Saturday, October 25, 2008

I'm Listening Lord

I mentioned Gordon Jensen a few posts back. I can't get enough of his song, "I'm Listening Lord." The chorus goes:

The voice that tells me which way I should go
The voice that tells me, "left or right, yes or no"
The still small voice that whispers peace to my soul
The voice that calmly assures me I'm one of his own

Man, to me it just doesn't get any better than that. Sometimes I think that I'm the only one going through anything. How wrong I am at those times. I know so many that have struggles. I was talking to June, a friend I've known for a very long time. As we sat and discussed so many things, I realized, we all are in the same boat! We all need to say, "I'm listening Lord!"

If we ever get to a place that we think we've made it and can do it on our own, we are in for some deep trouble. More than ever, I know that I need to listen to his voice. There's so much noise around us. TV's, stereos, cars, traffic, other people's opinions, ad infinitum. But, it's God's "still small voice" that needs to get through. I hope I never get too busy that I drown out that voice. I need him too much! I remember like yesterday when I knelt by my bed at sixteen years of age and gave my life to the Lord. I listened! Lord, please remind me, I need your voice. He loves us. Until soon, may you be filled with his presence!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Palin In Person


It was great to attend the rally in Troy Ohio. Sarah Palin had many great things to say. So, obviously you know where I stand on political views. It was a packed house and it was filled with enthusiasm. The weather coopereated even though it was bit chilly but sunny. I'm glad the rally was yesterday and not today as its been pouring rain all day today.

Sarah then went onto Pennsylvania. Later last night I watched her on Fox News being interviewed by Sean Hannity. She had on the same attire with the cute polar bear pin! The election will be interesting. We need to earnestly pray for this nation. We have so many things that needs worked on. Well, at any rate, what a great time to hear a lot of people cheering on Governor Palin. Be well all.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Gordon Jensen


I'd thought he'd literally fell off the radar. Gordon Jensen has a long musical career of writing and singing many songs that you may know. "Redemption Draweth Nigh" and "I Should Have Been Crucified" are two that immediately comes to mind. I became a believer in 1973. One of my earliest influences in gospel music was that of Gordon Jensen. And..."Redemption Draweth Nigh" was the first song I think I heard him sing. I got to know Gordon through the years. I aired his music, interviewed him and was able just to have some great one-on-one times with him in conversation.

My brother Terry and I reminisce over a couple of our favorites: "Small Wooden Bridge" and "Bring Back The New Again." When I moved to Rockford Illinois in the late eighties his current album was "Tuesdays and Thursdays." After that, it seemed to me, that Gordon just left the planet. Not so. I found his new website and realized he took a low profile for awhile. He still sings and ministers. I'm so glad he does. He's a remarkable man, likable and humble. The latter is what strikes me so much. He isn't caught up in his own importance. Also, some of his old recordings are now on CD. Which makes me very happy.

Today, I was able to spend about an hour on the phone with Gordon talking about the old days, what he's doing now, radio stuff, Nashville, etc. He's still the same down to earth guy as he's always been. He still travels and ministers and that makes me very glad indeed.

It seems these days we have all the high-tech music and gadgets. But, I can put on one of Gordon's older releases and still catch the "wind of the Spirit" once again. It was nice catching up with someone that I have a deep respect for in the music ministry. Have a good day everyone.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Making Records


There's a saying that is used from time to time for various things. One of those would be, "I love music more than the air that I breathe!" Well, in a hyperbolic sense, maybe. Technically, we cannot live without air but you get the drift. I could say that statement about music.

Today, I had the idea to go to the bookstore. I called Rosemary and we headed off to one of my favorite bookstores at the edge of town. I was actually looking for a book on dinosaurs for a friend. However, the other day I got to thinking that it would be great if someone wrote a book about the inside workings of a recording studio, the engineering and the whole genesis of putting a musical release together. Well, Rosemary found the book on dinosaurs almost immediately for me. As usual, the heading, MUSIC over the shelf of books drew me its way. It only took me a few seconds and I spotted this book by Phil Ramone, "Making Records." Well, it took me a nanosecond to make the decision to buy the book.

My love for music came at a very early age. My earliest influences were the Beatles, Elvis, Johnny Cash and the Monkees. Quite a hodgepodge indeed! I remember the very first 45 rpm I ever bought. Yes, children, there were things called vinyl records or lps! (Okay, most of you that read this are in my age group, but I couldn't help but throw that in at no charge!) Mom took me to the local music shop in town that sold and rented musical instruments, many to high school students. Back then, in the sixties, we didn't have the major outlets we have now. I plunked down my dollar and some change and picked up, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas. I wore that out. Back then, with vinyl you could literally "wear" a recording out. Now with CD's, it's a different story.

My first 33 1/3 LP was "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John. My collecting began. (I know in a previous post I said I never collected anything. Well, I stand corrected, I guess I did.) My collection grew and grew. Along comes the mid-eighties and the rollout of the CD format comes of age. I didn't actually purchase a CD player until 1989 or 1990. Bill, a fellow radio announcer talked me into buying one of those 99 dollar Sharp CD players. I couldn't resist, it had to be done.

The very first CD I ever popped into my new CD player was Christian artist Al Denson's first release. He had sent me an autographed copy of his new recording. Al asked me a big favor that he'd be honored if his CD was the first one I played in my new home CD player. I did! Side note: Al told me some years later that he was nervous when I interviewed him for I was the first radio announcer to interview him when he signed with Benson! What a treat. I know you are waiting with bated breath to find out what my first CD purchase was. Oh, c'mon, you know you can't wait. Ha. It was "Holm, Sheppard & Johnson: Soldiers Again." And so goes the show fellow babies! (Sorry, been watching too much WKRP lately.)

As a kid, music was a very big escape for me from a world that seemed in disarray. Later, dating girls was my major deal...but I still had the tunes along! I chose broadcasting as a career. The choice was pretty easy. I understood music theory but had no talent to sing or play. I tried drums but had no rhythm. So, the next best thing was to get paid for playing music! My first station was in Toledo Ohio in the late seventies. I cut my teeth on Janny Grein, David Meece, Don Francisco, Steve Archer, Chuck Girard, Barry McGuire, and so many more.

While in radio I was fortunate to go to Nashville many times. Tony and Paul from Benson showed me around the studios. (Benson was a forerunner in CCM before they were bought out.) They took me into a recording session. The rhythm tracks had been laid already for this particular CCM artist. The string session players were doing the overdubs and I was just taking it all in. I was in seventh heaven. (If there is such a thing!)

Well, that's a short synopsis for you. I can't wait to dig into this book. I also picked up Max Lucado's "Traveling Light." Hmm...which do I read first? I think my previous paragraphs makes that clear. On a closing note, musicians have always been my biggest heroes it seems. My biggest fantasy has always been to be a lead guitar player in a rock band. The closest I ever got to that was playing my air guitar. However, you don't want to see that, it's not a pretty sight. Ha. Until later, may the peace of Christ be with you all.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WKRP In Cincinnati


While browsing at the local Wallyworld a week or so ago, I came across the first season of "WKRP In Cincinnati." For the great price and all of the first year, it was one of those purchases I had to pick up. The show went on the air right about the time I made my own "real" stint in radio in the late seventies. The show brought back some good memories. I think the ensemble cast was absolutely great. Each character had their own style and substance. It would be hard for me to nail down my favorites for I liked them all. However, I really liked Gary Sandy as Andy Travis, Tim Reid as Venus Flytrap and my all time fav was Jan Smithers as Baily Quarters. Actually, being a young guy at the time I had a crush on Jan. I think she loves me, but she just doesn't know it yet! Grin.

There were some memorable episodes. When Carlson thought turkeys could fly was one of them. Another one was where Carlson was putting cocaine on his feet because he was told it was foot powder. Later, he started banging his foot on the floor when he found out it was real "coke" and yelled at Travis saying, "I've lost the feeling in my foot, oh no, I have a monkey on my foot!" That was way too funny.

Obviously some of the things that happened on the show could have resembled real radio stations. Some, well, couldn't be. It's easy to find the goofs in a show. But, I couldn't help but love it anyway. For those of you who watched the show, did you notice that it seemed the stylus was always on track one of the albums! Like, the first cut of the LP was the one always being played. Then, they didn't use headphones while "live" with the mic open. What about feedback? Plus, their phone was on a wall across the studio! But, you couldn't help but like the show anyway.

Bailey

Plus, some characters did resemble some radio people I worked with through the years. I had some general sales managers that seemed to know-it-all like Herb did. I worked with a few male news directors through the years that were extremely uptight by nature like Les, and I did have a station manager that was like Carlson. The only difference was Carlson was likable although he didn't know what was going on. One GM I had was clueless like Carlson but he was a micro-manager that was more worried about the temperature of a studio than what our Arbitron ratings were doing. Sad but true. I don't like speaking ill of anyone but that one GM was out in left field. Just my humble opinion. In the Lord, I have no bad feelings about this man, I just felt he didn't belong in radio as he had no previous experience.

Finally, about the closing theme song. This quote comes from Wikipedia: The closing theme, "WKRP In Cincinnati End Credits", was a hard rock number composed and performed by Jim Ellis, an Atlanta musician who recorded some of the incidental music for the show. According to people who attended the recording sessions, Ellis didn't yet have lyrics for the closing theme, so he sang nonsense words to give an idea of how it would sound. Wilson decided it would be funny to use lyrics that were deliberately gibberish, as a satire on the incomprehensibility of many rock songs. (End Quote)

All along I thought he was singing real words and I just didn't understand them! All in all, it was a great show. Too bad they don't make them liked they used to. I've watched the whole season one now I can't wait for season two to be released. Below, listen to the closing theme. Be well all.

WKRP Ending Theme

Sunday, October 12, 2008

America's Crossroads


You would do yourself a service by reading The Seventh Sola. He writes about The Final Question. It seems so many want to keep their heads buried in the sand. This country is going to pieces bit by bit. But, we keep hearing the commercials, "Get it now", "You're looking smarter than ever", "Save money, live better", "Zero percent down, twenty years to pay" (okay, that was a hyperbole), etc. It's even fallen into the church. Remember, Old Nero fiddled while Rome burned. I could go on about the "real" historical reason why he did, but I thought the comment added some icing right about there.

Even in the worst of times, we have had it so good. Even the poorest person in this country has lived better than most of the world. Remember God said that if you sow to the wind, you'll reap the whirlwind! And so goes the show. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows that he shall also reap. God deals with man individually but also, he deals with a nation corporately!

Now, we have the government bailing out the greedy men of Wall Street. To add insult to injury, we have government wanting control of the banks. Does this have a ring of government takeover? Plus, the everyday taxpayer has to pay for the greed of the dudes in the Brooks Brothers suits who made some really bad decisions. Did the bailout help? No. The stocks keep dropping. At least of today's date And so goes the show.

We wanted the piper to play. But, in the end the piper will demand more than his fair share for his music. Nero fiddled and Rome burned. My brother Terry and I were saved in the early seventies. I remember him telling me over and over that he never thought that we'd see the year 2000. He really thought that the Lord would have came back by then. So did I. But, now, I can see without myopic view why its had to take so long. We are also fighting a battle overseas that will eventually lead to our shores. The trojan horse is here.

Regardless of who wins the election, God's Corporate Will must be unveiled. And it will. America has been asleep for too long. I entitled this post, "America's Crossroads." By some I'll be waved off as another alarmist. That's okay. Those who ignore the Word can't possibly have any divine revelation. Do I like this? Rhetorical. No, I don't. I see dark days ahead. The good news is that those of us who know the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are on the brink of seeing him face to face. I used to be pre-trib but I've dropped that idea. I only pray that the Body of Christ will be raptured before the great and terrible Day of the Lord happens. He really is all we can count on. Even so, Lord Jesus, Come quickly.

America's Crossroads


You would do yourself a service by reading The Seventh Sola. He writes about The Final Question. It seems so many want to keep their heads buried in the sand. This country is going to pieces bit by bit. But, we keep hearing the commercials, "Get it now", "You're looking smarter than ever", "Save money, live better", "Zero percent down, twenty years to pay" (okay, that was a hyperbole), etc. It's even fallen into the church. Remember, Old Nero fiddled while Rome burned. I could go on about the "real" historical reason why he did, but I thought the comment added some icing right about there.

Even in the worst of times, we have had it so good. Even the poorest person in this country has lived better than most of the world. Remember God said that if you sow to the wind, you'll reap the whirlwind! And so goes the show. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows that he shall also reap. God deals with man individually but also, he deals with a nation corporately!

Now, we have the government bailing out the greedy men of Wall Street. To add insult to injury, we have government wanting control of the banks. Does this have a ring of government takeover? Plus, the everyday taxpayer has to pay for the greed of the dudes in the Brooks Brothers suits who made some really bad decisions. Did the bailout help? No. The stocks keep dropping. At least of today's date And so goes the show.

We wanted the piper to play. But, in the end the piper will demand more than his fair share for his music. Nero fiddled and Rome burned. My brother Terry and I were saved in the early seventies. I remember him telling me over and over that he never thought that we'd see the year 2000. He really thought that the Lord would have came back by then. So did I. But, now, I can see without myopic view why its had to take so long. We are also fighting a battle overseas that will eventually lead to our shores. The trojan horse is here.

Regardless of who wins the election, God's Corporate Will must be unveiled. And it will. America has been asleep for too long. I entitled this post, "America's Crossroads." By some I'll be waved off as another alarmist. That's okay. Those who ignore the Word can't possibly have any divine revelation. Do I like this? Rhetorical. No, I don't. I see dark days ahead. The good news is that those of us who know the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are on the brink of seeing him face to face. I used to be pre-trib but I've dropped that idea. I only pray that the Body of Christ will be raptured before the great and terrible Day of the Lord happens. He really is all we can count on. Even so, Lord Jesus, Come quickly.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Was It A Debate?



My friend Joel hit it on the head with his post about the debate last night with Obama and McCain. What Debate? Really, neither side convinced me of anything.

I may have many who may disagree with me on the following comments. That's quite okay. I don't follow the crowd anyway. But to begin with, vote! I've always felt that if a person doesn't vote they have no right to rant on the things they don't like about an administration. They had their chance. I still believe that as Americans we should vote according to the conscience that God has given us. With that being said, I really think that whoever wins won't change a lot in this country. I know that sounds very negative.

It was back in around 1980 when I heard Lester Roloff say in a church service I attended that he thought the USA was so far gone and in a whirlpool that it couldn't find its way out. Now, this man of God was speaking on the subject twenty-eight years ago. He couldn't be more right. Even more so today. Sure, I want the best for this country. I just believe that the end times are upon us. No party will save us. They all promise grandiose things. How many of those things come to fruition?

Plus, did this "bailout" accomplish anything? It seems every day taxpayers have to shell out the bucks for the greedy men on Wall Street who sold out America. Don't misread what I've spoken about. I still pray for this country. We are told to do so according to the Word. The Lord though will have his way. Regardless of who is elected, God's corporate Will must be accomplished. I do see dark days ahead. I believe we should pray more and more for our country. Also we need to pray for those who don't yet know our Lord.

There are so many bad things that are happening. If there's any good news it's that God is still in control. We have him in our lives. Those of us who have placed our trust in his provision for us on the Cross. Really, with everything that is going on I sense the his coming could be closer than we think. So when bad times hit, remember, we still serve a God who loves, protects and will guide us. For that I am thankful. Let's pray for our leaders. Let's also pray for those who still need to come to the Cross of Christ. Be well.

Was It A Debate?



My friend Joel hit it on the head with his post about the debate last night with Obama and McCain. What Debate? Really, neither side convinced me of anything.

I may have many who may disagree with me on the following comments. That's quite okay. I don't follow the crowd anyway. But to begin with, vote! I've always felt that if a person doesn't vote they have no right to rant on the things they don't like about an administration. They had their chance. I still believe that as Americans we should vote according to the conscience that God has given us. With that being said, I really think that whoever wins won't change a lot in this country. I know that sounds very negative.

It was back in around 1980 when I heard Lester Roloff say in a church service I attended that he thought the USA was so far gone and in a whirlpool that it couldn't find its way out. Now, this man of God was speaking on the subject twenty-eight years ago. He couldn't be more right. Even more so today. Sure, I want the best for this country. I just believe that the end times are upon us. No party will save us. They all promise grandiose things. How many of those things come to fruition?

Plus, did this "bailout" accomplish anything? It seems every day taxpayers have to shell out the bucks for the greedy men on Wall Street who sold out America. Don't misread what I've spoken about. I still pray for this country. We are told to do so according to the Word. The Lord though will have his way. Regardless of who is elected, God's corporate Will must be accomplished. I do see dark days ahead. I believe we should pray more and more for our country. Also we need to pray for those who don't yet know our Lord.

There are so many bad things that are happening. If there's any good news it's that God is still in control. We have him in our lives. Those of us who have placed our trust in his provision for us on the Cross. Really, with everything that is going on I sense the his coming could be closer than we think. So when bad times hit, remember, we still serve a God who loves, protects and will guide us. For that I am thankful. Let's pray for our leaders. Let's also pray for those who still need to come to the Cross of Christ. Be well.

Monday, October 6, 2008

O.J. Again?


There's an old adage that says, "The wheels of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small." Prefacing my next statement: "All" of us in life have to live out consequences of all of our actions. Even though O.J.'s new case doesn't stem from his 1995 debacle, it just goes to show how demented individuals can become. However, I do believe that God can still take something different in a person's life to teach an old lesson that needed to be learned.

God is not mocked. Never! It may seem that people get by with things in this life. And...at times they do! Some will not answer for the life that they have lived until the Great White Throne Judgement. Others though will get a taste of it here and later. For the few who read my blog, you know that I speak a lot about the great love of God. True, the love of God surpasses our understanding. However, we cannot forget that God is also a God of justice, he is angry with the wicked and apart from Christ, his fury will be unleashed. See Psalm Two. I take no pleasure when sinners fall. "We" all were dead in trespasses and sin when Christ rescued us.

There's two types of deception. One: Deception. Two: Self Deception. I think that the latter is the harder one to deal with. If someone deceives you, you may think, "Man, that person deceived me!" However, "self-deception" is a more insidious thing to get over. When we deceive ourselves, we don't know it's going on! We think we are fine. It's as if we look in a mirror and see nothing wrong. It's when we peel back the layers and find out that we have deceived ourselves and then the revelation happens.

In O.J.'s case, self-deception is truly at work, at least in my estimation. He is only one of millions that will deceive themselves in this life. How many will end up losing their life in eternity because they were blinded? Far too many. After all, "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Our world is headed for a major deception as the end of time draws upon us. I would hope that believers will pray to know wisdom in this time. I know it's what I pray for. O.J.'s scenario is just one of many to name a few. We don't have to look very far do we? Wall Street's meltdown, Enron, and others should remind us that we truly are in a deceptive world. What do we do? I know this much: The Word of God is true. I personally believe that if we keep our noses in the Book and pray for wisdom we can weather the storm of deception that is taking hold on our nation. God takes no pleasure in a deceived heart. It would be easy for people to say, "Well, that person got what they deserved." I find it hard to say that. For after all, I'm sure glad that I didn't get what I deserved in life. Christ died for me so I don't have to reap the whirlwind. May the peace of Christ be with you all.