Something happened on my radio show on Wednesday morning, July 29th that really touched my heart and made me feel warm inside and good about what I do for a living. I was honored to assist an American soldier deployed in the Mideast to connect with his wife in Patrick County via my WHEO radio morning program, "The Great Day in the Morning Show." U.S. Navy Master at Arms J.C. White telephoned my morning radio talk show shortly before 7 a.m. from overseas to wish his beloved wife Melissa of Stuart a happy 20th wedding anniversary today. Truly heartwarming! It is special incidents like that which occasionally occur on my show that make getting up at 4:00 each weekday morning worth the effort.
In our on-air telephone coversation, J.C. recalled that blessed day 20 years ago (July 29, 1989)when he married Melissa and indicated that it was one of the most wonderful moments of his life. Several other callers to my show told me what fine people the White's are. J.C. and Melissa White are the parents of 2 children who attend Patrick County Public Schools and they attend Harvest Worship Center. J.C. told me that he completed a tour of duty in wartorn Iraq just two days ago and that he was still deployed in the Mideast near Saudi Arabia. Melissa is a former dispatcher with the Patrick County Sheriff's Department, according to Brenda Simms one of the callers who expressed admiration for the couple.
J.C. told me in our radio chat, that he longs for the relatively cool weather of Patrick County. He noted that U.S. soldiers regularly have to endure 140-degree heat in the deserts of the Mideast. Asked how they cope with such infernal conditions, he replied the troops drink plenty of water and constantly keep on the move. I pray that J.C. will soon be delivered from such conditions and will be reunited with his wife and family in the cool breezes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in their beloved home of Patrick County.
J.C. promised me that he would come on my radio show as a guest when he returns home from his latest tour of duty. That is a day that I pray for and eagerly anticipate. Please join me in prayer that that hope will soon become a reality.
Being a part of the U.S. military, J.C. White can appreciate dedication and punctuality. Ms. Simms, who works for the company that provides tax services to the White family, quoted J.C. as saying, "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late. If you are late, it is unacceptable." I feel much safer just knowing that a young man of the caliber of J.C. White and other U.S. soldiers like him are constantly vigilant and ready to give their all, even their lives, to ably defend the country that they are proud to serve and protect the freedoms that we all enjoy.
I pray that J.C. White will soon be out of the constant dangers that come with military deployment in a world trouble-spot and that this courageous American soldier will be back at home with Melissa and their children Kaitlyn and Cullen and their families, safe and secure in the freedoms that he and other U.S. soldiers are fighting to maintain and secure. Please pray for J.C. and all United States soldiers defending our great land and our way of life around the world. I also ask you to add J.C. and other U.S. troops and military personnel to your personal prayer lists and those at your various churches.
It was most gratifying to me as a radio host to be able to assist this brave American soldier in getting his message of love to his wife and family from across the miles on this very special occasion. Sure, this loving couple and many others in similar situations are temporarily separated by vast physical distance but their yearning hearts are eternally connected. Happy 20th anniversary to J.C. and Melissa White. God bless you! God bless America!
Richard
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
On the Road Again....
It is good to be home after another long road trip with one of my favorite gospel music groups, the Southern Prophets. I was honored to accompany the 4-man group and members of their families to the Tennessee hometown of the band's senior member and leader, Denny Archer, during the weekend (July 17-19). Making the trip to Lafollette, Tennessee, were Denny and Marilyn Archer, Bobby and Judy Gardner, Mike Hall, Dwayne and Christy George and their sons Landon and Dillon, and me and fellow Southern Prophets "groupies" Lee and Susan Hazelwood.
We all had a wonderful time traveling together and enjoying fellowship with members of the two churches where the Southern Prophets sang Saturday night and Sunday. One of the churches was founded by Denny's brother. We were also treated to some wonderful home cooking by Denny's relatives and, of course, Marilyn kept us well fed with snacks on the way to and from our destination. I'd like to thank the group for inviting me to make the trip. I seized the opportunity to interview all four of the Southern Prophets as well as the accompanying wives and family members. Like I did two years ago when I went with the band of Ohio, I plan to edit the interviews and and use them to compile a multi-part series on this outstanding gospel group. It will require many hours of work to put together but hopefully it will be worth the wait. I consider the last series that I did on the Southern Prophets based on the Ohio trip to be one of the best of the feature reports that I've done during my broadcast career.
It was great to getaway from the everyday routine for awhile. We traveled through some beautiful country in neighboring Tennessee but we were all happy when we hit the Patrick County line on our return home Sunday evening. The Tennessee lakes (TVA project) and mountains are spectacular (the view from Clinch Mountain is breathtaking) and the people that we met were wonderful but I don't think any place on earth can compare with the beauty of Patrick County or the warmth of its people. That's why we call this wonderful county in which we live "God's Country"!
God bless the Southern Prophets and their music ministry.
Richard
We all had a wonderful time traveling together and enjoying fellowship with members of the two churches where the Southern Prophets sang Saturday night and Sunday. One of the churches was founded by Denny's brother. We were also treated to some wonderful home cooking by Denny's relatives and, of course, Marilyn kept us well fed with snacks on the way to and from our destination. I'd like to thank the group for inviting me to make the trip. I seized the opportunity to interview all four of the Southern Prophets as well as the accompanying wives and family members. Like I did two years ago when I went with the band of Ohio, I plan to edit the interviews and and use them to compile a multi-part series on this outstanding gospel group. It will require many hours of work to put together but hopefully it will be worth the wait. I consider the last series that I did on the Southern Prophets based on the Ohio trip to be one of the best of the feature reports that I've done during my broadcast career.
It was great to getaway from the everyday routine for awhile. We traveled through some beautiful country in neighboring Tennessee but we were all happy when we hit the Patrick County line on our return home Sunday evening. The Tennessee lakes (TVA project) and mountains are spectacular (the view from Clinch Mountain is breathtaking) and the people that we met were wonderful but I don't think any place on earth can compare with the beauty of Patrick County or the warmth of its people. That's why we call this wonderful county in which we live "God's Country"!
God bless the Southern Prophets and their music ministry.
Richard
Sunday, July 5, 2009
God Bless Our Country
As we get back to our routines following the celebration of America's Independence Day or 233rd birthday, let's all be thankful, not just on the Fourth of July but each day, to live in this great nation. Our country is far from perfect and our elected leaders often seem to be serving themselves and powerful special interest groups rather than the people who elected them. However, the United States of America is still the most prosperous and powerful country on earth and a blessing to those of us who are proud to live here.
Today, more than ever, America faces many daunting challenges that threaten our standard of living and our way of life. That is why it is important for Americans to be very vigilant and make every effort to stay abreast of what is happening in our country and the world in which we live. Brought closer than ever together by technology, today's global society and economy increasingly impact our country and its citizens. We all need to inform ourselves of the issues that directly affect our lives and get involved in the process of choosing leaders who will work for what is good for the country as a whole and not just furthering their own political careers.
Over the years since we declared our independence on July 4, 1776, it seems that we have gotten away from the vision of our founding fathers of being a nation that turns to God for guidance in its dealings at home and abroad. We as Americans need to pray daily for our country and the leaders to whom we have entrusted the reins of our government. We need to be especially grateful for our soldiers who are out their in the trouble spots of the world each day defending and paying the ongoing price for these freedoms that we have fought so hard to secure. Let's ask God to bless and guide us as we strive to guide our great but wayward country back to its roots as "one nation under God". As proud Americans, let's reaffirm that truly "in God we trust." God bless America.
Richard
Today, more than ever, America faces many daunting challenges that threaten our standard of living and our way of life. That is why it is important for Americans to be very vigilant and make every effort to stay abreast of what is happening in our country and the world in which we live. Brought closer than ever together by technology, today's global society and economy increasingly impact our country and its citizens. We all need to inform ourselves of the issues that directly affect our lives and get involved in the process of choosing leaders who will work for what is good for the country as a whole and not just furthering their own political careers.
Over the years since we declared our independence on July 4, 1776, it seems that we have gotten away from the vision of our founding fathers of being a nation that turns to God for guidance in its dealings at home and abroad. We as Americans need to pray daily for our country and the leaders to whom we have entrusted the reins of our government. We need to be especially grateful for our soldiers who are out their in the trouble spots of the world each day defending and paying the ongoing price for these freedoms that we have fought so hard to secure. Let's ask God to bless and guide us as we strive to guide our great but wayward country back to its roots as "one nation under God". As proud Americans, let's reaffirm that truly "in God we trust." God bless America.
Richard
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