HAPPY NEW YEAR----2012

I Cannot Recall So Much Excitement, Anxiety, and Worry About An Up Coming New Year As 2012.


I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet. However, I will share some of the concerns that many have:


1. Middle East---Iran may be just days away from detonating a crude nuclear weapon. Permitting the Iranians to construct such a weapon is like giving a four old child a full clip, loaded 9MM, to play with.


Our hasty withdrawal from  Iraq has made an Israeli air attack much more difficult because it is doubtful over flight permission will be granted. Extending inbound and outbound flight times impacts every aspect of war planning: Exposure
to defensive air and ground assets is greatly increased. Aerial refueling resources are stretched. Ditto aerial command and control assets. Recon and bomb damage assessment is considerably longer and harder. Regenerating aerial resources for future sorties becomes a commander's worst nightmare.    

NORTH POLE Reality Show Causes Marriage Breakup!

THE UNTHINKABLE HAS HAPPENED: Santa & Mrs. Claus have Split !!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!

This past week I listened to a very compelling radio evangelist who said something that froze me in my tracks:

"Between the end of the Old Testament (Book of Malachi) to the start of the New Testament( Book of Mathew) 400 years had passed without God speaking to His people and that streak of silence was broken with a little baby's cry!" 

WOW!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Our Music: When Elvis Came To PCHS---Well, Sort of

In our Sophomore year the Tupelo, MS Flash was already making a big splash. 

I received a first hand report by one of our Sophomore classmates who had his driver's license and saw Elvis in concert in Louisville, KY.

He was a big Elvis fan, he even had wanna be sideburns to prove it, and said the concert was a wild scene. He said the music was great; Elvis put on quite a show; and the females in the audience never stopped screaming.

I do not want to embarrass or offend any readers of this blog by my next few comments. However, at almost 70 years of age, I think I can speak openly, especially to my classmates.. Our classmate said Elvis was signing autographs on the bras of some his adoring fans. I had no corroborating information, only this one student's testimony. 
 
I have heard the late J.D.Sumner of the Stamps Quartet, who backed up Elvis at Vegas, say many times that following the last show of the night, Elvis would sing Southern Gospel music with them until the wee hours of the morning. Elvis' gospel recordings rank among my favorites. Especially, How Great Thou Art.

Interestingly, while in seminary, one of my classmates was Rick Stanley, a half-brother to Elvis.  After Elvis' Mom died, Vernon, Elvis' Dad, married Rick's Mom and they moved into Graceland. Rick said he knew he was living in a different world when he was in the basement watching his half-brother play pool with The Beetles!

Rick is now an evangelist and as far as I know he has never attempted to glorify Elvis or his lifestyle. See: www.rickstanleyministries.com/journal.html

"Willie Boy"---Town Drunk

THIS IS A FICTITIOUS STORY. I WROTE IT SOME TIME AGO FOR A CHRISTIAN BLOG THAT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. THE MOTIVATION CAME FROM A REAL WORLD EVENT THAT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS SELLING CEMETERY PROPERTY. A DAD WITH A BROKEN HEART CAME TO HIS TEENAGE SON'S GRAVE EVERYDAY---RAIN OR SHINE. THE SON HAD DIED IN A CAR WRECK MANY YEARS AGO. SOMETIME HE WOULD STAND FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES---SOMETIMES FOR MANY MINUTES.

Every small town has at least one, sometimes two or three town drunks. Your Town had just one---“Willie Boy” Rigby.

“Willie Boy” was hardly your stereotypical town drunk. He never begged; never got belligerent; never passed out in public and only frequented one of Your Town’s three bars.

What then qualified “Willie Boy” as the town drunk?

His journey toward that dubious title started when William Rigby, wife Susan and 19 year old son Carl moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Your Town in 1968.

William was a prominent and very successful investment broker in Cleveland and brought his considerable fortune to Your Town because Susan wanted to be near her father and ailing mother.

Within a year the wheels started to come off William’s life: His mother-in-law dies; Susan rekindles a relationship with her high school sweetheart; and Carl is drafted into the Army.

The next year was even worse. Susan divorced him and Carl was killed in the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam.

William became very depressed and took early retirement. He sold their big, new home on the east side of Your Town and moved into an apartment downtown. His drinking migrated from the weekends, to three times a week, to every day in just a matter of a few weeks.

He was often seen standing with arms folded and head bowed at Carl’s grave. His clothes soon smelled like he washed them in liquor and he always looked like he needed about seven shaves.

The moniker of “Willie Boy” stuck after some mean-spirited teenage boys saw him walking to the cemetery and yelled from a car, “Hey, Willie you goin’ to see your dead boy?”   In an instant “Willie Boy” was born and soon the entire town called him by that name. He hated it but was powerless to change it.

Years passed and “Willie Boy” continued to drink heavily and make his daily journey to the cemetery.

One rainy morning he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. He lived for two days in ICU and was only able to utter a few intelligible words. He asked that his journal be brought to his bedside.

A policeman and a hospital social worker went to his apartment to retrieve his large, dog-eared, and smelly journal. He died clutching the journal.

At his graveside service the Captain of the Your Town Salvation Army read his obituary and some Bible verses and spoke of his search for peace. The Captain then opened the journal and shocked the small crowd when he read a statement that appeared at the top of each page: “Dear God, please send someone to help me today.”

On the inside of the back cover was penned something of a Will. “Whatever is left, divide equally among the five churches in town. Maybe they will try and help people like me. I miss Carl so much. I am very sad and so lonely---William Rigby.”

                                                                Glenn C. Peck, Pastor

HAPPY THANKSGIVING----2011

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!


Out on the Prairie,


Glenn <><

Two Old Friends From PCHS Came By To See Me Last Night!

IMPORTANT Addition to my" Water Cooler Bliss" Post

I feel compelled to follow-up on my Water Cooler Bliss Post. 


DISCLAIMER: The real examples were outside the realm of my pastoral duties. No Clergy-Parishioner breaches of Confidentiality have been committed. 


I am not a Poor Man's Dr. Phil, although we both have the same hair style, or a licensed public counselor. My comments are Descriptive not Prescriptive. Local professionals should always be consulted to assist with marital situations.


Finally, while the thrust of my Post dealt with fidelity,it is not a commendation for spouses/children to remain in an abusive/dangerous relationship. Flee to a safe and secure facility!


Immediately seek local, competent, professional assistance!

Water Cooler Bliss

Experts on marriage generally agree that workplace romances are an increasing factor in divorce.

This fact was a topic of discussion I had with a person I have known many years. This Post is a brief summary of that discussion:

Specific cases:

1. A woman, with two teenage sons, had a well known affair with her boss. The affair was terminated when her husband was transferred to another location. She went with him, but a divorce quickly followed.

2. A woman with two teenage sons and a grade school son left her husband to marry a man who worked for her husband. They had many social contacts as a result of the work performed by her husband and her new suiter.

3. A woman with grown children carried on a long affair with a person at work. The affair terminated and the couple was reconciled and today have a strong, healthy marriage.

Please Note: While these examples all represent women, men are equally prone to toss years of marriage away for a new love located at the workplace.

My discussion simply asked the question: "Why do these things happen?"

The person with whom I aked the question had an interesting answer: "Economic independence brings with it the ability for women to make independent decisions in every area of her life---including matters of the heart."

I promptly replied,"If fidelity can be sold for a dollar, it was never worth a dime to start with!"

Upon Further Review (to borrow an NFL replay term) I later looked beyond my knee jerk response and tried to look a bit deeper. What follows is a result of that introspection:

1. An office environment shows people at their best. Clothes, manners, hair styles, and all kinds of attention getting perfumes and body sprays and after shave lotions that are guaranteed to start a sexual feeding frenzy.
Work is like an 8 hour date in your best clothes.

2. For some people getting older is a daily road trip to denial and every effort must be made to display desirability or to even pretend the clock of time can be reversed.

3. There are no children or in-laws to vie for your time and attention. This is a beautifully constructed world of well dressed and good smelling people.

4. Many people are looking for someone to confirm their "victim" status at home. There are lots of listening ears and understanding people at the workplace. "At last, someone will listen and take my side."

5. For others, a workplace romance is much easier than attempting to get counselling and strive for reconciliation. The ME generation is alive and well!

6. And for others, Lust is the same as Love. some will try Lust until Love comes along.

Many people today worry about violence by disgruntled employees. A far greater danger is for marriages to be destroyed by real or imagined affairs of the heart at the workplace.

Oklahoma: Is This A Great State Or What?

Kentucky holds the legal papers of my birth; Indiana holds my early education and coming of age memories; but it is Oklahoma that holds my heart!


In the past couple days we have had several tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, large hail, snow in our Panhandle, and many aftershocks to the record 5.6 magnitude earthquake experienced Saturday night. One student at a local college, he is from Georgia, said of our weather," You have Bi-Polar weather here!"


We had over 50 days of 100 degrees or higher weather this past summer, experienced the worst drought since the "Dust Bowl" days, (many ranchers had to sell their herds), had many wild fires that destroyed thousands of acres and many houses and out buildings, had the largest snowfall ever recorded in the state, and several ice storms that took out lots of power lines and closed many schools. 


With wild bizarre weather like that, why would anyone voluntarily want to live here?


Just a few days in Oklahoma will provide the answer. It's the people! Oklahomans are caring, helping people.  Maybe it's the shared hardships that creates such a strong bond; maybe it's still the Frontier Spirit--we are just over 100 years as a State;  and maybe it's the varied topography and diverse population. Regardless,  people still look you the eyes  and say "Howdy".  (The BBQ and Mexican food ain't bad either.) People will pray for you and with you. Faith, Family and Freedom are still prized. 


I was once asked if I would ever return to Indiana or Kentucky to live? My reply: "Not unless God sends me an autographed message!"


Come experience the best kept secret in America!

ARCHIVE CLEAN UP

To save some space on the Blog, I will periodically remove some older Posts to provide greater ease of navigation and to save some space on the old hard drive. A few have just been removed.

'BLESS THEIR HEARTS' --Oklahoma Secret Revealed

Out here on the Prairie you can say anything you want about someone IF you preface the ugly remark with "Bless their heart....."


Examples: "Bless her heart, she has jealous eyes: One eye keeps watching the other eye!"


"Bless his heart, he married her not for love, but for her money. He sure would love to get her daddy's money!"


"Bless their hearts, those kids are so dumb they think  Men in Black was a documentary!"


You have the general idea. Try it. It works every time!

"Farther Along"---Great Hymn of the Faith

I recently told a close friend that turning 70 was a very revealing time for me. I described the event as like climbing a mountain and stopping to take a glance toward the valley below. My life was pictured in the valley and I was struck by how remarkably short it was. In addition, I saw that I was not nearly as important as I thought I was. (Please Note: All of us are important to other people and God Almighty who thought we were important enough to send His Son Jesus to die for us!) 


While I no longer struggle with Passion, I still struggle with Pride. Turning 70, let a whole lot of hot air out of my Pride ballon! Each of us face innumerable trials and temptations and some day we will know all about it.


The wonderful, always appropriate, gospel hymn by W. B. Stevens says so very well what I am attempting to say:


                            FARTHER ALONG

1. Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder
   Why it should be thus all the day long;
   While there are others living about us,
   Never molested, though in the wrong.
   • Refrain:
     Farther along we’ll know more about it,
     Farther along we’ll understand why;
     Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
     We’ll understand it all by and by.
2. Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer,
   Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,
   When there are many living in comfort,
   Giving no heed to all I can do.
3. Tempted and tried, how often we question
   Why we must suffer year after year,
   Being accused by those of our loved ones,
   E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.
4. Often when death has taken our loved ones,
   Leaving our home so lone and so drear,
   Then do we wonder why others prosper,
   Living so wicked year after year.
5. “Faithful till death,” saith our loving Master;
   Short is our time to labor and wait;
   Then will our toiling seem to be nothing,
   When we shall pass the heavenly gate.
6. Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior,
   Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;
   Then we will meet those gone on before us,
   Then we shall know and understand why.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU & MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The Class of 1959

Today, I reached the biblical three score and ten birthday. This Blog and this birthday have created  a greater appreciation for classmates who helped shape and mold my early life


Admittedly, I am an unrepentant sentimentalist. My shortcomings notwithstanding, I have sought to find a single word to describe our class. "Friendly", "Funny", or "Zany", and others, did not make the final cut. The word I selected is RESPECT.   (The late Rodney Dangerfield---a really funny guy---- never got any respect!)


We had respect for each other in spite of differences in income, athletic ability, academic achievement, and many other differences.

Respect is like humility----you don't have to tell people you have it.


Today, gang members kill each other if they even suspect you don't have respect for them. The Class of 1959 had many imperfections but lack of respect was not one of them.

"Teenage Life in the 1950's" *

THIS ARTICLE BY ERIKA COX IS PROVIDED FOR ALL BLOG READERS. IT IS A GOOD SUMMARY STATEMENT
                          

Teenage Life in the 1950’s   

by Erika Cox
The word Teenager was created in the 1950’s due to the tremendous population of those in this age category and because teenagers started gaining more independence and freedoms. Teenagers were able to buy more things like food, clothes and music because of an increase in spending money.

Teenagers were also becoming more independent in the type of music they preferred to listen to, no more listening to what their parents liked, teens flocked to the new music of the decade, which was rock and roll.
Growing up as a teenager prior to World War II, teenagers were expected to take life seriously. Males were expected to join the military or go out and get a job in order to help bring in money for their family or to take care of their future family.

Females were taught how to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a dutiful wife and take care of children. Marriage and preparing for a family, more than education or a career, was seen as a definite in the lives of teenagers. Also, teens had very little economic freedom, independence, and input into decision making prior to WWII.

However, in the 1950’s, expectations changed for the teenager. The economy started booming and families experienced a great deal of economic power, freedom and independence, including teenagers.

New medians were created like television and AM radio that attracted teenagers. Also they were able to attend high school dances, create clothing trends, dance fads, and hairstyles to name a few.

Things were starting to change. In the 1950’s, teenagers where more inclined and encouraged to attend college, find a skill, and seek a successful career. Their parents had more than likely gone through the depression and a number of wars, and now wanted something more for their children. 
This resulted in teenagers receiving spending money and having more time to socialize with other teenagers. Of course, this newly found independence would often result in conflict between the parents and the child.

The media played on these emotions and often portrayed teenagers as juvenile delinquents. Peers easily influence teenagers, often at that stage in life what peers think and do becomes more important than what parents think and say.

Perhaps, some would say looking at society in general that the first indication or act of teenage rebellion began in the 1950’s.

Before the 1950’s, teenagers listened to the music of their parents, but when rock and roll came on the scene teens swarmed to it. Even though teens were able to purchase rock and roll records because they were receiving extra spending money, their parents were opposed to rock and roll music, they despised it, and thought of it as corrupting their children.

This sometimes caused friction, it seemed as if teenagers were becoming more rebellious, defensive, and at times, disrespectful, and that listening to rock and roll was the root cause of all this rebellion.

However, this belief was often exaggerated because parents didn’t understand the newfound independence and freedom that they never experienced. Yet, rock and roll was something new and parents thought it was shocking and terrible. They felt if their children were listening to this dreadful music that the end must be right around the corner.

Although, this wasn’t the case in every household it was in a large number of them. Because parents had never experienced this they thought their children were doomed never realizing it was just a phase and it would be over with once the teen reached adulthood.

Later on this clash became known as the generation gap. Nevertheless, with the help of adults, radio, rock shows, concerts, and TV shows like American Bandstand opened doors for teens in the 1950’s to experience things teenagers of the past never experienced. Despite all of the uproar, teenagers in the 1950’s played a huge part in the rise of rock and roll music. 

* (From Rewind The Fifties Web Site)

"They Can't Take That Away From Me"

I love Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair movies! Probably have seen all of them. The plots in their movies were predictable--Boy finds girl--Boy loses girl---Boy finds girl. The plots never mattered. It was the singing and dancing that captivates me. What talent. It shall never pass this way again. 


The song referenced in the title of this Post came from one of their many movies. The best and most romantic version, very sensual in the best of tastes, can be found at the following You Tube site. 


                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_OCayMN9JA&feature=related


This, in my view, is one of the great moments in the careers of two gifted and talented performers. I tried to get a grandson to take tap dancing, but he selected football---well, this is Oklahoma.


This song was sung by the aspiring broadway high school girl in the wonderful "Mr. Holland's Opus."  Fred's version is still the best.


I'm a sucker for most musicals. The song writing is unparalleled. Throw in the choreography and you have me hooked. 


Personal confession time: I was so impressed with Meredith Wilson's "Music Man" I saw it two nights in a row in the same  theater  ---with different dates!

Caught In The Middle

During our senior year at an evening school function, a female classmate, who I had the most incredible feelings for, came to me and said an underclassman female, "Wants to be with you!" 


What was I to do? Say "No" and try to express my affection for the messenger or should I go talk to the underclassman who sought my company.   


I was then, and remained convinced now, the messenger was not attempting to derail my feelings for her and send me to an alternate girl. Rather, she was simply conveying a message from a girl who sought a go between.


Sometimes things happen that do not permit a time out to reason out a response. Out of courtesy to the messenger, I went and talked to the underclassman. We had a few dates, even a couple after I went to Purdue, but we decided to go our separate ways.


Some readers of this Post will question the truthfulness of this account. Some will say, "Who cares?" I am within days of my 70th birthday and realize the chilly waters of Jordan are closer now than ever before. As a result, I simply want to give an account of events that remain part of my shrinking data base. I have no ax to grind. Just to report how I remember those wonderful days of passage to adulthood. Readers may question the content, but not my motivation. It is real.

THANK YOUR BRAVE BODY GUARDS OF THE LAW---TODAY !

This past week has been a very difficult time for me and the citizens of Pottawatomie County. We lost two Deputies in a crash that involved their patrol car and an 18-Wheeler that was making a U-Turn on a narrow Oklahoma rural highway. Oklahoma in general, and rural Oklahoma in particular, has a special gift of sharing the hurt and helping those who have experienced great loss. 

I performed the service for Deputy Michael Roberts on Tuesday. He and his family are very, very special people. Pastors do not have lots of close friends---yes, we do have lots of brothers and sisters in Christ---but we have very few close friends. The Roberts family are my friends.

I dedicate this Post to the memory of a very special close friend: Deputy Sheriff Michael Roberts.

What follows is a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. He has informed me it will appear soon:

Letter to the Shawnee-News Star Editor:

“Getting the Bad Guys off the street” and enforcing the law is the sworn mission of law enforcement officials at all levels of government. Many times we forget that these brave body guards of the law have families. We often forget the daily dangers they face in an ever violent world. And we are seldom given a public glimpse into the extraordinary bond that exists among and between these under- paid and under-appreciated dedicated protectors of society.

As the editor of this newspaper has so correctly and compassionately observed, we lost two very special deputies of the Potawatomie County Sheriff last week: Mike Roberts and Tim Lowry. Only those close to families of these two men know the depth of the grief and anguish they are experiencing. Through their tears, the new widows and their families were able to say with great love and understanding: “They died doing the very thing they were called and volunteered to do.” 

The hundreds of law enforcement officials from our state and nation who came to the services bear silent testament to the strong bonds all lawmen have for one another. It is special and unique. The unseen attention to detailed planning reflected the concern for showing the families their loss was shared. Both funeral services had the dignity, honor, and respect due their fallen comrades. 

   

The public outpouring of sympathy and support to the grieving families has been, and must continue, with the genuine concern that only the citizens of the great state of Oklahoma can give.  Grief is not an event; it is a long, difficult process.

Citizens of Potawatomie County can be justly proud of Deputies Roberts and Lowry. They also can be very proud of Sheriff Booth and his staff for their professional and personal concern for the widows and families of Mike and Tim.

Glenn C. Peck     

Pastor, St. Louis Baptist Church

STEVE JOBS 1955-2011--An Incredible Life

Steve Jobs of Apple Computers, in my view,has changed the cultural, business, political, entertainment, communications, educational and environmental world more than any other person born in our lifetime.


Consider this: During our lifetime we have seen the space age and computer revolution. Many made this happen, but Steve Jobs was the catalyst, at least in the computer world. iPods, iMacs, iPhones, and iPads came from his creative mind and business ability.


Computer Geeks contend Bill Gates of Microsoft stole the Graphics User Interface from Jobs and used it to create the Windows operating system. Maybe he did and maybe he didn't; nonetheless, Steve Jobs will be remembered in history long after Bill Gates becomes a technological footnote.


Interesting Fact: My wife bought me a TI handheld calculator in 1966 that could only add, subtract, multiply, and divide---it cost $65. The iPhone has more computing power than the early American astronauts had on the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft!!!!


Steve Jobs, R.I.P. and thanks!!!!!!!

ZIT and ZAT

OK, THIS MIGHT NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL BLOG READERS. FORGIVENESS IS SOUGHT IN ADVANCE.


Before physics class started, an upperclassman showed off an obviously infected pimple square in the middle of his forehead. A member of our class, not me, asked if he might pop it. The proud owner said OK.


Using the "AMA Approved" two thumb finger nail method, the zit was soon to be history. Several boys gathered to watch the operation. With the force of a 10 megaton bomb the contents of the zit exploded and shot toward the opener at the speed of light. Fortunately, the opener wore glasses and the contents merely splattered on the lens. We all had a big laugh and class started soon thereafter.


Boys in high school had several unscientific, and vulgar, reasons we had acne in the first place!!!!!!

Our Music----"That Old Time Rock n Roll!"

FOR OVER 20 YEARS I HAVE PLANNED AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE MUSIC WE LOVED AND IT'S IMPACT UPON OUR CULTURE AND THE IMPACT OF OUR CULTURE UPON OUR MUSIC. 


A SEMI-INVALID WIFE, RAISING THREE GRANDCHILDREN, AND SERVING AS PASTOR OF A RURAL OKLAHOMA CHURCH HAVE SHORTENED MY ACCOUNT TO THE SEVERAL POSTS THAT WILL APPEAR FROM TIME TO TIME.


1. Did You Know? This topic is well studied and documented; go to Amazon and look up books on the history of Rock n Roll and you get several hundred hits. Google the same subject and a million and one half hits will appear. Here's a shocker: Several universities offer courses in the history of Rock n Roll: Hold on to your 45RPM Elvis record for this tidbit: Doctoral Thesis have been written on this subject!

2. Different Approaches Taken:  : Some writers focus on the many blended genres of Rock and Roll---Gospel, Blues, Big Band, Country, Rock-a-Billy, Jazz, and other musical forms. In a word or two: They are all correct.


Other books focus on the disc jockeys such as John R in WLAC, Dick Clark, American Bandstand, and Allan Freed, east coast DJ convicted of accepting Payola. They too are on target,


Still others to turned the spotlight up to high beam on the upstart record companies like: SUN  label---Elvis, Johnny Cash,  and Jerry Lee Lewis. DECCA, and ATLANTIC were the new kids on the block and making money, big, big money. Another right answer.


All histories highlight the major role of African-Americans in this  art form. Rock n Roll was light years ahead of major league sports in providing opportunities to be the best--regardless of color.

I'll probably never get to write THE definitive history of WLAC in Nashville, TN and it's positive impact on race relations. Name dropping again: I have communicated with a screenwriter who has done a pilot for a mini-series on WLAC. So far he has not sold the idea. My guess it will only appear, if it ever does, on late, late night cable TV. The personal and on-air-lives of some of the WLAC DJs is not Sunday School material! One of the DJ's finished off a bottle of Scotch every show. The studios were near a local hotel, at the same higher story level, and a lot of binocular testing took place!

3. What Started It All?  Here there is much disagreement. Some say as early as 1939. Others say 1951-52. Most, including this Blogger say 1955 with Bill Haley and The Comets with their "Rock Around the Clock" smash hit. Bill has my vote.

Most writers believe the epicenter of Rock n Roll was 1955-59. Isn't that amazing??  We experienced something very, very special.


An interesting side note to "Rock Around the Clock" is one of my high school cousins, who lived in Kentucky, and his friends played the song so many times on a local Juke Box the recording groves were worn smooth in  just two days! Then it was only a nickle a play.

4. My Approach:  I'll cover Groups (especially Doo Wop--I probably know more about Doo Wop music than any other pastor in OK! That may not be a good thing!), Singles, Instrumentals, One Hit Wonders, Country Cross Overs, Novelty Songs, Parent- School-Teenager Songs, R and B, Old Timers Still Holding On and other issues.


We experienced something that happens very infrequently---the birth of a truly new American musical art form. 


FOR THE RECORD: I do not listen to what is called Rock n Roll today. In fact, I stopped listening when the saxophone disappeared from Rock n Roll music. That was, long long, long ago. While I am confessing: I also do not like most modern Country and Western music---it is only modern Rock n Roll with cowboy hats and boots on! That is probably more than you wanted to know about my musical tastes. 


I am working on a Post that will surely draw lots of criticism: I contend Our Rock n Roll started to die when the Kingston Trio hung "Tom Dooley" and was pronounced dead by the BEATLES when they sang "I Wanna  Hold Your Hand"


 GOSH, I LOVED, AND STILL DO, THAT SPECIAL, SPECIAL MUSIC DURING OUR PCHS DAYS!

Home Sweet Double Wide Home

THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY I POSTED ON A RELIGIOUS BLOG SOMETIME AGO. IT IS LONG, BUT I THINK WORTH THE READING EFFORT---ESPECIALLY FOR ANY TEENAGE GRANDCHILDREN. I KNOW IT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT OUR CLASS, BUT IT DOES TALK ABOUT LIFE!

                            HOME SWEET DOUBLE WIDE HOME

Before Cindy Armstrong got off of the bus she knew she

 didn’t like Your Town. She only made the six-hour trip because her mother and her latest boyfriend were going to spend a week in Las Vegas. This 14 year girl had no other option but to spend the next seven days with her aunt, uncle, and two cousins in Your Town.

She had never been to Your Town and had only met her mother’s sister’s family at Grandma’s funeral.  They were all at the bus station to greet her. Cindy had her sunglasses pushed about two inches above her forehead and the white ear buds on her MP3 player were still stuck securely in her ears.

Cousin Clara Osgood, also 14, was the first to hug the artificially blonde relative from the big city.  Others followed Clara’s lead and warm words of greeting seemed to be coming from the entire Osgood family all at the same time. Clara’s father, Bill, and her brother, Claude, each took one of her two new suitcases and carried them to the rear of the Osgood’s ten-year old green car. The luggage was placed in the trunk and Clara, Cindy, and Bill were squeezed together in the back seat. Bill and wife Mary sat in the front and each wondered silently how they were going to make it through the coming week with a niece who had already established a record of running away from home and shoplifting.

Cindy spoke little and only acknowledged the questions from Bill and Clara with short answers. The ride to the Osgood’s home was through the main part of Your Town and Cindy sized up the place as a dead, no-fun, not cool location. She saw individuals stopping each other to chat or just show off the newest grandchild. Some people could be seen with their heads poked inside parked cars and laughing with the folks inside. All of this only confirmed Cindy’s evaluation of Your Town as “Hicksville.”

She almost gasped out loud as Uncle Bill turned into a trailer park and wound his way back to the Osgood’s double-wide trailer. The Osgoods lovingly referred to the double-wide as their “Home Sweet Double-Wide Home.” Cindy wondered how anyone could live in such a place. She could not believe anyone could ever be happy living in a place where speed bumps seemed to appear every 25 feet and where mailboxes were in fact placed side-by-side for twenty five feet. This was going to be dull and boring week for Cindy; at least that was her first impression.

After unpacking and accepting the idea of sleeping double with Clara in her bed, she asked Clara, “Where can we meet some boys? I have half a pack of cigs left and I‘m wanting to walk around some after that long bus ride”.

Clara responded to Cindy’s comments in reverse order. “I’ll be happy to walk around with you and I have never smoked. Most of the boys I meet are at school or in our church youth group. Since school is out that kind of narrows down the choices.” Cindy thought she must be in a time machine that has carried her back to the 1950’s TV shows that only showed simple, naïve, and obedient children and always available Moms and Dads.

Clara excused herself to go help her mother get supper ready. Cindy sat on the bed and looked at the walls that contained no rock stars or movie posters; instead she saw Bible verses and a list with lots of names on it. She peeked inside Clara’s closet and could not find any suggestive or revealing clothing. Just modest clean clothes neatly placed on colorful hangers.

At supper Uncle Bill thanked God for their food and for Cindy’s safe arrival. Then he prayed something that got Cindy’s attention when he said, “Dear Lord, may Cindy find true happiness here.”

As Cindy picked at the supper of beans, ham, and cornbread she could not get the closing words of Uncle Bill’s prayer out of her mind. True happiness, she thought to herself, doesn’t really exist, you have to make your own happiness.

That night the two girls talked about girl things and laughed a lot. Suddenly, Cindy became very quiet and said to Clara, “Does your Mom and Dad really love you?” Clara could not remember anyone asking her that question before. “They sure do,” replied Clara.  Some additional light teenage chatter followed and the two cousins drifted off to sleep.

On the second day Cindy told Clara that she felt unloved by her never-at-home Mom and her absentee Dad. That night as they talked Cindy asked Clara, “Why is my name on the long list on the wall?” Clara replied, “Oh, that’s my prayer list and I want you to find happiness like I have.”

Clara started to wonder if all this talk about happiness was genuine or just some gimmick to make her feel guilty for some of the bad things she had done. Whatever the reason she knew she was happy because she had everything any teenage girl could want and it was none of anyone’s business about her mistakes and bad choices.

                                                              

It was Wednesday night when she accompanied Clara and her family to mid-week church services that caused her to wonder if she was really happy. People there didn’t talk about things or entertainment celebrities. The talked about their relationship to Jesus Christ and prayed for people in the church and those outside the church. They all seemed very happy. Cindy wondered what made them so happy.

After returning home, Cindy and Clara spent most of night talking about real happiness. Cindy knew deep down Clara had something she didn’t have. Clara shared how she came to be a Christian and how Cindy could become one also.

The next three days produced many more of these very serious and vitally important conversations between Cindy and Clara. Sunday morning the family again went to church where Clara heard a message about Sin, Death and Hope that must have been prepared just for her. As the invitation was about to conclude, Cindy gripped Clara’s hand so tight Clara thought her hand would break. Cindy said to her cousin, “Will you go with me to the front?” Through her tears Clara softly said, “Yes.”  In a few moments Cindy and Clara where at the front where Cindy said “Yes” to Jesus Christ. Tears and hugs abounded.

For the first time in her life Cindy was happy, really happy. Sunday dinner was a joyous time of sharing mixed with eating and crying by everyone. Cindy began to feel sad when she remembered her mother promised to call her Sunday afternoon to confirm her return from Las Vegas. About three o’clock the phone rang and it was Cindy’s mom who shocked her by saying she and her boyfriend had decided to tour the West Coast and wondered if Cindy would ask Mary if she might stay for a couple of more weeks. Mary and Bill looked at each other when Cindy asked them the question and they simultaneously said: ”Yes!” Cindy started talking very fast and told her mother about her life-changing decision and for the first time in her life she was happy, very happy.

It was obvious by her closing comments that Cindy’s mom asked about the home her aunt and uncle lived in. Cindy said with all of the enthusiasm a new Christian could muster, “Mom, it’s a ‘Home Sweet Double-Wide Home !”

                                Glenn C. Peck, Pastor, FBC, St. Louis, OK

                                                

Other 1959 Famous Grads

This may be old news to some. I have a funny story at the end.


1. Ed Bradley---CBS Newscaster


2. Bob Dylan---I have his original "The Times They are A'Changin'" 33rpm Album. Wonder what it is worth?


3.  Rev. Jesse Jackson--- Famed Civil Rights Leader 

4. Martha Stewart---"That's A Good Thing" (I wonder if she made brownies in the Grey Bar Hotel?)


5. Barbara Streisand---Singer and Actress


While stationed in San Antonio, TX I served with an officer---Norm Comite---who was in Barbara Streisand's 1959 Class in Brooklyn. This story involves---Norm--- a true New Yorker and a died in the wool true Texan---Randy Hopkins. Randy was from Big D and mighty proud of it! The two argued constantly about which area was best---Texas or New York. Norm could see nothing good in Texas and Randy felt the same way about New York.


The argument, one particular day, centered on guns and violence. Randy maintained that New York City was the gangs,guns, and drug capital of the world. Norm shot back that Texans were trigger happy and would shoot first and ask questions later.


A couple of days passed and Norm came to work one morning wildly waving the latest edition of The San Antonio Light newspaper. Norm said, "Hopkins, this proves my point.". He found the story and started reading for all to hear. I present this abridged version. "A customer entered a bar in South San Antonio, produced a revolver and started shooting and six seated patrons returned the fire. (Emphasis is mine) Norm said , "See, I told you that Texans are gun crazy." Randy didn't have much of a rebuttal.


Part of the Rest of the Story--- Randy served his four years and got a job with Folgers Coffee in New Orleans and in a short period of time became the head brew master! I had to give up coffee in 1973 and when I prepare a pot of coffee for my wife, I often think of Randy--a real Texan! When I rotated Norm was still at the base.

Personal Comment: During 20 years in the USAF I was privileged to serve with the best and brightest this country has to offer.I must have several hundred stories like the one above. As mentioned in earlier Posts---We took our job of defending this great Nation very, very seriously, but we never took ourselves seriously. Late in the evening while seated in my recliner and halfway between sleep and awaken, I recall those exciting and challenging days with a sense of gratitude for being surrounded by such brave and brilliant people.

Like Father, Like Son, Like Brother

Please follow very carefully this amusing story that our youngest daughter brought home from her 7th grade class in Ohio:

A boy classmate did an imitation of his 4 year old brother imitating their father. Let's see if you've got the situation: A seventh grade boy imitates his 4 year old brother who is imitating their father. Got it? OK.

                    "Durn kids! On my nerves!"

Most of us got our parenting skills from what we observed in our family while we were growing up. I wonder what sort of parents these two brothers have become.

Someone described raising children this way: "It is like hanging wallpaper. When you figure out how to do it you are done!!!! "

As I have mentioned in earlier Posts, I did not do a very good job as a father. Hopefully, God has given me another chance by placing three wonderful grandchildren in our care.

Ronald "Ronnie" Harrison--A True Cornmeal Friend! V2.0

This newer version amplifies on the original. The changes are small but important.


A total stranger might let you borrow a cup of sugar, an egg, or a stick of butter. Ronnie is the kind of friend who would give you a sack of cornmeal and not expect it to be paid back.!



Looking back over our friendship which spans over 60 years, there are many facets that shaped and molded that strong relationship. Here are just a few:

• The beginning of our friendship started early at Lovett when we  discovered our families were both from Kentucky.

• Death has robbed many of his immediate family members at a very young age. In spite of that heartache, and his own heart condition, he remains steadfast in trusting that God knows what is best and he accepts that.

•  Our hunting and fishing adventures could fill a small book. I was never much on the hunting. I think Ronnie has some DNA from Daniel Boone (also from KY). Ronnie and his brothers were champion coon hunters. I liked to sit around the campfire. I didn't care much for trying to find lost dogs! I might have been a slightly better fisherman.

• Many, many times he would pick me up while I was hitch hiking. He also was the main reason I got to go to a few movies. He sometimes drove brother Benton's car. Ronnie later owned an awesome Pontiac.Ronnie made the Dupont Kustard Bowl our home away from home. Bob and Freda served us lots of hamburgers there.

•  Trust me here: We once saw a black bear on our way to North Vernon. Our story was first laughed at. A few years later one was killed in the near-by Jefferson County Proving Grounds.

• I think it was his sister that hosted a New Years Eve Party where we played Spin the Bottle. I never kissed so many girls in one night before or since. (I learned that night that there are kisses and then there are KISSES! A couple of the girls sure had a lot more practice at kissing than I did!) The party ended when heavy snow started falling. (This was one of the few times I didn't want to see it snow!)

•  Ronnie's cheerful, uplifting, and positive outlook is a real gift. In addition, he has the unique ability to make you feel like you are more important than you really are.

• He and wife, Bev, are very proud of their family's long association with Purdue University. As Martha Stewart says, "That's a good thing." (Yours truly, Purdue Class of '63)

• In spite of their many challenges, Ronnie and Bev have always found time to inquire about the welfare of the Pecks--in Indiana and elsewhere.

 A person might go through an entire lifetime without finding a friend like Ronnie Harrison.  

 The closing song from Toy Story 3 well describes my friendship with Ronnie Harrison---"You've got a friend in me."

Class Rings and Other Bling

A man as old as me should not even know what "Bling" is, much less use it in a Post. (Two of the three grandkids we are raising are teenagers, DUDE!)

Class rings were a big deal at PCHS. It meant you were a certified upperclassman and it meant you had the traditional "going steady" emblem.

I believe it was Herff Jones that sold us our class rings. Mine, without a stone, set my folks back $18.75. The ring has long since been melted down and recast into another type of ring.

Mustard seed necklaces were mentioned in an earlier Post.

Very few PCHS students had reliable wrist watches. The only one I can remember was worn by Dale Vaught. I never owned a wrist watch until my bride to be gave one as a pre-wedding Christmas gift. Today, I wear only the $20 Wal Mart Casio watches. When something breaks, I get a new one.

A very few fellows wore the heavy duty chain ID bracelet with their name or initials on it. Some even had expansion links like a wrist watch.

Most of the girls had clip on ear rings. Pierced ears were a few years away. I am not sure if pennies worn in Penny Loafers can be called Bling. What do you think?

By today's standards, we were rather plain vanilla. I've always liked vanilla!

WHEN----Dedicated to All PCHS 1959 Grads

                   WHEN

Before Reason and Logic came to stay
When Feeling and Fear had joint lease
We had a silent, joyful hope each day
Wide-eyed optimism gave an easy peace

Intoxicating honey suckle fragrance at night
Distant whippoorwills echoed their unseen love
Spring not bound by calendar--our year long delight
Starry orbs brilliantly shone for us in the limitless above

When did Spring become so difficult to be found
When did dreams become buried by winter snows 
When did our futures become so mortality bound
When comes Eternal Spring--only the Lord knows

                                          ---Glenn C. Peck    9/13/2011

Major Preview of Coming Posts

"I Was There When It Happened And I Guess I Ought To Know" ---Sung by Johnny Cash

By the end of this month I will be starting a series of Posts that deals with the music that we listened to during our PCHS days.

Most music historians acknowledge that 1955-1959 was the period when Rock and Roll (As we knew it) started and produced its greatest singers, musicians, songs, radio stations and their DJ's.  The music was for and , for the most part, about real emotions and concerns of American teenagers. We were most fortunate to be first hand participants in music history.For better or worse, our music defined us; and for many of us, it remains as the continuing sound track to our lives.

Stay tuned!

We Were So Poor.......

If the late Ed McMahon was reading this Post he might ask, "How poor were you?" Ed, we were so poor.....

I was adopted by a family in South Korea who sent me fish heads and rice once a month. The mailman told my Dad he didn't have to look at the addressee to determine who would get the package.

We were so poor....

My brother and sister were adopted by a family in Ethiopia and they were sent camel jerky each month. They said the jerky didn't taste all that good; however, they only had to take a drink of water every three days!

We were so poor...

My folks couldn't afford a family dog. Instead, they gave us a tumbleweed. That was OK but every time the wind blew really hard the tumbleweed would run away from home.

We were so poor....


After racing to the undecorated Christmas Tree on Christmas morning and seeing no presents, Dad would always say the reason we had no gifts was Mr. and Mrs Claus were getting a divorce and Old Saint Nick had to save his money for alimony payments. 

We were so poor....


The kids on the bus thought our clothes were always ragged because we were constantly rehearsing for the Jennings County Playhouse production of "Oliver."


OK. These original attempts at humor fail to make the "rim shot" category. But you have to admit, I didn't talk about walking barefoot six miles through waste deep snow to go to a one-room log cabin school house that was heated by potbelly stove and the teacher was a grade school dropout from Kentucky!