I don’t like dentists. I mean, I am sure they are decent people, personally, but I do not like being in their chairs. I don’t like the pleasant views outside their windows, which apparently all dental chairs now face. I don’t like the smells associated with dental work. I don’t like the high-pitched “zzzzzzzzz” of the drill or the lower frequency and course grinding of the other tools. I don’t like the relaxing music. I don’t like the metal instruments, bitewings, or the way they jerk your cheek around while they inject anaesthetic. The only thing I can say that I enjoy at the dentist is the gas. NOS is good stuff.

However, I do like my teeth. And I would like to keep them. So, visiting the dentist is a necessity. Unfortunately, I have been neglecting my dental appointments, and it has been quite a while since I had been in the chair. When part of a molar broke off last Tuesday, it made the overlooked appointment for me.

I had a deep cavity that, fortunately, somehow managed to avoid the nerve, so I narrowly escaped a root canal. But it did require a crown. Thankfully, when my tooth began to come out in pieces, a very good Claremore dentist was able to see me the next day, quite a coup for a new patient. He looked me over and told me that he thought he could fix it with a large filling but that I needed to know that a filling would need to be dealt with again in ten years or so. I suggested that we go ahead and crown it, and he agreed that was probably the best choice. Miraculously, he had a large enough window of time to do the crowning procedure the very next day.

It was probably not a good idea to Google the whole crowning procedure that night. I saw pictures I should have never seen. I did learn some useful information, but I also learned stuff that I would just rather not know. It was enough to help me decide what kind of crown I would choose and that I really need to pay very good attention to my teeth, including periodic check ups. But I saw some stuff that, even now, makes my stomach do little flops.

The next day, I was back in the chair, and the dentist begins the procedure and, like a good dentist, explained everything he was doing. I finally just said, “I shouldn’t have Googled this last night, and I saw some pictures I really should not have seen, so the less I see and know about what you’re doing, the better.” He said sure, and that they would keep everythign out of sight.

I just prefer to have it done. I know I need to. I know it’s necessary. But if I were to have known the precise details of the procedure to rectify the situation, I would probably not had the nerve to go through it–as useful or necessary as it was.

Then I began to think, What if the dentist got part of the way into the process and I changed my mind? What would I do? How dangerous would it be for me to get up and walk out with the work half done? And so, the doc kept me in the dark, did his job, and got me all fixed up–without a bit of pain. And it all goes to show that ignorance is bliss.

As I thought about this whole ordeal, I was hit by the similarities with the war in which we as a country are now entangled. Like my tooth procedure, it is not pretty, or fun, or pleasant. Due to some matters of neglect, we are faced with some issues that must now be rectified. For that to happen, some decay must be dealt with. That cannot occur without some messy, costly operations. When removing decay on a tooth, some of the good tooth must also be sacrificed. Imagine the lunacy of a person who would refuse to have the dead and decaying areas of their tooth dealt with because it would require a loss of some healthy tooth, too.

The modern age in which we live, with light-speed world communication, has given us all a first-hand look inside the mouth of Iraq while the dental specialists are working their prescribed plans. We see the mess that exists. We see the losses. In many situations, we see more than we can stomach, and if we do not commit ourselves to special resolve, our knee-jerk instinct is to declare that nothing is worth this cost, so we must exit.

I think this is what has happened to many who supported the invasion of Iraq but now call for our departure from the theater. Don’t get me wrong. I derive absolutley no joy in hearing that we have lost more American men and women. I, too, wish our soldiers could return home to their lives and families. I wish it were all over.

However, I am not deluded enough to think that our exit from the area will lead to peace and quiet in the Mid-East. We will simply have made a mess in the area, like leaving a decaying tooth half repaired and ripe for further, deeper, more festering infection. Better to save what we can of the situation by our emergency actions now than to walk away with the patient un-treated and have to return for more severe, deeper, deadlier dangers later.

As the President has said, our troops should return home when the job is done, just as my dentist should take his hands, tools, and other foreign material out of my mouth when the job at hand is done. Americans have become increasinly anti-dentite in their views toward the war. But we must fight our natural desires to get out of the chair, remove our lovely paper bib, and go home with a tooth reshaped yet un-crowned. It is inviting further, worse infection in the future.

In conclusion, if you can’t stant to watch what the dentist is doing and still let him do his work on you, you should–as I do–tell him to keep you in the dark. Same goes for the war. If you cannot see the numers of war dead and count them as heroes who have pored out their blood for the continued safety, security, and prosperity of the American ideal, if you cannot understand that their sacrifice is immeasurable, and that sometimes immeasurable sacrifices are necessary for the preservation of the Union, then you should simply stay in the dark and let folks with calmer stomachs and stronger constitutions do what is required to address the instant problem. We’ll all be better off.

We’ve been fortunate enough to pick up a sponsor for the WynnCast. Due to popular demand, I am posting our new sponsor’s ad here by itself for your listening pleasure and amusement.

WynnCast Sponsor – The Modern Worship Experience Megachurch

If you like it, click on over to the WynnCast and give the whole thing a listen.

It is impossible, with all my jobs, to have a set day off. I do try, however, to keep Mondays kind of light. That plan doesn’t always work out; and it definitely didn’t today.

As I sit here, I am still soaked with sweat from a manhunt. Yes, you read correctly; a manhunt.

Jeane and I noticed a few vehicles parked across the street from us today. This raised a little bit of concern, due to the fact that we live at the end of the street in our neighborhood, which we affectionately refer to as Del Boca Vista. I went out to investigate this afternoon and saw a couple of folks walking the fenceline at the edge of the yet-to-be-completed third phase of Del Boca Vista. I didn’t think it was particularly safe for them out there, but I am a live-and-let-live kinda guy. So, since I was convinced they weren’t casing my house, I didn’t think anything of it.

A bit later, Jeane told me there was another car back across the street. I went outside, and there were several cars lining the street all the way from the corner. We are the only house on our street, on either side, so this is a very odd occurance. I approached one vehicle, which had someone in the driver’s seat, as a man got out of the car and asked if I could help them.

It was at this point that the man told me that his son had run off into the woods (just beyond the boundary of Del Boca Vista) last night and that they were searching for him. I got a name and description of the missing high-school aged boy and told him I would be out to help as soon as I changed my shoes.

When I got back outside, Jeane said he had told her the kid ran into the woods last night and they had been out searching with cops last night. I don’t know where we were, but we never noticed. Not finding him, the boy’s friends and family had returned today.

Once I got to the wooded area, and got through two barbed-wire fences, I was told he was barefoot and they had found some tracks. They had also found his belt, which had been cut off.

And the search began. I am always amazed that 100 yards from relative civilization, there can be complete and utter wilderness. There was heavy underbrush, lots of thorns, the occasional snake, and lots of bugs. The only shape I am in is round, but I set out trekking through the brush looking for bare foot prints or other signs.

I made it all the way to the interstate, then headed back around without seeing many signs of man. An occasional footprint in the mud indicated a searcher had been by recently, but that was about it. I eventually ran into a couple of other searchers, who reported they had not seen anything either. We took a breather, then fanned back out.

As I was walking, I heard one of the men talking to someone. I looked toward him, and he approached and said he had found the young man. He was backing off, as the young man had told him to do. He told me the direction of the boy, and I moved that way. About that time, I saw him running away. Not about to let him disappear into the woods again, I took off after him and followed him to a little nest area in which he took cover.

Slowly, a few of us encircled that area. The boy was not happy at all. He yelled for us to leave, among other things. I let him know that I wasn’t going to hurt him, and I was not going to come near him, but I was not going to leave. I attempted to talk to him. It became very obvious that he was not in good mental condition. One of the men left to find his father. As I stood there, with him still in sight, I weighed my options. I am big enough that I thought I could take him. However, I have heard that people with mental difficulties have extraordinary strength. And, I did not know whether or not he was armed. Then I remembered that they had found his belt cut off of him. I was relatively sure he had at least a knife. Erring on the side of caution, I continued to wait and think of an alternate plan.

Eventually teh man who had left brought the boy’s father up, and he began to tlak to him. His dad honored his request to ask me to back away. I left the area but remained within earshot. I then called Jeane and told her we had located the young man. I asked her to call the police and also ask for a mental health professional to come with them.

Four of Claremore’s finest showed up in short order, and I flagged them down and filled them in on the situation. They went to the boy’s nest and began the process of getting him to give up his weapon, which we discovered he did have, and come out. It took a good long while of diligent work on their parts, and they did very well at it. I just stood back and stayed in the area because the young man was a pretty big guy, and I thought they might need the help.

As it began to grow duskier and duskier, I think we all realized something needed to happen before we were all stuck in the dark Oklahoma woods. As the officers kept talking to him, they finally got him to throw his weapon away from himself, and the four of them lunged to restrain him. He was able to run a short distance before they brought him down. In the midst of everything, I jumped on him, too, just to make sure they were able to get him restrained, so as not to hurt himself or us. They did get him handcuffed and on his feet and began to lead him out of the woods. I ran ahead to call for the paramedics, and I looked back just in time to see him escape from the police officers and set to running through the woods again, still in handcuffs.

I met the EMTs and filled them in, then headed back to where I could hear the officers. By that time, they had re-captured him and were marching him out of the woods. After getting him through two barbed-wire fences, he was loaded up for transport to the ER, where I hope he gets the attention he needs.

Jeane ran a command center of sorts out of our house, keeping everyone in the neighborhood in doors at the police’s instructions and relaying messages when I would call on the cell. She learned that this kind of behavior is very out of character for the young man, and I learned form his dad that he was recently prescibed a medication for depression. Obviously, he is not responding well to it. I am hopeful that they get him straightened out, and I am thankful that he did not harm himself or anyone else.

As for now, I am thristy, and I am headed for a bleach bath.

What do you do on your days off?

We rarely record a Sunday WynnCast, but we did this week. Then I watched the TV Land Avards® and forgot to post it. So, over on the WynnCast Blog is the Monday posting of a Sunday WynnCast. Enjoy…

The Oologah Lake Leader is one fine paper. I differ 180 degrees with John and Faith Wylie, publishers, politically. However, they put out an excellent paper. I also count them as friends, and I admire their journalistic work from NW Rogers County. In a day and age when newspapers are losing their share of the market, the Leader is the only newpaper I subscribe to. How I wish Claremore’s paper was on par with what Oloogah has.

They have an online version, but it is not archived. However, the Leader has recently added an online PDF version of the paper. Go check it out at www.oologah.net.

MDG is headed to WTN, a 100,000 watt FM talker, in Nashville. Here’s his page on their site. Here’s their coverage map.

Over the last couple days, I’ve been thinking about Michael Delgiorno’s great egress from the Tulsa waves. I have seen online forums where people have completely decimated MDG and everything about him. There are some positive remarks, too. Comments range from “Good riddance!” to “I hate to see him go,” to “He’s the antichrist,” to “A pox on his house,” to “He is a hypocrite unworthy of our trust,” to “Mornings will never be the same without him.” What one rarely sees is a lukewarm opinion on Delgiorno. By his detractors’ sheer vitriol and rage, it is plain to see that MDG was a success at what he did, which was of course, passionately espousing his (and a large number of average folks’) views and opinions on the culture in which we all find ourselves.

In a day and age when the vast majority of radio programming is a satellite feed of national issues (which we do need), it was nice to turn on the radio and hear a local guy who cared about local issues talk about things we locals care about. It was nice to hear him broadcast from a vacant lot that somehow managed to vote in an election. It was nice to hear him rant and rave about things that, when we’re really honest with ourselves, make us all rant and rave, too. And I have heard many detractors over the last few year who hate MDG for various reasons. In one case in particuler, I know of one violently vociferous MDG critic who launched a series of anonymous online attacks against MDG simply because MDG refused to accept this person’s worldview and counsel. It was shameful and self-serving, but the safety and anonymity of online forums made him feel brave and unaccountable for his comments.

And that leads to another reason MDG is so hated. It just burns some folks up that MDG has the huge microphone he does. When it comes right down to it, most people just want a soapbox. And lots of people think that because they are Christians and Michael is a vocal Christian, he owes them a share of his soapbox for advancing their particular project, calling, and/or inclinations. It’s just not possible, even in three hours a day, to be all things to all people–even other Christians. And, since some folks think Micahel won’t share his microphone like a good boy, he must be the devil. Talk about a breakdown in logic!

MDG may not have always been right, and from what I have heard him say lately, he plainly admits he makes mistakes and errors of judgment. Who amongst us doesn’t? Very few average folks have any clue as to the talent and skill it takes to be a successful radio personality–especially when it’s not some act. Most people who so violently attack MDG could not successfully fill 30 seconds of airtime, much less 3 hours a day. I have a radio background; I know. Thirty seconds is an eternity. One has to be good to fill time successfully. Michael is a pro; I, for one, have no problem with him being rewarded well for it. Here’s hoping we will all be rewarded well for what we do well.

And so, as MDG departs for what is next for him, let me say, from one radio listener in Claremore, I appreciate the work and effort MDG has put into KFAQ and Tulsa. I am sorry that some people are so immature and wicked as to threaten to hurt a man and/or his family over mere words that are said. We in the listening audience are all better off for having had this passionate, flawed, Christian man broadcasting to us and for us for the past 17 years, especially the last 5. If not for MDG’s pursuit of truth, we would not know about things like the insipid web of filthy lucre that connected KRMG, the Erlings, the Lortons, the Whirled, Great Plains, etc. If not for a mission called KFAQ, the good ole boy network would still be operating unencumbered. In short, we’re better off for having known you, Michael. You may be leaving Tulsa with just a handful of real friends to call yours, but you are also leaving with a vast multitude who appreciate and respect your work and sacrifice. As usual, the majority has probably been pretty silent while the critics have raged and fumed.

Radio has the ability to enlighten and inform in a way no other medium really can. In good hands, radio can transform communities and societies. The transformation has begun, and I believe, will continue in the hands of Freeman and Medlock. It should surprise none of us that those who so shrilly called for MDG’s departure are none too pleased that Chris Medlock will be joining the airwaves come Monday. Some poor, deluded commentor on meeciteewurkor’s site is even worried about Medlock because he or she’s not sure what kind of a deal Medlock will cut and with whom. Paranoia of that order should really be attended by a qualified professional.

Medlock has proved to be tough, professional, eloquent, fair, and insightful. Let’s give him a shot before we decide he’s horrible at the job. At the very least, MDG’s critic’s ought to be happy that they will finally get to hear Gwen finish a sentence. Lighten up, take a breath, and listen. It will be fun, and we all might learn something.

Sure, it’s only radio. But look how passionate we all are about it. It’s a good thing. Godspeed Michael and family. Welcome to the helm, Freeman and Medlock. Lead on!

Tulsan Michael Bates, of batesline.com, one of my favorite blogs, has an article on The American Spectator’s online edition. In it, he talks of Oklahomans’ patience as we await Mr. Right for the presidential campaign and our support of Sen. Inhofe. Read it here.

It’s been quite a week. Of course, we’re all still reeling from the horrible tragedy that occurred earlier this week at Virginia Tech. And then there is mis-used opportunity of a convocation. Since America has become the PC zone that it now is, public tragedies and memorials have become a frustrating mish-mash of religious sentiment and verbiage. We have sunk to lows from which I am not sure we can ever emerge when we will allow a program of mutually exclusive doctrines to share a platform and try to bring hope and comfort to hurting, mourning people. It used to be that tragedy would at least turn our attention to the Lord God Almighty. Now it’s just a means to put on a multi-cultural, multi-religion dog and pony show.

On the off chance anyone affected by the VT shooting, possibly left feeling empty and confused by the conflicting and contradictory messages of a everyone-included religion-fest called a convocation, happens across this page, let me be real with you here. You are suffering at this moment because of something called evil. Evil exists in this world. Each day, every individual makes a series of choices, each of them containing the potential for good or evil. The young man who brought such horror to VT’s campus was apparently consumed by evil.

There is only one Counter to evil. And that is the ultimate Good, Jesus Christ. Only by Jesus Christ’s coming to earth and living a life perfectly pleasing to God (read: without sin), laying down that life, and taking it up again, is there any hope that evil will ever be defeated.

In John Piper’s The Passion of Jesus Christ (now re-titled 50 Reasons Why Jesus Christ Came to Die), Piper expertly explains the necessity and importance of Jesus’ perfectly sinless life:

Chapter 3: Christ Suffered and Died…

To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected

“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
–Hebrews 5:8

“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
–Hebrews 2:10

The very book in the Bible that says Christ “learned obedience” through suffering, and that he was “made perfect” through suffering, also says that he was “without sin.” “In every respect [Christ] has been tempted as we are, yet without sin”
(Hebrews 4:15).

This is the consistent teaching of the Bible. Christ was sinless. Although he was the divine Son of God, he was really human, with all our temptations and appetites and physical weaknesses. There was hunger (Matthew 21:18) and anger and grief (Mark 3:5) and pain (Matthew 17:12). But his heart was perfectly in love with God, and he acted consistently with that love: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

Therefore, when the Bible says that Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered,” it doesn’t mean that he learned to stop disobeying. It means that with each new trial he learned in practice—and in pain—what it means to obey. When it says that he was “made perfect through suffering,” it doesn’t mean that he was gradually getting rid of defects. It means that he was gradually fulfilling the perfect righteousness that he had to have in order to save us.

That’s what he said at his baptism. He didn’t need to be baptized because he was a sinner. Rather, he explained to John the Baptist, “Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

The point is this: If the Son of God had gone from incarnation to the cross without a life of temptation and pain to test his righteousness and his love, he would not be a suitable Savior for fallen man. His suffering not only absorbed the wrath of God. It also fulfilled his true humanity and made him able to call us brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17).

I know you are suffering. I know you are questioning. But God does exist. And he cares about your pain. He felt your pain on the cross. It was for this evil, among a multitude of others, that He died. And He is a just God. He is a punisher of evil. And a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I started out saying that each of us can choose between good and evil everyday. Only Christ’s power in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit can make us new creations, believers who seek to please Him by our actions, thus choosing good.

In our natural state, we are all sinful persons, capable of great evil, though we might not think so when we compare our deeds with this disturbed and evil gunman. But sin, in whatever dosage, is an affront to God’s holiness. It must be put away forever. It can be so done by our banishment to eternal hell. Or it can be accomplished by Christ’s blood atonement on the cross. We all have a choice to make.

In the midst of your pain, sorrow, loss, and questions, look to the true and only Source of goodness, and turn to Him for salvation. It is the only hope you have for peace.

MDG shared some thoughts about his leaving this morning. He gives credit for the success of KFAQ to the listeners, the Journal Broadcast management, and his KFAQ colleagues. He emphasized that it was not the missionary, but the mission, that was important.

Hear KFAQ’s program director Brian Gann’s announcement and MDG’s valedictory remarks by clicking the link below. It runs just over 18 minutes.

MDG’s Valedictory – 18:27