I'm weary of all this hype about not enough experience to run the country. I must ask, "WHO DOES???"

Quite frankly, I don't know why anyone in their right mind would WANT the position of President. The minute that person is sworn in, the late night comics, the would be comedy commentators (Letterman, Leno, Mahr, Colbert, Franken, Goldberg ... pick one!) make folly and fodder of all choices and decisions as if this person suddenly becomes the village idiot. If a real CEO (let's say Bill Gates) was to run for the job of President, you can be sure the tide of late night, comedy central, opinion would find a way to trash talk.

But why should I expect anything more. After all, when the King of kings walked the earth the "political and religious experts" crucified Him, too.

With all the things you have going on in your life, family, job, political arena; your mind may be working overtime.  I understand all those who say, "just pray and give it to God" and we pray and wonder how to give it to God.  I've heard well meaning people, preachers, teachers, evangelists paint this lovely picture about "just reach out and take Jesus by the hand...."  and I see this lovely picture of Jesus from some 500 year old painting standing with his arms out, but how do you hold on to a painted hand?

Now, let me tell you the answer to that.  When the worry begins, when the questions come, when the news isn't good and we truly do ask God to step in with the answer, the solution, the healing;  we take His hand by taking the promises He has made in His word and quoting them outloud.  We read those promises and quote them, speak them INTO our lives.

"I am righteous because of Jesus Christ, not my own power.  I am a child of the most high God because by faith I receive that gift.  I am healed because of the stripes Jesus took for me.  I am saved because of the shed blood of Jesus."

These are just a few of the 100s of promises we are given in the Bible.  That is why we read the Bible, not just as an example and pattern to follow how Jesus had compassion on the poor, but to do the works that He did.  To walk in the authority He had because He has given "believers" that same authority "in his name." 

His authority works like any legal document would in our regular world.  If you are given an all access pass to a huge music concert, the security guard is not to question if you're permitted in otherwise off limit areas of the building.  If you have a limited security pass, then you are only permitted to go certain places.  We have ALL ACCESS in the authority of the name of Jesus to do, to have, and to be what the Bible declares is true for all believers.

So, when that anxiety of the doctor's report begins to overwhelm you, speak the Word of God over your life, go to the Psalms, go to the book of John, dig into all those verses found in every book of the Bible and begin to quote them over your life and find strength and power in those promises that are true.

We are: His Child to Deliver, His Promise to Keep, His Name to be Glorified!
©1996 LRTMinistries.

One of the highlights for me at each NQC year is to simply stroll and meet people. I've had an enormous privilege and I don't take it lightly. From the beginning of my recent NQC history, I've been blessed to sing on the main stage, something that so many talented people work to achieve. This was my 7th time, 4 with the Stamps Qt. and 3 with the Toney Brothers. I thank God for each one. These times I'm given that chance, I pray that it allows me even greater opportunity to reach out with the message God has placed in my heart.

As I shared with several of my friends this week. I am so blessed to be able to sing. It is a gift God has entrusted me with and I've used it in both secular and and Christian music. Even with the Vogues, my underlying desire was that God would always get the glory for this gift. He entrusted me with it and I do not want to break that trust by not offering it back. If it can be used as a vehicle for the ultimate Word, then let me sing till I drop.

To those great folks I've met this week for the first time, please keep in touch. Let's work together and make a difference.

My heartfelt thanks,
Royce

BABY BOOMER BLUES:

It was fun being a baby boomer... until now. Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate us aging baby boomers:

They include:

Herman's Hermits --- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.

Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.

The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip?

Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.

Roberta Flack --- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.

Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now !

Paul Simon --- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

The Commodores --- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.

Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.

Procol Harem --- A Whiter Shade of Hair.!

Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.

The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.

Abba --- Denture Queen !

Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.

Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore !

Leslie Gore --- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want Too!

Willie Nelson --- On the Commode Again !!

I was talking with Tom and Patty Sabella over dinner together last night and the subject of the Billy Graham movie came up. Patty was asking about the small scene I might be included. I told her of my comment at the end of the last blog about spotting the glasses in the crowd. She said, "Oh, kinda like Where's Waldo?"



I suppose it's kinda like that...

Coming this fall is a great movie that should be on everyone's list to see and support. I'll go so far to say that it will become a classic film that will be one you'll want to own on DVD for your private collection to see over and over again. The pre-release working title, should you wish to research this on the internet is: "Billy; The Early Years," the early life, calling and conversion of Dr. Billy Graham.

The film is set in the time frame of 1934 to the large revival of 1949. It presents the young Billy Graham that is not well known. Most know his life following his meteroic rise to world prominence. This movie shows the truly humble beginning of a lad who struggled with a "calling."

Our long time friend David Zanotti of the American Policy Roundtable, invited Tom Sabella and me to interview for their radio show, "The Public Square." What a very special opportunity we had to offer comment on the impact of music in American Culture and tie it together with this marvelous film.

Visit: http://www.aproundtable.org/ and click on the link "Inside the Billy Graham Movie - Part II" for my portion, but please listen to Part I to get the full connection to the topic of discussion.

Let me encourage you to also take time to explore the AP Roundtable website and see what can and is being done to make your voice heard in American Politics. You may feel that your opinion goes unnoticed. Learn how the APR can be a link to educate, enlighten, and share your concerns with those who make decisions about our nations policies.

One more reason to see this movie. I was cast as a member of the revival audience in the scene where young Billy Graham attended the tent meeting where he gave his life to Christ and eventually the ministry. Look closely, you may see these little round glasses sitting in the crowd. 8-D

Until next time ...

I've heard so much about dependency. You read, hear stories, know someone, watch a tv program about someone who is fighting a dependency on drugs, alcohol, food, eating disorder.

The situation creates opportunity for programs to help one find the root cause, deal with the actions, create lifestyle changes. Many good ministries exist to genuinely help people deal with these serious issues of life.

I encountered something that I didn't realize had crept into my own life. I can't say it was a slow process, it has actually swept in and established itself in a very short period of time. This weekend I hit bottom and realized I needed to take charge of it.

Here comes my true confession ...
I'm cell phone dependent! Oh yes, panic set in when I realized I had started a tour of more than 4 days and I did NOT have my cell phone. What would I do? How would I make and receive calls? How could I be contacted? How would I survive? No calls, NO TEXT, No messages, no idle conversation!

Here I am now 5 days later and I'm still alive. I'm back home, my phone clipped at my side in its' proper place. I've received exactly 2 calls of 3 I've had since returning home. I guess all that concern about being unavailable is just the addiction speaking.

Next BLOG, iPod addiction .... stay tuned!

I Love to Singa
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I Love to Singa
Directed by Tex Avery
IMDb profile
I Love to Singa is both the title of a song written by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and a later Merrie Melodies animated short subject based on that song. Arlen and Harburg originally wrote the tune for the 1936 Warner Bros. feature-length film The Singing Kid. It is performed three times in the film: first by Al Jolson and Cab Calloway, then by the Yacht Club Boys and Jolson, and finally again by Calloway and Jolson.
During this period, it was customary for Warners to have their animation production partner, Leon Schlesinger Productions, make Merrie Melodies cartoons based upon songs from their features. The resulting short subject, I Love to Singa, was directed by Tex Avery and released by Warners on July 18, 1936. The cartoon, one of the earliest Merrie Melodies produced in Technicolor, is recognized as one of Avery's early masterpieces. The cartoon was eventually released on the DVD box set "Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Vol. II" on November 2, 2004.
[edit]
Plot

I Love to Singa depicts the story of a young owlet who wants to sing jazz instead of indulging in his parents more traditional and stodgy tastes, such as Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes to piano accompaniment. In this respect, the plot is somewhat derivative of Al Jolson's film The Jazz Singer. The young lad (voiced by Tommy Bond, best known as "Butch" of Our Gang (Little Rascals) fame) is kicked out of the house by his disciplinarian violinist father (voiced by Billy Bletcher), and runs off to enter a radio amateur contest. The boy (billing himself as "Owl Jolson", a play on famous jazz singer Al Jolson) wins the contest, but only after his strict father sees his son's potential and allows him to freely sing jazz.

Hey this is Royce

I was musing about this cute little story and realized that I could have been little OWL Jolson (except my parents always encouraged my singing). I have had many people try to pigeon hole (no pun intended) me into styles of music that I'm not particularly fond of.

The other issue that I commonly hear is from those who have a disdain for contemporary or praise and worship gospel music. The phrase "off the wall" music or "7 - 11 Music" is used and many desire to hear the "good old hymns." Well, like jazz of the 1930s now pales to modern R&B or hip hop, some hymns were once quite "modern" in presentation. I hear the Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers of the early 50s and realize their "modern harmony" sounds were identical to the Modernaires or other popular groups of the day in secular music. Now that wonderful modern harmony is 50 years old.

I just want to lift of the name that is above every name. I just want to use the music to both glorify the Lord and speak a message of love, hope, peace, strength, and salvation in Jesus the Christ.

That said, "I Love to Singa!" Come to a concert and share the moment with me.

Hey, North East Ohio, Western PA, and WV panhandle -- The Toney Brothers are coming to Columbiana, Ohio for a concert on the lawn at Firestone Park Gazebo. Join us Sunday July 15th at 6 p.m. for a concert of entertaining Gospel Concert. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket.

Spread the word, tell everyone. See you there!