For many years I have been amazed by the enthusiasm and energy of one boy. His name is Patrick Sharrock.
He is now 9 years old and he has lived his life with those qualities and many others including a desire to encourage others and a great sense of humor despite facing the issues of growing up a rare bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta or O.I.
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I was recently honored to host a special evening in my hometown featuring showings of the new film “The Way Home.” I had originally attended a star-studded premiere of the Lionsgate and Red 5 Entertainment film at Atlanta’s Fox Theater.
I became familiar with the movie filmed on location in Carroll County, Ga. because one of my closest friends, Sonny Shroyer, “Enos” from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” joined Dean Cain and Lori Beth Edgeman in the project. Cain and Edgeman portray Randy and Christal Simpkins.
One of my readers said that I needed to share a bit of comedy in my column to raise the spirits of the folks back home. Well I don’t know if I can do that but I’m willing to take aim at it. So wherever you call home, I hope this uplifts your spirits!
One of my favorite places to find funny comments or situations is in church and sometimes the funniest thing you find relates with youngin’s and church thinkin’.
When you think of western films even thirty plus years after his passing the legendary John Wayne is who comes to most people’s minds.
Who can ever forget his greater than life presence on the screen no matter what film was rolling through the projector like “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “ The Sons of Katy Elder,” “True Grit,” “Rooster Cogburn,” and “The Shootist.” Read more
Computers truly have changed the world. Whether you like them or not, unfortunately they are part of our lives at least until the lights are turned out permanently.
My first experience with computers came when I was in high school. There was only one computer terminal in the whole school and there was no such thing as the Internet.
While I often say I have had one leg in Georgia and the other in Tennessee since my childhood, I will always be drawn to the things that make the peach state great. I have driven its highways and back roads, played in its theaters and music parks and acted in endless hours of television filmed in the Georgia heat and cold.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. The doctor had told my Mom that she might have breast cancer. I wasn’t much more than eight years old and hardly understood what it meant. All I know is that it worried her and she was extremely sad. I was sitting on the bed next to her. She had been crying and I went in trying to console her and make her smile. I do remember that she did stop long enough to smile at me and tell me that she loved me.
As I placed the log into the black cast iron stove, I watched the orange sparks rise up from the burning embers within its belly in grandma’s parlor.
I often stood at its front hopeful that it would make me feel warmer. It usually did at least on the one side until I turned and let the other warm.
When I was just about just about six years old, I remember our family had a special reason to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day – my brother Jerry returned from his service in the Navy during the Vietnam War.
For my brother, whose birthday fell on New Year’s Eve, I am sure that was an even more fantastic present than he could have wished for in his life. Read more
“I’d Rather Be An Old-Time Christian Than Anything I Know.
There’s Nothing Like An Old-Time Christian With A Christian Love To Show.”
Those are the words that Albert E. Brumley chose to lead the chorus of this classic gospel song. To me the most important words there are “With A Christian Love To Show.”
Although it is something we should apply each and every day there is no better time to put it in practice than Christmas.
Christian love, what does that mean?
A love given in a Christ like manner; a love given in the name of Christ; a love shared on behalf of our savior; a love that has no bounds because it was initially shared with us by God himself to share with others.
While I realize these are just my meager attempts to describe what God wishes us to show to all we meet, if we just look around us, we can see the true aspect of Christian love within our community.
We can see it in neighbor helping neighbor. We can see it in the food pantries helping families be fed. We can see it in one child sharing his or her toy with a less fortunate child.
Wouldn’t this be a wonderful world if we knew that a helping hand was a close as the nearest person to you? While that may seem like an improbability, at Christmas time, we collectively seem to get closer than in other times of the year to finding a sense of greater purpose than clinging to our own needs and desires.
Each year, my hopes for America, my hopes for my fellow man are renewed. If there was no Christmas time, I am afraid many would forget that we are suppose to show each other Christian love.
I am thankful that in other times of the year we have wonderful songs written by icons like Albert E. Brumley to remind us.
Brumley brought us songs such as “I’ll Fly Away,” “I’ll Meet You In the Morning,” “I Firmly Promise You” and countless others.
His family through the work of Bob Brumley has brought a regular opportunity for gospel performers and gospel fans alike to reflect on all the music Brumley gave us to honor God at the annual Brumley Gospel Sing in Lebanon, Mo each August.
Now my Brumley friends Kevin and Betsy (Brumley) Bernier at I’ll Fly Away Productions have made it possible for you to bring dozens of performances from the 40th Annual Brumley Gospel Sing into your home and enjoy them over and over again.
The seven-volume DVD collection features over 200 songs and 15 hours of entertainment including some of the biggest Southern gospel music stars: Karen Peck and New River, Dixie Melody Boys, Dove Brothers, Primitive Quartet, Booth Brothers, Tim Lovelace, Kingsmen, Diplomats, The Dixie Echoes, The Lesters, Mark Bishop, Mark Trammell Trio, Gospel Enforcers, The Perrys, Palmetto State Quartet, McKameys, The Morlan Family, Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Chuck Wagon Gang, The Whisnants, The Tribute Quartet, Aaron Wilburn, The Lewis Family, Geraldine and Ricky, Larry DeLawder, and a historical volume including Albert E. Brumley and the history of the Brumley Gospel Sing.
Friends, as I sat and watched these performances it warmed my heart to hear and see so many friends sharing their love of the Lord in music. That is what these folks are to me – friends, and I know the same is true for many of you who care about their lives of service the music and comedy shared to lift our loads.
The DVD set is available for $119.95 plus $10 shipping or individual volumes for $24.95 plus $6.95 shipping. You may find more information at www.ifaproductions.com.
Merry Christmas to each of you…
