THE TRUTH ABOUT PAUL BUNYAN

I'd heard the tall tale of this giant, broad man as a kid, but I never looked into whether there was anything factual behind him until today. This article sheds light on the man and the history behind the story. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT ROBIN HOOD

It is unclear whether the merry outlaw of Sherwood Forest ever actually existed, but what makes this article worth reading is its information on the early iterations of the tale. Just shows you how a story can be altered over time. 

ALAN CROSS DISSECTS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

I really enjoyed this video and now I am passing it on to you. This is for anyone who has ever thought there were some strange things in this nearly two hundred year old Christmas poem. 

THE MOUNTAIN OF FAITH

    The trail that leads to the Lord, our God and Creator, is not an easy one; its like climbing a mountain by yourself for the first time with no experience to fall back on and only God knows where you are. 

When you start to seek God's truth you will stumble and fall, possibly during many attempts but when God's faith is your mountain to climb God's right hand will be there to pick you up, dust you off and prepare you to try again. The more times you return to God's mountain of faith the more wise you become to the snakes and snares who want to cause you to fall and then the day is at hand that you stand at our Lord God's summit where the glory of His creation is the vision you see and know that only by God's grace are you there seeing it.

If you are a man or woman of prayer you will pray and if you are not, you'll start because now you must climb down the mountain of faith. That can be more dangerous than climbing up but God will clear your way so that you can tell all who you meet where you have been and what you have seen. Only by prayer and through God's word can non-believers begin to see. Most will not and curse you from their hate.        

Humility walks the path of truth, pride walks the path of destruction. Lies lead to more lies but truth leads to more truth in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Doug

GLORIFYING GOD (NOT ME) WITH MY GIFTS

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

— Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

 

 

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An interview with Trish Tough: a TBL Volunteer Narrator

 

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame

Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name

— “I’d Rather Have Jesus” by Rhea Miller / George Beverly Shea

Trish Tough studied theatre arts in a Montreal university as she wanted to be an actress for all the glory she could attain - attention, fame, wealth, popularity, and the feeling of celebrity stardom. Yet God had another plan for her when she became a Christian during her second year of her three-year theatre arts program. She moved to Toronto after completing the program to pursue an acting career and received few minor roles after many auditions. Slowly God transformed and convicted her, and she would not act in or even audition for ungodly scenes or be dressed in outfits that were previously “alright” for her. After a long struggle, she decided not to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress as her career. Being a young Christian (and the only one in her family) and losing her dream was frightening.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

For fear has to do with punishment,

and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

— 1 John 4:18

This verse reminded her that God’s love is perfect and all she had to do was to trust Him. Instead of acting on stage, she worked as a receptionist at a company that produced radio and TV commercials. She was later in charge of the voice-over audition library there. Soon after, God blessed her with a role of being a full-time mother to three lovely daughters. Her new goal was to be a godly wife and mother for her family, to help them take root in biblical truth. Prior to COVID, her family would serve at her previous home church in Newmarket in various ministries, one of which was the drama ministry where shows with songs and gospel messages were written and produced for both believers and non-believers. It was a joy for Trish to serve God and it satisfied her acting bugs for almost twenty years.

One day, her church friend who was also a member of the Board of Directors at the Talking Book Library introduced to her the organization. With her experience in voice recording from the commercial company, she was immediately drawn to TBL’s mission and volunteered as a narrator after an audition at the office. One of the books that she narrated, George Beverly Shea: Tell Me the Story by Paul Davis, had a tremendous impact on her. Shea’s autobiography contained so many enriching thoughts for reflections that it took her one year to complete narration. Trish had personally learned much from Shea that she would read and re-read a section, praying that God would help her express Shea’s story that had moved her so that the same story can touch another person’s life as well. She was particularly encouraged at how Shea was very clear on God’s purpose for him, which was to use his singing talents to prepare people’s heart to receive God’s message preached through Billy Graham. Shea understood well that to sing on stage in front of the mass audience was not for his own glory but for God’s glory. In a similar way, Trish was comforted to know from Shea’s life that she was more blessed to give up her dream of becoming an actress on a secular stage for personal fame in order to pursue God’s ministry plans for her for His glory. As in the song “I’d Rather Have Jesus”, composed by George Beverly Shea, staying true to Jesus’ name is a higher calling than to achieve worldly applause and fame. Over the years, Trish has wholly experienced what was written in Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Whether it is through the church drama ministry or book narration, Trish is thankful that God uses her gift of being able to translate written words into emotion for someone else to hear the message. To Trish, God wants to transform people’s lives through His words, whether we are hearing or reading it. The Bible is alive, and it is wonderful to witness its fruits lived out by people in contemporary stories that are relevant to us. Trish prays that those who are visually impaired will be surrounded by God-fearing and spirit-led believers who will show them from the Bible that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. After all, God loves them and has a purpose for them too!

RADIO-RELATED STUFF

    If listeners can no longer call into talk radio because they are under constant video         surveillance at work then what's the point of having talk radio?

Have been having a lot of good dx the last couple days, picking up stations from upstate New York (mainly Rochester) and Toronto, including CHUM-FM, CIUT and CJRT.

On its Road Trip Long Weekend, did the Wolf Peterborough include any clips from anything besides the Vacation movies?

That top 100 road trip songs My Broadcasting produced was kind of neat. 

Sad to hear about the death of Larry Josephson, former producer for NPR. His revival of Bob and Ray, which I heard re-runs of on "The WRVO Playhouse" in the late nineties, was what got me into that hilarious duo.

THOSE SPLIT SECOND MOMENTS THAT CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES

Are you the kind of person who is able to decide something in the time that it takes to snap your fingers, or are you more known for thinking things through and considering the consequences?

I read of a man who got in the back of his friend’s pickup truck following a rugby match, fell asleep, and woke up in hospital.  The truck was hit by a drunk driver sending him through the back of the cab, out the front windshield, and off the other car.  He suffered serious life changing injuries, but he was the only survivor.  

You might remember this story from my blog about what drives you.

When I was roughly 15-years-old I was horribly bullied at school, and when you don’t have people around to take your side you get really depressed.  It was actually around three weeks after my 15th birthday when I decided that life was no longer worth living.  I was born with a heart defect, and knew where it was, I also knew where my dad kept the steak knives.  I had heard there was away to cut the defect to create the most hemorrhage to create quick death.  

The moment I lifted the knife to my chest my sister, then 13 walked in asking, “What the blank are you doing?”  

I was honest, and responded, “I hate my life, no one’s going to miss me.” I stood there gripping the knife tighter. 

“Put the knife down!” my sister exclaimed. 

“No, I don’t want to be here anymore.”  

My sister looked at me, and said, “I will tell our parents.”  She moved slightly closer, “Put the knife down Gill!” she pleaded. 

“If I do, please don’t tell Mom and Dad.”  

I put down the steak knife, but my sister didn’t keep her end of the promise. At dinner she blurted out, “Gill tried to commit suicide this afternoon!”  

I was angry, but now, because of her quick thinking, I’m here today.

We seem to think we can do things completely sans help, but we can’t.  When one chooses Jesus they are no longer drowning in their previous lives.  Self seems to die off like a neglected gangrenous limb, and life, though not always smooth is all the better.

Gillie