Well, I don’t know if it is a good thing… but I can report that my traffic has definitely increased in less than 24 hours.

Numbers are up. But is it worth it? Is having less control of the outgoing links on my blog worth it?

Awaiting verdict.

The jury is still out.

Stay tuned.

If you are interested in checking out Blog Rush click here.

Today I added a sidebar widget for Blog Rush (scroll down it is the last item on the right side of this blog). The claim (which I will report on) is that this “blog syndication” will increase readership for a blog.

I would love more folks to read what I got to say… so I will see if this does anything to increase the volume of folks who stop by…

One can hope.

Want to check out this FREE service? Check out Blog Rush

I had never heard of a “digging bar” till my 39th year. No excuses - I guess I never spent a healthy amount of time on the other end of a shovel. I grew up in Florida and digging there after a minute or two and you struck water… so digging deeper was not much of an option. After Florida I spent 6 years as a professional student and then headed to pushing pencils and keyboards behind a desk (and often a tie). Anyway, digging had not been a regular occurrence.

Then I moved to Pennsylvania and acquired a mini farmette (a little less than 7 acres). Up first was putting in 250 feet of water line from the house out to the stable. During that “project” I was provided with my introduction to the digging bar. And now this past weekend I got re-introduced to my favorite tool as we are putting in fence posts for a future pasture. In both of these projects the magic number was 36 - 36 inches deep, to be more precise. In digging a 3 foot hole (or ditch) - a shovel is great for going through the topsoil and the layer of clay or dirt, but then comes the fun (and the point at which the shovel becomes ineffective) the seam of shale or rock.

It is at this phase where the digging bar gets a work out. The chipping and concussion of the digging bar makes “easy” (or easier) work of progressing through the shale and rock to reach the magic depth of 3 feet. It is hard work, but work made easier with a digging bar. It is great to have the right tool for the right job (I know some of you are thinking - have you heard of a post hole digger - but sometimes it is good to do work that makes you sweat and strain with your own hands!).

As I was pounding away at a particularly stubborn seam of shale with my digging bar I began thinking, “This is why we don’t often progress deeper in our spiritual lives.” It is hard work to go deeper. It can be frustrating. It can be “slow-going.” It can just be flat out rough to progress. It may be made even more difficult without the right guidance and without the right “tools.”

We fly through the topsoil, we sweat through the clay and packed dirt and then we just hang up our shovels in frustration and exhaustion when we hit the shale.

Let me introduce you to the digging bar.

This past Sunday (yesterday) in our church’s worship time a guest musician was part of the flow of the service. Christopher Williams was an artist our church was familiar with - he had been the opening act for a Jars of Clay concert our church hosted - and really was a hit, so it was great to have him back. I was really struck by C. Williams as he performed in our service yesterday. It is not often that I come across a character who is so uniquely talented and yet so humble. (If you question if he really has the talent - well he has opened for some top notch folks David Wilcox, Peter Himmelman, Arlo Guthrie, Jars of Clay - and he tours near non-stop). I had to take time to recommend him as a great resource to the church.

authenticity flows from his music
great lyrics that serve as central to his art
his relaxed, yet fun stage presence draws you in
strong vocal that can carry a tune - (he does some great tunes that are just him and djembe)
God seems to use his gift to create a very unique experience
a team player (not a hint of arrogance) as demonstrated by his willingness to sit in with our worship team

One of the tunes that really struck me was called These Days a tune Williams performs with just voice and djembe - Lyrics inspired by Henri Nouwen. The lyrics are great and when performed create a great invitation to worship.

These Days

Without confusion clarity brings nothing
Without questioning answers won’t bring truth
Without death life to its fullest will be lost like the innocence of youth

Without solitude community can do nothing
Without knowing ourselves we cannot truly give
Without finding that place so lonely our actions will be as empty as the lives we live

Chorus:
Step inside my heart but walk gently
I know you’ve come a long way
Step inside my heart cause we need to be together
If we’re going to make it through these days

Without silence words lose their meaning
Without listening speaking cannot heal
Without reaching out towards one another
We’ll lose ourselves in what only we think we feel

Chorus

Without faith believing is foolish
Without doubt we cannot grow
Without time patience is useless and anger will only make itself more known

Chorus

Written by Christopher Williams © 1996 BiG ReD VaN Music (ASCAP)

So, I have been out of the picture the past couple of days - a trip and then recovering from being away a couple of days.

That means two things - I have no idea what the “buzz is in the blog-o-shpere” and I think I owe you something!

This may be old news; this may be all over out there - but seriously I wouldn’t know.

So - The latest Robbie Seay Band release, Give Yourself Away is being given away for free through relevant magazine… get it while it’s hot! (it’s going on sale 8/28 - so this is probably a limited deal). Good rock oriented worship style music (with a very tasty and fresh take on The Choir’s Beautiful Scandalous Night).

Go get it! (you do have to leave a name and email and sign up for 2 email newsletters - nothin’s “free”.)

nothing profound to write about - nothing of NOTE - just a note to say - despite the rain, cold (first fire in AUGUST?!), wind, and grey August day - this made it all a bit more fun!

it went just about anywhere… well there was nowhere it didn’t go

it made some hard work in less than ideal conditions - just a bit more enjoyable! yeah, pretty cool how the mundane can be made just a little less dreary by an addition or a slight change in the routine.

it will reside at the jones homestead for a while!

good times.

It’s been just about 5 months since I began Perigrinatio. Today I issue/write the 77th post.

In that time - just about 1750 unique folks have stopped by and just under 5000 pages viewed (4,996 to be exact).

So while not a WILD amount of action here - not bad for the first couple of months.

Anyway in honor of the 77th posting - I honor my favorite band -

The 77’s.

From the earliest days of Ping Pong Over the Abyss to their most recent, Direct and Fun with Sound - the 77’s have been the soundtrack of my life.

Keeping with this rather light hearted and rambling entry - here is one of my favorite 77’s lyric.

The Rain Kept Falling In Love
from the album “Pray Naked”
(by Mike Roe)

i curse the sun in the summer
burns me up till i’m blind
i curse the cold in the winter
but i don’t really mind
if they asked any money
i would give any money
to the sun and the wind
and the rain to be kind

rain on rain on
rain on rain on
the rain kept falling in love

© 1992 Fools Of The World, LTD. (ASCAP)

random facts meme

I’ve been tagged by Len Evans (who was tagged by THE Marko) to participate in the following deal… so here are the rules:

1. players start with 8 random facts about themselves.

2. those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.

3. players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged.

My 8 Random Facts:
1. I preached my first sermon at The First Presbyterian Church in Port Charlotte, FL when I was 16 years old (it was “Youth Sunday”) - my text for the message was Isaiah 55. I think I spoke for over 45 minutes (they only scheduled 20 minutes for the sermonette)! It’s a great memory. I did get invited to preach at my home church again a few years later when I was in seminary, I spoke there during Advent.

2. I love eggplant! One of my favorite meals is from Copelands of New Orleans - a wonderful dish on their menu called, Eggplant Pirogue.

3. I have been a Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan since 1976. My family had season tickets and witnessed 16 straight home losses the first two seasons - it was all worth it in 1979 when they went deep into the playoffs. I still faithfully follow the bucs - a loyal rider on the pewter bandwagon.

4. I married a wonderful, beautiful and really cool lady in 1987 (yup - I have been married 20 years!) and our first humble abode was a condo on Indian Rocks Beach on the gulf coast of Florida. Pretty amazing to wake up to look out our sliding glass door to watch dolphin playing in the surf!

5. I was once on a nationally syndicated television program (back in ‘86?!).

6. At one time or another I have played the following instruments trumpet, baritone, trombone, bass drum, guitar, and bass guitar. (Oh, and I was a marching band nerd in high school - and I still dig marching band!! Anyone heard of DCI? One of the highlights of my year is to either catch a competition or watch the finals on television.)

7. I did my master’s degree program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, for one reason: to study with Mark Senter (and I was not disappointed).

8. One of the ways I love to spend an afternoon is outside on my property, with this.

So now I tag, eight… hmmm…

Sonja
Dino
Justin
Brian
Chris
Dan
Rustin
Monty

and just cause I can - One to grow on…
Snoop