25 Random Things

This has been passed around and I thought I would use it for my post today. It basically deals with "25 random things about me." And it's supposed to be written randomly and not in any chronological order. Well, you heard the phrase, "it's all about me." I guess today, it is! haha. I read some pretty interesting things from other bloggers. So, here goes.

Random Things About Me (this is totally off the cuff!)

1. I am a huge Peter Strauss fan. Ever since I saw him in "Rich Man, Poor Man" in 1976 I have been enthralled with his acting.

2. I have a love for maps. I can sit and look at a world atlas and eat it up. I like looking at how far it takes to get from one place to another and so forth.

3. I chuckled at Cindy's comment on not wanting to be in a hardware store. I have the same feeling about being in a fabrics/crafts store. Oh, the pain, the pain.

4. My favorite novels of all time are "Rich Man Poor Man" and "Beggarman Thief" (the sequel) both written by Irwin Shaw.

5. Cannot stand winters. I am definitely in the wrong state. We just got hammered with a lot of snow. I am like a bear, I can definitely hibernate inside during this time of year.

6. I love to travel. I've been all over the US and fortunate to go to Germany twice! Nurnberg is a geat historic site.

7. I don't like clowns. I don't like circuses either. There's a troubling aspect for me with the clown thing.

8. Even though it is cheap, my favorite cologne is "Aspen." However, if I am around anyone that has too much of a fragrance on, it gives me a headache.

9. My favorite foods are chili, steak, potatoes, vegetables and fruits. I don't like cassaroles of any kind at all. I get sick even thinking about it.

10. I love all kinds of music except for rap. The only exception might be "DC Talk" if they use a lot of melody in a song.

11. Other than the aforementioned novels that were written in the seventies, I don't care for novels. I would rather watch a good movie over a novel. I prefer non-fiction books and love biographies.

12. I was born a blonde. I had long curly locks of hair. Well, it turned dark. I keep my hair short. If it gets longer it tends to become wavy. I like straight hair.

13. I have many things that I wish I could do but don't have the talent for. The biggest one is being a singer or musician. Thankfully, my speaking voice held up and I got paid to play music. Most of my heroes have been musicians.

14. I'm very fond of aviation. I'm always in awe of a plane in flight. When I do travel, half the fun is flying. However, now with all the security some of the fun has been taken out of it.

15. I enjoy movies that deal with politics. "Breach", "In The Life Of Fire", "Dave", "The Sentinel" and others are big favorites of mine.

16. I love the smell of wood burning. When I was in the fifth grade, we were going outside for recess and some home nearby had a wood burning stove going. It was sunny that day and I felt so alive. To this day, that is my favorite smell.

17. One of my all time favorite states is Texas. I really like warm weather and I can take the heat better than the cold. Plus, I visited my friend Roland there a few years back when he lived outside of Dallas. What a great time.

18. I'm left-handed. They say that there are ten to fifteen percent of people who are. It is a disadvantage. Everything seems to be made for right-handers. When I was in school I had to make sure I took my ball glove for recess. Many kids would borrow other friend's gloves. However, there aren't that many lefties and that kind of left me out. My grandfather on my father's side was left-handed as well.

19. I favor Coke over Pepsi. However, I drink Pepsi. For some reason if I drink too much Coke, it causes pain. The Pepsi doesn't. Go figure.

20. The very first 45rpm (or any music) I ever bought was "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas. I think I was ten years old.

21. The very first CD I ever bought was in 1989 and it was "Holm, Sheppard and Johnson."

22. My favorite types of cars are the BMW and Mercedes. Also, I really like the old classic Mustangs. You could say I have a steak taste on a hamburger budget!

23. I don't like board games. The only board game I do like is Chess. I'm not good at it, but I do like the game itself. Plus, I don't play video games. I'm terrible at them. It's awful when ten year olds can beat me at them!

24. My favorite colors are hunter green and navy blue.

25. I really like the History Channel, Discovery and Biography channels.

Well, that's it! Be well all.

Background Vocalists

There's a very old song written by G.T. Haywood that goes:

I see a crimson stream of blood, It flows from Calvary, Its waves which reach the throne of God, are sweeping over me.




My favorite version of this song "I See A Crimson Stream" had background vocalists Judy Rodman and Ellen Dockery. It was recorded around 1983. This happens to be my all-time favorite gospel song. I did some checking and found out that Judy Rodman has a list of credits so long it's incredible. She's recorded jingles, sang background for so many artists it would be difficult to name them all, and also does a great biz as a vocal coach!

I admit I'm a huge fanatic (in a good way, grin) about reading liner notes in CD's. Even before radio was a career for me, I always read the back of album jackets at who produced the record, who sang harmony, who was the backing vocalists and the musicians that played on the recording. I feel too many times that the background vocalists and musicians don't get their fair share of the credit. When you listen to your favorite artist, think about all that goes into a recording. Everything has to be right. Everything from the producer, arranger, engineer, bgv's, musicians, and more. So, today, I just wanted to honor those that have done a great job at making projects soar! If I remember right, "First Call" got their name because they were originally session artists that would get the "first call" to come in and record. By the way, Marty McCall is a great guy.

Judy Rodman and I chatted about how great her vocals were when she sang chorus on my favorite gospel song. She has one incredible voice. So, hats off to the unsung heroes (well, they did sing, uh...I'm sounding like Hank Kimball from Green Acres now). Hats off to those behind the scenes in the recording industry. Also, those in radio behind the scenes deserve credit too. Those who sell ads for the station, that do the billing, keep the engineering up to date and so much more! Have a great day everyone!

Here's a sample of Judy's MTM days with her number one single "Until I Met You"

90 Minutes In Heaven

This book was recommended to me. It didn't take very long to read. Really, I didn't want to read it at first. Maybe because I am not given to extremes it caused me to shy away from this book. I consider myself evangelical, moderately Calvinistic and have leanings to the Baptist faith. Don Piper, the author himself, is a Southern Baptist. So, I thought I'd give it a shot. I think too, that the TV guys on TBN many times gives the true gospel a black-eye. At the same time, I didn't want to rule out something that could have really happened. Years ago there was some guy that showed up at the radio station claiming he went to heaven. This guy had some weird ideas. I guess that event left me a bit skeptical. But, I thought I'd give this book a chance.

The book itself deals not so much of the ninety minutes Don spent in heaven as it does dealing with life here and now. From that perspective it really did touch me from that angle. Don Piper went through a horrible ordeal when an eighteen-wheeler crushed his '86 Ford Escort he was driving. Now, I owned an Escort and believe me, those things are small. At any rate, I have kept an open thought process to what happened to him. In chapter ten he wrote:

In spite of my stubborn resistance to showing emotion, the months of intense pain finally crumbled my resolve. I broke down and cried. I felt worthless, beaten down and useless. I was convinced I would never get better. "God, why is it like this? Why am I going through this constant pain that never seems to get better?" Again, I prayed for God to take me. I didn't want to live any longer. I wanted to go back home, and now for me, home meant heaven. (End of quote.)

I know many can relate to how Don felt. For, I too, have been there. Four years ago I developed physical pain that sometimes seems unbearable. Each month it seems like it is getting worse. And I haven't been anywhere near the pain that Don Piper must have been through.

You may ask, "Do you believe he did or did not go to heaven?" I'll answer it this way. I have reason to believe he did. That to me, is really between him and the Lord himself. I wasn't there. I do know that I have viewed some things in this life that I cannot physically explain. I have seen some healings. We had a lady that worked in our sales department who had a vetebrae problem. She showed me the before and after x-rays and there was no doubt she was healed! I have prayed for loved ones that were healed. Plus, in 1990 I almost died twice in a matter of three days. God spared my life. And just like Don Piper, there were people that were in my life during those two miserable weeks in the hospital. It's comforting to have those around when you really go through the fire! I know that Don Piper was so appreciative of those that stood by him. I remember the ones that were there for me when I thought I had "bought the farm." Ginger, Joel, Josh and Diana from the station immediately come to mind. I'll never forget their kindness.

If you get a chance, read Don's book. I do know this, heaven is real! Someday mortality will put on immortality. These aching bodies will ache no more. Those who live with chronic pain understand this all too well. Don's book was an encouragement to me as I deal with my pain. And...if you by chance, just happened to come across this post by accident, and you are in need of hope, give Don's book a chance! May the peace of Christ be with you all.

Grace To You

Today I just wanted to give credit where it is due. For years, Dr. John MacArthur and his program "Grace To You" has been a strong staple in my spiritual life. I first heard of John back in 1987. I don't know why I hadn't heard of him sooner. But, better late than never.

In today's Christian world there are so many voices that fill the airwaves. It would do us wise to check out anyone that we listen to. Obviously, Paul the apostle also said that those who teach will be held to a higher standard as well. John MacArthur fits the model to me of a man of faith, theologically sound and loyal. Of course those who know me, know where I stand theologically.

Recently John has made many of his sermons available to those who would like to download them via mp3. What a blessing. It's great too, if you take your Ipod and load it up with those sermons and play them on long trips in the car.

There are some ministries that I really believe in, and "Grace To You" is one of them. So, if you find the time, check out www.gty.org. I'm a bit biased but I think his study bible is one of the best ever. There was an old credit card commercial from years ago that said, "don't leave home without it!" I kind of feel that way about John's study bible.

I just wanted to take a few moments today and give credence to a man that I believe has stood the test of time and is a loyal man of God. In this day and age, especially now, we need sound doctrine more than ever. So, if you find the time, check out the "Grace To You" website. The link is on the right. Be well all.