Thursday, May 28, 2009

Good Bye, Tis ...

Wayman Lawrence Tisdale (June 9, 1964 – May 15, 2009) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association and a smooth jazz bass guitarist and a member of the Oklahoma Tourism Board. Tisdale and his wife Regina had four children.

Actually, I was reading a poem written for Wayman on Kirk Whalum’s web site, called “Life On Fast Forward” when I got the impression that Wayman had gone home, to play with The Band of Angels. In fact, I can’t wait to see all the Jazz musicians who are also believers, including Kirk Whalum, George Duke, Paul Jackson, Jr., Jonathan Butler, Lalah Hathaway, Take 6, Patti Austin, to name just a few. There are going to be major jam sessions in the Heavenlies, to be sure. I can’t wait for that day!

But in the meantime, I only heard of Wayman Tisdale maybe a couple of years ago. He was covering old hits, like Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down On It”, and Earth Wind and Fire’s “Can’t Hide Love.” I immediately liked his style. It was exuberant and full of fun and life. Just about anything he played sounded like that. It didn’t hurt that he played lead bass guitar, which is one of my favorite instruments, especially the six-string variety. I think of John Pattitucci as one of the frontrunners in lead six-string bass, while Stanley Clarke is the grandfather of lead bass.

Wayman was right up there with the best. And although I never saw him in concert, I read a lot about him. I noticed he did a Jazz Cruise every year, and he featured a lot of artists who are Christians. So, not only was he a good bass player, but he loved and worshipped his God. Now I can’t think of a better combination than that!

I still like listening to his music, and once I go home, I’m going to make it a point to talk to this brother. People who share my infectious sense of humor, and live life to the fullest, with humor, wit and grace, are my kind of people. Doesn’t hurt that he was/is a great musician, and of course, a fellow follower of Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Carry on, Tis!

7 comments:

Ruth said...

A nice tribute CTI...
God bless you..

Roger said...

Hey Chas. - Do you know the difference between a religious man and a spiritual man? A religious man believes in Hell. . .and a spiritual man has been there.

Chas. Funderburg said...

Hey Roger:

A religious man is one who devises his own path to God. He believes that his rules apply as opposed to God's.

A spiritual man believes that there are supernatural beings out there and that he worships one or more of them (including himself).

A person who has a relationship with God, knows that they can't do a thing to earn God's good graces. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) They must appropriate Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the payment for our sins by faith, and not anything they can do.

"For it is by [unmerited favor] you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9).

A gift does you no good unless you receive it.

They also make Him the Lord of their lives, relinquishing their control.

Hell is eternal death, apart from the presence of God. If you have no relationship with God in this life, you will have no relationship with Him for eternity. Since He is life, you will experience a lack of life and torment forever.

A wise man makes the decision in this life to be reconciled with his God.

Blessings,
Chas

Ruth said...

Your explanation of "religous" vs "spiritual" was awesome. Great job.

I just thought I would check if you had written anything here lately and you haven't on the blog but the comments are alive! ;-)

R

P.S. Please write more on the blog! Facebook is just not a journaling type of place. You are a great writer...keep up the good work.

Chas. Funderburg said...

Ruth: Hey, thanks for the encouragement. Friends like you (whom I have known for...well a long time) are priceless treasures. I know this comes almost three years later, but I've been visiting my blog lately, and I just noticed your last comments.

God bless, Mrs. Maki!

Ruth said...

So funny you noticed three years later ;-) As they say..." better late than never!" I will be looking for more words of wisdom here! Get to work!

Chas. Funderburg said...

Ruth: I am...as you can see from my blog, lately. You might be interested in my latest post, "The Christmas Prophet."

CTI
{ B-\ }