Interstate Surprises 08/16/05
Kirk Talley
Aug 16, 2005
 

Hello Krew,


This past weekend, the Lord blessed in wonderful ways. Thursday night in Birmingham, we had a great concert at East Side Baptist Church. Alvin Currington was determined to have a great crowd and he did it! Thank you Alvin! So many of the Krew showed up and I really enjoyed singing the new songs from the new LIVE AT THE RIVER project! There were people from Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and of course Alabama! It was also great to visit with my friend, Wayne Wallace, on the air in Birmingham. Wayne invited me to the studio of WDJC to play songs from the new Live CD. We had a great time.

 

The first part of last week was a tough one. I put up with a lot of "stuff," a lot of opinions, and a lot of "knuckleheads." I needed a day off!....a day away from bad news, a day of milkshakes, and chocolate chip cookies, a day of peace and quiet. I left Birmingham on Friday morning heading to northern Indiana for a concert in Goshen, Indiana. Before I pulled out of the hotel parking lot, I just quietly bowed my head and asked the Lord to allow me to laugh that day. I wasn't looking forward to the ten hour drive so I needed simple laughter, nothing heavy, no bad news, but something that made me laugh out loud.



Did God ever come through? You bet he did. About halfway between Birmingham and Nashville, up ahead I noticed someone walking on the side of the interstate. I assumed this person had experienced car trouble, I looked in my rear view mirror and didn't see a car, so I assumed that wasn't the case. The closer I got to him, I noticed cars in front of me applying their brakes. The closer I got, it became apparent that this man had his hands up in the air, as far above his head as possible. I first thought he was praising the Lord. But as I got closer to him, I began to see that he was not in a spiritual frame of mind. As I got very close to him, I could see that with both hands he was shooting the bird to the passing traffic. I was shocked, speechless. I got up right beside him and looked over and he was just smiling from ear to ear. He was getting revenge of some sort. This old boy had just had it! I began to laugh. The more I laughed, the funnier it became. I knew how he felt! I couldn't imagine that he knew any of the drivers that were passing him, so his frustration couldn't have been directed toward them. He was just mad at the world and blowing off some steam. I laughed all the way to Nashville. (Ok I know I will get email about this.....don't waste your energy)



Just before I got into Louisville, I stopped for fuel. I pulled into a gas station that looked a little dilapidated. I stopped at the gas tank to see that it wasn't a "pay at the pump" type of place. The pumps didn't have the automatic card reader. I knew exactly what to do, knowing I would have to go in and pay. The lady in front of me stepped out of her little BMW and looked at the pump with a puzzled look on her face. I continued putting my gas in my tank. She nervously shifted her weight from side, her head tilting from side to side, finally she said "DUH--What do I dooooooo." My first thought was "honey if you are smart enough to marry a rich man, you are smart enough to pump gas!" I finally showed her how to work the gas pump and heard her "I have never seen this kind of pump before" story. I bet she has never seen a push mower or a manure spreader either!



I just kept laughing! I kept traveling north! By the time I got up above Indianapolis, I knew I was coming up on my favorite roadside sign so I got my camera out. On route 31, there is a restaurant called Sherill's. It's a convenient store with a deli attached. Their sign out front has made me laugh for years. "Eat Here and Get Gas." I stopped to take a picture of it to prove to you all that it does exist!



Thank God for laughter. In every day little things, there is some sunshine. Some of us have been in the doldrums way too long. It's good to laugh, it's an honor to find sunshine in the midst of clouds and doom.



Goshen, Indiana was a great Trio concert. Dick and Marge Brallier did a great job of promoting, the crowd was up from last year and I got the chance to see many old friends. Sunday morning I was up at 4:30 am and driving across country to a morning service at the First Nazarene Church in Napoleon, Ohio. We had a wonderful service. At the invitation time, the altar was full of people praying and getting serious with God. What a great weekend!



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DVD's are here! Today we have been at the office packing them and getting them ready to take to the Post Office tomorrow. We have worked feverishly all day with only a break to celebrate Dot's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOT! Back to the DVD ... it's great. I hope everyone will order theirs! www.kirktalley.com Reviews from the CD are wonderful! It's honestly the best thing I have ever recorded! There are some great reviews on my comment book on my website. Check it out and order yours today. When you order the CD, you will get FREE, the testimony CD!



Sure looking forward to Maryville, TN this weekend. It's gonna be GREAT!!!!!!! Two surprise special guests-friends of mine that all of you will know if you have followed gospel music! I can't wait. I am so excited! I will even debut a brand new song that I wrote a few weeks ago on my motorcycle. I have sung it in a few places and most of the churches have stood to their feet afterwards! WOW You got to come to Maryville and then go to church with me the next morning. Call the office and ask Dot to hold you a ticket! 865 933 2100 or email her at dottie820@aol.com



Some of you have asked about the P.A.I.N network. That's a group of people who have agreed to pray with me for certain things that I mention in the newsletters. Prayer and Intercessory Network members have really been faithful to pray and I so appreciate it. please continue to pray for



Janet Paschal-battling Cancer

My mother- declining health due to Alzheimer's

Timmy Robinson-injured in an automobile accident

Ethan Wiley--difficulties in an adoption dispute

the sale of a business that's a real financial burden

Please pray for thousands of people who have been touched by the GQ article and encouraged to a closer walk with Christ.

All the negative people in the world who still hold gavels in their hand.



Thank you so much for being a Krew member, I love you all and hope to see you soon

Keep watching the schedule for added dates. Of course there are also holes in the schedule so if you would like to have a concert at your church, contact the office 865 933 2100



Kapt Kirk