Skywatch Friday Thoughts And More

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It's been hot, humid and mostly cloudy here recently, but no rain. It's going to be a tough August.

Wednesday evening we enjoyed a special event. My wife and I drove over to Lampe, MO. for a concert at the Black Oak Amphitheater.  Lampe, MO is about fifteen miles west of Branson and about a one and one half hour drive from our house. It was the site of many rock concerts in the eighties and early nineties.  It's been closed for the past ten years.  Under new ownership, the venue has reopened and has a full slate of concerts scheduled through September.
The entertainers included Rhonda Vincent, Earl Scruggs, and Steve Martin.  There really is nothing more appropriate for an outdoor amphitheater in the Ozark Mountains than "Bluegrass"!
Rhonda Vincent and her band Rage, opened the show.  They were very good.  Next up was Earl Scruggs with Family and Friends.  The family included his sons Gary and Randy.  If you don't know who Earl Scruggs is, there isn't much point in reading further.  Just let it be said that he is an eighty-six year old legend in Bluegrass.  If you ever get a chance to see this group, don't pass it up.  But keep in mind, he won't be around forever.  It was a wonderful one hour set of amazing banjo, guitars and bluegrass hits that spanned six decades.  The final act was Steve Martin (yes, the comedian) and the Steep Canyon Rangers.  Martin is a Grammy award winning songwriter, banjo player, and entertainer.  The Steep Canyon Rangers are a great  bluegrass band in their own right, but they are currently touring with Martin.  The show featured a mixture of comedy and award winning bluegrass.  The show lasted about three hours.  We got home a little after midnight.
In late August B.B. King will be at the Amp.  Unfortunately, we will not be in the area.  B.B. is another legend that will not be doing his thing forever.  See him while you can.  For more information you can visit the Black Oak web site.  For you old rockers, Leon Russell will be appearing in September.

Okay, it Friday and time for the inspirational song of the week.  In keeping with the bluegrass theme, I am going to share something from Rhonda Vincent.  During the show on Wednesday night, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers sang a very humorous song "Ahiests Got No Song".  They pulled out a single sheet of paper and declared that it was the complete Athiest hymnal.  While it was extremely funny, it was painfully true.  During times of trial and troubles, Christians can turn to prayer, their savior, the Bible, to one another, and to the hyms of the faith.  For those of us who love music, hymns often speak to us in ways no other means of communication can.  If we will only listen to what God is trying to tell us, we can be partakers of the abundant life.  God wants us to share the good news of salvation.  He wants us to rise up and become fishers of men.  So, without further delay, here is Rhonda Vincent.  Enjoy and have a blessed week-end.