Notes from the back of bus 2

Wednesday we are to travel from Graz to Salzburg for the last concert.

Our travel since we arrived in Prague has been by two coaches. Once attached to a coach the groups have become families. My previous experience with the Singing Men of Texas led me to the back of the bus and I brought Beth with me with some reservation on her part. The family that has formed around us at the back of bus 2 has a reputation for frivolity. Beth observes: “I think they thought I would cramp their humor – well it hasn’t stopped them from cracking jokes and telling funny stories. We have all laughed hard. I know the churches where they serve are blessed to have them. They are talented, caring, and passionate about sharing the Lord through their music. Be sure to thank them for all they do when you see them.”

One technical note, this post is being written on the bus as we travel. Thanks for the aircard!

Wisdom from bus 2:

What English words end in -dous?

Tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. Also, the rare zoological word annelidous.

New photos are up this morning from the concert last night in Graz.

Got my back.

I have the greatest job there is. I cannot imagine doing anything different as I am blessed beyond measure to be able to travel and meet people and attempt to tell stories with photos and video.

This trip to Czech Republic and Austria is a rare opportunity to travel with my beautiful wife. Beth and I marked our 30th anniversary in January and were blessed to save enough money so she could accompany me and we are celebrating on this trip. This is my 3rd international trip with the Singing Men of Texas and her first. Here are some of her thoughts she shared with me today:

“I am an outsider on this trip but I have been accepted and welcomed to tag along.

Coming from a different perspective (not a music minister’s wife), I have observed the fellowship of these men and their wives. It is a special time when they are together.

The wives are encouragers, greeters, prayer warriors, camera holders, picture takers, and anything else they are asked to do.

The wives pray together before the concerts, they rejoice at the news of the professions of faith in the concerts, and they pray with women after the concerts. You can see they feel the heartache, pain, joy, and discouragement as they look into the eyes of women they pray with.

Every smile, and every handshake is given willingly by these women – they are allowing the Lord to use them as vessels for His glory.

There are many other wives at home and I know they are praying and are encouragers too.”

My Beth fits right in with these women because she is one of them.

I could not do what I do without her.

Discovering SH 207

I had the privilege this weekend to attend the first ever Inpire! event in Plainview. Inspire! is a creative experience for Texas Baptists. It is designed to inform, equip, and send Texas Baptists inspired to new involvement in missions, evangelism, and ministry. Over one hundred Texas Baptists from the panhandle region participated in worship experiences and training sessions to expand their vision and sharpen their skills in ministry.

A bonus for me was the drive from Dallas to Plainview and back. Driving Texas this time of year is a special treat for me and traveling alone allows me to listen to whatever music I like (or none at all).  I really enjoy traveling with others but sometimes traveling alone is theraputic.

 A quick glance at a map revealed an undiscovered treasure for me. SH 207 runs 199 miles from Post to the Texas/Oklahoma border southeast of Guymon, OK.  There is nothing wrong with US 84 to Lubbock and then IH 27 north to Plainview however I have made that drive several times and decided to try something new.

I was not disapointed in the choice. SH 207 is a real Texas treasure. Gently rising from approximately 2,600 feet in Post to nearly 3,200 feet in Floydada, SH 207 runs alongside and sometimes up and over the Caprock Escarpment, the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado. Along the way uninviting semi-desert grudingly gives way to fertile farmland. Recent springs rains have turned the landscape unusually green and someday soon I will learn the name of the purple plant that was brilliant in the sun Saturday evening following thunderstorms Friday night.

I hope to return to SH 207 soon and explore north of Floydada where the highway goes through Palo Duro Canyon and on to the Oklahoma border.

 I also hope Inspire! the event that brought SH 207 to me will represent the rebirth of the evangelistic zeal that has identified Texas Baptists.

What I take for granted.

Today I flipped a switch and lights came on. Today I turned a knob and safe, clean water came out of the faucet. I recently returned from a place where neither of these is taken for granted yet I spoke with my wife almost every day by cell phone. I am taking a daily pill to prevent my body from contracting a disease for which the cause and cure were discovered early in the 20th century yet thousands still die from it every day.

I do not understand why where you are born determines not only how you live but often times if you live at all.

I am grateful for how I am blessed and I pray to understand how I can better help those not born as I.