Happy New Year!

Despite the economic nosedive and a myriad of other problems that have befallen us this past year, I enter 2009 feeling blessed and optimistic about the New Year. First, I humbly thank each of my faithful listeners who tune in each morning to my radio program, "The Great Day in the Morning Show." I appreciate your support of my show more than words could express. I pray that God will richly bless each of you in the coming year. Each morning before I go on the air I say a prayer for my listeners and ask God to allow me to say those things that would be an encouragement and a blessing to you. Each day I also feel the power of your prayers working in my life.

I would also like to thank some key people who contribute so much to my progam. These include "my little radio buddy," Madison Stowe, the 7-year-old hostess of "Madison's Moments", Bev Larson, who inspires us with her "Heartwarmers", and Rev. Jim Churchwell, who brings encouragement from the Word of God on "Good Morning Devotions". During the "Quarter Hour of Inspiration" (7:15-7:30 a.m., M-F), these three personalities reach thousands of listeners each morning with messages that inspire us all and help get our day off to a positive start. To Madison, Bev, and Rev. Jim...I send sincere thanks to each of you for all that you do to enhance my show. I am also grateful to Dr. Bucky Hunsicker, Dr. Clint Hopkins, Rev. Tom Sheppard, and Rev. Churchwell for their inspiration and instruction as part of the panel of ministers that has appeared this past year on WHEO's "Everyday Christians," (9:30 a.m. Wednesdays).

Additionally, I would like to thank "Community Conversation" program regulars Lock Boyce ("Patrick County Topics"), Joe Cerino (who leads a study of the Bible's Book of "The Revelation", Vicki Hutchens-Bennett ("Finance Matters in Sickness and in Health"), Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, Jackie Belcher, Sue Nester, Vernon Harris, Frank Netherland (Big Band music specials), and Paul Farrar ("Cooking with Paul"). Although the list is too long to include here, thanks to the many other guests who have appeared this past year on the morning call-in show, "Community Conversation". I look forward to welcoming back these and many new special guests to the program in the upcoming year. If you would like to suggest the name of a call-in show guest, call me at 694-3388 or email me at rrogers@sitestar.net.

2008 has presented many challenges and brought more hardships, especially in the economic realm, that any year that I can remember in my life. However, I believe these unfortunate circumstances have united us as a community with a common bond and provided us many opportunites to reach out to assist others and to make a difference in our community. Thanks to the many volunteers of our community who have given so freely of their time, energy, talents, and expertise in furthering various charitable and worthy causes while meeting needs in the community and showing genuine love and compassion for others, epecially the less fortunate. This spirit of brotherly love makes me proud to be a Patrick Countian and fosters hope as the New Year approaches that we will all continue to work together to brighten each other's lives especially when times are the darkest. Have a BRIGHT AND BLESSED 2009! :O) Happy New Year!
Love,
Richard

The Greatest Gift!

We all love to give and to receive gifts. It is one of our most cherished Christmas customs. As we renew this tradition and participate in the giving of gifts this Christmas season, let's remember that Christmas is all about the greatest gift ever given. That is God's gift to mankind of his son, Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate by giving of tokens of our love or gifts to those we hold dear. In His precious son, Jesus, God gave us all a Savior, who came to this world to fulfill God's plan and to serve as a sacrifice for our innate sinful nature as human beings. Because Jesus paid the price for our sins with he shedding of His blood on Calvary's cross and because he triumphed over death through the Resurrection, we can all, by simple faith in Him, can have a gift that none of us deserve...the gift of eternal life! That is reason for real joy! Seek then to make this a Christ-centered Christmas and rejoice in the fact that God in all his graciousness has given us, the greatest and most precious gift of all, JESUS CHRIST! Let's warmly embrace Jesus as we celebrate His birth!

Merry Christmas, my friends, and a joyfully happy New Year!

Love :O),
Richard

The Greatest Gift!

Taking a Break!

As much as I love my job hosting "The Great Day in the Morning Show" weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on 1270 AM-WHEO, the Heart of Patrick County, it's time to take a break! I'll be taking a week off beginning Monday, Dec. 15th to relax a little, rest my voice, renew my spirit, and rekindle my creativity and enthusiasm. I've been trying in recent months to eat healthy foods, work out daily, get more rest, and generally take better care of myself. However, getting up around 4:00 every morning and going full steam all day long at work, at home, and in my community activities over an extended period of time can really wear you down. Hopefully, a little time off will help me to rebuild my strength, physically and mentally, and allow me to get over the nagging flu-like illness that has been so hard for many of us to shake this season. In order to avoid burnout, every now and then, you've just got to get away from the everyday grind. To put it in terms of mobility, you've got to pull over and get out of the fast lane, and slowly traverse the scenic and peaceful backroads of life for a change.

For the next week, I'll keep busy I'm sure...Christmas shopping (I'm doing more of that on line this year and loving it), decorating my home for the holidays, and taking care of many things in my personal and domestic life that I have neglected because of a lack of time or a misuse thereof. It will be nice, however, to be free of the daily obligations, deadlines, and commitments that are a constant part of our busy lives. For a dramatic change, I plan to do what I want, when I want to do it...or to do nothing at all if I so feel like it. One thing I plan to do for sure is to enjoy some quiet time spent in front of my fireplace enjoying the glittering lights on my Christmas tree. I also plan to take a little more time to do something that I all to often fail to do on a daily basis...read my Bible!

Thanks to Lacey Harbour and Stephen Walker for filling in for me on "The Great Day in the Morning Show" and to the WHEO management for allowing me some time off. I am very thankful and praise God that I have a job, especially considering that many unfortunate citizens of our community are facing unemployment and other hardships during this deep economic recession. I am also grateful that I am able physically and mentally to work and earn a living doing what I enjoy. I am blessed as well with a loving family and many dear friends and loved ones who have been urging me to slow down a little. Well, for the next week, I'm going to listen to them! I'll miss the many faithful listeners who tell me they wake up to my voice each morning but for the next week I'm going to forget that radio was ever invented! Well, time is awasting. I must get on with this all-too-new-to-me business doing WHATEVER I WANT or NOTHING AT ALL! See 'ya!

Love :O) forever,
Richard

A Parade to be Proud of!

I would like to commend the many individuals, churches, schools, civic groups, fire and rescue units, and community organizations who took part in Saturday's 36th annual Christmas parade in Stuart, one of the most successful in the history of this event. It was the best one that I can remember. Galen Gilbert and other volunteers did an excellent job in organizing the parade, putting all the entries in place and getting the parade started on time. I was impressed with the high quality as well as the number of entries in the parade.

My heart was touched to see the hundreds of people that lined the streets of Stuart to view the parade. It was great to be able to relax on a wintry afternoon and forget about our economic woes, personal troubles, and everyday concerns, and to celebrate together Christ's birth and the season of brotherly love. Mother Nature added the perfect touch to an outstanding parade when light snow began falling during the festive holiday procession. I was proud to be a part of it.

I would especially like to thank the Stowe family (Shannon and Jeryl and their daughters Madison and Kaitlyn) for inviting me to ride with them in their parade entry promoting "Madison's Moments," the WHEO Radio program of their oldest daughter, 7-year-old Madison Stowe. Madison does a wonderful job giving us a child's perspective of what being a Christian is all about each day on "The Great Day in the Morning Show." I love Madison and her program and so do thousands of people who tune in to hear her words of encouragement every weekday morning. Madison had a great time tossing candy and waving to the large crowd of spectators along the parade route from the sunroof of the car in which we all rode. I think we tossed nearly 15 pounds of wrapped chocolate candy into the crowd (I must admit that I held back a few Twix and Kit Kats miniatures to enjoy later).

The 2008 edition of this holiday tradition was certainly a parade to the proud of, filled with many moments to remember! Thanks again to everyone who worked so hard to make it a success and the several thousand enthusiastic spectators who appreciated their efforts. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Patrick County. God bless our beautiful county and all of you, its wonderful citizens.

:O) Richard