Shhhhh...look what I found posted in the WBFJ break room.

Now I wonder who put that on the wall?

"Houston...We are ready to fly!"

Production room is back up and ready to roll. There'll be a few more inprovements but for the most part we're back in business. By the way, this makeover was done by our Engineer Larry Schropp and his associate Jim. Guys, you did great job!
This production room is really important to our well being...we do most all our recording there and in a week's time there is a lot of it! Usually one of us is waiting in line to use it. LOL.

Sorry I got caught rummaging through the trash to make sure nothing of use can be recycled (you know me). Tragic thing the picture showed just how thin my hair has become. I'm sure it just happened in the past few days as I never noticed it before..ha ha...

Mark Irwin, Director for Russia with HCJB World Radio was our special guest this past week.(Darren-WBFJ Morning Show Host there on the right with the funky shirt)

As you remember, WBFJ teamed up with HCJB to help support Christian Radio in Russia. Part of your Sharathon giving went to help.



It was great to sit down with Mark (Wally is the other guy in the pic if you haven't seen him lately) in person over breakfast and hear about the Lord's work in Russia and our small part in it all.

We really do hope to take this relationship to the next level and make a site visit to one or more of the stations in Russia. It's all fascinating...thank-you for helping us do this through your giving to WBFJ.

WBFJ Production Room...
EXTREME MAKEOVER...Day 2...



almost there!

Stay Tuned!

WBFJ Production Room
EXTREME MAKEOVER...begins...

Took out
a rats maze
of old wiring...
and equipment...
this is the BEFORE Phase...
Stay tuned for the "AFTER" pictures!

PS...my grandkids are here for a day or two...
just though you'd want to know...lol!

WALLY'S OFFICE...non-EXTREME MAKEOVER...

The boss and I drove to High Point to get a good deal on a love seat for Wally's (my other boss) office to go along with his new flat screen tv that the boss and I found half-price at Sam's.

Wally's office was really needing a face-lift and since we did some wise shopping we were able to pull it off fairly cheap.

I think he likes it! (I can't wait till he takes a vacation so we can try out for him!)

Be sure to email Wally and tell him how you like it! wdecker@wbfj.fm

P.S.
Please pray for my friend Paula... she's in the hospital with pneumonia. It wouldn't be quite so serious but she is on a ventilator that makes it harder for her lungs to heal and we want her well real soon to get back to her greeting card and encouragement ministry. We all love you, Paula!

BIG RED BANNER...
on the last page
of my older Bible...

It's been there
about 30 years...
way before
I met my wife.




In marriage
and in so many
decisions of life,
I am so thankful
I heeded
this simple
but profound truth.

Steph...(in brown)
our Angel
intern...
farewell party
at Bonnies (in blue).

So, if you
came by the station
at noon today...
that's the reason
the place
was almost
a ghost town.
Bonnie,
our volunteer coordinator,
outdid herself
with a big feast
with all the trimmings.
Thanks to Bonnie's Ron
for using his lunch hour
to do the barbeque.

WBFJ BLANKIE
You know, it was Steph's "going away to college party" but she gave US the gift! She made this neat blanket with staff picture and station logo sewn on it. Like all good work places we have hot spots and cold spots so the "WBFJ Blankie" is for the cool spots.


BOO HOO 2 tha' MAX
I'll especially miss Steph...(sorry I didn't even get in the pics lol ) she did everything behind the scenes for me...keeping up with the WBFJ Love Handles Entries, answering the phone and door, and a thousand other things. She has a real heart for God and I know the best for her is till yet to come... and as Steph always says..."God is good all the time!"...you go girl!

HI...Here's one for you.

I have to get back to work
(yes, I don't spend all my time
doing this blog thing)
while you ponder this
(it's been around awhile...you might have seen it):


DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters you get:
DIRTY ROOM


PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

THE MORSE CODE :
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE (and certainly not true!)
MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

PAPA JOHN TECH TIP:
Fix a flat
with FIXAFLAT...
Tire change in a can!
Just had to use one
on my truck tire gone flat.
In my opinion these things really work well
in most cases where the tire
is still on the rim and not blown out.
In my latest case...small nail.


CLEAR!

Follow directions! Some of these products are flammable and you need to tell your tire repairman you used them...you don't want to send him into eternity if he's smoking while repairing your tire.

In some cases I have used this product as a permanent solution though the manufacturer puts it as a temporary fix. (works on the kids bicycle tires, too).

HOSE OR NO HOSE...that is the question
I've used both types of cans. The ones with the hose work great if the tire valve is hard to get to. Just follow instructions on the can... shake the can well and screw onto the tire valve until the white goo stops flowing. In most cases the can will seal and inflate your tire well enough for you to get to a station.

WARNING!
Most tire repair shops hate these things because they gunk up the tire a little...but I'm sold on them and you'll be hard pressed to change my mind. They have saved me so many times.

HOW MUCH?
About $3.00 at most stores...BIG LOTS is about half that and seem to work ok...

DISCLAIMER
This is just a blog and my opinion...I am not a tire repair professional and the mention of said products does not imply endorsement of any particular product. Do not use the product for hair moose as it makes your hair flat and the pressure from the can could cause a major blow out of your ear drum. As with all products consult your car care profesional if you experience heart palpitations, blurred vision, or a sudden feeling of grandeur. If tire just won't inflate discontinue use of product at once and buy you a good set of tires.

"GONE WITH THE WIND" Part II...

I ran out of time before finishing my comment on the movie. Before I actually sat down and watched the whole thing I thought I already knew what the movie was all about.



WRONG!

I thought it was a fluffy, "Pollyannish", romantic yarn (yawn) about a tragic but perfect little romance during the Civil War Era. Man, was I wrong!

Dr. Chapman...Dr. Smalley....Help!...

Nelly and Ashley were a touch like that and the drama got a little thick at times but Scarlett and Rhett's relationship was a mess. Their relationship needed some serious help. Too bad "The Five Love Languages" and other great books weren't available then.

FEELING THE PAIN!

Being from the South, I couldn't help but feel the hurt and emotion of Sherman's 60 mile wide path of fire and complete devastation. I don't think it would have been bearable living in those times and faith in Christ would have been my only way of coping. I'm sure it was that way for many who survived it all.

Feel free to share your comments. I know it may be old hat to you but it's new to me and I bet I'm not the only one...LOL

GONE WITH THE WIND...Finally sat down and watched the whole thing!

OH, Scarlett and Rhett if you had only applied the book of Proverbs...
the story would have been so different!

Honestly, it was great movie and I can't believe it's taken me this long to watch it all the way through.

BITS AND PIECES

Just like the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life"...I watched parts of it in passing but never really got into it. And then one day I sat down and watched the movie...it's definitely one of my all time favorites. I just love Juh Juh Jimmy Sta Sta Stewart in that one..just love to hear him talk.

WEEKEND AT MEMA's

"Gone with the Wind" was part of my weekend at mema's. Judy and I went down Saturday and after supper Mema said she'd bought the movie some time ago and couldn't figure out the vcr.

IT'S STILL BLINKING 12:00

Being the techno wizard I finally figured out how to get the movie on the tv. Mema, Judy and I had a cozy evening watching the South being destroyed and a lot of other drama... but seriously we all really loved the movie.

I may comment more when I have time...

But Lord...I am tired of going around in circles...same old, same old...nothing's happening...I must have misunderstood you...don't you care...I am worn out...going nowhere...wasting time..."

AND THEN...

Joshua and the children of Israel marched around the seventh time...and the walls came a tumbling down!

Sometimes when "he just won't change"...the needed job just won't come...the kids won't let up...we need to march around the problem one more time in faith.

BE A JOSHUA!

Just like Joshua...we must not be weary in well-doing... it seems like things never happen just when we want them but God has never been late...or left me out in the cold.

How about you?

FORGOT MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY...

(picture taken pre-sin)I am in deep trouble plus
I feel like a stray puppy. I didn't get put in the dog house...
I voluntarily crawled in.My friend Paula didn't forget...
she sent Judy a card. But me...I totally forgot.
I know she forgives me but she had to be hurt.
I'm a worm.

God is now attaching labels to newborn babies…

“HANDMADE in Heaven by God. The little wrinkles, dimples, and quirks are not defects but are a natural part of this wonderful creation.

They are purposely woven into the fabric of this life… so what appears to be “flaws’ of the weaver by the unaided eye, are actually a badge of uniqueness… to be cherished as a reminder that you now are a handmade creation… unlike any other in existence. Congratulations!”

JUST BE YOURSELF...

When I first gave my life to Christ in 1972 I spent much of waking thought life trying to find out which one of the other Christians I was supposed to act like. I was totally frustrated, confused, and religious…until one day God whispered into my heart, “John, rest in me and just be yourself.”

REAL FRIENDS LOVE the REAL YOU!

That one simple thought has been life-changing. (Though it has been a little hard on my friends putting up with all the “outburst of differences”.)

The HEAVENLY FATHER DOESN'T USE A COOKIE CUTTER

REMEMBER: God’s fingerprint is uniqueness. A thousand copies of something probably means it’s man-made. You want to be God-made. So relax… He might decide to do something different and unexpected with your life…and you’ll love it!

PS…email me when the Father does something unique in your life…I’d love to hear your stories…

I still get
emotional
and sleepy
when
I just see
the word
lazyboy

My Friend Paula from Mount Airy... you might have heard me talking about her and her "children"... Brandy (actually she spells it with an "i") and Taylor...they are real birds! Taylor loves the group Annointed and has been known to sing along...




Taylor is not
a PIRATE....
it's just
I really love this
"Taylor Look Alike" picture...
When I go visit I like to let the birds see me through he window first so I don't catch them unfeathered or anything. I also don't want to interrupt Brandi singing in the shower.Paula has ministry of cards and encouragement. I really cherish anything I receive from her and the girls...I think I still have them all.
She never misses my birthday or any other occasion...I can't even remember what day it is...I need to learn from Paula the joy of remembering dates...and a whole lot of other things. I talk with Paula by phone some but usually nurse/friend Debbie is my go-between. Really there's a lot more to be said but for now I just wanted you to meet my special friend Paula.

It's a new week... old things have passed away ...
behold all things are made new.

Sunday morning... (I'll explain the picture later!)...Threw my clothes on and rushed to church. In the parking lot turned my cell phone down (it's really loud!)...

THOUGHT THAT THING WAS ON VIBRATE!

About 10 minutes into Will's sermon I heard this loud ringing in my pocket. Stunned, I grabbed my pocket and totally embarassed found my way behind the curtained off area that helps convert the gym into a "church".

But WALLY...I'M IN CHURCH

Whispering I answered and it was Wally on the other end..."we got problems with our remote connection at the mall for the Kyle Petty/Bryan Littrell event coming up (at Hanes Mall.)...can you come help?".

STUCK BEHIND CURTAIN and i ain't coming out anytime soon!

I answered "yes" but there was one little problem. The exit door behind the curtain is locked...I don't have my glasses, my flashlight or any of the other stuff I carry. And I'm NOT going back into that auditorium after having my phone rudely interupting the service.

MY PRAYER TIME BEHIND THE CURTAIN

So I just sat behind the curtain for about 25 minutes waiting for the closing prayer. I quietely bowed my head and slipped back beside my wife, Judy before the AMEN. I gave her the word and we left in a hurry. (If you happen to be in that service you must have thought I had a death in the family!)

NOBODY DIED but my heart did flutter a little...

No, this wasn't life or death but we really did need to get on the air from Hanes Mall by noon so people coming out of church could hear what was ahead for the big event at the Mall that the station was a big part of.

So all went well and I was able to join the Bryan Littrell concert and all the events at the Mall...Even got to ride on Webbie's HONDA, Lovely wife, Grandma Judy at the wheel.

Had picture made with Bryan..went shopping at the dollar store...and all lived happily ever after. (End of Story...comments welcome)

Next thing you know...Saturday....starting 7:30 am, the amateur radio event (it's like a flea market of electronic junk) got started and got rained on all morning ...good news we all set up in a cattle barn ...for the most part business as usual.

SO FAR...SO GOOD

About 5 o'clock...it's all over, all packed up and time to head home. My friend packed up a little early and was about 30 minutes a head of me. I told him I'd try to get up with down the road for supper break.

FRIENDS SHOULD PROBABLY TRAVEL IN SAME VEHICLE!...

Got through Asheville ok and then down Black Mtn... noticed my van engine was starting to cut out when I gased it. Got to Marion and the engine conked out. Called my friend on his cell...he back tracked about 30 miles to help me figure out what's wrong.

When he finally got back we decided we need to use his truck and a tow strap to get me off the road and to the next exit so we could work and not get run over...good move on our part...cars whizzing within a few feet of the van.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

That went ok except I scorched the brakes a little riding them to keep the tension on the strap...I was real nervous... Finally got off to a parking lot...we checked everything and deduced I had a bad alternator.

"Lord, what in the world should I do...it's Saturday night and most mechanics don't work again till Monday."

Called Triple A and went through about an hour of back and forth with them on what to do. Towing 120 miles seemed a little riduclous and could get expensive even though they would take care of a lot of it.

"HONEY, I SHRUNK THE ALTERNATOR"

Called wife and told her of my predicament...then went to the sagebrush reastaurant nearby to chow waiting for the AAA wrecker...

HARD TO ENJOY SUPPER LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW EVERY SECOND!

Getting dark...a little before 9...my eyes fixed on the window view...wrecker arrives and says if we can determine what kind of alternator I need and get to the parts store real fast he can put it on and get me on my way...

ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

I thought it might turn out to be a $500 job under these circumstances but I said let's go for it. Got in the tow truck and rode about 8 miles to a somewhat remote totally dark, dead end street.

RELIEVED TO FINALLY SEE A GARAGE BUILDING!

We finally got there and it was a real garage...another guy met us with the new alternator. Seemed like everything was ok so my friend decided to head on home in his truck.

DON'T WAIT UP

Called wife and told her all was going well and I would be really late getting home. She cheered me up...good mates do that.

TIP HIM! R U KIDDING!

By 11 o'clock the new alternator was on and I was waiting for the bill.
I was going to pay with my credit card... but I really felt led to give him a $20 dollar bill as a tip...

Then I thought he'll probaly overcharge me anyway, why should I add to insult to my misery. But It was a very strong leading..."Give him $20, not a dollar less or more, even if the bill is obviously ridiculously high and you feel totally ripped off!" OUCH!

OK...OK...I'LL DO IT!

Bill total: $290...gave him the extra $20...thanked him....drove away happy and blessed.

MAN...STILL PLAYING CATCH UP!

Funny thing...caught up with my friend before getting back into Winston and passed him and waved right before he got off his exit! (I did the speed limit).

Got home about 1:30 am, took a shower and hit the sack.

BUT THAT'S STILL NOT THE END OF THE STORY...

Life comes at you fast! My weekend: headline form..incomplete sentences, incomplete thoughts, and all! (it started Thursday night since I took Friday off and it's still going on)... Wild!

YES...I WEIGHED 140 WHEN I GOT MARRIED

Thursday night...showed grandkids the video of papa and grandma's wedding...main observation, "papa you were so skinny then and you had dark brown hair"..."grandma, you still the look the same as you do now".

Then showed them the video of them when Hannah was 3, Josh 2 and Audrie had just been born...they were playing, laughing, crying and fighting all at the same time...my observation, "you guys haven't changed a bit either".

PAPA BUELLER'S DAY OFF...begins...

Friday...kissed grandma and kids goodby. They headed for the neighbors pool... I headed for Asheville for a next day ham radio event...A buddy was driving separately and was to catch up with me on I40 since I knew the way.

the now famous WEEKEND BEGINS...

Ten miles out...a call from Tami from the radio station..."go back home imediately...you have locked Judy and the kids out of the house". Went back, opened up the house, kissed wife again and ran. Called buddy and told him to drive slow and I'd catch up with him.

OK...PLAY CATCH UP...

Gased it good trying to catch my friend who was 12 miles ahead of me. Overdid it...I passed him in Hickory and didn't even know it. He then spend the next 20 miles trying to catch me. Finally got it all together by Ashville and made it ok up to Waynesville...ok...not bad so far..

But...THERE"S MORE...

I promised...all the kids would make it to the radio station.

Well, after we all had Chinese for lunch, Audrie decided she would spend the afternoon with papa.

I caught her beside my grandchildren brag board at my desk...

it's almost 4 so gotta go get the lazyboy chilled for the afternoon drive home...

Quiet....Men at Work!

Day Camp Day 3...SciWORKS! AWESOME!

Took the day off (wednesday) to spend the day with grandma and the grandkids.

Spent the afternoon at SciWORKS in Winston-Salem. If you have never been you ought to take the kids. We go there about once a year.

BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE FOR MOM

They have all kinds of hands on stuff for the kids and a check-your-blood pressure machine for the grown-ups. (after a day with the kids out in the real world I'm sure blood pressure could get dangerously high...lol).

WSKY STATION OF THE STARS!

The planetarium is my favorite part. They have a neat presentation called WSKY "Station of the Stars"....just great! I'd love to see it again...it's that good!

Then on the outside there are the lovable Molly and Ollie... the river otters.

Great trip..survived and was actually able to dip in a neighbors pool. Pizza for supper... went to bed earlier than usual....goodnight and goodday!

Infinity and Beyond!!!


Blogosphere...more to come!

Stay tuned!

Last nights papa project after work... The grandkids are proud of their Cherokee heritage on their dad's side. So when I spotted this flat stone in a pile of rocks about a year ago I decided to save it for a tomahawk for Josh.


Like a good pack-rat I have lost and found this rock several times trying to hang on to it to someday make that tomahawk. Well, last night after we got home we finally did it. we couldn't find any good animal sineuw for the wrap so we used tie wraps and string and dipped it in elmers glue.

Did the kid swap at lunch!

Grandma took Josh and I brought Hannah back to work with me...and as usual she gravitated to "Uncle" Eric and the AM Control room. Uncle E is a little more lenient than I am. I think she became the AM weather girl today.

Audrie gets her turn later this week.
And just in case you are monitoring,Wally (boss on vacation), hope you don't mind us using your office as a rec room for the kids...they are loving your cd collection...sorry about the peanut butter and jelly on your cd's... most of it washed off already...

PS...I think you'll love the murials the kids did on your walls..they rock

Grandma's Day Camp is now open. Yep... we have the grandkids with us this week. You might even hear them now and then...they love to find reasons to get on the radio with me. Can't blame them, though. As shy as I was as a kid, I was always trying to get my voice on a loud speaker.

Josh is with me at work this morning. He is wrapped up looking for a game to play on my laptop. He is not allowed on my office computer (just in case you are reading this Wally). ((Picture Date Code...2001? Where have I been the last 5 years?-gotta fix that)



Wally on vacation...that's for another day! LOL.

Got go meet grandma and the two girls for lunch. We'll probably swap kids for the rest of the afternoon.

Translator 104.9 got a check-up today...we've been having problems with it and today while Larry our "chief" engineer from Charlotte was in, he and I decided to ride up to Sauratown Mountain and try to improve reception...

Our antenna is near the top of a tower that is home to several paging services in the area. Thankfully the problem is usually on the ground equipment and not the tower because I don't do towers if you know what I mean...




First thing we did was to remove the old unit and get it out of our way. I had already installed the new one a few weeks ago but reception has still been poor.

Larry brought his fancy gadget (spectrum analyzer for those who want to take this to another level lol)so we could see what the translator unit was seeing. And what we saw was not good. We are getting "legal" interference from an adjacent station channel that has just gone digital. So our translator signal is basically getting neutralized.





We tried to use a filter but it didn't help. 104.9 was still filled with "hash". So we came home disappointed. (Also hot and sweaty...was great to get back to the AC and the Lazyboy!)






NOT GIVING UP!



There are some less-than-simple things that we can try and we plan to do just that. But it's going to take time and some trial and error. I know this is an inconvenience (and worse) but if you are in 104.9 land know you are not forgotten.

Email me any comments or questions about this or any reception problems, john@wbfj.fm .

I'm trying to stay awake. I give up! I've got a lot on my heart but I can't fight the Zzzz's.....sorry!

<
Saturday afternoon I saw something really neat (but scary) on I40 Near Burlington... I was on my way back home from Cary and as I approached that truck weigh station on the right I saw this small young deer and her ( I mean little-barely big enough to walk) baby brother looking like they were ready to bolt across I40...

I immediately slowed down...my heart sped up... all kinds of things began to go through my mind..."Lord, please don't let them cross...they'll never make it...there's no way they'll be able to clear 6 lanes of roaring I40 traffic and a barracade in the median... and with all this traffic there will be a major pile up...many could be hurt or killed".

As I passed, I could see that the little deer seem to be frozen in their tracks and as far as I know they figured they were too far from mama and turned around and went back into the woods...

THE LIFE LESSON

Though they were just animals and not people, I still couldn't help feeling so sorry for them.(and really glad they didn't cause any accidents).

They looked so lost and confused...

I thought to myself... we are so much like those young deer. We sometimes get too far from "home" and wander too far into the "highway"...

Reality hits...we are stunned, lonely, and confused...we are so lost. In the twink of an eye find ourselves at the edge of the roaring 6 lane with stuff coming at us from all directions.

That's when it's time to come "home"...the prodical son did that...and the father met him on the road with open arms...

Heaven will be filled with broken and confused prodigals, reclaimed from the "highway"...

God is good all the time!

<
Matthew West was just on the radio!

Actually he is getting ready for his concert in Greensboro tonight after the Greensboro Grasshoppers game. Tami, Verne and Kurt are at the ball park right now and I am here at the radio station to make sure their live broadcast from the stadium gets on the air.

Everything we do is a team effort and if you've listened to the station long you know it's a great team.

Greensboro Grasshoppers great team, too!

Ok...so it's been months since I "blogged". I was waiting for the new WBFJ web site to get on line so you would know where to find me.

Now that you know I'm here, I hope you will check out my headlines every now and then.

I'm here at work early today. At about 6:30 got a call from the morning crew here at the station. "John, sorry to wake you but we don't have power on half of our equipment and we are not on the air."

Anyway, I'm here and we are back on the air waiting for Duke Power to come and replace the giant "fuse" out on the power pole. Those doggone birds keep trying to nest on our power pole...they get zapped... and we lose electricity in part of the building which means "no radio" till we get everything plugged into a working outlet.

YOU'D THINK THEY'D LEARN BY NOW...

It's really bad for the birds, for us and for you when you tune in. It's also bad for me personally since I drag in here way too early...and this same thing has happened several times this year!

Actually I'm heading back home to shower and then come back at my regular time which is around 10:30 (am). Then I crawl into the WBFJ lazyboy at 4 and help you navigate the traffic home.

QUESTIONS? WE GOT ANSWERS...

By the way, if you ever have questions about any technical issues with the station just email me john@wbfj.fm ...that's part of my job, too.

I'll see you around the radio this afternoon at 4 or back here real soon...I've still got to tell you that story about how I ended up in the Caribbean before coming to WBFJ.

PS...thanks to Bev here at the station...you'll be seeing some wild pictures!