"... living life in peace..." - John Lennon, Imagine

I'll be the first to tell you that I'm not the world's biggest Beatles fan. I'm not even close. But I do have several Beatles songs that I absolutely adore, and I understand (especially after my trip to Liverpool, England) the incredible impact that John, Paul, George and Ringo had (and continue to have) on music.

I also respect them immensely as they were also HUGE Buddy Holly fans and recorded many of Holly's songs during their career.

But the reason for this post is not to wax poetic about the Beatles. The reason for this post is to honor the memory of one of it's members.

25 years ago today, December 8, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment. The voice of a generation was silenced forever. But even though John is gone, his memory and music continue to inspire and move people everyday. Even the young, upstart musicians of today show reverence for a man that lived a complete lifetime before they were even born.

Mark David Chapman, the man who robbed the world of one of it's brightest stars, is up for parole next year. Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, is continuing to fight to convince the powers that be that Chapman should die in prison. Well Yoko, if he does manage to get out, I doubt he'll get far. There are too many people in the world that would love to see Chapman disposed of... But whether he lives or dies, we still have John Lennon's music and memory.

Do yourself a favor and crank up your favorite Beatles memory and sing along. You'll feel better for it and I bet it would make John smile.

Maybe this year we'll be able to sing "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" and it will be true... one never knows...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

... even in Nashville!!

Believe it or not, it's 24 degrees (16 w/wind chill) this morning! Our cars were covered with ice this morning, and we didn't have ice scrapers! You'd think that as long as I'd lived through sub-zero Iowa winters, that I'd be prepared. Normally, I would've been, but everyone was telling me, "No.. don't worry. It stays in the lower 50's until January..." Yeah, right! Anyway...

My musical life is perking up a little bit lately. The last Saturday in November, I was called at 6:30 pm and summoned downtown to play a shift with Billy Dalton. Then I got lucky and was able to also play the very next shift (also with Billy).

Then this past Friday I got a phone call at 2pm asking if I was playing anywhere that evening. I ended up getting a weekend gig at Jesse Zane's Nashville Nights on Printer's Alley in Nashville. The gig was pretty long (8 hours) and I only made $100 per night, but that was $200 more than I had before.

Then I ended up hooking up with the band Paradise Avenue. They found me through the internet and we got together last night for an impromptu rehearsal. So it looks like I'll be playing with them off and on whenever our schedules match up.

I'm also playing both nights this weekend with Dustin Bogue but it's no longer at the dastardly Debbie's dive! One gig is in Lebanon, TN and the other is about 70 miles away but I can't remember the town. It will be a lot of fun playing with Dustin again, as he does lots of classic country which I love.

On December 16th, Hit-N-Run (my band with Tim McDonald) will be opening for a friend of Tim's that recently opened for Mark Chesnutt. We'll be in Huntsville, AL. It should be fun.

Jesse Zane was blown away by my playing and he wants me to play Dec. 16-17, but as I have a gig the 16th, I'll see if I can play the 17th. He also wants me to play New Year's Eve, but the money isn't as good as I think it should be, so I'll make him an offer. If he accepts, then I'll play, but if not, I'll just get happy ringing in the New Year!

But before the ball drops, I'll get to enjoy Christmas back home in Iowa. Speaking of Christmas, it's occured to me that I hadn't even brainstormed about what I'd like to receive this year. Some of the things I came up with:

New rear brakes for my van
20GB or 40GB I-Pod or Dell DJ
Tickets for Queen+Paul Rodgers concert on March 3, 2006 in Jacksonville, FL
Hohner Special 20 harmonicas (G, D, A)
Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions DVD
New set of musician's custom earplugs
Gift certificates to Forks Drum Closet, Nashville TN
Kona coffee beans (100% Kona only.. NOT a Kona blend)
Starbucks gift cards
Wal-Mart gift cards

I usually have a longer list, but I really can't think of anything else. I already have almost everything I could want. I'm living where I've always wanted to live, I'm playing music regularly, I have family and friends who love me, I have clothes on my back and food in my fridge. A lot of people living in our country today can't say that.

As the years roll on, I notice that Christmas is becoming more about what to buy, and how much of it to buy. Didn't Jesus call gluttony a sin?

Instead of buying 4 or 5 gifts for people, just buy one (or two at the most), and give the rest of what you'd have spent to Katrina or Rita relief. Or throw a couple of bucks in the Salvation Army buckets. Or do little things like bring those bell-ringers some hot coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider to keep them warm as they give of themselves. If you see a homeless person on the street, bring them a hot meal from down the street, or offer them a blanket or directions to the nearest shelter.

Be kinder to your fellow man/woman. Don't let traffic snafu's get to you as you drive around finishing your shopping. Call your parents and let them know how much you love them. If they have passed on, visit their grave and leave fresh flowers and say a prayer. Remember all of the wonderful memories of Christmases past and embrace as many traditions as you can.

Here ends my public service announcement... Have a Merry Christmas (or Happy Hunnakah or Merry Kwanzaa...) and remember WHY it is that we celebrate this holiday. If you have trouble remembering... there's a book you can read that will tell you ALL about it.

God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!