George Beverly Shea Turns 103

His style was a little "starchy" for me, but what a testimony for God!

George Beverly Shea Turns 103

George Beverly Shea (BGEA)

As he turns 103 on Wednesday, George Beverly Shea’s heart is as joyful as that of a child.
“Karlene and I rejoice in the Lord’s overwhelming grace to give me 103 years of life!” he says.
And while he won’t be partying like a teenager, the youthful centenarian will celebrate the day in the company of his family and in quiet reflection, reading greetings from around the world now pouring in to him.
Shea says he is especially thankful for the dear people with whom he has ministered and traveled the world since the day he met Billy Graham in 1943. “For all these years, the fellowship of the BGEA team has been precious as I have sought to serve the Lord,” says Shea.
As we join in celebrating 103 of God’s blessings, let’s take a journey back to Shea’s early days.
What was your life like as you were growing up?
I was born in 1909 in Winchester , Ontario , where my dad served as pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church . Six of us were born during that time, and when I was 8, we moved to upstate New York . My mother was a church organist, and at home we had a piano that came from England . Mother played it so beautifully. She instilled in all of us a love for the old hymns. She would wake us up oft-times in the morning with an old song titled, “Singing I Go.” She would play an E-flat chord, and we would hear her voice: “Singing I go along life’s road/For Jesus has lifted my load.”
Sunday mornings it was another hymn: “Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear/My voice ascending high/To Thee will I direct my prayer /To Thee lift up mine eye.”
I have always loved the hymns. All eight of us remember the times when we took our Lord Jesus as Savior. In our home we had prayer three times a day around the table. Dad would read from the Bible in the evening—just a couple of verses, and the prayer was brief, because he knew that children became restless.
So you came to Christ at an early age.
Yes, at 5 or 6. But there were times when I needed to rededicate my life to the Lord Jesus. When I was 18, my dad was pastoring a church in Ottawa , and I was feeling not too spiritual. The church was having “special effort,” as they called it, for a week. I remember that on Friday night, Dad came down from the pulpit, and tenderly placed his hand on my shoulder. He whispered, “I think tonight might be the night, son, when you come back to the Lord.” Whatever Dad did or said, I listened to him and respected him.
And, yes, that was the night!
You composed "I’d Rather Have Jesus" when you were 23. How did that happen?
My mother had been to a meeting in New York City and brought me a poem written by Rhea F. Miller, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” On a Sunday morning, with the poem in front of me, I sat down at the piano, and the melody came to my heart and mind. When I finished that first verse and chorus, Mother, with tears in her eyes, came from an adjoining room and put her arms around me. She had wanted that poem to have an effect on my life, and it seemed that after that morning better things happened all along the way.
What are some of the life lessons you've learned about trusting Christ?
My father used to tell my brothers, Whitney and Alton , and me: “There will be many times when you don’t feel connected. The Lord is with you. Just look up—keep that vertical relationship. Practice His presence in your life.”
I’ve had moments, even when working for Mr. Graham, where I’ve felt as if I weren’t effective enough, and I’ve known discouragement. But I go to the Lord, and He extends His grace. On many occasions I go to the piano and play an old favorite. God always encourages through His Spirit and renews our strength.
I have learned to look up, and He’s there. He loves us. He has given me more than I deserve.
I’m so grateful for my dear spouse, Karlene, and for my late wife, Erma, who went to be with the Lord many years ago. I’m thankful too for my children and grandchildren.
There are many wonderful stories of this life journey. One is of a gentleman who came to the Harringay meetings in London . He had been brought by his neighbor. He came thinking that he would just sit and make fun of everything.
When I got up to sing, he was talking out loud and probably criticizing as he heard me singing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” But when I got to the line, “He’s got the tiny little baby in His hands,” the man slumped in his seat, probably thinking of his little one, who was ill at home. During Mr. Graham’s invitation, the man stood, came forward and gave his heart to the Lord Jesus.
As someone who has walked with the Lord for quite some time, what advice do you have for other Christians?
Keep your devotions, study the Word, enjoy His presence, and learn from Him daily!

Missing a Friend Today

The second EVER place I went for karaoke was White Oak. Now, to those from that time and place, that's all the explanation needed, but since the construction of White Oak Shopping Center, I have to stress White Oak LOUNGE.

I initially went on a Wednesday night wondering what I had done. The place looked menacing and I had all manner of visions of fights and broken bottles, drawing from nights when I had to do gigs behind chicken wire to dodge same. Dive would have been the word I used to describe it, but soon, the people there would become like family to me. The story of that first night is for another posting, but it was on one of the very first visits for karaoke there that I met a fellow named Caleb.

Wendy Turner was hosting the karaoke there, starting each round off with three or four of her own songs. Once, a guy named Jerry came and complained, "I came out here to sing karaoke, not to hear a concert from YOU!" Wendy, who owned the place, promptly escorted the massive man to the parking lot with a few choice words and an invitation not to return. (About a year ago, he was hosting karaoke there. I suspect they forgot the incident)

There was no doubt that Wendy was the star of the show with her own following of loyal fans. She sings country as good as ANY and loves to sing Aretha Franklin covers. Wendy has used me in a show and had me audition for others. I in turn invited her to enter a karaoke contest where they told me I was a shew in. Guess who won? Wendy. I think she appreciated it.

Your average karaoke singer is well defined on television and in movies, not great, often off key, with a lack of rhythm and thinking they're the star of the world. Ear plugs make a nice accessory in those cases.

Caleb made up for any lack of singing talent he had with his moves. The boy was all over the stage and usually sang a predictable mix of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and the Stone's "Honky Tonk Women." Sometimes, "Johnny B Goode" He was a month or two younger than me, and I enjoyed asking people which one of us they thought was older and their guessing Caleb.

Last week I got word via FaceBook that Caleb's mobile home had burnt because of a towel hanging on a door too close to a space heater. Apparently he became asphyxiated but they got him out before his place burnt to the ground. He had lost EVERYTHING as far as worldly possessions and was in a drug-induced coma. Well, last night I got an update and the funeral was last week, so this is my way of saying, "Good-bye."

He was a kind man, at times a horn toad (dang testosterone) and a few times I felt led to give him the rest of my pizza. He shall be missed, truly. Rock on, Caleb.

Does EVERYBODY Have to Weigh In?

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Does EVERYONE Have to Weigh In?

by Johnny Roebuck on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 4:10pm ·

It's a tragedy that young Trayvon Martin lost his life. It is when ANYONE dies so apparently violently. There are so many facets to this story, that I won't even attempt to begin to expose them in this venue. The media has turned this incident into a divisive episode as people with a lack of the facts make judgements. Some say that the neighborhood watch guy George Zimmerman should be arrested and charged, and some like the Marxist, terrorist, New Black Panther offering a reward for his "capture." What do they intend to do? Have a Lynching?

Others have decided Zimmerman is innocent, again, without knowing all the facts.

It wasn't very long ago, that some Duke athletes were falsely accused and tried in the "court of public" opinion. Some really stupid things have been said, like Geraldo Rivera's comment that the kid wouldn't have gotten in trouble had he not been wearing a "hoody." Seriously, Geraldo? You, of ALL people should know better than to think that way. We fought in the sixties, wearing our hair long and being called "hippies." I, for one, never was one at ALL. I know you were, but the point is, what we both fought so hard for is to stop labeling people, stop judging books by their covers.

One guy I heard sites the police's urging of Zimmerman to "not do that" with regard to following Martin, yet does NOT believe the police report that Zimmerman was within his rights.

Every day, new facts are coming to light, despite those who take early positions. I got cursed at for my position that I don't have a position. That in THIS country, at least for NOW one is innocent until proven guilty. No, it's NEVER proper to kill a "17-year-old kid." But there are SOME 17-year-old who can even kick the Buck's butt, and they'll tell you.

People need to keep a level head about this and see what happens when all the facts are disclosed. Some reports make no mention of Zimmerman having been beaten to a pulp and that it's HIS voice screaming on the 911 tape.

Meanwhile, I forgot the numbers but last night heard the stats of how many black kids die at the hands of black kids every day in this country and it's not reported, because it apparently doesn't make for good "film at eleven" coverage. What a shame.

Yes, it's a shame that Martin lost his life. It will be a further shame if thugs Lynch Zimmerman especially if it turns out he was innocent. Calm the heck down and let's see where the evidence points. Gee, I just sounded just like Horatio!

I Did it Again!

I keep doing it. I don't really expect different results but I keep falling for it. There are seasonal foods in the fast food world that come around. Some good, some not. I always look forward to the MacRib when it comes around. ALways a treat. There seem to be forces out to put MacDonald's out of business. Not sure of their motives, but they probably violate the principles of some weirdo cause or another. God bless 'em. Hope they continue to. I've had my fill of causes and people being super-sensitive. This coming from one of the most sensitive people on the planet, so in that regard I guess I win the hypocrite tee shirt. Make mine 3XL!

Arby's has never failed. Never failed to disappoint me, give me heartburn, gas and that burning sensation from their cardboard-flavored conglomerate of preservatives, chemicals and parts of animals that years ago would have been either thrown out or fed to the hogs. Hey, maybe it still IS fed to the hogs. "Have you seen the little piggies in their starched white shirts?" (G Harrison)

Their roast beef isn't either roasted or as I can tell beef, unless you count beef noses, tongue, horns, hooves, cow udders, etc. which I guess TECHNICALLY are "beef" and it always tastes to me, with the gourmet tastebuds like not only cardboard, but BAD cardboard.

The latest is something they have the audacity to call the "Super Reuben." The taste is in the ball park, and I don't know what's really in it? But it's no Reuben. Who ever Reuben was is spinning in his grave saying "Why the world didn't I copyright the NAME!!!!?"

Never again. Famous last words.

I Have Often Said

...that the founders of rock'n'roll, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and the like should have obtained a copyright on "Rock'n'roll" although they were not the ones who coined the phrase. That's accredited to Alan Freed. Shoot, even R&B can no longer honestly stand for Rhythm and Blues, since the recordings coming out in that genre contain neither. Hey, I guess labels aren't much good.

Connie B Gaye coined the name "Country Music" and complained about its demise when I interviewed him in the early 1980's (He was from Lizard Lick originally)

If only he could see things now.

Connie shared some things I cannot share in this venue, but I WILL share that Col Tom Parker, Elvis' manager offered to sell Connie his contract once. Do not recall what time that was, but it was in cooperation with Gaye that the Colonel had Elvis appear on a small fifteen minute show on what was then WMAL Television, channel 7 in DC. A young fellow named Jimmy Dean, way before "Big John" his hit record, or the sausage empire.

Dean lived across the street from the Hagers, friends of mine and used to share the story of when they saw a pink Caddy out front and noticed Elvis getting in and followed him a ways. Three guys started a fight with Elvis at the Esso station up the road and were in pretty bad shape after the King kicked butt. That's their story, and I'm sure they're stickin' to it.

So rock no longer rock's and many proclaimed as stars of the genre wouldn't know it if it came up and bit them...well, you know. We've already addressed R&B and Connie, who coined the phrase "Country Music" wouldn't recognize it now, save the nasal and yodel same ole.

Sometimes change bites

Dear Senator McCain...

Give him a kiss, you jerk!

...thank you for eliminating much more qualified candidates for President. Thank you for leaving it up to your running mate to speak anything resembling the truth in the 2008 campaign. What we are living through now lays at your feet, Sir. I don't know what those Communists did to you when you were in Viet Nam, but whatever it is caused you at best to be Obama-LIGHT. We'd probably be going down this same path, only at a slower rate, had your mamby pampy self been elected.

Obama is obviously a Marxist and hater of the United States Constitution, a fraud as he took an oath to preserve protect and defend her and he has worked only to trample her and violate her. This disrespect of our most cherished document, the most precious document next to the Bible itself, because it was based on Biblical principles. The demise of a once proud and free nation lays squarely at your feet. The blood of innocents is on your hands. You, were the last line of defense of freedom and Democracy. You failed to speak up in the name of being a "nice guy." All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing. I've no idea if you are a good man. I DO know what you did was not. We may never recover from your dropping the ball of freedom, because the Radical Left has taken over the nations newspapers and television networks and the so called "public" schools and turned them into mere propaganda tools of large "C" and small "c" communists.

Now, we seem to have to choose from the likes of Mitt Romney, who seems to be their paper tiger to knock down in the general election so that Obama can fulfill his Marxist dream of being the American equivalent of Fidel Castro. There doesn't seem to be a "winnable" challenger in the Republican ranks. You and your ilk have reduced the Republican Party to just a less Marxist bunch.

I voted for you last time, Sir, and I nearly vomited in the process.

I hope you are proud of yourself.