OCTOBER 2008

 

Dear Friends,

It recently dawned on me that for the past four years I have only gotten around to writing one newsletter each year.  In actuality, there haven’t been a lot of "newsy" things to report.  I’ve just been trying to "stay at it" and continue to keep doing the things I feel called to do.  In other words, to keep my hand on the plow, refusing to look back, and to stay faithful to the call.

My great grandfather was a preacher.  On his tombstone is inscribed, "He fought a good fight and kept the faith."  That’s taken from a verse in the book of Second Timothy.  Actually, Paul included a third statement in the same verse.  He also said, "I have finished the course."  Jesus said in John 4, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish His work." When he died on the cross he could victoriously proclaim at the end of his earthly life, "It is finished."

Faithfulness doesn’t usually make the news.  To be honest, it’s a little boring, because it entails doing the same things over and over again, walking steadily through the mundane affairs of life, knowing that in due time the value of it and the lasting fruit will become evident.

So, for the record, even though it doesn’t make news or require much more than a yearly newsletter, this is what I’m still doing:

I’m still writing songs.

I’m still preaching and singing wherever the doors open.

I still don’t charge a fee or asking price.

I’m still working a regular job with the State of South Carolina as an adoption specialist.

I’m still hoping record more projects.

I’m still hoping to land songs with more singers who can take them to a wide audience.

I still love my wife, kids and grandson.

I’m still growing thinner in the hairline and attempting to grow thinner in the waistline. (Needless to say I’m more successful in former than the latter.)

I still love the Red Sox (even though I couldn’t catch a ball if my life depended on it).

I’m still a little weird.

Most importantly, I still love Jesus with all of my heart and He is still the number one focus of my life.

Summing up, I’m still trying to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish the course.

 

BOOKING INFORMATION

 

Even though I work a regular job as a social worker, I continue to do concerts and/or speaking engagements on weekends.  Because of work restraints, most of my traveling ministry is done in the South Carolina area.  However, as my annual leave time builds up throughout the year, I am able to make out-of-state tours every two or three months.  We book year round and it would be an honor to come and minister where you live.  Feel free to e mail at lchewningjr@sc.rr.com or call at (843) 260-0556.

 

RAY BOLTZ

 

I have gotten a number of inquiries regarding Ray Boltz in the past month.  Below is my official response:

 

I was privileged to be a part of the contemporary Christian band, The Fishermen, who were singing at a coffeehouse in Indiana in 1972 the night Ray Boltz prayed and accepted Jesus Christ.  In the months that followed it became very evident God had His hand on Ray and on the songs he was beginning to write.  On several occasions we invited Ray to sing several of his original songs at the Fishermen concerts. I remember writing Ray in the early seventies and encouraging him to keep writing those great songs.

 

Many years later Ray recorded a song the Lord had inspired me to write called "The Anchor Holds," using his gifts to craft the song into a shorter, more focused version that would work on radio.  When his record company refused to put this song on radio, Ray went to bat for the song and lobbied hard to give it a chance.  Because of his influence, the record company reconsidered and released it and it soon went to number one.  I will always be grateful to Ray for the doors he has opened for me through his renditions of "The Anchor Holds," "At the Foot of the Cross," and a couple of other songs of mine he recorded.

 

Ray Boltz quietly retired in 2004 and brought his touring and recording to a halt.  Recently Ray disclosed publicly he has made some key changes both in his interpretation of what the Scriptures teach, as well as in his personal life.  Many of his fans and supporters have reacted with anger, but probably most, including myself, have been deeply saddened.  I continue to love Ray and keep him in my prayers, as well as his wonderful family whom I have known for over three decades.

 

Lawrence Chewning

October, 2008