Ramblings from the Ol' Broadcaster

For years I have started and ended my day with scripture. Many times it has had a great effect on how my day has gone. It has also caused many sleepless nights. Invariably when I want to sleep and grab a bible or open an app to read a little before bed, God grabs me, shakes me and forces me to think. Such is the case tonight. I Peter 3 is an amazing chapter that many people want to skip over because it begins with that pesky stuff about how God wants a marriage to work. You know, wives submitting and being called the weaker partner. Nevermind that these verses are often misinterpreted, I want to talk about something else. Beginning in verse 8, Peter throws out a challenge that is difficult. It is very counterintuitive to today’s culture, even in the church. He says that ALL of us are to be like-minded and sympathetic. He says that we must love one another, be compassionate and humble. AND we are not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, we are repay...

I have never been one to support openly one candidate or another. How you vote is your business. I write this BEFORE the election results are in so that it won’t be seen as “sour grapes” or “nanny nanny  boo boo.” With that being said, I voted for Donald Trump today.  Why? Yes, he is arrogant.  Yes, he has a dim view of women.  Yes, he is brash.  Yes, his economic plan will probably not work.  No, I am not comfortable with him having a finger on the button.  And there are countless other reasons that I don’t particularly care for him. BUT, my main reason for voting for Donald Trump is the Supreme Court. I look at how much different our country is from when I was a kid.  Yes, a long time ago I know but for those of you who can think back. We had prayer before class. The PA guy prayed before ball games. We had CHRISTMAS BREAK and CHRISTMAS PLAYS at school No one was offended when I said “Merry Christmas” We didn’t have to be careful of...

I am sure if you look in some people's pockets you will find some interesting things.  Gum, mints, a pocket knife, finger nail clippers, the list could go on and on.  I recently found out that the Mayor of Huntington Steve Williams carries 11 pennies in his pocket to remind him that he needs to help 11 people each day.  I think that is awesome. I too carry an object in my pocket and have for the last 20+ years.  It's a divot repair tool used in golf.  I also used to golf quite a bit before Parkinson's.   I carry this around to remind me that sometimes I hurt people, either with words or actions.  I create a divot in their life.  That divot needs to be repaired and since I caused it I need to ask for forgiveness and rectify the situation.  But also, when golfers come to a green and there are divots that they didn't cause, they go ahead and repair them anyway.  So each day I try to make sure I repair the divots I caused and ...

It's been a month now and I am ready to, sadly, make an announcement. Below you will find a diagnosis from KDMC Neurology's Dr Megan Rudinsky dated September 13, 2016 of Dementia Due to Parkinson's Disease.  I had wanted to kind of keep this private for a while so that my family had time to learn more about the disease and answer questions.  I am now ready to make this public and announce my retirement from Sports Broadcasting.  I love sports and I already miss it greatly.  I began in 1999 with GoRadio and then in 2015 moved on to Kool Hits 105.7.  I am very grateful for people like Francis Nash and Jim Forrest who allowed me to do my job the way I wanted to do it.  I will miss my guys at Kool Hits very much.  We were able to assemble what I feel to be the best broadcast crew around, bar none. Parkinson's induced Dementia was explained to me as   brain changes caused by Parkinson's disease begin in a region that plays a key r...

Why is it that some people find it so easy to condemn the actions of others? It is human nature, I suppose, however why? It is because by condemning others we can deflect attention away from the sins in our lives. If I gossip, spread rumors (whether true or not) I can make sure everyone else knows how awful “they” are and how good I am. Jesus had something to say about that while teaching his followers: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5 {NLT}) We all have logs in our eyes. W...

Today I noticed a difference in my generation and the one behind me. I was entering a store, it was raining, a couple who looked to be about my age was behind me and I held the door open for them, which is what I was taught to do. Both were very appreciative and both said, "Thank You" On the way out of the store there were 2 young men, in their early 20's coming into the store, it was still raining, so I held the door open for them, they never broke stride, never took their eyes off their phones and never acknowledged my presence. I didn't hold the door for them to thank me, but if I hadn't held it open, I think they may each have a concussion right now. My take is this "millennial" generation will cease to have personal, face to face communication at some point, they will be less appreciative of what they have and the means they have to provide it and therefore the compassion for others will cease to exist for the most part some day. I ce...

I love all kinds of music.  If you were to look at what I have on my tablet to listen to you would find Casting Crowns, George Jones,  Kansas, Chicago, the Eagles, Mercy Me, the Cathedrals, the Statler Brothers, Don Rigsby, the Grascals and plenty of Garth Brooks (just to name a few).  I like Garth, but there is one of his songs that I take exception to.  The song is called “Unanswered Prayers” and the reoccurring line says, “Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers” I want you to know that God ALWAYS answers prayers!  It’s just that sometimes God says either “Wait” or a flat out “NO.”  We have trouble accepting those answers and assume God either didn’t hear them or He doesn’t care.  Now, the premise of the song being God’s gift of unanswered prayer might be flawed, but when God does say “Wait” or “No” that can be a great gift.  You see, we see this moment in time.  But God sees the big picture, FAR down the road.  I...