A Weekend of Blessings…….

8 years, 10 months ago 9

 

 

Every time I go out to teach or share, I hope that God uses me as a blessing to those I meet.  I hope His love, His grace, His care and concern comes through whatever I share.  I don’t do this because I want to draw attention to myself, I do it because I want all attention turned to Him!!  There is a great reward to putting Him first, it allows Him to bless me too!!!

 

At my talk for Fuji at Dury’s I met a man I’ve long been a fan of,  and didn’t even know it!!!!  Tommy Coomes has been responsible for much of the music that I have enjoyed and worshipped God to for many years!  Here is little information about Tommy;

 

 

He was a pioneer of contemporary Christian music in the 70’s as a member of Love Song, and was the Creative Director at Maranatha! Music in the 80’s and 90’s, producing or executive producing several hundred recordings. Tommy has devoted his life to ministry since 1970: leading the music teams for Franklin Graham, Billy Graham, Promise Keepers, Greg Laurie, and Chosen Women, as well as developing and hosting seminars to train and equip the church in the use of music for worship and evangelism. Tommy is a singer, songwriter, producer, performer and worship leader. He and his wife Shelley live in Nashville, Tennessee (Music City).

 

The Tommy Coomes Band is a team of 12 professional artists, songwriters, arrangers and producers formed to facilitate new forms of worship and evangelism. They have recorded 12 CD’s on Maranatha! Music, Integrity Music and their own label, and have ministered in over 28 countries on 6 continents with Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Promise Keepers, Chosen Women, and Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusades.

 

In their careers they have worked with artists such as Kirk Franklin, Andrae Crouch, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Israel Houghton, Donna Summer, Michael W. Smith, Don Moen, Paul Baloche, Tommy Walker and many, many others.

 

Several of their members serve as worship leaders in their local churches and they all love to share their experience and knowledge by conducting seminars to encourage, train and equip church leaders and musicians.

 

So this man, (Tommy), walks up and hands me his card and some of his CDs, which by-the-way I’ve been wearing out driving home from Nashville and worshipping with like crazy!  Tommy is not only an exceptional musician, singer and musical artist, he is also a warm and sincere believer and now brother in Christ.  I was so blessed to meet him, and was happy to have him in our class at Dury’s!!!

 

Tommy is good friends with Phil Keagy and Ricky Skaggs so I see a great trio of believers fellowshipping on future trips to Nashville!  You can learn more about Tommy and buy his CD’s (and they are wonderful I love them all but was so blessed by My Savior’s Love! ) at:

 

 

http://tommycoomesband.com/the-band/

 

Then there was the great folks that attended my programs and the fellowship with Jackie Hillyer and Cy Franks of Fuji, and of course Ron and the great crew at Dury’s!!!  We really had a great time and I sure enjoyed sharing my love of the Fuji X-System with the good folks that attended the two classes Saturday!!!  Wow, was the response to the new Fuji X-T10 great!

 

Then of course I made it home safely last night, (thank you Lord), got to go to early church with Sherelene before she headed out to the clinic, and heard a great Father’s Day sermon from my Pastor Weyman!  …… and today I will go to see Jurassic World with Catherine and Clint, Cassidy and Cade as their Father’s Day gift to me!!  How blessed could a man be.

 

I’m headed to the Smokies tomorrow to do some scouting for a future workshop, have some great Bar-B-Q with Sherelene and then get ready to fly Wednesday at O:Dark Thirty to Portland for the Oregon Coast workshop with Jack Graham. Blessed????  You bet!!  Please pray for extra special energy for me!!!

 

 

Blessings to you, and Happy Father’s Day!

 

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

 

9 Responses

  1. Mike Early says:

    Praying for the extra special energy you need given your very busy schedule! And please remember that God also expects that you will use your God-given common sense to not overdo too much 🙂

  2. Bill Fortney says:

    I’m trying to find my common sense, seem to have misplaced it!! Thanks Mike!

    • If common sense truly was common:
      Wal-Mart would sell it.
      Target would have an upscale version.
      Smart people would find it at Dollar Tree.
      And some would need to buy the giant economy size at Sam’s Club or Costco!

  3. Bill

    I have followed you for quite some time and admire all that do and write about. Today reading your blog I am reminded once again and amazed just how small this world really is. You mentioned Phil Keagy in this post and I remember him from the days of Glass Harp. More of a local band from the 70’s and has a very large following in my neck of the woods even today, amazing musician.

    Hope someday to join you on one of your workshops, just haven’t been able to do it yet. Keep up the good work and keep spreading the good word.

    Jeff

  4. Rodney McKnight says:

    I enjoyed reading about Tommy Coomes. I have a lot of the Maranatha music and it is among my favorite. I’ll pray for extra energy for you this week…and that He bestows more blessings on you as you head out west again.

    Rodney

  5. Tommy Coomes says:

    Hey Bill,

    I’ve been in Japan for a few weeks and just saw your text and then saw your VERY Kind comments and write up. It IS all about the wonder and mystery and discovery that God has for us and YOU were a very big blessing to me – a humble musician trying to learn how to shoot good photos. I love your heart and your stories.

    Trying to apply your comments about perspective – get low or get high but get a unique view and get tight! Shooting like crazy with my X-T1 at our seminars here in Tokyo.

    Franklin Graham is doing a large event here at the Budokan in November. We are advancing that event with Gospel Music Seminars, Worship Seminars and concerts.

    Man, the Fuji Dept. at the camera stores here is like Disneyland!

    Best from Japan my friend!