http://www.the33tv.com/pages/content_landing_page/?Worlds-First-Online-Orchestra=1&blockID=150712&feedID=460

Julian is not only a very mature and personable young man, he is also very gifted and a hard worker in music, beginning with the violin.  At the instigation of his dad, Tuan, who is also a violinist (and founder and orchestra leader for a non-profit children’s orchestra in Grand Prairie, Children of the Strings*), and his mom (Tom’s daughter), Kristine, Julian began taking violin lessons when he was three years old – Suzuki method.

From there, over the years, he moved on to playing piano, drums, saxophone and guitar.  While he concentrates on classical music as a violinist, he also play lead guitar with his heavy metal band called "Igloo SpaceMen," which has several videos on You Tube, and composes music on his computer.  Tom’s favorite music video is Julian’s school project from last year "Prairie Biome Music Video," (you have to see it!) in which he wrote a piece for his band and performed it in a music video story he produced with the cooperation of his teacher and other students, who were in the video.  

Today, he is a sophomore at Booker T. Washington High School for the gifted in Dallas, where he not only takes lots of music classes (and this semester, ballet!), but also lines up professional "gigs," as he calls them, for nights and the weekends performing as a violinist, both solo and with a quartet or other small groups, for weddings and other social events.  

That’s when he’s not playing with Children of the Strings, for school events, with his heavy metal band or practicing non-stop.

His younger sister, Veronica, 13, plays cello and piano, is in Children of the Strings and is in a junior high for gifted students, as well, in Grand Prairie.  She loves to work with crafts, and when she, Julian, and their mom, Kristine, were here last weekend for a couple of day, Veronica was busy making the cutest little sock animals following the instructions in her craft book, "Stray Sock Sewing."  I even "ordered" three of them for Veronica’s three little step-cousins, my granddaughters, Zoe, Hannah & Kayci, here in Picayune for Christmas.

I could go on and on about Julian, Veronica, Kristine & Tuan, as well as the rest of our kids, grandkids and my baby great-granddaughter, Kiley, who is 1 1/2, but time and space won’t allow.  I will share a photo of Julian, Veronica, Hannah & Zoe taken last week when they were all here at the house visiting.  Julian & Veronica are teaching Hannah, 3, and Zoe, 6, to play a piece on the keyboard and we all were having a lot of fun.

Give yourself a treat right now and check out the links in this post for some enjoyable moments for today (except maybe for the heavy metal stuff, but then I’m not exactly a heavy metal grandma – I like the classical, much better).

Much love & Cheers & Blessings to you all today!  Dee

P. S.  My pain from shingles is subsiding and is mostly constant aching in my right side the past couple of days with twinges of pain from time to time.

____________________________________

*Tom’s son-in-law, Tuan, was written up in May 2008 Southern Living as "Grand Prairie’s Music Man" for his work with Children of the Strings, which has a great reputation in the Dallas area and doeswonderful work with the kids.

Enjoy her interview and leave lots of comments so she’ll know that you appreciate her candor and insights!  Dee

 Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture. 

I John 1:7  was a life changing passage for me. But I also like Psalm 37:4
     
2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born  

August 12, 1960–Rawlins, WY

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Married to Eddy Manweiler until his passing (17 years) We have two sons, Chad who lives in Florida with his wife Traci and three of my five grandsons.  Nathan lives in Lubbock TX and is father to my only granddaughter, a grandson and a new baby boy.

I have been married to Ned Cooper now for nine years.

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?

Ned is a minister and my life is better with him than without him, so where he goes, I go.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

Rawlins, Fox Park, and Laramie, Wyoming. Walden, Denver, Rocky Ford, Ordway and Pueblo, Colorado.  Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls and Kalispell, Montana, North Platte Nebraska, Lubbock and now Spearman, Texas.

6.  What kind of work do you do?

I am a social worker by trade and a licensed Christian counselor. Currently I work in a nursing home and am a minister’s wife.

7.  What do you love most about your work?

I have worked in juvenile justice, hospice, rape and domestic abuse centers, psych units and Emergency rooms and now in a nursing home. The answer is the same–I love getting to minister to people right when they need it.

8.  What do you like least about your work?

In every job, there are times when we are simply witnesses to suffering. I don’t like that feeling much.

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

There are two people. One is my mother, she taught me to never give up and to never ever do anything halfway. And Miss Bobbie Paden at Sunset who taught me to wear lipstick while I wholeheartedly do those things.

10.  Any hidden talents:

I am a crack shot with a nerf gun!

11.  Little known fact about me:

My parents were loggers and I learned to run a chainsaw and skid logs with horses by the time I was five or six.

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible):

Usually it is whatever I am reading. Right now, I am loving "Jesus Hero of Thy Soul" by Jim McGuiggan

2.  Favorite Movie:

I like Nicolas Cage movies, almost all of them.

3.  Favorite Food:

I love Mexican food and good thick homestyle hamburgers

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Christian, classical, contemporary, country, jazz, celtic instrumental

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

It changes but right now, I like Mercy Me, Todd Agnew, Kenny Chesney

6.  Favorite song:

Faithful Love—#18 in Faith and Praise (this hasn’t changed since the first time I heard the song)

7.  Favorite junk food:

Pistachios and Cherry Garcia ice cream

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

My parents and both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. used to picnic in the woods. We put our watermelon in the "crik" so it would be cold. We ate fried chicken, pork-n-beans, sliced tomatoes. potato salad,  and watermelon and chocolate cake. 

We almost always had a campfire and we listened as our parents and grandparetns, aunts and uncles talked about "old times".  We laughed and fished and laughed and waded and had a great time. We fell asleep in the car and Daddy carried us in and tucked us in, dirt and all. It was great!

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Any meal I now get to eat with my mom is the best.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

Italy

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Other than the first time I led someone to Christ, graduating from college as a single mom with two sons and a foster son, at age 36.  Being the wife of a minister, I have proud moments every time I get to hear him preach or teach.

4.  What do you most regret?

I regret that I was not a much better wife to my first husband and that I was not as grateful to God for him as I should have been. I try every day to remedy that with Ned.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Teach—everywhere, all the time, ladies days, classes, seminars, bible studies, children, women, here, overseas, right next door –just teach.

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

I love I John, a reminder of my assurance as God’s forgiven. And I love Psalms, my therapy for any and every emotion. 

Trey and his family live in Childress, Texas, which is not too far from Wichita Falls, up in the north part of the state not too far from the secondary state of Oklahoma.  (Only a true Texan would think that about Oklahoma and I happen to be one, so ’nuff said.)

Anyway, Trey is a minister there and also a . . . oops!  I can’t give away his secrets and hidden talents.  You’ll have to read those for yourselves below in his great interview.  So y’all comment and let Trey know you’ve dropped by to learn about him in his life and walk with God.

Thanks!  Dee

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture.

When I was little it was Luke 11:35, "Jesus wept." It was always my favorite because it was the only one I had memorized.  I actually thought it was all one word "Jes-zwept."  How could you go wrong with the shortest verse in the bible.  As I grew older it continued to be my favorite because it shows the "human-ness" of Jesus.  I like knowing I have a Jesus that’ll cry with me.  

2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born

January 9, 1966 in the little one horse town of Wheeler, Texas.

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Lea and I have been married for 19 years.  

I have 4 boys:
Taylor – 17 (Junior)
Parker – 15 (Freshman)
Connor – 11 (5th Grade)
Cooper – 5 (Mom’s helper)

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?”

God played a huge part in getting me in Childress Texas.  I believe with all my heart it was part of His plan.  When the Childress church called and asked if we were interested in moving to Childress we really weren’t.  We were very happy where we were.  But we decided to at least go look. The more we looked the more we liked.

The idea of a new challenge was what I really wanted.  One of the things that happened right after moving to Childress was I got new insurance.  In my new policy there was a plan for one physical a
year.  So 3 months after we’d moved in I got my free physical.  During that visit the doctor found that I had cancer.  Thankfully it was caught very early. 

Had I stayed in Tulia I would not have gone to the doctor for a
physical, but would have waited till problems from the cancer in my body had begun.  No telling when they would have found it, but it definitely would not have been early.  

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

I’m a west-Texas boy.  Grew up in Amarillo, Texas.  Went to school in Lubbock, Texas.  Then worked with churches in Tulia and  Childress Texas for the past 17 years.

6.  What kind of work do you do?

My official title is pulpit minister.  I love what I do.  I’d do it for free if I could, but don’t tell the Childress folks

7.  What do you love most about your work?

As a preacher, I only work one day a week (kidding). Actually, I love the people.  I love ministering to people and befriending people.  I see people at their best and their worst.  I love helping people when they’re in the trenches and rejoicing with them when their on the mountain top.  

8.  What do you like least about your work?

I struggle with the politics of "church" sometimes.  I get frustrated with people who are stuck in their ways and don’t want to try anything new.  I get angry with people who are cold, hard-hearted and un-Christ-like.  

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly
why:

Without a doubt, my wife.  I wouldn’t be preaching and ministering today if it wasn’t for her.  She was always there to keep me on track when I wanted to jump off.  She’s always been the one that gets me going when I wanted to do something else.  She does nothing but encourages me.  She constantly tells me I’m the best dad, husband and preacher in the world.  Yea, she stretches the truth quite a bit, but it makes me want to be all those things she tells me.  

10.  Any hidden talents:

I’m a Paramedic.  It’s been a great ministry tool.  

11.  Little known fact about me:

My weight peeked at 260 lbs in 1995 when I decided that I could preach on self-discipline and self-control anymore and be over weight.  I lost down to 185.  I’m an avid runner still today and weigh about 200 lbs.  I ran a marathon in 1998.  BUT I do still lust for the old days … whole milk and Krispy Kreme Donuts.  Umm

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible):

Finish Strong – Steve Farrar.  A MUST read for every man.

2.  Favorite Movie:

Cast Away with Tom Hanks – The movie gave me hope when I was battling cancer.

3.  Favorite Food:

Chinese food rocks, hands down.

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

There’s only one kind of music: Classic Rock

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Boston

6.  Favorite song:

100 Years – Five for Fighting

7.  Favorite junk food:

Krispy Kreme Donuts

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

I grew up in a very poor family.  There were 9 of us in the family.  So Christmas’ were very special.  It was about the only time we ever got something "new."

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

On my 39th Birthday my wife found a babysitter for all the boys and fixed supper for me and her at home alone. She fixed all my favorites, but it wasn’t just the food what was good … it was just the whole evening. I will never forget that meal.    

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to
before?

Bristol, Tennessee for a NASCAR race … Yee-Haw

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Watching my children succeed spiritually.  Nothing can top hearing my kids pray, lead a song or stand up for what’s right. When I see my boys from a distance I swell up with pride and think, "that’s my boy!"  I pray God does the same when He sees me.

4.  What do you most regret?

Losing a pocket-knife that belonged to my father (He is now deceased).  

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your
time?

Move to the mountains, fly fish during the week and preach on the weekend.

I’d also make the Daytona 500 every year.

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Proverbs.  It was written by the wisest man to ever life.  Surely he’s got some wisdom for my life.

He writes cogent and insightful posts and is definitely worth reading.  Check out his blog and read his gracious interview here today.  Leave him comments to let him know how much you appreciate his responses and maybe what you might have in common with him.

Dee

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture?

 Romans 8:18-25

2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day& Place you were born

November 25th 1962, Springfield, TN

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Kim, JT, and Alex

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?

Our ministry was pushed out of Ft. Benning.  The people in Rochester, NY were looking for help.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

Greenbrier, TN;  Vicenzia, Italy; Fort Bragg, NC; Chattanooga, Nasvhille, Pikeville and Byrdstown, TN; Columbus, GA; Rochester, NY

6.  What kind of work do you do?

Ministry.

7.  What do you love most about your work?

The freedom of time to really be with God and attempt to say or do something for Him for the sake of His glory.   

8.  What do you like least about your work:

I least like being part of an apparatus that makes it almost impossible to utilize a lot of the gifts God has given me.  Our churches (churches of Christ) hire so-called experts (those of us who are ministers) to help the body grow, etc., but our organization promptly strips us of the practical ability to really facilitate change.  We (ministers) have almost no decision making ability; however, there are tremendous expectations that we’ll really impact the churches we serve. 

It’s a bizarre situation and accounts for part of the reason why so many preachers are just quitting.  When I was in business, I could make a decision that would immediately be implemented and change things.  I miss that more and more every year.

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

My wife.  Too many reasons why to even get started naming them.
10.  Any hidden talents:

I don’t even have many public talents.  If I had any talent, I certainly wouldn’t hide it!

11.  Little known fact about me:

I’m desperately absent-minded to the point of embarrassment (always have been).  I’m apt to drive right past my house, forget my own age (I thought I was turning 45 last year.  I was off by a year), and can rarely recall my own address or phone number when asked.  It’s embarrassing and makes me feel really dumb.  The more frustrated I get when trying to recall the simplest things, the more impossible remembering them becomes.   My wife has to check me like a kid when leaving the house to see if I have everything.  Not good for the ego! 

The flip side of that is that I can remember something I read 20 years ago just like I’d read it today.  I’d prefer to forget what I read 20 years ago and just remember to stop when the light is red.

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible!):

The New Man, Thomas Merton

2.  Favorite Movie:

Braveheart

3.  Favorite Food:

Fried, boneless, chicken breasts, mashed potatoes and green peas.

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Taize’ and/or contemporary Christian.

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Tie:  U2 & Coldplay

6.  Favorite song:

Days of Elijah

7.  Favorite junk food:

The little Goldfish chips, barbeque flavor

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Hanging clothes on the line with Mrs. Elizabeth.  I’ve written about the experience here.  It’s also a published essay in The Caney Creek Sampler, an east Tn literary magazine.


Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Steak and French fries in a small country place in Belgium.  And the after dinner cognac added a touch of perfection to the unexpected, delightful meal.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

Scotland

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Every moment I share with my kids and my wife.  I’m at the apex of my pre-eschatological existence whenever I’m in their company in ordinary moments.  I don’t need anything else.  I don’t need applause.  I just need their company.  Out of that community, I learn how to live in God’s bigger community.  

4.  What do you most regret?

Though I’ve learned a lot from my failures, I regret living like a wild hedonist-atheists from the age 18 to about 23.  The ghosts of those years still haunt me from time to time.  I’ve seen things and experienced things that I wish I could erase from my mind completely.  I wish I could forget as well as God forgives.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Mostly, I’d read and write and try to just live a good life–doing the little things that introduce the kingdom into this broken world.  Pretty much what I’m doing now (by grace).

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Romans—it’s Paul on steroids.  His theology is deeply anthropological and psychological.  Someone has said, “if you can get Romans, you can get the Bible.”  I think if you can get Romans, you can get reality.  It’s a metaphysical book that answers some of life’s most fundamental and challenging questions.   It’s not a religious book about church.  It’s an inspired book about the cosmos, God, man, true humanity, and all creation. 

Cecil is a dedicated teacher in the public school system there in West Cocoa Beach, Florida and a very interesting blogger.  You’ll have to have his blog out.  He writes about his work as an elder there and about his beloved son, Steven, who is a gifted baseball player.

You know – I did this interview with Cecil and I don’t even know what the  initial E. is for of his first name.  Maybe he’ll tell us in comment to reveal even a bit more about himself.

Anyway – as usual, read his delightful interview and comment accordingly to let him know his life matters to the rest of us as God’s blessed child.  We all are, we know, but sometimes we get a bit down and out and need to be reminded just a bit by others.  That’s where y’all come in today!  So  leave comment!

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1. What’s your favorite scripture. 

I would have to say Romans 5:6 -  (“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”) for 2 reasons:

First:  This verse reminds me that God is active in our world and in control.  God waited for the “right time” for Jesus to become our sacrifice for our sins.

Second:  I’ve always thought my son Steven had great timing when it comes to his small stature but power with the bat.  This verse (I know, in a random sort of way) reminds me of him.
   
2. Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born –

September 18, 1958 in Fort Polk, LA

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

wife – Barbara, son – Steven, cats – Buddy and Chloe

4. What brought you to where (the location) you are now?”

– I grew up an “Army (my Dad was in the service) Brat.”  In 1965, my Dad was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.  My Mom and I left Fort Stewart, Georgia and moved in with my maternal Grandparents who lived in Merritt Island, Florida while by Dad spent a year in Okinawa. 

5.  Where all have you lived in your life? 

Fort Polk, Louisiana, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Fort Stewart, Georgia, Merritt Island, Florida, Cocoa, Florida, Rockledge, Florida, and then back to Cocoa, Florida

6.  What kind of work do you do?

My “day job” consists of “touching the future” each day in the guise of a Middle School Math Teacher.  I’m about to complete my 26th year on this gig.  My second “job” is serving our church (Central Church of Christ) as an elder. 

7. What do you love most about your work?

  As for my day job, it would be the contact with the kids.  I enjoy the bantering back and forth with my students as I attempt to do the nearly impossible, make math fun.  Over the years I have had students describe me in the classroom as both a “game show host” and being very “random.” 

The “random” comment is probably due to my attempt at “Robin Williams” type humor. 

As for my “second job,” I would have to add the people aspect.  Shepherding people in a church in both good times and bad enables one to at times, cut through the veneer we all tend to put around ourselves and really get to know someone.  You can’t get much closer to someone than when you’re praying with and for them. 

8. What do you like least about your work? 

I’m sure Greg (England) and guess what I’m going to write here with respect to my day job.  I just despise what high stakes testing has done to our educational system. 

I’ve seen it in my own son who upon waking up for his first day of school in 4th grade, nearly experienced a panic attack because for a moment, he couldn’t remember his 5 paragraph essay model for our State’s Writing Test.  Our State is attempting to tie in test scores from kindergarten students as part of a school’s grade. 

To hold a 4 or 5 year old “accountable” for a school’s grade seems hideous to me.  My only solace at this point is that I might be able to retire in 9 years.

As for my second (elder) job it would probably be the people aspect again only from the negative aspect.  There are times when adults can be down-right (southern phrase) silly. 

I have had conversations that have just frustrated me.  Here’s an example from early this year:

Sister:  “I’m going to leave because we don’t study the Bible enough.”

Sidebar:  Sister does not attend on Wednesday nights or attend one of our lifegroups.

Me:  “I’m sorry you feel that way.  Have you thought about getting involved with our “Read the Bible in a Year” program that most of the family is doing?”

Sister:  “Well, I still think we’re not studying the Bible enough.”

Me:  “Have you thought about attending one of the Adult Sunday School Classes or one of the Wednesday night classes?”

Sister:  “Well, I still think we’re not studying the Bible enough.”

Me:  “I’m sorry you feel that way.  God bless you.”  

9. Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

The old adage is true or at least it is for me, as you grow older you become your parents.  My Mom and Dad were great parents.  Their love was unconditional as was their praise and correction when I needed it.  I try to mirror their “gift of love” in my life. 

I’m going to throw some props toward Greg as well.  It was his friendship and mentoring that brought me out of a “Sports Illustrated” world into one that was interested in serving the Body of Christ.

10.  Any hidden talents:

I’ve been known to have “called” a gator out of a pond and onto a golf green a time or two.  It makes for easy (I birdie that hole) scoring. 

11. Little known fact about me: 

Appeared on National Television with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show.  Not as a guest mind you but as one of the “crazies” who runs up to give Jay a high five when he comes out for his monologue. 

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.  Favorite Book (other than the Bible): 

I’ll narrow it down to 3:  “A Season on the Brink” by John Feinstein, “I Never Played the Game” by Howard Cossell, and “Schindler’s List” by Thomas Keneally

2. Favorite Movie: 

Tough to narrow it down to one – “We Are Marshall,” “Rudy,” “Patton,” “The Hunt for Red October,”  “Christmas Vacation”

3. Favorite Food: 

Without a doubt, Mexican with barbecue anything a close second.

4. Favorite Kind of Music: 

Contemporary Christian, Classic Rock

5. Favorite musical group or performer:

Chicago, Journey, Kenny Loggins, Guns and Roses,  Earth, Wind, and Fire

6. Favorite song: 

Don McLean’s “American Pie.”  I know every verse and it drives my wife crazy when I sing it in the shower.

7.  Favorite junk food: 

Anything Chocolate. 

8. Favorite childhood memory:

Playing “Army” with my friends. Having one of my friends hang out with me when my Dad babysat me while he was working at the National Guard Armory in town.   Having friends over to spend the night. 

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1. What is the best meal you have ever eaten? 

Every Christmas Day dinner with my wife’s “garlic stuffed prime rib!”

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before? 

Norway.  I have always been fascinated with Norway and it’s fjords. 

3. What is your proudest moment? 

I’ll go with 3 –

First – Remembering how proud my Dad was of me when I won the 1987 Batting Championship of our softball league with the league’s highest batting average.  It was one of the few individual athletic awards I was ever awarded. 

The second is seeing my son sing on our Praise Team at church and of course, seeing Steven hit his first homerun ever against Eau Gallie High School this year. 

4. What do you most regret? 

Not being able to get some of the people who left our church to gives us a second chance. 

5. If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time? 

I would be a full time elder and perhaps a sojourner.  I would travel more (that might hurt the full time elder job) and play more golf. 

6.  What is your favorite book in the Bible and why? 

Galatians.  It’s the “Reader’s Digest” version of Romans.   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cheers & Blessings to you all today!  Have a great day.  And thanks, Cecil!  Dee  

This week’s interview is with Tina Allyn Seward of "Blogging by Tina."  Tina has written a good bit of fiction and is a talented writer, as well as full time mother and part-time night student in the field of court reporting. 

Tina probably doesn’t know this, but I admire her tremendously in her efforts in the many trials and tribulations she experiences with her autistic son, Matthew.  Tina works tirelessly to help Matthew overcome his struggles with things in life that we all take for granted.

Her interview is interesting and entertaining, so take the time to get to know Tina better and leave her some encouraging comments!

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture. 

Hmm . . .Probably Romans 8:26:  "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
     
2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born

October 16, 1963; Harlan, Kentucky

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Frank (just turned 50 this year) and Matthew (turned 8 on February 11th).

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?

Several things:  Frank and I moved from Miami, Florida, to the Atlanta area mainly because the church situation we were in was not working out.  We’d been in an independent house church for over five years and I was getting nothing out of it. 

Finally I told Frank, whom I was about to marry, that it was time to leave.  We decided we wanted to stay in the Southeast, picked Atlanta and/or Raleigh, NC as possible places to move, and decided that whoever got the first job, that’s where we’d go.  I was hired as a children’s librarian in the Fulton County public library system in 1994.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

1963-1968–Harlan, Kentucky; 1968-1981–St. Petersburg, Florida; 1981-1986–Tallahassee, Florida (as a college student, Go Noles!), 1987-1994–Miami, Florida; 1994–present, Atlanta area, Georgia.

6.  What kind of work do you do?

I am chief cook and bottle washer for the Seward family; I’m also a night school student studying court reporting. 

In a previous life, I was a librarian for the following types of libraries:  large university (University of Miami, Florida), community college (Miami-Dade Community College), school library (a high school where I lasted three months, long story there), small private college (Miami Institute of Psychology, now known as Albizu University) and children’s librarian (Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library.)  I also worked as a secretary/office manager from 2003 to 2007.  Like my resume?

7.  What do you love most about your work: 

School is something different in this phase of my life.  I enjoy learning something new.  In my "chief cook and bottle washer" job, I enjoy my family and like making changes to the house.

8.  What do you like least about your work:

It is hard trying to get time to practice on my court reporting machine.  It is also hard when the chores in the house need to be done over and over and over . .. 

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

Can I only answer one?   Probably my dad.  He’s the reason I’m a conservative Republican.  He taught me that the world does not owe you a living.  Tied for first place is my mom.  While my dad supposedly taught me how to read, my mother taught me how to like books because not only did she read to me, she read herself.  That’s why I went into a book field.

10.  Any hidden talents:

Let’s see . . . I’ve discovered in the last couple of years that I know how to build things!  So I’ve been building a lot of storage units for the house.  I’m also pretty decent at organizing things.  (People are another story . . . )

11.  Little known fact about me:

I attempted to drive a car at the age of four.  Wound up wrecking the car in a ditch.  I distinctly remember putting the car in gear and thinking that it wouldn’t move anywhere because the keys were not in the ignition.

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible): 

Only ONE????  It’s a toss-up between Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Diary of Anne Frank, and the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke.

2.  Favorite Movie: 

At the moment, "Steel Magnolias."  This will probably change within the next few years.  My favorite movie depends on what mood I’m in at the time.

3.  Favorite Food:

Anything not good for me.  Hamburger, french fries, and chocolate.

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Soft rock and smooth jazz.

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

  Chicago!!! The Rippingtons (smooth jazz group)

6.  Favorite song:

ack, can’t just pick one . . . love "Shout to the Lord" and "Listen To Our Hearts"  (Favorite Chicago song:  "Dialogue.")

7.  Favorite junk food:

Chips, potato or corn

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Going to the beach with my family

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Ummmm . . . a spaghetti alla carbonara dish in the train station in Rome, Italy.  I remember being surprised that a train station would have such good food.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before? 

A toss-up between Ireland and New Zealand.  I’m supposedly part Irish and I would like to live in New Zea land (mostly because I’m sick of American politics!)

3.  What is your proudest moment? 

Leaving my last job in Miami having:  doubled the size of the library collection, started interlibrary loan services, and started regular online searching.

4.  What do you most regret?

Not marrying my husband sooner.  My father died right before I got married and I would have liked for him to have seen my wedding.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Be a professional writer/researcher while traveling in an RV.

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Again, only one??  I love Ruth.  I love her story of coming as a foreigner and being "redeemed" in a sense.  In the NT–probably Galatians; states very clearly that grace and ANY type of law CANNOT be mixed.  A lesson that I have a hard time learning in my own life!!

So sit back and enjoy reading about him and leave him some comments to let him know what you learned and what you have in common.

And tomorrow I’ll be back with "Ruminations on the Rural, Deep South Mississippi Delta."

Cheers!  & Blessings to you all today!  Dee 

 Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture.

Y’all enjoy his great interview and comment to let him know what you’ve learned about him.

In the meantime . . . Cheers & Blessings to you all today!  Dee
 

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture?

Is this ok to say… I don’t have a favorite. Really. There are some texts I don’t particularly care for, especially those that call me to costly discipleship. But I find that even those become a blessing to me. I don’t mark in my Bible and I try hard not to have a favorite text. If that makes no sense that’s alright… My last answer might explain this a bit more…

2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born

February 22, 1963, Englewood, California.

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Suzanne, Elijah, Hannah

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?

9 years ago we moved to Fort Worth and the Altamesa Church, convinced this was a good place to be. We were right.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

Los Angeles, rural Kentucky, and Texas: Abilene, Houston, & Fort Worth

6.  What kind of work do you do?

Ministry

7.  What do you love most about your work:

People

8.  What do you like least about your work:

People. If it were not for the people ministry would be great. If this joke does not translate when read please forgive.

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

Beyond my family, I have to say a woman named Squeaky Walker. She is an humble servant of God who taught me to love Him.

10.  Any hidden talents:

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible!):

Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

2.  Favorite Movie:

The Matrix

3.  Favorite Food:

Good

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

The contemplative worship genre… Fernando Ortega is a good example

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Right now I’d have to say I don’t have one. Sorry.

6.  Favorite song:

Jeremy Camp’s version of Beautiful One

7.  Favorite junk food:

Fish Filet

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Being warm in the cold. And the time my dad fell into the creek while swinging across on a vine. Greatness for all.

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Two weeks ago at Buon Appetite in San Diego was pretty good.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

Jerusalem

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Birth of my kids

4.  What do you most regret?

The year I did not walk closely with The Lord while in grad school. I was quite full of myself.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Read, write, travel, work with the poor in third world countries. They have so much to offer us and we don’t spend time with them to learn, only to help. By working with them I mean that I would learn more from them than I would give.

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

This answer might explain my first answer. I try NOT to have a favorite. It is quite a Modern and Western world idea to speak of a “favorite” text whereas most of our predecessors in the Christian faith did not have access to a Bible and could not have begun to consider one text over another, one book over another.

They may have thought of favorite stories, but not books or verses. There is nothing wrong with a favorite or with your question… To suggest there is, well that is not my point. In fact I enjoy hearing people talk of their “favorite” book or verse. It’s just a discipline I have chosen for myself to not write in my Bible.

I try hard to not look at a particular text, verse, or book as a favorite. In this way I hope to always be open to new insights, even from a verse or book I have read hundreds or thousands of times before. If I had written in the margins I might be persuaded that I have learned all I need to know about this verse back when I wrote it there.

Here’s an example: The story of Noah tells of a catastrophic time (most of the people in Noah’s world died). I think Noah might well be shocked to see that his story has become a favorite theme of nursery decorations (by the way, we decorated our son’s nursery with Noah, Mrs. Noah, and all the gang)!

But here’s the thing: I might not be open to new lessons from this old story if I unintentionally already know all The Spirit would teach me. That’s what having “favorites” has done to me in the past, so I work to not have favorites. This works well for me and perhaps no one else. I’m OK with that.

This week’s interview is with Bobby Valentine of "Stoned-Campbell Disciple" and co-author, along with Professor John Mark Hicks of Lipscomb University in Nashville, of "Kingdom Come: The Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding."  Bobby is a minister who recently moved from the vast hinterlands of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the warmer climes of Tucson, Arizona.  He is a prolific and studious blogger and writer and also lots of fun, as you will see below, although that’s not how he refers to himself.

Enjoy Bobby’s interview and leave him comments to encourage him.  He obviously needs them as you will see by his final remarks!

Cheers & Blessings to you all today!  Dee

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture.
 
Psalm 107 & Rev 5

2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born

August 25, 1968 … Smithtown, NY (Long Island)

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Pamella (wife), Talya (10) and Rachael (11)

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?”

I believe the Lord led us to this location (Tucson, Palo Verde Church of Christ) for ministry

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

I have lived in NY, Fl, Alabama, Louisana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Arizona

6.  What kind of work do you do?

Full time husband and daddy and part time minister

7.  What do you love most about your work?

the joy of being used by God to enable them to know his great love better

8.  What do you like least about your work?

funerals

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

Probably my Dad.  He cultivated a love for God and his word.  One of my earliest memories is seeing my dad sitting next to his bed studying his Bible.

He took me "door knocking" and to various "gospel" meetings.  Left a incredible impression on me.

10.  Any hidden talents:

Love to snowboard

11.  Little known fact about me:

I like classic art … very little known fact!!

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible):

The Confessions of St. Augustine

2.  Favorite Movie:

Star Wars

3.  Favorite Food:

Italian

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Classic Rock

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Beatles

6.  Favorite song:

Pretty Woman … for my Woman

7.  Favorite junk food:

Cheesecake

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Thanksgiving meals

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

It was the best in terms of the quality of the food.  Pamella and I had just married and on our "honeymoon" we stopped at a Pizza Hut.  We were full of awe for each other and just staring and oogling each other. 

We did not have a whole lot of money.  But out of the blue a couple, whose name we never found out, came up and congratulated us on our wedding.  Then they announced that
this meal was "on us."  It was an incredible and unexpected gesture.  I was a great moment and made a lasting impression.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

I would love to walk the trail from Galilee to Jerusalem just as Jesus did in the Gospels.  That region has a pull on my psyche that I cannot explain. 

3.  What is your proudest moment?

My proudest moment was either when Pamella said "I do" and became my beloved wife OR when Rachael and Talya "popped" into the world.  On each of these occasions I had a grin so big I looked foolish.  But nothing even comes close to these moments in my life.

4.  What do you most regret?

I most regret how a ministry of mine (and my family) came to a screeching halt in a certain Southern state.  Psalm 55.13-14 is a text that Pamella shared with me just this past Sunday that struck her about that horrid event.  And I have to admit it hit too close to home for comfort. 

It reads, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God."

Oh, yes what I regret most is that experience … an explanation that I have neither rhyme or reason for.  Darkness clouds that spot like some forbidding monster. 

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Travel and visit with missionaries in Africa

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Psalms.  Because it has saved my relationship with God on more than one occasion.  God in his wisdom … and grace … has given me a "voice" to express things I dared not at one time.

There you have it … I am BORING!!

My daughter-in-law, Lynn, is in the hospital going into labor as we speak, so hopefully I will be a grandmother once again before the day is over.  I'll break in with the news as I find it out.  Meanwhile, enjoy Brad's interview and comment to encourage him and to tell him what you may have in common, y'all hear?!  Dee]

Brad Palmore, of the creatively named Brad Palmore’s Blog, is one of the TheoBloggers who hosts Finding Direction for me for a really inexpensive cost while providing excellent service.  In other words, Brad is my right hand man whenever I have computer glitches with Finding Direction which drive me crazy, which isn’t often, but when it happens I holler "Help" to Brad and he fixes me right up! 

Full time Brad is a minister in Arlington, Virginia and . . .  well – read his interview to find out more!

Cheers!  Dee

Part I – Basic Interview Questions

1.  What’s your favorite scripture.

Romans 8:28-29, specifically 29.  It reminds me that no matter what I go through, God is using the circumstances to make me more like his son.

2.  Vital Statistics: – Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born

July 22

3.  Names of spouse & Children (and their dates of birth, optional, too):

Lisa – wife
Chris (13), Curtis (11), and Matthew (8)

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?”

A Penske moving truck.  The boys loved to take turns riding in the front with dad.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?  (optional – and when):

Springfield, MO
Jackson, MS
Weatherford, OK
Mexia, TX
Grapevine, TX
Bonham, TX
Abilene, TX
Rogers, AR (married)
Anniston, AL
Junction City, KS
Ft. Riley, KS
Medford, OR
Salem, OR
Garden City, KS
Searcy, AR
Columbia, MD
Sikeston, MO
Arlington, VA

6.  What kind of work do you do? (optional – and why):

Ministry, specifically the areas of involvement and discipleship with a smattering of organizational development thrown in.  
Also co-suzerain of BranchWeaver.com, the wonderful company that brings you TheoBloggers.com and AVOW Song Slides.

7.  What do you love most about your work:

The people

8.  What do you like least about your work:

The people

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life (and, no, I don’t mean Jesus!) & briefly why:

Can’t answer without leaving some out, so I’m not willing to try.

10.  Any hidden talents:

I play a mean game of ping pong.

11.  Little known fact about me (you, not me!):

Despite the fact that I feel like I consistently do a good job in everything I try, I have an overwhelming fear of making mistakes and not doing good enough.

Part 2 – Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible!):

The Oxford Guide to Library Research

2.  Favorite Movie:

The Matrix, Over the Hedge, Princess Bride (Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya…)

3.  Favorite Food:

My wife’s home made pizza.

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Rock, Alternative, Punk…. I could also go for some good 80′s music occasionally.

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Currently – MercyMe

6.  Favorite song:

According to my iTunes most played tracks:
#1 – Word of God Speak – MercyMe (30 plays)
#2 – Sanctify My Heart – Acapella (25 plays)
#3 – 5 Minutes of Fame – Barlow Girl (20 plays)
#4 – Run for Cover – KJ-52 (18 plays)
#5 – California – Hawk Nelson (17 plays, although this one is weighted by Randy Wray moving to California)
#6 – I So Hate Consequences – Relient K (16 plays)

7.  Favorite junk food:

Pie… any kind.

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Traveling with my grandfather selling picture frames at flea markets and craft fairs.  He made great frames and we had fun selling them.

Part 3 – Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Churrascaria in Brazil!  What can be better than all you can eat meat cooked and served on swords?  With guarana to wash it down…incredible.  (I’d avoid the chicken hearts, though.)

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

France.  I studied French for four years and have been dying to use it ever since.

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Finishing my bachelor’s degree in three years with a 3.95 GPA while working full time and taking care of my family.  I’m still tired.

4.  What do you most regret?

Not learning more from my dad before he died.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Organizational and leadership development with small and/or struggling churches that couldn’t afford the help otherwise.

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Ephesians – I love the way the intertwined relationships between the Jews and Gentiles reveal the ebb and flow of community within the Body of Christ.