WHEN ROCK & ROLL CAME TO THE COUNTY....

Things really started hopping in Buchanan County Schools during the decade of the 50’s. All county schools had something called ’Sock Hops’ in the school gym or cafeteria.
At Garden High School, Bill Miller told me that Grace Woolridge organized the Sock Hops and spun the new Rock & Roll tunes on a record player in the gym.
“It was called Canteen, and we ‘Got Down’ I tell ya!” Bill smiled in remembrance.

My wife Sandy and Brother-In-Law Bill Kennedy both attended Hurley High School, and in looking at their Rebel Annuals, there were pictures of some of the students doing’THE TWIST’….

Rock & Roll music had everybody Groovin’ and a Movin’ & Reelin’ with the Feelin’ at all five County Schools…The Whitewood Indians and Council Cobras had Sock Hops as well, for Rock & Roll music took both the County and America by storm.

I was introduced to Rock & Roll music as an 8th Grader in 1956 in the Grundy High School Auditorium (Site of the present day Appalachian School of Law.). Paul Altizer had formed a band he called ’THE JIVIN’ FIVE’. Since the music was new to most students and teachers, it took a while for the students to get with i that memorable day. Some of the teachers didn’t like it, and sat there with a scowl on their face. I remember lookingat the back of the auditorium to where Principal John Meade was standing with a big smile on his face. He had decided to let this newly formed band perform before the student body while charging 25c each to raise money for the March of Dimes.

Larry Williams explained to me how ’THE JIVIN’ FIVE’ got their start:

“Jack Gentry, the Grundy Band Director, asked myself and four others to form a band to play the Big Band songs of the 30’s. and 40’s. Songs like Chattanooga Choo- Choo and Blue Moon. But we started experimenting with some of the Rock & Roll songs that were just coming out. Especially some of Elvis Presley’s songs, like Blue Suede Shoes, and That’s Alright. When Mr. Gentry saw what we were doing, he remarked that folks would forget who Elvis Presley was in six months.
Boy! Was he ever wrong. Elvis had a #1 hit for 25 straight weeks in 1956. Songs like Hounding, Don’t Be Cruel and See You Later Alligator”….

“So, we got Paul Altizer, who was not in the school band, to help us get started. Paul was a singer and a piano player. Paul pretty much organized us and we practiced at various homes on weekday nights. Mostly, in Ray & Bonnie Wright’s basement , which was located under the old WRIGHT’S MARKET at Vansant. The original Five were me on Tenor Sax, Harry Guy Hall on Clarinet, Russ Altizer on Drums, Karen Hurley doing vocals, along with Paul Altizer on piano, and also the fearless leader of The Jivin’ Five,” Larry concluded.

Ron Cole participated with the band on many occasions, and as Ron explained to me. There were a lot more than five that participated over the next five years or so, including Bill Blake, who’s Dad, also named Bill Blake, managed Sayer’s Brothers Department Store in old Grundy. Both Bill, the son, & Ron spun Rock & Roll tunes as DJ’s at WNRG and had legions of listeners. (There was no FM station at the time.)…
(It’s been said that if recordings of Ron and Clyde Varney working together were available today they would be priceless, for it was a laugh a minute with those two doing much more than advertising and spinning the hits.)

Jack Woodard remembers driving down to the radio station just to watch Bill Blake spin the Rock & Roll tunes…
“Bill Blake couldn’t sit still. He kept patting the equipment with his hands while moving to the beat in his chair. Quite a show!” Jack said.

Jack also remembers that The Jivin’ Five performed at Bill Griffith’s place at Royal City for a few years in the late 50’s. Bill’s son, William Griffith, later ran a store there called THE FRIENDLY MARKET. Jack, who also played the BASS DRUM in the high school band, went there often to watch The Jivin’ Five… “And maybe dance just a little,” Jack laughed.

Several other girls participated with THE JIVIN’ FIVE up into the early 60’s. Paul’s sister Janice, Carol Combs, Alberta Salem, and Becky Hurst. All four of these helped out with vocals.

Songs like Rock Around The Clock, Tutti-Fruiti, Ain’t That A Shame, and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, really resonated with County teens. Truth to tell, our parents were less excited about these songs. My Dad would just shake his head. And this was typical with most adults, for they were more into Gospel and Country songs. The Huff-Cook Gospel Hour was popular on Sunday mornings, and on the country side, Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe could sell out the Morgan Theater in Grundy on a Saturday night…and Little Jimmy Dickens’s classic song, ‘Come Home It’s Suppertime’, closed out the WNRG station every evening at dusk..

But Rock & Roll was here to stay. The Golden Years of Rock & Roll were the 50’s & 60’s, and royally celebrated at all County Schools.

Certainly, you could understand most of the words and there was no profanity.Some songs didn’t make much sense, but they were catchy and sounded good coming trippingly off the tongue. Some teens could really 'Get Down' on Tutti-Fruiti and Be-Bop-A-Lu-Lu…Charlie Brown, Peggy Sue, and Wake Up Little Susie…The list is long!

The Grundy High School Class of 1958 has their 60th Reunion at the Grundy Fieldhouse this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. while also watching the Grundy Golden Wave entertain the Honaker Tigers on Homecoming Night. The 1958 GHS Class remembers well the Sock Hops and the Golden Oldies. Their Class has also invited my Class of 1960, as well as the 1959 Class.

Clyde “Nose” Keene, who passed recently, will be remembered at this Reunion. Clyde was a 2X MVP for the Grundy Golden Wave (57 & 58) and a 58 graduate…. But a frequent attendee of any Reunion he heard of….
And when the music started, Ol’ Nose glided on to the dance floor to kick up his heels and ‘Get Down’…
Always with a Big Smile on his face!

RIP Nose…Your Golden Wave Golden Oldie Spirit lives on!

June 13 Entry My Father's MEMORY BOOK

My Father's Memory Book...
"We lived in several houses at Harman. I guess Thelma had it hardest when we lived above # 2 Trestle. Since I worked the Hoot Owl shift, I remember looking down at our house as I trammed a motor across the #2 Trestle, and oftentimes Thelma would be standing at an ironing board ironing clothes even though it would be approaching midnight. She sure didn't get much sleep, and as far as that goes, I didn't either when I came home after daylight. Thelma didn't have to fix me breakfast, for I generally ate some of Thelma's delicious cornbread with milk poured over it before retiring for the day, usually to about 2 or 3:00 p.m., but sometimes up at noon. Oftentimes, since I was Chief Foreman, I would have to go in an hour or two early to plan where everyone was going, and a hundred other things... and stay an hour or so after the shift to fill out reports and such...Twelve hour shifts were common for me, and some of the hard working employees would want to Double Back & do two shifts for Double Time pay. And then there were some that always wanted off to go deer hunting or something. Frustrating, but I just tried to keep a cheerful attitude and do the best I could, and try to treat the men as I would want to be treated.
The house above #2 Trestle was a cold house right beside the road. There was an abundance of coal dust and noise, for the big fan that blew air deep into the mine roared continuously night and day. We loved to sit out on the porch, but even then it was hard to carry on a conversation, what with all of the fan and road noise. Cold house that was heated with a Warm Morning stove in the Dining Room. It was a small house with only two bedrooms, Dining & Living Room, Kitchen and one bathroom. (But lots of folks at that time lived in a house with two rooms and a path.... No indoor plumbing!)

Larry and David both went to Hiwassee and East Tennessee State. At Larry's graduation from ETSU, I was sitting beside of the father of one of Larry's friends, and we were discussing mining since we were both coal miners. Two ladies sitting in front of us suddenly turned around to face us with big smiles on their faces...
"I bet we can tell you what your occupations are!" one of the ladies said.
"Alright, go ahead and tell us," I said.
"YOU ARE BOTH HIGHWAY PATROLMEN!' she said, knowing she had us figured out.
"No mam," I said, we are both coal miners."
"She never said another word and just humped up and turned around quickly. Some people don't seem to care for us coal miners. I guess they would rather be cold. Mr. Ratliff and myself were dressed nice. No overalls, so I guess we fooled them. Coal miners have had a hard life, especially the early miners before the union came along to help them."

T words Alphabet Prayer...

O TRUE and TRUSTWORTHY God, THANKING You THIS THROWBACK THURSDAY for giving us THE TRUTH, and THE TOWER OF OUR SALVATION, Your Son, THE Master TEACHER, who purchased THE CHURCH with His own blood, also referred TO as:
THE TRUE VINE, THE MASTER TEACHER, THE LIVING BREAD, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, THE ROCK, and THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE...

Realizing THAT every single one of THESE TITLES start with THE & THAT THE means One Father.
THERE'S only One TOP DOG, so to speak, and You alone are TREMENDOUSLY TERRIFIC. 
YOU TRUMP all Father!
Your TIMELY TEACHINGS are TREASURES THAT TELL us how to achieve THE THRILL of VicTory, while avoiding the agony of Satan's deceit.

THANKING You TODAY for placing a TUNE of THANKFULNESS in my heart...

THINKING also Father THAT TODAY is THE TOMORROW we worried about yesterday...
Give us Grace for TODAY & a TREMENDOUS Outlook O God. May we all choose TO be on Your TRIUMPHANT TEAM.

Because of Your TRIUMPHANT Son,
Amen.
T words alphabeT prayer.

Alphabet Prayer...J Words...

JUST JUDGE of All, O Great JEHOVAH, I ask for mercy and JUSTIFICATION and not the JUSTICE I deserve. 
Grant that my Friends and I will lay aside all JEALOUSY this Monday & be JUBILANT as we encounter Your JAM-PACKED, JAW-DROPPING JEWELED works... 
May we JOIN You on that JOYFUL JOURNEY Your Son, JESUS, made possible on two JOINTS of wood.... In JESUS' Name, Amen...(Alphabet Prayer...'J' Words)

Alphabet Prayer....

ALPHABET PRAYER that I've been praying 'Every' Night since I was in UVA Hospital undergoing 3 brain surgeries in 2006: 
Almighty God You Are An Awesome Amazing God. Thank You for All blessings And truth found in You Alone. To You who gives so exceedingly Abundantly Above All that we Ask or think, I say, ‘ Allelujah!’ Thank You for the Atonement And America the

Beautiful is what You are God! Help me to have a Be-Attitude as I Build my Being on Your Holy Bible. Your Balm of Bountiful Blessings Buoy my Being.You are the Best! Bravo!

Coming to You in prayer is so Calming Great Comforter. Thank You for sending the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to purchase the Church on Calvary’s Cross. You Cheer me!

Desiring to give You Divine Devotion, may I Dream of Your Deity and awaken to the Day Determined to Deliver Your message of Deliverance O Daystar on High.

Exalted Excellency . . . Every blessing is from You Eternal God . . . and is intended for Everyone Everywhere that we too might have life Everlasting.

Forgive me O God that I might be a Faithful and Fruitful Friend…. Fighting the good Fight to the Finish. Thank You For Forgetting my sins, and as it were, putting up a NO FISHING sign when You cast them into the deepest sea.

Glory God! That’s what I want to Give You. Thank You for the Greatest Gift ever. Grant me Grace to Gladly have a Gratitude Attitude.

Hallelujah! O Holiest of Holies . . . thank You for the Harmony of Your Heavenly Handiwork and my Happy Heart.

Increase your blessings Immortal I AM. Immerse me now In your Incomparable Ideals that others may come to know the Immeasurable Joy found IN You Alone.

Just a closer walk with thee O Just Jehovah is all I ask for. Thank You for the Joyful Journey I have because I’m Justified in Jesus.

Keep me O King of Kings and Keeper of all creation. I’m Knocking at Your door to Kindly thank You for your Kindness that I might Keep on Keeping on for You.

Longsuffering Lord . . . thank You for Letting me Look into the perfect Law of Liberty to discover Your Love and the Light of the world. Let me Lovingly Listen to You and others….and Learn to Laugh at myself.

Merciful Maker . . . how Marvelous that Your Majestic Motivating Message is Made Manifest to my Mind.

New each day O God is Your Nurturing. Help me make a joyful Noise as I travel Your Narrow upward way. May I be more Neighborly as I Navigate every Next and Now of life.

Only You God are Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. Open my eyes that I may always be Obedient and have an Optimistic Outlook.

Praise you O Perfect Physician, Prince of Peace…. My Prayer is that I might Press on to receive Your Precious Promises . . . and Point People to Your Profitable Plan and Powerful Possibilities.

Quicken my Quest for the Quality of life found only in You O Quintessential Spirit.

Revered Redeemer… help me Redeem my time and be Redhot Ready to Run the Race with Relish. Thank You for your promise to Restore me when I truly Repent.

Sustainer of life . . . help me to Seek Your Son and the Spring of Living Water, Salt of the Earth. Thank You for Sending Him to Strengthen me and present the way to Salvation.

Triumphnt Teacher . . . May I Think Thankful Thoughts as I Thrill to Your Timely Truths.

Unto You O God I come to Unburden my heart to Your Unending love. It is only as I Understand Your plan that I feel Upbeat and Useful.

Verily father . . . Your Voice from the true Vine alone gives me the Vim and Vigor necessary to be a Victor and not a Victim.

Who am I Worshipful Father that I am counted Worthy to be Washed in Your Living Water? How Wonderful are Your Words and Way!

Xalted are You in all the earth most Xcellent Holy One! You alone Xcel!

Youthful Father I Yearn for Your Ways as I Yield to Your Yoke. Yes!

Zoom in on your would be Zealous servant O Father that I might not Zig or Zag in my Zeal for You. Zzzzzzz

Truth to tell though, most nights I'm asleep long before I get to Zzzzzzz...LOL...

But I was in the Neuro Ward while at UVA...Most days I didn't know my name or what year it was, or even where I was...Once when they asked me where I was, I said, 'The Little Prater Church of Christ Beauty Parlor'...And in my mind that is exactly where I thought I was, even though the Little Prater Church of Christ has no such facility....LOL...Peggy Lowe, who attends at Little Prater, did do my hair, but I have no idea how I came up with that...The only thing I seemed to remember for certain was the Alphabet, and since I couldn't stand any noise or TV even, I just prayed the alphabet over and over and over...
It gave me Great Comfort and Peace....& still does....
To my dying day.

Day 26 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...Z WordZ...

ZELL, there's ZERO days left, ZO I would just like to ZANK all my ZILLIONS of ValentineZ who have faithfully followed all 26 postZ by giving each of you an all expenZes paid trip to ZURICH, Switzerland... 

Plus a yearZ supply of SWIZZ CHEEZE WHIZ...

To take advantage of this one-time BonanZa, ZIMPLY ZEND $100 to me in a SASE & Z will take care of ZE rest my Happy Valentine!

YeZ, ZURE Ship haZ come in my ZILLY Friend!

Day 25 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...Y Words...

TodaY is a Great Day to begin or continue in a YEARLONG YEARNING to Learn & Lean on our Savior Jesus: 

"Take My YOKE upon YOU and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowlY in heart, and YOU will find rest for your souls. For MY YOKE is easy and MY burden is light."...Matthew 11:29-30...

(Certainly, when compared to the YUCKY YARNS the YAHOOS of this world have to offer, there's No Comparison...LOL)...

May all of Jesus's Valentines who are YOUNG-AT-HEART take on a YEARNING YEOMANLY like Attitude that we can live 'One Sweet DayY up YONDER in Heaven with The One Who promises to forgive all of our YESTERDAY sins ....when we sayYYES to Him & have the YESABILITY to obey His Life-Giving Commands...

I'm not a YODELER, but YAHOO anyway! YIPPE-Ti-YI-YAY!
YEARNING TO Learn & ObeY...
YES!

Day 24 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...X Words...

May we all be XENODOCHIAL this February Valentine month...
XENODOCHIAL simply means: 'Friendly to Strangers'...

Hoping & praying we can do so w/o getting shot or slapped..
(I've been fortunate so far, taking this word to heart by giving away over 1,000 chocolate Dove Hearts.... & Halos.)...Probably much more, but I quit counting long ago...

Kinda gives a rush to see a frown X'd out & replaced with a  smile from a friend.... & make an Angel of a Stranger with the Halos....I meet some & make some........LOL

Day 23 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...W WORDS....

WISHING my WISE, WITTY, and WARM-HEARTED friends a WONDERFULLY WINSOME WEEK-END...or WEEKDAY, as the case may be....
 & may WE all WORSHIP our WONDERFUL Savior on the Lord's Day, WHICH, in reality, is every day of the WEEK. As the Psalmist WISELY WORDED it: 
This is the day that the Lord has made; WE WILL rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

"WHEN I am afraid, I WILL trust in You." Psalm 56:3...

"WHATEVER you would that men should do to you, do ye also unto them." Matthew 7:12...

WORTHY of note: WHERE there's a WILL, I WANT to be in it...LOL...

Day 22 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...V Words...

VICTORY rests with the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)...
"But thanks be to God, Who gives us the VICTORY." 
(1 Corinthians 15:57)...
No matter how VIBRANT& VIGOROUS we think we are, we all have a Sin VIRUS that makes us VULNERABLE to the pangs of death, but thankfully, as the Apostle Paul declares:

"O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy VICTORY?"...(1 Corinthians 15:57)...

Yes, Jesus gives us the VICTORY, but we do have to receiVe it & we do need to take note of Jesus's words:

"But in VAIN do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)...

Many of Jesus's BIBLE VERSES start with VERILY! VERILY! which means Truly! Truly!..Thinking we should make every effort to obey Jesus's VERY VERY important words:
"He who believes and is baptized shall be saved." 
(Mark 16:16)...

Jesus's God-breathed, Holy Spirit filled words should have VALUE above all!

No matter how VELVETY smooth a preacher or any person's words may be, our salvation hinges on Jesus's VERILY VERILY words, as our VALENTINE sent from God...

As John the baptizer said when he saw Jesus walking toward him:
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."...

The Life-Giving VALENTINE VICTORY is ours, but only if & when we claim it on His terms....

V-RRROOOM!!...Just as a car engine makes this sound, may we also VACATE our sins...

 & Roar to VICTORY!

Day 21 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...U Words...

UNDERWHELMING...& UNREAL...How few of my UNIQUE friends liked my S & T words...UNPOPULAR I guess...UGLY?
Them...or Me...or USENS, as they say in the mountains...LOL...

So, I'm making this one short:

U are UNFORGETTABLE Valentine b/c of UR UNIQUE UPBEAT UNSELFISH UNUGLY UNDERSTANDING UNTO me to give me UNCLOUDY days...

URGING U 2B His UNPRETENTIOUS Valentine 2 day also.

U R 2 Sweet 2 B 4-Got-10!

Day 20 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...T Words...

TODAY, TUESDAY, may we be TOTALLY THRILLED by the TOUCH of THE Master TEACHER'S Hand, who is THROWING out THE Lifeline TODAY THAT we might TAKE TIME TO be Holy as we TRUST in His TIMELESS TRUTHS...
Softly & TENDERLY He's Calling!
Christ is THE ONE who desires THAT we stand TALL and TRIUMPH like a THOROUGHBRED TOGETHER, as 'One T.E.A.M.'...
TOGETHER Everyone Accomplishes More, as it has been proven THAT one TEAM of horses can pull, not TWICE, but Four TIMES as much as one solitary horse...
We are TOUGHER and more TENACIOUS when we know someone is pulling TIRELESSLY TOGETHER with us TO be THE TOP DOG...LOL...
in TRIUMPH...(TRY+UMPH)...LOL...
And while we are TRYING, let us consider THAT THERE are no TROUBLEFREE lives or situations...

We will do well TO TRUST in His TIMELESS TRUTHS. THIS verse should make us TREMBLE:

"In vain do THEY worship ME, TEACHING TEACHINGS THAT are commandments of men." 
Matthew 15:9...

Unless it's THUS sayeth THE Lord, we are in for a TOUGH ride & even TOUGHER landing...LOL...
Let's be TENACIOUS, for we have much TO be THANKFUL for & look forward TO:

"In a moment, in THE TWINKLING of an eye at THE last TRUMP, for THE TRUMPET shall sound and THE dead shall be raised incorruptible."...In other words, we are going to live forever somewhere...& we get to choose. It's like an election: God is voting for us; Satan is voting against us....
But we cast THE Final TRAILBLAZING vote...

May each of us TAKE advantage of THIS TREMENDOUSLY TERRIFIC opportunity to make our calling and election sure:

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence TO make your calling and election sure: for if ye do THESE THINGS, ye shall never fall. 
2 Peter 1:10...

"And THESE were more noble than those in THESSALONICA, receiving the word with all readiness of mind, daily searching THE scriptures TO see if THESE THINGS were so." 
Acts 17:11...

May each of us read and study God's Holy Bible: 
THE Holy Bible directs us TO a TENDER-HEARTED Savior, who we can only get to know through TAKING TIME to understand the scriptures.... May we TAKE notice of Paul's words:

"Study to shew THYSELF approved unto God, a workman that needeth not TO be ashamed, rightly dividing THE Word of TRUTH."...
2 TIMOTHY 2:15...
Have a TREMENDOUS TUESDAY Valentine!

Day 19 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...S Words...

SAVIOR Like A SHEPHERD, SHELTER In The Time of STORM,
SUNSHINE In My SOUL...
SOARING this morning that we can SING SPIRITED SONGS like these above about SOMEONE SO SPECIAL as our SAVIOR Jesus Christ, who is always STANDING by to lend a SYMPATHETIC ear to SAVED SINNERS, whose SOLE mission is SUMMED up: 
"For the SON OF MAN has come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost."...Luke 19:10...

Our SAVIOR SACRIFICED SO much, may we SINFUL SINNERS:
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keeping your SPIRITUAL fervor, SERVING the Lord." 
Romans 12:11...

Considering all of the unrest in our land due to SENSELESS SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, let us SEEK the SAVIOR this Monday:

"If My People, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves, and pray & SEEK My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their SIN, and heal their land." 
2 Chronicles 7:14...

Happy Valentine's Day to our SYMPATHETIC & SUPPORTIVE SAVIOR....
May we SNUGGLE up to the SON OF GOD with a
SWEET Hour Of Prayer this SIZZLING Monday...

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our SALVATION." 
Psalm 68:19...

"You are the SALT of the earth."
Matthew 5:13...

Closing with this SUCCESS provoking SUPPORTIVE thought:

There's no thrill in easy SAILING when the SKIES are clear and blue; There's no joy in merely doing things which anyone can do...But there is SOME SATISFACTION that is mighty SWEET to take, when you reach a destination they SAID you couldn't make....

Be a SELF-CONFIDENT SAVIOR-DRIVEN SUCCEEDER today.

Day 18 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...R Words...

America REALLY needs to get back to teaching the 'Three R's' if we R going to be RENEWED & RISE above our problems...
But I am not REFERRING to READIN' RITIN' & RITHMETIC..LOL
1. RESPONSIBILITY: Teaching kids & adults to 'Man-Up' & stop the blame game...while being RELIABLE & RESPONSIVE to timeless truths...
(Perhaps a REFRESHER course on Kindergarten teachings of RESPECT for each other?))...REALLY...LOL

2. RESPECT: REALIZING that every RASCAL we meet has REALLY cool & REMARKABLE qualities. RAH! RAH! RAH!
{Love the way MMS in Grundy nearly always produces REVERENT & RESPECTFUL kids): 

3. RESOURCEFULNESS: Everyone can do something to REVITALIZE themselves & REFRESH others, whether in word or deed....RAH! RAH! RAH!

"RENEW A RIGHT spirit within me." 
Psalm 51:10...
"REJOICE in the Lord, O you RIGHTEOUS, for praise from the UPRIGHT is beautiful."...
Psalm 33:1...
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you RICHLY."
Colossians 3:16...

And since today is the Lord's Day, let's RISE up & be RED-HOT READY to worship our REDEEMER with the REDEEMED at the Church the ROCK OF AGES purchased at Calvary...

May you have a RECORD-SETTING DAY ROLLING out the RED-CARPET for others who desire to RUN the RACE...
"REDEEMING the time for the days are evil." 
Ephesians 5:16...

Love the song 'CHILD OF THE KING':
My Father is RICH in houses and lands;
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His Hands,
Of RUBIES and Diamonds, of Silver and Gold,
His coffers are full...He has RICHES untold.

Happy Valentine's Lord's Day!
RAH! RAH! RAH!

Day 17 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...Q Words...

Hopefully, we are all on a QUEST to QUALIFY in the Race of Life...
To QUALIFY we need to spend QUALITY QUIET time with the One who QUENCHES all of our QUEASY QUALMS... while causing us to QUIT our QUOTA of QUACKY QUIRKS...LOL...

If this makes your Liver QUIVER, remember there is a QUIZ after all QUIPS have been QUIPPED...QUESTIONS? 
God has answers:

"QUICKEN me after Your Lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of Your mouth." 
Psalm 119:88...

" QUENCH not the Spirit; Hold fast that which is good." 
1 Thessalonians 5:19...

May the spirit of Valentine's Day be QUILLED not only in word, but also QUITE QUICKLY in a large QUANTITY of QUALITY sacrificial deeds....

Happy Valentines Day to our Lord & our QUEENS....

Day 16 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...P Words...

PUT them in mind to be subject to PRINCIPALITIES & POWERS, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. Titus 3:1....
And all God's PEOPLE say "PREACH IT!"
For we PURELY need to be PROTECTING our most PRIZED POSSESSION: Our Children!...
PROMOTING the idea that retired POLICE Officers would PROUDLY step up to help PROTECT & once again PROMOTE PUBLIC safety where it's needed most: Our PUBLIC & PRIVATE schools...

"But let PATIENCE have its PERFECT work, that you may be PERFECT and complete, lacking nothing."
James 1:4

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE, and PERSEVERANCE character, and character Hope." 
PROVERBS 3: 4-5...

Our All- POWERFUL Almighty God has this!

"And the PEACE of God, which PASSES all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
PHILLIPIANS 4:7...

PRAYING for PEACE and PROTECTION for our PRIZED Valentines both PRIVATELY & PUBLICLY.

Day 15 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...O Words...

Hoping this Valentine post will put you ON Cloud 9...

OVERLY OPTIMISTIC while having an OUT OF the ORDINARY Day...
OVERCOMING all OBSTACLES OPENHEARTEDLY with an OUTRAGEOUSLY OUTSTANDING Attitude...OOH LA-LA!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a New Creation, OLD things have passed away, behold all things have become new...2 Corinthians 5:7...O Yeah!

Be kindly affectionate to ONE another with brotherly love. 
Romans 9:10...O My!

May the spirit of Valentine's Day March ever ONWARD as we have OPPORTUNITY this Tremendous Thursday the 15th (in Valentine Month) that God has OPENED up for us...

Day 14 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...N Words...

Happy ValeNtiNes Day!
Almighty God, You promised NEVER to leave me NOR forsake me. 
Without Your NOURISHING Love, I am NOTHING...NADA...NO Hope...

NO reason to abstain from NAUGHTINESS 'N be NICE. 
Thank You that Your mercies are NEW every morning....'

N that where You are there is NO NIGHT....

Because of the NAME that is above every NAME, 
the NAME at which every kNee shall bow 
wheN You seNd Your Son Jesus Christ back at the last trump, 
AmeN.
God is Love, 'N those who abide 'N Love abide 'N God, 'N God abides 'N them.
 1JohN 4:16...

Day 11 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...K Words...

KIND... When we're not KIND, we are the 'Wrong KIND'...
KISS...Greet one another with a Holy KISS
(Romans 16:16)...But in this age, you might ought to KEEP it down a little...K?...LOL)
KILLJOY... May we be KEEP on KEEPING KINDNESS alive...
& Not KILL another's Joy...

Let's KEEP away from Joy KILLERS...As we stock up Valentines to give away on WINSday the 14th...
Or Today, for Today is all we've got.....
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the KEYS of Hades and of Death."....Jesus in Revelation 1:18...

"Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the KINGDOM OF GOD.'" Luke 9:62...
(The KINGDOM is The Church Jesus purchased at Calvary.)

Just KNOW you are planning to worship the KING OF THE UNIVERSE on this rainy Lord's Day morning...
Whosoever will, let them partake of the Water of Life freely.(Revelation 22:19)...Different KIND of Water...LOL...

The KING is KNOCKING at your heart's door this Valentine's Day & desires to impart KNOWLEDGE that will enable you to deliver a KNOCKOUT punch to Satan... and this world...& propel your 'Living Soul' right into the KINGDOM He purchased with His own blood...Making you want to Fall to your KNEES and cry 'Holy'...

"The Lord is my KEEPER." Psalm 121:5...

Happy Valentine's Day to KITH & KIN... & The One who KNIT us together in our mother's womb....
"For you created my inmost being; You KNIT me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13....

Day 12 in 26 days of Alphabetical Valentining...L words...

"I have LOVED you with an Everlasting LOVE, with LOVINGKINDNESS I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3...
"Trust in the LORD with all thy heart and LEAN not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
"He who does not LOVE does not know God, for God is LOVE." 1 John 4:8...

Thankful this rainy Monday for LIFE, LIBERTY & the pursuit of happiness, for which all Americans are promised by our government...I think it's referred to as inalienable rights for aLL Americans....even LARRY....Good ol' LUCKY LARRY...but truth to tell, the only 'Good LUCK' I ever have is when I LAY it on the LINE -----------with a red-hot LEANING to overcome 'Bad LUCK'...LOL....
LOTS of LUCK to LARRY & aLL my friends....

LUCK is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity though, I reckon anyway...Hey! Grant me some LEEWAY here...
May we LEARN to LAUGH & May this LOVELY Monday, two days before Valentine's Day, be the first day of a LUXURIOUS LONGEVITY on God's FootstooL...
Happy Valentine's Day & LINCOLN’s Birthday to aLL!

Day 13 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...M words

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but this Tuesday I am "Looking for a City whose Builder and MAKER is God."...
Hebrews 11:10...

" In MY Father's House are MANY MANSIONS, if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto MYSELF, that where I am, you MAY be also." 
John 14:2.....

How MARVELOUS, MAGNIFICENT, MAGICAL & MIND-BLOWING is MY MASTER...

MADLY in Love with Him MINUTE to MINUTE....

I get MISTY whenever I MEDITATE on His MIGHTY MIGHTY Power & Holy Word....
Be His Valentine!

Day 10 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...J Words

We have something to be JUBILANT about today friends...And Not JUST for today but Eternity!
Pass the JELLYBEANS! JUMP for JOY!
JESUS'S JUSTIFYING death on a cross in JERUSALEM gives us cause for 'Unspeakable JOY'...

Being JUSTIFIED means : JUST As IF I Had NEVER Sinned'...Let that sink in! No amount of fine JEWELRY can compensate for this!

Instead of the JUSTICE we JUSTLY deserve, we can obtain Mercy...JOY! JOY! We can fare well in the JUDGMENT...

"Therefore, being JUSTIFIED by Faith, we have Peace with GOD through our Lord JESUS Christ."...
Romans 5:1...

"And if Children, then Heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS with Christ." 
Romans 8:17...
JUBILANT JAMMIN' Here!

JOHN is referred to four times as 'The disciple whom JESUS loved, and is the one JESUS turned His mother over to take care of at the cross.

As JESUS hung on 2 JOINTS of wood, JESUS gave JOHN the charge: "Behold thy mother!"
(JOHN 19:27)...

And from that point on JOHN took Mary into his own household & it wasn't until much later that JOHN began writing the Book of JOHN, First, Second & Third JOHN & the Book of Revelation....JOHN took both JOBS very seriously...

Speaking of JOBS, consider JOB in the O.T.
JOB lost everything he possessed in one day, even his children, but JOB still had his wife, who advised JOB to 'Curse God and Die' as he sat in a pile of ashes with JUICY Red sores all over his body...JOB refused!
"Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him." (JOB 15:13)...

JOB was not JESTING & God knew it, for JOB said in JOB 19:25: 
"For I know my Redeemer lives and will stand upon the earth at the last."

Even though it would seem that JOB is in JEOPARDY, with 'No Hope', we know better, for the Bible tells us that he had More at the end than he had before he lost everything...Salvation even...JAZZY JOYFUL feeling like no other....

Make JESUS your JOYFUL Valentine & let's Rejoice in the JOLLITY only He can bring...

Day 9 IN 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...i Words...

Peter says that we have an INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE and undefiled reserved in Heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:4)...
BUT, we have to claim the INHERITANCE: "For as many (or as few...LOL) as have been baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)...

When we 'Set our Sails' and say I CAN or I WILL, it makes an INCREDIBLE difference, for remember we are AmerICANS.....
& some are RepublICANS....LOL...

God said: "I AM who I AM." (Exodus 3:14)....

Consider following the IUOO Formula for Success:(pronounced I-OOH)
INLOOK, UPLOOK, OUTLOOK...OUTCOME...
(When we look deep INSIDE ourselves & then look Upward to God IN prayer, we will INVARIABLY have an INVIGORATING Outlook...And with all that going for us, we can expect the right Outcome every time....

I am INSISTING that you have an INCREDIBLE FRYday & Valentine's Day!

You are IRREPLACEABLE to me...You INSPIRE me with your INTIMATE, INTOXICATING & INCOMPARABLE ways...AYE ! AYE!...LOL

Day 8 in Alphabetical Valentining...H Words...

HOWDY HOMBRES...Let me start out this Thursday Valentine post by writing about the Sunday morning I made an all day journey from my HARMAN, Virginia HOME to HIWASSEE Junior College, located about fifty miles from Knoxville & two HARD miles from a little town named Madisonville in Tennessee. It all started at daylight that HOT June morning, for Mom & Dad took me to Claypool HILL to catch a bus that was traveling west....

Mom HAD packed my HABERDASHERY in one large trunk and a suitcase, plus a HANDBAG or two...After boarding the bus at about 9:00, and stashing my goods in an HIDDEN
compartment underneath the bus, we went merrily on our way, passing through numerous towns, picking up more passengers & losing some along the way, but the biggest stop was in downtown Knoxville....

I was beginning to think we would never get there. It was late evening when the bus arrived in Madisonville...There was nothing HOSPITABLE about the bus station or the people I met. The Driver of the bus HELPED me retrieve about a HUNDRED pounds of luggage from the HIDDEN compartment, and with not another single person disembarking, HE went on towards Nashville....

Myself, with no taxis or other HUMANS in sight, just followed the sign that was pointing towards HIWASSEE, carrying a bag or two and dragging a big trunk behind me as I HUSTLED down the HOT & dusty unpaved road....All through HIGH school I HAD HAD good luck HITCHHIKING, but my luck ran out that day. HARDLY any traffic & the few that did pass me, just waved their HAND...Two HARD miles later, stopping only occasionally to sit and rest on my trunk, I arrived near the campus...There was one last HURDLE: An UPHILL climb on a winding road through a cemetery...

After about an HOUR searching for my roommate, fellow HARMAN boy, Willard 'Sheriff' Owens, who HAD attended the First Summer Session & had sent a letter a few months previous, asking me to attend the Second Summer Session...
I HAD just graduated from HIGH School at Grundy & HAD been debating about whether to join the military. Mom & Dad HAD encouraged me to try, so there I was...

But I was ready to go back HOME that very night...Willard's room was a drab basement room, and after Willard showed me around a little (There were less than a HUNDRED attending that summer session.)...and only about 25 boys & most of them must HAVE been HIDING...LOL..

Willard managed to lock me in HIS room and make me promise to stay at least one night, and that was really a no-brainer, for it was almost dark & the prospects of walking back down through a graveyard & HUMPING it two HARD miles down the road to catch a ride HOME wasn't at all appealing...

I said OK and HE laughingly opened the door to a place I HASTILY learned to love as I got HABILITATED to my new surroundings. HIWASSEE was HOME for two HEAVENLY years, and was also HOME for my beloved brother David about five years later..When I visited HIM on occasion, it was HEARTENING to see that HE was staying in a brand-new dorm...AND that the HIGHWAY to the college HAD been paved...HIGH times indeed...

"My son, eat HONEY, because it is good, and the HONEYCOMB, which is sweet to your taste." 
Proverbs 24:13...

"HOW sweet are Your words to my taste, yea sweeter than HONEY." 
Psalm 119:103...

"Blessed are those who HUNGER and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." 
Matthew 5:6...

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your HEARTS and minds through Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:7...

HEAVENLY Father, HELP us to be HOT-HEARTED & Not HOT-HEADED as we fall HEAD-Over HEELS in love with You and Your HOLY Word this Valentine's Day, forgoing the HOGWASH & HOOEY that HOVERS around us...
In HOSANNA's name I pray, Amen...

HAVE a Very HAPPY HUMPDAY Thursday my HEARTFELT Friends ....
& may we HAVE a HANKERING for HIM & HIS HANDIWORK.
HAPPY Valentine's Day...& remember this:
It's HARD to see HALOS when you're looking for HORNS

Day 7 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...G Words...

GOD GIVES GOOD GIFTS. Matthew 7:11...
Worship the Lord with GLADNESS. Psalm 100:2...
David asked GOD to GIVE him understanding in Psalm 119:34;
Mindful also that Solomon wrote with the GUIDANCE of the Holy Spirit: 
"With all thy GETTING, GET understanding." Proverbs 4:7...

So thankful this WINSday morning that "The GRACE of GOD that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men."...Has also appeared to Me & Thee...LOL...
And has also GIVEN me and Thee a blessed hope as we wait patiently for the GLORIOUS appearance of our GREAT GOD and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)...

Who GENUINELY desires to be our Valentine....GLORY!

GREAT to know this Bible truth: 
"GODLINESS with contentment is GREAT GAIN." 
(1 Timothy 6:6)...

We know it but as imperfect non-robotic humans, we find it difficult ofttimes to follow.... often deciding to GRATIFY our fleshly desires....Forgive us GOD...
Your Word and GOODNESS GIVES us GENUINE GOOSEBUMPS. As we GO GLADLY through the day, may we
"Press toward the mark of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus."...Phillipians 3:14...

Remembering that GOODNESS & GENTLENESS are two of the 9 Fruit of the Spirit that Paul says we can't have too much of...
Let's GORGE ourselves on all nine...Pig out! LOL
Convinced that they are the only things that will make us GORGEOUSLY GODD-LOOKING before GOD...

Have a GOOD and GODLY WINSday on God's Footstool my GORGEOUS GUY & GAL friends.....
Not flattery, just telling it like it is...LOL
Happy Valentine's Day!

Day 6 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining...F Words...

Heavenly FATHER, Earthly FATHER, GrandFATHER & FRIENDS.

Heavenly FATHER...
I would rather be FOUND with my Heavenly FATHER in the dark than go alone in the light.
God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1John 1:5....

Loved the song we sang at CCYC campfires: 
FATHER, I adore You, lay my life before You...How I Love You!...Always, a FEELING of FELLOWSHIP with our FATHER in Heaven...FELT like one could just reach out and touch our FATHER'S FACE...As we gazed into the FIRE & each other's FEATURES... Ofttimes the tears just FLOWED...
FANTASTIC FEELING!

Earthly FATHER...
Earl G. FIELDS was my earthly FATHER, a coal miner FOR over FOUR decades, FIRST going to work in a Model-T FORD with his FATHER & since there was no Anti-FREEZE, the radiator had to be drained after every trip in the wintertime. This was the early 1930's when my FATHER was still a teenager. Dad wrote that after working a 10-hour shift, they would have to go to a creek to get water to FILL up the radiator & that sometimes they had to work in wet conditions, causing their britches' legs to FREEZE together and FLAP like stovepipes. (His very words!...LOL)...
The Model T-FORD had to be cranked to start and they had to FIX FLATS quite often...All of that to just earn a FEW dollars a day. Things got much better when my FATHER moved to Harman and became a Mine FOREMAN for Harman Mining Company, where he made good wages and FINANCED my education FOR the most part....
(I did get a National Defense Loan, where I didn't have to pay all of it back, if I became a teacher.)..I did!...

But my FATHER was a FUN FELLOW to be around, like all coal-miners, and like all miners a Mr. FIXIT. Our FATHER was especially good to his FAMILY of FOUR...actually six because their FIRSTBORN were twin girls, who died in infancy).... Dorla, David, Trudy & myself had a FATHER who also had a FAITHFUL wife who was a FABULOUS cook...

FRANK, my GrandFATHER, who I never saw except in a couple of grainy pictures... But the picture my FATHER painted of him in my mind is that of an extremely caring and talented man. (Even helping Dad build his FIRST house and taking care of everything when their twins died.)...My earthly FATHER wrote that his FATHER took care of the grave digging tools when they lived on Tom's Creek Hill during the decade of the 20's and early 30's...
This one FACT speaks volumes about my GrandFATHER FRANK: He took care of the FINAL resting place of the FALLEN in their community...Often high on a hill somewhere...
My heart skipped a beat just a few short years ago when I was FINALLY able to FIND GrandFATHER FRANK'S grave marker high on a hill at a cousin's farm near Lebanon, Virginia. The marker was nice, and also contained the graves of the cousin's parents. It is neatly tended, FENCED in, to keep the cows out, and immaculately groomed, but it does take a 4-Wheel Drive vehicle to reach...

I have never met FRANK or my Heavenly FATHER FACE-to-FACE, but hoping to meet both some sweet day....And since he died two years before my birth from complications involving a brain tumor, and speculated that it came about b/c he was once kicked in the head by a horse, it will be a meeting of the brains...LOL

FRIENDS...
FRIENDS & the FRIEND who sticks closer than a brother are what Valentines Day is all about in my FEEBLE mind...(12 year survivor of three brain surgeries!)

God make me worthy of my FRIENDS, because of Your FIRSTBORN, in whose name I pray, Amen.

Have a FABULOUS Tuesday, the 6th of FEBRUARY FRIENDS.

Day 5 in 26 Days of Alphabetical Valentining....E Words...

Sandy & I loved getting to see our Super Granddaughter, ELLIE Grace Fields, play in a basketball game Saturday in Knoxville, where ELLIE ELEVATED her game!...EVEN riding to & from the game with NanaPop...How SwEEEEEt it was!
Also getting to celEbratE our Grandson Henry Clark Fields' 2nd Birthday on Super Bowl Sunday EVE..
Two things to get EXCITED about!!

Of course, EVERY Sunday is Super, for this is the day that the Church started & the disciples (Christians) came together to break bread as our EMMANUEL commanded when He gave the command to observe His broken body and shed blood for EVERYONE...
"This Do In Remembrance Of Me."...Luke 22:19

(Whosoever Will, let them partake of the Water of Life freely...Revelation 22:17)..... 
ECSTATIC ENERGIZING ETERNAL Hope from His EVERLASTING Word...

And so is EVERY Monday a day to EMBRACE...Dreading Monday is a sad way to waste 1/7 of our life...LOL

He who testifies these things says, "Surely I come quickly. Amen. EVEN so, come, Lord Jesus."...Revelation 22:20...
BE HIS VALENTINE.