Well…..This has been my last full day here in New York.  I fly back out tomorrow afternoon and will be home by late evening.

Today has been an excellent day! 

It started out with the 9:00 service at BT.  Today was the day that I got to sing with the choir.  The BT choir has around 280 and they split the conference attendees among the 3 services they have on Sundays.  So at 9 this morning, we had about 500-600 people in the choir and what a sound!  It was awesome having that many people, and people who sing well, singing at one time.  After that,  a great message from Pastor Cymbala. 

We were out by 11 and I headed out for lunch and then found a starbucks.   I was so tired by that point that I came back to the room and took a little nap. 

About 3 I headed back to Manhattan.  I visited the site of the World Trade Center.  What a powerful place that is.  It’s weird.  It’s one of the quietest places I have been all weekend.  Very solemn.  They are currently rebuilding and are making progress.   I went up into the World Financial centers and got a little clearer view of the WTC site.  After that, I did a little shopping at a store called Century 21.  There were a LOT of people there.  I was a little overwhelmed.

I got back on the subway and headed to Central Park.  That really is a beautiful place.  A small lake,  lots of trees,  walking paths, swings….a nice change of pace for those who live in this rat race!

Then I made my way back to Brooklyn….stopped at a little Japenese restaurant in Brooklyn for dinner.  I have to say,  it’s the best meal that I have had since I have been here.  The funny thing,  it was authentic Japenese and there were no forks. LOL!  So….I had to work my way through the food with the chopsticks.   I hope I didn’t leave too much on the floor.

Here I am now,  trying to get my suitcases packed and figure out how to get all the stuff I have purchased home. 

My summary of this trip?  Truly an amazing experience.  It was worth every penny and every mile walked to get to be a part of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and hear the choir sing their songs.  I would do it again next week if I could. 

I am ready to get home and see my girls.  Even though it’s been fun,  I have very much missed my family.  I have even missed the little whiney, furry son we call Baxter, the dog.

If you are ever given the opportunity to come to New York, make sure you stop off at the Brooklyn tabernacle…tell them I sent you!  lol! 

I will write a little tomorrow night to let you know I am back home safe and sound and back to the real world!

Curt

Today started out in a rush!  I overslept! 

But I still made it to the BT on time.  We started out with a Word Music reading session.  That’s where they give everybody music and we just sing it.  It was really a great experience and it turned out to be a PRAISE session.   It seems that you can’t go to BT without having a praise time!  It is so awesome.

We then had 2 breakout sessions.  One was how to build a choir from the ground up and the other was on administration.  Carol Cymbala held the latter and her daughter, Chrissy held the first.  She has a tremendous story of how she completely rebelled and then came back to Christ and is now leading worship at a church in chicago where her husband pastors.

After that, we had lunch and then back to the BT for a session with Paul Baloche.  He is an incredible singer though I thought his talk was a bit scattered and seemed unprepared.  Nevertheless,  it was great seeing him and he is doing a full concert on Sunday.  Tomorrow is when I get to sing with the choir and I cant wait.  Please pray I don’t oversleep! LOL!

The day was over about 3:30 and made my way to the subway and headed into Manhattan.  I wasn’t prepared for what I saw when got off the subway and made my to the street.  I ended up right in the middle of Times Square.  Pictures and TV do not do it justice.  I have never seen so many lights and so many people before in my life.

I stopped at a little shop and bought a few things today to bring home.  I bought me a miniature Statue of Liberty to put on my desk!  It is so cool.  And I bought a few other things too.

I then made my way to Broadway where I purchased my ticket for…..Phantom of the Opera at 8:00.  While I waited,  I shopped a little more and got me a hot dog from one of the vendors on the street. 

POTO was everything I imagined it to be.  The staging, the lighting, everything was just great.  I was kinda sad when it was over.  Great show and I am glad I got to experience that.

As I was leaving I got to see the NYPD take a man to the ground right in front of me.  That was pretty cool….though that man didn’t think so.

A few things I noticed today….in Brooklyn, there is a smell.  Those of you who know me well, know that I can smeel something good or bad a hundred miles away.  But the smell is a sweet sorta smell….almost like perfume, almost like flowers….can’t put my finger on it.  Weird, I know.   

This really is the city that never sleeps.  At 11:30 tonight….the subway was packed with people.  I couldn’t believe it. 

Well,  that’s all for tonight….I will be back tomorrow night with another update….I plan on going into Manhattan again and looking around some more. 

New York, New York, It’s a Wonderful town!

Curt

Well,  First of all…..MY FEET ARE KILLING ME!  I have walked and walked and walked today!  It has been a great day!

Let me explain why I am here for those of you who don’t know…..My wife, along with my choir at church,  gave me a trip to New York to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Music Conference.  It was a total surprise….The only bad thing…I had to come by myself.  Carol could not come because of work and i tried to get a friend or two to come but it didn’t work out.  But that’s ok!  What a great time!

Today,  I got out the door about 8 and started walking around Brooklyn.  I am about 8 blocks from the tabernacle and downtown….Let me tell you….the blocks I am used to at home are much smaller than these blocks.  I originally started out with a nice pair of loafers(trying to look cool) and by lunch time I had those off and my walking shoes on!  This is probably the biggest city I have ever been to. 

I walked to the Brooklyn Bridge and what an awesome sight that was.  It is so cool to see in person the things that you see on TV. 

For lunch I ate at a corner pizza dive.  I had a pizza pie with chicken, tomato, spinach, broccoli, onion, mushroom, and probably a few other things I can’t remember.  It’s probably the best pizza I have ever had.

The funniest thing I saw today was at lunch…..There was a guy next to me eating….He had on flashy gold plated shades and was reading a book called…..Millionaire Maker!  I had to laugh….He wanted so bad to make it rich!  LOL!

I did learn a few things today about New Yorkers.  They love to blow their horn,  they pay absolutely no attention to the cross walk signs, not many of them smile,  the drivers drive very very fast…and the oddest thing….this is weird I know…..Most every car I have seen has scratches on the front and rear bumpers.  LOL!  There are some cars driving around with a thing on the back called a bumper guard.

I went into several shops….I went to Macy’s…didn’t buy a thing….went to the subway to get a Metro card…the subway is way cool and it moves pretty quick to.  I had planned on going into Manhattan tonight but I couldn’t muster the strength to.

The first session at BT started at 1.  It started with a couple of video clips on how the church first started and how the choir came to be. Carol Cymbala talked to us for a while from her heart about her passion…..She is an incredible lady!

By the way,  the BT auditorium is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen.  It probably holds 4-6000 or so.  maybe more, maybe less…And it was almost packed.  There were people from 35 US states and then people from…get this….Canada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Central and South America, Norway, South Africa, Argentina, England , The Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Australia.  All these people came just for the conference!  THEY LOVE THE BT Choir….just like I love them

After Carol, Pastor Jim Cymbala gave an encouraging message with 3 points on how the devil can destroy a ministry starting with your heart.  It was very moving and I think I fell into all 3 categories!  pretty good stuff!

We broke at 4 for dinner and had some free time to WALK SOME MORE!  LOL!  (I had to go to Walgreens…I was out of soap and hairspray! LOL!  oh, had to get tums and chapstick!)

We made our way back to the auditorium at 7 for choir rehearsal…..all attendees get to sing with the choir on Sunday.  We rehearsed 3 songs….I sat by a great guy by the name of Roberto.  Great singer and what a love he has for that choir. 

After the rehearsal,  the BT choir got up and performed 3 songs for us. Now, let me just tell you….I have heard them on CD, seen them on video……..BUT IT DOES NOT COMPARE TO HEARING THEM LIVE!   I cannot express to you the love and passion and power in which they sing.  At that point,  we had church.  That hour of time will go down as one of the all time greatest moments in my life. 

We got out about 9:30 and I made my way back, the whole 8 blocks, to my hotel….and kicked my shoes off!  WHEW!

Tomorrow is an early day….We start at 9 tomorrow and go to 4 or 5…can’t remember. 

Anyway…..will blog more tomorrow night!

Nite, Nite!

Curt

Well, I’m here!!!!!  What an awesome place….

 I got to the airport 2 hours early just as they ask you to do, then I had to wait!  UUGGHH!!  Going through security was pretty easy, other than having to take off my shoes for security.  Have you ever thought about how many feet walk across that floor every day?  I started looking for Lysol!  YUK! I spent my next 1 1/2 hours waiting….thank goodness I got a nintendo ds for my birthday….it kept me occupied.

 The flight was uneventful. I flew on a puddle jumper…the overhead bins were not big enough to hold my laptop bag.   Flying into New York was just beautiful.  It was getting dark when we arrived and the lights were just breathtaking.  they almost looked like little LED lights at Christmas.  We had to circle the airport for about 30 minutes before we could land….traffic was backed up!  lol!  We were an hour late getting off the plane….

I got a taxi and told him where to take me….And in true Nascar style, I made it to the comfort inn in one piece… This guy was not letting any grass grow under his feet! 

I got checked into my room…very nice…VERY SMALL! It would be hard to change your mind in here! lol!  But it’s still a very nice room….AND VERY CLEAN!  That’s the best part.

The lady at the front desk told me where the good restaurants were….I started out walking at 9:00 tonight about 4 blocks to 5th Ave and found a little restaurant called the Trattoria Mangria!  It was toooooo awesome!  I had a tomato fettucine with Lobster, Mussels and Shrimp.  And it was only $20.00.  I thought that was pretty cheap. 

Now….I’m back in my room…getting ready to crash….It’s a long day tomorrow and I gotta get some rest.

thanks to all of you who helped get me up here!  I am so excited and so blessed!!!!

Curt

4 months….since I’ve blogged.  let me explain!

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What a difference a year makes, huh?

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What a great night this was!  This church had some of the sweetest people I have ever met and on top of that….they had a dessert contest and I got to be a judge!  There were 10 desserts to choose from and oh my….it was hard to decide the winner.  But I had fun trying!

The concert was incredible…the people were so welcoming and they listened to every word. 

Thanks again Bethel Baptist Church….If you ever need another taste tester,  just call!

Sheltered,
Curt

What an awesome day that we had yesterday….

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I just got news yesterday that my first radio single, “Walking the Way”,

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No, REALLY!  Someone e-mailed and asked if everything was ok, they had not seen a blog in a while…..well, here goes!

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