Life in the country

Having grown up a city boy, life in the country is still somewhat of an adventure for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love it out here, I don’t think I could ever move back “in town” , but sometimes there are things out here that just plain freak me out. Rattlesnakes, giant spiders, horse poop…it’s all out here.

Last night I was on my way to the barn to start clearing some space to put the hay for the winter when it hit me all of sudden…it’s really dark out here. Scary dark out here. I stopped walking and started thinking...really fast...

"Why isn’t the moon up yet?" "Why didn’t I bring a flashlight?" "What is that noise in the bushes?"

I started getting really nervous as I thought about mountain lions hiding in the shadows waiting to attack.

"Could I survive?" "I would probably keep my wits about me, but could I hold it off long enough to make it to the barn to get a weapon?" "Shoot, I’d probably be able to take a mountain lion…I AM pretty tough (muscles flexing)." "How long would it be before Vicki missed me?" "Those bike riders that got attacked weren't found for days." "Maybe I should go back up to the house…I don’t really need to do the barn tonight." "Oh, Praise Him (sung exactly like David Crowder)." I finally psyched myself up and made it to the barn, turned on the light and regained my confidence. Whew

I went to work cleaning up and wasn’t in the barn for two minutes before a bat started circling around the light! I had never been this close to a bat before, and oddly enough it wasn't scary. It was actually kind of cool. So I did what any red blooded American man would do…I grabbed my cell phone and called my wife! “Vicki, there is a bat dive bombing me in the barn! How cool is that? What? No, that’s all I called for. Bye” Wait a second, I thought, THERE IS A BAT DIVE BOMBING ME!! Bats carry rabies and turn people into vampires! What if it bit me?!! I know they can get tangled in peoples hair, (I know, I know…I don’t have to worry about the hair). But to get tangled in peoples hair, they have to land on people, and WHAT IF IT BIT ME? I wished I’d brought my slingshot with me.

That's pretty much the end of the story. I decided that I’d had enough adventure for one night, and I really had to get up early, so I made a hasty retreat to the safety of my house. Maybe next time I'll bring a little protection with me...Samantha is always up for a little adventure. :-)

Steve Recommends...

The CD recommendation will be another recurring post on my blog, and today's recommendation is Todd Agnew's new album Do You See What I See. Yes, it is early for Christmas music, but this is really a good one. (Also...Third Days, Christmas Offerings came out today, but I haven't listened to it yet).

This CD is absolutely wonderful and paints a very personal non-traditional picture of our Saviors birth. Below I've posted a review of the CD that describes it way better than I can. If anyone wants a listen, let me know. (If there are any record executives reading this, I will not illegally reproduce the CD... I don't even know how to work the CD burner thingamajiggy). :-)

Aug 24, 2006
Todd Agnew's Christmas Retake
Posted by Kevan Breitinger
Todd Agnew has crafted an epic retelling of the Christmas story on his upcoming holiday release "Do You See What I See?," which releases October 3, 2006. "Do You See What I See?" tells the Christmas story from the personal perspectives of the eyewitnesses to Christ's birth from the innkeeper to the Magi to the angels.

"Last Christmas, God led me to really study the Christmas story," explains Agnew. "For six months, everyday piece-by-piece I studied the birth of Christ. I prayed through it, asking God to reveal it to me. He made the Bible come to life---it became not only true, but also realistic. Realizing that we look at Christmas from more than 2000 years later and that those individuals involved were not able to fully understand the big picture of what was happening like we can is remarkable."

Painting an audio picture for the listener, he created a musical, not just a collection of seasonal songs for his project. In addition to Todd's solo performances and duo with Ardent Records newcomer Joy Whitlock as the innkeepers, Vince Lichlyter (Jonah33) is featured as Joseph, Christie Nockels (Watermark) as Mary, Shelley Jennings (Passion) as Elizabeth, Mike Weaver (Big Daddy Weave) as Simeon, Anthony Evans as the angel and Michael O'Brien (recently of NewSong) as the shepherd. There is also a multi-artist finale of the much beloved classic, "In the First Light."

Agnew and friends want to stress that this project is about the whole perspective surrounding the birth of Christ and not a typical holiday CD, but an eyewitness depiction. "It seems like this Christmas record will be set apart from so many others that are about candles and wreaths," shares guest soloist Shelley Jennings. "I don't know how much the individuals who were involved in the first Christmas really knew about what God was doing with them, but I think they knew it was something really big. The song I sang, 'Sleep Well,' is from the perspective of Elizabeth, who herself was carrying a significant life and who knew that Mary was carrying the Lord. The beautiful melody and poignant lyrics of this sweet lullaby are like a calm before the storm." To celebrate the Christmas season, Todd and a select group of friends will be performing this Christmas project on "The Christmas Hope" tour, co-headlining with NewSong and featuring Rachael Lampa and NY Times best-selling author, Donna VanLiere.

(From: http://christianmusic.suite101.com/blog.cfm/todd_agnews_christmas_retake)

Question of the Day, October 6th, 2006

This is a new feature on the VACASTEVE blog...The Question of the day. I won't have a question every day, but I will periodically post a question that I find particularly stimulating.

A couple of days ago, for dinner, I had meatloaf and mashed potatoes with country gravy. It was amazingly delicious!!!! It was so good that I ate until I was nearly brusting. My stomach was so full that it literally hurt for hours, and I seriously considered "purging", just so that I could survive until bedtime.

Todays question: Is there anything that does not taste good smothered in country gravy?

Growin Up

I was up late last night baking…yes, baking. I think I finally got my grandmothers pie crust right, which is a major accomplishment for me.

When I finally made it to bed, I spent some time just watching Vicki sleep. She looked so beautiful and peaceful and cozy, and I just sat there watching her and thinking. I found myself wondering how I got to this place in my life. I have a wife, and two daughters; I have a house with a mortgage and a barn; I have a semi-responsible job that is actually a not a job, but a career. It’s like I’ve been cruising along, and I suddenly look around and I’ve become a grownup! Now, I know that I have been an adult for quite some time, and I live an adult life; but I don’t often feel like an adult on the inside. I still see myself like I was in college: spending all of my free time, playing cards, or video games, or softball, or fantasy baseball...that's the guy I feel like, but the truth is I don’t spend my time that way anymore. I have an Xbox that I rarely play, my fantasy baseball team is in last place for the second year in a row, and I’m too “out of shape” to play softball (is that an oxymoron?).

For the most part I have a very grown-up life (and lifestyle), but should I feel like a grown-up (and what does that really mean?) Should I give up the Xbox, or get the new Xbox 360? Am I starting a mid-life crisis? I am almost 40, and have been thinking about sports cars a lot lately. :-) All kidding aside, my grandfather was right when he said your're only as young as you feel.

As I sat there looking at Vicki, I guess my real thought was that I am just so amazed and blown away that someone like me could be blessed with and entrusted with the responsibility for such a wonderful family as I have. I often don’t feel worthy or up to the task, but God obviously knows better. I am certainly glad that He does.