For the Class of 2015...

Last year at this time, I wrote a blog post about what I would say if'n I were given the chance to speak to a graduating class (which admittedly would probably be as much of a chance as winning the Powerball).  Instead of trying to remind myself what I wrote or linking you to that particular post, I thought I would save a little time and copy/paste that on this post...

So anyway, without any further delay...here is my address.

To the graduating class of 2015:

Well, kids...you did it!!! Beginning as far back as probably Head Start or Pre-K, fourteen to fifteen years of determination, sacrifice, and hard work have gotten you to where you sit today...with your closest friends in your caps and gowns, waiting for that moment when you walk across this stage, grab your folder, the prompt to change your tassel and be called officially a graduate.  Congratulations!!!

As you close one chapter of your life and start writing the next chapter, whether it be continuing your education at the university of your choice, or serving our country in the armed forces or immediately going into the work force, let me pass along some thoughts to remember.

First and foremost, remember who the Ultimate Boss is.  Proverbs 3:5,6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him (one translation says "in everything you do Put God First...") and He will direct your paths." Make God your top priority and everything else will fall into place.

Secondly...listen to people you can trust.  People like your parents, your grandparents, your Pastor, the elders in the church.  Psalm 1:1,2 (HCSB) "How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers.  Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night."

Lastly, while you are striving to succeed in whatever you do from this point forward, it is OK to have some fun every now and again.  I'm reminded of a classic movie quote -- "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."  Maintain a work/fun balance...just don't let one overrun the other too much.

Again, congratulations on making it to this point in your journey.  Keep your eyes on what's ahead, don't look back and most importantly...Put God First!

Mother's Day Thoughts...

Hello and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Even though it should be celebrated every day, it's a day to appreciate what all our moms have done for us.

Something though really gets me and especially on days like today...I don't get those people who harbor hate and resentment toward their moms. Sure she probably stumbled a few times along the way trying to make sure you had what you needed (food, clothing, shelter, etc.), but to go later and bad mouth her saying what a lousy job she did and call her every 4 letter name in the book really makes me shake my head.

It is no secret that I hold my mother in the highest regard.  Yes we had our shortcomings when I was little with her working and doing her best when it was just us two living in North Tulsa -- I've often said that the area where we lived was in the landing pattern of Tulsa International Airport.  But she did her best to make it work.  Even when we moved to Clinton, she did her best to make sure I had everything I needed.  And even then when she married Dad and then along came Stephenie and Jeremy, I hardly ever heard her complain.

So yeah, when I hear people complain and cuss their mother and everything, I just thank God all the more for mine because I want to keep mine around for a while and show her just how much she means to me and to my siblings and her grandchildren.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! I love you!!!!

What Part of (blank) Do You Not Understand?

Hello everyone from the Keil's Comments Studios!!! Nice to actually type out a blog post on a computer instead of my phone.  (It was kind of necessary there for a while but hope I won't need to unless I do need to -- make sense?)

Anyway, now that's out of the way...

I was hearing Mom say that she was reading some comments stemming from last night's season finale of "The Big Bang Theory" and how some people are confusing "Season Finale" with "Series Finale".  It makes you want to grab some people by their shoulders and ask them WHAT PART OF SEASON FINALE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

Just so you know...

Season Finale = the show has finished airing new episodes for now but will be back in September with a whole new batch of episodes.

Series Finale = either by their own doing or the networks', that show will not be back on the schedule for next season (unless someone at Hulu or Netflix decides to pick them up or something...it has been done before.  See "Community")

I know some people live vicariously through their favorite characters.  I'm a big fan of the NCIS franchise -- Regular, Los Angeles and New Orleans or as I call it "Cajun Style".  Trust me, there are people still bent on having Cote de Pablo back on the show and get rid of Emily Wickersham (Cue "Let It Go")

That's the way TV works folks. If your show is good in the ratings book and with the critics, it sticks around for a while. If it's not, it gets cancelled.  And when a show that has been on as long as NCIS or Law and Order or CSI has, the writers/EP's try to find ways to keep the show relevant otherwise you might get replaced by a reboot of "Coach" or something. (Yes there is one in the works for next season on NBC)

We've been encouraged by some reviewers that have shows online to not read the comments because people tend to be "keyboard bullies" and channel their rage that way.  Then you have those who you probably think that they should never be within 500 feet of a computer because of some of their comments being way off base ("It's a conspiracy. C-O-N-Spiracy!!!")

That's all I have for now.  Until next time...

Phoning it in II:

It's been a few weeks since I have done a blog post on the phone...mainly because I have been without a computer. (In case you didn't see the last post, my laptop died two weeks ago and I have a new one on layaway at our local Kmart -- which as it stands I should be able to get it on May 1).

Of course, besides doing the normal things a phone like mine does, including take and receive calls...I have been using it for all the social media things that I do and whatnot, which tends to leave me putting it on the charger more than having it off.

Anyway, I am in for an interesting experience this weekend as I will be walking a 5K for Relay for Life in Burns Flat, OK with my dad. As of now, I don't know what the course looks like so basically I will be walking around Burns Flat not knowing any landmarks other than the Vo-Tech and the airpark. Hopefully I don't get lost...

That's about it for now. Until next time...

Phoning it in...

Well, it's been a full day since my computer flashed the "blue screen of death" and closed its Windows for the last time.

I've been adjusting to using my phone for basically everything...including making calls!!!

Yes I am getting a new computer...it is sitting in the Layaway room at Kmart as I speak. So I will be back to normal in a few months.

Until then...there will probably be a few more "phone in" blog posts between now and when I am back on a computer.

As we like to say in broadcasting, "stay tuned"...

We Are, but We Aren't...

I know I should try to write more, but I usually write something as they come to me.  This one stuck out in my mind this morning...

As most of you know, I am a big radio and TV fan -- as evidenced by my pics and me "geeking out" over seeing the news choppers and meeting Linda Cavanaugh, Kevin Ogle et al last Saturday at Penn Square Mall and me meeting and getting a pic with Jenn Derrick from The House FM at Winter Jam but something also stuck with me.  As Russ Lee from NewSong was intro'ing Jenn and Adam from The House FM and reps from Air 1 and K-Love, the thought occurred to me "They are competitors, but they aren't." 

Allow me to explain...obviously Nielsen doesn't measure ratings for non-commercial stations (that includes the NPR's, community stations, etc) so stations of that type can't brag on who has the most listeners and so on.  But if you look at it this way, stations like Air 1, The House/My Praise FM, K-Love, to a certain extent AFR (the music side of it, not the talk part), Way-FM, etc...even though they are reaching certain audiences, certain demographics and what not...ultimately they are presenting the Gospel in a way that some people might understand it.  Sure it's one thing to teach about God's Love, but when you hear a song like "Proof of Your Love" by for King and Country and worship songs like "Oceans" or "Holy Spirit" it opens a whole lot more doors than a church ever would.  And Russ alluded to it Saturday night...there were many denominations represented at Chesapeake Energy Arena, but we were all there to worship and sing praises to God and got to rock out too!!!

So yeah, those stations I mentioned may be competing for your ears, for your support...but what it all boils down to is outreach and bringing people to Jesus, even if it means using a 50,000 or 100,000 watt blowtorch of a transmitter.

We got a real Jam going now...

I promised I would do a blog post on my great day in Oklahoma City yesterday (Saturday). And here it is...

I got to go with a group of our youth and a couple of other adults.  We left sometime after 8am and arrived in OKC about 9:30a.  Our first stop to kill some time was Penn Square Mall.  They had a Severe Weather Awareness Expo going on (It was supposed to start at 12Noon but some people were there early) and all of the local news stations had their helicopters and everybody out (see my Instagram for the pics I took).  To say I was a kid in the candy store seeing the choppers and getting to meet the people that bring you the news and weather everyday...that would give the candy store too much credit.  I was geeking out!!! But not to the point that some people would get meeting their favorite Internet reviewers though. 

After lunch there at the Penn Square Food Court...it was on to Chesapeake Energy Arena or as we like to sometimes call it, "ThunderDome". Since our church got tickets that allowed us to gain early entry, We didn't have to wait as long as most people...only 3 1/2 hours.  What does one do when standing in line for that long?  Well, my "dogs" were barking...they would bark even more as the evening progressed.

They opened the doors for us at 3:30p...and if you've seen the video I posted on my Facebook page, it felt like cattle going into the sale barn.  Somewhere in that video, you did hear me moo.

Now on to the bands that played...they were awesome!!! Everyone played their hearts out.  There were moments of worship, like when NewSong did their classic "Arise My Love" and went into the newer song "Oceans".  To hear 18-19,000 sing "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders"...words do not do it justice.  A little later, Francesca Battistelli sang another newer worship song "Holy Spirit You are welcome here...".  We had just sang that last Sunday at church so I know how powerful the song is.  Again, add 18-19,000 other brothers and sisters to the mix...Words escape.

I wished my phone had more power than it had, I would have taken a few more pictures...but the pics I did get turned out pretty good.  I think next year I am going to invest in a little portable phone charger.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience....one I will definitely do again.  I just hope next year it won't be the night before the time change.