Month: October 2011

Christianity, Hope, Love, Prayer, Spiritual disciplines, Spirituality, Stewardship, Thanksgiving

Thirty Days to Thanksgiving

Gary Furr

Last Wednesday night I shared “thirty practices you can try in the next thirty days.” It was a reflection on Philippans 4:8-9:  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”  In this time of so much turmoil and uncertainty, … Continue reading Thirty Days to Thanksgiving

Art, Christianity, Culture, Music1 Comment

Art, Worship and All That Jazz: Inspirations from a Jazz Legend

Gary Furr

I’ve met two people in the past ten years who made me believe the bass was the most wonderful instrument in the world.  Got to know Dave Pomeroy when he played here a several years back with the put together acoustic jazz group with Rob Ickes (of Blue Highway) on dobro and Andy Leftwich, fiddle and mandolin player from Kentucky Thunder (Ricky Skaggs). The other man is a legend I met a few months ago when a member took us to a little jazz dinner theater here.  A group was playing called the Sonny Harris Trio—drums, piano and bass.  The … Continue reading Art, Worship and All That Jazz: Inspirations from a Jazz Legend

Art, Competition, Music, Perfectionism, Writing2 Comments

10 Qualities of a pERFECTionits

Gary Furr

1.  Perfectionists cannot stand it when something is not completed.  For example, when a person… 2.  There is a rigidity about things always having to be a certain way or else they become very upset.  Things cannot be out of order, altered from their usual place, etc. 4.  If you’re going to do your best, you can’t always worry about pleasing everyone else (“You know you shouldn’t be writing this blog.  I told you to major in something else in college.  You’re an idiot.  Nobody cares what you think.)  Pay no attention to that voice in my head… 3.  Practice … Continue reading 10 Qualities of a pERFECTionits

Hope, humanity, Leadership, Technology1 Comment

Imagine

Gary Furr

“Imagine” was not one of my favorite John Lennon songs, mainly because I take lyrics seriously and, truthfully, it’s about the most preachy song he ever wrote. Imagine there’s no Heaven,  It’s easy if you try No hell below us, Above us only sky Imagine all the people, Living for today Honestly, I think the rhyme, “Imagine there’s no countries, It isn’t hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too” would never survive a songwriting 101 class.  “Looks like you were just looking too hard for something to go with ‘do’ there,  fella.  But then, … Continue reading Imagine

Culture, Ethics, Hope, Leadership, Politics, Theology, Theology and Life2 Comments

The Other Two Sides of the Coin

Gary Furr

Do you remember the old television show, “Newhart?”   It lives only on reruns now.  Bob Newhart and actress Mary Frann played an author and his wife who owned an inn in a weird little rural Vermont town. Among the strange characters who inhabited the town were three goony looking brothers, only one of whom ever spoke, named Larry.  Larry introduces the group the same way every time they make an appearance: “Hi, I’m Larry; this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.” It’s crazy.  How can there be three brothers with two names?  Life tends to … Continue reading The Other Two Sides of the Coin