We are off to see the wizard this weekend. The wizard of gospel music, that is, Mr. Bill Gaither and his Vocal Band. They are performing in Tyler and, yes, it is worth the trip. The Gaithers have dominated gospel music for many years with singing songs such as “It Is No Secret,” “The Wonder of it All,” “Goodbye, World, Goodbye,” “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” and many others. The only time I met Mr. Gaither I told him he was a national treasure and to take care of himself. The concert schedule for that group is brutal.
The fun they have makes up for it. Men like Mark Lowery and Aaron Wilburn give you things to laugh about for years to come. Wilburn told the story of taking a taxi from the airport on a Gaither’s trip. He said he knew the area some and it seemed they were taking a long time to get to the hotel. Finally he reached up and touched the driver on the shoulder to get his attention. The reaction was totally unexpected. The driver hit his brakes, spun out of control and ended up in a ditch. When he turned around to Aaron, he was white as a sheet. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said. “This is my first day driving a cab. For 30 years I drove a hearse for a mortuary.”
He also told the story of a couple who had been married for several years and had not been able to have children. Both wanted children and had prayed diligently for a child. One night, late, the couple knocked on the pastor’s door. They explained that they had been praying and God had given them both a sign that this was the time they might conceive. They asked the pastor if he might anoint them with oil to seal the blessing.
The pastor was Baptist and oil anointing is not big with Baptists. However, not wanting to disappoint the couple, he found a can of Two-in-One Oil and anointed the young woman. Then they prayed together that this would indeed be the time they would have a child. Sure enough, nine months later the pastor was called to the hospital to celebrate the birth … of twins. The young husband said, “You know, pastor, I have thought a lot about your anointing since the babies came. I want to thank you again, but I sure am glad it wasn’t WD-40.”
Well, maybe I will come back next week with a handful of new jokes. As I have said in this column before, God has a sense of humor and He wants His children to laugh. He gave us the greatest gift ever given to man, eternal life through the blood of His son Jesus.
We do not honor God with long faces, looking like we had been sucking on lemons. We honor Him with praise and a smiling countenance. We honor Him by our smiles.
Love is not grumpy.
Jerry Bullock has written his weekly column for the Daily Record for more than 20 years. Jerry is a retired Air Force colonel, an ordained Baptist minister, professional counselor, military historian, speaker, and writer. He is a native Texan tracing his Texas roots to the days of the Republic.
Columns
Life’s Like That - Nov. 22, 2009
- Columns
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A Word About Recycling - May 6, 2012
From the latest Resource Recycling eNewsletter, a few items we thought were interesting. Here are parts of them.
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Life's Like That - May 6, 2012
For five years I worked in “the City,” Washington, District of Columbia, at 1100 Independence Avenue, in the James Forrestal Building.
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Life's Like That - April 29, 2012
Over the past few years I have written often about being an overcomer when life tries to get you down.
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A Word About Recycling - April 29, 2012
Today we will include several pleasing items from the recent Plastics Recycling Update eNewsletter.
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SIFE helps organize 5K fundraiser
Texas State University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Caritas of Austin recently partnered to provide a 5K run to help provide a service continuum for those experiencing poverty.
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A Word About Recycling - April 15, 2012
Many of you older folks (my age) may remember being advised by our parents. who lived through the great depression, "Waste not: Want not."
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A Word About Recycling - April 8, 2012
Earlier we mentioned we would give a report in this column on the success of the event sponsored by several Texas State University departments, student organizations, and helpful businesses to collect obsolete or unneeded electronic items for recycling.
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Life's Like That - April 8, 2012
This is an Easter thought from the last century. It was my first pastorate in an old church on the south edge of Alexandria, Virginia.
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Life's Like That - April 1, 2012
Can you imagine the looks on the rough Neanderthal faces the first time someone asked, “What time is it?”
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A Word About Recycling - April 1, 2012
Found the following item contained in a recent Resource Recycling eNewsletter interesting, especially since it is aimed at stewardship. This is because we believe we should all try to be the best stewards possible of what we have been blessed with.
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A Word About Recycling - May 6, 2012
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