Wanderings

Wanderings

Yearly Archive: 2008

Wanderings > 2008

First John then…

December 29, 2008 Faith

Finally finished this book…took me a little while. Not because it was long or hard, simply got distracted from daily Bible reading/study. Other things got in the way.

Will only say that at the end of First John is a theological mind-bender. You could spend hours in debate and discussion on some of the verses in chapter 5. However, that is what the enemy (the people who don't want you to follow) wants you to do. That way you don't spend your time on what is more easily understood.

When I get to heaven, I'll ask God about all the difficult passages in the Bible. In the meantime, there is enough work for me in doing the things He clearly said to do, and not doing the things He clearly said not to do.

I wonder how many people who were offered a place in the lifeboats on the Titantic wanted a full understanding of where they would go, who would pluck them from the sea, and how they would survive in that puny little boat before they stepped in faith into the boat?

Old Friendships Renewed

December 29, 2008 Church, Family, General

There was that "evite" to an Open House at Prince and Leta's – former pastor and friends from Hillside Church of Marin in Corte Madera. Their daughter Courtenay Kehl, her husband John and the kids, Hudson and Dexter were visiting from the Dallas area, and this was an opportunity for friends to renew friednships. It had been a long time since we saw any of them (like 4-5 years).

Prince performed our marriage way back when, and we had worshipped at Hillside when Courtenay was in high school (was it really that long ago?).

It was so good to see people we have not had time to visit. We felt like we had never left – like it had been just last week. When we walked in the door, it was the same warm and loving Prince and Leta. Kind of like taking up where we left off.

It felt good! Even got to spend some time finding why Prince and Leta did not complete their retirement plans – it was more like "go where God says 'go' and do what He says to 'do'." I'm thankful to have faithful friends like that.

We'll find time to visit Hillside one Sunday soon.

Mighty Wurlitzer!

December 26, 2008 General, Music

Some of you are probably wondering "what in the world is a Wurlitzer?" Others probably think "he's finally lost it!"

Not so. I love organ music, and have been hooked on theater organs for a long time. Wurlitzers were the pipe organ of pipe organs for theaters. Yes, there are the Robert Mortons and the Mollers, but a Wurlitzer was.. Well it was actually "The Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra." It put an orchestra at the finger tips of an organist, and this was before digital synthesizers or keyboards!

While looking for a Virgil Fox CD on the web (iTunes Store), ran across some other names, and got to remembering one of my lost albums. It was by George Wright, famous theater organist, who originated in Stockton, then came to the Fox Theater in San Francisco and went on to New York.

What I remember about George was that midnight concert – his next to last one there, in 1963. I was there seeing and hearing two legends – George and the Mighty Wurlitzer. Granted, it was not the largest organ in the world, but it was huge as a theater organ. And "the sound" was like no other.

Spent some time listening to clips from the ATOS (American Theatre Organ Society) and was really impressed by a teenager who won the "Young Organist" competition in Sacramento. The kids name was Donnie Rankin, and you can see and hear him play in this You Tube video.

If you are interested in more information, check out the ATOS website or the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter's website. The NorCal Chapter (San Francisco) has an organ installed at the Berkeley Community Theater and have concerts about four times a year. Who knows, maybe we'll meet there while enjoying the music.

If not, there are several pizza parlors in California that are home to "rescued" theater organs – Wurlitzer, Morton, Moller, etc. Good way to spend your evening – good food and outstanding music. Check out the locator…you might even find one in your city or state.

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