Give me your money!!!!

I saw him coming and i knew before he ever reached my teller window. His red baseball hat was covering his face to his nose. his black jacket and dark pants were baggy. he walked slowly but intentionally straight to my window without acknowledging my greeting. He reached in his pocket to grab a note with illegible scribbling on it and then from the other pocket he pulled a small pistol and pointed it at my chest. "give me your money" he said quietly. I had already pulled my bait money and my tracking money, so i handed him those first, then i preceded to give him some smaller bills. He was not happy about the smaller bills so he got aggitated and started coming across the window at me with the pistol demanding the larger bills.... "give me your 100's. 50's, and 20's!!!" i gave him all i could, and he ran out of the bank leaving money scattered behind him.

I cursed. I slammed my cash drawer in. I was mad because no one from security had called yet, even though it had probably only been 30 seconds since he left. I felt like it should have never happened. The blood left my head and hands and i felt faint; I felt violated; I felt threatened; I felt vulnerable. There was nothing i could do.

Why did he do it? What was he going through that made it worth him to put another person's life on the line for a couple thousand dollars? It was stupid and irresponsible.

but to him.... it was necessary( or so he thought.) I want to talk to him. I want to know what is going on in his life that made it worth it. He needs to know love and purpose. I want to tell him that i forgive him and that there is so much more out there than what he is seeking.

Our society is full of people who will do anything to fix their situation. They will do anything...

We are required as carriers of truth to give them the real solution. Please help me. I want to provide the people in my life that are hurting and desperate with the real solution.

PS
He could not have taken my life. My life has already been taken. I am waiting to go home.

A week without my guitar

Actually its just been since Sunday, but it feels longer. I'm not shedding tears, but i have definitely reached for it instinctively quite a few times and it is not there. I never noticed how often i just need to play it, whether its with a new song idea or its just that i need to play.

Father Maple has never played a ton of shows, but right now I am really missing playing like we used to. We used to at least do 3 or 4 shows a month and right now its 1 or 2 if we are lucky. With Zach living in Missouri it makes it harder. I did talk to our friend Joey the other day and he seemed to be interested in filling in for the shows that Zach can't make, and that makes me feel better. When Dave moves back we should be able to spend some serious time on getting the new songs ready to record. I'm so excited about our new stuff. I feel like people will really love it if we can ever get it to them.

If your life was a movie

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUND TRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool..

Opening Credits: Wrong Man -- Derek Webb
Waking Up: Friends-- Michael W. Smith

First Day At School: Jesus etc.--Wilco

Falling In Love: Closer To You-- Wallflowers

Fight Song: House of the Rising Sun-- Bob Dylan

Breaking Up: I Will Wait-- Hootie and The Blowfish

Prom: I'm Not Sleeping-- Counting Crows

Life's OK: A Murder of One-- Counting Crows

Mental Breakdown: Rainy Day Women #12 and 35

Driving: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart-- Wilco

Flashback: The Wizard and I- Wicked

Getting Back Together: Are You In? Incubus

Wedding: Anna Begins-- Counting Crows

Final Battle:Standing in the Doorway-- Bob Dylan

Death Scene: Maria-- Steven Curtis Chapman

Funeral Song: I'm Waiting for the Day-- The Beach Boys

End Credits: Ballad of a Thin Man-- Bob Dylan

Wow, so that was fun... it might be more fun to go back and pick my own songs for each category instead of it being random.... maybe another day.

Jerry Falwell

So the father of super right wing conservative Christianity in the last 50 years has died( his brother Pat Robertson is still around). I'd like to know your thoughts on this guy and his contributions (or lack there of) to the faith and to our country.

I personally find it sad that what most people will remember him by is his hatred for sinners (whether he truly hated them or not, that seems to be what came across). I feel like he had such good intentions in the beginning, but when he intertwined faith so strongly with politics he alienated himself from the people that God wanted to use him to reach.

What are your thoughts?

Mom

Happy Mother's day!!!!!

There aren't enough words to thank you, so I'll just say thank you.

Desert Songs

Dave did this on his xanga and i want to do it here so..... here are the cds that i would take with me on a desert island. These are in the order that i thought of them

Live in Amsterdam- Counting Crows
This Desert Life- Counting Crows
Highway 61 revisited- Bob Dylan
Time Out of Mind- Bob Dylan
Let it Be (the naked version)- The Beatles
Revolver- The Beatles
Gold- Ryan Adams
Cold Roses- Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Self Titled- Caedmon's Call
Parachutes- Coldplay
O- Damien Rice
Transatlanticism- Death Cab For Cutie
Make Yourself- Incubus
Futures- Jimmy Eat World
American IV- Johny Cash
Live at Folsom Prison- Johny Cash
War- U2
Achtung Baby- U2
How The West Was Won- Led Zeppelin
Coming To Life- The Normals
Good Monsters- Jars of Clay
I See Thing Upside Down- Derek Webb
The Ringing Bell- Derek Webb
Songs 1-Rich Mullins
Divine Discontent- Sixpence None the Richer
To Chase Away The Birds- Waterdeep

I tried to keep it short, but that is just impossible... i know i left something out.......but these are my list for today.

I know i'm not supposed to hate but.......

I HATE ELECTRONIC DRUMS.......

I JUST DO.

AND I DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT.

The Pontiac

Last night Father Maple played at a new place in Springdale called The Pontiac. Its a coffee shop/soda fountain/sandwich shop/venue. The venue is in the back in what looks to be an old body shop. It was a blast. The sound was great( i could actually hear my vocals in the monitor) and the people were fantastic. If you are ever in Springdale you should visit them. Roger , the guy who does all the booking , was super cool. He was really concerned with being fair to all the bands and creating a great atmosphere to play in.

www.myspace.com/thepontiac

Rebekah and I are getting ready tonight to head to Memphis tomorrow right after church. We are taking our first trip since the honeymoon. I'm really excited. We are going to see the Counting Crows and The Bare Naked Ladies at Memphis in May, then on Monday we are going to do some shopping. Being married is so much fun.

I think that is all for today....

Make sure and check back in a day or two and read my next post which will be entitled......

"Concerning Rocky"