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Technologically challenged…….

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I had a conversation today about technology, and I found it very interesting. You see, I have a new phone, a new phone that I barely know how to answer. I got it because I needed to be able to SEE my screen better, but I had always used a Blackberry, and you really can’t enlarge the screens easily with those. But I was GOOD with my Blackberry and now I have to learn something NEW. It is a BIG learning curve that I just can’t seem to figure out.

But what was funny was the fact that I now blog every day. I blog, have a Facebook account, text, use a computer for emails and work and a schedule (that is also supposedly on my phone) and can probably be tracked more easily than my dog who is chipped and moves basically from his bed to the food and back to bed again.
I write my sermons and do research on a computer. I can tell you what I said ten years ago because it is in a file on my computer. Yet even in grad school I didn’t have a computer because NO ONE DID. And do you know what? Oddly enough, we got by.
I grew up in a world without answering machines, where when we said we would dial the phone we meant it, and where the phones were big, heavy and corded. Mail meant the postman, and we really did think it was pretty fast. I could fix my car without paying someone to plug it into some diagnostic thingy, and people would not complain if it took them a day or two to get a hold of you. (Of course now they complain if they can’t reach you in 5 minutes)
I was thinking though, what did I do with all the time I had that I now fill up with technology? And why, if this is all supposed to be helpful, efficient, and convenient do I feel more stressed today than I was then? I mean, geeez…..I was okay with a couple of 8track tapes back in the 70’s, why do I need something that holds 7 million songs that I can’t find a song I want to listen to on?
I think tomorrow I will find the book that came with my phone and read it. Of course I probably will not understand enough about it to make a difference, but at least it is a step in the right direction. After all, I cannot grow into a crotchety old man if I do not have at least a little base of knowledge that I can misunderstand.
It is just hard working to become that parent that can be a burden to his children as he grows old. I’m just not doing it well at all. Maybe I should check and see if there’s a App for that!
Goodnight my friends and God bless.
Tommy+
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Da leak, da pipe, da Foreman…..

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Yep, finally the work was done…..St. Patrick’s had a new line run from the water meter to the church. The leak is fixed, the inconvenience is over, and the boy had a great time looking at the Bobcat doing the work. He didn’t want to leave at all, and made it pretty difficult, but his mom called and was not feeling well at work, so the bossy little construction guy needed to get into the car and go get his mommy. (Ben the Builder…..no he can’t! He has to help mommy!)

But on the way home I drove back through to make sure everything was locked up. The water is on, but not running (which is a change) AND the side yard, which is what they dug up, looks like my yard at home ON STEROIDS! It is as if a mole from a nuclear site has made its way from the street to the back of the Church. In time I am told it will settle, but for now we are praying for snow so we can sled! It is huge! And if it gets any bigger by the morning I will know that stupid mole has moved! But of course, it is a small price to pay for bathrooms!
So Ben got to see a Bobcat, Amanda got to go to bed, and I have had another chaotic but productive day. Tomorrow I hope to be bored out of my mind. Who cares about production when your head is spinning?
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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A defiant dive into the secret stash…..

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The call just came in……she is on the plane in Memphis (via Montgomery) and will be landing at 9:30. It is just 8 here now, and there is no way at all she can stop me from letting Ben eat her ice cream. It would be a violation of Federal Law to get off that plane, PLUS it is her quickest route back.

But in all honesty, Ben deserves it. He has been a real trooper and even ate all his dinner. He sang with me tonight one of my favorite songs “C is for cookie and that’s good enough for me,” which I sing well and change the letter and subject. He tries to stay on pitch, changes the letter, but all letters appear to be about “cookie.” Apparently that’s good enough for him.
But the blessing is we will leave for the airport just as soon as I get out of the shower and run through the “tunnel” (the moving walkway) about 100 times before the plane lands. It is always a hoot, and to be honest it is so much less embarrassing to have Ben do it rather than Scott or Steph.
So it’s to the shower I go. I am not a big fan of ice cream so I will not need a chocolate removal for myself……I do not think the boy is going to be that fortunate.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Of backs, bells, and bed…….

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Great……my back is out (which happens occasionally) and Amanda is on a business trip. I have two problem areas of my back, one the result of an accident in college, the other the result of a sports injury. Unfortunately, both involved alcohol, which seemed pretty cool then, but which has resulted in a lifelong reminder about foolish behavior when you drink.

Of course Ben accompanied Amanda and I to the airport to drop her off, and no, Ben is not the result of foolish drinking behavior, but the result of our marriage, though looking at his behavior at times I wonder if he drinks. He is just three though, and I am doubtful that anyone would give him alcohol, even at college.
BUT, to look at him in the airport you would wonder what is wrong with him…….after all it is 85 degrees and he insists upon wearing his Ironman boots. But I was sure at the airport patrons were not as confused by him as they were by Amanda. After all, Amanda was the one walking with this strange little child being followed by a guy walking like Quasimodo with a suitcase. They must have thought she was one of the Sisters of Charity.
But the good news is that she is in Atlanta and Ben and I somehow managed to get home. He is watching Spout while I type, and as soon as I am done I can try to corral him to bed.
Of course first, I have to ring the bells.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommymodo+
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Not quite ready to share the news……..

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Since it is just 72 degrees right now, the dog, the cat and I are able to post from the back porch once again. Although I am not too anxious for the cold weather to come our way, sitting out here is something that really does me good. It is a real blessing to be here tonight.

Tomorrow Amanda leaves for a business trip so I will get to be the focus of most of Ben’s attention. The picture, I know, looks like I just told him, but I have not yet. He does not like it when his mom leaves so it is best to put that news off till it has to be shared. In fact, the picture is just after me expressing my concern that he needed to eat his macaroni BEFORE getting a cookie. The blanket is from one of his stalls (he couldn’t eat his macaroni because he was “cold,” which I fixed) but of course if there was a cookie, there would be no stall and temperature would not matter.
But really, who cares? He ate, he did not freeze to death in the middle of summer, he got his cookie, and I am able to sit out on the back porch……everyone is satisfied. And to me, that is the end to a perfect day!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Musician extraordinaire……..

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Although our very talented Director of Music resigned a few weeks ago to pursue her doctorate, I was very fortunate to have a talented music who was willing (meaning forced) to step in.

My son Scotty is an amazing musician. He started on the trumpet and endured lessons on piano, drums, and guitar…..all of which he protested greatly. He was never a good music student, except at school where they loved him. And it was not that he was not loved here. It was just not his “cup of tea” as they say to head to a lesson once a week.
His former piano teacher, Marsha Dragoo, is a parishioner at St. Patrick’s where Scotty now plays. I described him as her very worst student, to which she protested vehemently. But even Scott would beg to differ. His 15 second (including the walk up to the piano) recital rendition of “Penguin Blues” is still on video. He played it with one finger and got off the stage as soon as he could. He just was not very good with the lessons and structure.
But left on his own, he has become a remarkable musician. He plays, he writes, and he has one week in as the musician at St. Patrick’s, a position he will share every other week with another talented musician, Skip Beyer. Scotty just sits and plays. He loves music and it comes naturally. It is a real blessing to the congregation at St. Patrick’s and a real blessing to our entire ministry as well. And we have him for a year, as long as he doesn’t flunk out…..if he does, we have him longer.
As a guy who LOVES music, nothing could be a bigger blessing than having children who play. Steph is an amazing guitarist, but she now lives in Missouri. (Steph, on a challenge at around 10 years old learned to play “Canon in D” so I would take them to Disneyworld. I thought I was safe, but Florida was worth it) Scott will probably have a career/vocation that involves music, so it is a blessing to have him play. Ben sings and plays every instrument and all of them poorly. We just thank God his bedtime is as early as it is.
But on this night I am thankful for Scott and the answering of this call to ministry. I am certain it will not be his first. A guy like this is one whom the Lord will use. And as for me, I am blessed that He has decided to use him playing with us here at St. Patrick’s!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless.
Tommy+
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What I’ve got I want no cure for……….

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When I am away from home for a few days there is always some catching up I need to do, and today was no exception. I already had a list of things that I was to work on today, but by the time I was thinking about it I had already accomplished all the things I had forgotten that should have been on that list anyway. So this is to say I am looking at this list now for tomorrow!

But in all honesty, I get distracted and get distracted easily. When I was a kid they didn’t talk about things like ADD, but had they, I am certain I would have been their poster child. And sure, I suppose I could pay all that money to be tested (and for Scott and Ben too) but what an unbelievable waste of resources that would be. I can accomplish a lot already despite the distractions, and really being that focused would mean too much work……..I mean it would stifle my creativity.
So when I was working and saw Ben flat on the floor underneath the kitchen table I was truly intrigued. Not that I didn’t want to work anymore, but I was utterly fascinated at why anyone would camp out there other than on the couch (davenport where I grew up). So because I was so busy and so focused I got down there myself to see what all the rage was, and honestly I found it pretty pleasant. Ben was excited to see me too and as you can see, he posed for a few pictures.
So my catching up is postponed and I will spend the next hour or so trying to remember what I was going to do. And hopefully by then I will be too tired to do it.
Thank you Lord that I am not overly focused! Tonight I thank you for that ADD, the FBI, the CIA, NRA, NHL, NFL, MLB, my DOG and my BED. I will head there right after I wake up my SON on the kitchen floor.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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I am tired……I am Batman!

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As I pulled into the house tonight after driving just under 1000 miles within the last 48 hours (including moving Steph into her dorm yesterday and some meetings out of town today) my mind drifted to the reality that I spend an awful lot of time in my car. Not the kind of time the Bishop does who travels just over 400 days in every calendar year (yes, that’s a joke……everyone knows that he travels a lot more than that) but I indeed drive a lot.

So tonight I was thinking about what kind of car I want next and why. I currently drive a 2003 VW Passat, which is a comfortable car that gets pretty good gas mileage. But the Passat, though it has some nice features, is really missing a few important things I would like to have in a car.
1) The first is a bed. Though I am a good driver and a cautious and responsible driver, a bed would be a great feature. I would save on hotels and be much more alert at meetings.
2) A driver. Obviously if I am going to sleep in the car it would be best if I did so when not doing something important…..like driving. It is all about productivity with me, and having a driver would also stimulate the economy.
3) A cool style (like the Batmobile) As Rick Warren says, it’s not about you, and having a Batmobile would not be about me at all. It would attract a lot of attention which would allow me to talk to people about what life IS about. I have not yet worked this all out, but superhero evangelism may be just what we need to attract those elusive 18-34 stereotypical males to church.
4) A great Internet and phone set up. Anyone that drives at all will tell you the best way to lose a phone signal is to just have the feeling you want to make a call, you don’t even have to make it. But it is so 1990’s to not be fully wired!
And finally, but not a feature of the car, 5) a wife that will agree that all of this is a great idea. But I am really doubtful of my chances……..she hasn’t even opened that Robin costume I bought her two years ago on our anniversary.
Oh well……the VW is really not all that bad.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Girls go to college to get more knowledge, but boys go to Jupiter to get more HD channels on cable……

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Oh yes, it is true. Boys are much smarter than girls. After all the girls willingly marry us. (The prosecution rests)

But the big news of the day is that Stephanie now is living in Missouri at Lindenwood University. She has a great roommate, a lot of wonderful young women on her floor, and the opportunity to make of herself all that God has called her to make.
And I am certain she will do just fine. She is unpacked, and has all that she needs. And no, it is well past midnight now here at home and I haven’t heard from her. I am taking that as a good thing.
It was just such a busy time and day. Amanda was and is not feeling well, and Ben was a real trooper. He told us on the way home that he now wants to go live in Missouri too, “with Stephy.” And to get there we need to drive over the “Mr. Sippy Wiver.” I think he will need some time before he goes. Steph, on the other hand, knew it was “river.”
So now I just see what happens. I am sure it is going to be great for her though. I am just thankful she is finally there and thankful we are now at home. It’s time for bed too. Ten hours of driving, two Wal-Mart trips, and a list of things to mail tomorrow have worn me out!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The wake…….and the family dinner just prior…..

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I grew up in an area where they still held wakes. Wakes, for those of you who are not familiar, are at least in my experience, parties where people gathered to celebrate the life of the deceased. They were generally a lot of fun, something I was often sure the deceased would have enjoyed, and really a great tradition because it really focused upon the joyful experience of the deceased that all of us shared.

Tonight there is a small gathering going on downstairs, but as I saw as I came upstairs to write, no one downstairs is quite dead yet. The familiar laughter fills my ears, yet as the people leave I anticipate hearing the pain of shedding tears. It is all a part of life I suppose, yet I know it is hard on them all. It is something I wish I could take away, but in a way it is a right of passage we all cross on our way to adulthood.
It is a stark contrast to our family dinner that just preceded it. Sure there was the tensions of separation, but as family we always find ourselves back together. The dynamic never really changes that much and we accept changes with an ease that makes it tolerable. We will gather again, just we have in the past and just like tonight, all through our lives. There is a certainty in that we don’t just rely upon but believe will continue to take place. The certainty of that in young people has not the foundation of a family. Their anxiety is real, because in truth, it is based upon their hope.
Of course my hope too is that they will continue on exactly the same because I love it as it is now, but I know it will really never be the same. Each of their worlds is expanding, and what they now worry about letting go of will soon be assuaged by the reality that these very same worlds are not being dismantled but enriched as they move ahead. And though it may be a rough night, excitement and maturity replaces anxiety in the end.
Tomorrow morning we will pack up and leave, and I will have a few hours to prepare for my transition…….my wake of sorts I suppose. I have become convinced that all this is why God gives grandchildren. After all, it’s gonna need to be pretty dang good to get me to pull out of that parking lot in Missouri tomorrow!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+