A Note from Tom: February 8th, 2011
Hey Everyone!
Hope you’re having a fantastic day! Hope your day started a little “fresher” than ours did! You know that feeling when you’re really totally asleep and all the sudden…you’re dreaming about…what is it?...”Why am I dreaming about…coffee? Why is this coffee so strong? In fact, it’s so strong…and I like it strong…it’s just a little much for me…” And then you’re awake and you know where the java smell’s coming from…
SKUNK UNDER THE HOUSE!!
So, picture this. Or better…get a whiff of this. It’s 4 am… your eyes are watering… you feel close to almost throwing up… both of you…and you look at each other and ask, simultaneously, “What do we do now?!” Sleep isn’t an option. We made coffee, but frankly I felt like I’d already sniffed a whole pot.
Then I remembered what we did last year when a skunk snuck (and stunk!) under 834 Johnson, O.S…
I went into the living room, turned on the Mac, clicked the itunes thingy, put the speakers on the floor, facing down and found my anti-skunk play list. Actually it’s my double-strength, no-kidding, straight-up, turbo-charged traditional bluegrass play list. I like Nickel Creek, Rascal Flatts and all that, but they’re not on that list. This is my Lester n’ Earl, “Shuckin’ the Corn”, Bill Monroe, “Goin’ Back to Ol’ Kentucky”, Stanley Brothers, “Uncle Pen”, Martha White Flour play list.
Cranked it up, and went outside to make sure it wasn’t rockin’ the ‘hood. And we let it play. As the yodels, high lonesome harmonies, and banjo breaks rolled, the piyew-iness diminished. After a while, we were convinced it’d worked. Ol’ Stinky had gone back home.
Funny, but apparently skunks don’t like bluegrass. Who’da thunk it? I would’ve thought they’d have liked it. Maybe all the singing out the nose makes their favorite defense less offensive. We love bluegrass and don’t like skunks under the house at 4:00. So …it all works out!
Y’know, one thing the Scriptures say that it sometimes is hard to remember, is that we are in spiritual battles everyday. It might not always seem like it, but those who love Jesus have an automatic enemy. He’s mean and wants to keep you discouraged, frightened, and/or upset. I like how the Message puts it…
“So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way…
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.” (Eph 6)
One of the weapons we have to stay encouraged is praise! Praise music and praise singing! In the chapter before the one we just read, Paul says that praise…and singing it…are the best and easiest ways to keep your heart full! And here’s another tip: The enemy of our hearts…you know, the one who wants to steal your joy…he hates to hear praise about as much as skunks hate bluegrass! Get your “praise on”! There’s someone who can’t stand to be around it!
Ahhhh! That smells better!