Giving the communion meditation at First Christian in Colorado Springs, I related the story of my first thumbpicking contest and wanting to call dad. … Continue readingI Couldn’t Wait to Call Dad
Preacher Lane: Picking the Faith Release Concert
Picking the Faith features Travis-style thumbpick guitar, and so it only seemed appropriate to include a Merle Travis song or two on the album. The album contains Preacher Lane, a song from Merle’s Songs of the Coal Mines album. … Continue readingPreacher Lane: Picking the Faith Release Concert
National Thumbpicking Guitar Champion
Then the emcee said, “The winner of the 2012 National Thumbpicking Guitar Contest comes from Greenwood, Indiana.” With that introduction he called my name as this year’s national thumbpicking champion. … Continue readingNational Thumbpicking Guitar Champion
When We All Get to Heaven
(This post was updated on May 26, 2014. See below.) When We All Get to Heaven was written in 1898 and first appeared in Pentecostal Praises (Philadelphia: Hall-Mack, 1898). Eliza HewittContinue readingWhen We All Get to Heaven
I Am a Pilgrim
This is the first installment of a video blog I’m trying called Thumbpick Thursday. I got the idea from my collaborators in The Champions. Ted Yoder posts video on YouTubeContinue readingI Am a Pilgrim
Mastering New Songs
It was a status update from a friend on Facebook that rang true: “I’m going to take a two-week sabbatical on the boat, take my dulcimer along, and master aContinue readingMastering New Songs
More on Practice
Part of the work I do in ministry involves working with congregations in transformation, and I’ve found that the work of transformation is not that different from the work ofContinue readingMore on Practice