GK April Appearances

There are a couple more than these but they’re in-house over Easter weekend and such. So here you go, hope to see some of you (but not in all these places!).

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

MAR-APRIL 2019 GK APPEARANCES

Sat. Mar. 23 Dixon Correctional Center (Dixon, IL) w. Todd Anthony Joos & The Revelators

Sat. April 13 Josiah’s Place Beloit, WI GK Solo Blues 1175 Madison Road Beloit, WI 53512-1075  608.365.0365 www.overflowingcup.org

Mon. April 15 Pontiac Correctional Center (Pontiac, IL) GK Solo Blues

Mon. April 22 GK @ Cook Co. Jail (Chicago)

Thu. April 25 – Sat. 27 Celebration 2019, Lake Geneva, WI @ Ev. Cov. Cen. Conf. Annual Meeting -GK Speaking and bringing a late-night Solo Blues set.  https://www.centralconf.org/celebration2019/

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Two -MAY- Equal One

Early on in my spiritual walk I happened to meet two basic sorts of people among professing Christians- and began to be concerned about both.

The one was typically nice, quite open, creative, often went into their imagination, not closed to fresh or new ideas and would be the kind of person you could mention most anything to and not worry about them looking at you “sideways” wondering if they shouldn’t turn you in to a “higher authority” of some sort for a “proper beating”.

On the other hand I began to meet the curmudgeon sort of individual. They were rather cemented into a spiritual and social “slot”, often deeply serious, quick to criticize anything different and particularly outside of their view of right and acceptable, small in mind and sadly, often in heart.

I’m clearly speaking in general terms and certainly there are overlaps between these two, got that! The other important point is whether one or the other is our typical go-to state or simply an occasional plane of operation.

The first type individual could truly be undependable and flighty, undisciplined, the second sort stable and constant while sometimes horrid about community, collaboration or team playing. The first might show up to join a group and within a short time run off to chase butterflies in the wind never to be seen again. The second sort being so very independent would rarely join in unless in full charge (or satisfied a militant like them is) and left unchecked, drive others off to the extent the team might even cease to exist.

I know both of these personalities well because I’ve often seen them in my mirror in the morning.

The churches (and rest of society on earth) are loaded with both kinds of people -and when it comes to biblical pronouncements and interpretation, both general personalities also appear.

While we all bring good and bad stuff to any table and likewise to our reading and sharing of Bible truths, it is not merely interpretation methodology and skill (sorely needed for all of us who say we love God’s Word, His Church and those not yet following Jesus!) but also our personality which needs serious consideration.

The habits and associated strengths and weaknesses that manifest in meetings with people, social media exchanges, certainly in our marriages and interaction with family, friends, co-workers and yes, enemies seem to me to often lean one way or the other re. the two general pools I’ve mentioned in this post.

I’ve never expected to agree with everyone about everything -and certainly we must learn to listen, offer grace, even forgiveness when we feel wronged, misunderstood or perhaps experienced some kind of “inquisition” among “spiritual” people.

The other side of the coin is that we have at times been the problem as much as they due to our own flippant “WHATEVER… IT’S ALL RELATIVE… UHHHH… I DON’T CARE” all the way to “SIT DOWN YOU IDIOT WHO TOLD YOU YOU COULD BELIEVE -THAT- DEMONIC NONSENSE [YOU IGNORANT] LITTLE TWIT?!”.

On one hand we can be so open to new views regarding scripture we reject sound, carefully exegetical truth while on the other we can be so closed to at least considering a fresh understanding we ourselves have in reality simply become a modern version of the scribes, pharisees and religious hypocrites who were not loving God and neighbor but rather passing harsh judgment on all who don’t agree with the illustrious and self-righteous US.

I cannot control anyone and at times find it (hmmm… you too??) quite difficult to control myself.

The fruit of the Spirit which Paul mentions in the fifth chapter of Galatians takes not only general faith in the Lord but surrender and co-operation on my part to GROW in -and every one of those nine (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) are -ready for this?: THE STUFF OF GOOD RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, MAINTENANCE AND, GROWTH.

It’s not merely truth but attitude towards others we must face up to in our own life.

If you know me well you are aware I lean toward the more open side of things- but not by a long shot do I believe the scriptural truths have or do change, not one iota. God is perfect, unchanging, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and what God thinks, says and (beyond mere belief) knows as truth isn’t going to change regardless of the human race nor any of our individual ideas of anything.

The issue is whether we interpret and apply scripture on the basis of sound exegesis or our individual personality -and the second is massive in what we believe and at times saddle others with in terms of both our judgment and our application of scripture.

Further, one must consider what sort of friends (if any) we both want and have this side of heaven. Which of these might you be most comfortable with? For balance I’d say you need- yes need- to hang around both. Learning to live in love and grace with ALL is Christ’s call to those claiming to follow Him.

Lastly, what sort of witness of both the love and truth of Jesus are we currently equipped to share with versus demand of others in the process of living and walking together on the road?

Perhaps important matters to consider?

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

Politics in the Church??!

Ready? The old phrase is that you don’t talk about politics or religion and then everything will be fine! Only it won’t so that’s really not true. The point of course, is civil discourse so don’t talk of things that might cause disagreement. Obviously civility has taken a hike in the past several years.

But many of you won’t be ready to face this:

White folks who regularly rebuke others saying “Stick to the Gospel and quit talking politics, it just divides people!” are themselves A. often (not always of course) if they were truly honest, really saying “If you had voted like I did I wouldn’t mind so much.” B. The majority of the black churches in the United States have a long history of political organizing specifically due to Jim Crow laws back in the day, the new Jim Crow of incarceration, etc., needs for city and county response re. neighborhood infrastructure and other needs not being met via local politicians (by FAR white).

So what are we saying about our black brother and sister CHRISTIANS in CHURCHES who often sponsor politically leaning and organizational neighborhood meetings, function as polling places and such?

“Preach the Gospel and enjoy your “place” in the back of the bus”?

We talk of grace but those folks didn’t earn it like we did?

Ignorance, denial of racism perhaps? Yes. Sometimes that’s exactly what’s going on but most whites wouldn’t admit we talk against minority people, “the other” in just that way when we call folks out on the basis of “Gospel and spirituality”.

The fact is, love costs and it may well cost the white majority politically -which means plenty of white Christians in the U.S.A. are about as angry and/or afraid as they can be.

So you want followers of Jesus to quit talking about politics? I don’t think that’s the gut truth. I think being the majority, the dominant power, the very thing we cling so hard to and are so rarely willing to share or even relinquish re. both church leadership and political dominance are idols like all idols, that need to go.

I think loving our neighbor rather than running the show, especially if they are among “the least of these”, is a cross that many of us have avoided far too long.

Yes, let’s talk religion and politics, and in the words of Bob Dylan, “Let us not talk falsely now, the hour’s getting late.”

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Mythology

A myth is just a myth neither fact nor history though it may well allude to both. Made-up stories of imaginary gods to help explain the trials and ambiguities of life. Sometimes Christians and the Bible are referred to in this way. Sometimes professing believers are indeed mythologists in various areas- and there is always the possibility those who dis-believe create myths of their own much like those they criticize.

By now I’ve likely mentioned in my writings one of the supreme myth-busting moments of my life happened as I sang lead in a band one night as a teenager.

I was far underage so should have not been in the place at all much less drinking right through the night but none of that was uncommon for me.

It was likely either a Friday or Saturday but in any case, the club was packed out, the band was cooking along, somewhere in mid-song I opened my eyes just a bit (sweat and salt kept ’em shut mostly) and right in front of me below the stage stood the vice-principal and physical education teacher from my public school.

At the time I was perhaps 16 or maybe 17, but in any case, both of them and I recognized one another and at the same instant mouthed “What are YOU doing here?!!”

I shrugged laughing. Everyone at my high school knew I was in a band, had always been in bands so no big revelation. Much of the time my bandmates were four or more years older than I and so doing shows in places like that were common and they likely figured that out quick.

What was really strange (for a moment) in my view was they each had a drop-dead beautiful blond lady on their arm -and I may be mistaken but I think one of those guys was married- and not to the babe. But it was date-night and for me quite strange to see them in that situation.

What happened inside my head was a major (duhhhh smh) revelation: nobody is a god. Not my parents, grandparents, teachers, no politician, pastor, cop, fireman, general, admiral, nobody in authority, no “big shot” anywhere was somehow and automatically a sort of deity. They were all (indeed, like many Greek mythological gods) quite human-like in terms of… well… sin. They, like me, could do incredibly stupid or remarkably brilliant, destructive death-bringing things, make choices with horrible and far-reaching or truly life-giving decisions. All of them. And all of us. And nobody is God but God.

This for me became and continues to be a deep and informing reality as I consider writing, speaking, lyricism, worship, attitudes and actions in my own life, those of my family, church, local and national government, on and on.

Either we pretend to be deity or we humbly bow before and serve God and others as the flawed, imperfect yet God-focused humans we are. But to ascribe some sort of sinless perfection to -or offering absurd levels of respect to people purely due to their station/position in life seems to me, a practical but foolish mythology but worse, it can and likely at times does border on idolatry.

Your idols, like mine, have feet of clay. No matter how amazing, loving, gifted, inspiring, they all -and you and I dear reader, “have feet of clay.” All have sin nature. All make mistakes. All will let you down and sometimes if your focus is too much on them and too little on the true Redeemer, you will likely begin to dislike if not eventually despise them for being… just like you and me.

In my case, this and a few other seminal experiences helped me understand that nobody but Jesus could be considered literally perfect, utterly trustworthy and completely faithful in all their ways. It brought me to a sense of compassion, forgiveness and common sense regarding human relations that are rather important for both respecting people but also not setting them on a pedestal from which I could “righteously” blame them and knock them down later.

At the time I suppose I even envied and was jealous of the blonds but harsh judgments, even prior to coming to follow Jesus began to get washed from my thinking about them.

They, like myself, were human, sinners in need of the only Savior.

I am deeply grateful grace began it’s work in me even through those days.Thanks to Jesus, it continues, but I’m grateful God began that work, even in that time and place.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

First ELECTRIC Guitar Ever?

Miku (whom I discovered some time ago in http://www.cigarboxnation.com) does amazing work- you can see this Polish wunderkind’s beautiful and intriguing art-cigarbox-gits at his website (with a lightning-fast “translate” button for English speakers):

http://www.cigarboxguitar.pl/

What I want to highlight now is something he posted in cigarboxnation a couple of years ago.

While nobody’s 100 percent certain who actually built The First electric guitar, often Les Paul and Rickenbacker come up when you do the research. So I find the following amazingly interesting (I created the tiny url link, it’s safe):

Quite possibly the world’s first electric guitar: https://tinyurl.com/y4o2u3ms

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

New Electric Diddley Bow Slide Guitar Build

So in that I needed a diddley bow (one stringer) and had an old piece of quite warped wood lying around

-and a cool box just sent (thanks Jack and Jean!) from longtime friends in Florida, and a fresh pickup… why not BUILD one?

This time I laid the bar-type pickup alongside the neck under the top near where the neck meets the body, put a bass string on ‘er and tuned it to C.

I sanded, then stained the neck with hot coffee grounds just to match the box a bit more.

Hadn’t built a git for quite some time and decided as I’m getting close to finishing my tracking on the next recording project, the song needed a fresh one as opposed to using any of my many other diddleys.

Also used one of my bud Shane Speal’s amazing slides to work that string 🙂

And now to work out.

She was fun to make and is a joy to play.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

GK Appearance Schedule- March 2019 Update

Wendi’s knee replacement rehab is going so very well, so proud of my amazing girl- thanks for prayers all!

So I will begin to do more shows this month, and here’s the update. A LOT of gigs booked right through October but as usual we’ll publicize them about one month ahead of time right through the year.

You can check here bottom right for links to my various other WordPress blog sites, Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as GrrrRecords.Com (in the Shows section there) for updates as well.

The recording sessions are going amazing, nearly done with all my parts, then on to various guests doing their work. First of two books is in the editing stage. Doing a great deal more song writing as well.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

MARCH -GK SCHEDULE:

MON. 11 Cook County Jail, Chicago

MON. 18 Cook County Jail, Chicago

FRI. 23 Dixon (IL) Correctional Center w. Todd Anthony Joos and The Revelators

MON. 25 Cook County Jail, Chicago