Nifty Noodles/ Bryan Goes To Prison

Sierra Conservation Camp at Jamestown, CA 8/31/03
Sounds like a lovely place in the woods... Actually it is too but mainly it's a Maximum Security Men's Prison. I was invited to play here with a team from Saddleback church... You know them by now... Rick Warren the senior pastor went with us. They were doing the "40 days of purpose" presentation as it is being implemented at this prison... A first, and a new direction in rehabilitation.

Flew in Saturday to meet with the warden and some ministry staff for dinner. Jamestown is an old gold mining town in the foothills of northern California....it's not close to anything... The drive was longer than the flight to get here.

Sunday Morning we did a marathon service on the main yard of the prison around a thousand inmates. It was a variety show of sorts... Music testimonies, conversation, and throughout was an invitation to be baptized. They Baptized some 20 inmates... I even Baptized one. The yard was hot and dry and once you are in you really get the feel of "can't get out of here". No shade either... I was wanting to get Baptized by the 3rd hour.

It seemed long to me... 3&1/2 hours... But to these guys there's a different sense of time. No body seemed impatient for the service to end. My favorite part of the gig... Was when Rick held up a $100.00 bill, waded it up and threw it on the ground and stepped on it. "does anybody still want this? He asked... The point was crystal... The value was still there regardless of the treatment!

We took a break around 1 P.m. It takes a while to get in and out of jail... (I would go nuts in here pretty quick... Wandering soul that I am)... Came back at 4 P.M. After a brief respite at the local water hole.. On a house boat.

The evening festivities were held in the visitors center where earlier we had toured seeing people spending the only quality time they get with loved ones and another opportunity to be grateful for my freedom was given.

I met many "lifers". I was given a certificate of "membership" to the "Sierra Christian Center" the church of the prison...there were 200 core believers who were pretty enthusiastic... "Paul the Apostle wrote most of the bible in Jail"... "Moses was a murderer on the Run before God put him in charge" some of the analogies given by the Inmate pastor.

It's a good place to meet God I think not a lot of distractions but enough still dangerous enough to inspire a prayer or two from the heart. The event on the inside ended with all the inmates going out and taking off there shoes in the yard to symbolize the yard being a place of Holy Ground.

This was the longest 48 hrs I can remember in some time... For one gig I was burnt... It felt like Paul's fourth Missionary Journey! The good news is I don't need clearance to get in and out of my house.

OK so there's that Bryan Duncan

Nifty Noodles/ Super Church

8/24/03 Saddleback Valley church service... Lake Forrest, Ca
Fourth trip to this church this week. This is the most organized church I've ever seen in action... They run four services at the same time... I was in the "wild version" unless it was just me! sang three of my own songs and two regular worship tunes. I was in the "secondary" overflow tent.

I don't know what I'm feeling about being around such a successful operation as this... I guess I feel small and insignificant in that bigger picture. They have 76,000 members at this church. No kidding. They don¹t all come at once but where does that ever happen... At least 200 separate outreach ministries... So my contribution here is really small.

Man the sermon is right on. They communicate very well even to the outsider. I'm amazed by the shear numbers of volunteers that work the services... No wonder people come from all countries to see what's going on... The pastor is the author of "purpose driven church". Still he wears a Hawaiian shirt in the pulpit... You gotta love that.

I drove home at 1 in the afternoon... And slept the rest of the day... It was 104 degrees at home... Just can't get motivated to get out before 8 p.m. Around here right now.

I'll mow my lawn around that time. 8)

Bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Mr. Toad's Wide Ride

8/21 & 22/03 Lake Forrest, CA Celebrate Recovery Summit
At two in the afternoon on the day of one of my most important concerts I was on the floor in my kitchen with a pain second only to childbirth (they tell me). Kidney stones! I was on vicodin and it was like nothing. The pain dropped me to the floor anyway. I called my doctor... And said... "I've fallen, and I can't get up" 8)... They sent a nurse over to my house to give me a shot of Demerol as they didn't want me to drive while on the drug and I had no one to take me to them.

But by four, I was feeling very fine, and at sound check in Lake Forrest... (I drove myself anyway). Of course now the band seemed to be playing everything kind of fast...do you see the irony here? On drugs doing a 12 step concert! 8)

I had some friends meet me there with my product and the Radio Rehab stuff when they got off work. We're at the annual Celebrate Recovery summit! I've done this gig for at least six years. It is a donated concert on my part because I need the recovery program more than they need me!

I have no desire to be the Poster child for "big rock singers with a problem" but I believe everyone has "unmanageable" areas in their own lives. It is a source of sanity for me and an understanding that there is support for me where I'm not disowned and disqualified because of my weakness and humanity.

I heard a speaker say here " the three main points of many churches is 1) God is good 2) you are bad 3) you should do better! Yea, I've gotten that message myself.

The concert was reasonably good in my book. I was coherent by then and the pain did not come back. Many comments were that it was better than last year but I'm not sure about that. I was more down to earth about my situations though and there was humor but not at the expense of sincerity. Maybe that was the difference.

The next day I got a call from the Upper Room Café in Redlands, CA, the gig I was to do on Saturday... Saying they had closed the doors due to "black mold". People were getting sick. So I decided to go back to the summit and set up a table and make my product available the whole next day. Spent the day telling people about the Radio Show I'm doing.

This is the first time I've ever managed my own table... It felt like a yard sale! I talked and talked till I had repeated my entire vocabulary four times. Till I started to feel disconnected from recovery as a reality. You know there is a fine line at "conferences". I started to feel like one of the "moneychangers" in the Temple... Selling doves for the sacrifices...

Heard someone talking about this summit and how it was really small potatoes compared to the "worship conference" and the "Youth leadership" conventions. Wow... The big business of selling religion. Makes me nervous. I guess it can't be helped. It's not necessarily bad. We're "communicating". But Money moves the world...it's the foundation of most influence.. Of course it's where the politics get weird and the struggle for power begins too... The Christian world is not immune. Maybe that¹s part of accepting this sinful world as it is and not as I would have it.

The priests were allowed to take part of the sacrifices as a way of making a living if I remember my old testament correctly. Never the less in my own quiet time next day I prayed that my heart would be right and I would beware of "managing my own agenda". That gets out of whack so fast it makes my head spin. (I still have a strong will and a plan for God's plan)

I finished the 14 hour day by singing my two new songs at the regular Friday night CR group. ("never lied" and "Jesus loves me anyway") the moments on stage were priceless and the songs brought tears to many. Nearly two thousand at this recovery meeting. There is reality here! and truth, about who we are and who can save us.

It's just so easy to start adding a ton of crap to an ounce of truth. Which is a vulnerable area in ministry. It's like Peter saying in the presence of God and the prophets of old... "Wow this is cool lets build monuments to this moment"... In my case I'll just write a couple of songs and start a radio show!!!

I went for coffee at a friends and with a friend after the longest day... Sat outside and talked and laughed and told the truth in a safe place and the reality of God's Grace came back to me and for a moment I was sane.

Thanks for lettin me share.... bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Playhouse in Ruins

8/9/03 Marion, Ill
I've always loved playin in Marion... It was in the oldest part of town. A little theater/playhouse made of brick and wood. It burned down. Five years later It's not rebuilt yet... And it will never be the same. It will be improved! That¹s not always better in my book. There was an ambience lost.. And I mourned.

This time it was an improved Methodist church... Clean... Crisp... Sterile. The good news was it was nearly full and I played for two hours and fifteen minutes. I took requests but not until after I had played all my favorites and my new material.

I played so little last month that I was trying to make up for the vacuum. Talking later with the promoter, I was asked to explain my conversations about 12 steps. He seemed to be preparing to defend my comments against the usual Christian rebellion that pops up with anything unfamiliar... In some cases tonight it would be the belly laughter about serious stuff... I don't know how else to approach it. Six of eight people are enjoying themselves he said but there are always a few who seem uncomfortable with the format.

I was unnecessarily guarded with him I think. He made several good points about how Passive Aggression thrives in a religious setting. My mind was instantly programming the possibilities. Another great point in our conversation was "managing our rejections". The Idea of giving people good reason to reject us out of the fear of rejection for no good reason! you still with me? It makes perfect sense to me... I do this all the time... That's what all that "self effacing" humor is about.

I know there are enough reasons for someone to not like me.. so I start by giving them a list to check off before they have a chance to find out for themselves. I'm embarrassed about my humanity! My inability to be the proverbial saint. I feel more messed up than anyone else and I'm working harder than most people to "fix it" all to no avail.

And finally we talked about "rehearsing the problem"... The idea that some Christian artists "adopt" a struggle in their own life to talk about simply because it triggers the needed response! One of the reasons I'm not forthcoming about my particular struggles. Recovery is for everyone who has a free will! I don't want to turn my life into a big drama... I just wanna face the realities that I see even in the face of it's incongruities with the expectations of Christianity. Sorry if I going over the top but my mind is on fire. The old playhouse has burned down and I can feel the ruins in my soul.

O.K. I'll go now bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Abundant Living

8/4/03 Sunday night.
Played a full concert at a Pentecostal Church in Rancho Cucamunga, CA. It's across the freeway from the airport I fly out of all the time. It's disguised as a business park! but the whole block is pretty much the church grounds. Place runs about 4000 members but the sanctuary is pretty small considering. Short way to the back but way wide!

Man it sounded good in there though... System was tops. I was near heaven anyway... I forget that not everyone is used to my "transparency". They seemed alittle surprised about my talk of recovery and the radio show... But they responded well to the statement I made from one of my radio shows... "how can you expect anyone to love you for who you are if you're busy trying to be somebody else!"

People were very open and soft hearted. Humble.. Comes to mind. I made some new friends in an old arena that hasn't always been pleasant... The Pentecostal side of the tracks!

God does have some great friends I'm learning... I was just deceived as to who was who...last night left a great imprint on my life that people cannot be type cast even though I do it too...

Thanks for lettin me share.... bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Slow In July

8/2/03 Home
July has been the slowest on record for concerts... Did one show last month. Didn't feel unemployed though. I just finished Radio shows number 13 & 14! Spent the down time in manufacturing eight show sets of radio rehab for sale on line and in concert.

Road To Redemption goes on the air on Armed Forces Radio Network second week of Aug.... A Sunday I believe. Their plan is to air it for 13 weeks but they've been impressed enough with the shows to consider keeping it on indefinitely.

I'm working on the release of "Twin Cities Live" for my first release on my own... Without a record label... Does that mean I make up a label name? Haven't thought about that... There is an "unplugged" set of new songs, just me and a piano, on this live show, recorded at Heart Alive... A club in Minneapolis, Mn. As well as show stoppers with a 14 piece band.

The primary interest in this live show is to capture some of the dialog between songs as it's been ignored over my career (as an enjoyable feature)... Of course... It's still being edited! Turning a two hour show into something that fits on one CD is tough... David Rowe, Producer of RTR, is editing the elements.

Just finished recording and producing (with Paul Dexter of 7K records) two songs for the Celebrate Recovery compilation CD out this month...I will post the songs in their final mix on the website so you can hear 'em... "Never Lied To You" and "Jesus Loves Me Anyway" ... Both are perfect fits for songs about the 12 step recovery process.

RTR is in it's 5th week at KSGN 89.7 FM. most of my friends are asleep before the show comes on... So I haven't heard many comments about it.

I just completed Traffic School again as I have received 3 "failure to stop" violations this year! Just in too big a hurry... I've perfected the 'California Stop' but now they have cameras on all the major intersections... The fine is hefty! So now I try to picture my valve stems standing still when I reach the stop signs. I watched those bloody traffic films and now I'm driving like an old lady! Well almost.

I'm now trying to learn computer software to do my own graphic art... I'll still need help cause I just can't sit still that long... The details of working on a computer program is more stressful than being on the road and just as time consuming.

I've got to get back into concert mode this month. I've almost forgot how to pack.

Oh and finally I may find my songs placed with some "secular artists" as I have found interest in my past work. This has come as a total surprise to me that several well known artists have actually heard my music and seem interested in recording my songs... I'll just be happy to meet some of these people cause I have their albums... If anything happens on this front I will drop names but right now it's a wait and see situation.

I'm playing tomorrow night in Rancho Cucamonga Home of the California Quakes baseball team. I'll let you know how that goes.

O.K. So there's That! bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Radio Rehab

I finished the script and picking the songs for Radio Rehab show number 13... Loneliness and Isolation. Got complaints that I didn't talk enough on the "resentment show"... The songs were all rockers and didn't leave a lot of space to speak but the truth is I don't have as much insight on resentment... I have some but I'm not dealing with a lot of clarity I suppose.

Isolation and loneliness is another story. This show may be the best one yet...except for "temptation". It's not recorded yet and I'm starting another show on envy and jealousy and comparing myself to others... I'll record them both next time I go to L.A. Anyway... Songs I used on Loneliness: Darwin Hobbs/ Hold on Bryan Duncan/Lonely Tonight Kenny Wayne Shepherd/ Blue ON Black Doug Williams & John P Kee/ Helpless and Hopeless Bonnie Raitt/ wounded heart Bryan Duncan/ after this day is gone Kirk Franklin/ lovely day

Wounded heart brings tears to my eyes every time... I talk over the middle of the song about God's desire to be loved as well as ours, by someone acting on their own free choice... You'll have to hear it.

I'm considering adding a link from this website to a new website we're putting together for Radio Rehab.... radiorehab.com My friends and I are looking at how we can make the shows easier to hear and I will make the scripts available to read. I want to sell the CD sets and offer people a chance to donate to the development of the show. I've been giving away 10 to 20 CD's of every show already but it's getting expensive.

And I'd love to be able for people to click on a particular show and hear it at their convenience. I've received several calls and letters asking for the full set of shows... Which I will try to accommodate for a nominal fee. The shows are taking up to 20 hours a week to put together and this my friends is my new hobby.

Radio Rehab will go on the armed forces radio network around the first of August... I will let you know exactly the time slot if they are specific... I don¹t' know how they line things up as it is a world wide network. I know what I'll call the noodle when the show time is announced... Look for "goood... Morning Viet Nam".

OK SO THeRe's That bryan d

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