Oral Fuquay

Growing up in a "dyed in the wool" Pentecostal Holiness family, I was BOUND to hear talk of the career of "Brother Oral" as he was known, Oral Roberts that you associate with the Tulsa, Oklahoma University that bears his name and his now famous, "God will take me" proclamation if he didn't raise millions of dollars. I know, bless his heart, right?
Every successful man has stories of early failures and in an exerpt from a book I found on line, there is a reference to the future televangelist's early days in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, then known as Fuquay Springs.
Maybe it was Oral's part Cherokee blood that brought him to this town originally known as Sippihaw by the Indians ("native Americans") But Brother Oral broadcast on WRAL radio, which is my alma matre. Of course, the A.M. became WRNC and now WPJL! I can picture the young twenty-something evangelist in the now quaint studios on Bart Street in Raleigh. It was probably a little drive in those days from Fuquay.
Roberts pastored a church referred to only as "the Tabernacle" there and made a brave go of it and the book, "Oral Roberts An American Life" puts the best face on it possible. Oral is described as driving around Fuquay with a loud speaker on top of his car, finding a busy intersection, playing music and then preaching the gospel for all to hear. He also was involved in street ministry.
I THINK I know the building that was the "Tabernacle" but I cannot swear by it ("Peenycawstal-Holeness" folks don't do that, anyway)
For less than four bucks I can secure a copy of the book from Amazon. But I was really only interested in the Fuquay connection, so unless I find it in a yard sale or something, or someone gives me a copy, I won't exert the energy.
"Our crowd" looked down its nose at Roberts long before his dumn remark that was so controvercial or his son's little escapades. Years ago, Oral quietly left the PH ranks to become Methodist (which is the movement our denomination branched out of in the first place)
So, read the book, if you want a somewhat slanted view of "the REST of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.

An Amazing Christmas

Okay, this year Christmas didn't begin until late evening for me. There were other "priorities." Were I to hear of someone getting up Christmas morning and being alone until the late afternoon/evening, I would conjure up sympathy for that person. But as it turns out, God used this set of events to further familiarize me with the Parakleet, the One Who comes along side, the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit of God.
Now, I'm not speaking of a Shambach miracle revival, speaking in tongues, "wave both hands and shout hallelujah, somebody" kind of thing. Just a quiet day hanging out with THE Friend Who stays closer than a brother, even as close as our very breath. And I am richer, much richer, spiritually for it.
God used two friends of mine, a church planter and a former co-worker to invite me to a litergy on Christmas Eve.
To a kid brought up "dyed in the wool" Pentecostal Holiness ("Peenie Cawstal Hole-ness) the thought of a litergy is rather yawn, to say the least, but still, something (someONE) compelled me to go. And my friends, even though there were responsive readings and even though we stood and were seated, stood and were seated much like a Catholic Mass, I felt Him. My Friend, in my heart, in that little business complex chapel, worship space, reminding me, "You're My son and I LOVE YOU!" Oh, how often I forget. Sometimes, we have to get quiet enough to hear our Father, but He always wants to love us, give us a spiritual hug, as it were, to build us up and to amaze us at how the Creator of the Universe, really cares for us. (Like sending Jesus to the Cross to die isn't enough) but you know, we're human. We get distracted and we forget. Or at least I do!
That service and that good bit of fellowship amongst the hurry and scurry all those people were pausing from, was like taking me to a spiritual oasis and my taking a good, satisfying drink from the River of Life. But it didn't end there.
National Geographic Channel was on a campaign to disprove Jesus of Nazareth as a myth by considering every heathen doctrine and totally ignoring the GOOD News, the Gospel. But you don't keep your TV on channels that spread lies, do you? Not unless you are well armed with the truth and can spend the entire time rebuking satan's lies which, by the way abound on "Nat Geo!"
But one channel, as badly as the left in this country wants to label it as "right wing" was using a lot of energy to honor our Savior and lift Him up. Well, what did He say, he said, "If I'll be lifted up, I'll draw ALL men (kind) to Me!" FoxNews Channel was definitely lifting Him up.
Again, in the solitude of my otherwise lonely, ghetto apartment, the Holy Spirit and I were hanging out. More than once I came to tears. I'd watch news anchors share their faith ("the NERVE of them!" cried the secular "progressive") and then I'd switch over to EWTN, the Roman Catholic channel, where they'd have a drama about Christmas and because of this, I sit here restored, reinvigorated and ready to meet what 2009 will bring, because I have a new sense that "I can do ALL things through Christ, Who strengthens me!" Bless His Holy, Righteous, Wonderful Name!

When Christmas was Such a Joyous Time...

Originally, Christmas was a time for receiving loot. It was difficult to hear any other message. My birthday falls during the Christmas season. I had an aunt who was born Christmas Day and my sister was born on New Years Day. I've heard sad stories of people who felt ripped off because they didn't cash in because their birthdays fell close to Christmas. This was NOT the case with me. My quite generous parents made sure my birthday and Christmas were events!
Secondly, Christmas meant being with the closest person I've had to a brother, my cousin, Herb. mom never got accustomed to Northern Virginia and we averaged two trips a month to Wilson, North Carolina or so it seemed.
It was rare for us to spend a Christmas in Falls Church, which made it even more of an event.
I do recall one Christmas when there was a snow storm and my Uncle Bill, according to my cousin Herb, trudged through the snow for the journey from Wilson to Falls Church.
Little by little, Christmas heartaches began to come into play. There was the first Christmas with my sister in Kansas City, and the hollowness that Christmas was without her being around.
And just a few, painful years later, my cousin Herb had married and moved away.
What a selfish little joker I was and sometimes, still am. Little by little we realize that it's not all about me. I'm a very late bloomer in that department.
Tradition is not a hallowed thing either in society and especially in the era of the mega Church!
I endured thirty some years of Christmas Cantata after Christmas Cantata. The motive was good, after all, it's the time of year the "heathens" actually darken the door of the church. May as well give them the plan of salvation while they're there.
But here, in the infamous "Bible Belt" they've belted down so much Bible that they've ignored the timeless and essential message which really is Christmas.
Santa, gifts, holly, lights, tinsel...all these things are fun and great. And the FAMILY DOES wish to pass on our traditions. After all, the new mother wants her three-year-old hellion to have the memories SHE had of Christmas and feels guilty if she can't shower him with gifts. Then she's disappointed when junior is more interested in playing with the wrappings and box the present came in than the toy inside.
There is, however, a joy that change cannot take away, no matter how it strikes. It is the joy that came to the world when the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords made a human appearance in a little manger in Bethlehem. The long awaited Messiah had come. Some were aware from the beginning. Others of us didn't understand that this child would be born for one purpose...to die. To pay the price for our sin. But the glory is that He didn't remain on the cross...he didn't rot in that cave...He rose from the dead and has returned to the Father in Heaven to prepare a PLACE for us not built with hands. And His Name shall be called Wonderful Couselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and there shall be no end to His eternal reign. And because He lives, we, too can live eternal life with no more pain, nor sorrow, nor LONELINESS, no sickness or disease, no more missing someone who should be there.
So, when you're sitting thinking of how Christmas USED to be...remember how it's GOING to be!
Father, thank You for Your Dear Son Jesus. Bless His Holy Name!

Virus?

Tuesday night was a typical karaoke night except I felt really really bad, but recouped after a few karaoke songs. It's not the first time that singing has drowned out my symptoms. But then Wednesday night I went to Pastimes for karaoke and had to leave after the second song feeling as though I was about to DIE!
The symptoms are strange. No fever, nor sniffles and no sore throat, but body aches to beat the band. I thought quite literally I was losing my mind as I was having horrible terrorizing nightmares. When I medicate to sleep in certain ways, I tend to have nightmares, so I purposely haven't done that. Last night I thought, since I'm having them anyway, why not enhance the sleep?
I'm not at all over it yet, but this evening I HAD to go out to get some half price wings and to see another human being. I haven't even had the strength to talk on the phone. You can hear it in my voice.
Just when I thought maybe this was a nervous breakdown, I was talking with a pal who had the same symptoms for about a week...exactly the same symptoms. What a relief it is to know that I still am operating well on the few brain cells I have left.
So if you begin to ache all over and have nightmares and negative thoughts, chances are it's this dad blamed virus. As Mom used to say, "This too, shall pass!"

I Miss Her Every Day...

...but she went to be with Jesus four years ago today.

ROEBUCK, the Band Update

Great night of karaoke tonight. Two very dear people were celebrating birthdays and I sang "Birthday" by the Beatles in their honour. Holland Marie was there and she's wanting her band to learn "Promised Land," the Chuck Berry penned song, based on the "Walbash Cannonball" that Elvis improved immensely. Tony found it for me and I opened the evening with that. Then for my friend, Steve, I did "Gimme Shelter," the Stones' classic.
Maybe your heard that my son, Josh is moving back down to North Carolina and has agreed to be the drummer for "ROEBUCK, the Band," and we'll begin the process of finding guitarists, a keyboardist and someone on bass.
There were members of a band that plays a lot in the area in house and the bass player told me that he was already in two bands, but that if we ever got in a bind and needed someone to play bass to give him a hollar.
Does a soul good. He was very kind and said, my song was excellent and that I "sang it rather than got up there and went through the motions."
I'm feeling pretty good tonight.

New Office

I will not attempt to be guilty of behaving like the YELLOW DOGS and be constantly criticizing the President elect even before he takes office. The man has done some things I agree with that seem to be wise in my non-expert estimation and he's done some predictable of a Marxist. I wouldn't want the job and in SOME ways for anyone to want it at this particular time, puts into questions one's sanity!
I suspected that certain liberal...excuse me PROGRESSIVE (ha!) pipe dreams would die pretty quickly in the light of the President elect being briefed and finally knowing the FACTS!
Some how, though, a new office has materialized. Is it an actual office, or just SPIN in an era of Democrat Party euphoria? We're seeing signs that read, "The OFFICE of the President Elect." Really, now? How pretentious can you get?
This noon my otherwise pleasant lunch was rudely affected by some twenty-five or so Obamites gloating at their hero's victory. After having loud-mouthed, rude, members address the group and ruining the possibility of my hearing the discussion of my two friends joining me for lunch, they then blocked the exit and sidewalk outside. One yo yo had a C-SPAN sort of duffle bag. I guess there wasn't enough funding left in the budget for them to spare the rest of us their loud comments. One guy literally stepped on my friend's toe...THREE TIMES!
If this had been a Sunday School group the Evangelical-eze expression to describe this was "BAD WITNESS!" They set a poor example of their wannabe "messiah."
One car was painted with "I (heart) Obama!"
Well, I love Obama, too and told my friend that I wish I had a bumper sticker that said so for my car. Another nice one would be "JESUS loves Obama." But I confess, I only love him as Jesus ALLOWS me and enables me to. I hope he turns out to be a great President. No use in wasting another inevitable holiday on yet another idiot.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Will the Dream Be Realized in 2009?

Pics: Me guest singing with Stage Left and Josh playing acoustic


All my life I've had the dream of having my own band. I mean I've fronted a number of bands where "democracy" was the goal, but I have the vision I revealed earlier this year for ROEBUCK, the Band. My son plans to move down from Virginia and we've discussed bringing the dream into reality. Basically now we have the drummer, Josh and the vocalist, me.
We want to do oldies and classic rock that you don't hear these days. The core will be Doors, Hendrix, Cream (Clapton), Steppenwolf, Beatles, Skynrd and the like with only a song or two from Elvis and building with some Creed, and other newer stuff, but we'll concentrate on songs that the radio and the karaoke circuit hasn't worn out.
If you know anyone who can play withing this frame work, we're looking for a keyboard, bass and guitar player.
I wan't to be clear. We will concentrate on the classic rock as a priority because it is woefully lacking in the Garner/Clayton circuit.
Some examples of a beginning playlist would be:

The Doors'

"Peace Frog"
"You Make Me Real"
"My Wild Love"
"Five to One" and much more

Jimi Hendrix

"Manic Depression"
"Dolly Dagger"
"All Along the Watchtower"

Clapton

"Bad Love"
"Running on Faith"
"Wonderful Tonight" (to make Josh happy)

Steppenwolf

"Sookie, Sookie"
"Monster"
"Snow Blind Friend"

Beatles

"Everybody's Got Something to Hide"


Well, you get the idea. We don't want to play the same ole same ole!