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“Build Me A Son, O Lord”
There is a Yiddish proverb: Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht – Man plans and God laughs. God’s Word is filled with warnings about how vulnerable and precarious life is. You and I are eyewitnesses to the truth of that. This year we moved to a new “normal” and, sadly, it looks as though we have lost Mayberry forever.
This Sunday we will celebrate Father’s Day in our coronavirus world. Fortunately, fathers are accustomed to last minute shifts and plan modifications. They have lived their lives juggling the schedules and whims of their families; this is especially so if there were daughters involved
General Douglas MacArthur was a much-celebrated father. He commanded the Southwest Pacific in World War II; he presided over the unconditional surrender of the Japanese aboard the USS Missouri; he led the coalition of UN troops during the Korean War. He served as superintendent of West Point Academy, Chief of Staff of the Army, and Field Marshal of the Philippines.
USS MIssouri During the desperate days of the Pacific War in the Philippines, MacArthur wrote a prayer for his son, Arthur. When the General died in 1964, the New York Times highlighted it in a full page tribute to this military father.
“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
“Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
“Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
“Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
“And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity or true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.
“Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, ‘I have not lived in vain.’”
Happy Father’s Day to you all. May the Lord keep you in safety and good health.
We love you!
Janet
PS…. My first post-coronavirus event will be on July 21, 22. Details are on the website.
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STEP INTO THE STREAM
Sometimes you have to take a minute, sit back and enjoy the moment. Some days you have to put chores and demands on the shelf and live in the moment… in His peace…. In His presence. My sister calls it stepping into the ‘stream’ of His presence. I’m thinking she may be on to something.
We recently travelled to Brooksville, Florida, where the Wesleyan Church has carved out their own little piece of heaven: a beautiful sanctuary as well as Wesleyan Village where retired Christian workers and, of course, snowbirds live. The staff is wonderful, including a tech team that is savvy, capable, and, wait for it, nice. Yes, I said it. The church hosts winter concerts and the community is the benefactor. John and I have decided that we could entertain the idea of living in an almost crime-free community of believers with golf courses and tennis courts. Somebody has to do it.
Anyway, Brooksville Wesleyan provides a link to stream their concerts and I’ve included it below.
https://bwcflorida.com/watch
This past Friday, we landed in Thomaston, GA for fuel on the way to our concert in Cantonment, Florida. Much to our surprise, a large group of Army soldiers were practicing their skydiving jumps and they landed (perfectly) just feet away from us! It was fabulous to watch those proud professionals plant their landings and gather their parachutes. It was like watching a ballet – intricate timing that comes from tedious repetition and unwavering dedication. Made us proud to be Americans!
Happy Birthday, Sue! From Thomaston, we headed to Victory Assembly in Cantonment where Sue, the Pastor’s wife, was having her 50th birthday. Her husband booked us for the event a few months before and asked me to send a video birthday greeting. On Friday night, he explained to Sue and the audience that, in lieu of coming, I sent a video message. At the end of the message, as everyone was singing ‘Happy Birthday’, I walked out singing. She was shocked!! We had a fabulous time and she did, as well. The church family there is like our family now, and we were so impressed by the way the Lord is moving and working through Pastor Jeff, Pastor Glenn and the staff and the believers there.
So… some days I just sit back and relive the special moments, knowing that they are gifts, priceless crumbs to keep us on the best path. When we have delightful company along the way, it reminds us of Psalm 118, ‘The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’.
And so it is.
We love you all!
Janet
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IT’S A GIRL THING…
Yesterday John sent me a text that I feel compelled to share with you:
‘Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery,
If it weren’t for no blog I’d have no blog at all
Gloom, despair, and bloglessness on me.’The man knows how to get his point across. To that end, here goes….
Much is said these days about girls; in fact, we have been paraded, wrangled, and plopped into the cultural arena like never before. We are advocated, elevated, and defended. In some extreme cases, we present a silent threat by our presence alone. Ironically, what my friends and I really want is to simply enjoy being girls.
Connie Hopper is a gospel music legend. The first time I walked on the stage as a professional was in 1974 when she was sick and the group (our distant neighbors) asked me to fill in for her. I stepped on their tour bus and realized my highest dream. They were gracious and patient. They were (and are) kind people who cheer for everyone else. They are sincere champions of the music genre whose history and track record is unsurpassed for all of the right reasons.
Deana Warren and I have been friends for about that long, as well. She began as a reporter and a publicist for the Singing News. She so loved gospel music that she wrapped her life around it. She ran down every path that led to a concert, an interview, a press release, etc. She genuinely loved her work and people took notice. She met Bill and Gloria Gaither indirectly but they recognized her meticulous work and loyal character. She is now in her 24th year working with them.
We met for lunch this week and we did what girls do. We caught up. We laughed. We told stories – new, old, funny, sad. We analyzed the state of the music industry, the culture, the church. We bemoaned the impact of age, the loss of our memory, and other things I cannot recall. But we had a blast! We sat at a table by the window for three hours – three hours, I say – and savored every second of it.
Have you noticed that when Jesus had important things to share, He often did it at a meal? He dined with sinners and tax collectors, and we can only imagine the gist of that conversation. Remember the night of rigorous fishing when Jesus suggested, ‘Let’s have breakfast!’? That was when He queried Peter, ‘Do you love me more than these?’ Remember the Passover meal when He told His apostles that He “eagerly desired” to eat the meal with them? It wasn’t the food – it was the conversation.
And so it was. Friends with benefits: the gift of history with each other, the trust forged in bygone days, the sweet assurance that it will last forever.
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Atop Sand Mountain
My concert was Sunday night at the lovely First Baptist in Rainesville, Alabama. The city sits atop Sand Mountain – a quaint, little town of 5,000 with a Mayberry feel. John was flying Kay and me to the Isbell airport, where we would be met by Keith Beatty – a longtime friend and fantastic musician.
When we were ready to depart KBUY (Burlington, NC), John had a little “talk” with us. He explained that we were planning to fly non-stop and that the airplane does not have bathroom facilities. Smiling, he suggested that we revisit the fixed base operation there at Burlington and keep our beverage intake to a minimum, as our flight would last about three hours. We happily agreed, as landings are time consuming and inconvenient.
We settled in for the flight. John thanked us for our understanding, we hit the runway and lifted off.
The flight was amazing. We soared over the beautiful trees and landscapes of North Carolina; we flew above the Great Smokey Mountains – up close and personal; we moved along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains; we crossed the friendly Chattanooga River, working our way above and below clouds, marveling at the Genesis firmaments. It was a perfect day for flying and the cabin was occupied by a threesome that understood we were staring at God’s handiwork.
When we were about 45 minutes outside of Isbell, it happened. John calmly announced, “Janet, I don’t think I can make it.” Now, when you are thousands of feet in the air and there is only one person onboard who is capable of landing an airplane, the last thing you want to hear is that THEY are having a problem. Kay and I both looked at him hoping for an indication that he was joking. After laying the groundwork for a perfect flight and making sure that we planned for an arid nonstop, John had to go to the bathroom! However much grief you can imagine we gave him, believe me, we gave him more. Suddenly he was looking for a small airport and, fortunately for us, we were at the tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He set a heading for Blairsville, GA.
John flew through the valleys of the mountains, reminding us both of a Bond movie. We
crossed a small ridge, aligned with a perfect mountain valley, and lined up with the runway. It was magical! A little airport in the middle of the mountainous borders. There was an old model pickup truck in the parking lot and the building was decorated for Christmas. We went to the door, found it unlocked and discovered it was empty. There was a note left for visitors to help themselves to coffee and snacks – all available using the honor system and a converted plastic jug. Kay and I looked for doilies and a communal water jug, certain this was right out of a scene from Mayberry. In a little bit, we departed for Isbell.
When we arrived Isbell, Keith asked if we’d had breakfast? John said he’d had two cups of coffee and a large helping of crow.
We had a wonderful evening with this family of believers, and an instant connection with Pastor David and Roxanne. The Lord is moving on that mountain. As Gloria says, “God always has a people…”
We love you all and wish you a Very Merry Christmas!
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Mayberry, Where Are Ye?
Some years ago I read a wonderful piece about birds that I have never forgotten. That fact, alone, makes the piece special, as many of my experiences and encounters grow increasingly vague every year. With the onset of the holidays and the ubiquity of winged fowl, it seemed worthwhile to share the story with you all.
In a nutshell, the eagle builds the largest and heaviest nest of all birds. He gathers thick branches for a foundation and weaves twigs, grass, moss, and cornstalks throughout. His own feathers add a downy soft layer. Greenery is added and replenished – the perfect camouflage and insect repellent.
When ready for flight training, the mother eagle removes her eaglets from the nest. Frightened, they jump back into the layered security of home. This process continues until she removes the soft, easy down of the nest, exposing them to thorns and sharp edges. Shrieking, they jump from the next out onto the cliff.
After a time, she pushes them off the cliff and into the air. As they struggle, the father eagle swoops out, catches them on his back, and returns them to the cliff. This continues until they begin to flap their wings. Soon, they realize they can fly.
John calls me a news junkie, as I scour articles about our nation, our world, and try to make sense of what is there. It is difficult to accept the current culture as our ‘nation under God’. It makes me sad, eager to retreat to a kinder, more honorable society. It makes me long for a return to Mayberry days.
So, in thinking about this, I remembered the eagles. The loving parent knows the eaglets will not leave as long as they are comfortable. At the same time, they know that leaving is a necessity. They must learn to move into another, greater phase of existence.
And so our Father knows that His kingdom is not of this world. He knows that we do not have an enduring city; rather, we look for a city that is to come.
The Father understands our tendency to dig into a comfortable, tolerable living space and stay in our nest so He makes it less palatable. He introduces thorns and hindrances. Dismayed, we leap out of the nest and onto the cliff’s edge.
Right where He wants us -and the view is out of this world!
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A Wonderful Day
Most of you know that my 87 year old dad plowed through a heart attack, triple bypass, and aortic valve replacement in January. He came through like a champ. Now he feels better than he has in a long time, and the doctors remain in awe. This summer, he even resurrected his vegetable garden and the rest of us have been happy, satiated benefactors.
He turned 87 last week and we had no idea what to buy him for his birthday. When someone has lived that many years, they have acquired pretty much whatever they want or need. Seems to me that the older we get, the less we require at all. But I digress…
My dad loves airplanes. He marvels at how they work (me, too!) He and his brothers were raised on other people’s farms – sharecroppers – so they learned manual labor at childhood. Their dreams of flying were just that: sky high dreams. John had the idea to fly him to a mountain airport where we could have lunch and they could visit the Airplane Museum.
It was a wonderful day. He said it was the best birthday he’s ever had.
That goes for me, too.
clone tag: 2460906567661586680 By the way, if you are in the Baltimore/Hagerstown area, we would love to see you at the Potomac Park Retreat Center on Sunday, September 1. Here’s the info:
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Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame
2019 Inductees: Dottie Leonard, Tremaine Hawkins, (moi), Don Moen For weeks, I’ve promised followers and email friends pictures and details of the Hall of Fame induction in May. To that end, I offer a brief recap and photos of the incredible evening.
Twenty-six of my lifelong friends disrupted their lives to travel to Music City and celebrate with us. These friendships represented as many as 40+ years and as few as 5+. These souls are among my most priceless blessings and I believe that each came directly from His hand.
Rascal Flatts received the first honor of the night. They crossed the threshold of 30 million ‘records’ sold and the Association recognized them for that as well as their ongoing philanthropy. These guys are amazing musically and otherwise.
Next up, they played a video highlighting my music over the past 40 years. Wayne Haun wrote an arrangement featuring some of the most familiar songs and TaRanda Greene and the Martins performed them – amazingly.
Gloria Gaither took the podium and gave a gracious speech about our friendship and our long history together. Not surprisingly, her speech was amazing, drawing the listeners in and weaving words and phrases as she, alone, does. She was extremely generous – but that is who she is. I asked for her original copy of the speech and framed it along with my induction award. Bill came with her and my friends said that, alone, was worth the trip.
The other inductees were honored afterward, each having brought a special gift to the gospel music industry. Tremaine Hawkins closed the evening, which was quite a feat after her incredible choir performed. It was a wonderful experience, almost surreal. I was floating most of the time.
Following are some photos from my phone (thank you, April). Others took pictures which I do not have – but I’m sure they will send them to me as promised (just sayin’). If you would like to view the segment, John uploaded it to YouTube and here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANhFYdnH04&feature=youtu.be
God bless you. I’m so glad you are here!
Janet
John..20 years my hero 
Reba was one of our heroes 
Matthew, now Pastor 
Carla, my Godsend Friends 
Lisa makes us smile 
Ashley and Dan (Jordan’s parents:) 
Deana, the best kind of friend 
My Angels – really 
Wayne, Producer Extraordinaire 
Joel traveled with me for about 50 years
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Here We Go Again: Walking the Good Road
A few days ago my sister asked, “Sis, do you know what I really, really miss?” Running through a quick mental list of vague possibilities, I admitted that I had no idea. “Your newsletters,” she said.
After thinking about it, I realized that I missed writing them. They were a lot of work and very time-consuming but they made me dig, turn over stones, and gnaw on morsels of life that took me places I would not go otherwise.
So, here we go again. This will be fun, challenging, perhaps painful, but if see Christ more clearly in our ups and downs, it will be worth it.
Join me. Subscribe – in the top right corner. Comment – because we love your input.
Let’s walk together for a while.
Blessings,
JanetLeave a comment
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Happy Father’s Day 2019
This month we pay a special tribute to fathers. Like many of you, I have always felt mine the best in the world. Growing up, our dad seemed stronger and smarter than anyone. He could construct, repair, or unravel anything. As Kay and I grew older, the nature of our breaks and spills changed, but dad’s steady perspective on the things that matter has remained constant.
We also understand just how blessed we were to have been raised in a household where the most frequent sounds were laughter, music and prayer. We see our parent’s long, healthy lives as a precious, fragile gift from God. We dare not take them for granted.
My prayer is that each of you will spend time with your fathers, or spend the day recalling wonderful memories of them. Sadly, not everyone’s memories of an earthly father will be good, but we ALL have our constant, adoptive Father whose love and care are beyond good. For you, I pray that He will use others to make Sunday especially meaningful this year.
We love you!
Janet
FAITHFUL FATHER
I know I don’t surprise You, You’ve known me from the start
My failures and successes, well, Lord, You’ve seen them all
Despite my resolutions, still I stumble now and then
But You remain just like You’ve always been
Faithful, unchangeable, ever present help when I’m in need
Counselor, Lord, You’re a wonderful, patient, loving Father to me
In a world lost in uncertainty, I am sure You’ll always be
An ever faithful Father, an ever faithful Father to me
And like a child who reaches for things best left alone
And learns, too late, the Father really knew best all along
You held my hand in sorrow, You helped me to believe
You simply promised You would always beFaithful, unchangeable, ever present help when I’m in need
Counselor, Lord, You’re a wonderful, patient, loving Father to me
In a world lost in uncertainty, I am sure You’ll always be
An ever faithful Father, an ever faithful Father to meWords and Music by Janet Paschal. All rights reserved.
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Everything Changes But Change
Hey Everybody,It’s back…. another awesome fall season. Here in the Carolinas, leaves are turning and curling, pumpkins are everywhere, and there is a distinct, awesome chill in the air. We’ve added all things pumpkin spice to our world: tea to the pantry, fragrance to the kitchen, cider to the crockpot, creamer to the coffee, candy to our snack regime and more – lots more. I’m getting ready to craft a Thanksgiving menu and seating plan; a perpetual grocery list; a centerpiece that will make all of us smile. This remains my favorite time of the year and subsequent holidays: Thanksgiving, Black Friday:), and Christmas. I never tire of any of it.We are making some changes and wanted to let you know. After years of sending this newsletter (which was preceeded by bulk mailed hard copy newsletters), we are stepping into the 21st century. We will be discontinuing this mode of communication (I’m sure your inboxes will thank you:) and migrating to Twitter and Instagram.We are excited because this will allow us to shoot you a photo, live video, etc. whenever something fun happens – no longer limited to posting once a month. In fact, my first tweet after this newsletter arrives in your inbox will be a picture of the giant hickory tree that hurricane Michael pushed onto our roof. John has removed, cut and stacked the tree but the roof is still a work in progress!We will be sending photos and interesting events from Rome where I’ll be singing next month at a conference with Christian leaders from all over the world. We are playing a few days in London afterward and we’ll post from there, too.If you are not already following me on Twitter and Instagram, below is a link to my website which offers direct signup for both. This will be fun!As always, you may contact me directly at: janetandfriends@gmail.comYou may contact my office at: jpmoffice@gmail.comYou may access the concert schedule from: http://www.janetpaschal.comWe love you, and we look forward to this new, more connected way of communicating with you and hearing from you. Let’s do this!Blessings, blessings always,Janet
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Janet Paschal 