Under the Big Top

Last week, Lori and I took Trey and Kassady to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus in Nampa. We met up with Marc, Talisha, Emme, and Addison. Highlights of the 1-ring circus (we're not big enough for the 3 or 5-ring variety) included the amazing dogs who pulled off some incredible tricks, the acrobats who did everythingfrom walking the tightrope to riding a bike on the tightrope to sitting in 2 chairs on the tightrope all the while holding another brave soul, and a Mr. Bean-type clown. Very funny. Trey really enjoyed the clown, especially the skit involving a "baby" who sang hip-hop and expressed its displeasure by wetting the crowd. I have to admit that I laughed, too. I have now figured out what Royce should do once he retires. I, of course, forgot to bring my camera, so many thanks to Marc and Talisha for their stunning photography.

Addison (the little head to the left), Kassady (the tyke in green), Emme (of striped shirt), and Trey (jean jacket) get jiggy wid' it with the dancers.

My kids really know how to pose. They always look so natural. I love 'em!

Trey and Emme, show off their bulbous clown schnozzes.

The elephant pulled off some impressive tricks. I never could get my dog to do this. I'm thinking that animal training isn't for me.

I'll leave you with this gem of a picture that Marc snapped. Timing really is everything.

Babblings of a Beleaguered Blogger (Doran)

Well, it seems as though the media hacks are at it again. Namely, Doran Ritchey. He can't leave well enough alone. He is once again going after me with acrimonious accusations. His virulent approach to blogging leaves much to be desired. Just to let you know, Doran isn't exactly savvy when it comes to, well, even checking his email, much less posting on my blog. I'm so glad that he's married to Diane who helps compensate his obvious deficiencies. If Doran could figure out how to check his email he would realize that the picture he references in his caustic post was sent to him early yesterday, before it was even posted on my blog. After all I do for that boy, to see him respond with such antagonism is disappointing to say the least.

Uh-oh, better go. Kassady is having flu issues...not a pretty sight! It's very similar to what you'll find over at Doran's blog.

And for the record, of all the things I could be greedy over, it most definitely would not be pictures of Doran.

An Unnecessary Attack

I have tried to keep keithinside a positive place. A cyber destination that will make you smile with appreciation or chuckle at my gentle humor. Folks from around the world have come to know this blog as an idyllic refuge from the harshness of today's society. This Eden exists no longer. Doran Ritchey has thrown the first salvo at this bastion of grace, love, and overall sensitivity. So, I have no other option but to go on the offensive. I will admit that I have occasionally stung Doran with a post such as this or this but have never intentionally tried to denigrate him in anyway. In fact, those are the only "bad" photos I've posted of Doran in the last year (don't believe me, check out the older posts). However, he has made this personal, very personal. In fact, he has begun blogging just so he can try to make me look bad, going so far as to solicit pictures from my past. Doran, all you have to do is look at my blog. I'll provide you with plenty of pics (I mean, who could forget the foot?).

But, if he wants to play this game, bring it on. So, here we go:

Liberty's own urban pianist poses in more natural surroundings. Raised on the streets of Amish country and the Virginia backwoods, Doran finds solace in the quietude of the concrete jungle.

Doran pulled off his cover of Michael Jackson's "moonwalk" this past week to the great enjoyment of Dan.
The "funky chicken" has become one of Doran's signature moves. KFC is seriously considering sponsoring our next tour.

OK, enough's enough. All that sarcasm just feels wrong. I can't live like Doran lives. That sarcasm...it does nothing but to lend itself to bitterness. Now, see, if this was Royce; yeah, I could understand that. He has just naturally posed for pictures that lend themselves to a funny caption. But, Doran? My son, my son...I never knew thee!

LaRona

I like to give credit where credit is due. LaRona Ezell who does much of the writing for the Grace website listed this for Friday's game night:

You Got Game?
Can you take a RISK without becoming FLUSTERED? Does the age
old BATTLE OF THE SEXES leave you BOGGLED? Are you SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? Here's UNO CLUE: you won't know the answers to these questions unless you put your busy LIFE on hold and bring your CRANIUM prepared to challenge any ROOKies who would dare to PIT themselves against you. It isn't hard to BREAK THE ICE in a rousing MASTERPIECE of SEQUENCE, and you will be making a fun MEMORY as well. There will be everything from APPLES (cider) TO APPLES (juice), but please bring your most fattening TABOO snack to share with your fellow players. You won't be SORRY!

Clever, clever, clever. Besides Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and MLK, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, this is the only other thing I wish was attributed to me.

Just for the record, the last time we played "Battle of the Sexes" with a group of friends, the guys won, thanks to LaRona. A question was posed to the guys asking the French name for a new fashion. LaRona asked (out loud, mind you) Lori if it had something to do with haut. That's all I needed. Out of my bank of useless information I pulled out "haut couture" and we won the game. The look on LaRona's face was priceless, one I hope to see again on Friday evening when, once again, the guys prove to be victorious.

Worth 1000 words

Our Tribute to Royce

Tribute to Royce

Grace online

Another new destination for you browsing curiosity seekers is the new Grace Bible Church website. It's been up for about a week or so. I've been working quite a bit on the site. Enjoy!

Doran

My buddy, Doran, now has a blog. Stop by and say hi. Maybe he'll update his a little more frequently than I do mine, but I doubt it.

Covington, KY

We had to leave early for Covington on Monday morning. Dave Frederick, my esteemed brother-in-law, promoted the concert and he was scared to death. You just have to know Dave. He's not a glass half-empty type of guy; he's more like an empty glass person. He did a fantastic job at promoting the concert, but told me that he wasn't sure if anyone would show up. When he arrived, I asked him if he had worn his brown pants. He told me that he hadn't been sleeping well and that his blood pressure was sky-rocketing. There was definitely some stress going on! It was quickly relieved, though, as people started showing up. We ended up having a great crowd. I knew that Dave would make it happen, and he did.

Assurance, an old GBS quartet, opened up for us and sounded great. Martha Miller, my esteemed piano teacher, played for them and did a wonderful job. Dan helped the guys get a sound check and came out to the bus shaking his head. "These guys are great! They're definitely the best group that's ever opened for us." I used to work with Brandon Mills and Mike Mater in one of their quartets when I was still at GBS. They have done so well. I was proud of them!

We had a lot of fun singing! We debuted some new songs off of our new recording "Timeless, Treasured Hymns, Vol.2". I think the album is going to be a best-seller for us. We did a mix of old and new songs and just thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Jack Hooker, my former boss at GBS, was the emcee for the concert. He needs to do that more often. He's good. It was great to see him again. Speaking of bosses, Ray McCrary and his fam: Lenea, Marissa, and two of the incredible Grace Teens, Tosh and Darnelle, showed up. Doran and I both worked with Ray at Grace Bible Church. We're cousins, but more like brothers.

There were so many friends at the concert that night, that I'm going to get in trouble if I start naming all the names. I do have to shout out to all my old Immanuel Church of the Nazarene friends, John, Carolyn, Ernie, Cathy, Charlie, Cathy, Emmett, Kathy (a lot of Cathys at the church), Webb, Kate, and everybody else. Also, one of my mentors came to hear us; my youth pastor, Monte Stetler. There are few people who have had more of an influence in my life than Monte and Connie. It was so good to see him again. The dude never ages! Then, Bryan Potteiger, my old Allegiance buddy was there. I didn't even see him until after the concert was over. I would have pulled him up on stage to sing "Great Day" with us. That was the old Allegiance foot-stomper.

Of course, I enjoyed being with Dave, Char, David, Ank, Alicia, and Christy. I've been blessed with the greatest in-laws. We actually like to be together! Go figure!

Once again, I forgot to bring in my camera. However, my faithful sister-in-law, Char, was supposed to send me some pics that she took. I'm still waiting...Anyway, here are just a few pictures from the evening:

I had fun shooting the breeze with Jack and Jane Hooker. Usually, when Jack and I are together there's a lot of hot air blowing around.
I stole this picture from Char's blog. She won't send them to me, so I have to do what I can to provide you with the latest in Liberty pictures. She could have refrained from posting this one, though.

It's so nice to be able to pose for pictures with famous people, such as Char. I stand in awe of you, Charlotte.

Dad, Ray, Darnelle, Lenea, Marissa, and Tosh pose while Cathy, Jim, and I lean in.

Notice how I'm showing up in every picture? Jeremy Leach, Nathan Dahler, Liz Charlton (soon to be Dahler), Dan, me, Brandon Hilligoss, Nathan Gumbiner, and Emilie Leach (from right, clockwise).

Doran and Trish and Jonathan Makcen. Unfortunately, I missed this photo op.

But I made it to this one, along with Doran's in-laws, Cathy and Jim.

I just wonder what is going through Jonathan's mind right here. This was after Royce had the bean soup and Frisco sandwich. That can't be pretty.

Roanoke, VA

Saturday, we flew into Charlotte, NC to pick up our bus. We had left it at a hotel where our main man, Frankie Goodson of the Goodson Bus Company did a little repair on the two windshields. Well, actually he replaced them. So, we were able to leave for Roanoke, VA the next morning actually seeing where we were going. I have to back up, though. We didn't have a chance to grab anything to eat between our flights on Saturday, so by the time we arrived in Charlotte we were famished. The driver for the hotel who picked us up at the airport (and who also, incidentally, moonlights as a NASCAR driver; this we deduced from his erratic, FAST driving) told us that the only restaurant open in the vicinity of our lodging was Waffle House. Royce and Dan had never partaken of the delectable offerings of this particular culinary establishment (those words have never before been used to describe Waffle House), so we dropped in for a bite. It had been 11 years since I last visited a Waffle House. I think it was in the fall of 1996 that Matt Barnett and I started going to the Covington, KY Waffle House at like 1:30 AM to watch the comedy provided by all the drunks who stumbled in. Anyway, I digress. For all of my misgivings and smart-aleck comments, this turned out to be a clean, friendly restaurant; a fine example to all other Waffle Houses. However, Waffle House isn't known for their low-fat, no-grease menu items, so by the time we turned in for the night (around 12:30 AM Sunday), we had all that food in our system. Let's just say that influenced the rest of our trip...ahem, Royce.

Anyway, the next morning we hit the road for Copper Hill, VA and had an uneventful trip, other than Royce's shock that the east has mountains too. We got in around 4:45 PM to the concert location, a campground in the middle of nowhere. Lori and I were the song evangelists at this camp back in 2001, so it was nice to get back and see so many of our friends. They have done a lot of work on the campground and it is so much nicer than it used to be, even though I told them that I really missed the bus seats in the back of the tabernacle. There were several churches who were part of the concert. Jeff Keaton, pastor at Roanoke House of Prayer, hosted the concert and did a fantastic job along with all the other pastors of promoting the event. My pastors, Dave and Julia Keep, were formerly the associate pastor at the Roanoke House of Prayer, so everybody wanted to make sure that they said hi. So, Dave and Julia, "Hi from Roanoke."

It was so awesome to see some of our family there. Lori's aunt, Pearl, and cousins Dale, Karen, and Dusty drove down to see us. It was so good to see them again. It had probably been 3 or 4 years since we had last been together. And then, my cousins, Randy and Esther Burton (Esther and I on the left), showed up. They go to Jeff's church in Roanoke (as of last April). I think it had been 17 or 18 years since I had last seen them. I've lost quite a bit of hair since then. Scary.

So many of my friends were at the concert including Troy Keaton, Dan Coy, Ian and Patti, Steve and Dottie Roberson, the Feazells, Steve Parker, Andrew Graham, and a lot of other people that I know I'm forgetting. Unfortunately, I didn't have as much time to spend with them as I would have liked. Dan Coy and Lincoln Bryant, fellow youth pastors, have started a church just for teens. That night over 80 teens showed up for the concert. Awesome! Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera in, so you just have to take my word for it.

Just a great night.

Coming soon

Stay tuned for pictures and commentary on the last leg of our eastern tour. It's been a blast so far!

Liberty on YouTube

I think this was taken from a concert in Fremont, NE. We're officially big-time. When bootleg videos show up on youtube you know you have arrived.

Liberty in the heartland

Hey, don't forget Liberty is going to be back in the Midwest next week. Come see us if you get a chance. I'd like to see a lot of you guys that I don't get to touch base with on a regular basis. Here's the schedule:

Sunday, 9/23: Copper Hill, VA (Painter Tabernacle; 6:00 PM)
Monday, 9/24: Covington, KY (Central Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)
Tuesday, 9/25: Fortville, IN (Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)
Wednesday, 9/26: Pekin, IL (First Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)

Our website has all the address details: http://www.libertyquartet.com/schedule.php.

NQC from my perspective

Here is my belated overview of my short time at NQC:

After driving throughout the night following our Wednesday evening concert in Inman, KS, we arrived in Louisville at about 1:30 PM. By the time we parked the bus, showered, and started the long trek toward Freedom Hall it was about 2:15 PM. We were fortunate to get into the Instrumentalists Jam Session, hosted by Tim Lovelace. Those musicians are awesome! The highlight for me was the privilege to hear Earl Scruggs play live. He's the one who composed and played the Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song. He can pick a banjo like no one else.

After the showcase, Royce took off to try to find a rental car. In the meantime, Doran, Dan, Jim Elkins (Doran's father-in-law), and I wandered around the exhibition center. We heard some music playing and walked into one of the regional artist showcases. Phil Cross saw us from the front (he was emceeing the showcase) and motioned for us to come up front. By the time it was over Phil, Jeff Chapman (bass for Kingdom Heirs), Doran, and I sang Wedding Music for everybody. That was a lot of fun, even if I never heard the baritone part (Doran was playing, not singing). My 2 minutes of fame at NQC.

I spent most of the time meandering through the exhibit halls checking out what everyone had to offer. This was my first visit to NQC and here is my initial impression: it's a flea market with a lot of CDs for sale. Some of the booths were pretty hokey in my humble opinion. I would focus on the music industry if I was in charge and get rid of all the book dealers, clothing booths, candlemakers, and jewelry salesmen. It was a little over the top.

I enjoyed the awards show. Since I've already commented on that I'll leave it alone, except to comment that they did a good job of keeping it moving. They avoided, for the most part, the corny schtik that really isn't even funny. Overall, I was impressed. The sound was very good in the nose-bleed sections where we sat, but a little muddy in the lower sections.

Favorite Set: Mark Lowry and Lordsong (Friday evening)
This was probably the best set that I've ever been privileged to witness. Lordsong's vocals are incredible! Most of their songs were done without the stacks that overshadow other groups performances. They were on pitch perfectly. Their version of O Happy Day (they did both songs that share that title) was awesome! I just couldn't stop grinning. Mark Lowry was his usual masterful self in communicating his point with humor. After hearing a lot of corny one-liners, his jokes were refreshing and brought out the big laughs. Their set was definitely worth the price of admission.

Favorite Performers: Booth Brothers
The Booth Brothers are definitely at the top of the SG field right now. They consistently delivered. And based on the crowd's reaction, they agree with my assessment. Michael Booth is the best emcee in the biz and his crazy sense of humor coupled with his talent for playing off of a comment or situation kept you on the edge of your seat. Right now, they are my favorite SG group.

Favorite Quartet: Brian Free & Assurance
These guys are getting better and better. Their new bass fits their sound perfectly. They outshone established giants such as Legacy Five, Gold City, and Kingdom Heirs in their sets. They combine fantastic arrangements with an exciting presentation that wows the listener. I'll say it again, Bill Shivers is the most underrated lead singing in the industry. Go buy their new CD, "Real Faith", and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Favorite "New" Group: Hope's Call
I know that this group has been around for a few years, but this was the first time I had heard them perform. I was very impressed! I now can see what the buzz has been about.

Favorite Showcase: Jim Cymbala & The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers/Mike Speck's Choral Extravaganza (tie)
We thought that the Cymbala showcase started later than it did, so we got in for the last part of it. However, it was awesome! Jim has a God-given gift for communicating the Word. He just makes it come alive. I left the showcase feeling like I had been to church. I also loved the choral showcase. Mike Speck led an ensemble made up of members from 3 or 4 church choirs. He previewed new choral arrangements from his newest book. It was another one of those worship experiences. I've enjoyed leading and singing his choral music for the last 10 years, so it was a privilege to see this live. I kept on thinking to myself, "Garen Wolf would love this!"

Favorite Convention Food: The Kentucky Barbeque Sandwich
No competition here. We really need to get this one at Fresno.

Favorite New Song: It Means Just What It Says, Greater Vision
Simple lyrics, catchy tune, incredible message. Listen for it on radio. Gerald said that they're going to release this one. I can't stop humming the tune. Rodney did it again.

It was a blast to see so many people that I haven't touched base with for a while (in addition to all of our quartet buddies): Cheryl and Susan Bailey, Jonathan and Karen Walden, Chad, Valerie, and Christopher Winter, Tim LeBeau, Josh Arnett, Brent Vernon (yes, Brent Vernon; surprised me too), and a lot of other people who aren't coming to my mind right now.

Lots of fun. Hopefully, we'll do it again next year.

For a detailed overview of NQC, visit:
http://www.averyfineline.com/
http://www.musicscribe.com/blog/wordpress/
http://www.southerngospelblog.com/

Fan Awards

National Quartet Convention was a great experience. I have quite a bit to say about it, the performances, the booths, the friends I ran into, the groups, you name it. However, I first want to contribute a little commentary concerning the fan awards. Y'all got some right, but you blew it on a few. Here we go (winners are in bold):


Female
Bean, Peg McKamey (McKameys)
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)
Whisnant, Susan (Whisnants)

There is no doubt that Kim Hopper is very deserving of this award. She possesses one of the most powerful voices in Southern Gospel music (male or female). However, with that said, I was personally pulling for Susan Whisnant, the heir to Connie Hopper's title "Queen of Class". Susan is an underrated vocalist who has learned how to sell a song without belting. Right now, the Whisnants are one of my favorite SG groups.

Male
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Haase, Ernie (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Parker, Ivan
Rice, Arthur (Kingdom Heirs)
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)

Sorry, fans. You blew it here. Don't get me wrong, Ivan can still bring a crowd to its feet, albeit with his classics in lower keys and a tendency to avoid the big punch as in old days, but he is not in the same class as the rest of these guys. I see this category as including more than just a good voice. I would have gone with Gerald Wolfe in this category. There is no one who can bring the entire package (vocals, humor,charisma) to the stage like Gerald. While his vibrato is widening with age, he can still sing the big songs like few others in the biz.

Tenor
Free, Brian (Brian Free & Assurance)
Haase, Ernie (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Seamans, Frank (Legacy Five)
Sutton, David (Triumphant Quartet)
Waldroup, Jason (Greater Vision)

I like Jason, but right now Brian Free is sounding better than he ever has. He is one of those few guys who truly improves as he gets older. His voice sounds so much better than it did in the Gold City hey-day. He can tear it up live better than any of the other guys. Brian consistently brings it night after night. Frank makes it tough to vote just because he's in a 2-way tie with Rodney Griffin for the nicest guy in Southern Gospel music. He also sounds better every time I hear him.

Lead
Dibler, Matt (Inspirations)
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Inman, Clayton (Triumphant Quartet)
Rice, Arthur (Kingdom Heirs)
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)

I agree.

Baritone
Anderson, Doug (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Griffin, Rodney (Greater Vision)
Howard, Scott (Legacy Five)
Inman, Scott (Triumphant Quartet)
Trammell, Mark (Mark Trammell Trio)

I don't get this one. Not that Rodney isn't a deserving recipient, he is. But he sings lead on 85% of the Greater Vision songs. He's not a baritone, people! And, Mark Trammell is singing lead with MTT. We like to stereotype singers. Just because Mark sang baritone with the Cats back in the day doesn't mean he's still stuck on that part. That being said, I like both Rodney and Mark, but I have to go with the best guy nominated, Doug Anderson. Doug has an incredible instrument and deserves the honor. The best baritone in SG music wasn't nominated, though. That's Marsh Hall. That's a baritone!

Bass
Bennett, Eric (Triumphant Quartet)
Duncan, Tim (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Dustin, Glenn (Legacy Five)
Holcomb, Mike (Inspirations)
Stuffle, Tracy (Perrys)

I'd go with Glenn out of this group. I have to say, though, that the best bass singer this week was Aaron McCune of Gold City. He's incredible! Give him some love.

Alto
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Hopper, Connie (Hoppers)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)
Talley, Debra (Talley Trio)
Whisnant, Susan (Whisnants)

Once again, I would have liked Susan to win this award. That being said, though, I love Debra. So, I don't feel too bad about this one.

Soprano
Fortner, Connie (McKameys)
Gooch, Karen Peck (Karen Peck & New River)
Greene, TaRanda (Greenes)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)
Talley, Lauren (Talley Trio)

I agree with Kim's statement when she accepted the award: "...my favorite soprano is my sister-in-law Taranda". Taranda should have been the one on stage. She has a beautiful voice that can belt out SG standards such as "When I Knelt" as well as CCM classics like "Redeemer". By the way, she sings Redeemer better than Nicole C. Mullen.

Young Artist
Fortner, Eli (McKameys)
Free, Ricky (Brian Free & Assurance)
Habedank, Joseph (Perrys)
Inman, Scott (Triumphant Qt)
Sweatman, Dustin (Mark Trammell Trio)

On the money, with this one. Scott's a class guy with a great future ahead of him.

Horizon Individual
Barker, Grant (Kingsmen)
Lile, Jeremy (Brian Free & Assurance)
Singletary, Josh (Tribute Qt)
Sweatman, Dustin (Mark Trammell Trio)
Trammell, Nick (Perrys)

To be honest, I really didn't have a favorite. I'm glad Nick won, though, because he provided the quote of the night: "Thanks to Tracy and Libbi for giving me an opportunity that my own father wouldn’t give me."

Horizon Group
Ball Brothers
Browns
Crystal River
Paid In Full
Young Harmony

How many times can you be nominated for this award? I know that Paid in Full has been nominated 2 or 3 years. They've been traveling for 15 years. I don't see how that fits the parameter of being a "new" group. I would have gone with the Ball Brothers.

Musician
Bennett, Roger (Legacy Five)
Collingsworth, Kim (Collingsworth Family)
Holt, Matthew (Perrys)
Stice, Jeff (Triumphant Qt)
Webb, Roy (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)

OK, so we all knew that Roger would win one more time. And I don't begrudge that at all. Roger will always be remembered as one of the all-time piano greats. I loved the guy. I'm hoping that Kim finally gets her due next year.

Songwriter
Bishop, Mark
Brady, Jim
Crabb, Gerald
Griffin, Rodney
Wilkinson, Dianne

I guess I should be grateful that fans are finally starting to read the liner notes and nominating non-singer writers. I was hoping that Dianne would win. She has written so many fantastic songs for the premiere groups of our genre.

Album
Get Away Jordan (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
I Know (Inspirations)
Live In Music City (Legacy Five)
Revival (Gold City)
Triumphant (Triumphant Qt)

In my mind L5s album was in a dead heat with "Revival". They're both great recordings that I play quite frequently. So, heads or tails: Heads, you have it. Legacy Five.

Group of the Year
Booth Brothers
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Inspirations
Legacy Five
Triumphant Qt

Thank you for getting this right, fans. The Booth Brothers are at the top. Their unique blend of harmony, comedy, energy, and great songs are unparalleled in Southern Gospel. They are my favorite group right now.

Song
Give It Away (Gaither Vocal Band)
He Will Hide Me (Perrys)
Heaven's Hero (Greater Vision)
Hey Jonah (Triumphant Qt)
I Have Not Forgotten (Inspirations)
I Will Trust You Lord (McKameys)
If It Takes A Valley (Brian Free & Assurance)
My Anchor of Hope (Kingdom Heirs)
Once Upon A Cross (Mark Trammell Trio)
Strike Up The Band (Legacy Five)

You totally blew it! I don't get it. The song shouldn't have even been in the top ten. I heard all of the songs and the most powerful, by far, was "Once Upon a Cross". What a song! "He Will Hide Me" would have been my second choice. It was nice to recognize the songwriter of each song, but why did they exclude Phil Cross? They mentioned everyone but him. Just an oversight?

It was a fun evening. And now, I'll put my soapbox away and go see why Royce is swerving all over the road.

Hello Manhattan!

Nice set of pipes! No, I'm not referring to the vociferous sound Royce is producing with facial contortions; I'm talking about the pipe organ behind us. They began the concert by singing 3 congregational songs (I can't remember the first, but the last two were Victory in Jesus and Wonderful Grace of Jesus), all verses thank you very much. The organist could flat out play (the term "flat out" brings to mind colorful images)! She tore it up! It's rare that you hear an organist who knows how to bring the instrument to life, skillfully getting the most out of it. I enjoyed that almost as much as singing to the wonderful crowd.

Ok, so the skyline wasn't quite what I expected, but our concert in Manhattan, MT was a success. People came from all over the state to hear us at the Brethren Christian Reformed Church. I'm sure they were wondering what was going on with the camera on stage, but now they know.

Only in Montana (and Wyoming)

I never saw this in Indiana. In Montana they just shut down the road for a cattle drive. That little dog that you see in the middle picture was amazing! He kept those cattle moving. We sat for about 3 or 4 minutes waiting for them to get to the other side of the road.

Uno Voce

Thanks for praying, people. My voice was raspy all throughout the day, yesterday, but as soon as I stepped on the stage for the concert it came back in full force. Incredible! This entire trip has been wondeful. Every evening (and one morning), we have been blessed to sing to a fantastic audience who encourages us with their spirit. We have already seen about 25 decisions for Christ in the last few days. Doran shared with us that he had felt impressed to ask God for 50 commitments to Christ on this eastern trip. We have been specifically praying for at least 50 souls on this trip. I think our faith was too weak. God is going to blow the doors off of our little request. It's amazing what He can do!

I have some pictures from a couple of our most recent concerts coming up. Enjoy!

Celebrity

Special props go to Carrie for giving me the idea for this. I'm thrilled to even have a 51% match to Mel Gibson. I'm not sure where the Barry Manilow thing came in. This is very informative, to say the least. I think I'll look like Ernest in about 40 years.

No Voce

As is my custom when traveling to Nebraska and Kansas, I have lost my voice. OK, so it's not as bad as it was last year, but it's still pretty rough. This time it's my allergies that have just nailed me. I save my notes, if you know what I mean. When I have an exposed line I have to be able to hit it, so I really focus on blending the rest of the time, which is a novel idea for a Southern Gospel tenor (sarcasm is included).

Flash

Royce wanted to save a little money on his portrait package

Bill and GooGoo

Dan's dad, Bill, went along with us on the Michigan trip to help drive the bus. Thank God he was with us! It was 36-hour trip there and at least a 36-hour trip home. Bill is a driving machine. Once he gets behind the wheel, he's there for 5 or 6 hours.

Unfortunately, for Royce's diet, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel. He bought a box of Goo Goo Supremes and wolfed them down in short order. OK, maybe he didn't eat them all, but let's just say he ate more than his fair share.

I Feel Like Traveling On

Hi from somewhere in South Dakota or Nebraska. A lot has happened since I last posted. I'm pretty pathetic in my efforts to be a consistent blogger. I would love to post more, but I just haven't had time to get around to it. Anyway, a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks, including:

• Trey's first day of school (1st grade); he's not real impressed with the fact that he has to be at school all day.
• The first Boise State football game of the season, which I was fortunate enough to attend, a 56-7 thumping of Weber State. By the way, it doesn't matter who you play, it's just a good feeling to know that football season is here.
• The annual Labor Day golf scramble; I had the worst game of golf since my first feeble attempts; it was fun, though, with quite a bit of laughter at my hitched swing.
• Labor Day picnic with all of my friends at Grace Bible Church; followed up by another picnic over at the Taylors; I ate waaaayy too much food.
• Kassady's first soccer practice. Watching 3 and 4-year-olds play soccer is kind of like watching the Senate in action: you know what they're supposed to theoretically be doing, but the reality is they just end up stumbling all over themselves.
• Trey's first soccer practice: he's making me proud. He's actually getting pretty good.
• A big Colts win over the Chargers, which caused me to shout with joy loudly in our car (much to my family's chagrin).
• The wedding of Matt and Mindy (Crane) Ritchey. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been a part of. I was the emcee for the reception and sang a song for the ceremony (I was pinch-hitting for Doran who lost his voice the night before the wedding; I'd never heard the song before, but Diane and I were able to pull it off; the name of the song was "When God Made You" and originally performed by Newsong and Natalie Grant).
• Leaving for a 9-day tour with Liberty, including stops in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina. We're going to be spending 2 days at National Quartet Convention, a first for all of us.
• ...and a lot of other stuff.

I'll be posting more from the road. We all brought our video cameras, so I'll try to have some video clips available too. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from Liberty. I forgot Trey and Kassady's soccer pics at home. I'll upload them later.

Noble on Criticism

I don't even know this guy, but I love his blog. Perry Noble just challenged me (again) about criticism (OK, I think it's closer to gossip). You have to check out his post. It's way too easy for me to fall into a trap of going off on someone I've never met. I love his comment about how internet criticism is for cowards. They hide behind an anonymous ID and blast away.

By the way, you really need to subscribe to Perry's blog. It's incredible. Mega-kudos to Paul for directing me his way.

Playing catch-up

We are back, none the worse for wear. Dave and Crystal Bittinger are visiting us for the next couple of days. After they fly back for the fields of Kansas, I'll update you on our Michigan trip, Kassady's birthday party, and Trey's first day of first grade. Life is good.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this.

Finally...some recognition

It's so nice to get a little love in the blogosphere. I truly believe I would have made it to #1 if:

#4 Paul Peterson hadn't traveled with Joel
#3 Angie Davis wasn't Canadian
#2 Jon Plank wasn't so...well, old
#1 Tim Calhoun would take pictures with a real camera

So, I feel good about this. I really do.

Tour de Caldwell

My latest venture into the world of exercise includes a Mongoose mountain bike picked up at Vista Pawn in Boise. Trey is doing quite well at pedaling around the neighborhood, so I was inspired to keep up.

My spandex body suit should be delivered sometime next week.

Style Tip of the Week: Just Say No

Royce made us all proud last weekend by breaking out the boots. He apparently hadn't worn these fine examples of footwear for quite a while, because as he was pulling them on he found a sock that had been missing for some time. Unfortunately, he had thrown away the match sometime back.

Stories from the Road

It is now 10:01 AM in Chicago. We are patiently waiting for Royce to show up. He flew in last night, got a hotel a few miles away, and has been living the high life while the Liberty peons drove 34 hours (that includes 3 hours worth of stops for food, fuel, and bathrooms). While he was drawing a steam bath, wrapped in the furry white robe provided by the hotel, we were racking up the miles, unshaven and unkempt. So, now, we are sitting at a little side street outside Midway International Airport waiting for Big Daddy to show up in the limo. Tough life.

Here's a picture for Royce, just in case he forgets what bus life is like:

Lifescript

OK, we are on a trip to Michigan that is taking forever! 30 hours, one way. I've already slept about 12 hours. Right now, we're somewhere in Nebraska. Of course, the weather is pretty nasty.

I'm a whiner.

An early birthday

Because I am leaving in just a few minutes for Michigan and Indiana, I am posting my birthday wishes to Kassady a day early. It's hard to believe that my little princess is three. What a girl!!! Her loves include Cinderella, Belle, anything to do with dress-up, chapstick, waffles, apple juice, Ninja Turtles (thanks to her brother), chicken nuggets, Tony Stewart (I have no clue where that comes from), pink, Sprite, Maggie (her bear), and singing.

She's my sweetheart! Since I have to miss her party tomorrow we let her open a couple of presents from us and then headed out to Red Robin, Kass's favorite restaurant:

My Little Princess

Groban Rocks

I just returned from a Josh Groban concert at the Idaho Center in Nampa. What a fantastic evening! Every once in a while, Lori and I break free for a date. This one was certainly memorable. I'm too tired to give you the set breakdown. I'll wait 'til tomorrow. Good night.

See what you missed?

We had a fun weekend out in Oregon. Here are a few uncensored pics from the road:

It really is a tough life we lead on the road...Thanks to Dan (and a friend; you know who you are) we now have two leather easy chairs in the front lounge. I'm usually ensconced in one of the chairs, either getting some work done on my laptop (sometimes) or controlling the bus media content (notice who's holding the remote). Thank God it's almost college football season!

Doran got caught in the act of hitting me in the head with his microphone by a photographer at our Wood Village, OR concert. He declares that he just barely tapped me on the head, but I'm here to tell you that it was more than a tap! I will get even...

Of course, when you see Doran in person, it's hard to hold him responsible for anything. I think his ticket's punched for Heaven, if you know what I mean. Most of his bus activity involves those thick crayons.

Every once in a while, Royce feels inspired to help Dan out on the bus cleaning. He gets such joy out of doing the most menial of work. God help him!

We are really becoming quite accomplished at our intricate choreography. Doran spends quite a bit of time watching "Dancing with the Stars". His lurching, lunging footwork leave much to be desired, however.

I have become quite comfortable in my on-stage participation. Dan and I carry the load of laughing. Fortunately, Royce and Doran come up with new material every concert to keep it fresh. I really do feel that I am one of the best laughers in Southern Gospel music. I guess you could say it's a gift.

Every once in a while, we'll let the audience ask us questions about Liberty, what we do, how much it costs to fill up the bus, etc. Dan really enjoys this part of the concert, calmly responding to each query.


You can always spot those certain individuals who feel that the late 70s and early 80s defined cool.

Coming soon to an asylum near you...

Ansel Waggoner

OK, so it's not quite up to Adams par, but I was impressed with this pic I snapped in beautiful Bagge Gardens, near Mosier, OR. I didn't even Photoshop this picture. I promise!

Pit Crew

I had a chance this past Wednesday to show off my mechanical skills. Pastor Dave reveals all.

Days of our lives

Today has been a good day. I took Trey over to the church this morning to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. He's been riding a scooter all summer, so he hasn't even worried about riding his bike. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, he asked, "Why can't I ride a bike without training wheels like all the other kids my age?" Lori replied, "Because your parents are LOSERS!" OK, so we're really not that bad, but I definitely hadn't spent time with him in that area. So, we headed over to the expansive asphalt at Grace. He climbed on the bike, I pushed him to get him started, and that was all it took. After that one push, he took off. He rode his bike all morning. We worked on sharp turns and braking after awhile, just to keep him challenged. He's a pro! I couldn't believe it! I still remember my education in bike riding on Green Street in Frankfort, IN. The professor was my father, who has slightly less patience than I do. How he stayed with me through that, I'll never know. I fell countless times, ran into bushes, ended up in a small drainage ditch, and pretty much flunked my first lesson. It took hours for me to pick it up. Trey takes one push...

He must take after his Mom. He has taken a couple of nasty falls, but he pops right back up, so it's all good.

Also, I bowled 140 tonight. That's really good for me. All in all, it's been a good day. Hope yours was the same.

On Tour

Coming soon to a venue near you (techno sounds, pumping music, yells of excited throng): Liberty Quartet!!!

Hey, for all of you that read my blog and have no clue who these guys are that I travel with, now's your chance to find out for yourself. We're going to be somewhere near you (at least within several hundred miles, which out here is really, REALLY, close). Here's our eastern itinerary:

Aug. 24: St. Joseph, MI (First Baptist Church; 7:00 PM)

Aug. 25: Stanton, MI (First Baptist Church; 7:00 PM)

Aug. 26: Waterford, MI (Williams Lake Nazarene; 8:00 & 10:50 AM)

Aug. 26: Waterloo, IN (First Baptist Church; 7:00 PM)

Sept. 12: Inman, KS (Bethel Mennonite Church; 7:00 PM)

Sept. 13-14: Louisville, KY (NQC; we'll just be hanging out)

Sept. 15: Clearwater, SC (Midland Valley First Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)

Sept. 16: Greer, SC (Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church; 6:30 PM)

Sept. 23: Copper Hill, VA (Parkway House of Prayer Campground; Painter Tabernacle; 6:00 PM)

Sept. 24: Covington, KY (Central Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)

Sept. 25: Fortville, IN (Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)

Sept. 26: Pekin, IL (First Church of the Nazarene; 7:00 PM)


For more info, visit our website.



This picture will make those kids wanna come...or run screaming!

Dave

And, I'd also like to welcome our new pastor, Dave Keep, to the blogosphere.

And the winner is...

I finally won a contest. I think this is the first time it ever happened. Well, actually, I won a "Masters of the Universe" light-up sword from a Bubbalicious gum package but my mom wouldn't let me collect it because she wasn't sure she liked the way the characters looked.

OK, so my design is a little corny. And, you have to either know Eval Knieval history or live in Idaho to get it. But, hey, a free CD is a free CD. I actually already have it. Maybe I'll come up with my own contest to "Give It Away" (sorry; couldn't resist).


***UPDATE***

Lori just reminded me that I won a lip-synch/dance contest in Cincinnati. I know this shocks many of you, but, yes, I did win a dance contest. It was at a Christian bookstore, no less. They were doing a big promotional push for Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD, so accompanied by my friends Carol Gardner and Lori Frederick (this was long before we were dating), I tried out for a contest. Let me rephrase that: Carol and Lori did not accompany me in the contest. They were there to provide moral support, which consisted mainly of leaning against bookshelves heaving with laughter. The grand prize was the SCC discography as well as all of his videos and a CD Walkman (for you young pups out there, this would be comparable to an iPod). I knew the words to nearly every song that Steven had ever recorded, so I figured I had a pretty good chance. The judges were the bookstore manager, some record company reps from Sparrow Records, and others. I believe it was the uninhibited joy of movement I displayed that won the contest. Whatever it was, I won. So, this is the second win of my illustrious career.

Hurricane Flossie

Congratulations are in order for my Grandma Kirkman. They finally named a hurricane after her. You know they're running low on names when they pull out Flossie.

I remember as a kid wondering why in the world someone would name their child Flossie. The obvious word picture associated with Grandma's name wasn't one that particularly impressed me. So, as a 7 or 8-year-old I asked Grandma if she liked her name. She replied that she sure liked it better than her middle name, Marie. I still don't get it. Flossie...?

Home

The new Waggoner mansion. We have now lived at 16702 Ardyce for about a month and a half now. Which says a lot of my recent blogging habits. I have spent quite a bit of time on home repairs, which causes much chortling among close friends familiar with my mechanical inclinations. Seriously, I am pathetic when it comes to building "stuff", installing "stuff", or assembling "stuff". I readily admit my shortcomings. I was just talking to Lori about it last night, and I'm convinced that my awkward repair attempts (and inevitable frustration) are brought on by a low sense of self esteem in that area. But, then, there are many examples that I could bring up that have contributed to a lack of faith in my mechanical abilities (such as assembling our grill). The only thing that makes me feel better about myself is that I can do everything else in an above-average fashion (at least, I keep telling myself this). I guess, all's well that ends well, and so far everything I've attempted at the new estate has worked out OK.

Come by and see us. Especially, all you people from the far regions of the US who still aren't convinced that Idaho is actually a state.

For all of you who ever played the original Super Mario Brothers