Sgt. John Yell (back, right)
This Friday is Veteran’s Day. So, I wanted to honor my fellow Vets with music and reading. This podcast features a little about the job I used to do for the military, the Armed Forces Medley (all the themes of each of the services), some poetry from Regina Puckett, the story of Sgt. John Yell, the uncle of one of my authors, and the prologue from a book, Undeserved Favor, that will be out in the spring featuring the fictional Sgt. Frank Ballard. I close with some scripture and commentary that are particularly appropriate for this post-election season.
LINKS FOR THIS PODCAST
- Regina Puckett’s Here Among the Ruins
- Web-sites about the German Death March
- Stories from the 392nd Bomb Group
- From the WWII Forum: Death March Across Germany
- Undeserved Favor, by John Yell
- Narration by George on Facebook
- Narration by George on Twitter
This week, we break from our look at audio books to delve into some spiritual areas. I recently spent a weekend dealing with the deaths of two parents in two families close to me. Putting these two events so close together stirred my soul deeply. When I got back to my home church the following weekend, I heard a lesson from John 11 on Lazarus. What should our perspective be on a story of resurrection? I share this lesson with you on this podcast. (This podcast is a bit longer than usual. I hope you can hang with me!)
This week, we’re stepping away from the world of audio books to look at the timeless word of spiritual ideas. Let me start with a question: Are you afraid? Do you look at the headlines or hear the stories on TV news and quake from fear? How do you cope with that fear?
We continue looking back at prior podcasts – “re-casts” if you will – while I am moving and the studio is being rebuilt. We go back to look at a spiritual episode from the past, this week.
If you listened last week, you know that we are going to feature some older podcasts as “re-casts” for the next four weeks while I move and re-build my studio in a new home. This week’s re-cast features my friend and author, Becky Wooley. As a minister’s wife and church secretary, she has the inside scoop on how churches run. And she has taken that information and some great imagination to write the clerical crime novel, Non-Prophet Murders. Grit along with three pastors find themselves the target of a killer. Can Grit and his girlfriend, Grace, find the killer before he or she strikes again! Full of humor, satire, and some scary moments, Non-Prophet Murders keeps you guessing “who-dun-it.” Listen and find out how she does it!
Since this is Holy Week in the Christian calendar, I have produced a narrative of the events of Holy Week – from the arrest of Jesus through the resurrection – based totally on the Scriptures. Rather than rely on just one of the Gospel narratives, I have meshed the four narratives together in one cogent story. I pray that you are blessed by this telling of these important events – the most important events in all of history!
This week, we go back to the world of spiritual ideas to talk about “blessings.” Each week, I end this podcast with an exhortation to “share you blessings with someone else.” The question is, “What are our blessings?” Are they the things we have? The people we know? The life we lead? Jesus tells us about blessings and this lesson from my home church talks about those definitions in the context of Jesus’ birth.
It’s two days before Christmas as I write this. The season of giving, receiving, family, friends, fellowship, and food is upon us. But, will we take time to remember the reason for this season? Will we take time – individually and corporately – to celebrate, to contemplate, to remember the One who gave us the most important gift of all?