Greetings long lost friends in Blogville!! Life has been so busy for the last few weeks, I had to live in the real world. I've missed sharing the earth-shattering events in my life, like the time I tried to scratch my back against our door frame and missed. Impossible, you say? I thought so too until I did it.
Anyhow, I'm back and ready to launch into a new year full of blogable (should that have 2 g's?) adventures. I just finished our December newsletter tonight and will be sending it out tomorrow. Talk about squeaking in at the last minute! You can read all the latest at www.PhilandPamMorgan.com/news.
TTFN!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
God's Top Ten
I'm listening to a great podcast sermon series on the ten commandments. It is called "The Sinai Code" by Andy Stanley at North Point Ministries. In all my years in church, I can't remember a single sermon on God's Top Ten List. Strange?? Anyhow, Andy is doing a great job on this one. Here's my paraphrase what we have learned so far.
1. Put God first in your life.
2. Don't shrink Him down to make Him manageable.
3. Don't do what you what and justify it with God's name.
Three down, seven to go! Check it out on iTunes by searching Andy Stanley or North Point ministries. You can also go to www.northpoint.org/podcasts. Good Stuff!!
1. Put God first in your life.
2. Don't shrink Him down to make Him manageable.
3. Don't do what you what and justify it with God's name.
Three down, seven to go! Check it out on iTunes by searching Andy Stanley or North Point ministries. You can also go to www.northpoint.org/podcasts. Good Stuff!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Mondays with Morgan
I had a co-songwriting session yesterday that was very productive. After all my years of solo writing, writing with another person is still a new thing for me. But even among my few co-writing experiences, yesterday was different.
I was writing with a young lady from our church who is very new to the whole songwriting game. She met with Pam and I a few weeks ago to get our advice and opinions on some of her material. One song idea caught my attention and I suggested we try to finish it together. I felt this song would speak perfectly to teenage girls going through the difficult transition to adulthood, and also to women in general. From the beginning, I knew this was a song I wouldn't sing about a subject that is fairly foreign to me, and that made the writing challenge more interesting.
What I found was even though I was by far the more experienced writer, I had to pull back and not put too much of me into the song. Instead of merely creating, my job was to mold and shape what was being created to make it the best it could be. What we came up with was truly the best of both worlds. The song went to a place I would not have thought to go, and I believe it is better than my co-writer would have come up with on her own. We're getting together next monday to finish up the second verse and polish everything.
Maybe I'm like the old guy in the book "Tuesdays with Morrie." I always knew the younger person learns more about their own life by watching the older man's example. Now I see the old dude can feel younger again by listening to what the young person has to say. Kind of a youth transfusion. I like that.
I was writing with a young lady from our church who is very new to the whole songwriting game. She met with Pam and I a few weeks ago to get our advice and opinions on some of her material. One song idea caught my attention and I suggested we try to finish it together. I felt this song would speak perfectly to teenage girls going through the difficult transition to adulthood, and also to women in general. From the beginning, I knew this was a song I wouldn't sing about a subject that is fairly foreign to me, and that made the writing challenge more interesting.
What I found was even though I was by far the more experienced writer, I had to pull back and not put too much of me into the song. Instead of merely creating, my job was to mold and shape what was being created to make it the best it could be. What we came up with was truly the best of both worlds. The song went to a place I would not have thought to go, and I believe it is better than my co-writer would have come up with on her own. We're getting together next monday to finish up the second verse and polish everything.
Maybe I'm like the old guy in the book "Tuesdays with Morrie." I always knew the younger person learns more about their own life by watching the older man's example. Now I see the old dude can feel younger again by listening to what the young person has to say. Kind of a youth transfusion. I like that.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Born This Day...
Today is the birthday of CS Lewis (author of the Chronicles of Narnia), Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women), and Madeleine L'Engle (author of A Wrinkle In Time). Wow! If November had only 28 days like February, the world of children's literature would have a gaping hole.
This made me think. In the future, will I have accomplished anything to add my name to the "Born This Day" list? This is not a major concern to me, but it would be nice to think my efforts here made some impact that will live beyond me. I better get cracking! There are only 82 days until I turn 40.
Carpe Diem. (That's supposed to mean Seize The Day, but everybody knows that carpe is a kind of fish. Or is that crappie? Actually, I prefer flounder.)
This made me think. In the future, will I have accomplished anything to add my name to the "Born This Day" list? This is not a major concern to me, but it would be nice to think my efforts here made some impact that will live beyond me. I better get cracking! There are only 82 days until I turn 40.
Carpe Diem. (That's supposed to mean Seize The Day, but everybody knows that carpe is a kind of fish. Or is that crappie? Actually, I prefer flounder.)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A Kinder, Gentler Me
WARNING: The following is intended to be humorous, not sarcastic, bitter, vindictive, or the rantings of a frustrated author. If you are offended by anything that follows, well, that kind of proves my point.
I just got a rejection e-mail. I had a devotion up to be included in a new "Chicken Soup" type book by a major publisher. They loved my story but thought some readers might be offended by my "toilet" theme. My feelings weren't hurt and I think they made the right call. The thought of a Christian having to deal with a clogged toilet is about as bad as the Pope pooping (although I'm pretty sure he does or he would have gained a lot of weight by now.) My goal has never been to degrade God. My God is HUGE and I've tried to show how He is involved in all of my life, not just my Sunday mornings from ten to twelve. I'm no great theologian, but if I can make you laugh and think about God in your life, I'm satisfied.
With all this said, I do understand the need to reach a larger audience, so I've decided to change my style. From here on I'll be Phil for the masses. Here's my first attempt...
As the gentle spring breeze blows through the poppies in bloom, so the Holy Spirit brings refreshment to my parched soul.
On second thought... NOT! I'm just me, and that's who I'll be. (Hey, that rhymes!!)
Gotta run. If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom with my Bible word search book.
I just got a rejection e-mail. I had a devotion up to be included in a new "Chicken Soup" type book by a major publisher. They loved my story but thought some readers might be offended by my "toilet" theme. My feelings weren't hurt and I think they made the right call. The thought of a Christian having to deal with a clogged toilet is about as bad as the Pope pooping (although I'm pretty sure he does or he would have gained a lot of weight by now.) My goal has never been to degrade God. My God is HUGE and I've tried to show how He is involved in all of my life, not just my Sunday mornings from ten to twelve. I'm no great theologian, but if I can make you laugh and think about God in your life, I'm satisfied.
With all this said, I do understand the need to reach a larger audience, so I've decided to change my style. From here on I'll be Phil for the masses. Here's my first attempt...
As the gentle spring breeze blows through the poppies in bloom, so the Holy Spirit brings refreshment to my parched soul.
On second thought... NOT! I'm just me, and that's who I'll be. (Hey, that rhymes!!)
Gotta run. If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom with my Bible word search book.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Two Days
I heard a great thought today in church. For Christians there are only two days - TOday and THAT day (when Christ returns).
If you do what Christ wants you to do today, you won't have to worry about what to say to Him on that day.
If you do what Christ wants you to do today, you won't have to worry about what to say to Him on that day.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Invisible Man Shoes
Last night we celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family at my aunt's house. After a wonderful dinner (broccoli-rice casserole, YES!!!) we retired to the living room to catch up on each other's lives. I found a seat, kicked off my shoes and settled in.
A few hours later we were ready to go home. I looked down but... no shoes. I knew mischief was afoot and asked who was playing a trick on me. Nobody fessed up, so I started the search. A few minutes later I found the missing shoes. They were perfectly positioned if front of the toilet, sort of like the invisible man was taking a rest stop. This had to be the work of my youngest daughter. I questioned her, prodded and interrogated, but she kept a straight face and never once admitted to the deed.
It was a really good prank for a nine year old. I'm amazed with her on two fronts. First, how did she get my shoes out of the room with out anybody seeing her? And second, how did she get so good at lying? I'm just afraid someday when she takes those career placement tests in school, it will come back that she is best suited to be a thief or a politician.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
A few hours later we were ready to go home. I looked down but... no shoes. I knew mischief was afoot and asked who was playing a trick on me. Nobody fessed up, so I started the search. A few minutes later I found the missing shoes. They were perfectly positioned if front of the toilet, sort of like the invisible man was taking a rest stop. This had to be the work of my youngest daughter. I questioned her, prodded and interrogated, but she kept a straight face and never once admitted to the deed.
It was a really good prank for a nine year old. I'm amazed with her on two fronts. First, how did she get my shoes out of the room with out anybody seeing her? And second, how did she get so good at lying? I'm just afraid someday when she takes those career placement tests in school, it will come back that she is best suited to be a thief or a politician.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
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