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Dixie Echoes In Concert – August 18, 2018

SATURDAY NIGHT GOSPEL SINGING … featuring The Dixie Echoes of Pensacola, FL, with Special Guests The Sims Family Singers of Moss Point, MS.

RMM Productions Summer 2018 Concert series wraps up with an evening of soulful Traditional and Southern Gospel music to benefit ROCK Outreach Foundation.

ROCK Outreach provides resources to local charities and missions organizations who feed and clothe homeless families, provide education and wellness programs, and empower displaced families across the Gulf Coast. A special offering will be received for ROCK Outreach Foundation during the concert.

** RESERVED SEATING **

– DOORS OPEN 5:30PM
– ADVANCE PURCHASE TICKETS will be honored as Reserved Seating until 6:00PM
– FIRST 5 ROWS RESERVED UNTIL 6:00PM (( 150 seats ))

– ALL TICKETS ARE GENERAL ADMISSION NO RESERVED SEATING AFTER 6:00PM

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Max

So — we have been Netflix binging this summer.  Sheryl and I found several movies we loved from 10-20 years ago, and several unknown titles as well.  Our newfound binge favorite, by far, is Ron Howard’s incredible series Parenthood, themed around a Berkley, California based family who deal with a range of real life issues.

Max Burkholder is the child actor who portrays Max Braverman in the critically acclaimed NBC series which ran from 2010-2015. His parents, Adam and Kristina Braverman, discover that Max suffers from Asberger’s Syndrome, which has been called a “high functioning” form of an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

My sweet wife Sheryl has taught children in our local school district who suffer from various forms of Autism disorders. I have experienced mentoring a few autistic children in my bus driving and volunteer work with school band and choir programs, as well as church ministry work.

The summer binge watching of Parenthood has sparked a place in my heart that, if I am honest, was a bit of an after thought when dealing with autistic children. As we have viewed the real life scenarios that occur in the TV series, and consider how those episodes have likely played out in the lives of children we actually know and have connection with … our TV affection for Max Braverman and his parents has now turned to an even deeper love and admiration for the real life people here in our hometown.

Max Braverman and his TV family endure daily struggles, which become weekly random episodes of meltdowns, accidents, misunderstandings, and outright angry moments, due to the effects of Asberger’s.  Sheryl and I routinely discuss the scenarios that our friends with autistic children must surely cope with, and we have become more deeply moved with a desire to pray for these precious friends.  So, we pray.  And, we pay more attention. And, we hug our children a bit tighter.

We recently attended a coastwide rally for Autism Awareness in Biloxi, Mississippi.  The Mississippi Centers For Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities was the benefactor of a series of fundraisers.  As we listened to the speeches of the Founders, Directors, and recipients of the care offered by this incredible organization, our hearts were moved with great compassion.  But, more important, our spirits were lifted just to know that a facility and staff of this magnitude are located right here in our coastal neighborhood.  What a joy to realize that, together with others who share great concern for those suffering — we are making a difference.

Max Braverman (via actor Max Burkholder) has touched a place in my heart.  I have fallen in love with Max.  I am falling more in love with the children like Max who live in my neighborhood and in my hometown.  I am asking God to help me be more aware of children and adults like Max.  They are much more intelligent and aware and loving than we might realize. Their ‘disorder’ might actually be a blessing in disguise, as difficult as the daily challenges seem for everyone involved.  And that … is beautiful and amazing to me.

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Weakness

I am reading Pastor Scott Saul’s recently published book, “From Weakness To Strength”.

Scott speaks to a place in my heart that is riddled with personal doubts, memories of failure, moments of grief and tragedy, and an overall sense of frustration with ‘life in ministry’.

As I power through 2018 with all the stuff of life, I am finding that my mid-50s are not exactly turning out as I planned.  Certainly, not as I hoped when I was 25 and filled with huge dreams, aspirations, and an unwavering over-confidence in myself.

Death has visited my family more than a half-dozen times now since Hurricane Katrina ravaged our little piece of existence.  Cancer and other terminal illnesses have seemingly stolen what might have been left in our souls as a ray of hope.  And these monsters we call disease have no regard for age, gender, or station in life.  These demons, and yes they are evil spiritual beings, have but one agenda — kill, steal, destroy.  The Bible discusses this and as a good Bible belt ‘Christian’, I should’ve known to be prepared.  But, I was not.  My wife and children were not.  My extended family were not.

All of a sudden, in moments of death and tragedy, our preschool Bible memory verses and sing-along tunes seem haunting and useless.  The whispers of the enemy in our ears speaks mockery, accusation, and revels in twisting the knife of pain during these solemn moments of hopelessness.

Weakness is a word that near-perfectly describes the emotion of these desperate moments.  Weak. Afraid. Bitter. Resentful. These words describe the range of emotions that come with death and tragedy.

Scott describes different levels of weakness in his book.  As he chronicles his perceived rise to fame and achievement in ministry, Scott reminds us all that “the intoxication of ambition” is relentless.  Ambition and drive are the fuel of go-getters and producers.  We pride ourselves in the ability to power through, to overcome, to get back up one more time.  We cue up our Rocky Balboa playlist, hit the gym or walking track, suck down our caffeine, and blast towards the goal.

Inevitably, we fall.  We get injured. We get fired. Or demoted. Or displaced. And in those moments, our weakness is revealed.

King David, when his weaknesses [plural] were revealed countless times in scripture, nearly always confessed, ” … I have sinned against You O LORD …”. Scripture also describes David as a man after God’s own heart.  David is frequently displayed as a warrior-poet-king who was quick to admit weakness.

Contemporary artist and songwriter Stephen Curtis Chapman penned a classic ballad in the 1990s that rings true for me to this day.  My prayer … once again … in this season of weakness is that God will be revealed as strong and mighty in my life, when my strength is gone.

 

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Jana

Jana Maples Myrick Aust went Home … to Jesus, her Mama, and other loved ones in Heaven … early Tuesday morning.  She was one of the most beautiful people in this world.  And she shone brightly throughout her incredible lifetime here which ended way too soon.  Much before any of us would have expected.

Let me say at this point in the story … CANCER SUCKS!  It is a monster. It is evil. It is wicked. And, it is no match for the Savior. Jesus died on a cruel cross, was buried, then resurrected as KING … over cancer. HE wins. Therefore, WE win.  Hallelujah!  O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!!

My beautiful Sheryl and Jana were childhood friends who grew up to fall in love with two brothers from this sleepy little town of Pascagoula.  Danny and I dated Jana and Sheryl through high school and college years, and then married our sweethearts, to then venture into our own respective journeys and careers.

Danny and Jana loved and lived big. They brought two incredibly talented and handsome boys into this earth who are their greatest pride and joy.

As life does, it threw a few curve balls at Danny and Jana. They divorced a few years ago; and eventually remarried loving new spouses who have brought even more joy, laughter, love, and beauty to our extended and blended family.

Jana touched thousands of people in her lifetime here. Her effervescent smile, radiant personality, and spitfire energy lit up any room she entered. Her children adored her and carry her spunky spirit in them.

In the blur of just 24-hours since her transition to Heaven, the expressions of love, sympathy, condolences and memories have flooded her social media page. It is obvious to all that Jana made her indelible mark on many. She lived fully. She loved as unconditionally as humanly possible. And she will never be forgotten.

We love you Jana. We miss you terribly.  Yet, we rejoice that you are Home, Healed, and more fully Alive than we can imagine.  We will cry many tears as we remember life with you, and now without you.  We will laugh at the charming memories you created for us all. We will deeply love one another more carefully because of the intense love you showed us all.

Jana, you were more like Jesus to us than you may have realized. You always showed kindness and generosity to others.  You took the mess that life sometimes creates, and recreated new life and new love from the mess.  You chose to overcome darkness with light.  You demonstrated heroic faith and courage in the face of the monster disease that we all have come to utterly detest.  You beat the monster. You are the champion.

We celebrate you, Jana.  And, we will see you again dear sister.

Thank you Jesus, for our beautiful sweet Jana.  We celebrate her and now entrust her to Your sovereign care … until we meet again at that Glad Reunion Day.

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Harry and Meghan: Millennials and The Power Of Love

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married Saturday May 19, 2018.  It’s being dubbed the #RoyalWedding of the year, and it may very well set the pace for the next decade of the Millennial movement.

The couple’s incredible story of childhood hardships and struggles, coming from two totally different world narratives, raised by single parents in very different socio-economic circumstances, is in itself a fairytale romance.

The events leading up to the Royal Wedding Day captured billions of TV viewers globally and all the watching world became engrossed in the Disney-esque moments of their castle wedding celebration with thousands of adoring fans.  Nobles and commoners alike came together for the glorious moment of holy matrimony.

So, what captivated us about this particular union of two beautiful souls?  The fairytale romance, of course.  The dichotomy of their individual stories, I’m sure.  As a worship guy, I am intrigued with the Ceremony and worship service.  You knew I was going there, right?!  😉

As we all observed, the service was filled with beautiful Anglican tradition, royalty of every sort, and yet a modern sprinkling of pop and classical music, and oh-my-Lord that stirring sermon from Bishop Michael Curry!

As Harry and Meghan sat near the pulpit listening ever so intently to Bishop Curry’s sermon, my mind raced with several thoughts about how Harry and Meghan had fashioned their wedding ceremony.  They seemed to have planned out a worship moment that speaks to the heart of this Millennial generation.

Here are just a few worship service observations:

  1. The Setting.  Harry and Meghan chose St. George’s chapel at Windsor Castle.  Well, probably that venue was chosen “for” them by the Crown.  Still, it is telling to me that this Millennial couple chose the tradition of the chapel wedding to publicly express their vows, their union of love, and their desires for a life together.

2.  The Service.  Tradition meets contemporary.  The music, poetry, scripture readings, sermon, and vows were a perfect blend of the traditions of the church, but without all the stoic stuffiness of dead religion.  Loud cheers were heard from the crowds attending outside the chapel and in the courts of the castle grounds.  Whispers, giggles, and a few outbursts of laughter were freely expressed throughout the ceremony.  There was the holy.  And there was the common.  Both were welcome in this place.

3.  The Sermon.  As I mentioned earlier, Bishop Curry brought IT!  His charismatic, joy-filled, sincere message of Love and Power filled the chapel hall with a resounding spirit of urgency, yet gentleness and kindness towards all mankind.  Bishop Curry delivered the message of a life that Harry and Meghan have expressed the desire for:  a Life of Love and Compassion for others.

As I pondered these thoughts and images throughout the weekend, it occurred to me that Sunday, May 20, 2018 was Pentecost Sunday on the liturgical church calendar.  Most churches around the world celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  The fire. The love. The power. The refining. The mercy. The endurance.  The comfort.  The Presence of God Himself.

Interesting, how that all those attributes of God the Holy Spirit seemed to permeate the Royal Wedding of 2018.   May God bless Harry and Meghan.  May God bless the United Kingdom.  May God bless America. May the whole world know The Power of Love that Harry and Meghan seem so deeply destined to share with us all.