Mike'sMinute

Sandy Clause Visits Sahara

2010-12-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning out some stuff and found this article below I ahd written during my days at Kilgore College.

Sandy Claus Visits Sahara
Kilgore College Flare Christmas Edition 1981
By Mike Midkiff

Christmas. A word that brings smiles to faces. The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a visit by Santa Claus. Childhood memories of one Christmas bring back especially good memories for me.
The Christmas of 1969 always lays heavy on my mind. There was no “Jack Frost” nipping at my nose, no “chestnuts roasting on a open fire,” and no white Christmas.
The reason? I spent that Christmas on the Sahara Desert located at the northern end of Africa.
Why spend Christmas half-way around the world from relatives and friends? My father was transferred to Africa by the oil service company he worked for, Halliburton.
My family and I lived in Tripoli, Libya, from June 1969, to June 1971. During this time, we were separated from television, McDonald’s, and the Dallas Cowboys. And only 400 or so American families lived in Tripoli working for various oil and service companies.
With all the political problems in Libya today, headed by Colonel Moammar Khadafy, very few, if any American live in Tripoli now. How well I remembered the days when Khadafay took reign on September 1, 1969. It sure was interesting watching tanks and other armored vehicles travel down the street in front of our house.
My father’s job meant spending 14 days on and seven days off. He commuted via airplane from Tripoli to Fox Trot Three, one of several Halliburton camps, located in the Sahara. Fox Trot Three could be compared to a small community. Trailer houses were living quarters for the men. The trailers surrounded the mess and recreation halls. Various warehouses and cement storage bins made up the rest of the camp.
The Christmas of 1969 was spent in the Sahara because Dad was working. All other Halliburton wives and kids who had husbands and fathers in the Sahara got to spend Christmas in the Sahara too.
We flew into Fox Trot Three on a DC-9 landing just outside the camp on a sandy runway. What a sight to see upon our arrival! No pine trees, grass or paved streets- just sand, sand, and more sand.
Stepping off the plane, the only thing I recall is that it was warm. Temperatures in the Sahara, during the winter, ranges from 65-75 degrees during the day and near freezing at night.
After getting settled in, Dad took us sight-seeing. Sight-seeing! All one could see was sand. But believe it or not, there were a few points of interest.
Dad took us, in a four-wheel drive Toyota truck with big tires, to visit three places: a drilling rig, a Mobil Oil camp, and a black top road that ended in the middle of no-where- I mean, no-where.
The Sahara did not have paved roads except for a little strip that went through a small village built around an oasis. The road was about a mile and half long running through a village that the Halliburton hands simply called “Oasis.”
The village had houses built from limestone blocks with plenty of palm trees. The road was built with the idea of eventually stretching from one end of the desert to the other end. The project ran out of money and ended after 1 ½ miles.
Sure, Christmas in the Sahara was not like spending it in the United States. No trip to Grandma’s house for us. Still celebrating Christmas with new friends was great.
Friends were not from Palestine, Texas, but from Louisiana, Mississippi, Canada and even Libyans who prepared Christmas dinner for us. It did not matter that we were all away from home in a foreign land because Christmas is celebrated in the heart- not at a particular place.
The Christmas of 1969 will always be a happy and meaningful memory for my family and me.

Blogging Is Not High On the List

2010-06-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

Even though it has been a while since the last blog life has been a blast.

During the end of May I traveled with the East Texas Baptist University Lady Tigers Softball team to the NCAA Division III Softball championship held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I have never been to Wisconsin. I brought my two sons "cheeseheads" back from Eau Claire. It was different seeing all the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings stuff in the sports stores.

Wisconsin was very enjoyable because ETBU won it all. Yes, they are the national champions in NCAA Division III softball. I have watched many celebrations on TV when teams have won it all and always said to myself, "That is neat."

You know what, being at a national championship tournament and your team wins, is AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME. It beats watching a team win on national television. What an experience for me. In my career I have always wanted to cover a team that won it all. God is good to this old boy who used to type out his own newspaper as kid with make believe stories about teams winning championships.

When I got back from Wisconsin, my wife was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Marshall Independent School District. I am so proud of her but it does not surprise me. I see the extra hours she spends to get ready to teach and the extra time she gives after school to her students to help them succeed. She was recognized by the MISD school board just a few weeks back and the Marshall News Messenger did a story on her.

Father's Day was great. I am so blessed to be called Dad by Alison, Andrew and Ashton. Marianne and Alison made one of my favorite desserts, bannana pudding.

Life is a blast when you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is guiding it.

Radio Ranch III

2009-12-20T20:01:00.000-08:00

It's a small world. I was watching today the delayed TV broadcast of the Class 4a State Football championship between Lake Travis and Longview. The play-by-play announcer sounded very familiar. The play-by-play announcer wa Marc McClain.

He sounded familiar because Marc and I did Kilgore High School football on KOCA in the early 1980's. The last time I have talked to Marc was when I was working at KTRE TV in 1983. I heard through the years that he was the voice of the Temple High School Wildcats for many years on KTEM after leaving Kilgore.

The year Marc and I did Kilgore High football was when Michael Kalmus and Sanford Stephens alternated plays at quarterback. My sister was a cheerleader for KHS and I interviewed her and the other cheerleaders at halftime of the game when Kilgore played Hallsville.

Working at KKTX-KOCA was a fun, interesting time. What I enjoyed most working there was the people I worked with. It was good to hear Marc call a game, I just wished I was in the booth with him calling a state championship game.

Kilgore-Marshall Playoff Game

2009-11-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up in Abilene, Texas during my fourth and eighth grade years, I was into sports. I followed the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, the World Football League, you name it. I read Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News from cover to cover each week. I enjoyed taking my AM radio and spinning the dial at night to see what game I could pick up. Many times I would stop at clear channel WOAI 1200 AM to listen to Terry Stembridge call the games of the San Antonio Spurs.

As I listened to play-by-play guys like Stembridge, Verne Lundquist (Cowboys), Dick Risenhover (Rangers) and others, I said to myself, "I want to do that one day."

Here we are 35 to 40 years later I am the play-by-play voice of the Marshall Mavericks heard on KMHT as well as www.kmhtradio.com. I started my broadcasting career at 1240 AM KOCA in Kilgore as a sophmore in High School. Eventually I found my way into the sports broadcast booth doing Kilgore football, basketball, and baseball.

Some 30 years ago, after Stembridge retired from calling the Spurs, after over 1,200 consectutive broadcasts, he moved to Kilgore to start his on Oil/Gas lease business. I spotted him one night at Kilgore football game and asked him if I could interview him at halftime. I still have a tape of that interview today.

On Friday night, November 13, sitting in the visitor's radio booth, I interviewed Stembridge again during the halftime of the Marshall-Kilgore Bi-District playoff game. He talked about calling games in which Dr. J and George Gervin played in, he talked about his days when he started out at KOCA calling Kilgore College basketball, football as well as Kilgore High sports in the 60's.

I asked him about an American Basketball Assoiciaton exhibition game that the Chapparals played in Masters Gym at Kilgore College. It was the very first ABA exhibition game and Stembride was mic side. He said the basketball's, remember the red, white, and blue basketballs of the ABA, were right off the press and so slick. Nobody scored any points in the game until the 10 minute mark. Of course, the ABA had the 3-point line. Stembridge along with the GM of the Chapparals, had to go to the gym that day, and put tape down on the court to have a 3 point line for the game.

My hat is off to Stembridge, for once again, giving the time to visit with me and the listerners. He was a class act back then and still is today.

I am very thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for blessing me with a hobby of calling high school sports on the radio.

God Is Amazing

2009-11-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Tonight in Marshall the Marshall Camp of Gideon's International held a pastor's appreciation banquet. Wow, was I blessed. I was blessed because I heard the amazing stories of how God is at work when His word, the Bible, is placed in schools, hospitals, prisons, etc.. by the Gideons.

The ministry of the Gideons must be supported by the local church. The word of God will not return void.

One the gifts the Gideons gave the pastors in attendance is a slim line New Testament. The Gideons want the pastors to use it sharing the Gospel. And if the person ask Christ to be their Savior, then give them the Bible. The Gideon's will be glad to give the pastor another one to give away.

Folks, we are to give away the good news that Jesus saves.

Radio Ranch II

2009-08-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier I have blogged under the title Radio Ranch I. Now it is time for Radio Ranch II. The radio ranch is just a term I have used to make reference to places, people, I have worked with when I did radio.

I still do radio today calling various games for KMHT radio in Marshall. Matter of fact, I am about to embark on my fifth season in the booth when the Marshall Mavericks play football.

I just got through reading the Facebook wall of an old friend, Mark Waldi. Waldi and I were roomates together while I was a student at Sam Houston State University and he worked for KSAM-KHUN radio. Working together at "Radio Ranch Hunstville" is were Mark and I became friends. Hub Randel, who I graduated SHSU with, asked Waldi on facebook, if he was as famous as Bill Schoening.

Waldi left small market radio to go to Austin. Eventually he round up in major market radio working in Houston at the old KRBE. He also has worked in Chicago with his lastest stop being in Salt Lake City. Mark even put me on the air one time at KRBE as I called in to talk to him one evening. He had me say, "We are listing to KRBE in Bryan-College Station."

If my memory serves correct Schoening started his play by play career of college football at KSAM-KHUN radio. He called mainly the Sam Houston State University football and basketball games but also did softball and baseball when they made the playoffs.

Schoening left Huntsville and worked for a radio station in Austin. This allowed him to be a part to the University of Texas broadcast team working with Texas radio legend Brad Sham. Sham eventually left the Longhorn radio network as the play by play guy and Schoening moved into the spot for many years.

Today, Schoening is the play by play voice of the San Antonio Spurs. In years past, Schoening and I have swapped emails. The best email I have ever gotten from him is when he shared with me about his recommittment to Jesus Christ. Bill shared with me he had it all career wise, but was missing the true meaning of life. The true meaning of life is having a personal relationship with God's son, Jesus Christ.

When Bill was at KSAM-KHUN I ran the board at the station while he called the Bearkats. I remember one particular basketball broadcast in which I caused him some frustration. The audio for the games came through the phone line. During commerical breaks I would talk to Bill and tell him how many seconds to go before he was back.

On this particular game, after I talked to him, I would hang up the phone, thus disconnected the line. It was just a natural thing to do, when you are through talking to someone on the phone, you hang up. Well about the third time Bill said, "Mike, take an audio cart and place it over the cradle where the phone hangs up. This will keep you from hanging up on me."

Bill was right. From that day on, I never hung up again on him.

More stories later on Radio Ranch III.

Hello Win Column

2009-07-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

On July first my job took me to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The ETBU Admissions Department was hosting prospective students from the Metroplex at the game between the Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. The ETBU bunch was sitting in Section 319.

Sometime during the game I looked up at the big message board in centerfield. On the screen was a welcome to some family who were guests of the Mark Holtz Hello Win Column Foundation. Mark Holtz was the play-by-play voice for the Rangers for many years before cancer took his life.

"Hello Win Column" was Holt's signature line when the Rangers won. I have heard it many times working the audio board during Texas Rangers games when I worked for KOCA radio in Kilgore. Seeing "Hello Win Column" brought back a terrific memory from my past.

I met Mark Holtz for the first time in early 1980's. The Texas Rangers Caravan made a promotional stop in Kilgore. Rangers players Mark Wagner and Bill Stein, along with Holtz came to the KOCA-KKTX studios be on the air. I got a chance to talk broadcasting with Holtz.

Holtz, told me, "I have a lot of respect for you local guys who call games on the radio. You have to do your own stats, you have to find out your own information about the team. You have to do your homework. In the majors, all that is provided to you by the media departments of each team."

When Holtz left that day I felt like I had made a friend. He said to me, "If you are ever at the ballpark (the old Arlington Stadium back then) come up to the booth. You will be welcomed."

The next season, because I worked for a Rangers radio affiliate, I was able to obtain a season press pass to all the Rangers home games. One paricular game on a Sunday afternoon Harry Lane and I went. During the game we made a stop into the Rangers broadcast booth where Holtz and Eric Nadel were calling the game.

Holtz remembered us and welcomed us to sit it and watch. During a lull in the action Holtz said, "For all you Rangers fans in Kilgore, I want to tell you that your sports guys, Harry Lane and Mike Midkiff, are visiting the booth this afternoon. Glad to have them watching the game with Eric and myself."

Wow. What a nice thing for Holtz to do. He did not have to say anything about us being there.

It seems everytime I see or hear someone say, "Hello Win Column" my mind goes back to my trip to Arlington Stadium and spending a few innings in the Rangers broadcast booth."

The Rangers beat the Angels that night with a walk off homerun by Hank Blaylock. Can you imagine how excited Holtz would have been that night when he said, "Hello Win Column!"

Outside

2009-06-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pass times is to sit in the front yard in my lawn chair in the cool of the evening. I love to watch the cars go down the street, listen to the locust and the birds, the noise from Highway 59. It just one of the things I like to do.

I usually sit out on the front yard after mowing the grass to cool down. Well tonight I am on the front lawn cooling down because the A/C fan motor is froze up . The A/C is not working. Praise the Lord that a cool front has come through and the expected low tonight is 69. Hopefully tomorrow my trusted A/C man, Carey Workman, can make a trip to the Midkiff household and restore coolness.

Why do I enjoy sitting outside so much? When I was kid I spent gobs and gobs of time with my grandparents. One of the activities that both sets of grandparents enjoyed was sitting outside as the sun went down. No TV, just sitting and visiting with each other.

On run particular night the newspaper reported that the space lab Skylab could be seen in the sky as it was making orbits. Guess what? We all saw it streak across the sky that night in Palestine.

Times have changed. Now I am sitting in my lawn chair typing on my laptop, connected to the Internet by wi-fi and making an entry in my blog.

One thing that hasn't changed, SWAT, mosquitoes.

Plano East Graduation

2009-06-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

On Monday, June 8, I attended the largest high school graduation of my life. My niece Morgan graduated with 1300 others from Plano East High School. The ceremony was held at the Dallas Convention Center at 10:00 a.m. which meant I had to leave Marshall at 5:30 a.m. Jaye, my sister, said get there early parking is crazy.

I have been to the DCC before for a BGCT annual convention. So I knew If I got there early parking in the parking garage would be no problem. It did take me an hour to get out of the parking lot when it was over. The place was gridlocked.

I left Marshall letting my GPS lead the way. The GPS was fine until I got to downtown Dallas on I-30. The voice took me up I-35 toward Denton and had me come in from the northside of downtown. Oh well, it worked.

How do I meet up with Jaye, Matt, Madison and my Mom because they have my ticket and they are driving in from Plano. Each graduate was given only six tickets for family to attend. Cell phones brought us together. I told my sister where I was and the next thing I know she is walking toward me talking on the phone with me.

The ceremony was long but worth seeing my neice graduate. It seems just like yesterday I was babysitting her as a one year old when I lived with Matt and Jaye during our transition to seminary in Fort Worth.

Morgan will be an Aggie in the fall. Nothing wrong with that but it would have been nice if she had chosen ETBU. Maybe Madison will in three years.

Morgan was chosen to give the the class closing remarks at the end of the two and half hour ceremony. She was given two minutes to give her speech. She did a great job. She reminding her class that when they were young all they wanted to do was read all the Harry Potter books, now all they want to read is Facebook.

Oh well, gotta go and check my Facebook page.

China

2009-05-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Early Monday morning Marianne and I took our daughter Alison to DFW Airport. It seems like yesterday when I used to take her to DFW to ride the moving sidewalks on Daddy/Daugher day when she was 3 years ago. Alison, along with a group from East Texas Baptist University, are currently in China until May 21. She is taking a study abroad course in Pschology.

God has been good to our family as He has provided the means for Alison to embark on this once in lifetime learning opportunity. I have always heard from my parents, "We want to give you and your sister opportunities we never had." I have the same sentiment toward my children.

What will Alison experience while in China? Jet lag, homesickness, excitement, amazement, but most of all how personal and real Jesus is. Jesus will take care of all her needs as she is away from her cell phone, text messaging, Grey's Anatomy, etc....

Looking forward to May 21 when her brothers, Andrew and Ashton, and myself pick her up at DFW. Maybe we can find a moving sidewalk to enjoy.

Facebook amazes me

2009-03-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wow. Facebook has done it again. Taking me back, way back into my childhood. In the search box I typed in Oil Companies School tonight. My second and third grade years were spent at OCS in Tripoli, Libya. The years I lived in Tripoli were from 1969-1971.

They were great years. Tripoli was a modern city. Everything for the American families centered around school activities or going to the Teen Club at kilometer 9 to swim in the Medietarian (sp) Sea. Many actitives for families to help with the home sickness.

The facebook page for OCS had pictures of the school grounds. The biggest change I could see from what I remember OCS looking at is that there was more landscapping done. All I remember about Tripoli is sand, sand, sand everywhere.

Some of the names I recognized who had joined the group. Names I had not thought of since the days in Tripoli. Some of those names of our people who live just 15 miles to the west of Marshall in Longview. I sent a message to these individuals to reconnect. The world we live in is getting smaller and smaller.

Wow. What a trip through cyberspace.

Radio Ranch I

2009-03-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today one of our students at East Texas Baptist University stopped by my office. My relationship with LaDarius started when he worked at KMHT radio while a senior in high school. He also was a member of the Marshall High School Chorale in which my daughter was also.

LaDarius and I spent a good deal of our conversation talking about the things that happen at a radio station concerning people you work with, equipment that doesn't work, etc...

I have a nickname for KMHT I called it the Radio Ranch. The reason being it that it plays "Real Country" music recieved from a satellite service.

So I though from time to time I would share Radio Ranch stories. This Radio Ranch I.

I just want to take the time and list the names of people I have worked with while working at the various radio stations I have worked at:

Jim Hodo (KOCA-KKTX)
Paul Bendal (KOCA-KKTX)
Phil Kee (KKTX)
Harry Lane (KOCA-KKTX)
Paul Kyser (KOCA-KKTX)
Marc McClain (KOCA-KKTX)
Richard Martin (KOCA-KKTX)
Ron Chase (KOCA-KKTX)
Bobbie Kerns (KOCA-KKTX)
Jim Allen (KOCA-KKTX, KLUE)
Scott Sparks (KKTX)
Dan Diamond (KOCA-KKTX)
Mike Williams (KOCA-KKTX)
Brad Oweings (KOCA-KKTX)
Don Schmal (KOCA-KKTX)
Tod Teddar (KOCA-KKTX)
Dal Sanders (KOCA-KKTX)
Van Goodall (KEEE)
Larry Whit (KSAM)
Phil McKee (KHUN)
Mark Waldie (KHUN)
Jon Boaz (KHUN)
Steve Sands (KSAM)
Kooter Robertson (KSAM)
Bill Schoening (KSAM)
Lorinda Hortsman (KSAM)
Shelly Martin (KHUN)
Ray Eller (KSAM-KHUN)
Joel Hardy (KISX)
Jeff Brown (KKTX)
Tim Middlestat (KKTX)
Brenda Smith (KOCA-KKTX)
Stacey Milam (KOCA-KKTX)
John Logan (KOCA-KKTX)
Sylvia Sommers (KHUN-KSAM)
Chris Paddie (KMHT)
Josh Bush (KMHT)
LaDairus Carter (KMHT)
Jamie (KMHT)
Gail Mino (KSAM-KHUN)

I know I have some people off, but as I ponder on this later, I will come back and more.

That is all for this edition of Radio Ranch.

A Difficult Assignment

2009-02-28T05:54:00.000-08:00

Has the Lord ever asked you to do something difficult? Right now I am in a difficult assignment. As I attended the Texas Baptist Media Forum last January, Mark Knox, editor of the Baptist Standard, asked me a question.

"Mike, would you consider writing the Bible Study Lessons for our website." Wow. Stop. I am not a scholared theologian and fill inadequate to be writing commentary on God's Word to help other Bible Study teachers. If it were not for my personal editor, my wife Marianne, a high school English teacher, I would have never had graduated from seminary because of all the writing assignments.

I failed Dr. Jack McGorman's class on the book of Romans while in Seminary at Southwestern. How can you fail a class in a book that is so rich about God's grace? I did not study enough. It was not Dr. McGorman's teaching. He was one of the best Bible professors I had. The reason why is that he shared from his heart in class what the Word of God meant and how it applied to his personal relationship with Jesus. He shared his struggles and his triumphs.

I told Marv, "I have never done this type of writing before." His encouraging words to me, "You can do it, just keep it under 900 words." Speaking like an editor.

I have just completed the third lesson assignment. God knows what he is doing! The lessons are in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah met opposition and discouragement as he obeyed God's call. How did he overcome this? By depending on the Lord, talking with the Lord in prayer, remembering that God called him to do the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

The task of writing the Bible Lessons is difficult. That is good because I am depending on the Holy Spirit to direct me. And I am remembering how Dr. McGorman taught the book of Romans, with passion for His Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe the call that God has placed on my life is to relate to others about how personal He is and how He works in our lives today.

Check out the lessons at www.baptiststandard.com. Click on "Departments" on the bar under the masthead. Then look to the top right of your screen, and click on "Bible Study Lessons."

Last Post January 24

2009-02-19T21:44:00.000-08:00

Why do I have a blog? The last time I posted was on January 24th. I have the blog because I like to express my opinion in written form from time to time. This blog will be about my opinion on a few things.

1. Bail Out Packages- Why give the money to big corporations? Why not give the money to the American taxpayer. Give each person who filed an income tax return a lump sum of money, guess what, economy stimulated.

2. Auto industry- Let them go under. What would happen? The current GM employees could form there own company, buy the assembly line plants at great prices. Start making a few models and go from there. I believe the American car buyer would support this because the underdog is trying to make it work.

3. Church attendance- How can a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ not attend church? They are missing out and missing blessings from the Lord. Great book to read, "Who Stole My Church?" It is a fiction book about a church and its leadership discussing the trends in church life. The book is very good.

4. Big Salaries for CEO's- I read that the CEO of an oil service company made 15 million dollars last year even though his company was going to post losses this quarter. Do these guys need to make so much money? Why? What skills do they have that I don't have?

5. Local Newspapers- The digital age is taking away advertising dollars from local newspapers. The 20-30 year olds don't like to read a printed newspaper. They would rather view news on TV, the internet or PDA. The question that is being asked today is will the printed newspaper be around in 10 years? I say yes .

I agree with the publisher of the Longview News Journal. He stated in a column that the local newspaper will never die if it makes it a priority to cover local news. People who live in Marshall, Texas can only get in-depth Marshall news from reading the Marshall News Messenger.

KMHT radio in Marshall is thriving as a radio station because it is a local radio station, with local news and sports.

Enought said for today.

Since Last Year

2009-01-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

The last time I posted a blog was last year. Some interesting events happened since the last time I blogged. One is that I have discovered FACEBOOK.

About a year ago, one of the student workers in the Office of Public Relations at East Texas Bpatist University said, "Mike, get with it. You need a Facebook page." The student guided me in how to do that. I did not know how to use it so I just did not do anything with it.

Over the ETBU Christmas break, I began playing with Facebook. Wow. I have connected back with friends from my college days, a roomate I had in college who left Huntsville to seek his fame in major market radio, guys I worked with at the various radio stations I have worked at like KOCA-KKTX in Kilgore as well as KSAM-KHUN in Huntsville, and many friends from my high schools days at Kilgore High School. I can't forget Al Albarran, one of my favorite Radio-TV professors at Sam Houston State University. He is now Dr. Albarran teaching at the University of North Texas.

One of the best comments I got from an old friend was, "It is good to see that we grew up to be responsible adults." I did not share with them the time I spilt a gallon of paint on the carpet of the first house Marianne and I bought while painting before we moved in. Or about the time I backed into my mother-in-law's car as I backed out of the garage.

I have been blessed to check on old friends and learn about their families and their careers.

Eddie Chiles of the now defunct Western Company had this as an advertsing slogan in the late 1970's and early 1980's, "If you don't have an oil well, get one." I would say today, "If you don't have a Facebook page, get one."

Why? You will be amazed what old friends you will find and they will find you as well. I wonder what happened to...... Got to go, I going searching on Facebook.

A Christmas Memory From the Past

2008-12-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was seven years and my family served the Lord at North Jackson Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas. About 13 years ago I preached at North Jackson. As I walked around the church as an adult instead of a child, everything seemed so small.

The first floor in which was the nursery and the Sunday School rooms. Seemed so small to me as an adult. As a child the area was huge. Then being in the Sanctuary for the first time in many years, the place seemed small as well. As I child, I would crawl under the pews from the front to the back, wondering if I would ever get to the last pew.

No, I did not do this during a worship service when the preacher's message got over my head. My mother was at the church many times during the week doing something. So playing around the church was something I did as a child. Today, I considered it one of the many things God has allowed for me to do in my life that has helped me love His church.

At Christmas time, North Jackson would construct a manger scene outside on the north side of the property. It was made out of limbs, straw, old wood planks. In it was plastic figures to represent Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. I have been blessed because I had parents who took my sister, Jaye and I to church. As I look back, being able to play in that manger of the front lawn of North Jackson Baptist Church helped me understand the real Christmas Story.

I was able to touch the straw, feel the cold of December as I played in and around the manger. It has helped me to see how the birth of Christ was a miracle. Matter of fact, any birth of a child is a miracle of God. As I have studied the Christmas story to preach, my time in the manger as a child has helped in my preparation.

We do need to return to the manger. It is were God become flesh and dwelled among us. It is where God sent His Son, the Savior, and the shepherds to come and see and then go out and proclaim the good news.

This Christmas, before you open the presents, before Santa Claus comes down the chimney, before you sing Silent Night, Holy Night, go back to the Manger. Spend time reading Luke chapter 2. Ask the Holy Spirit as you read to transform you back to that Holy, Holy, Night.

Have a Blessed Merry Christmas.

Wonderland of Lights Christmas Parade

2008-12-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

Marshall held its annual Wonderland of Lights Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 13. All entries must have Christmas lights attached to the float or vehicle. It is a neat sight to see.

I drove a big Ford F-250 pick up in the parade borrowed from my freinds at Marshall Ford with ETBU Mascot "Toby the Tiger" riding in the back. Toby did a great job of entertaining the parade goers. The attendance was huge. In my five years of working at ETBU and being in the parade or at the parade, my guess is this was the largest crowd to view the parade in years.

The crowd around the square was at least 10-12 people deep. We were entry number 110 out of 150 plus. Huge parade.

If you have never been to Marshall at Christmastime, I encourage you to come and veiw the lights. Take the time to walk around the square and watch the ice skaters on the out door rink. It is a wonderful sight. As you walk around the square, give praise to God for sending his son, Jesus Christ to the world. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

Here is something to think about, how bright was the light that shown as the angel appeared to the shepherds telling them that Christ had been born? That light still shines bright today in those who have trusted in Christ for everlasting life.

Christmas Parades

2008-12-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

Last week I drove Miss ETBU, Zane Gruzinina in both the Carthage Christmas Parade and the Longview Christmas Parade.

I remember as kid growing up in Palestine watching the parades go through the downtown streets from the upper floor of my Uncle Joel's store. What a view to have as a child. Up high and able to see the parade stretch from one end of the block to the other end.

I think I have found a better place to watch a parade. Driving in one. My son Ashton, usually rides with me and my other son Andrew, who is 13 now, used to ride with me. He is grown up now. It is a blessing to hear the excitement in Ashton's voice as he sits next to Miss ETBU waving to the crownd and saying "Merry Christmas."

It was also a blessing to drive Zane in the parade as well. Zane is from Lativia and is majoring in Business at ETBU. She has a wonderful testimony of how God revealed Himself to her parents and how they became Christians. Even though Zane is from Lativia, she sounds just like an East Texan. She has adapted well to the East Texas way of life. The best I could tell she enjoyed being in the parade as well.

There is still one more parade to go this Saturday in Marshall. It is the annual Wonderland of LIghts parade. Every parade entry has to have lights. It is a wonderful parade to watch. Zane want be riding in this parade as she will leaving to go home for the Christmas break at ETBU.
Toby the Tiger, the ETBU mascot, will be doing the waving for this parade.

As we enter in this special season, take time to say celebrae the birth of our Savior. Take time to enjoy time with your family. Take time to enjoy what God has provided. Everlasting life through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Texas Stadium

2008-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week in the Longview News-Journal, the sports editor, Jack Stallard, wrote about his first visit to Texas Stadium. This is the last year for Texas Stadium to be the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are moving to a new stadium in Arlington next week.

I will never forget my first visit to Texas Stadium. I was a part time employee of KOCA in Kilgore back in the early 80's and late 70's and was able to go to the annual Texas Sportcasters Meeting held by the Texas Associaiton of Broadcasters.

Three from the station went, Mark McClain, Harry Lane and myself. Part of the weekend was attending the Cowboys preseason game. Each station recieved one press box seat and as many seats in the stands they needed. Who was going to sit in the press box?

Upon arriving at the conference, we inquired if there were any extra press box seats. We were told to check back at lunch. At lunch we recieved the extra passes and we all got to sit in the Auxulairy Press Box B located in the north end zone.

As we ate supper in press cafeteria, which at that time was located directly behind the photo deck, tv and radio booths, I ran into Roger Stabuch, Larry Csonka, Brad Sham, Verne Lundquist, and Pat Summeral. Also I ran into then KLTV channel seven, Tyler sports director Jerry Gumbert. I had done a story on KLTV's live broadcast of a basketball game between John Tyler and Lee for the Kilgore College Flare.

I had never meet Jerry in person before as I did the interview with him over the phone. The beginning fo the friendship with Jerry led me back to Texas Stadium many other times. I went back as Jerry's helper, carrying equipment as he covered the Cowboys home games for KLTV.

That relationship led me to meet David Smoak, Myles Taylor, and Bryan Houston. That relationship led me eventually to a job at KTRE TV as weekend sportscaster. I replaced David Smoak who moved to Tyler to join the KLTV sports team.

At the two minute mark we made our way down to the interview room across the Dallas Cowboys locker room. Since the game was still in progress, we were told we could go down the tunnel and stand on the sideline.

As we came out of the Cowboys tunnel, it was amazing. The crowd noise, the Cowboy bench in front of us. What an experience for a college kid who grew up rooting for the Cowboys.

Count Your Blessings

2008-11-23T04:07:00.000-08:00

The Music Director at the church I serve as pastor has been singing the hymn, Count Your Blessings, at least once a week in one of the three times we meet together each week during the month of November. His purpose to remind us to take the time to count the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.

That is what I am going to start to do with today's entry. (The numbers do not stand for a ranking as one better than the other, they are all great. Numbers just to help with keeping things in order.)

My Blessings from the Lord, Count them one by one!

1. Was blessed by having Christian parents. (I miss you Dad).
2. The Holy Spirit showing me my need for Jesus at the age of eight.
3. After becoming a Christian, knowing that God had a plan and purpose for my life.
4. The great experiences of living in Palestine, Tripoli, Abilene, Kilgore, Huntsville, Bryan, Tyler, Arlington, Magnolia, and now Marshall for the last eleven years.
5. March 28, 1987- The day Marianne and I got married at First Baptist, Hallsville.
6. July 12, 1989, August 22, 1995, December 20, 1999, the birthdates of my Children who are still with us.
7. June 12, 1993-June 12, 1993, Alexander Lee Midkiff, Nahum 1:7-God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows whose loves him.
8. Graduating from Kilgore High School, Sam Houston State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
9. Serving the Lord at these churches either as a staff person or member; North Jackson BC, Palestine; Southwest Park BC, Abilene; First Baptist, Tripoli; Forest Home BC, Kilgore; Southern Oaks Baptist Church, Tyler; Mt. Carmel BC, Tioga; Woodland Place BC, Magnolia; Friendship BC, Marshall; First Baptist, Marshall; Oak Grove BC. Harleton.
10. Being at the bedside when my Papaw Midkiff and my Dad drew their last breath on earth and the next one was with Jesus in heaven.
11. To cry tears of joy, sadness, and amazement.
12. That God and His Son, Jesus Christ is real and personal to me.
13. Spending time with Marianne, Alison, Andrew and Ashton.
14. THe many friends I have.
15. Being the public relations director at East Texas Baptist University.
16. The dark, dark time after being forced to resign from Friendship Baptist Church after six years of service.
17. Being hired by ETBU five minutes after my interview with Dr. Riley, David Mohn and Vince Blankenship. Nahum 1:7
18. My life verse, Nahum 1:7

The list will grow. God is Good!

Kilgore 31 Marshall 28

2008-11-20T21:05:00.000-08:00

I had a blast calling the Marshall-Kilgore game. The atomosphere was electrifying. Why? It's playoff time. The game was not decided until the final four minutes when a early snap by the Marshall center put the Mavericks in a bad situation. Looking at third and 35, the Marshall QB threw an interception. Kilgore just ran out the clock to win the game.

Kilgore running back Frank Reddic could not be stopped by the Marshall defense. Kilgore ran 59 offensive plays, with 53 of them going to Reddic. Reddic gained over 340 yards rushing breaking an all time Kilgore single game rushing record.

It was good to inverview Dennis Williams at haltime on KMHT. Williams and I became friends when I was a sophmore at Kilgore and he was a junior. He talked about the being on the staff of the 1990 Marshall Mavericks, who won the Class 5a Big School state championship. Williams' wife was my dauther's 8th grade English teacher at Marshall Jr. High.

Old friends are good to have, give one a call or send an email to touch base and see how they are doing. It will make their day and yours.

Kilgore-Marshall

2008-11-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Kilgore Bulldogs and the Marshall Mavericks face one another in the high school football playoffs on Friday. Being a 1980 grad of Kilgore and calling the Mavericks on KMHT in Marshall this is always a fun game for me to do.

I got started in broadcasting by catching a ride with my neighbor, Dwight Dorminy, back when I was 16 years old to the Kilgore football game in Palestine. Dwight worked part time for KOCA and did color with Jim Hodo on the Bulldog broadcast. That night in Palestine I was the spotter for Jim. I loved being in the press box and a part of the broadcast. Matter of fact I continued to be Jim's spotter for the reminder of the season.

Then at one game Jim asked, "Would you like to audition for a part time job as a disc jockey." I jumped on that invitation and my first board shift was on Christmas Eve 1977. While at KOCA I got to do everything. I had my on show, I did newscasts, sportscasts, remotes, and yes, play by play for football, basketball and baseball.

This will be my fifth Kilgore-Marshall game to call on KMHT. The games have all been good. Since both teams are red, sometimes I call the Bulldogs, Mavericks and the Mavericks, Bulldogs. I have people ask me in Marshall who know I am from Kilgore ask, "Who do you want to win?"

I know I am getting old because I have called Marshall-Kilgore games in which the sons of friends I went to high school with. Matter of fact, Friday night the number one running back is Frank Reddic, son of Jerry Reddic. Jerry and I both graduated from Kilgore in 1980. Jerry is a coach on the Kilgore staff.

What I really want is one of those football games that people walk away and say, "What a game. I wished both teams could have won tonight. Both teams played great games and with all their heart. To bad ______________ had to lose."

I just can not fill in the blank. I want Marshall to win, I want Kilgore to win. That's not possible. One will win and one will start playing basketball on Monday.

If you are interested, you can listen to the game on the internet at www.kmhtradio.com. My scheduled halftime guest is Dennis Williams, former Marshall Maverick football coach, teacher and assistant principal, and now an adminstrator in the Kilgore ISD. Looking forward to visiting with an old friend.

A Great Place for High School Football

2008-10-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night I was at Tiger Stadium at Grimm Park in Texarkana, Texas. This is where the Texas High Tigers play football. I was there to broadcast the Marshall-Texas High football game.

This was my second trip to this stadium in 23 years. The first was back when I was the weekend sports anchor at KTRE Channel 9 in Lufkin. I came to the stadium to cover the Texas High-Nacogdoches game. I left Lufkin and stopped off in Kilgore to pick up two of my high school buddies, Eddie Welch and Trey Rosebrock.

When we arrived at the stadium 23 years ago, I remember they told me my spot to video tape the game for high lights was on the roof of the press box. Yes, the roof with no railings around it. Trey and Eddie helped me get the camera, tripod, tape deck and spare batteries to the top of the press box.

This trip was totally different. As Chris Paddie and I went to the press box we rode an elevator to level two of the press box. As we stepped out of the elevator around 30 people were enjoying a pregame get together with all kinds of food. The press box, the stadium, had undergone a complete makeover about two years ago.

The press box was one the best I have ever worked a high school game from. The atmosphere was big time. Texas High fans arrived about an hour before kickoff just to hang out.

I want to now share with you the best pressboxes I have worked out of.

1. Waco ISD- Top notch. Mike plug ins for crowd noise and the pa announcer. The last time I as there for a Marshall playoff game we had replays in the booth.

2. Homer Bryce Stadium- This is where SFA plays. Broadcasted a Maverick playoff game here in 2005. Great view and plenty a room in the radio booth. Big difference from 20 plus years ago when I worked for KTRE in Lufkin.

3. Ornelas Stadium. One of the best Div. III football press boxes in the country.

4. Tiger Stadium at Grimm Park- Enough said up above.

5. Kyle Field- Even though you are a mile away from the action. This is Kyle Field, enough said.

The worst pressboxes, that will be another blog at a another time.

Blogging

2008-10-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

Blogging takes a commitment to writing something at least every other day. As you can tell by the dates of previous blogs, I am not very good at this.

The other day during Chapel at East Texas Baptist University a presentation was given concerning the study abroad opportunities students have. ETBU has sent students to China, Mexico, Poland, and other places to take a course while they are overseas. Alison, my daughter, listened to the testimonies of students who have gone in the past to study abroad.

As I was walking back to my office after chapel I recieved a text from Alison. Guess what it said? "I want to go to China." My response back, "Go. Get a passport and go."

The opportunity she has goes right along with the ETBU vision statement, "A World Of Opportunity in a Community of Faith." This vision statement is so true at ETBU. Our students get so many opportunities to further the kingdom of God.

I am blessed to be able to call ETBU my place of service in the kingdom of God.

Been A While

2008-09-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since the last blog. Why? Two hurrincanes, Gustav and Ike, have kept everyone busy around Marshall. First, Gustav. The City of Marshall recieved evacuees from Orange County, Texas, over 1,000. There were houseed in eight different places. ETBU became a Special Needs Shelter established by the United States Department of Public Health.

The shelter worked so well the United States Secretary of Health and Public Service made a visit to Keys Gym for a briefing on the operation. The secretary was very down to earth type of man. ETBU students, faculty, and staff, went out into the community and help volunteered at the various shelters.

Ike made a presence in East Texas and Marshall. The winds brough downt trees and knocked power out. Saturday when it came through, the entire city of Marshall was with out power. At our home we were out for 23 hours. I had friends that did not see the light for over five days.

When the power came on at our house on the Lord's Day it was amazing. Our spirits were immediately lifted and our phone began to ring, "Do you have power. We do to." It was like it was Christmas morning and all the gifts you wanted were under the tree.

My daughter Alison, a sophmore at ETBU, went to volunter at the Family Life Center at First Baptist of Marshall. The FLC became home to over 150 individuals and families for over a week. Alison was so moved by the experience of volunteering that her and some more ETBU students went back for another shift.

They found the ones they had contact with very grateful that FBC, Marshall were housing them.

Once again Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief Team on the scene serving hot meals out of the Marshall Civic Center.

What did I learn through the experience of two hurricanes coming through East Texas, I am very blessed to live in Marshall, Texas and serve the Lord at East Texas Baptist University.

We are blessed.

Back in the Booth

2008-08-30T07:01:00.001-07:00

This past Friday, I went back into the radio broadcast booth joining Chris Paddie of KMHT radio calling the Marshall Maverick games. I took off a year because Marianne was teaching English at Harleton High School. I wanted to attend the Harleton games with her and my boys, Andrew and Ashton. What a fun year we had watching the Wildcasts go two deep into the playoffs. Also being present when Coach Dennis Alexander notched his 300 career victory as a head coach. Good to see a fellow Kilgore High School graduate do good.

Friday night Marshall played Jacksonville at the historic Tomato Bowl. Marshall won 19-3. You never know who you will run into at a high school football game. I expected to run into CBS-19 news anchor Bryan Houston. Houston does the play-by-play for the Jacksonville Indians on the radio. He was my boss when I worked at KTRE in Lufkin many years ago and served as a groomsman when I married Marianne 21 years ago. But, I did not expect to run into Rory Dukes.

Rory was a senior at Kilgore High School when I was a freshman. Rory was a reciever who was described by Scott Elliot, sports editor of the Kilgore News Hearld, back in the 1970's, as "Rory 'Catch em in the Crowd' Dukes.

Rory was in the pressbox Friday night helping spot for the Jacksonville PA announcer. The last time I had run into Rory was at the graveside service for longtime Kilgore High School basket coach Donnie Oden some 10 years ago.

Rory is a lawyer praticing in Tyler and was helping out a friend in the public address booth. Rory played college football at Austin College who won a national championship. He spent a fews years coaching in the college ranks as well at his alma mater, Kilgore High School. A teamate of Rory's at Austin College was Mark Sartain. Mark is now the head coach at East Texas Baptist University. Small world.

Rory and I got a chance to catch up on old times during halftime. It was good to visit with and share what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in both our lives since leaving the halls of Kilgore High. God is good. I was excited about broadcasting high school football again, but a bigger blessing came through the unexpected. Seeing an old friend. Praise be to God. Relationships with fellow believers are eternal.

Real Baseball

2008-08-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

I always enjoying watching the telecasts of the Little League World Series from Williamsport, Pa. To me, these 12 and 13 years old are playing real, pure, baseball. They are playing because they love the game. Today I watched a little of the Japan-Mexico game and then the last two innings of the Hawaii-Louisiana game. I was surprised to learn that Mexico beat Japan when I tuned in later to the Hawaii-La. game.

I feel for the La. team as they had a meltdown in the top of the six. But what drama. In the fifth inning, Hawaii's first baseman was sheding tears as La. was scoring runs. But those tears moved to La. when the final out was made, Hawaii had come back to win and advance to the World Championship game against Mexico.

I was blessed to see one of the Hawaii fans had made a sign that said, "With God all things are possible." Yes, they are.

I would like one day to take a week of vacation and go the the Little League championship week. What an experience that would be. With God all things are possible.

Who am I rooting for in the Championship game, of course, the team from Hawaii. Go USA! Go USA!

The Olympic Games

2008-08-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

I wonder how many Americans are loosing sleep because of the Olympics? NBC is providing execellent coverage and it just makes you want to stay up the wee hours of morning. Of course, working Americans can not call the boss and say, "I want be in today, I watched to much of the Olympics."

I have seen many athletes exhibit class. The 41 year old lady swimmer from the United States really did something that impressed me about her. Yes, I saw the feature on how she trains and stretches as well as allow someone to walk on her to massage her muscles. But when she went to the judge to say, "Wait up." right before the start of a race was a fine display of sportsmanship.

The racer to her left had torn her high dollar razor suit. She told her about it. The swimmer with the torn suit went to change it out. The call had come to start the race. The American swimmer left the starting area to tell the official, "hey, we are missing someone, wait a minute."

One less racer in the race makes the odds of winning better. Like I said, her act, a great display of sportsmanship.

As Christians, we must be different then the world. We to can be an Olympic Champion when we extend the love of Christ by our Christlike actions.

Coach Kalmus

2008-08-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

I read in the Longview News-Journal sports section this morning that Longview High baseball coach Joey Kalmus has resigned his post. Kalmus came to LHS in 1998 after being in Alvin for 15 years. He made the Lobo baseball team into a winner. Current Texas Rangers and Lobo great Chris Davis is one of his former players.

I first came to know Coach Kalmus when I was a sophmore at Kilgore High School. Kalmus was doing his student teaching in Bill Wylie's American History class. Kalmus also was good friends with then Kilgore Baseball coach Randy Cummings. Kalmus, who has spent time as a pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, helped us out during the baseball season. Later Kalmus would come back to Kilgore as the head baseball coach.

I will never forget one day during batting practice at Driller Park with Kalmus on the mound. It was my time for taking cuts in the cage and Kalmus was on the mound. I hit one out of Driller going about 340 over the left field fence. I was pumped. I had never hit one out of Driller Park. Did not matter if it was BP, I just felt like I hit a big league homerun off a former professional baseball player. Tom Todd was catching and he said to me, "What are you so happy about. It is just batting practice." Yes, but I had always dreamed of hitting one out of Driller Park with its major league deminsions and 10 feet high outfield fence.

Kalmus was not as happy. He stormed off the mound and went to the showers so to speak after a sophmore took him downtown. I never knew if he was joking by leaving the mound or if he was truly angry at himself allowing a sophmore to hit one out.

The last time I had talked to Coach Kalmus in person was when Marshall played Longview at Lobo Stadium in 2005. I was helping Chris Paddie with the radio broadcast on KMHT. I ran into Kalmus in the press box. It was good to renew a friendship. He gave me an update on how his parents were doing, and his two brothers. I wish him well as the paper reported he will stay at Longview keeping his classroom teaching job.

School Days

2008-08-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how much must be done before a new school year begins. At East Texas Baptist University where I work, the process to get ready for a new fall semester begin last May. Now with the first day of classes to begin August 25, one wonders if it will all get done. It will all get done.

Tonight I am at Marshall High School helping my English teacher wife prepare her room students. We have moved desks, filing cabinets, painted, thrown stuff away, and we still have more to do before the first bell on August 25. I am amazed at the hard work teachers do to get ready for their students. When I went to high school I never even thought about what the teachers did to prepare for students. Teachers have a passion to provide the best learning environment for their students. They do this because they want them to succeed, not only in the classroom but also in life.

The next time you see a teacher or professor, take the time to tell them, "Thank you for answering God's call to teach and also tell them, I am praying for you.."

Back To Hot Springs

2008-08-09T18:11:00.001-07:00

Over 30 years ago I went to Hot Springs, Arkansas with my church youth choir. Our little choir from Forrest Home Baptist Church of Kilgore spent a week in the Hot Springs area. We sang at a little church in Hot Springs as well as a resort on Lake Ouachita. I went on the trip because one of my best friends, Bryan Mercer, invited me. Without him inviting me I never would have went. I was a high schooler who knew Jesus Christ as Savior but was not living for Him like I should. That trip made me begin to think I needed to give more of my life to Christ. I started to go back to church on a regular basis.

Matter of fact, that trip led me to preach my first sermon a year and half later. I was chosen to preach at Youth Sunday, because Bryan told our youth minister, Gary Bowden, "I want do it. You need to ask Mike." Bryan passed the buck not because he thought I was more spiritual, he was just scared to do it and besides, I worked at KOCA radio at the time as a DJ, and Bryan said, "Mike talks to people all the time on the radio."

I have just got back from Hot Springs but this time I took my family with me as we were on a three day vacation. We had a great time. We did the tourist stuff downtown, rode go-karts, played minature golf and spent a day at Magic Springs. Once again God used a trip to Hot Springs to speak to me again.

I am blessed to have a wonderful family. My two sons Andrew and Ashton were amazed at how hot the water was at the collecting pool at the Hot Springs National Park. The comment from my family after we all put our hands in the hot pool of spring water, "God did an amazing thing." God does amazing things all the time. Thank you Lord, for being amazing. Ask God to show you amazing things today?

KLTV's Mark Scirto

2008-08-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

I worked for KLTV channel 7 in Tyler for five years from 1986 to 1991 . I did a little bit of everything at the station; directed newscast, special programs, edited and directed commercials, shooting sports video. While working at KLTV I was part of the first crew when KLTV started back it's early morning news show. The anchors were Lorri Vaughter (news) and Mark Scirto (weather) with Scott Findley as their producer. When you work with someone that early in the morning you naturally become friends. Scirto, after leaving KLTV for awhile, has been back as the lead weather man for many years now. My son, Asthon, who is eight, is very interested in weather. I emailed Mark and shared this with him. Last Friday, Mark invited me to bring Ashton to the station. Mark wanted to show him around the weather center. Ashton was thrilled to see the weather center in person as well as the green wall. The green wall is where through TV magic, weather maps, radar and etc.. appear behind the weather anchor during th weather cast.
Mark is walking miracle. Not to long ago he collapsed right before the 10 p.m. newscast. After tests in the hospital, a tumor was discovered behind his eye. He had surgery and the tumor was not cancerous. The Almighty God watched over Mark and his family during this time. KLTV was flooded with phone calls, emails, cards and letters, all saying there were praying for Mark. Yes, Mark will testify, that God does answer prayer. It was good to visit with Mark again. I am very appreciative that Mark is a giver. He gave his time to a little 8 year old boy, showing him around the KLTV weather center and news set. Mark, might have inspired a little boy even more to become a weatherman.

A Good Book for Football Fans

2008-08-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

I have just finished reading "Quiet Strength". I recommend this book for all football fans who want to get the inside look of what it is like to be a assistant coach as well as head coach in the National Football League. The big plus about this book is that Tony Dungy shares about his relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. If you know a football fan that does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, get this book for them as a gift. It is a quiet way to provide a witness.

The First

2008-08-01T19:53:00.001-07:00

I have friends that have blogs so I thought I would try it for awhile and see how it goes. What will I write about? My observations about living for Jesus Christ, serving him as a husband, dad, pastor and public relations director of four year Christian liberal arts university. During the last 18 years I have been involved in vocational ministry. I have had moutain top experiences as well as been in the wilderness while serving the Lord. My prayer, that I can be an encourager to those who read this blog.