Links Forums Jobs Radio Charts Concerts News Home

Singing News Subscribe Today!     Contact Us | About Us | About Southern Gospel


Springside.com

Nav Bar
Stories | SG Wire | Features | Southern Gospel Life | Danny's Diary | Jerry's Journal | Les's Life
Subscribe or renew online to the Singing News magazine today!

Danny's Diary

Danny Jones
Archives
- Thursday, June 10, 2004
- Monday, June 14, 2004
- Tuesday, June 15, 2004
- Wednesday, June 16, 2004
- Thursday, June 17, 2004
- Friday, June 18, 2004
- Monday, June 21, 2004
- Tuesday, June 22, 2004
- Wednesday, June 23, 2004
- Thursday, June 24, 2004
- Friday, June 25, 2004
- Monday, June 28, 2004
- Tuesday, June 29, 2004
- Wednesday, June 30, 2004
- Thursday, July 01, 2004
- Friday, July 02, 2004
- Monday, July 05, 2004
- Tuesday, July 06, 2004
- Wednesday, July 07, 2004
- Thursday, July 08, 2004
- Friday, July 09, 2004
- Monday, July 12, 2004
- Tuesday, July 13, 2004
- Wednesday, July 14, 2004
- Thursday, July 15, 2004
- Friday, July 16, 2004
- Monday, July 19, 2004
- Tuesday, July 20, 2004
- Wednesday, July 21, 2004
- Thursday, July 22, 2004
- Friday, July 23, 2004
- Monday, July 26, 2004
- Tuesday, July 27, 2004
- Wednesday, July 28, 2004
- Thursday, July 29, 2004
- Friday, July 30, 2004
- Monday, August 02, 2004
- Tuesday, August 03, 2004
- Wednesday, August 04, 2004
- Thursday, August 05, 2004
- Friday, August 06, 2004
- Monday, August 09, 2004
- Tuesday, August 10, 2004
- Wednesday, August 11, 2004
- Thursday, August 12, 2004
- Friday, August 13, 2004
- Monday, August 16, 2004
- Tuesday, August 17, 2004
- Wednesday, August 18, 2004
- Thursday, August 19, 2004
- Friday, August 20, 2004
- Monday, August 23, 2004
- Tuesday, August 24, 2004
- Wednesday, August 25, 2004
- Thursday, August 26, 2004
- Friday, August 27, 2004
- Monday, August 30, 2004
- Tuesday, August 31, 2004
- Wednesday, September 01, 2004
- Thursday, September 02, 2004
- Friday, September 03, 2004
- Monday, September 06, 2004
- Tuesday, September 07, 2004
- Wednesday, September 08, 2004
- Thursday, September 09, 2004
- Friday, September 10, 2004
- Monday, September 13, 2004
- Tuesday, September 14, 2004
- Wednesday, September 15, 2004
- Friday, September 17, 2004
- Saturday, September 18, 2004
- Monday, September 20, 2004
- Tuesday, September 21, 2004
- Wednesday, September 22, 2004
- Thursday, September 23, 2004
- Friday, September 24, 2004
- Monday, September 27, 2004
- Tuesday, September 28, 2004
- Wednesday, September 29, 2004
- Thursday, September 30, 2004
- Monday, October 04, 2004
- Tuesday, October 05, 2004
- Wednesday, October 06, 2004
- Thursday, October 07, 2004
- Friday, October 08, 2004
- Monday, October 11, 2004
- Tuesday, October 12, 2004
- Wednesday, October 13, 2004
- Thursday, October 14, 2004
- Friday, October 15, 2004
- Monday, October 18, 2004
- Wednesday, October 20, 2004
- Thursday, October 21, 2004
- Friday, October 22, 2004
- Monday, October 25, 2004
- Tuesday, October 26, 2004
- Thursday, October 28, 2004
- Friday, October 29, 2004
- Monday, November 01, 2004
- Tuesday, November 02, 2004
- Wednesday, November 03, 2004
- Thursday, November 04, 2004
- Monday, November 08, 2004
- Tuesday, November 09, 2004
- Wednesday, November 10, 2004
- Monday, November 15, 2004
- Wednesday, November 17, 2004
- Thursday, November 18, 2004
- Monday, November 22, 2004
- Tuesday, November 23, 2004
- Wednesday, November 24, 2004
- Tuesday, November 30, 2004
- Wednesday, December 01, 2004
- Monday, December 06, 2004
- Tuesday, December 07, 2004
- Friday, December 10, 2004
- Monday, December 13, 2004
- Tuesday, December 14, 2004
- Wednesday, December 15, 2004
- Thursday, December 16, 2004
- Friday, December 17, 2004
- Monday, December 20, 2004
- Wednesday, December 22, 2004
- Monday, January 03, 2005
- Tuesday, January 04, 2005
- Monday, January 10, 2005
- Tuesday, January 11, 2005
- Wednesday, January 12, 2005
- Tuesday, January 18, 2005
- Wednesday, January 19, 2005
- Thursday, January 20, 2005
- Friday, January 21, 2005
- Monday, January 24, 2005
- Wednesday, January 26, 2005
- Thursday, January 27, 2005
- Monday, February 07, 2005
- Tuesday, February 08, 2005
- Wednesday, February 09, 2005
- Friday, February 11, 2005
- Monday, February 14, 2005
- Tuesday, February 15, 2005
- Wednesday, February 16, 2005
- Thursday, February 17, 2005
- Friday, February 18, 2005
- Saturday, February 19, 2005
- Monday, February 21, 2005
- Tuesday, February 22, 2005
- Wednesday, February 23, 2005
- Thursday, February 24, 2005
- Sunday, February 27, 2005
- Monday, February 28, 2005
- Wednesday, March 02, 2005
- Thursday, March 03, 2005
- Monday, March 07, 2005
- Wednesday, March 09, 2005
- Thursday, March 10, 2005
- Friday, March 11, 2005
- Monday, March 14, 2005
- Tuesday, March 15, 2005
- Monday, March 21, 2005
- Tuesday, March 22, 2005
- Wednesday, March 23, 2005
- Thursday, March 24, 2005
- Monday, March 28, 2005
- Tuesday, March 29, 2005
- Monday, April 04, 2005
- Tuesday, April 05, 2005
- Thursday, April 07, 2005
- Monday, April 11, 2005
- Wednesday, April 13, 2005
- Monday, April 18, 2005
- Tuesday, April 19, 2005
- Wednesday, April 20, 2005
- Thursday, April 21, 2005
- Friday, April 22, 2005
- Monday, April 25, 2005
- Tuesday, April 26, 2005
- Wednesday, April 27, 2005
- Thursday, April 28, 2005
- Monday, May 02, 2005
- Wednesday, May 04, 2005
- Thursday, May 05, 2005
- Monday, May 09, 2005
- Wednesday, May 11, 2005
- Thursday, May 12, 2005
- Friday, May 13, 2005
- Monday, May 16, 2005
- Tuesday, May 17, 2005
- Wednesday, May 18, 2005
- Thursday, May 19, 2005
- Friday, May 20, 2005
- Monday, May 23, 2005
- Tuesday, May 31, 2005
- Wednesday, June 01, 2005
- Tuesday, June 07, 2005
- Wednesday, June 08, 2005
- Thursday, June 09, 2005
- Friday, June 10, 2005
- Monday, June 13, 2005
- Tuesday, June 14, 2005
- Wednesday, June 15, 2005
- Thursday, June 16, 2005
- Monday, June 20, 2005
- Tuesday, June 21, 2005
- Thursday, June 23, 2005
- Friday, June 24, 2005
- Monday, June 27, 2005
- Wednesday, June 29, 2005
- Tuesday, July 05, 2005
- Wednesday, July 06, 2005
- Thursday, July 07, 2005
- Friday, July 08, 2005
- Monday, July 11, 2005
- Thursday, July 14, 2005
- Monday, July 18, 2005
- Tuesday, July 19, 2005
- Thursday, July 21, 2005
- Tuesday, July 26, 2005
- Thursday, July 28, 2005
- Monday, August 01, 2005
- Wednesday, August 03, 2005
- Monday, August 08, 2005
- Wednesday, August 10, 2005
- Thursday, August 11, 2005
- Friday, August 12, 2005
- Monday, August 15, 2005
- Wednesday, August 17, 2005
- Tuesday, August 23, 2005
- Thursday, August 25, 2005
- Tuesday, August 30, 2005
- Thursday, September 01, 2005
- Monday, September 05, 2005
- Wednesday, September 07, 2005
- Friday, September 09, 2005
- Tuesday, September 13, 2005
- Wednesday, September 14, 2005
- Thursday, September 15, 2005
- Saturday, September 17, 2005
- Wednesday, September 21, 2005
- Monday, September 26, 2005
- Wednesday, September 28, 2005
- Wednesday, October 05, 2005
- Monday, October 10, 2005
- Tuesday, October 18, 2005
- Wednesday, October 26, 2005
- Tuesday, November 01, 2005
- Thursday, November 03, 2005
- Wednesday, November 09, 2005
- Monday, November 14, 2005
- Thursday, November 17, 2005
- Wednesday, November 23, 2005
- Wednesday, November 30, 2005
- Monday, December 05, 2005
- Thursday, December 08, 2005
- Wednesday, December 14, 2005
- Wednesday, December 21, 2005
- Tuesday, January 03, 2006
- Friday, January 06, 2006
- Tuesday, January 10, 2006
- Thursday, January 12, 2006
- Tuesday, January 17, 2006
- Monday, January 23, 2006
- Thursday, January 26, 2006
- Tuesday, January 31, 2006
- Thursday, February 02, 2006
- Friday, February 03, 2006
- Tuesday, February 14, 2006
- Thursday, February 16, 2006
- Tuesday, February 21, 2006
- Wednesday, February 22, 2006
- Tuesday, February 28, 2006
- Thursday, March 02, 2006
- Wednesday, March 08, 2006
- Tuesday, March 14, 2006
- Friday, March 17, 2006
- Tuesday, March 21, 2006
- Monday, March 27, 2006
- Wednesday, March 29, 2006
- Tuesday, April 04, 2006
- Wednesday, April 05, 2006
- Tuesday, April 11, 2006
- Thursday, April 13, 2006
- Monday, April 17, 2006
- Wednesday, April 19, 2006
- Tuesday, April 25, 2006
- Friday, April 28, 2006
- Tuesday, May 02, 2006
- Thursday, May 04, 2006
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006
- Thursday, May 11, 2006
- Wednesday, May 17, 2006
- Tuesday, May 23, 2006
- Tuesday, June 06, 2006
- Thursday, June 08, 2006
- Tuesday, June 13, 2006
- Monday, June 19, 2006
- Tuesday, June 27, 2006
- Wednesday, July 05, 2006
- Sunday, July 16, 2006
- Sunday, July 30, 2006
- Monday, August 07, 2006
- Friday, August 18, 2006
- Monday, August 28, 2006
- Wednesday, August 30, 2006
- Thursday, September 07, 2006
- Friday, September 08, 2006
- Sunday, September 10, 2006
- Tuesday, September 12, 2006
- Wednesday, September 13, 2006
- Thursday, September 14, 2006
- Friday, September 15, 2006
- Thursday, September 28, 2006
- Friday, October 06, 2006
- Thursday, October 12, 2006
- Thursday, October 19, 2006
- Monday, October 23, 2006
- Friday, October 27, 2006
- Friday, November 10, 2006
- Friday, November 17, 2006
- Monday, November 27, 2006
- Thursday, November 30, 2006
- Monday, December 11, 2006
- Saturday, December 16, 2006
- Tuesday, December 26, 2006
- Tuesday, January 02, 2007
- Friday, January 12, 2007
- Thursday, January 18, 2007
- Monday, January 22, 2007
- Tuesday, January 30, 2007
- Tuesday, February 13, 2007
- Monday, February 19, 2007
- Monday, February 26, 2007
- Thursday, March 01, 2007
- Monday, March 05, 2007
- Saturday, March 17, 2007
- Thursday, March 29, 2007
- Saturday, April 07, 2007
- Monday, April 09, 2007
- Saturday, April 21, 2007
- Monday, April 30, 2007
- Wednesday, May 09, 2007
- Monday, May 21, 2007
- Thursday, May 31, 2007
- Monday, June 11, 2007
- Monday, June 18, 2007
- Monday, July 02, 2007
- Wednesday, July 11, 2007
- Monday, July 23, 2007
- Monday, August 06, 2007
- Friday, August 17, 2007
- Tuesday, August 28, 2007
- Tuesday, September 11, 2007
- Wednesday, September 12, 2007
- Thursday, September 13, 2007
- Saturday, September 15, 2007
- Monday, September 24, 2007
- Tuesday, October 02, 2007
- Monday, October 08, 2007
- Tuesday, October 16, 2007
- Tuesday, October 23, 2007
- Tuesday, November 06, 2007
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007
- Wednesday, November 21, 2007
- Wednesday, November 28, 2007
- Monday, December 10, 2007
- Tuesday, December 18, 2007
- Wednesday, January 02, 2008
- Wednesday, January 09, 2008
- Wednesday, January 16, 2008
- Wednesday, January 23, 2008
- Monday, January 28, 2008
- Thursday, February 07, 2008
- Friday, February 15, 2008
- Friday, February 22, 2008
- Thursday, February 28, 2008
- Thursday, March 06, 2008
- Thursday, March 13, 2008
- Thursday, March 20, 2008
- Wednesday, March 26, 2008
- Monday, April 07, 2008
- Tuesday, April 15, 2008
- Tuesday, April 22, 2008
- Tuesday, April 29, 2008
- Tuesday, May 06, 2008
- Tuesday, May 13, 2008

- Photo Archives

shim
Wednesday, August 04, 2004

A Nail, A Flat Tire, The Kingsmen And God

Tonight (Wednesday, August 4) is the first night of the Greenes' annual Gospel Singing Jubilee here in Boone. Dozens of Southern Gospel's best will be in town this week, not to mention thousands of fans. Each year, after all the lawn chairs have been taken home, the tents stricken down, a lot of us beginning sorting through the memories and we all have several interesting tales to share.

But none have grabbed the heart like an incident that took place in 1997. Many of you may have read about this in Singing News, but for the first time, it's now found on the internet. Just when you think God has looked the other way....think again.

The flat tire belonged to me. I had parked my van near the product tent in the field and had hiked back to the main gate to hand out a few Singing News brochures to the people as they came through. When that task was done, I retraced my steps and as I was nearing my van, I noticed that the front passenger side was decidedly lower than the driver's side. Knowing in my heart that I'd find a flat tire, I kept hoping I had merely parked the van in a hole. But, one glance around the fender told the whole story, especially the part about a big rusty nail sticking through the tread.

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll all tell you I'm probably the most mechanically inept person they've ever met. More than one electrician or plumber has had his pockets lined with money after I've tackled a simple home improvement project. So, I knew that changing that tire was not going to be pretty - and frankly, there were too many people around who were simply going to stand there and laugh at me when I tried to change that tire. (You can look in the masthead of the magazine and you'll find most of their names there.)

However mechanically-challenged I might be, God did give me enough smarts to remember AAA. One cell phone call later and someone was on the way to fix my flat. Thirty minutes later, a mechanic (complete with two ear rings, I might add) in his fully equipped tow-truck with everything-but-the-grease-rack pulled up next to my van and started to work after apologizing for being stuck in traffic.

Let's back up a few moments before I go on. About ten minutes before the mechanic arrived, the Kingsmen had gone on stage for the start of their thirty-minute set. My van was well within ear-shot of the sound and the front of it was facing the stage. Normally, it would have been parked way out in the general parking area - several hundred yards away.

As the mechanic began working on the tire, I noticed he kept getting distracted. He kept looking toward the stage and he kept getting slower and slower with his work. Finally, he turned to me and said, "I haven't heard music like that for years."

He went on to explain that as a youngster, he had gone to some concerts with his family and even as a teenager, he had sung in a local quartet. But, as so often is the case, somewhere along the way, he drifted off into another world and put aside his church up-bringing.

It probably took him about 20 minutes to remove the nail and plug the hole that was in my tire because he kept stopping and listening to the Kingsmen. When the group sang "You're Not Alone," mist filled the mechanic's eyes and his hands began to tremble.

He asked me if there would be singing the next night, because if there was, he was going to come back. As he put up his tools, his eyes and ears were riveted to the stage.

Once all the paperwork was completed, I headed back to the table. About 15 minutes or so later, I happened to look toward the parking area and there sat the tow-truck, windows down and the mechanic staring intently at the stage. I never did see the truck leave as traffic at the table soon climbed to a hectic pace. But as I drove home that night, I thought about the events that had taken place.

The following evening was the last night of the event. As I headed toward the stage to make my Singing News pitch, I saw a face that was familiar. It took me a while to recognize who it was. It was the mechanic -minus the ear rings. He had come back and was sitting in the crowd about ten rows from the stage. Several times during the night, I'd see his hands raised in praise and big tears streaming down his face.

I don't know what may have happened in that mechanic's life. Perhaps internal struggles had gotten the best of him or he was simply tired of running down a hellish path. But God was working on something those two nights in Boone.

Who else but God could use a flat tire to set a chain of events into motion? Who else but God could have chosen the Kingsmen to be singing at just the right time?

But more importantly, who else but God could have - once again - used a rusty nail to change a life?

Posted by Danny Jones at 7:59 AM - Send Comments

 

Quartet Classics

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?


Home | News | Concerts | Charts | Radio | Jobs | Forums | Links
Subscribe | Contact Us | About Us | About Southern Gospel


© 2008 Singing News, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mac OS X Server   Lasso   FileMaker