Setting the Scene:

I went to lunch with Miss Olivia (Newton John) at Guido’s in cool springs… what a lovely establishment… I love the room. I love the atmosphere… and the food is downright okay. Good lunch… Good God discussion. But we were hurried along as she had a meeting in Spring Hill. So I thought… “sweet…. I have time to get my oil changed….”

Oohh.. the places you’ll go…

Timeline:

2:50pm:

I arrive at Wal-mart with my little 06 Mazda 3. I line out what I would like them to do… which is really simple. “Hi, I would like an oil change”

4:00pm:

I am informed my car is done… I walk to the checkout… the little sweet girl reads the sheet….

Her: “Oh… it looks like we couldn’t change your oil filter”

Me – Mouth Open.

Me: “So… you’re saying… that… I sat over there for over an hour… while you filled my washer fluid… and now you want $40 for that procedure?”

Her: “Well.. sir … its just we don’t carry that oil filter in stock”

Me – Mouth Open.

*exasperated*

“So uhh…. What am I paying $40 for?”

——————————————————– Pause.

Manager: “Oh… I’m sorry sir… yeah… if you can find an auto parts store, and bring us the filter, we can change it for you”

Me – Mouth Open.

Me: “So… uhmm… I sat over there…. And… no oil filter…. And…. Uhmmm…”

Manager: “We can discount this…. ”

Me: “Discount what?”

Manager: “I’ll tell you what…. If you can go buy the filter somewhere, and bring I to us… we’ll put you at the front of the line… and get you all set.”

Me – Mouth Open.

*call misty* *call misty* *call misty*

4:20pm:

Misty and I set off on our adventure to finding an oil filter. Auto-parts stores don’t seem to exist here like they do in Kansas.

(Misty and I find that we must not be able to read properly, because we can’t find the oil filter on the wall… and then they pull out this thing… that looks like a air filter… and say… here you go….. apparently the new oil filters don’t use a metal casing anymore… its just the filter… strange)

5pm:

Hello Wal-mart… oh how I have missed you.

Me: “How long will this take?”

Manager: “Oh.. maybe an hour.”

Me – Mouth Open.

Misty and I then drive around for awhile… figuring exact distances for the directions to her new house….

6:10pm:

Us: “Well, surely the car is done now… we can go pick it up… and then go eat.”

6:30pm:

Sitting at Wal-mart, watching no one work on my car.

6:40pm:

Sitting at Wal-mart, watching no one work on my car.

6:50pm:

Sitting at Wal-mart, watching no one work on my car.

7:00pm:

Sitting at Wal-mart, watching no one work on my car.

7:07pm:

THE CALL! visit www.thecall.com

7:10pm:

Sitting at Wal-mart, wating no one work on my car.

7:20pm:

The hood of my car magically closes.

7:25pm: (The checkout)

Manager: “That’ll be $49″

Me – Mouth Open.

Me: “Wasn’t there a discount?”

Manager punches buttons…..

7:26pm:

Manager punches buttons….

7:27pm:

Manager punches buttons…

7:28pm:

Manager “That’ll be $37.”

Me – Mouth Open.

*sigh*

Guys: “Hey.. have a great night!”

Me – Mouth Open.

Moral of the story….

Ride a bike.

On the up-side…. this all was followed by Cracker Barrel with Misty and a photo op for a sign stating “Listen for Differences”….

THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER

TheCall Promo Video

Mp3: Ben Longberg - I am human
Stream: Ben Longberg - I am human

I have wandered every path,
except the one that you have paved
I have carelessly held hearts,
and cast my body as a slave

yet you say…
its alright to stumble, its okay to fall
you are by my side, when its all I can do to crawl
I am human,
you are invincible.

I have chosen wrongly,
when I knew exactly what I chose
I have broken sacred vows,
and I have even worshiped gold

yet you say…
its alright to stumble, its okay to fall
you are by my side, when its all I can do to crawl
I am human,
you are invincible.

I don’t mean to deny you
(God knows I try so hard)
I don’t mean to keep crumbling down.

but you say
its alright to stumble, its okay to fall
you are by my side, when its all I can do to crawl
I am human,
you are invincible.

Ahh… the holidays. I’m sitting in a Starbucks… which shouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary, except for the fact that it’s in Pittsburg, Kansas. Last time I was here… they didn’t have a Starbucks. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since I lived here. Hard to believe… because I almost feel like I’ve never lived here… Nashville is like a piece of heaven to me… like a place I’ve always supposed to have been…

I remember… I had been living in Nashville for a month… and I was driving down west end (near music row)… and it hit me… how at home I was. I just breathed deep… and thought… this is my city.

So back to Pittsburg,…
I led worship this morning at - what I will always consider to be - my home church. So much development happened through that church… spiritually, physically, emotionally… so much happened. I guess that was a bit of a milestone… if only in my mind. Going home… when its not home anymore…

I had some time to wander about the “city” this afternoon… Drove by my old white-with-blue-trime house, which was painted by my church while I was having heart surgery… saw my old gold couch… outside on my old porch… I played the “I gave that house a new roof game”… since there’s one every 10 blocks… except for the houses on 19th… which are now part of the Wallgreens parking lot.

Then I stopped writing at Starbucks….
____________________________

Now… looking back on my trip….

I spent some quality time with an old friend of mine… and that was good for me…. one of those paradox moments… when you know someone… but you see that it’s not *just* you that changed in the past 8 years… but everyone else has changed as well.

I drove through the middle of the night to get back home…. there was no traffic…. just Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and frappachino to keep me awake.

Been dabbling with a new song since I got home… experimenting with the production right now…

I have wandered every path,
except the one that you have paved
I have carelessly held hearts,
and cast my body as a slave

yet you say…
its alright to stumble, its okay to fall
you are by my side, when its all I can do to crawl
I am human,
you are invincible.

I have chosen wrongly,
when I knew exactly what I chose
I have broken sacred vows,
and I have even worshiped gold

yet you say…
its alright to stumble, its okay to fall
you are by my side, when its all I can do to crawl
I am human,
you are invincible.

to be continued….

I like when songs just kind of come out…. I was lucky enough for God to bless me with one of those last night. So heres the first draft of the recording. Again, with Scott on the drummy drums.

Mp3 link:
Ben Longberg - Can’t you hear me calling?

can’t you hear me calling?
a conversations
just an answer away
the ringing over your shoulder
is just a subtle reminder
that i’ve never been closer.

can’t you hear me calling?
you’ve got service i know
it rang four times before
as if ignoring my attempts
would relay some sort of subtle hint
I know you think you know what you need.

I’m head over heals for a word
I’d take a crack in the doorway
just a breath to the hallway
I been standing here knocking
you’ve been looking to see whos watching
can’t you hear me calling?

can’t you hear me calling?
lightning isn’t loud
thunder leaves pauses
I know you’re huddled tightly
with blankets like an army
but you’re hiding from healing… thats all

I’m head over heals for a word
I’d take a crack in the doorway
just a breath to the hallway
I been standing here knocking
you’ve been looking to see whos watching
can’t you hear me calling?

I’m sure you know my name.

This may, in fact, be the wierdest song I’ve ever attempted… its really a kind of prayer…. but while I was writing… I thought…. chorus? who needs a chorus? So after some help from scott on the drums, here it is.
ben longberg - my hope is you

Take these thoughts that I am bearing
Take these demons I am wearing… thin

My hope is you.

Take these memories that I carry
Take the regret that I bury… deep

My hope is you.

Break the bounds of my addiction
Break the bars I’m barely living… in

My hope is you.

Peel distractions from the walls
Shatter them upon the floors

My hope is you.

Carry me through times of trouble
Guide me when the towers crumble… down

My hope is you.

Break the box where i have placed you
Show the world they can’t erase you… now

My hope is you.

Tear the church walls to the ground
Remind us where the lost are found

My hope is you.

It has taken me a couple weeks to finish… and to record this song… but here it is.
Ben Longberg - Off My Feet

You wait so patient.
For me to make up my mind
I stand so cautious
So timid and frightful
It’s a wonder I survive
Then you come

You sweep me off my feet
With a grace this world can’t see
And I can’t understand
Why you’d save a man, like me

Yet, I turn so often
And chase pleasures on earth
And I know I do wrongly
The regret reminds me
As I cower in my filth
Then you come

You sweep me off my feet
With a grace this world can’t see
And I can’t understand
Why you’d save a man, like me

Just a note, I replaced both recent mp3s with mixes without drums, being as in all reality… I don’t play drums… So here are the links again.

Ben Longberg - Sally Carson
Ben Longberg - My Life

Link to My Life Mp3 - Wrote this last night, hope you’re blessed.

I stand with nothing, in view of the cross
where my life’s redemption, with his blood was bought
perfect surrender, with ultimate cost
he gave his life, so I might live on

So I fall to my knees, hands raised high
and all I can offer is my life

They wrapped in linens, with myrrh and aloes
for three days in his grave he laid enclosed
his power and glory, did death overthrow
and he rose to life, so all men would know

So I fall to my knees, hands raised high
and all I can offer is my life

Jesus, my Savior, Prince of Peace
My rock and redeemer, my saving grace (x2)

So I fall to my knees, hands raised high
and all I can offer is my life
So I fall to my knees, hands raised high
and all I can offer is my life

I stand with nothing, in view of the cross
where my life’s redemption, with his blood was bought

So I fall to my knees, hands raised high
and all I can offer is my life

So, I spoke to my good friend Amber Ratliff on night… discussing the deeper things… as she and I tend to do. So there was an answer to a question that was needed… and God gave me this song. Link to mp3 - Ben Longberg - Sally Carson
(Excuse the production… I did it late one night… and I don’t play drums… lol)

Sally Carson loved Jesus
You’d've known if you’d've met
but that was befre the cancer
stripped her smile

as she stared out the window
into the city filled sunset
she said do i pray against the devil
or is this something to accept

am I learning to fly, without a net
is he… going to catch me… or did he forget

Sally Carson recovered quickly
and made it through her 8th grade year
the front page miracle was a memory
when the cancer re-appeared

People gathered ’round to see her
had bake sales and benefits
mothers wept as her teenage friends took turns
praying through the night

am I learning to fly, without a net
is he… going to catch me… or did he forget

Sally Carson held my hand
as she passed on tuesday afternoon
her hand didn’t get cold, like they say they do

I will trust when I can’t see
seems more important than when I can
there are somethings that will never make sense to man

She said
I’m learning to fly, without a net
and he… don’t need to catch me…. he’s holding my hand
oh there are somethings you can’t forget
mmmmm

Sally Carson loves Jesus
You’d know if You’d've met
and that was after the cancer
she smiled.

Saturday… I went by Studio Cafe in Spring Hill… hung out with Mo, the main player of the Swell Pedal company… those little pedals rock… I ran my strat direct into his guitar overdrive pedal… and then DIRECT into behringer studio monitors… thats right kids… no amp…. and… I have no idea how… but it sounded sweet… full… gritty… like an amp… but it fits in your pocket… props to Mo.

Then…. I went out and watched the amazing (spiderman…. I mean…) Misty Rae… melt faces… I mean… rock Tavern on the Ridge in Spring Hill… She played with the third coast blues band, who had the pleasure of trying to figure out her chord changes on the fly (I understand their pain)… that girls got more attitude than a pro wrestler…. or something like that.

Sunday…. I had a great conversation with God at church…. he likes to remind me that, while I think I know what I’m doing… I have no idea… and he’s in control…. and I just need to lay back and trust he’ll put up bumper gaurds on the sides of the road…. so I don’t accidently drive off a cliff…. lol

After Church….. dum dumdum…. the studio! My friend Chris called me last week… and said… Hey man… we got the studio for sunday…. so I scrambled around to get a drummer but somehow landed Mr. Nathan Shaver. He’s a talented singer songwriter… who just happens to have originally been a drummer. So Nathan, Billy Bass, and I all cruised down to the studio at MTSU. After some intense setup… we got to grooving and put down a couple of good tracks… We’ll mull over these for a couple weeks and pick out the guitar solos and production addatives, etc… but over all they were real smooth. We got out of the studio a little after 8… and…

Nathan and I headed straight for 3rd and lindsley for a little desert…. Jars of Clay… the new album… rocks… their harmonies are killer…. very beatles/turtles…. very tight… and have a cool sense of humor…. the place was packed…

They ended with a rocking version of Nothing but the blood of Jesus…

Which reminded me that…. Nothing can for sin atone… nothing but the blood of Jesus… and that … he is all my hope and peace….