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EDITORS NOTE: Nov 21, 2008 - It’s been one month today since I lost my magnificent Butkus. Just can’t bring myself to post something new here…that would lead this space. Pray for me. We are carrying on for God’s glory…but we miss “the beast”…

My best buddy, constant companion and faithful pet of almost 12 years, passed away at 10:20am…today. Sadness is an understatement when it comes to what we are feeling. After he drew his final breath, with the help of our son Matt (and his bride, Shannon), we brought Butkus home and buried him in a place in our yard that he cruised his entire life.

A special thank you is due our dear friend Alan Freeman. He brought a co-worker and the two of them helped Matt dig the grave. Thanks men! You are a blessing to me.

Kathy is wondering if we will see Butkus Von Jackson in heaven. That is a question almost as old as dogs themselves. Ponder if you must. I on the other hand have no concern about how I will feel in the heavenly, eternal state. Joy will reign supreme for all of us, who by His grace, tread the Golden Streets. Our contentment there will be overflowing.

No…I am concerned about missing our majestic rottweiler in the here and now. I miss him already….confident that I will miss him more in the days to come. We loved him…and he returned our love with tons of interest to boot! I will miss the late night and early morning walks…down the street or by the creek. I will miss his enthusiastic reunion greetings, everytime I returned to the homestead. I will miss the wonderful rides in the van…to the store…to the vet…to the church. I will miss him at my feet, wherever I sat in our home. I will miss him in the mornings…in the evenings…and in the long nights.

I oftened spoke of him as the “greatest beast in the world”…and he was! We might have another pet at some point in our lives (maybe even grandchildren)…but we will see no other four footed creature the equal of our beloved Butkus.

Thank you, Mr But!

Perhaps I will add to this post a little later. For now: Thank you for praying for us and thinking of us as we make this trying adjustment.

Come on…Come blog with me!

Pastor Paul Jackson

EDITORS NOTE Oct 23, 2008: The above picture of Butkus is the last photo ever taken of him. It was in our front yard, after a good walk by the creek near our home. Photo taken by me on Aug 31, 2008.

One of my best friends…a member of my church…a tenor in my choir…and probably the biggest Gospel Music fan in my general “where-abouts”, just turned 60 years old. TODAY. Had is quasi-surprise birthday party TONITE!

We all had a blast taking pokes at him…and asking his family to tell us some more “Jimbo” stories. His Mom and his wife were most happy to oblige. YES…I found out a few things I did not know about Mr JIMMY PIERCE.

But the most important things about Jimmy are things I already knew…or as they like to say around these parts, “been knowin’ nat”…Yep, I been knowin’ that Jimmy loves Jesus…his family…his church…his choir…his pastor…and his Country!

He also does a fantastic job of lovin’ his fellow-man! I’ll say. I betcha everybody in that room tonite could have told more than one story about how when they really needed somebody to come through for them…Jimmy was the man!

In this life we have friends AND then, we have FRIENDS. I know of no one in my life or ministry that enjoys serving God and others, more than Jimmy Pierce. He also must kinda’ like serving me, cause he sure does a lot of it. He is a master electrician by training, but in the course of his life, he has learned a little something about just about everything, and whole lot about many things. Whenever someone ask me about anything pertaining to something electrical, mechanical, agricultural or structural, my stock reply is, “let’s ask Jimmy!”…AND that’s what I really do: ASK JIMMY.

Jimmy is one of four or five men (7 or 8 folks) that I feel like I could not do without, when it comes to conducting the work of our ministry through The Highlands Church and the Arkansas Revival Center outreach. Oh, I know that no one is irreplaceable…but wow! I sure don’t want to have to find someone to take Jimmy’s place. Would probably take 3-4, maybe more.

Thanks Jimbo, for ALWAYS being there for…ALL of us. It’s hard to believe, after watching you work with Alan and I at the church last Tuesday nite, that you are 60 years old. Man, I wanna be like ya someday!

Come on…Come blog with me!

Pastor Paul / The Prophets

PS: Jimmy is no stranger to this blog. He reads and comments on a regular basis. He is also one of the very few members of my choir or church, that has actually heard THE PROPHETS…LIVE. He and Phyllis made the trip to TN to see and hear our very “first” stage performance. Thanks bro…again.

Wow!

What a fast and furious 24 hours I had on Monday from 6pm to Tuesday 6pm!

Monday evening I had the priviledge of singing for Pastor Johnny Minick’s Revival at East End Assembly of God in Little Rock. You remember Johnny from his days with the Happy Goodmans and years as a Gaither Homecoming Friend. He asked me to come out to his service at his cousin’s church….and do some singing. Hey…I love singing when Johnny is playing! We had a blast. I sang WHO AM I and a medley that began with HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULT and ended with GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN. The “full-house” of folks seemed to be blessed. They gave me a very warm reception. The audience’s response was led by a good group of my ARC Choir members and supporters who had come to give me prayer support. Thanks guys and gals!

Johnny told me the next morning that I had sung several Bflats (that’s a high note usually reserved for tenors) on WHO AM I. When we sang the tune, he asked me what key I wanted it in…I just told him to put it “not too much higher” than he would sing it. I remember saying, “go easy on me”…he said that it was my fault for jumping some octaves. Maybe I sing high notes better when I don’t know what they are!?!

Pastor Minick topped the night off with some amazing preaching about the “Unshakeable Kingdom of God”…Wow! He wore me out shoutin’ with him. I told him afterwards that I would have to get in better shape to be a full-time Pentecostal. That would be a good thing (being in better shape). Pray for me. Glory!

I left the church Monday night to drive into a dreadful storm of heavy rain, lightning and high winds, that pounded my part of the city for hours. I was scheduled to leave early Tuesday morning to drive to Nashville for rehearsals/meetings with THE PROPHETS. Damage to my home caused several leaks and loose shingles…and caused me to delay my departure by an hour. I also wanted plenty of daylight for my drive. It took me over 3 hours to get to Memphis from North Little Rock, due to the extreme amount of water on the highway…and the amount of blinding rain. It was so bad, that I considered turning around and going back home when I stopped in Brinkley, AR.

BUT…our PROPHETS rehearsal was very important to us. We are preparing for a TV shoot in November…where we will shoot enough video for 5-6 half hour shows. That’s 25-30 songs!
After a brief prayer, while stopped in Brinkley, (was praying constantly while driving)…I decided that with all the prayer support that I had that I should drive on EVEN if I had to be late. As it turned out, conditions greatly improved and I still arrived early for the rehearsal. AND…we had a great one! Polished up GOLDEN STREETS & JESUS WEPT (from our Cd); developed new arrangements for IN THE SWEET BYE AND BYE, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN, the Prophets’ classic WORKIN’ ON A BUILDIN’ and the smooth, SO MANY REASONS.

Finished up about 6pm. What a day! Thank you for praying for me.

We have another practice session at 1pm (soon) today. Then I will make that drive to Arkansas…one more time. Maybe this post should have been titled, “48 hours”…amen!

Come on…Come blog with me!

Pastor Paul Jackson / The Prophets

This is going to be a fun post!

I really enjoy the month of October…every year.

Both of my sons were born in October…as was my only older brother. The family Birthday parties are a blast! I like birthdays.

“Fall” really gets going this month. The Arkansas forest’s turn amazing colors. I love the season. The grass stops growing so fast. My mums bloom.

Football is also now in full bloom! I can actually smell football in the air. Of course, this year our beloved Razorbacks are taking their licks…or is that, “their punches”?…Wow, Are they ever…but, GO HOGS GO!

It is actually “fun” to mow the yard, walk the dog, and play a round of golf. The weather is amazing (most of the time). Really, this stuff becomes “more” fun because of the delightful weather….because it’s pretty fun even in the heat of summer.

My electric bill shrinks mightily…yes we almost have to put out an APB on all those kilo-watts. Where oh where have they gone? Even my water bill goes down. Hard to figure how they figure my water bill. But, it does go down in October.

Ahhh…My Christmas season begins! Yes it does. We start making our lists and checkin’em twice. We even start buying stuff. We start pilfering around in our Christmas room. That is always fun. Really. Amen. My touring choir (The Arkansas Revival Center Choir) starts having NOEL rehearsals. Our first Carol singing at choir rehearsal was this past Sunday afternoon. Man! Was it evermore some fun!

Speaking of the choir: THIS month we always sing at Revival sevices as well as our Concerts. As a result, We are often in some pretty neat services. Yeh, if you are a good Baptist, October is Revival time. Amen…again.

We will have several Prophets’ rehearsals this month. We have 12 TV shows to make between now and the end of the year. That’s a bunch of songs. I wonder if we’ll sing any Carols? I wonder if we’ll have a Prophets’ Christmas Party? Mmmm…

But my favorite thing about October? We eat more soup. My Mom’s soups are legendary.

What’s your favorite thing about October?

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Paul Jackson / The Prophets

Earlier this month, I made the trip to Louisville, KY for the annual National Quartet Convention. I had a very good time, seeing old friends…making some new ones, hearing some fantastic music…and fortunately, enjoying a few special moments (even one very weird experience).

I am not going to attempt to give a full report of NQC ‘08 in this rather limited space. Some other “Bloggers” have written quite comprehensive reviews of the songs, singers and their performances. Good job, blogger dudes! What I will do in this post is share an overview of a little bit of my Four days at Freedom Hall. Gonna do it in the order I mentioned in my first paragraph.

OLD FRIENDS I got to see…let me just mention a few.

Lari Goss: I’m sure that Lari has attended many NQC’s, but I have never seen him there, and I have attended pretty regularly since the late 80’s, including several years when NQC was still convening in Nashville. Considering LG’s recent battle with throat cancer, I was somewhat surprised to come upon him at GREATER VISION’s Booth. We had a wonderful visit. He shared some details of his improved state of health (his Dr found no signs of the cancer in his most recent tests - Amen!) We rejoiced together as he gave all the glory (and credit) to almighty God. We reminisced about some of the ministry gigs we did together in the ’70’s, including a couple of Crusades and Concerts at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Atlanta and a unique FCA sponsored Campus Crusade at the University of Georgia…we also continued our talk about doing a recording together this winter. FYI: Lari is, IMO, the greatest southern gospel music arranger/orchestrator of his generation. I consider it a huge blessing to have had him arrange and orchestrate several of my compositions over the years…including MERCY, on The Prophets’ new Cd, I’ll Follow.

Gerald Wolfe: It’s always a blessing to visit with Gerald. He is a very gracious man. We met during his brief tenure with The Cathedrals. I was in full-time Crusade Evangelism at that time. The Cats appeared at several of my events during those years. Gerald NEVER see’s me without saying, “Paul, when are you going to send me a song?”, to which I usually reply, “Yeh, I know you are desperate for a good one” (prolific and Award-winning songwriter Rodney Griffin is a member of his group, GREATER VISION) Gerald also always asks about my family members, by name. Like I said, he is a very gracious man.

Fred Privot: The long-time bus driver for The Cathedrals is just a great person. A really special guy! I was shocked to bump into him near the GV booth late Saturday night. Most of the vendors were already gone or leaving the exhibition hall. Wow…it was awesome to see him and his grand-daughter (she took our picture with my camera…even got GW in the pic…the only pic taken with my camera all week). What memories were stirred by this all too brief reunion.

McCray Dove: Shortly before the Dove Brothers took the stage on Thursday night, I was walking out the tunnel that the artist use to enter/exit Freedom Hall. Was pretty dark in there. Suddenly, from the shadows behind me someone called my name. I recognized that unmistakable voice. McCray, lead singer for the DB’s, wanted to chat about our recent gig together at the GRAND OLE GOSPEL REUNION. We stood in that tunnel and visited for more than 20 minutes. My favorite part of the conversation was his detailed counsel about the finer points of quartets performing with only 2 Microphones (like all of the groups had to do on Saturday night at GOGR). He shared several things he had learned from such SG lead singing Legends as Jake Hess and Ed Enoch. McRay has always been very nice to me, and very complimentary of my singing and The Prophets in general. Don’t tell anybody, but the Doves have been my personal favorite ever since they released I CAN PRAY, and that whole awesome Cd, NEVER THE SAME.

Other old friends I got to see and hug included, Janice & Eddie Crook, Mark Trammell, Jerry Kelso, Diane Wilkinson, Brian and Allison Speer, Johnny and Aaron Minick, Mike Allen, Daryl Williams, Marshall, Matt & all the guys of MONUMENT Qt…and many of my friends from the SN Forums (love all you guys)…Bill & Debbie, G.I.Mom, do deserve props for their wonderful hospitality and their amazing “goodies boxes!”

Will post later about my take on the most outstanding performances and songs I heard at NQC ‘08.

Come on…come blog with me!

Paul Jackson / The Prophets

It is hard to believe that it has been 7 years since that dreadful sunny September morning. You know the one I am speaking of. You remember where you were; who was with you; what you were doing. It was a day that changed our lives…and the life of our Nation…for the rest of our time on this earth. Last year I posted an article entitled, Where were you? Kathy and I were in Branson on that shocking morning. Read about it HERE.

Thousands died that day in New York City, Washington DC, and a Pennsylvania pasture. Hundreds of people who were just starting what they thought would be a typical day. But, September 11, 2001 was anything but typical.

“9 -11″, as we have come to call it, was made a nightmare of a morning by sick, small minded, misguided, evil, barbaric men who chose to take the lives of innocent people from 95 Countries, in the Twin Towers alone. People who were not military personnel of any kind. Not even Government employees. Ordinary citizens, striving to provide for themselves and their families as they lived “FREE”, in our wonderfully blessed United States of America.

This morning, I awoke in Louisville, KY at the National Quartet Convention. Already gospel music fans have been entertained by the talented Gaither Vocal Band/Signature Sound, “Together” Concert at noon today in Freedom Hall…and the awesome Pianorama taking place now, featuring some of the greatest pianist in the world…including Dino and Kim Collingsworth. AND YES…the historical significance of this day has been acknowledged at both events. (Feels kind’a neat to be at a place called FREEDOM HALL today)

(More on NQC will be reported at this blog as the next 3 days unfold. I will tell you that the Dove Brothers were at their absolute best as they closed last night’s session as midnight approached…I love their version of “Get Away Jordan” and of course, “I Can Pray”…Wow!)

Well, back to the subject at hand. I do not, and cannot understand how muddle-minded, Christ rejecting, America hating terrorist can delude themselves into doing something as heinous as there extreme crime against humanity perpetrated on 9-11-01. I am not going to spend any of my God given time trying to understand how some socio-economic-political differences, led to anything as senseless as what those malovelent monsters, masquerading as men, did on that memorable morning.

The one thing I know…and I promise: I WILL NEVER FORGET! And I pray that YOU will NEVER FORGET! And I pray that all Americans, regardless of their political or religious persuasions, will NEVER FORGET!

God Bless America! Stand beside us, and guide us…amen.

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Pastor Paul Jackson / The Prophets, ARC & The Highlands

Prayer has become a matter of controversy. Sad but true.

We must return to some common sense in our public institutions. America has NEVER been hurt in any way, by the simple expression of one’s faith in an Almighty God…or prayers offered to that God.

The current debate over whether or not a national political candidate should or should not pray or consider the “will of God” in matters of public policy, seems rather absurd, when we consider that on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), President Franklin Roosevelt led the entire nation in a six minute public prayer that he voiced via nationwide radio. In his prayer, he called on the Almighty to aid our soldiers in battle and to assist our Allies in the just cause of “preserving our Religion” and defending freedom from the works of “unworthy” men. Seems he thought it God’s Will for our soldiers to prevail in what “Ike” called a “great crusade”…He even ended his prayer with, “Thy will be done!”…Mmmm. Amen.

I challenge you to take 6 minutes and click on the link (in the paragraph above)…and pray with FDR for the “victory” and “triumph” of our US Soldiers. After doing so, you will probably agree with me that the shallow, irreverent, empty headed questions and words of CNN commentators, last night…and Barbara, Whoopie and Joy, on The View, this morning, are nothing if not Silly. God help us.

I will continue to pray for all things in my life, and yours, to conform to the lovely and perfect Will of God. Please join me in asking God to give us national leaders that in spite of the absurd controversy, are not ashamed to bow to the Almighty, asking Him to lead our Nation and her people in seeking and doing His Will.

God bless our schools and our churches. God bless all who exalt His name and proclaim His Gospel. God bless our troops, policemen, firemen and all first responders. God bless, with wisdom, ALL who hold positions of leadership and authority. God bless YOU and your family. GOD BLESS AMERICA! In the strong and matchless Name of Jesus: Amen.

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Pastor Paul Jackson / The Prophets
ARC & The Highlands Church,sbc

Today…Our Sixth Annual One Day Crusade at First Baptist Church of Emmet, AR was one of the most outstanding “Special Sundays” in this very special Series of Sunday celebrations!

My brother and scholar, the Rev Johnny Jackson Jr, is the pastor of this neat church located in this small south Arkansas town. Emmet is located a few miles south of Prescott on U.S. Hwy 67…and just a few more miles north of the world renown city of Hope, Arkansas. Interstate 30 runs thru these larger places and within about 2 miles of Emmet. Of course, being missed by the Interstate system did no favors for the classic Arkansas hamlet. None the less, it has been a place where God has moved mightily, everytime we have employed the Evangelistic Strategies of the Arkansas Revival Center at First Baptist Church.

The Day’s Highlights included 5 people praying to receive Christ during the appeal portion of the morning service. All five were guests who came down the aisle quickly (on the first verse of the Invitational Hymn) and confidently to claim Jesus as their Savior! After I publicly led them in the “sinners prayer”, Pastor Johnny and his helpers escorted them to a prayer-room where all five of the new converts indicated their desire to receive Beliver’s Baptism and unite with the congregation at First Baptist. Wow! What a harvest for the Lord and of the Lord. Amen

The evening service brought more blessings as over 30 members of the Arkansas Revival Center Choir made their way more than 100 miles from numerous points in central Arkansas to help Kathy and I conduct a rousing Gospel concert. This was a great turnout for the ARC choir when one considers that this was Labor Day Weekend. Many of our regulars could not make the trip due to various events and family plans during the holiday. This group of singers was so enthused! As my Dad would say, “Wound Up and ready to go”…that describes them pretty well. The concert brought some songs never before presented by the ARC Choir as well as many timeless favorites. After almost 2 hours of “singin’ and playin’” this audience was ready for another 2! I honestly believe the choir would have given them their desire had this pastor’s cooler head not prevailed. Rumor has it that they might invite us back.

Bottom line: God was honored; The WORD was preached; Lives were changed; the Gospel music was special! What a way to spend a Labor Day Eve! Lookin’ forward to the 7th Annual. Amen.

And YES…We remembered to take time to Honor ALL our veterans and currently serving soldiers. We even sang the favorite tune of an 87 year old WWII vet, who had made the trip from Little Rock to hear us for the umpteenth time. Thank you Brother Truman. Proud to know ya!…and God Bless America!

Come on…come blog with me!

Pastor Paul Jackson / The Prophets & ARC

Glory to God!

My Mother is 80 years old, today…August 26th, 2008.

Hilda Carlene Wade, was born in Tupelo, MS on a hot southern morning, eighty years ago today. Of course, “Carlene” grew up to become the bride of Johnny Joe Jackson, of Camden, AR….my Dad. That same day, her twin brother Carl, also came into the world. Wow! what a blessing. The Wade’s got two for the price of one! I have seen the earliest pictures we have of little Carl and Carlene. Really, they were not so little. Two round, healthy, happy babies that seemed right at home with the growing Wade tribe.

Mom was destined to be spoiled or something a’kin to that…because she was the only daughter in this family of 5 sons. “Gurlie”, as her Dad would call her, grew up with five brothers keeping an eye out for any and every thing that would threaten her tranquility.

Having been alone in this sea of male siblings, it is no big surprise that she would bear and birth only boys…4 of them: Johnny Joe Jr., Paul Edward, Brent Wade, and Timothy Carl.The four of us have been blessed to be her sons. Blessed for ALL our lives. It’s hard to believe, but Momma’s 80 years old…this morning. I remember her clearly as a woman in her early 30’s, sitting on the floor of our living room in Dallas Texas, playing the “Hi Fi” and giving me an appreciation for all styles of american music. Everything from Gershwin to “Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care”…to the Great Hymns of the Faith.

Thanks Mom. That time you spent with me then has resounded to not only touch me, but thousands of others over the course of my 37 years in the ministry of song and sermon.

Today, her 4 sons are devoting almost the entire day to honoring her. The four of us are taking her (and my Dad) to lunch at a place that she will love. A place to which she has never been. It will be the first time that just the six of us have done anything alone together since we started taking wives in the early 70’s. Now don’t get me wrong. She loves our wives and the many grandchildren and great grandchildren that they have given her. It was my idea for the six of us to do something together to start her official celebration. Hopefully, it will be a blessing to her to see her husband and “their” offspring seated around a table…enjoying a meal together…at least one more time. Been a long time since she beheld that picture.

Later this evening, all of the Grands and Greats will gather at my Mother’s home to party for a little while. Home-spun Stories will be told. Home-made Cake will be consumed. And we will all offer Prayers of Praise for the blessings of life given us by God, “Bro. Johnny & Nana”

Now, if you would like to read more about my Mom (even see her picture with some of the family and the Legendary singer, Ed Hill), I have placed a Link to last year’s Birthday tribute HERE.

If you have a moment, leave NANA a greeting here. I will make sure she gets it…and even better, offer up a Birthday Prayer for her. Thanks…

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Pastor Paul Jackson / The Prophets - The Highlands church - ARC choir

The first comment on my previous article about GOGR was from Byron Chesney. He’s an executive from Knoxville, TN who is also the Music Minister at his church - Highland Baptist Church. Byron attended much of the REUNION.

He also manages a very impressive gospel music BLOG, called, KNOXVILLE GOSPEL BLOG. He has posted 3 great articles about the REUNION, including his August 18th Feature on “THE PROPHETS Return to Knoxville”

He has included some great pictures at these 3 articles…even a chronological SLIDE SHOW of his experience at the Friday and Satuday night concerts. All of the artist are featured multiple times…including us. Follow the link below to The Prophet’s Feature…and the wonderful pictures.

READ THE FEATURE on THE PROPHETS HERE.

SEE THE PICTURES HERE

Use`your cursor to discover the slideshow controls, if it is moving too slowly for you. Just run the cursor over the viewing screen.

Read the feature on The Prophets, and leave a comment. Help me tell Byron that we appreciate his coverage of our group. I am adding Byron to my blogroll, so you can visit his site directly from my blog’s home-page anytime you are here.

I will post another story soon…that will be about the most impressive and annointed performances during the glorious weekend.

Come on…come blog with me!

Paul Jackson / The Prophets