Blog

Posted on

Blaire and Jess

THREE YEARS AGO …  we gathered outside Nashville at one of the most beautiful hillside farms I’ve ever seen and celebrated the marriage of our baby girl Blaire and her beautiful partner Jess.  Together, Blaire and Jess, and their incredible network of friends and beloveds, are making their mark on the world.  They LOVE and LIVE very boldly, very tenaciously, very emphatically, and very simply … for the Cause of LOVE.

I have observed the courage and integrity of these two beauties over the past several years as they have bonded, married, and launched into their dream-filled hope-inspired lives together.  Blaire jumped directly into her professional nursing career this year after graduating Nursing School at Belmont University.  Jess has worked tenaciously in food services with the most eclectic and amazing coffee shops and pubs around Nashville and is preparing for her next adventure with Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shangarry, Ireland.  WHAT??!!  How amazing is that!

To say that I’m a proud Dad does not even begin to express the joy that leaps in my heart as I watch these two brave women boldly blaze their own individual trails and all at the same time, they are setting an incredible standard together for the everlasting causes of love, mission, and mercy.

As religious and political debates in America increase, especially during election years, over economies, social agendas, and the reeling merry-go-round of religious beliefs … I am so proud of these two girls who grew up in fundamentalist American Christianity and are surviving, even thriving towards big dreams and plans for the greater Good of humanity.

I see GOD in our girls. I see LOVE in their marriage. I see JESUS in the works of their daily lives.  I feel the Holy Spirit when I’m around their friends, now … part of our FAMILY.

LOVE is love. GOD is good. GOOD will prevail.  Yes, Jesus loves US … not just because the Bible tells us so.   God is LOVE.  And love never fails.

Ya’ll … it’s ALL about LOVE

Posted on

WAR

WAR

“One day, Lamech said to his two wives, “A young man wounded me, and I killed him.

Anyone who tries to get even with me will be punished ten times more than anyone who tries to get even with Cain.”

Adam and his wife had another son.

They named him Seth, because they said, “God has given us a son to take the place of Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain.” – Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Every family has their junk. Some families deal with it well and clean up their junk. And some families do not.

CAIN and “his wife” [who is not even dignified with a name in scripture] evidently did not deal with their junk.

And so eventually, as the years go by, their great great great grandson Lamech comes in from a hard days work, decompresses, grabs a cold one, and confesses to his wife that he killed a guy.

Like, “ … no biggie; he wounded me, so I killed him.”

—

» FFWD to 2023 A.D. »

Wounded [ticked off, impulsive] guys are still killing people. And, so are wounded women.

Whether we are physically taking lives with weapons of war and putting bodies to death; or, emotionally murdering souls with venomous words — we are still killing one another.

War is hell. Hell is wicked and evil. And hell is reserved for demons and their father the snake, the dragon, the venomous prince of rebellion, the weak narcissistic Angel of the darkness.

—

“The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me, and you can have it all.” – Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CEV‬‬

—

We are living in the age prophesied by scripture when wars and rumors of wars rule the media headlines. We can either perpetuate the war. Or we can choose the Better Way.

The Way of LOVE is the gospel of peace.

Christ stood down the prince of war and chose Peace. After all – He is Prince of Peace.

And kings decree laws of their kingdoms.

—

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” – Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

—

King Jesus rules all creation. He redeemed all humanity. We no longer are left to our hopeless and helpless instinct to war with one another.

As He chose Peace, we can also choose peace. By the Spirit we are empowered to choose Peace and not war.

 

The key to making the choice?

 

LOVE. It’s all about Love.

Love chose peace over war. Love chose sacrifice over Self. Love chose the way of the cross over the way of revenge. Love chose to supernaturally light up the darkness.

Love chose Us. Love chose the Better Way. Love chose to Win.

Study war no more. Love wins.

 

#itAllAboutLOVE

Posted on

New Podcast: The ROBBY Show

GO LIKE & SHARE … The ROBBY Show

So, I’m an old ‘radio’ guy, somewhat. I became fascinated with radio in my childhood years as I watched Charles and Margaret Cooper spin our family’s small town gospel vinyl records at their hometown studio in Ocean Springs Mississippi.

Fast forward 30 years, I jumped on a studio mic in Gulfport Mississippi with Ron Meyers, who hired me part time to host a fun little radio show at the Mobile AL outlet for a Christian talk radio network.

Then, a few years later a couple buddies — Dustin Thomas and John Harry —  invited me to smack talk a few afternoons each week on a local small town community sports and events show as I promoted local church and city events.

Then, in 2020 … well, COVID-19.  And, we all discovered podcasts, webcasts, and blew up our social media accounts for a couple years!

I’m 20 years late to the Podcast party.  I’ve been listening to streaming radio shows turned Podcasts for more than two decades — and I am just now making the time to throw my little hat in the ring.  I’m a talker so I try to tell stories that are meaningful, personal, inspirational, and hopefully life-giving in some small way.

I’d love for you to JOIN me!  There are lofty plans for amazing interviews with interesting people and who knows … I might reach a couple dozen followers one day!  For now, I’m streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — until I figure out how to “code my RSS” to all those other fancy platforms.  Ya’ll pray I don’t blow up my little Macbook in the process.

Give us a listen and let me know if any of my stories are is helpful.  Thanks for all the LOVE and support!

Posted on

I Sing … Because

I sing.

I sing because.

I sing when I’m happy. I sing when I’m sad. I sing when I’m glad. I sing when I’m tinkering around the house, driving the car, walking, resting. I sing.

 

Songs and music have been inside me from the time I was in my mother’s womb. She grew up singing, playing piano, performing in churches, schools, local community centers, and ultimately taught me and my brothers everything she knew about music.

Singing with my family became tradition, then it became a business opportunity, and it’s always been some form of ministry to us individually, as a family, and as ministers of Song to those who cared to listen and follow along with our little family band.

The word sing (verb) comes from the old English word singan — “to chant, sing, especially in joy or merriment; to celebrate, or tell in song”  (source:  Etymonline)

In Scripture, depending on which version of the Bible you may choose, the term “sing” appears more than 200 times, and most often in the Psalms, or songs, that were written by King David and his thousands of skilled singers and musicians.

The songs I learned from childhood are songs of the Church; specifically, the Bible Belt American church. Songs sung and written by Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals. Every now and then, I would attempt a classical tune learned in high school and college choir, but that was and is rare.  I grew up in the country, on farms, with flat top guitars, fiddles, upright clangy pianos, and foot-pump organs. Our music was that of 1940s-60s Grand Ole Opry, Heavenly Highway Hymns, and The Baptist Hymnal.

As I near age 60 this year, I am fascinated and blessed to try to recall and reminisce over the thousands of songs I have sung, heard, led with congregations, performed for audiences large and small.  Thousands!  Songs are integral to my very being.

So, I sing.

I sing because I have songs in me that need to be heard.
I sing because I have need of the melodies, harmonies, and lyrics.
I sing because my soul needs refreshing and healing.
I sing because my grand baby girl smiles and coos at the sound of my songs.
I sing because of my family heritage.
I sing because the Holy Spirit urges me to.
I sing because the Sun shines brighter when I sing.
I sing because the storms seem less horrifying when I sing.
I sing because I have a Song.
I sing because I have a Story.
I sing because I need to tell my Story.

I sing … because.

Posted on

Moms

She’s a little old fashioned
That sweet mother of mine

My Mama quotes this old gospel hymn often when reminiscing about her Mom, who we affectionately called Granny.  Now, Mama Rose carries on the legacy of “Granny” to our children, and her first great-grandchild, Rosemary Jane Myrick.

The Holifield women of Soso, Mississippi (Jones County) are undeniably among the legendary warrior princess women of our modern times.  Rosemary Holifield grew up on a little plot of farmland that her daddy, momma, and siblings worked until they were grown enough to move out on their own, or married.  She married Lonnie (our dad) at 16 yrs of age, and began her whirlwind life of marriage, ministry, and music that would fill the pages of our family Story.  The story continues to this day.  She is now married to Bob Garst and lives just up the road from us.  We cherish every moment we get to spend with her and she continually gives, serves, and leads our family in ways that offer Hope and Peace, no matter what this crazy life throws our way.  To this day, her favorite hobbies include cooking for her family — some of the most amazing dishes you’ll ever taste — and singing classic gospel hymns and songs that we grew up with during our family gospel band years as the “Rosetones”.  What a legacy!

Sarah Jolene Roles Dinwiddie grew up near the coal-mining hills of West Virginia, in a little place called Bill Holler.  I’ve been there once to visit the Roles Family Reunion and yes, it’s as Appalachian as you might imagine.  Oh the stories!   “Jo” married Gene and they raised their girls in Richmond and Williamsburg Virginia.  When the family relocated to Pascagoula MS, their baby girl caught my eye in church one Sunday.  And, the rest, as they say, is history.  Jo Dinwiddie was the ultimate homemaker, wife, mom, and “Nana” to her grandchildren.  She loved being a wife and Mom, kept up with all the neighborhood scoop, knew everybody’s family tree it seemed, and was beloved by hundreds of children who grew up in Nursery and Childrens Ministry at Arlington Baptist Church in Pascagoula.  Her life and love influenced generations of families.  She was and is our beloved “Sweet Nana”.

Sheryl and I enjoy laughing and crying when we recall the fun memories with Jo and Gene.  They were the heart and soul of our lives for more than 35 years of our marriage and left indelible marks on us and our children.  They are awaiting us in Heaven, and what a Glad Reunion Day THAT will be!

By God’s Grace, we continue to enjoy meals, family gatherings, and occasional community outings and special events with Granny Rose. We gush with joy as Granny gets “sugar” from behind baby Rosemary Jane’s soft pink little ears.

Looking back in time, I am amazed by the heroism and fortitude of these mighty women in our family.  Rose and Jo grew up during America’s “golden age” of rock and roll music, sock hops, classic films, and … during America’s most turbulent modern history of civil rights activism, riots, and racial divisions of the 1960s and 70s in the Bible Belt South.

Our moms knew how to stretch a dollar to the last penny. They could heal any wound with a quick home remedy and a smooch on the boo-boo.  They could listen to our childhood fantasies, teenage rants, and coming-of-age questions into the wee hours of the night.

They loved their husbands well, despite the ever-changing roles that women were expected to fulfill in the home, in the church, at the school house, in the community … and, they seemed to never complain nor grow weary.  But, we knew then, and we know now, they were exhausted. But, would never let their weariness defeat their mission — to LOVE their families and to defend their honor.

They loved and cared for their children and their grandchildren, modeling a Christlikeness that caused all of us to want to be more loving, kind, and generous … especially to those who we knew were less fortunate or faced extreme challenges.  They prayed for us, and over us in the night.

They cooked our favorite meals. They bailed us out of last-minute homework assignments and science projects when we frantically called upon them for help.  They repaired our broken toys.  They made sure that our clothes were clean and fresh every day.  They washed behind our ears, and all the other “behinds”.

And most of all … they LIVED for LOVE.  Our moms are our HEROES.  We will never, ever forget the price they have paid for our wellness, for our joy, and for the Legacy of Goodness that we now enjoy.  And, by God’s grace … we will carry their legacy through our children and grandchildren too.

LOVE YOU ROSE … LOVE YOU JO … HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!