Seeing God in it All

Our weekend in Idaho at the Lionel Hamptom Jazz Festival was terrific. We did see God in the big things and the small things.

To begin with as we drove across E. WA. Thurs nite we saw the eclipse of the moon. Clear,full and in totality. We may be looking at the next on

from the other side, but this was magnificent. Forgot

to stop and take a picture though. That was big.

The small was again to see how God has created music.

From 8 very small notes he has allowed us to create

an unlimited source of pure enjoyment. The highlight for us

was Morgan's 120 voice "jazz" choir. Jazz is really a misnomer

this choir repetoire was varied, dynamic, full of energy and very good.

Such as:

A guitar solo by Morgan that brought the house down.

A haunting rendition of Dante's "Inferno" that portrayed the agony,

eternity and emptiness of hell.

A masterful rendition of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"

- a Christian could only respond with worship.

And lots of good Jazz with a little "Scat" thrown in.

Thanks to Jim and Marla and Scott and Marianne

for the evening tickets. For Adam and Jaime for giving us such kind hospitality, including their bed. It gives us

pleasure to see them doing so well in family, work

and church. For Morgan for

such great playing in the choir, band, jazz group performances.

We left right after church Sunday. Morgan has a great church family,

a dynamic pastor and a good group to grow in.

We got home at 5:30 praising Him for all the big and small

things and family times He provides for us.

Jazzing it up in Idaho

	Late 1800s–Today The Blues: Back to the Source Born in the South, the blues is an African American-derived music form that recognized the pain of lost love and injustice and gave expression to the victory of outlasting a broken heart and facing down adversity. The blues evolved from hymns, work songs, and field hollers — music used to accompany spiritual, work and social functions. Blues is the foundation of jazz as well as the prime source of rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, and country music. The blues is still evolving and is still widely played today. This quote from "Black History in America" is a simple introduction to complex subject as evidenced by what we saw and heard here in the University town of Moscow ID. Highlights for us yesterday: Morgan performing with his small jazz combo- Morgan performing with the full jazz band. Both groups displaying incredible talent and musical prowess. Their young director is phenomenal and we got to meet him. This old duffer is amazed at the superior ability of college kids of this generation. We watched and listened to the group from Whitworth College. A tremendous tenor sax player in that group. You would have been proud Eric and Leah. So even though the highlight has been Morgan's groups, we also enjoyed a tour of the college led by Morgan meeting some of his friends, his great mentor couple from his church. Adam and Jaime are a delight and so gracious in hospitiality. There have been family remembrance times. etc. Nuff said to convey we are having a great time with and more of the same today and there are the professionals tonight. This could get additive. They won't let us take pictures of the performances

Blogger or Sluggard?

It's been so long since I have enterd a new post that if any one has been looking I know you must think the latter. Really, The last month has been rather routine. This last weeks trip to Canada marks a little change.
We traveled up to Vancouver, B.C. last weekend and spent a couple of days with Merlin and Brenda. It is always fun to be with them. As the picture shows, we also went out to dinner one night with their two boys who live in Abbotsford and are still both busily working building custom log homes.

Carol and I spent the week (4 1/2 full days) helping facilitate a Interpersonal skills Workshop with about 26 missionaries. This biblically based interactive workshop is designed especially for missionaries.
We had 26 attend. About 16 were missionaries in training and included quite a few foreign missionaries, mostly from Asia. The rest were experienced missionaries from various parts of the world. It was a challenge of communications and culture, but as always very effective. Bob facilitated with two other ladies and Carol did all the backup work.

The trip home was a challenge as well. One hour wait at the border and a huge traffic jam of over 50 miles from North of Everett to almost Olympia.

We travel in a few days to Moscow Id. We will be going to a Jazz festival where our grandson Morgan goes to college (U of Idaho)and has many chances to play (guitar) and we will also have lots of jazz listening times. Professional jazz artists play in the evenings and Marianne and Marla have bought us some tickets for that. Marianne-Morgan's mother-is coming down and we will be staying with Adam and Jaime. Our grandaughter and husband.
I will post some pictures next week.

I read recently that jazz was developed after the abolition of slavery and is a musical expression of freedom and of joy. Something that Christian music should express as well.
Picture below is the workshop in action.