Month: December 2011

Art, Children, Christianity, Gospel music, Justice, Music, Politics4 Comments

Thank You, Ella Jones: Churches, the Arts and Why They Matter

Gary Furr

I nearly always prefer the hidden, obscure, local and unnoticed to the Big Stuff.  Celebrity…zzz…even small pond big fish I find relatively uninteresting.  It’s just all so predictable and often pompous.  When I opened today’s Birmingham News, the top of the front page, as usual, was about Alabama and Auburn football, which is as always.  You just have to understand that in Alabama, I would fully expect to see this on a front page: TIDE LANDS FOUR FIVE STAR RECRUITS AUBURN HOPES NEW DEFENSIVE COACH WILL “TURN THE TIDE” NUCLEAR WAR PROBABLE IN NEXT FEW DAYS (Section B) GOD SAYS … Continue reading Thank You, Ella Jones: Churches, the Arts and Why They Matter

Uncategorized5 Comments

A Christmas Eve Thank You

Gary Furr

I started this little blog in July with no idea what I was doing.  I’ve been learning as I go, and I do appreciate each and every one who has taken time to read it.  At this point, there have been 6,738 views, which amazes me.  I have met new friends and learned about the web and how it can work.  Four of my posts have been picked up and shared in other places.I am humbled.  Some of you have written about something that really helped.  That blesses me. For all of you, my hopes for a Merry Christmas and … Continue reading A Christmas Eve Thank You

Art, Blues, Christianity, Christmas, Jesus, Justice, Music, Poverty, Spirituality, Theology and Life

Mary, Springsteen and Nietsche

Gary Furr

 NRSV Luke 1:46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their … Continue reading Mary, Springsteen and Nietsche

Art, Children, Christianity, Competition, Culture2 Comments

Life Coaching with Napoleon–Dynamite, that is.

Gary Furr

Napoleon Dynamite.  It’s been seven years and I still laugh at this movie.  I have it on DVR so I can speed through to favorite moments.  A friend and I were laughing as we sent quotes back and forth this week. Napoleon Dynamite: Do the chickens have large talons? Farmer: Do they have what? Napoleon Dynamite: Large talons. Farmer: I don’t understand a word you just said. His dialogue is so painfully true to life.  I knew kids just like him, and he talks like them.  The humor is not cruel, slapstick, humiliation or vulgarity–it’s recognition and insight into irony.  … Continue reading Life Coaching with Napoleon–Dynamite, that is.

Art, Christianity, Country Music, Jesus, Music, Spirituality, Theology and Life4 Comments

Lessons from JC (Johnny Cash)

Gary Furr

A new friend from New York reminded me of the Cash bio I read a few years back.  Like everyone, I loved  “Walk the Line,” the bio-pic of the life and love of Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash that came out years ago.  It is not a true biography, really.  Robert Streissguth’s JOHNNY CASH: THE BIOGRAPHY is where you get more than the Reader’s Digest Condensed Version. Johnny’s story was, of course, about a many coming out of hard times, his well-known descent into drugs and alcohol that ruined his first marriage and nearly destroyed his career … Continue reading Lessons from JC (Johnny Cash)