I Beg Your Pardon...

Ken Andrews • August 8, 2022

I Never Promised You...

Recently I was thinking about the impact inflation, recession, crime (shall I go on?) has had on each of us. It hasn’t been pretty, has it?

 

Oddly, that got me thinking on my past, and experiences in broadcasting over the years that began in 1968 when I was freshly graduated from high school. Do the math and you’ll know I’m a white-haired old codger. You probably didn’t know that before I embarked on my “career” in Christian radio, I worked in formats like rock, country, news, easy listening and beautiful music. It may even surprise you that my favorite format was beautiful music! That was an eye opener for an 18-year-old raised on country and rock music.

 

So much for history, however not interesting. But, back to my point. As I was considering our times, and the Scripture’s words about future times, an old (and I do mean old) country song popped into my brain. (Do old songs strangely pop into your mind too?) If you are old enough, you might remember Lynn Anderson’s hit “I Beg Your Pardon - I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.” (Circa 1970.)

 

A recent series on “Turning Point” from Dr. David Jeremiah pointed out that God’s Word tells of future times when things get worse and worse. Like what the Apostle Paul said in Second Timothy 3:1 - “…mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” What follows is a grim list of conditions that look an awful lot like these days. And, our LORD detailed in Matthew 24 what the last days would look like. Again, much like our days.

 

In another narrative, in John 16:33 Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!”

 

Hopefully, that reminder will be a key for us…a promise on which we can rely. If you are like me, you don’t see conditions getting much better. The world certainly does not offer much hope, does it?

 

But,the LORD DOES offer hope! Jeremiah (you know, the Weeping Prophet!) watched the horrifying destruction of his country. It broke his heart. However, even as he lamented that destruction, he could say: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him, it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26.) As we eagerly await the LORD’s return, we have hope. I guess the waiting in these times is the hard part! It’s real character builder!

 

Jesus encourages us to endure. Not to falter. To trust in Him. He assures us He has overcome the world. And, He will never leave or forsake us. And, oh yes! From Matthew 28: “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s great news, because on our own we can’t make it.

 

Finally (about time, right?) Jesus exhorts us at His coming to “…be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” That is a promise! He will come!

 

OK, now, finally, for real. King David gives us hopein Psalm 40, as we wait on Jesus return:

 

“I waited patiently for the Lord;
     he turned to me and heard my cry.
 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
     out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
     and gave me a firm place to stand.
 3 He put a new song in my mouth,
     a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
     and put their trust in him.”

 

It may not always be a rose garden, but He IS with us, with a purpose, as we wait on Him.


-Ken Andrews, United Ministries VP

Wayne Watson and "Almighty"

By Kurt Neuswanger • June 26, 2025
Recently I played a KJOL classic, “ Almighty ” by Wayne Watson . For those who don’t remember Watson, he had a string of hits during the 80s and 90s, including: Celebrate Friend of a Wounded Heart For Such A Time as This Home Free Another Time, Another Place (with Sandi Patti) Touch of the Master’s Hand As for “Almighty,” I found an article that explains the back story. In 1990, when Wayne was 36, a close family friend became ill and died, leaving behind her four young daughters. As Wayne struggled to understand how God could allow this tragedy, he sat at his piano and began to write a song that reaffirmed the sovereignty of God. Well time marches on, with the innocence gone, And a darkness has covered the earth But His Spirit still dwells, He speaks, "it is well, " And the hopeless still offered new birth He will break the leash of death, it will have no sting Let the prisoner go free, join the dance and sing Almighty (almighty) Most holy God Faithful through the ages Almighty, Most holy Lord Glorious, Almighty... When his friends heard the song, they told him he should record it. Wayne was reluctant, thinking it didn’t really match his typical style. Eventually he started singing it in his concerts, and the response was so strong, he included it on “ Home Free ” in 1991 and it became a No. 1 hit.

CeCe Winans takes NPR listeners to church

By Kurt Neuswanger • June 19, 2025
CeCe Winans was a guest at NPR (National Public Radio) this week, and took them to church. She performed a half-hour concert, called a “ Tiny Desk Concert , ” before a small friendly audience in the NPR building. Between the songs, she shared her faith: “God is faithful, and what I love about him, he stays the same. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been, I just want everybody to know that God loves you with an everlasting love. And because He never changes, we can always run to Him. Just know that if God be for you, who can be against you!” She also appeared in an 8 minute interview on the NPR news program. The host said she had listened to Cece’s song “Alone In His Presence” when the host was a child. CeCe said, “Yep, his presence is definitely my hiding place, being in the spirit of God. And I live a life to please him, and that has brought me good success, you know?” She added, “I don't have to fear about what's going to happen because I serve a God who knows the end from the beginning. So I can actually experience true peace of mind and heart because of that relationship. So my hope is in him. You can hear CeCe’s latest song, “ Come Jesus Come ,” on KJOL right now. It was written and originally recorded by Stephen McWhirter in 2023. CeCe performed it for the American Idol Easter special in April.

Newsboys Canadian tour canceled

By Kurt Neuswanger • May 30, 2025
The Newsboys were supposed to be touring Canada starting May 31. But the tour was abruptly canceled last week. Both the Newsboys and the promoter are claiming the other side is at fault. The Canadian promoter said it canceled the tour because there were too many unanswered questions about why Michael Tait abruptly left the band in January, just days before the Newsboys started their world tour. The Newsboys said the promoter breached the contract so the band canceled the tour. Neither Tait nor the Newsboys have given a clear explanation for Tait’s sudden departure . Band member Adam Agee took over as lead singer and the band quickly re-recorded their new single with Agee on lead vocals instead of Tait. The concert promoter said fans in Canada were confused about who the new lead singer was, wondering if this was the same Newsboys band they were expecting. Then on May 26, the promoter announced that Sanctus Real had agreed to be the last-minute replacement for the Newsboys. Sanctus Real had to hurry, because their first concert was just six days later in Canada! The timing works well for Sanctus Real, which just released their new single, The Difference , on May 29. Listen for it on KJOL in the coming days and weeks.

The story behind "Shout to the Lord"

By Kurt Neuswanger • May 14, 2025
Every week, an estimated 30 million worshippers sing the most popular worship song of our generation, “Shout To The Lord” by Darlene Zschech and Hillsongs Australia. You’ve probably heard (and sung) it. But do you know the story behind the song ? Darlene Zschech wrote “ Shout to the Lord ” 30 years ago. She says the song was born out of a low point in her life. She had married at age 19 and moved to Sydney, where she began singing at the Hills Christian Centre. But at home her husband’s business was failing and times were tough One day she sat down at her daughter’s piano and started singing some words she’d been thinking about. She turned it into a song but was too shy to tell anyone. Finally she sang it for the worship director (but she made him turn around and not look at her!). He convinced her to sing it at church. By the end of the first chorus, people were standing to their feet and singing along! In 1994, the Hills Christian Centre recorded it, and in 1996, Hosanna Music released “Shout to the Lord” in the U.S. under the name Hillsongs Australia. It went straight to the top of the praise & worship charts. It has had more than 160 million views on YouTube just in the last 10 years.

See You There!

By Dave Andrews • May 7, 2025
We like to say around here that our Secretary Martha is the most famous person at KJOL. We mean it too! With a naturally likable personality, and an active disposition, a lot of people know her.

Tenth Avenue North and The Archers return!

By Kurt Neuswanger • May 1, 2025
Tenth Avenue North is back with a new album Back in 2019, Tenth Avenue North announced they were retiring. They had formed in 2000 in Florida. Founder Mike Donehey said the name came “Tenth Avenue North” was supposed to be temporary. They had been scheduled to play at a conference and could not agree on a name for their band. So they chose the name of the street where they lived in West Palm Beach. And the name stuck for 25 years! In 2019, they released “ Greater Than All My Regrets .” And then they announced plans to retire, with a farewell tour in 2020. However, COVID interrupted that. In 2021, they finally played two farewell concerts. But four years after the break “sharpened the band’s focus and God used what they thought was an end to create room for them to experience Him in a new way.” So in 2024 they started recording new music , and the full-length album is being released on May 30. The Archers return! Fifty years after the Archers (siblings Tim, Steve, and Janice) made their debut in contemporary Christian music, they are back with a new album called “Legacy Medley.” It contains new versions of five of their previous hits: Give Us This Day 1980 It Won’t Be Long (Andrae Crouch) 1972 Make Me An Instrument 1977 I Never Knew Love 1991 (from their hit album “Spreadin’ Like Wildfire”) Pickin’ Up The Pieces 1979 The Archers debuted at Jesus festivals during the height of the Jesus Movement in 1971. They came to the attention of Andrae Crouch, Ralph Carmichael, and Pat Boone among others. (They were the first to record Crouch’s “Jesus Is The Answer.”) In 1975, they released their first major label album on Light Records. In 1994, they disbanded.
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