This crazy world of mine…

All right…I promise to go back to talking about gospel music real soon here…for now, just one more cathartic blast about things going on in my world!

They’re FINALLY starting the reconstruction on my apartment! Yay! I can’t wait until it’s done, and I can move back in to my less than palatial abode!

In the meantime, the man who has been gracious enough to let me stay at his house while all this is going on is in the hospital right now with pancreatitis. It’s only supposed to be for four days, and I hope that’s all it’s for.

Another of my co-workers went into that same hospital…he had lung surgery, and will be out of action for four months. He was the very first of the KMJ stroke parade, 15 years ago. I want him to recover fully…he is a dear man, and one of the best broadcasters I have ever known.

My car’s brakes have gone the way of all flesh…pray for healing there…of my brakes, AND my bank account!

And wouldn’t you know…love may be in the air! Now before you all start singing “John’s got a girlfriend” yet, we’re just getting acquainted now. But it’s VERY encouraging…I’ll share more if there’s anything to report.

That’s what’s going on in my little corner of the world…hope yours is fine and dandy!

“Self” help?

Paul Little once wrote that the only difference between Christians and non-Christians is that…both are just beggars, but the Christian knows where to find the bread.

Apparently it’s true in more than just the obvious way. What would you think are the biggest selling books in Christian bookstores?

If you say Bibles, guess again. And it’s not devotionals, or apologetics, or even fiction. Can you guess what they are?

If you say it’s those so-called “self help” books, you’d be right …even though those things are among the biggest Christian oxymorons out there.

Why do I say that?

Because it’s implied in the word that one can “help himself” by using those books. It’s the age old lie that goes back to Adam and Eve…that we can “help ourselves” out of whatever difficulty we’re in….as if we don’t need God that much at all.

Au contraire, mon freres…if the Bible teaches us anything, it’s that we are completely dependent on the grace and mercy of God for ANYTHING we get in life…and there IS no help available from anyplace except God. Furthermore, it teaches us to seek the Lord at all times for all things…that nothing else can be fully trusted.

“Self-help”, in other words, is just another example of buying into the lies of the ages in order to get us away from the God that has proven Himself to be the sole means of sufficiency for our needs and hopes through all oftime.

I realize that some of the Christian-oriented self help books try to encourage us to put our entire trust in God, and not all of them are mouthpieces for the secular world trying to infiltrate the lives of otherwise devoted believers. But if one peruses them closely, one is amazed at just how secular these “Christian” books are.

I guess it only figures, because many of us Christians try to rationalize our behaviors when it comes to our lifestyle choices and popular media. In light of that, why is it so surprising that we’re willing to buy into the ways of the heathen world to escape our difficulties and our annoyances?

Yet, when it’s all said and done, we’re always told to not put our trust in men, but in God. And as we grow in the faith, that realization becomes more and more evident to us daily.

The agony…

There are some days of late that I wake up in the morning wondering “Why don’t I feel better than I do?” Even though I still have those days, when I stop and think about things, I don’t think that way as much.



One of my co-workers has been going through agony I would never want, and can’t imagine having. It all started last year, when he discovered a mark on his face. I guess we all get things like that as we get older, so why give it much thought? Especially since it didn’t hurt at the time.



Of course, we all have friends who notice things like that, and suggest that we have them looked into. And Mark did too…but like most of us, he just kept putting it off, and putting it off.



As of two months ago, he finally was coerced by his wife into seeing a doctor. Good thing he did when he did, because the diagnosis was not too encouraging…he was told it could be a sign of cancer, so Mark made an appointment to have it removed.



Mark kept reassuring himself that it would be a simple procedure…that there was nothing to worry about. But when he got there, the concern intensified. To start with, it wasn’t so easy to remove the problem. As Mark was being examined, it was determined that there was cancer, and it had spread beyond just his face.



The doctors had to keep cutting away, and the surgery was becoming complicated. Before they were done, they had to cut up quite a bit of Mark’s face…when they were done, Mark had to get 70 stitches, and the doctors still weren’t sure they had everything…and sure enough, they didn’t.



Mark had to go in for more again this week…and the doctors found still more cancer cells…they were able to remove most of it, 30 more stitches later. I can’t even conceive of the constant pain that Mark has been going through the past few weeks. It’s got to be unbearable.



And yet, like the rest of us, Mark is still at work, because he is dedicated, and he knows he’s wanted and needed here.



If you want to pray for Mark and his family, feel free! He could use the prayers, and we ALL could use the practice!



And for sure, next time I feel a little out of sorts, I’ll think of Mark, and then just shut up!

Timing is everything

Sometimes it just pays to be in the right place at the right time.



On today’s Rush Limbaugh program, which I run at the radio station for which I work, he had a caller yesterday that had a mild quibble with an observation of his. In the process, Rush made a comment about her first name(Jenny), which Rush said was one of his favorite names of all. He then proceeded to refer to her as Jessica later in the half hour by accident.



Jenny called back today, slightly hurt that Rush would make that mistake after going on for so long about how wonderful her name was. They talked for a few minutes, then Rush went on with his show after clearing the air with her.



After taking a commercial break, he then did something extraordinary, even for him. He called her back and, still feeling embarrassed over his faux pas the day before, offered her a gift.



By the end of the call, Rush had GIVEN Jenny a Select Comfort bed(who he advertises for), a gift that has a value of somewhere around $1200.



Now many deride Rush, saying he says and does things for show, as if he COULDN’T seriously believe the way he does about so many things…and he couldn’t be a very nice person…in fact, many accuse him of being a hateful person!



I don’t know about that…I have met Rush in person, and he impresses me as a truly nice man who doesn’t take himself as seriously as many listeners try to. I think he meant his gesture as a sincere one to be kind to a persistent and consistent listener. And what a gift that is!



Do you suppose if I gave Rush a link to this blog, and called him if he got the name wrong, that he might give ME one of those Select Comfort beds? I know I sure wouldn’t mind one!



I’ll keep you posted.

A first…

…for The Inquiring Mind…a follow-up to an earlier post!

This is to the post just prior to this one, wishing Neil Enloe a happy birthday, and commenting on why he is a good friend, even a “hero”(albeit chosen very carefully).

After I had posted it, I knew how Neil would respond to it once he read it…and it didn’t take long for him to react! Predictably, he denied almost any resemblance to the person I described in the entry…and reminded me that all glory and praise should go to God, not him(a point in which he is absolutely right!).

This is another reason why I’m such a fan of Neil Enloe…not Neil Enloe, Courier…but just plain ol’ Neil Enloe…friend…and brother in Christ. Of all the people I know well, he is probably the least self-centered person I’ve seen(a trait that I would be better off to share more of).

When I try to point out to him that he is among the most talented people to ever make gospel music a career, he resolutely denies it! This despite the abundant evidence to back up my point. You know, many of the finest gospel singers, if you look far enough, are proud of the abilities that God gave them, and are not shy about demonstrating those talents when given the opportunity. It’s not that Neil is shy, but he is absolutely unimpressed at his own accomplishments. His sole concern is and remains how faithful he is to God, and everything else is secondary, if not irrelevant. To me this is true humility, not the “aw, shucks” pseudo-humility we see all around us just to impress us.

Neil told me once that the greatest compliment he could receive about his music and career with the Couriers is if someone would say to him, “You know, I didn’t even know you were there.” This is because getting earthly acclaim is unimportant(almost boring) to him…but people benefitting from his work is important to him,and his name doesn’t need to be shoved in our faces for that to happen. Would that I could ever become so humble about my own abilities or accomplishments.

See why he’s a role model for me?

Anyway, when I think of certain things I admire, my friends know that I am given to a certain degree of hyperbole and encomium in expressing my feelings. This is in part what I did in my birthday tribute to Neil, and by no means did I mean to exaggerate or to embarrass him.

I just wrote from the heart.

So, Neil…I’ll just say this to tie it all together…you are an inspiration and a role model to me, and a person who I admire greatly and respect just as much…but more than any of that…you are my friend…and for that, I thank God…who indeed deserves ALL the glory.

So that’s all I have to say on Neil Enloe for a while. But, Neil, I can’t promise that your name won’t pop in here again from time to time…fair enough?

OK…on to other topics for next time!

Happy birthday, Neil!

Today I want to wish a very happy birthday to a man who has become one of my best friends and a key person in my life…happy 68th birthday, Marvin Neil Enloe!

I don’t have a lot of heroes anymore…sure, I had them as a kid(we ALL did)…but now that I’m all grown up, a lot of the people who might have been heroes of mine as a kid are really not THAT much different from me…we’re all doing the best we can, and we all have our good and bad days. I can admire and respect someone without making a hero out of them, because I know they’re just muddling along like I am!

Now, does that mean my “heroes” don’t have their good and bad days, or their struggles? Of course not. They just live their lives in a way that I want to live mine as well. Thus, Neil Enloe remains one of my heroes!

What makes him such a special person to me?

First and foremost, his life is centered in the reality of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Ever since he was 13 years old, growing up in Illinois, he has chosen to live his life not for himself alone, but for the One he calls Lord and God. At his center is the most powerful force in the universe…the same force that is at the center of my life.

Second, he reflects that reality to his fellow human beings. For nearly 50 years now, he has dedicated his life and God-given talents to serve the Lord and His church. He has been entrusted with a gift for music that few others have ever had, and he has consistently used it to glorify God and serve his fellow man. With his musical group, the Couriers, and today as part of Dave, Duane, and Neil(the Couriers of bygone days), he has made and written music that has touched the hearts of millions over the years, inspiring seekers to find the Lord that Neil knows. I am one of those seekers, and my life has been impacted by the music he made.

Third, he is faithful to his mission. He understands that eternal truth must not only be proclaimed, but lived. And in 42+ years of marriage to his lovely wife Ruth, and through his three fine children(Beth, Heidi, and Tim), he has built a legacy to be admired and cherished. Through his personal and professional dealings, he has by and large been faithful to his higher calling. This shows me that it CAN be done in a world that doesn’t readily accept it. By the example I’ve seen and heard about, he has been a model for the kind of person I want to be.

And fourth, he is a friend. Since I had the honor of finally meeting him in person after a 30+ year wait, he has given of his time and wisdom to help put perspective in my life, and remind me of what is most important, and be faithful to my calling as well. There have been days that I have been overcome with frustration, and Neil has always had a word or deed that would help put my mind and heart back where it belonged…i.e., focused on Jesus Christ.

One of the many fine songs that Neil has written in his long career is called, “Choose Your Heroes Carefully”, a song that reminds us to be very careful where we cast our pearls in life, and to make sure they meet the standards that are most important to our lives. Neil DOES meet those standards, and consequently, he is one of the heroes I still have.

Once I heard a radio preacher talk about making a spiritual Mt. Rushmore…that is, imagine a huge majestic mountain with the heads of the four most important people that have shaped your life…and when you get to where you need to take a moment and reflect on what the thing to do in a given situation might be…just imagine what your Mt. Rushmore people might do.

The four people on my spiritual Mt. Rushmore are Bruce Baloian, my “mentor” and the man that was the principal person that led me to Christ, and taught and shaped my initial spiritual values…LaDonna Strid, an associate of Bruce’s that taught me by example how to treat my fellow man as I should…Nicole DeWeese, one of my very closest friends for many years, who consistently shows me the importance of sharing the joy that comes only with knowing Christ, and Neil…for his lifelong witness in the world of gospel music, and for his recent friendship, example, and guidance.

Those are my remaining heroes in life…my spiritual Mt. Rushmore.

One other thing…in a business where the wounded are regularly shot and ostracized, Neil(and the rest of the Couriers)has an impeccable reputation that is as untainted as one can imagine. He is respected universally through the gospel music world for his great talent, and for his tremendous personal integrity. This is no mean feat in a business where that sort of thing ought to be the rule rather than the exception.

But Neil Enloe is all those things…plus just a nice, fun guy. He is articulate, perceptive, patient, and has a tremendous sense of humor…all things that are important to be in this all too crazy world.

And most of all, Neil Enloe is my friend…and I’m proud that he is, and proud to be his friend as well.

So happy birthday, Neil…and may you have many more, so the rest of the world might learn what I already know about you.

Old friends…

One thing I’ve learned in my relatively brief lifetime on this earth is that when life’s pressures tend to increase, sometimes the things that matter most can become more vivid and real…and that is something to rejoice in.



Yesterday I was having a pizza at one of my usual hangouts…eating and quietly minding my own business, while trying to keep my many personal concerns in perspective and not allowing them to monopolize my thoughts. As I was preparing to leave, something happened to show me that God was concerned about where my mind was going, and intended to protect me from myself.



A gentleman came to the counter…and gave me the kind of look that says, “Hey, I know you”…as he continued to look me over, I tried to think of where I remembered him from. He then introduced himself…”Hi, John…I’m Jim Orr…I remember you from the Bible study group we were in some years ago. How have you been?”



I was struck by how friendly he was, and how much he knew about me…especially since I didn’t remember too much about him. He seemed to know everything that had happened to me since those days…which HAD to be 10-12 years ago. We talked briefly, then as I was going out, he wished me well with a smile that revealed from where he was sent.



Now we all want to have attention, to have people show interest in our humdrum lives, to care about us. But we tend, as people, to be somewhat picky at times about who shows that interest…fine if it’s someone we want to have know and care about us, but if it’s just someone out of our past, occasionally we could care less.



Not me…THIS time. I’m as guilty of the above as much as anyone most of the time…but I felt God was clearly speaking to me through Jim Orr…and Jim was obediently there as His angel ministering to a need God saw in me. Now more than likely, Jim was just being Jim, and struck up a conversation with me because he wanted to, and had no idea that he was being used beyond that for anything else. But I for one, was thankful for Jim in that moment of time, and grateful to God that He brought a friend from my past at just the right time for me.



Stuff like that happens with all of us all the time, yet we still wonder why God is not doing more to address our needs as people when we actually are hurting. How ungrateful and thankless we must appear to our heavenly Father sometimes.



Not this boy, though…not this time anyway. Thank you Lord, and thank you, Jim.

Kimberly…

I don’t know Kimberly Dozier, but I have been praying for her a lot in the last few days.



Kimberly Dozier is a reporter for CBS radio and television, who is usually assigned to either Europe or the Middle East to report on breaking news. She is a very competent, professional reporter who always has done a good job.



As you might imagine, being a reporter in a foreign country has its perils from time to time. Lately, since Dozier has been part of CBS’s Iraq war coverage, she has been in particular peril.



This past weekend, Dozier was the victim of a bomb explosion during an assignment. She was critically injured and remains in critical condition, and is still recovering in an Army hospital in Germany. Nevertheless, she fared better than the cameramen who were accompanying her, both of whom were killed in the attack.



As I said, I don’t know Dozier that well…I have only talked to her a few times in the course of my won work. A few months ago, our news department was doing a story on a local soldier in the fighting in Iraq, and we enlisted Dozier’s help in finding him for an interview.



I was struck by Dozier’s calm, professional, and completely solicitous attitude in all of this…despite the situation and conditions she was working under, she was as helpful and kind and considerate as could be, going seemingly above and beyond the minimum effort we would have expected her to do for us. Her gracious assistance enabled us to not only to get the interview, but assure his family and loved ones here that he was OK. We are indebted to Dozier for her assistance in this matter.



So perhaps it’s only professional respect that leads me to think of her, but my feelings of concern when I heard the news of the attack are real indeed. I took the news of it as if it had happened to a colleague in my own building.



From the reports we’ve been getting, she is steadily improving. I thank God for that, and I pray she’s able to return to work ASAP. I could tell that she loves it…and besides, Kimberly Dozier is the kind of reporter we need to have more of out there.

Tired…

Yes, I’m a little weary today…and not just because I woke up at 5 this morning to go to work.



The housing situation continues to be dangled in front of me much like the carrot on the stick. After weeks of waiting for any action at all on the renovation of my apartment, now I’m told that if I can strike up a suitable agreement on paying the electric bill with my longtime neighbor there, and submit that information to the landlord…and signed…that the contractor will be sent out there to begin the work he ought to have begun over a month ago.



And now my neighbor is dragging his feet on signing the letter I’ve drafted. I expect him to do so eventually, but why the delay? Oh, well….Mom always said there’d be times like this.



As if that weren’t enough, my money has run out of month again, and I have a court date I must prepare for on the 13th. And I have an article to submit to SGN in a day or two.



Otherwise, things couldn’t be easier!



I could use a nap…or a vacation…or both!



I know some of you have been keeping me in prayer, and I appreciate that more than I can tell you. Just don’t stop, that’s all I have to say about that!



I’ll keep you posted on how things happen.



UPDATE: After some pleading, I convinced my neighbor to go along with me on submitting the material to my landlord to commence the work on the apartment…now I’ve gone past tired…I’m spent! But it’s a good kind of spent!

Why the contest?

Well, another morning perusing the message boards, and I have to bring this up…



When it comes to gospel music discussion, we are inundated with “Who’s the best?”" or “Who’s the highest(or lowest)?” or similar questions of superlatives.



I understand why this is important to many of us…we are a society that thrives on love of competition, and accomplishment. We always want to go our furthest, and be our best in whatever we pursue. Of course, in things like sports, or performing gospel music, many of us know we can’t do it as well as people who do those things for a living, so, because of the above, we tend to live vicariously through our favorite such people…and have contests between them and the others in their respective fields as to who is the “best”.



But in gospel music, does that really matter? Are, say, the Statesmen better or more important carriers of the gospel message because they are more likely “better” than the Stay-at-Home Quartet? Of course not. The Stay-at-Home Quartet may be reaching people the Statesmen can’t possibly reach…and they may be meeting the needs of the people they serve much better than even the Statesmen would. Then, again, they might not! But there is a place for everyone in the Kingdom…and we all have our own jobs to do.



The Statesmen touched many in the Kingdom…and I dare say the world is a better place because they sang songs of praise to God in the way they did. And even as one who is DEFINITELY not a fan of theirs, so were the Happy Goodmans! All these artists did their best, and no doubt touched somebody, or they wouldn’t have been around as long as they were doing what they did.



One rule I try to follow in message board dialogue…never put down someone else’s favorites!(Though I confess I’ve mindlessly broken that rule at least once!) If that artist reaches those people, they’re fulfilling their calling…so what does it matter whether or not they are the “best” in their given genre? If they reach people, they’re doing pretty good…at least good enough for the people they bless.



If I could, I would say one thing to the gospel music world regarding this constant search to determine the “best”…remember who we ultimately serve…and why. And be thankful for those who give their time and talents to contribute to the overall mission of the Kingdom of God on earth. Please?



And just relax…and enjoy it ALL.

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