Greetings! You’re now reading this thing that has been in gestation throughout most of the Pandemic.
But, why “Thumper?” As I considered what sorts of writing would be done here, from criticism to humor, from religion to politics, and with a heaping helping of music and sports thrown in for good measure, it just seemed like this would a good overall name. It barely beat out “Father McKenzie,” which lost by a hair’s width.
Good rock and roll is made with a thunderous backbeat by a drummer who can really thump his kit. You always want a Thumper as your drummer.
The Pandemic has stripped away a lot of social veneer, revealing a few unhealthy attitudes along with the people who hold them, and they deserve a good thumping. So we’ll see about that.
I’m someone whose trade requires a fair amount of biblical awareness, especially when it comes to those stories that reveal this fella named Joshua, or as we know him, Jesus. Among the many amazing things he did and taught, he found opportunities to bring a good thumping to those who needed it, the religious leaders of his time. So when Jesus says, “follow me,” among other things, he leaves the door open to offering similar thumpings as the opportunities present themselves.
I grew up in Texas, back in the day when there were only two recognizable sports: Football and Spring Football Practice. When a team–let’s say for example, the Amarillo Sandies–takes the field against a rival like the Palo Duro Dons, and runs up a 63-3 score like they did in 2019, we’d say that was a good ol’ Texas thumpin’.
Sometimes a verbal thumpin’ is called for, as in the most recent exhibition of sheer idiocy by the Texas Rangers when they allowed a full stadium of people to gather and watch their baseball game. We’re trying to get the virus tamed, making some good inroads, and they put on a real super-spreader. That deserves a thumpin’ of some sort.
I mentioned earlier that “Father McKenzie” nearly made it as the name of this site. It’s because I sometimes find myself in his study, “writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear.” I’ve never had to fill in anyone’s grave like he did in that song, however. So there’s that.
I toyed with “Outlaw Thumper” after watching a few Waylon Jennings videos. “Outlaw Country” was a life-giving force in the Texas of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Waylon, Willie and the boys were refugees from Nashville and its ossified country sound. They came to Texas, teamed up with the likes of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zant, Jerry Jeff, Gary P. Nunn, Emmylou Harris, Jessi Colter, Sammi Smith, Augie Meyers, Johnny Rodriguez, Flaco Jimenez–and what the hey–let’s throw Kinky Friedman and his Texas Jewboys into the mix. They all brought a rawer, more powerful sound to country music at the time it was most needed. Kinky brought an in-your-face/laugh-out-loud humor to his stage shows. My own favorite songs of his are, “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “The Ballad of Charles Whitman.” You might say all those men and women gave the Nashville Sound the thumping it deserved.
But I’m no outlaw. I’m more orthodox than I’d want to admit. I’m a Trinitarian Christian who thinks the Greek Church got it right when they insisted that the Nicene Creed was flawed in naming the Holy Spirit as being lesser than and proceeding from the Father and the Son. That argument goes back about 1700 years to the 300’s of our Common Era.
The Large Catechism and Small Catechism of Martin Luther are two of my go-to references in theological percolation. I keep finding myself preaching law-gospel sermons, and I like using a pulpit when I do. I figure that someone went to a lot of time and trouble to make that furniture, the least we can do is use it.
I love all manner of music, but when it comes down to it, there’s nothing better than a three-piece rockabilly band tapping into the primal roots of rock music.
And I’ll pop a major vein the day the University of Texas football team takes the field wearing some new, Phil Knight-designed uniform. The day they do that, someone’s gonna get a big thumpin’.
Welcome to Thumper! Off we go!
Thumper 