I was supposed to be aborted...
at least, that is what my Dad's Father wanted...
"I will give you all the money you need to either have that baby aborted (me) or move as far away from me and my son as possible." That's what he said.
I understand his difficulty...
Two young 17 year old teenagers in the backseat of a car at a Drive-In Movie. And ... well... suddenly I am in my Momma's tummy.
My Dad's Father was a prominent man (a leader in the Moose Lodge). He attended a Catholic Church ... and now... well, words can't begin to express the grief that I had caused.
The story goes on...
As my Mom sat on the steps of a trailer in South Phoenix, and she began to cry, "What do I do?!?! What can I do?!?!"
Suddenly... a voice came up and spoke in her heart: "Who is the Creator of Life?"
"Ummmm..." she answered, "You are... God?."
"Then who will be the One who is responsible for caring for that life....?"
My Mom answered, "You will?"
God answered. "Have this one, He is mine. He will be like Jesus ... and you will be like Mary."
Peace flooded her heart - and in that moment SHE KNEW: "I'm going to have this child!" She resolved the matter in her heart, right then and there.
And today... here I am!
I live a life that has done everything from helping the homeless to teaching the Bible - helping people to learn to hear God's voice and walk with Him - and how to experience the Kingdom of God and the presence of God for themselves. And also...
I sing for people who are suffering ... many in wheelchairs... many with dementia ... and many facing severe medical situations that are attempting to end their lives.
They call me "Tom the Music Man." I sing over 880 songs .... everything from Golden Oldies to the Beatles, Western, Hymns, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Show Tunes, Big Band, Love Songs, Old Rock & Roll, Broadway Hits, some Classical pieces, some R&B, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Johnny Matthis, Barbara Streisand ... and even some Hawaiian.
I do imitations and attempt to recreate the style as I sing and play... just me and my guitar.
I do "prayer therapy" mixed with "music therapy" (at least, that is what I call it), and I ask God "What songs would YOU have me sing right now?" and I listen with my heart, and then I play and sing them out loud.
Suddenly, I'll have a special song - or 4 or 5 come to my heart - and I will begin to play and sing ... and then...
People start to cry - some deeply touched, and others cry for joy - as they are filled with the loving memories of what the songs mean to them ...
They cry out things like: "How did you know those were the songs in my wedding?" "How did you know those were the songs my Dad used to sing to me when we went camping?" "How did you know those were the songs that were sung live to me and my men in World War II, and it was like getting cornbread from home - and the entire war turned around for us, right at THAT moment?"
You see... I have found: Music is the window to the soul. And God uses music, through me, to touch hearts with love and joy through great memories through music.
I have even had patients with heavy dementia, who haven't talked in weeks or months ... start talking again ... after their hearts came alive with the joy of a song and they start singing with me ... and then ... they were able to start talking again.
Now... during this season of voting in Arizona ... I realize there a lot of arguments and concerns about "abortion" on every side...
But I consider myself as a story as to why the baby's life is precious and represents the potential of what can happen when the baby's life is entrusted to God to become all that the Creator of Life intended to be expressed if given the chance.
All I can say is...
"Thank you for having me, Mom.
"Thank you for listening to the voice of God on that day -
Thank you for sparing me ... So I could let God touch lives through my life through music each day."
Some might say, "That's a miracle."
I just say, "That's my Daddy in Heaven touching hearts with His love through the music" as I let Him sing through me.
It is an honor and a privilege to be here.
at least, that is what my Dad's Father wanted...
"I will give you all the money you need to either have that baby aborted (me) or move as far away from me and my son as possible." That's what he said.
I understand his difficulty...
Two young 17 year old teenagers in the backseat of a car at a Drive-In Movie. And ... well... suddenly I am in my Momma's tummy.
My Dad's Father was a prominent man (a leader in the Moose Lodge). He attended a Catholic Church ... and now... well, words can't begin to express the grief that I had caused.
The story goes on...
As my Mom sat on the steps of a trailer in South Phoenix, and she began to cry, "What do I do?!?! What can I do?!?!"
Suddenly... a voice came up and spoke in her heart: "Who is the Creator of Life?"
"Ummmm..." she answered, "You are... God?."
"Then who will be the One who is responsible for caring for that life....?"
My Mom answered, "You will?"
God answered. "Have this one, He is mine. He will be like Jesus ... and you will be like Mary."
Peace flooded her heart - and in that moment SHE KNEW: "I'm going to have this child!" She resolved the matter in her heart, right then and there.
And today... here I am!
I live a life that has done everything from helping the homeless to teaching the Bible - helping people to learn to hear God's voice and walk with Him - and how to experience the Kingdom of God and the presence of God for themselves. And also...
I sing for people who are suffering ... many in wheelchairs... many with dementia ... and many facing severe medical situations that are attempting to end their lives.
They call me "Tom the Music Man." I sing over 880 songs .... everything from Golden Oldies to the Beatles, Western, Hymns, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Show Tunes, Big Band, Love Songs, Old Rock & Roll, Broadway Hits, some Classical pieces, some R&B, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Johnny Matthis, Barbara Streisand ... and even some Hawaiian.
I do imitations and attempt to recreate the style as I sing and play... just me and my guitar.
I do "prayer therapy" mixed with "music therapy" (at least, that is what I call it), and I ask God "What songs would YOU have me sing right now?" and I listen with my heart, and then I play and sing them out loud.
Suddenly, I'll have a special song - or 4 or 5 come to my heart - and I will begin to play and sing ... and then...
People start to cry - some deeply touched, and others cry for joy - as they are filled with the loving memories of what the songs mean to them ...
They cry out things like: "How did you know those were the songs in my wedding?" "How did you know those were the songs my Dad used to sing to me when we went camping?" "How did you know those were the songs that were sung live to me and my men in World War II, and it was like getting cornbread from home - and the entire war turned around for us, right at THAT moment?"
You see... I have found: Music is the window to the soul. And God uses music, through me, to touch hearts with love and joy through great memories through music.
I have even had patients with heavy dementia, who haven't talked in weeks or months ... start talking again ... after their hearts came alive with the joy of a song and they start singing with me ... and then ... they were able to start talking again.
Now... during this season of voting in Arizona ... I realize there a lot of arguments and concerns about "abortion" on every side...
But I consider myself as a story as to why the baby's life is precious and represents the potential of what can happen when the baby's life is entrusted to God to become all that the Creator of Life intended to be expressed if given the chance.
All I can say is...
"Thank you for having me, Mom.
"Thank you for listening to the voice of God on that day -
Thank you for sparing me ... So I could let God touch lives through my life through music each day."
Some might say, "That's a miracle."
I just say, "That's my Daddy in Heaven touching hearts with His love through the music" as I let Him sing through me.
It is an honor and a privilege to be here.
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