Nifty Noodles
Nifty Noodles/ 1-800-JESUS
Nifty Noodles/ The Good Ship Lollipop
Nifty Noodles/ Volunteer Work
Nifty Noodles/ first Gig of Ooh 2
Nifty Noodles/ 2 Thousand Plus Two Noodles
Copyright © 2000, 2002 All Rights Reserved, BryanD.com & Bryan Duncan
1/27/02
Riverside, CA
I was on my way to the early service at my own church so I wouldn't miss the
playoff games on t.v. (now there is a pure motivation).
On the way I hit the button on the radio just in time to hear "if you'd like
to talk to the Son of God call 1 800..." I didn't get the actual number it
was something with letters ..."Jesus"....
KFI 1070 More stimulating talk radio". yes it was the Jesus Christ show!
Sure this is borderline blasphemy...if your not in the proper frame of mind
with no sense of humor.
People would call in with their questions and Jesus would answer them on
air. (You know I had to stay tuned.) "Where were you on September 11?" One
man blurted out. The answer from Christ was not as profound as I'd hoped but
I found myself really wanting to hear the audible voice of Jesus. And I got
an intense feeling of what it must have been like for people in Jesus' day
to want to follow him around. It was like he was gonna finally clue you in
to all those things you don't know about the future and the past and why we
are here.
This one guy called in with a classic verbal barrage peppered with left wing
politics and right wing "burn in hell for impersonating Jesus Christ"
delivery. The answer made me laugh out loud... There was a long pause and
then in a soft voice..."You waited thirty minutes on the phone to unload all
that venom" kfi-jesus said..."mostly you were excited to use the word
'Fascist' because it makes you sound important..." Now This is the Christ I
know! cutting straight to the intent of my heart and not really addressing
my original question.
"I get these kind of questions every day" KFI- Jesus said " he went on to
say some things about "rudimentary living". They were nice words but I knew
it wasn't Jesus anymore. Still I thought of how much I look to Christ to say
something to me... How desperately important it is for my survival here. How
lost I feel when he doesn't speak to me. I think if Jesus showed up in
person I would drop everything I'm doing here and follow him...I wouldn't
even take time to sell my stuff. It would be me and that dirty tax
collector... Both of us focused on the possibility of a reprieve that we
won't find anywhere else on this earth. I wouldn't look around either to see
if anybody else was gonna step out. I'd be outta here like a rat off a
sinking ship.
By the way you can e mail Jesus now: LambofGod@KFI1070.com
I guess that's why I haven't always heard from Jesus... I get the address
wrong every now and then... You only have to be one letter off and you won't
get there. Kinda like sin...." For all have miss-typed the e mail address
and fallen short of the web of God". And then of course we're angry cause he
didn't get back to us!
O.K. So there's that bryan d
1/23/02
Long Beach, CA
Played a little gig on board the Queen Mary cruise liner. It's permanently
moored in the Long Beach harbor... The QUEEN MARY is a relic of a passenger
liner just slightly bigger than the Titanic. It smells old and musty.
I don't know which fate is worse, going down in a blaze of glory, Like the
Titanic or just being forgotten to rust away after you've ceased to be of
any real value.
They've turned the Queen into a hotel.
I was there to sing for free to the manager's of the Berean bookstore chain.
(about thirty people in all) we were set up in a little hall the size of a
coat room toward the back of the ship.
This is as close to a concert in a phone booth as I have ever done. It had a
nice view of the Long Beach city skyline but the windows were small. There
wasn't enough air in the room to hit all the notes.
The food was good though and we gave away a bunch of Joyride CD's.
"It's bribery really..." I told 'em
"It would sure help sales if this was in your stores"... "I can only sell so
many out of my trunk".
" I wish you a prosperous business this year" I said in closing my one hour
set. "K mart's goin belly up you know... So maybe you can pick up some of
their crowd". Laughter trails off. I close with Caribbean Dream and Blue
Skies..
"Maybe you could have the next little convention in Jamaica..." I said next.
"I'm pretty sure I'd be free for the gig".
O.K. So there's that bryan d
1/18/02
Santa Ana, Ca
It's just thirty five minutes from my house, Calvary Church. They had a
famous pastor with a well known radio ministry and a similarly well known
story of scandal and affair.
Gone now and replaced. They've started a program called "Freedom In
Recovery" based on the model Saddleback Church has developed.
I have been involved with "Celebrate Recovery" at Saddleback for some two
and a half years. I donate my time and talent to this effort. I attend the
meetings there as well.
So I was approached by one of the men asking if I would sing and share a
little of my experience at this kick off night for the new group. I don't
have a neat little "testimony" and it doesn't wrap up like some script in
evangelical circles. But I know that with people recovering from drugs and
alcohol or sexual abuse and or addiction or any other number of
dysfunctions, I am understood and my songs become three dimensional and
bigger than life. And I feel a strength about what I'm doing more so than I
ever have in the CCM world. A World of manufactured stardom and importance
based on the typical stereotype of the Good Christian, full of concern for
others and just the right amount of struggle without humiliation.
We've all seen several of those "Stars" fall from grace too, when the image
was destroyed by the reality.
I make no claim to righteousness based on anything I have done or "not done"
for that matter. I am fallen from the beginning and unwilling to pretend for
the sake of the call.
I opened with "after this day is gone"... A song even I did not recognize
the power of when I wrote the lyrics. My first statements to the new
Recovery group of some three hundred folks: "my very first problem in life
led to all my problems to this day" I said... "I have not believed that I am
loved unconditionally"
"I have worked for God my whole life but I have not trusted him when he said
he laid down his life for me" I continued,..." For God so loved the WORLD,
yea but I never felt a part of that club... I was always just the visitor
who didn't get the latest update on what was going on". " Life has always
felt like an inside joke to me and I don't understand the punch line"
"It has been that feeling of being alone and unloved that has made me choose
medication apart from God to ease the pain of a pointless existence. Even as
I spoke the words of salvation and grew up in the truth of the gospel I
found it easier to "handle the pain medication" myself rather than involve
myself intimately with others and to trust God to meet my needs".
I played "Strollin on the water" introducing it as a song about trust.
I followed with "yes I will" about negative self thoughts and "this love is
what I get" and then "If You Pray For Me" and finally "Maybe I'm Amazed".
I was in a desperate mood... Cause I was faced to think about the real
things I feel and address the audience about why I am here. I did this for
free and it was more of a sacrifice than just my time and talent.
This volunteer thing has more sacrifice than I expected...but It was
effective and more real than the smoke and bombs of the Rock and Roll
business.
There will be more of these groups starting in the near future and I will
lend a hand.
O.K. So there's That! bryan d
1/11/02
Omaha, Nebraska
Westside church...
hadn't been on an airplane in nearly a month. I figure thatıs as long a time
away from flight as I've been since 1990.
It felt like my first day on a new job.
They wanted me to take off my shoes now as part of the routine they call
"due to increased security". They use that phrase a lot. The airport is
empty... I have my own airport now! YEA Duncan International, I almost have
my own plane too, Bryanaire... Fly Bry. United has a new diet program now
they donıt feed you. Their new slogan is "fly United and lose five pounds"
I'm flying in a day early to play three morning services and then again
Sunday night. I should be grateful though. I'm working. At something I love
too. 1.6 million jobs have been lost as a result of the attacks on America
according to USA today. That was just four months ago today.
Westside Church, as a building is forbidding to me. It smacks of a staunch
Baptist conservative empire, huge and traditional. The people are warm
however and unpretentious. "My divorce became final yesterday" one man
stated sadly when I asked him how he was doing. Another man spoke in passing
about his wife's cancer. They are not hiding any pain here. It is truly the
emergency room that the church should offer.
The pastor is a few years younger than me, very real and unassuming. I am
healed just alittle simply by being here.
Healed of all those minor offenses that accumulate over a career of dealing
with the pride and ignorance in the body of Christ. Stuff that has hurt me
more deeply than I care to recognize. The same insincerity that I myself
have doled out to those around me on so many occasions.
I presented a "disciplined" set in the first three services. Being careful
with my humor. Testing the market I suppose. I was well received. The truth
of the love of God was brought to my mind in such a way that it actually
resembled some type of ministry. My sins were not the highlight.
It was as if I'd gotten over myself for a few minutes.
Under the surface of this weekend though I am gloomy with my own thoughts
about the decisions I must continue to make in the future. Wondering where I
belong.
Before my gig this week I have found myself singing a different Sting tune
about every hour. He is a genius I am convinced. Sting is around my age. He
has a new project of reflection, a greatest hits called "all this time".
"must I destroy myself to be the perfect man" he says in one song ,"or would
she prefer me as I am" (speaking of an unconditional love longing.)
He speaks to the melancholy side of my soul. It's how I know when I'm
depressed too... Cause I can't turn his songs off in my mind. I have trouble
finding enthusiasm for my own songs today as I haven't connected with them
since early December.
I sit through the bible study that follows my forty minute set. 2200 people
are here and I can see why. I am being fed, and encouraged and reminded that
it should be no surprise to me when I face hardship in this life.
O.K. So there's that! bryan d
1/02/02
Happy New Year 2002!
I'm in recovery from the holidays. today I woke up singing the Sting
song "dancing with the missing"... After three morning church services and
four concerts on Sunday night and Monday night before Christmas... I went
missing for the week... No phone, no internet, no meetings. I joined my
little cult of friends (the flow people) in a cabin at Snow Summit. It's a
five minute walk to the ski lift. My sons snowboard but I have returned to
ski after an early attempt to be hip on a board.
My wife brought "Sadie", the newest addition to the family. She's a
Miniature Snow Dog I came across by accident nine weeks ago... A little gift
from God I suppose, she's a black and white puppy that looks Like a little
Husky. She does bring a smile into the room.
I spent a lot of time skiing alone. (snowboarders don't like to be seen with
skiers). The rides on the chair lift offered a chance to reflect on life and
pray for "direction" in the future. ( it also gave me time to take the advil
after the last fall) I went off one of those jumps and landed it funny,
almost went into the trees! They call it "pulling a Sonny Bono".
Time off has always felt like the enemy to me... I always wonder why I'm not
booked.
The future is a new puzzle. We're on the third year of the new millennium!
Who AM I? for crying out loud. What am I doing here? I'm almost fifty... I
never thought I'd see thirty... I thought God was coming back in the
eighties... I wonder if the new Euro dollar is the one world currency....
And would the real Anti Christ please stand up... I think he has a few
cousins hiding in some caves over in Afghanistan.
Last year I was starting two tours at once. This year I've got most of
January to "reflect".
I don't "reflect" well by the way... It usually requires "supervision" and
possibly medication! ;)
God's perspective seems so odd to me. Probably a sign that I'm not doing
things his way. He's not impressed with my "accomplishments" either you
know.
Dear God, What matters? That's my prayer this year. How do I fit in your
plans?... What do you want me to do?... Yer not gonna leave me in this
little room again are ya? CCM.. What the heck is THAT? It's a club that I'm
not even in anymore... It's a business really.. Where's the influence?
to quote an agent that read my first book manuscript " Who cares and So
what "?
If we were gonna make a NEW new testament I wouldn't even be in it would I?
I mean I'd want to be in it... But I know I would be that example of what
idiots look like, one of those "YEEE of little faith". Like the story of
David at his worst, pretending to be insane, drooling from the mouth so as
not to be discovered.
Ooh am I rambling? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to let you into my inner mind
workings like that.
Of course that's what the noodles have become... They are self centered no
matter how humble I try to make 'em sound.
I started these things in an attempt to have a better attitude and outlook
on life... A discipline to see the bigger picture... (and to prove to the
record company that I was actually working. And that picture of me in the
sports car was a photo opportunity!
It's a new year though, and I'm grateful for a chance to start over!
I'm alive and well (kinda) and there are things to be thankful for in all
this mess. And so "here we go again".... Welcome to the new frontier... Two
thousand and two... And remember "where two or more are gathered"...."there
am I in the midst", could be a description of my shows in the future!
O.K. So there's that! plus two bryan d