Ever heard of a Teton ukulele?

I'm really getting into playing the ukulele, or so Anna says.  I must admit I like being able to accompany myself on songs, figure out chords to songs I made up for Charley, and I am even beginning to get the hang of finger-picking.  I also must admit that I was getting frustrated with the inexpensive soprano ukulele that I had been using.  It seemed difficult to keep in tune and some chords just didn't sound all that great on it.  The 'D' chord, for example, was almost always a disaster, and since many songs are in the keys of G, D and A, having a decent D chord is a requirement.

I began to shop for a new ukulele.  I looked at lots of ukuleles online.  I read and read buying guides, ukulele web sites, consumer reviews and professional suggestions.  It seemed like the most practical suggestion from the buying guide was to go to a music store and try out a bunch of ukuleles until one fit, sort of like trying out clothes or shoes; you know it's right when it fits right.

First stop was Ted Brown Music in Richland.  They had some fine ukuleles, but none of them really seemed like the exactly right one.  I enjoyed playing a couple of them, such as the Kala concert ukulele in Pacific Walnut.  It has a nice, bright sound, but I wondered if I would get tired of the bright sound after a while.  I also enjoyed the Cordoba mahogany ukulele, but it didn't seem to speak clearly when it came to finger-picking.  The Kala spruce top with rosewood back and sides was pretty and had great tone, but I don't think I need a spectacular instrument for the kind of strumming and goofing around that I do.  I told the salesman that none of the ukuleles were friends yet, after all, we had just met!

I went back to the Internet to read some more about ukuleles, especially customer reviews, and I also began to check out retailers and their reputations.  Guitar Center got really low marks for customer service.  Ted Brown was noted for salespeople that are always trying to up-sell, which doesn't really bother me since I have some experience in retail sales.  Online instrument retailers were getting mixed reviews but suffered from the lack of making the instrument available to try out without having to purchase it.  It was about this time that I found the web site for Avalon Music in Wenatchee.  Right on their web site they said they do not sell instruments online and stated that by only selling in their store they were able to sell instruments at a lower price than much of their competition.

Yesterday we were in Wenatchee for a visit with family so, after seeing the eclipse with Susan, Anna and I decided to take a trip downtown to drop off some used goods at Salvation Army and to check out Avalon Music and see what their ukulele selection is like.  At first I couldn't find the ukuleles and I was getting discouraged, but then Anna spotted a whole wall of them.  They had LOTS of ukuleles to try.  I was also encouraged by the salesman who told us we were doing the right thing by trying out a lot of ukuleles.  He actually encouraged us to try more and more in different woods, different brands and different sizes.

In the process of playing all of these ukuleles I discovered the positive reviews for the Martin ukuleles were correct.  It is a very fine ukulele.  However, I don't want the stress of being concerned all of the time about taking good care of my ukulele.  Martin Ukuleles don't sell for less than $500 and I didn't want to invest that much.  I tried some Kala ukuleles which are in my price range and they were perfectly adequate.  I may have bought one of them if it had not been for trying out the Teton 05 series concert ukulele.  I had never heard of Teton ukuleles and guitars before.  It is a new brand distributed by Chesbro Music of Idaho Falls.  Teton guitars and ukuleles are only available through independent music stores, so they are not available at Guitar Center, or even Ted Brown Music.

The 05 Series ukuleles are a step up from the beginner series (03).  The concert ukulele is made of laminated mahogany with a rosewood fretboard.  I really like the looks of the ukulele as well.  It has concentric rings around the sound hole to make an attractive rosette, and it has pinstripe details on the binding and along the fingerboard.  The satin finish gives it just the right sheen without being too shiny.  What I really like about this Teton ukulele, though, is the sound!  It is the right mixture of warm tones and brightness.  It really seems to sing!  The intonation is also a lot better than my other ukulele.  It seems like all of the chords sound good.  The notes don't get swallowed up by the sound box when I am finger-picking, either.  The voice is clear and the instrument projects well.  I'm glad Anna talked me into buying this ukulele yesterday instead of waiting for my birthday or Christmas.  It's a great little ukulele for the money and I plan to use it for a very long time.

It Feels Like Victory

Last Fall all Lutheran churches received resources to create ways to celebrate the 500th year of the Reformation that was largely successful because of the efforts of Martin Luther and the other reformers of the 16th century.  One of the resources mentioned having an art show and discussing some suggested pieces of art supplied in a slide show.  That would have been nice, but we live in Othello, Washington.  We live in the heart of the Columbia Basin.  We live in one of the most unique areas on the planet, so we are surrounded by artists who work hard to capture the beauty of God's creation around here.

What was suggested by the Reformation Resources Guide became the Othello Ministerial Association hosts the Celebration of the Arts.  I participate in a group of colleagues who gather monthly and discuss religious matters and how they relate to our congregations.  We had been thinking about something we could do together ecumenically, and up until now our efforts had been marginally successful.  We hosted an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service last year and got less than 30 in attendance, none of whom were Lutheran besides Anna and me.  We wanted to host an ecumenical Pentecost service at a city park, but it rained that weekend and we had no indoor alternative.  When we discussed doing an art show together my colleagues liked the idea, but not if it was tied to the Reformation, so it became an event where we simply had the opportunity to give thanks to God for the art and talent that we are surrounded with in our community.  Because God got involved, it turned out great, even much better than I expected.

The pastors in our ministerial association all have musical talent.  As a matter of fact, their family members are talented as well, so it was easy to form a musical ensemble built of the pastors, their families, and a few talented volunteers from their congregations.  At our first rehearsal it became apparent that, since we had never played together before, we could benefit from having a director. The secretary at one of the churches just happened to be a retired band director and very experienced musician, so he eagerly agreed when asked and became our director, and the Othello Ecumenical Ensemble was born.  We became the group that ended the service at the Celebration of the Arts.  Our director is also an accomplished hand-bell ringer, so he played a bell solo.  The choir of Pilgrim Lutheran Church sang a piece, and yours truly sang the Lord's Prayer.  A local author recited an original poem and all of the pastors added Scripture readings and prayers.  It really was a wonderful event and I hope we can do another one next year and make it an annual tradition.

Along with performing art, local artists were encouraged to display their creations.  There were several paintings.  Anna shared some of her photography along with paintings by members of her family, but for me, the highlight was the art we displayed for Ethel.  She is 94 and lives in a nearby care facility, but she has spent years creating works of art by painting dishes, duck decoys, clocks, quilt racks, and even a writing desk or two.  She had never had the chance to display her art all at once like we did, so she was all smiles from ear to ear throughout the event.  That, for me, made the whole thing worthwhile.  Ethel knows for sure now that what she has done all her life has made a difference for others.  Isn't that what it's all about?

The Day Decency Died

Mark it down; November 8th, 2016 was the day decency died.  We had a clear choice for President of the United States and we made the wrong one.  We voted for someone who is clearly unqualified for the office.  How are we so easily manipulated?  How are we so easily deceived?  How are we so easily turned to the wrong choice?  Is it because we are not paying attention?  Is it because we believe so easily those who speak ill of others?  I am discouraged about the future of the United States, but I am not discouraged about the future.

Yes, we are easily manipulated.  Those who are unwilling to seek truth are manipulated by those who speak lies loudly, and that happened a lot during this latest campaign season.  Fact checks were going ballistic over the number of lies told by the winning presidential candidate, but nobody cared.  As long as the lie was told over and over again in convincing fashion it became the truth.

In the meantime, even though there was no proven wrongdoing on the side of the other candidate, the court of public opinion had already tried and convicted the candidate without credible evidence.  The reason has to be that too many people believed the lies.  It does not seem to matter how often the facts were trotted out, if people are convinced the lies are the truth, the truth doesn't seem to stand a chance.  The witch hunters scored a vicious victory, and decency, and possibly even democracy, died.  I am very concerned for the future of the United States of America.  I see some striking similarities to the Nazi regime that overtook Germany in the late 1920's, and those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  The future of decency and even democracy in the United States looks very uncertain.  Decency seems to be dead, and democracy is at least on life support.

But I am not discouraged about the future of the world.  I know that God has not abandoned what God created.  God is love, and God sheds the light of God's love on all who walk in God's ways.  Those who speak hatred and divisiveness do not walk in God's ways.  The Bible is very clear on this.  In 1 John 4 it says, "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God.  Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (skip to verse 18) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.  We love because he first loved us.  Those who say "I love God" and hate their brothers or sisters are LIARS; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.  The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God MUST love their brothers and sisters also."  I'm not making any of this stuff up!  The Bible actually says all of that!  We cannot chose who gets God's love.  God's love is indiscriminate.  God loves black people, white people, red people, yellow people, brown people, and any other shade of people.  God loves men, women, transgender, politically correct, politically incorrect, bigots, gays, lesbians, questioning, answering, and any other label you can think of.  God even loves Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrans, Druids, Odinists, and yes, even us misguided, confused, Pharisaic Christians.  God loves us all.   That's in the Bible, too.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that anyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life.  Indeed, God did NOT send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be SAVED through him.  See, God still cares about the whole world, including Donald Trump and those who voted for him.  God cares about those who voted for Hillary Clinton as well.  God cares about and loves all of us.  I hope we can see that in the midst of things that will go horribly wrong.  I also hope we can see it in the midst of things that will go wonderfully right!

And now, while we are concerned about the future of our country, here is my pledge.  I will seek to love mercy, and do justly, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).  In order to do that I will make sure to be a safe person to talk to when you feel threatened by our government, or by people who would rather divide our country into the 'us' and the 'them'.  Until we decide otherwise, we are still the United States of America, and, as Abraham Lincoln said, we are a nation "of the people, by the people, and for the people."  Let us not put any qualifiers on who we mean my 'people'.  God doesn't, and neither should we; neither will I.  Keep the faith, my friends.  Don

I can't believe we've had him nine months already!

It was last December, the fourth Sunday of Advent to be exact, when the phone rang in the middle of the afternoon.  As a pastor I am always wary of the phone ringing, especially at an unexpected time like Sunday afternoon when I know most of the parishioners I serve would be spending time with family after a Sunday dinner.  Still, it is my responsibility to take care of the concerns that arise in this parish, so of course, I answered the phone. 

On the other end of the line was a woman who had requested a house blessing the month before.  Anna and I had both attended the blessing, and while I was asking God to bless her house Anna spent time playing with her adorable new kitten, Magda.  Now this woman was calling because she had neglected to check with her landlord prior to acquiring a cat, and the landlord told her the cat had to go.  She had already exhausted her friends, so she called the friendly neighborhood pastor whose wife had already had a fun time with the cat. 

As I have already mentioned, it is December, and the cold winter had already settled in promising a long, cold winter.  I knew that if we didn't act this cat didn't have a chance at survival, because most unwanted animals in our area simply get left on the roadside to fend for themselves.  This young kitten would never have lasted the night!  So I took one look at Anna and decided we would drive the 22 miles to Belcourt to pick up this kitten, whom the woman had named Magda.

One thing I knew for sure as we drove home is that the kitten would NOT be called Magda!  First of all, I wasn't convinced it was a female.  Second of all, I don't think the name Magda fits a cat.  You have to have a name that sounds good when you yell it.  We settled on the name Charley.  There are a number of ways to spell that name, but our cat is named Charley.

Notice that when you yell CHARLEY!!!  You can really hang on to the E sound at the end.  Boy, does it work well!  Especially considering that since Charley is a kitten, we yell at him a lot!  Yes, I said, 'him'.  It turns out that when we took Charley to the vet, she confirmed that our cat is a male.  Now we have two male cats, Jasper and Charley, and sometimes they actually get along!  But most times you can hear us hollering "CHARLEEEEYYY"  See why we had to have a name like that?  Ah, what a fun little cat he is!

Reactions to Charleston massacre

You all are ready to move on.  I can tell by what you are posting online that you are done with the massacre in Charleston.  I am not.  I am still grieving the loss of 9 innocent lives at the hands of hatred.  I am saddened by the loss of promising people who were waging peace in a world that is clinging so tightly to hatred.  I am upset by the confused response of our society.  I know that we will kill Dylann Roof also.  He will be sentenced to death for killing nine innocent people, and what will be solved?  What will change?  What is the gain from all of this?  I see nothing.  I see only sadness and division.  

I have questions for God.  I want to know, God, why you cannot raise the nine people from the dead.  Why, if you can simply take the hand of a twelve year old girl and say, “Little girl, arise.” And she wakes up after being dead, why can’t you raise Pastor Pinkney and his fellow church members?  They had faith.  They had as much faith as the woman who touched your clothes and was healed of her hemorrhage.  They were good people, God.  Why did you not raise them from the dead and startle the world, including Dylann Roof, so that more people would believe you have the power of life over death?  

I am confused.  I am angry.  I was, when I was a child, very proud to be an American, but I am that no longer.  I am concerned about what is happening in our country.  We are no longer seeking the common good.  We are seeking individual gain.  We are so concerned about the glorification of the individual that we are no longer looking at our neighbors.  We no longer see our neighbors as fellow humans with the same hopes and dreams, aspirations and inspirations that we have.  

Our political leaders are a prime example of what is going wrong in America.  We look for leadership in time of tragedy and we get rhetoric.  We get political grand-standing.  We get more finger-pointing and scape-goating.  That is not leadership.  We hear people talk about metal detectors on churches.  We hear about arming more and more citizens to make ourselves safe.  These are not solutions.  These are not even band-aids.  These are only reactions to a series of incidents that point to a deeper problem; and we DO have a deep, dark problem. 

We have a problem because we see the poor and we blame them for their own problems.  We have a problem because we see the single mothers and we blame them for their own problems.  We have a problem because we see the unemployed and we blame them for their own problems.  We fail to see these people as PEOPLE!  Valuable people, created in the image of God, valuable people, worthy of love and respect, valuable people who have hopes and dreams and are looking for the exit door to the world of their problems and finding none.

I think we need to seek the common good.  I think we need to realize that we are not Black Americans, or Native Americans or Asian Americans or European Americans, We are all Americans, and we need a government of the people, by the people and FOR the people.  We cannot blame religion.  We cannot blame a flag.  We cannot blame anyone but ourselves because we have stopped caring about each other.  I think it is time to look at our neighbor and see the image of God.  I think it is time to look at one another and see someone worthy of love.  I think it is time to stop blaming and start caring because enough people are already dead. 

Santa Day in Rolette, North Dakota

December 6th will be Santa Day here in Rolette.  Nobody around here is exactly sure how it got started, but I have a suspicion that since it is on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, and since most of the people around here are of Northern European and Scandinavian heritage, I'm willing to bet the Norwegian custom of celebrating the arrival of Sinterklas on or near the feast of Saint Nicholas has something to do with it.  Last year Santa Day was on December 7th, which is also Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, so it didn't feel so festive.  This year Anna and I have a vested interest!  We have joined a little community band that will be playing Christmas Carols for the festival.  We will play to get the crowd excited before Santa arrives, and we will play "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as Santa comes on the scene.  It should be great fun.  Along with playing in the band Anna has arranged to rent a table to sell Fair Trade chocolate and coffee, and will share her table with a local horticulturist who will be selling Christmas centerpieces.  All in all this is shaping up to be a much better Santa Day than last year.  Maybe after it is over I will post some pictures so you can see how we did.  Until then enjoy the thoughts of Thanksgiving and Advent as you celebrate with your family and friends.  God bless you all.  Don

A day in North Dakota

I have not written on this blog in a while.  Here it is June 28, 2014.  Tomorrow is our 12th anniversary, and we are spending it celebrating with the church tomorrow.  We celebrate 125 years tomorrow as a church.  I have only been part of this church since October 1. 

 This is all taken at a wildlife refuge.  It was a beautiful day and we had a picnic lunch.  We actually ate in Cando, ND.

I was having fun taking pictures of anything and everything.

i

 It looks like a huge body of water, and it is here, and it is located right here in North Dakota. Hard to imagine that North Dakota has so much water.