Nifty noodles/ it's a new day
9/29 & 30/ 01 Auburn, Ca
Spent the whole weekend in Auburn,Ca. Doing one Saturday night concert and three morning church services on Sunday.

I enjoyed only going to the airport once over the whole weekend. Saves a lot of time. In Sacramento they went through my stuff with a fine tooth comb at the ticket counter. Made me take my shoes off and did one of those "lets get personal" kind of body searches. Confiscated a pair of tweezers from my bag. "I shouldn't have worn my sunglasses indoors" I told the police... "I look suspicious don't I?" I left my clothes in the parking lot at the airport. so I had to go buy stuff from Target, shoes and everything, cause I came up early, dressed to play golf. Actually, "I got it at Ross". Still looked like a model for the boys section of Sears. Maybe I shouldn't do this in the future... I played Golf so poorly that my attitude was in jeopardy for the Saturday night show.

While golfing, we had a helicopter land on the fairway just in front of us on the the third hole. I'm thinking "they're taking security to a whole new level". They wanted us to go around them and play the next hole... "I can drive this hole I told the fireman, the helicopter is safe, I'm never in the fairway anyway" Actually they were responding to an accident on the street next to the golf course. A skateboarder was hit by a car. The lady driving was from the church I played at that night. The boy is in a coma.

A new day is dawning for me...what with the clarity that comes with the tragic events goin on around us. I've taken to a little sermonizing these days... A new wrinkle in my show... "the president (of the United States) says we should go back to normal" I comment "this disaster has made us drop our personal agendas and look around for ways to be of service to others, it has made us return to bold faced prayer before everyone whether they believe in our God or not, terror has forced us into vigilance and strengthened our resolve to fight evil, and I say now, lets not return to normal!" wow that got an applause of approval.

I still make my usual wise cracks too, joking about being the only one willing to fly on the plane... "now instead of the pilot saying good morning ladies and gentlemen, it's just, 'hi Bryan... I think you know what to do'. "they don't allow even plastic knives on the planes anymore.... So I'm buttering my toast with my fingers... Kinda sad really.

But the humor is softer I think. I have found somewhere in side of me a desire to join the family of believers that I have often "discounted". To work at communicating a stronger message of faith in my presentation. Maybe to be less flippant about my lot in life. I am looking for a way out of this "tomb of brokenness".

I have a friend who has been encouraging to me lately... He said to me once when I was depressed about the initial failure of interest by publishers in my first draft of a book..."Bryan, what if your plan B is really God's plan A all along"... "what if God's plans for your life are so big that they don't fit into any of your conceptions"

Wow! I have to admit that my sarcasm has begun to cut off my ability to dream and clouded my vision for a better future... Until now.

it's a new day... One that the Lord has made...and I'm still here so God must have a reason and a plan. I've got my binoculars out!

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

Nifty Noodles/feelin fine in Philly
9/22/01 Saturday Philadelphia, Pa
Got in to Philly at one a.m. for this gig. There were only twenty people on the flight... (The jet seats 300). I felt kinda special. It took no time to get our luggage either and we walked right out and got in the only van in the parking lot. Hey I could get used to this.

I was here early to do a morning radio show. Thought we'd be doing heavy dialog about the events of the past week but no... It was the usual light conversation and music that morning shows are known for. But when you're actually in the room with the d.j. He plays a lot of your stuff on the radio... I guess that's the point.

It helps the concert attendance too. Had about 1800 at the concert at Calvary Chapel of Philly. They asked me to give an invitation to receive Christ. I was gonna argue the point cause I don't feel comfortable doing the "sermon part" of a service, but it was just easier to go with their flow here and not make a big deal out of it.

So... I closed my concert with a prayer I asked folks to pray with me. I told everyone how to ask Jesus to come into their life. The basics of Salvation..." You don't have to feel completely lost during tragedies like what has happened in America this week" I told folks "I believe my life is in God's hands... "And though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is with me" I quoted. Adding that God doesn't give us the spirit of fear...( "of course that doesn't mean it doesn't show up in our lives" I smiled "that¹s the reason you want to get to know Christ personally."

It was something I haven't done much of in my concerts... I sang "a heart like mine" and asked that anyone wanting to become a Christian come forward during the song.... No one moved... It's why I don't like to make this part of my concert... It looks and feels uninspired if no one acts on the information.

I'm sure I carry a lot of baggage about "alter calls". But hey it's a new world out there and I'll do whatever I'm asked.

O.K. So there's that bryan d

Nifty noOdles/The last car show
9/23/01 Sacramento, Ca. / Harvest Car, Truck and Bike show
I got to drive a 67 Corvette convertible, an old model Chevy pickup completely customized and an original condition 58 Buick that starts up when you press the gas pedal down for the first time. Hey I figured I might as well have fun while I'm here. I flew in for this all day event and flew home late that night. I redefined exhaustion to my own dismay. Driving my own "dunk truck" home at eleven O clock was the hardest part. I was asleep at the wheel almost.

This is the first gig in a while where I actually helped set up the chairs for my own show. There was no place to hang again, the show is in the parking lot where the Harvest Crusade was being held (it's a Billy Graham type evangelistic outreach). Held at Holt arena I think is what it's called.

I only played for an hour cause the power was fluctuating from the generator on site. It was blowing up the speakers. I blew up my voice as well trying to sing out doors on low power. People were enthusiastic to hear my songs though and I gave it my best effort.

One guy who was there early as a guest heard me just noodling on the piano before sound check and went over and bought three CD's before he'd heard me sing. Maybe I should noodle more often.

O.K. So there's That bryan d

Nifty nOodles/ flying in the face of terror
9/20/01 Thursday
I'm not afraid to fly after the terrorist attack on this country last week. My life is in God's hands... I really believe that. And I'd rather be out there doing what I do with a new resolve than to sit at home and watch more t.v. on the subject.

Because of the tight security now I have to arrive two hours before every flight and when, like this week, I'm flying out of Los Angeles I have to allow almost two hours in traffic to drive to the airport. Fortunately todays flight is in the afternoon. I'm going in a day early. So much for those 6 a.m. Flights on the same day as the concert. This puts a considerable amount of strain on my travel schedule and my ability to hop around the country doing several shows in a weekend. Changes are coming.

I will have to look into more than one date within rental car distance in the future. This week I'm in Philadelphia on Friday and Sacramento, Ca on Sunday. LAX was a breeze this morning even with the security checks every fifty feet. I was checked in and sitting at the gate in forty minutes... Now with two hours to kill. There might be six hundred people in this terminal right now... I feel like the first guest to arrive at a party... Nothin much happenin.

We had enough time to notice the flight had been cancelled and go back down and check in on another flight to Phily... Which we did... I drank latte's till I ran out of money.

The flight to DFW was packed but otherwise uneventful. I sat in a center seat next to another fat guy in the very back of the plane. He was from new Zealand. Funny how I look at people on the plane now... Hey he looks alittle suspicious... I wanted to check a few I.D.'s myself while sittin around. We watched part of the presidents speech in Dallas as we changed planes. Everyone at the gates was glued in silence to the t.v.. It was eerie. I didn't hear enough to really tell what the objectives would be but I'm sure I'll know soon enough.

My objective is to bring encouragement and reason to follow Christ and trust him with your life. And let him take your sorrows and show you through the pain. It's always been my objective, but maybe it's a little clearer today than ever. "I will fear no evil for thou art with me"

O.K. So there's THAT bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ On the Attack
September 18, 2001 Riverside CA
I've watched t.v. Non stop for a week now. Home this week because of a glitch in my schedule. I'm fighting a serious cold. I have felt sidelined and overwhelmed by the devastation in New York and Washington. I've only seen it on the news. Watching the unimaginable replayed over and over. I flew by the trade towers of NYC out of Newark to LAX, just two days before the attack. These events seem apocalyptic! Suddenly the concept of "biblical proportions" seems as believable to me as ever in my life.

Wow the possible reality of a one world government and the anti Christ coming to power. And mass destruction of world powers and their armies doesn't seem so much like science fiction.

I didn't realize until Tuesday how apathetic I'd become. How unmoved I've remained all these years watching one terrorist attack after another.

I've thought about why God allows evil in the world. I think maybe because pain is our only wake up call. Our own suffering seems to be the strongest motivating force in the world towards change.

I've been most moved by how quickly people, even political groups have dropped their own personal agendas and unified for the cause of recovery. And preferring others over ourselves has become a rediscovered truth to live by. It has to be a glimpse of the attitude that exists among the Saints and Angels in heaven.

To the thousands who've lost loved ones this week I'm reminded of my own lyrics written several years ago but amazingly appropriate..

"Finally caught me at a loss for words, I never thought I'd see the day... Can't imagine what you're goin thru, there's not a single thing to say... It wouldn't fix it anyway, but come what may my heart will stay faithful to you!"

I pledge again my humble service to God and others this day. Like so many of us in America this week I pray: Show me dear God what I can do to be of service.

bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Lose the TUTU
Sept 8,01 Scotch Plains, N.J. Evangel Church
Tonight was the best I've ever heard my music through the monitors. It makes a big difference when you can hear every instrument. It was a "four way sound system" ...not sure exactly what that means really. But man it sounded great. I sang everything I knew and a few songs I should go back and relearn.

This has been a regular gig for the last few years... A rare thing in my career. I play the same building with the same turn out for my fourth visit. The crowd is small but enthusiastic. Of course if this was a coffeehouse it would have been an overflow crowd.

The woman who catered the food for this event was a dance instructor "Ballet mostly" she says. "The ladies just love to dance to your music"... Hummm I can just picture a woman in satin slippers and a tutu now floating across the room doing scissor kicks to "I'd like to thank you for one thing". O.K. Now picture me doing that! ...yeew. The tutu's a little tight.

O.K. So there's that bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Latte's in Heaven
Friday Sept 7,01 Cleveland, Ohio Seekers Coffee House
This gig was as close to heaven as I've been in a long time. I'm assuming there will be Latte's in heaven. I've found my niche I think... Too bad it's so small. The place seats maybe 150 people, but it is a great vibe. And I can sell out two shows and turn folks away which makes me look terribly successful. This is another developing franchise like Jammin' Java... My other favorite gig.

It' is the intimacy of the coffeehouse that I like, and the sound doesn't bounce all over the room. It's more comfortable than a church setting.. And maybe my whole approach to music and conviction and faith fit better in here.

The best part is I get all the latte's I can drink. Well that's not the best part. The Best part is I get to sing two, hour and a half shows in a single night. After having the last two weeks off, man I'm so grateful for the chance to sing again.

O.k. So there's that bryan d

Copyright © 2000, 2001 All Rights Reserved, BryanD.com & Bryan Duncan