The Rev. Janice Hesselink penned these words, set to the tune "Old Western" ... and was sung to me a few weeks ago at Big Daddy's (where we ate ice cream) in Wells, Maine.

Forget about politics, people

And even the Olympic games

As August the ninth is important

To celebrate seems not so strange.

From Californ's shores to Ogunquit

He found lots of friends 'long the way

To join his great love and deep passion

For Bach's little Preludes he'd play.

To watch his feet you'll get dizzy

His tunes are out of this world

So happy, happy birthday

For you Mark, our banners unfurled.

THANK YOU, JAN!

Mark Thallander, Ogunquit, ME

Please pray for the family of Richard Todd who passed away yesterday in Galt, Missouri.

His wife Barbara is a former assistant to both Fred Swann and myself at The Crystal Cathedral and is a member of the Advisory Council of The Mark Thallander Foundation.

Mark Thallander, Ogunquit, ME

Discovered your website by accident when checking out Krista Strader's site. When Krista used to live in Southern CA, she performed a few times every year at the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church. (We miss her greatly)

I remember our conversation back in '93 or '94 when you stated that you would someday write a book about the behind scenes world of the Crystal Cathedral. You had an amusing title for it. This conversation took place at one of the EC meetings you attended in Laguna Hills and led our praise music.

Roy Solloway, Laguna Hills, CA
rsolloway@sbcglobal.net

Greetings from Springfield, Missouri ...

Join us for Sunday morning worship at Central Assembly of God, Boonville at Calhoun ... 9am and 10:30am

Prelude - Organ/Trumpet

Festive Trumpet Tune - David German

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Dan Miller

Orchestra/Organ

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Sanctuary Choir/Organ

Come, Christians, Join to Sing - arr. Thallander/Wilkin

Sing Unto God with Joy and Gladness - F. J. Haydn

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Gilbert Martin

Hymn - Congregation/Organ/Orchestra

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty

Offertory - Piano/Organ

Heaven Medley - arr. Tom Matrone

Postlude

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God - Benedetto Marcello

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

Hi Mark: Just wanted to thank you for sharing your gift of music. A special thanks for giving permission to use your recording at my brother's, Don Krieger, memorial this Saturday here in Jacksonville. I learned about you through Don and Barb and have enjoyed listening to you play. I am in the process of finishing "Champions Plus". Believe me, your attitude is an inspiration to me while we are going through this time of bereavement. I thank God for you and your music.

Ruth

Ruth J. (Krieger) Reed, Jacksonville, Oregon
gamybear@msn.com

A book review of “Champions…Plus” by Gary DeVaul, Mark Thallander and Friends has been posted here: http://ifphcseeninprint.wordpress.com

Glenda Winkle-Morrow, NCTM, Springfield, MO

Glenda Winkle-Morrow, NCTM, Springfield, MO
mgmps333@mchsi.com

trust in the lord and he will direct ya in his pathways be bold be strong

liane , rhymney southwales united kingdom
www.cerbc2008@googlesearch.com

Dear Friends in the Desert:

Just a "note" to let you know that "Champions...Plus" by Gary DeVaul, Mark Thallander & Friends is now available at the gift shop (St. Maggie's Corner) on the campus of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and School on Highway 74 in Palm Desert, California.

Mark

Mark Thallander, Stockton, California

Mark,

It was so wonderful to see you again when in LA. Fred Swann's concert just blew me away (as usual) and the recption afterward was great. It was lovely to speak with you for a short chat. THANK YOU for the encouraging words and, as always you're prayers.

I have the newest picture of you & I on my office desk here and it inspires me daily with the new trials and issues I am now facing. New diagnosis has me back on a plethera of meds as well as additional treatment, but the Lord saw me through before - and my prayer now is that "HE will be an ever present help in Danger!"

I do so want to have you in PA to play and share you're story - so do please advise of you're schedule in the East and how we can plan for this.

In all God's Love, Trisha

Trisha Longo, Pennsylvania
TrishaLongo6163@hotmail.com

Hi, Mark:

I hope you're doing well, and that Palm Desert(?) or Palm Springs is agreeing with you.

After Christmas this year, I heard from a second cousin, Sharon, that her Mom, Betty, my first cousin, had passed away. Then, I heard from my cousin-in-law, John, from Seattle, that my first cousin (his wife), Lois, and her brother, Robert had passed away from cancer. Quite a shock. Everything had happened so fast with all of them, that they didn't notify everyone, after getting immediate families together. It's comforting to hear from John. He wrote the eulogy, very beautiful, for Lois's funeral service. He's also writing a book, and it consists of verse written about his family, such as uncles, etc., his work with conservation, and wet-lands preservation, and photography. John studied with Ansel Adams, and gave me some tips years ago about photgraphy. He used to do Sierra Club posters and "Sports Afield" magazine, and he led hikes into the Canadian wilderness. He must be in his late 80's now. Most of my first cousins are quite a bit older than I am. (My Mom already had an 18 year old sister when she was born. Mom was the last of nine children, and grew up on a farm in Kansas).

Friday night, we did our "Boston Pops" concert at Lake Avenue Congregational Church, in the Warehouse room. Hor d'euvres were served on the patio, with live music, then the guests went in to a delicious dinner of chicken ala king, with dessert and coffee to follow. Everything was beautiful, with chairs covered in white, and wrapped with red ribbon. Each tables was adorned with a black tablecloth on a gold skirt, underneath. The table settings looked so professional, with napkins fluted in goblets. It looked like a grand hotel banquet room. Dr. Greg Waybright, our pastor, has a gorgeous voice. I didn't realize that he is very "well-versed" (excuse the expression) in music, and he's sung all over the world, and even taught music. Our choir sang a medley of Irving Berlin music, including "Putting on the Ritz," with John Sutton directing the orchestra and chorus. We also sang, "It's a Grand Night for Singing," led in by a soloist from APU. She had a gorgeous soprano voice. We all pitched in to help. I hadn't signed up to assist, but a group of us "volunteered" to help carry trays of food to the waiters (all LASC members and/or spouses). The preceding description is only a small taste of the actual program.

Julien Revie was visiting Pasadena, and played the organ for us two Sundays ago. He went directly back to Cambridge. I believe he had flown in for a wedding.

Also, I have two "new" cats. I lost my cat, Frankie, last August 25, from mammary gland cancer. He was 11 years old June 5 of 2007. It was a great loss to me. I was later blessed with Lady Jane Grey (her name at The San Gabriel Humane Society had been "Grey Flannel." Cute, but I wanted something more unique, so, voila, I changed it). I adopted her October 5, 2007. She was five months old, and turned one year old on May 5. My other cat, Dymka (I renamed him Lord Snowden since he's a Snowshoe Siamese), was adopted a few weeks later. He is nearly four years old, but has only his canine teeth remaining. He had had gum disease. His owner gave him to The Cat Clinic, where I have been going since 1984, for my cats. He couldn't get used to an electric cat litter box, and she had problems with him. He's sweet, though a little skittish. His purr, though, is marvelous, very loud. Lady is a jewel, and very affectionate and sweet. They keep me going, but they are such great company, and I enjoy them. I did have a mishap with Lady, about five weeks ago. She was fine one minute, and the next she came limping to me, and it turned out her left rear leg was broken (equivalent to a human breaking a wrist, and so close to the joint it couldn't be cast). I'm not even sure how it happened, but I have a hardwood floor, and she was jumping on and off of my entertainment center, and also trying to play with Snowden, and he wouldn't have it, and sometimes she'd end up flopping on the floor and seemed ok, and still ready to play. I hope her bones are ok, since she was fostered by a lady after her Mom cat passed away soon after Lady was born. The bones didn't appear porous on the x-ray. I now have a large rug on my floor, thanks to my neighbor, Kathy Kelly, taking me to Wal Mart to help me pick one out. I did have pads and pillows all over for awhile, so that Lady wouldn't be hurt.

I can't believe I'm up this late, but I'm addicted to the "Medium" version of "Spider Solitaire." I hadn't eaten much, and I think my brain was half dead, but I finally won one tonight.

I hope this "note" finds you healthy.

Best to you,

Janice, Lady Jane and Dymka AKA Lord Snowden

Janice Powers, Pasadena, CA
janice.powers@sbcglobal.net

the lord is awesome god he reigns in heaven and earth glorify him

liane davies, tredegar
www.cerbc2008@googlesearch.com

Mark, We think of you often and trust the Lord is blessing you. We are so thankful God put you in Aaron's life. Ran across this site and wanted to at least say hi. Aaron is married over a year now and I'm sure if he knew I was writing this, he would tell me to say hi to Mark. He is doing great and Worship Leader at West Coast Life Church, Murrieta, CA

God Bless you . I'm glad I was able to write to you. Lenny

Lenny and Renee' Crane, Murrieta, CA
lennycrane@gmail.com

Stockton, CA

DeWitt Q. Blunt

September 21, 1918 - May 22, 2008

DeWitt Q. Blunt, age 89, passed away May 22, 2008 in Stockton, CA. DeWitt was born September 21, 1918 in St. Elmo, Illinois. He served in the Army during WWII where he received a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters. DeWitt was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. DeWitt worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 23 years and attended Lakeview Assembly.

Mr. Blunt is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Grace Blunt of Stockton; a daughter DeAnna (Bob) Watson of Copperopolis, CA; a daughter in-law, Rochelle Blunt; 4 grandchildren, Casey Watson, Ryan Watson, Rebecca Blunt and Joseph Blunt. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Blunt and a great-grandson, Benjamin Stephen Blunt.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 27th from 12:00 noon until 7 p.m. at the Wallace-Martin Funeral Home with a Chapel service on Wednesday, May 28th at 1:00 p.m. at Lakeview Assembly, 2111 Quail Lakes Drive, Stockton. Committal will be private at Cherokee Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Assoc., 1212 W Robinhood Dr., Stockton or Disabled American Veterans, 2431 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA. Please visit www.wallacemartinfuneralhome.com

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

4/11/2008 10:03:14 AM

Mark, I shared the following message with you in an email several months ago. I'm finally keeping my promise to you to send my comments about the concert of October 14, 2007, at King's Way United Methodist Church, Springfield, MO, to your guest book. Perhaps this could be considered a prelude to the recent chapel service that we shared on March 24 for Central Bible College.

Congratulations! You were great! It was an awesome program!

I was up late last night and just happened to catch the news on KOLR. It was later than usual due to another program on TV. I saw the clip just before 11 PM. I did manage to get a video tape in and get it recorded. It was on again this morning just before I called you.

Here is the link: http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=12858.

It was great seeing your pictures and story in the Springfield News-Leader. You made the Friday, October 12, 2007, newspaper, A section, page 7(half page), and again this morning, October 15, the A section, page 3(half page). On the very front page of the New-Leader, left column, it states "Organist's performance amazes."

"Organist Mark Thallander wowed a crowd of more than 200 Sunday at King's Way United Methodist Church. What's so special about this musician? He lost an arm in a 2003 car accident and relearned to play using one hand and two feet. (Story on 3A)"

Actually there were approximately 400 or more people in attendance. I have never seen so many people at the church for a concert. The sanctuary was full. We started late because there was a traffic jam in the parking lot.

I was so honored to get to play two duets with you on your concert. It was an exciting experience. The music really ministered to me. I remember your words to me, as well as Roger Thomassen’s, about letting the text of "Like a River Glorious" help me through the past year of my life. It still continues to minister to me.

When we were playing "Crown Him with Many Crowns" yesterday afternoon, I prayed that I would be able to play all those notes. It was at the place where we had begun our shortened version for the Sunday morning prelude. (I had an accident a few years ago and had torn all the ligaments in my right arm. I had been unable to play the piano for a long time and this composition had a lot of fast moving octaves.) I will always remember the peace God gave me. I felt His presence in a very unusual way. It was as if He were playing the music with me and together we continued with excitement in crowning Him with many crowns. I could not believe the applause from the audience. I had never been involved in a performance where there was such a long standing ovation.

Thank you for asking me to assist you these past few days. You have no idea how special I felt getting to be with you and playing such wonderful music. I had been practicing past midnight many nights in preparation for the concert. I was thoroughly enjoying it.

One person asked if you had a CD with your story on it. Several people wanted to know if the CDs were recorded before or after the accident. Have you considered a CD with your performances now and your story?

I just want you to know that yesterday's concert was one of the most exciting days of my entire life. My real desire after receiving my master's degree in piano performance at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, was to go on the concert stage. God had other plans for my life. Little did I realize that I would spend many years teaching at Central Bible College and one day perform church music with a very special person whom I had coached in preparation for radio broadcasts which went around the world every week.

Mark, you have no idea how proud I am of you and what you are doing with His music.

I will always remember October 14th, 2007.

Thanks for a wonderful day, Mark!

Glenda Morrow, NCTM

Glenda Morrow, Springfield, MO

mgmps333@mchsi.com

Glenda Winkle-Morrow, Springfield, Missouri USA

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Mark,

I am grateful to Tom and Jan Bougher for setting up the Revivaltime Blog that brings people back into our memories. For some time Herb and I had not been aware of your accident but learned through Susie Parks about God's marvelous work in your life. How awesome. (Susie found us and invited us to stay with them during the General Council in Denver which didn't work out.) Then recently in the CBC Alumni newsletter was the article about you and Glenda Morrow. Now today I found your site after checking out the RT blog.

Life's journey takes us in unknown directions and places but God never makes us go it alone. Herb and I forever have wonderful memories of Revivaltime tours, Rook games on the bus, broadcasts, etc.,etc. I was BLESSED by the honor of playing the organ for altar time when Judy Casso or Sharon Bell would get "tired" and need relieved. Those were GREAT days. It is obvious God's blessing is being poured upon you with His favor. May it continue.

Until "Then" All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.

Evelyn Snyder Peak

Evelyn Snyder Peak, Bristol, TN
peake@btcs.org

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS

is proud to present

SAMUEL S. SORIA

In an Organ Recital

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008

7:30 p.m.

Samuel Salvador Soria has been the organist of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels since its dedication in 2002. Prior to his appointment here in Los Angeles he was organist for nine years at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. Mr. Soria is a graduate of Valparaiso and Northwestern Universities. In addition to study with Phillip Gehring and Wolfgang Rubsam, he has been coached privately by Jean Guillou, Naji Hakim and Paul Manz, concentrating on the art of organ improvisation.

Samuel Soria is a 2nd prize winner in the J.S. Bach International Competition at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. and was also a prize winner in the American Guild of Organist Improvisation Competition at Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York. Soria has recorded twice for noted classical label Delos International. His cds “Premiere Organ Recording” and his most recent, “Organ Voices” have received critical acclaim from across the country. In July of 2004, Mr. Soria played a recital at the cathedral for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists. Soria has been featured on the Minnesota Public Radio Show "Pipedreams.”

Scheduled program:

Symphony No. 5 Charles-Marie Widor

Angelus Marcel Dupre

Zachary Valenzuela, flute

Suite on the Fourth Tone Jean Adam Guilain

Pastorale Roger-Ducasse

Toccata Fernando Germani

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

555 West Temple Street (at Grand Avenue) Los Angeles, California 90012

Suggested Donation: $10.00 Secure parking in the Cathedral underground lot: $5.00

For more information call 213-680-5205 or visit the cathedral website at:

www.olacathedral.org

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

From More Precious Than Silver

by Joni Eareckson Tada

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

Psalm 147:7

My favorite classical guitar piece is called "Recuerdos del Alhambra." And nobody plays it like Christopher Parkening, probably the greatest classical guitarist in the world. My husband, Ken, is friends with Christopher. They both like to fish, so whenever we're together, the subject is trout and tuna.

Recently, the three of us were at our home, and Ken left the room to get a fishing rod to show Christopher. I said, "Chris, I'm sorry to sound like such a fan but one day, I would love it if you would play for me 'Recuerdos del Alhambra.'" Then Ken was back in the room, and the subject turned to fish.

Later that night as Christopher was about to leave, Ken said, "Hey, I want to show you my high school guitar and see what you think of it." Ken brought out that old, beat-up clunker that had never played much more than "Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore." It was cracked, its strings fossilized.

I watched Christopher turn the guitar over in his hands and tighten the ancient strings. Eventually, he was able to get the guitar on key. Then he kneeled by my chair and played "Recuerdos del Alhambra." Our living room became a symphony hall, the guitar a wellspring of soft, melodic, yet powerful music.

Afterward as Ken walked Christopher to his car, I stared at the guitar on the couch. I started to laugh. That old guitar never knew it had it in it. I had just seen and heard what the touch of a master's hand could do.

The same is true for you and me. On our own, we can't do much more

than "Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore." But then along comes the

Lord Jesus. Suddenly we're capable of much more than we ever

dreamed. We never knew we had it in us, and really we didn't. It's

just the touch of the Master's hand.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, so much power rests in Your hands--to heal, to enlighten,

to enable. Touch me. Thank You.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 27

9:30 AND 11 A.M.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY

CONCERT CHOIR

SINGS AT THE

CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

"CHAMPIONS...PLUS"

by Gary DeVaul, Mark Thallander & Friends

is now available at

The Crystal Cathedral Bookstore

Chapman Avenue at Lewis Street

Garden Grove, CA 92840

e-mail: orderinfo@crystalcathedral.org

Phone Line: 1-714-971-4000

Fax Line: 1-714-971-4906

Address: CathedralGifts.com

13280 Chapman Avenue

Garden Grove, CA 92840

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

I just finished viewing a DVD:

THE GREAT ORGANS OF FIRST CHURCH

and it is phenomenal!

Check it out at

www.fccla.org

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

"Life is pure adventure and the sooner we realize that the quicker we will be able to treat life as art ... We need to remember that we are created creative and can invent new scenarios as frequently as they are needed." -- Maya Angelou

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

"Champions ... Plus" is now available at the Christian Life Bookstore, 9025 West Lane, Stockton, CA 95210.

http://www.clministry.com/college/news/story.php?story_id=17

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Without Professor Glenda Morrow's expert "ministry of page turning," I could have never made it through all of the music that Minister of Music Tom Matrone planned for the beautiful Good Friday and Easter services at Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri! Thank you, Glenda! And thanks, too for the added hand you gave me on selected measures of "My Eternal King" on Good Friday and the Beethoven "Hallelujah" on Easter!

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

March 24, 2008, is a day that you and I will remember the rest of our lives. We were the guests in a very unique chapel service for Central Bible College students, faculty and friends at Central Assembly of God. You told your story of God’s faithfulness to you through the tragedy of losing your left arm. I, your former piano professor, was being presented with the Professor Emeritus award for my many years of service on the music faculty of CBC.

As you played your “Toccata on Hymn to Joy,” it brought back memories of some of the piano lessons we had, especially those on arpeggios and scales (the beginning and the end of your famous arrangement). It was exciting to hear you play it again.

We have played the piano and organ duets of “Crown Him with Many Crowns” and “Like a River Glorious” many times. As we were playing “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” in the “Crown Him” arrangement, I recalled how we had worked on that song nearly every piano lesson for the live weekly Revivaltime broadcasts. Who would have known that we would be playing that song in a piano and organ duet many years later in a classical music style?

I have never played “Like a River Glorious” with such feeling and emotion as I did during that chapel service. It was a challenging day for both of us. I, too, had been trying to recover from some personal tragedies in the past year. It’s difficult to explain all that I was experiencing, but God was ministering to me in a very unusual way as we played. The registrations you chose for the song were beautiful. I knew everything would be fine as we continued to play because you are so sensitive to worship and playing in a service. I can’t believe that I felt so “at ease” while playing the hymn.

As a student at CBC, your playing went “across the nation and around the world.” Your ministry of music and the message that you shared in chapel will continue to be spread all over the world. Everyone heard about your being sustained by prayers and the texts of many wonderful hymns. God spared your life for His purpose and He continues to give you an extremely unique ministry which is beyond words.

I’m so glad we could share this day of ministry. Thank you, Mark, for being such a wonderful friend through the years. You are my most famous student and colleague!

Glenda Morrow, NCTM

Professor Emeritus of Central Bible College

Glenda Morrow, Springfield, MO
mgmps333@mchsi.com

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 13 AT 4 P.M.

FREDERICK SWANN ORGAN RECITAL

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

SIXTH AND COMMONWEALTH

LOS ANGELES

"THE LARGEST CHURCH PIPE ORGAN IN THE WORLD!"

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Mark & Eric,

Thought you both might enjoy this email that came today from one that attended our San Jose Festival yesterday at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Here is just part of his email:

So, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed the entire program. Berdie, you did a great job getting all that organized, and, of course, your work on the organ is always so extremely well done. I again so much appreciated “The Lord’s Prayer.” And Thallander and Elliott ain’t too bad either!!

Aside from all the wonderful music from the Bowlsby’s, there was a special treat for me. In my 30 years of directing the EFC choir in San Jose , there were a few songs that were especially meaningful to me. Other than some of the sacred classics, perhaps the one tune I would most like to conduct again is “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name.” When the choir sang it today, I just closed my eyes and sang along with them (not too loudly, I hope). When it ended, I could only weep and just praise God for such magnificent music so well interpreted by the choir under Eric Dale Knapps’ excellent direction (and aided admirably by that talented organist).

So, I guess I am just thanking you for keeping me on your mailing list for concerts. Today’s program was so inspirational, including the use of scripture and other readings, just so very well done. I’m just sorry I missed the last couple of numbers as well as talking to you afterwards.

--Don

With all the hard work that goes into these festivals, it makes it worth it when you hear these kinds of comments. And I have heard many others, how they were truly blessed by the music --- goose bumps, tears, etc.!

Thank you both for all your hard efforts in putting this together, the time involved and the encouragement and joy that you brought to many.

May the Lord bless you both in this ministry!

Berdie

San Jose Festival Coordinator

Berdie Bowlsby, San Ramon, CA
bowlsby@sbcglobal.net

CHECK OUT MY FRIEND SHARON'S BLOG ...

http://www.grace-gracetoday.blogspot.com

Mark Thallander, San Jose, CA

Hi Mark,

It was so good to hear you play again while I was in Springfield. I think I should go back for a visit once a year just for the privilege of hearing you play. By the way, good job focusing on your playing while Peggy Horn and I teased you from the back!!

Connie Miller, Modesto, CA
garymincr@aol.com

from "TODAY'S FUN 'N FAITH" by PEGGY BOHANNON

Amputee Makes Organ Talk - with One Hand and Two Feet!

"Man's Triumph Strikes a Chord"

"Amputee organist to perform at Crystal Cathedral"

With Praise for Our Composer

Sometimes our lives appear destined to be played in a minor key.

When major traumas cause us to pull out all the stops

And still our best efforts are not enough,

We grieve (and for good reason).

God can seem silent.

But, listen.

The one whose steady hand

Takes delight in scoring the melody line of our lives

Is holding us with everlasting arms

That will never let us go.

Mark, His Words...

"Nothing can separate us

From the love of God

That is in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

Even when all that is left is our right hand,

The Master Composer envelopes us

With his calming (yet confident) presence

As He proceeds to make sense of the bass cleft

And incorporate a counterpoint melody

Alongside our best offering.

Mark, His Words...

"My grace is sufficient for you,

For my power is made perfect in weakness..."

In our silence, His beauty is heard.

Through accidentals and unexpected passages,

The beauty of the entire composition is clarified.

Copyright 2005 by Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, IL .

Mark Thallander, Ogunquit, Maine

The March Evangel cover letter from the Dean...

God works by surprising us

These words were given to me twenty years ago by the Bishop of Chicago, when I asked how I could be sure that I was doing the right thing in getting ordained. He told me that one of his tests of discernment was that we were led to something unexpected, that we know something is of God if it surprises us and brings us something new. These words have become a lens through which much of my ministry can be understood. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, they are a good descriptor of Jesus’ life and our own.

Think about it for a moment. We begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, that day in which Jesus enters Jerusalem as the perfect political candidate. In the procession of Palm Sunday, people on both sides of the street thought the one clothed in purple was going to bring them the change they wanted. He would, but not as they expected.

Very quickly, the tables, like those in the temple, were turned. As we journey through Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, the very people who cheered him on condemned him to his death. The triduum – the three sacred days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday – are a reminder of our own struggles, our own need for forgiveness, our own need for God. The crucifixion stands as a stark confrontation with our own humanity and a recognition that despite the best of intentions, we can’t do it on our own. The sad news is that many in our culture are stuck there, hung on the cross by nails of their own making, and blocked in the tomb by a stone that they have rolled in place themselves.

On Easter Day, God surprised the world by showing that death is not the end but a new beginning, that the kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus is so much greater than any we could imagine before, and that hope, promise, purpose all those things sought in the religion of politics could indeed be found in a relationship with the resurrected God.

The cycle of life, death, and resurrection is one we repeat again and again in our lives. For example, in order to hold to its gospel inspired position of inclusion, the Episcopal Church is willing to let its relationship with the Anglican Communion die. While this causes me grief, it also makes me look for the resurrection and wonder how our church and our mission will be reborn. What about you? I encourage you to walk the way of Holy Week. As you follow in Jesus’ steps, ask yourself where he is in all this for you, and what stages of this cycle resonate most clearly for you. Remember the message of Holy Week is that God works by surprising us, and through the cycle of life, death, and resurrection, transforming us in ways we could never imagine before.

- The Very Rev. Benjamin Shambaugh,

Dean,

Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, Portland, Maine

Mark Thallander, Ogunqut, Maine

Today's Pentecostal Evangel Blog (2007 Archive)

The blog of the official magazine of the Assemblies of God. Blogmaster: Ken Horn.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Mark Thallander, Evangel share testimony

After printing the story of Mark Thallander’s near-fatal auto accident and the loss of his left arm in the July 15 “Surviving tragedy” issue (available online at tpe.ag.org), Today’s Pentecostal Evangel donated 2,000 copies of the magazine for distribution through Thallander’s foundation.

Thallander mailed 1,700 copies to attendees of the foundation’s sacred music festivals.

“These would include members of numerous churches, including Assemblies of God, Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, Covenant, Episcopal, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and United Methodist,” Thallander says.

In addition, friends who had prayed for Thallander’s recovery wanted copies. One restaurant owner laminated the article for display.

“What a phenomenal opportunity you have given me to witness to God’s grace through such a quality publication,” Thallander says.

Mark Thallander, Ogunquit, Maine

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." -- Anne Dudley Bradstreet

from an article titled "On a Positive Note" by Colleen Birch Maile, SkyWest Magazine. www.skywestmagazine.com

Mark Thallander, Ogunquit, Maine

For Chaplain LAAGO...where did you get that book by Clifton King on the Beatitudes? I've been looking for it but it is out of print.

David Alfred Tetley , datetley@yahoo.com, Victorville, CA
datetley@yahoo.com

This Sunday, February 24, at 4pm, is Fred Swann's annual recital at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

College professor releases CD

By Wendy Grove on 2/7/2008

Glendale Community College Music Department Chair Dr. Peter Green and two fellow musicians are set to release a new CD titled "Souvenirs" later this month.

Green performs on piano with internationally known colleagues Vieri Bottazzini on flute and Bruce Bonnell on horn for "Souvenirs."

The disc was recorded at Central Michigan University in 2005 and will be released on Centaur Records and be available on the label's Web site as well as at wwwAmazon.com.

Green and Bonnell have known each other since freshman orientation at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Bottazzini and Bonnell met as members of the Malaysian Philharmonic.

At GCC, Green is assistant chair of the visual and performing arts division and chairs the music department. He also administers the piano program, directs the Concert Singers and teaches online music classes.

Green is on the board of directors of CAPMT (California Association of Professional Music Teachers), NACM (National Association of Church Musicians) and the Mark Thallander Foundation.

He will be conducting the Mark Thallander Chorus at the International Haydn Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, in 2009.

Green may be contacted by calling 818-240-1000, ext. 5622, or at pgreen@glendale.edu.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

from a participant ...

There are no words to express how thrilled we were to participate in your beautiful Festival yesterday. What a joy it was for each and everyone of us. We spent the evening reminiscing about the music, and most especially our fabulous organists and conductors.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Today is Sunday, February 17 ... the day the Lord has made! The day of the Festival: "Let Your JOY Be Known!" ... Come early to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels ... the Galero Grill will be remain open for you should you need a snack and beverage before the Festival begins! For more information, see www.markthallanderfoundation.org.

Mark Thallander, Los Angeles, CA

"Know that what you want can be yours if you are strong enough to take a risk and commit yourself to reaching your goal despite the frustration you will surely face. Believe success is possible. All life involves risks. Faith means stepping out in spite of those risks. The difference between the loser and the winner is that the winner always programs the self for success."

by Clifton King

Chaplain, LAAGO

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

"You'll be home soon. You may not have noticed it, but you are closer to home than ever before. Each moment is a step taken. Each breath is a page turned. Each day is a mile marked, a mountain climbed. You are closer to home than you've ever been. Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come, you'll descend the ramp and enter the city. You'll see faces that are waiting for you. You'll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And ... in the back, behind the crowds - the One who would rather die than live without you will remove His pierced hands from His heavenly robe and APPLAUD. Be encouraged - you're really going to see Him."

by Max Lucado

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Mark, do you remember me, Eric Meruelo, former boy soloist for the Hour Of Power back when I was in the Boys Choir from 1975-1982 and then continued in the Music Ministry, Directing the Collegiate Choir of the Sonlight Singers until we left the Cathedral in 1997 to move to Springfield, MO.

My email address is mysongm@netscape.net.

I am still singing professionally ! I am the Director of Music at Fremont Baptist Church, soloist at Second Baptist Church and have been performing over the years with the Springfield Regional Opera in addition have been performing the National Anthem for the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals for several years now !! I am currently recording my own CD and my family have been living in the Ozarks for 11 years now. I am married and have been for 17 years and have 2 beautiful girls, ages 12 and 9. I had the opportunity to go back to the Cathedral and Sing with Dr. Neuland and the choir on Fathers Dat of June of 2007. I hope you are doing well and I hope to hear from you and anyone who I had the pleasure singing with during my years at the Crystal Cathedral. Blessings to you ! Eric Meruelo

Eirc Meruelo, Springfield , MO
mysongm@netscape.net

(from an e-mail from Fred Frank)

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________ today.'

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34.) The best is yet to come.

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.' Today I accomplished _________.

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it .

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH.

LIFE'S A GIFT .

UNWRAP IT!

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Hey Mark, I don't know if you remember me but I was a student of yours at Vanguard. For some reason you came to my mind today. Actually it was after watching the simpsons... random huh? Just wanted to say hello and tell you that I really enjoyed your class. Take care man and if you ever play in Oregon let me know.

Dusty Harrington, Oregon
dustyharrington@gmail.com

EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH A THOUGHT!

What we think determines who we are, and who we are determines what we do.

Our thoughts determine our destiny, and our destiny determines our legacy.

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you, and you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you " -- James Allen

People who go to the top think differently than others.

"Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; and nothing expands possibilities like unleashed thinking." -- Wm. Arthur Ward

If you want to be a leader, think like a leader!

For more information, visit www.injoy.com

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Mark, I was recently looking at the "Old Christian Music" website and came across the CDs they had of your music. I just recently received your CD, "Crown Him", and in fact, just listened to it for the first time. I am not a musician per se, but very much a lover of "good" music and have been involved in the music of my church over the years. My deceased wife played the piano, so I know a little about what it takes to play that instrument. Praise the Lord for what He has helped you to overcome and to do following your horrible accident. I do have one question. In listening to this CD, there are definitely places in it where I am sure you are playing on the right side of the keyboard as well as the left side at the same time. I can understand (some) that you play an organ with your right hand as well as your feet. But the piano has me baffled and I have not been able to find an explanation to that anywhere in any websites of yours or others. Any possibility you can explain that? Anyway, God bless you as you continue to serve Him in this very spectacular way.

Dave Wyckoff, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee
dcolmw36@frontiernet.net

Dear Sir:

Greetings in Christ' Precious Name!

I was really blessed with the music I've heard on-line in Crown Him CD. As a fundamental, bible-believer and a pianist in our church, I'm encouraged to practice such piece for missionary personal use. Can i have a xerox copy of it for personal use? As a missionary in the Thrird World Country, Philippines, can I avail the CD as well with a quantity discount?

Our country is lacking of such kind of music scores and CD. Will you help us supply the need of this in our place? Christian Rock Musicians dominates our place and I would like to help my fellow Christians to direct them into the right kind of music.

Hoping for a kind response.

Thank you very much for your ministry of good, quality kind of music.

God bless your ministry!

In Christ,

Maritess P. Ibon

treenars@yahoo.com

Basud, Brgy.4, Malilipot, Albay 4510

PHILIPPINES

Maritess P. Ibon, Basud, Brgy. 4, Poblacion, Malilipot, Albay, Philippines
treenars@yahoo.com

Dearest Mark --

Today, you made my day! I arrived home from a long, tiresome and tedious day at work and found you're wonderful package waiting for me!! I have been through some awful, dangerous times medically in the past 6 months, and YOU and you're music as well as Fred Swann's has helped pull me through some of the roughest moments (physically) in my life!

How can I ever thanks you for the copy (graciously signed by you!) of "Champions - Plus". Oh my, it left me speechless flipping initially through the pages, glancing at photo's and it actually made me cry to think of you're faithfulness and prayerful concern for me all the way back here in PA.

I just started back to work in December (1/2 days) to get aclimated to "what is - what was". To bring you up to date, I have been melanoma free for almost 2 yrs when I went for my usual 3 mos checkup and the oncologist noticed a small, strange mass at the base of the brain on one of the scans - no larger than a dime. They wanted to do immediate evasive chemotherapy, just in case -- but I said no -- since a biopsy proved it to be non-carnenomic. I decided to 'keep on keeping on' as I was and forego treatment of any sort. Needless to say I made many friends and family members very concerned and angry at my decision.

As a matter of fact, during the months prior to this, I was secretly weening myself off of medications I felt were hurting more than helping me such as Prozac, Requip and others. I was seeing a wonderful trend of progress up until this little intruder was found. 3 months went by and I went for the usual check up/tets again and the mass had grown past the size of a golf ball in that time. I was now seeing & feeling some effects of it's growth such as pain and paralysis in my neck as well as left arm.

Immediate plans were made to operate in a week. Once a battery of 4 days of tests of all sorts were done, they concluded that this little thing had sprung up at the base of the brain, and was entwined and tangled in all the nerves and blood vessels connected with the spine and cerebellum. The surgery was very intricate, and the success rate very low, but -- the mass had to go! So I signed the release and agreed to the surgery.

I basically said: "I'm going to let go & let God...." take over! It was an 11 hr operation - which went so smoothly, even the oncologists & surgeons were amazed. There was only one tense period, where you are placed on life support and the machines basically keep you alive while the operation is performed. Once it was concluded, they slowly started to alliviate the life support -- and my heart wouldn't start on it's own, and I had no pulse.

A quick shock got the ball rolling -- and here I am by God's grace and his glory am sitting here typing this today. There was significant motor loss, but that slowly returned. I had wierd periods of memory loss - some recent and some events long past were totally fogotten or rose to the surface. There was a period, when I was hospitalized for almost 4 weeks after that where I felt alone, isolated and wondering why, at 45, this was happening to me. I "thought" I was a good Christian person to that point, helping others, giving of myself via time and musical pursuits, but I was feeling empty, worn out and unsure what I could do after I recouped. I anything ! I had lost a keyboard career in the early 80's due to a hand injury, and took many years to overcome mentally, physically and spiritally the loss of something I loved so dearly, but the Lord provided me with a decent singing voice, and good skills to teach music, and that I have done to the present day.

It was then in that hospital in the 2nd week that I pulled out you're CD of organ pieces and listened daily. What I heard was soothing, calming and spirit filled. There were so many nights where I could not sleep, and even breathing was excruciating -- but you're music and you're God given gift of playing eased me off to sleep on many a night. For the remaining two weeks I was in all sorts of neck/head braces and I was so relieved to see and feel, after they were removed, to be able to move my hands and feet, knowing by God's sheer will -- still worked!

I am so blessed to have a God that cares for me as much as he does, as much as he has, and as much as he will! I am also so very honored, blessed and thankful to friends like you dearest Mark, Fred Swann and so many others who prayed for me. To Gary Devaul? What can I say to you dear saint of a man.... as I start to read your writting in this book, sent as a gift, it is evident to me that God has a plan for us all, and because of that, and his death on the cross, we are obligated to serve and magnify him with all, ALL our hearts, minds and souls!

I was hit with the crushing reality of what if THAT surgery didn't go well? What could I say I did for the Lord up to that point? Not as much as I would have liked! So, in recieving this book today, and starting at the first chapter, that I start a 'different chapter' -- obne that will see me recommit my life, myself and ALL that I do to Christ and his will for me and my life. I do so in thought, prayer and writting today, here for all to see.

Thank you so very, very much Mark for thinking of me, and sending that package to me as you did without the asking. I shall cherish that book and the words within as I do our friendship Mark, and because of that, and God's grace & love, I will (I WILL) see you again in April for the AGO Gala for Fred Swann.

To GOD be the glory, and praise to him!

I love you Lord --- and I love you Mark!

Trisha Longo, Pennsylvania
TrishaLongo6163@hotmail.com

I have just finished reading Champions – Plus. It’s a good thing it is a quick, easy read, because I was unable to put it down. I enjoyed the fact that it had pictures as well as chapters written by family and friends who gave their perspective on the accident and your recovery. I laughed while reading several things, like when you said “You’re trying to poison me because I wrecked your car” when you were accidentally given Diet Sprite instead of Ginger Ale. Only you could have that sense of humor the first day after the accident! And there were parts of the book that brought tears to my eyes, too. How inspiring that you were able to go through not only the trauma of the accident, being near death, losing an arm, and losing your father all in the same week, and still retain that wonderful sense of humor that endears you to everyone, but to also retain your faith in God, knowing that He would bring something good out of it. And he has! I am sure the extent of your ministry is far more than you even dared to dream prior to the accident. You have touched lives all over the world. I remember going to that CaringBridge website every day to see how you were and reading where even people who didn’t know you were touched by reading the entries on the website. I am inspired too at how you expressed that not only scriptures but words to hymns ministered to you during that time which inspires me to put more scriptures and hymns into my mind for later recall. And in reading how much the cards, letters and flowers meant to you during your recovery, it challenges me to be more diligent in sending cards and letters.

Denise Goodson, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
dtgoodson@cox.net

Organ Recital and Gala Benefit Reception

Honoring Frederick Swann

Sunday, April 13, 2008

First Congregational Church

540 S. Commonwealth Ave.

Los Angeles, California 90020

Recital at 4 p.m. by Frederick Swann on the

World’s Largest Church Pipe Organ

AGO Endowment Fund Gala Benefit Reception following

Tickets

$100 per person ($75 tax deductible; includes Recital and Gala Benefit Reception)

Space is limited. Gala tickets are on sale now until April 10, 2008, or until sold out.

Please call AGO Headquarters (212) 870-2310 or e-mail: agohq.org

No Gala tickets will be available at the door.

To attend the recital, only, please call 213-385-1345 or e-mail musicadministrator@fccla.org

Tickets in advance are $20; $25 at the door.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

O FOR A FAITH THAY WILL NOT SHRINK

O, for a faith that will not shrink,

though pressed by every foe,

that will not tremble on the brink

of any earthly woe!

That will not murmur nor complain

beneath the chastening rod,

but, in the hour of grief or pain,

will lean upon its God.

A faith that shines more bright and clear

when tempests rage without;

that when in danger knows no fear,

in darkness feels no doubt.

A faith that keeps the narrow way

till life's last hour is fled,

and with a pure and heavenly ray

lights up a dying bed.

Lord, give me such a faith as this,

and then, whate'er may come,

I'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss

of an eternal home.

Words: William Hiley Bathurst, 1831

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Hi Mark!

It's been a long time since I have seen you or heard you play but I look foward to doing both in the near future! I hope that you are doing well. I am well, continuing to sing, however I need to practice my piano more!!!

Blessings to you!

Your former student,

Paula

Paula Nieto (Miller), Huntington Beach, CA

We couldn't get on the Internet for several days or you would have had this for Thanksgiving. As I was reading it, I thought, "This is a keeper," and the next paragraph said the same. :-)

Bk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RHYMES AND REASONS

Recipe for a Grateful Heart

Food for thought on Thanksgiving Day.

by Greg Asimakoupoulos

November 28, 2002

My ability in writing books is not matched by my ability to read a cookbook. My wife and three daughters will attest to that. Except for popping corn and blending chocolate milkshakes, most of my efforts in the kitchen taste like mistakes.

But, don't be too quick to label me as a liability when it comes to preparing for the family Thanksgiving feast. In the five decades of life in which I've had the opportunity to digest my share of what the Lord has served up in my life, I've discovered a fail-proof recipe for a grateful heart.

First, crush a bunch of sour grapes for all the times you've felt someone else got credit for something you deserved. Drizzle in a drop of spilled milk for every remembrance you have of something you wish you could undo (no need to cry over it). Even though you may be tempted to, refrain from adding the "whine" you keep in the cellar for those pity parties you occasionally throw for yourself.

To this rather unattractive concoction, sift in some flavorful thoughts that come to mind of times when God was kind and bailed you out. You know the times I mean: when you were in real hot water and had real doubts if you could stand up to the heat.

Then, while this mixture is sitting at room temperature, take some "thyme" alone and thoroughly measure out your blessings. Make sure you add in the plain vanilla ones (like health, shelter, employment, family, enough to eat and a good night's sleep).

Don't forget to spoon up some sweet remembrances of happy days gone by. With your honey at your side, go to a quiet part of the house and pour out what's on your mind. If necessary, ask for forgiveness.

While bringing the ingredients to a boil, combine a cup full of contentment, all the while skimming off any envy or greed that surfaces. Blend well.

Let the aforementioned batter rise until it occupies a place of prominence in your thinking. Preheat your heart to the point where it takes on a pliable consistency. While your will is warming to the idea of thanking God (instead of blaming him) for where you are at this time in your life, sprinkle the mixture in question with a dash of determination to do whatever it takes to honor God with your attitude.

Then bake the combined ingredients until they are well done. While it is still warm, serve yourself the "peace" you've anticipated, all the while chewing on God's goodness while swallowing your pride.

Well, there you have it. Even though you haven't seen this recipe demonstrated on the Food Network, it's a keeper. A grateful heart is guaranteed.

You don't need to be a Galloping Gourmet in order to serve up an aroma that will be pleasing to the Lord. All that is required is that you dismount from your high horse of self-centeredness and sit in the presence of the One from whom all blessings flow. As Israel's greatest king is credited with having said, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)

About the Author:

Greg Asimakoupoulos' most recent book is a hardbound devotional gift book called Give Thanks published by Integrity. It provides lyrics to 90 of the Songs 4 Worship CD series and devotional thoughts related to each song. You can order it directly from Greg for $15.00 (including shipping). Contact Greg at AwesomeRev@aol.com.

This article was printed from www.partialobserver.com.

Copyright © 2007 partialobserver.com. All rights reserved.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, CA

Dear Cousin Mark,

A friend from Texas thought you might enjoy this article.

Love, Joyce

Following a Stroke,

A Japanese Pianist

Reinvents Himself

Izumi Tateno Embraced

A One-Handed Repertoire;

Inspiration in Rehab

By YUKA HAYASHI

November 12, 2007; Page A1

TOKYO -- One evening in January 2002, 65-year-old Izumi Tateno was performing the last piece in his piano recital when his right hand began to wobble. The Japanese pianist, now 71, finished the Edvard Grieg piece with his left hand, and collapsed. He was having a stroke that paralyzed the right side of his body.

"In an instant, I lost all the music that I had accumulated inside me for over 60 years," he says.

See a performance by Izumi Tateno, who rebuilt his career as a one-handed piano player after a stroke that paralyzed the right side of his body.

Mr. Tateno still hasn't gained command of his right hand. But after a long, soul-searching journey, he is back on stage performing dozens of concerts a year. He plays music composed especially for the left hand, sitting on a custom-made bench that stretches across the length of the piano to give his left hand full sweep of the keyboard. He has appeared in several documentaries and has even played a duet with Empress Michiko.

"Many people have told me I should just take it easy," says the tall, soft-spoken Mr. Tateno. "But I am not interested in taking it easy. I don't even know how to. I want to perform as I have done in the past 50 years, so I can share my music with others."

Mr. Tateno's drive to rebuild his career after a late-life illness has resonated in Japan. In the rapidly aging nation, where 21% of the population is over 65, millions are eager to find ways to make their last decades of life meaningful. Thousands of seniors have applied to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the local equivalent of the Peace Corps, in hopes of serving as volunteers in developing nations. Others are starting up new businesses or signing up to volunteer to help bedridden seniors and working mothers with young children.

TWO COMPOSERS

Alexander Scriabin's "Two pieces for Piano Left Hand Op. 9" were included in Mr. Tateno's 2004 album "Piano Works for the Left Hand." Listen: "Prelude" | "Nocturne"

Takashi Yoshimatsu, a Japanese composer, wrote a series called "Three Sacred Songs for Piano Left Hand" that included a variation on Jean Sibelius's "Finlandia Hymn." Mr. Tateno played it on his latest album, "Izumi Tateno Plays Takashi Yoshimatsu." Listen: "Finlandia Hymn"Hideo Yasuhara, a 71-year-old retiree who had a stroke three years ago, attended one of Mr. Tateno's concerts in September and was inspired. Mr. Yasuhara, a former department-store worker, was already keeping busy taking computer and calligraphy courses at a community center near his house in western Japan. After the concert, he decided to step up his rehab for his left hand, signing up for an intensive, three-week session.

"Mr. Tateno made me think I could do so much more with my life," Mr. Yasuhara says.

Born in 1936 in Tokyo to a pianist mother and a cellist father, Mr. Tateno grew up in a home filled with music. He had his debut as a classical pianist in Tokyo and moved to Helsinki in 1964, lured by the literature and the "pure and slightly sad" atmosphere of Finland. He married Maria Holopainen, a Finnish singer, and they had two children.

Mr. Tateno lived in Finland but regularly performed in Japan, captivating Japanese fans with the romantic music of Grieg and Jean Sibelius. Over the years, he gave 3,000 concerts and made nearly 100 recordings. He had just celebrated his 40th anniversary as a professional pianist when he collapsed on stage in a town north of Helsinki.

During the first few months after his stroke, Mr. Tateno assumed he would be back performing in a matter of months. But once home, he grew frustrated with the lack of progress. He could move his fingers on his right hand, but it was impossible to hit the same key repeatedly.

Sympathetic friends suggested that he play the "Concerto for the Left Hand" by Maurice Ravel -- one of the few widely known piano pieces for the left hand. But the mere mention of Ravel upset him. He wanted to play with two hands. Playing that piece felt like an admission of defeat.

"I thought I would never play Ravel even if I were dead," Mr. Tateno wrote in a collection of essays called "The Sea of Sunflower" published in 2004. "I said, to hell with music for the left hand."

Mr. Tateno spent his time going to rehab sessions and trying different masseurs. In early 2003, Mr. Tateno's son, Janne, visited from Chicago where he was studying violin. Janne Tateno had found a few piano scores written for the left hand in a Chicago music store. But he didn't give them to his father right away, afraid that he might be offended. He left the scores on his father's piano.

Mr. Tateno didn't talk about the scores or attempt to play them while Janne was visiting. But one day, he picked up one called "Three Improvisations for the Left Hand," by British composer Frank Bridge, who had written the music for a friend who had lost his right arm during World War I. Mr. Tateno began to play and got so immersed, he says, that he forgot he was playing with just one hand.

"That's when I came to realize that music was music, whether you play it with one hand, or two hands or three," he says. "That realization changed me completely."

Izumi Tateno playing at a concert.

Actually, quite a few scores for the left hand existed. Many were composed for soldiers injured in wars. The largest collection was written for pianist Paul Wittgenstein, the son of a wealthy Austrian industrialist who lost his right arm during World War I. Mr. Wittgenstein, who later moved to the U.S., commissioned composers, including Ravel, to write music for the left hand. The Ravel piece has also been played by Leon Fleisher, an American pianist who temporarily lost the use of his right hand because of illness, and Gary Graffman, another American pianist performing with the left hand, who also plays several left-hand pieces commissioned for himself.

Still, many left-hand pieces were short and not fit for the concert hall. Mr. Tateno asked a few old friends to help. Among them was Takashi Yoshimatsu, a Japanese composer of contemporary music known for his romantic style. "When he first came to me, he had a lot of anxiety, not sure if he could go back to the stage with just one hand," says Mr. Yoshimatsu. Other composers, including music students, pitched in, creating a library of about 30 pieces.

In the fall of 2003, Mr. Tateno returned to performing with a series of small recitals in Japan. To give his left hand a rest and to make up for his short performance, he talked with the audience. At one event, a woman asked whether he was frustrated that he couldn't play most of the music he knew.

"How can I be dissatisfied when I can express myself fully through music?" Mr. Tateno replied.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Mark Thallander, Stockton, California

I wrote this poem while I was recently at Mark's Thanksgiving concert in Worcester, Massachusetts. I was struck first by the grace and courage it must take Mark to carry on, in everyday life and in the work it is so clear he loves. But I was also struck by my own arrogant attitude of daring to question God's decisions, daring to think that because I would be angry, Mark would be angry. The poem is helping me examine my responses to life's tragedies.

Gospel of Mark

by Kim M. Baker

I raged the fist of why bad things happen to good people

when I heard about the world-famous organist crippled to one arm in a car crash.

I sneered the indignance of where was God

when I heard about the flesh-ripping horror of that stormy night.

I wept the tears of how could he bear to play on

when I heard the musical ecstasy of the one-armed organist still praise the Savior.

I extoled the majesty of the Divine One

when I witnessed the organist balance the tune with the beautiful song of his feet.

Would my humble feet grace the wisdom of God

If I lost my arm of arrogance?

Kim M. Baker, Warwick, Rhode Island
kbaker@rwu.edu

Today's Pentecostal Evangel Blog

The blog of the official magazine of the Assemblies of God. Blogmaster: Ken Horn.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Mark Thallander, Evangel share testimony

After printing the story of Mark Thallander’s near-fatal auto accident and the loss of his left arm in the July 15 “Surviving tragedy” issue (available online at tpe.ag.org), Today’s Pentecostal Evangel donated 2,000 copies of the magazine for distribution through Thallander’s foundation.

Thallander mailed 1,700 copies to attendees of the foundation’s sacred music festivals.

“These would include members of numerous churches, including Assemblies of God, Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, Covenant, Episcopal, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and United Methodist,” Thallander says.

In addition, friends who had prayed for Thallander’s recovery wanted copies. One restaurant owner laminated the article for display.

“What a phenomenal opportunity you have given me to witness to God’s grace through such a quality publication,” Thallander says.

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Posted by Ken Horn at 11:08 AM

Mark Thallander, Worcester, MA

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710150376

Mark Thallander, New York, New York

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=12858

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

http://kenhorn.blogspot.com/2007/10/mark-thallander-peggys-amazing-friend.html

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS01/710120392/1007/NEWS01

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

You are an inspiration to others. Hope we can hear you one day.

Sue Carrington-Probasco, Hollister, MO 65672
sueprobasco@aol.com

The Worcester Chapter, American Guild of Organists,

Music & the Arts at All Saints and The Mark Thallander Foundation present

A very special concert and reception with our

National President, American Guild of Organists

former Organist of The Riverside Church, New York City and

The Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California

Frederick Swann

Friday, October 26, 2007

7:30 p.m.

All Saints Church

10 Irving Street

Worcester 01609

508.752.3766

www.allsaintsw.org

Free admission

video screen of hands, feet & pipes!

Pipe chamber tours!

Gala reception following the performance!

Program includes hymns sung by the audience on which all but two of these works are based:

Introduction and Fugue on “St. Denio” by John Weaver, Choral No. 2 by César Franck,

Symphonic Chorale—“Jesus, still lead on” by Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Toccata on “Leoni” by Seth Bingham,

Preludes on the hymns Amazing Grace and O God Our Help in Ages Past by Frederick Swann

Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue by Healey Willan

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

Organ Concert, Mark Thallander,organist

Event Date/Time: October 14 - 3 p.m.

KING'S WAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Springfield, Missouri

417-890-1407

417-861-3128

Mark Thallander served as the assistant director of music and organist at the Crystal Cathedral for 18 years. Following a tragic auto accident in 2003 in which he lost an arm, his determination and faith have enabled him to continue to play his beloved instrument. He is also a free lance music educator, arranger, editor and speaker. Mr. Thallander will be assisted in the program by Glenda Morrow, Sibyl Sharp, Benjamin Boyer and the King's Way Choir. The organ, a 55 rank Casavant pipe organ, contains over 3000 pipes. The tonal variety and beauty of the organ offers the performer the opportunity to create magnificent sound! A free will offering will be taken. Handicap accessible. Reception following.

Mark Thallander, Springfield, Missouri

Bro. Mark,

I just found out about your tragedy. I am Paul Jones and in March of 1970, the Revivaltime Choir and C. M. Ward made a program live taping from the Hoyt Sherman Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. I was there and after the programs was finished I came up on stage and you talked with me about music in the Pentecostal Church. I appreciate you taking the time to encourage a young man of my age back then. You just don't know what it meant to me.

I even wrote a few letters to you and though it took time from your busy schedule you would eventually write back. That meant a lot too.

Pray for our church where the wife and I attend in Denison, Texas, a sister city to Sherman. We are trying to raise the funds for a used Hammond B3, C3 or A-100 and a Leslie speaker for our church. Before they moved to the new location and into the new facilities they had a home model Kimball organ and it just didn't make it. Through the process of the re-locating and new building program there was a rough time and the church went down in attendance. Though we weren't attending there at the time, I remember hearing about it. We are trying to build the congregation back up and the church has overcome some difficulties that were created back then by the pastor that was there at the time. God is moving in our services and we thank Him for that but we would like a good Hammond organ and a Leslie speaker to play during our worship services.

Yes, I was 19 back when we met in DM and I am now 55 AND I have ministered on the Piano or Organ all my life, thanks to your encouragements back that March.

We don't understand why God moves like He does, His ways are misterious His wonders to perform!!! I just want to stay in the center of His will and make Heaven no matter what comes my way. And besides "We'll Understand It Better By and By!"

I have a picture of you and the Organist that played for that Sunday afternoons radio tapings back then and y'all even signed it. When ever I have looked at it in our picture album, I have often wondered what you were up to. I was going to our church website and somehow saw this first on the A/G site on the way.

My picture will appear shortly on the church site under the staff page in a few weeks. Our church site is faithassembly-denison.org.

Bro. Mark I will be praying for you. Thanks once again for your concerns in my past years as a young man.

Paul E. Jones

Paul E. Jones, Sherman, Texas
hammondb3pj@hotmail.com

The Rev. and Mrs. Brandt were very dear, life-long friends of my parents. It was Pastor Brandt who dedicated me in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1950. My father served on the church board there, and my mother sang duets with Mrs. Brandt on the church's radio program!

** R.L. BRANDT PASSES AWAY

Robert Louis (R.L.) Brandt, a former district and national leader,

passed away Thursday, September 27, as he was recovering from a

stroke suffered earlier in the week. Brandt was 90 years old.

Brandt, a North Central Institute (now University, in Minneapolis)

graduate, was ordained with the Assemblies of God on June 28, 1940.

He served as a senior pastor in Stanley, North Dakota, and then

Grand Forks, North Dakota, prior to being elected North Dakota

District superintendent in 1951.

In 1958, Brandt came to serve at the national Assemblies of God

headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, as the National Home (now

U.S.) Missions secretary (director). He served at headquarters until

1965 when he accepted the pastorate at First Assembly of God in

Billings, Montana. In 1970, he was elected as the Montana District

superintendent, serving the district in that capacity until 1983.

Brandt was also an Executive Presbyter for the Assemblies of God

from 1981 through 2001, when he retired.

Along with serving on numerous boards and committees and holding

other district roles, Brandt was also president of Lakewood Park

Bible School (now known as Trinity Bible College) in North Dakota

and Central Indian Bible College in South Dakota.

A prolific writer, Brandt authored hundreds of articles, and

authored or co-authored many books including: "Praying with Paul,"

"Attitudes of the Beatitudes," "Charismatics: Are We Missing

Something?," "A Heart for the Lost," "The Pentecostal Promise" along

with many others.

Brandt is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marian; a son, Bryce

(Sandy) Brandt; and a daughter, Linnea (Gordon) Benningfield. He is

also survived by two brothers, Jay and Ronald, and a sister, Lavonne

Wagenman, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was

preceded in death by his eldest child Jean Renee, and a brother,

Durward.

His funeral was held on Tuesday, October 2, at First AG in Billings,

with a second funeral service to be held at the Dunnigan Funeral

Home in Cando, North Dakota, on Thursday, October 4. Burial will be

in the family plot at Rock Lake, North Dakota.

For a more in-depth look at Brandt's life and ministry, see the

following link to a PDF of a Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center's

"Heritage" magazine article, "R.L. Brandt - A Faithful Servant" -

http://ifphc.org/Uploads/Heritage/An_01_04.pdf.

--Dan Van Veen

Office of Public Relations

General Council of the Assemblies of God

1445 N. Boonville Avenue

Springfield, MO 65802-1894

USA

Mark Thallander, Honolulu, Hawaii

Cousin Mark,

Someone sent me this "Senior version of Jesus Loves Me" and I thought you might enjoy it.

"JESUS LOVES ME"

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow.

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME..YES, JESUS LOVES ME...

YES, JESUS LOVES ME, THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

Though I am no longer young,

I have much which He's begun.

Let me serve Christ with a smile,

Go with others the extra mile.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

Love and Prayers,

Cousins Diane & Tony

Diane Geisler, Vacaville, CA
DMGeisler00@aol.com

from Today's Pentecostal Evangel, October 14, 2007, p. 7

Organist, Evangel share testimony

After printing the story of Mark Thallander's near-fatal auto accident and the loss of his left arm in the July 15 "Surviving Tragedy" issue (available online at tpe.ag.org), Today's Pentecostal Evangel

donated 2,000 copies of the edition for distribution through Thallander's foundation.

Thallander mailed 1,700 copies to the attendees of the foundation's sacred music festivals.

"These would include members of various churches, including Assemblies of God, Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, Covenant, Episcopal, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and United Methodist," Thallander says.

In addition, friends who prayed for Thallander's recovery wanted copies. One restaurant owner laminated the article for display.

"What a phenomenal opportunity you have given me to witness to God's grace through such a quality publication," Thallander says.

Mark Thallander, Palm Springs, California

My mistake ... note correction: The Crystal Cathedral is located at 12141 Lewis Street (at Chapman Avenue) ... www.crystalcathedral.org

Mark, Stockton

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Leestma passed away on September 20, 2007 at 3 am. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 22 at 10:30 am in The Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Chapman Avenue at Lewis Street, Garden Grove, California, with a reception following in the Arboretum. All are welcome. Dr. Robert H. Schuller and the Rev. Glenn DeMaster will conduct the service.

Survivors include Ken's wife Bette; daughter Pam, a member of the Crystal Cathedral choir; daughter Mary, sons David, Mark, and Daniel. Please keep the Leestma family in your prayers.

Mark Thallander, Stockton, California

Hi MArk

There you were, walking into the Ogunquit post office ahead of

me!! I did my business and really wondered if I would dare speak to you.

Well, as you know, I did. It was wonderful. Your aura and countenance are superb.

Then you gave me the book and wrote the lovely message.

I went back to my room and read it right away. WHAT an inspiration it was. I wanted to see you again and take you for lunch or dinner and had no phone number or address. I even went by the Baptist church a few times to see if I could hear organ music.

Anyhow, I am greatly inspired by your incredible spirit. Please tell Gary that his book was just the right thing for me at

that moment.

Hope we get a chance to talk face to face again - maybe next summer in that gorgeous setting by the ocean, Ogunquit.

Love to you,

Kathryn Snodgrass

Kathryn B Snodgrass, Tucson, AZ
kbspnorg@comcast.net

REMEMBERING TAMMY FAYE

Rancho Mirage, CA

Long-time desert resident Tammy Faye Bakker Messner will be remembered in a memorial service on Monday, September 10th at 7:00pm at Victory Christian Center (VCC) in Rancho Mirage. The televangelist and Christian singer battled colon cancer for more than a decade before her death on July 20th at her home in Kansas City, Missouri.

“She was a wonderful woman of God and a vital part of our church family,” said Senior Pastor Jeff Walker when asked about Tammy Faye’s membership at Victory Christian Center. She (and then husband, Jim) attended VCC for over twenty years when visiting the area. When she became a full-time resident, she served in several areas of VCC’s ministry including Choir Director, church organist, and soloist. Walker adds, “It is our desire to honor and celebrate her life and afford her friends in the greater Palm Springs community an opportunity to share in this special time of remembrance.”

In lieu of flowers, a memorial trust fund has been established in her honor. If you wish to make a contribution, please write Tammy Faye Memorial Trust Fund, Country Club Bank, 13451 Briar Street, Leawood, KS 66209. Additional information regarding the trust can be found at tammyfaye.com.

Mark, Palm Springs

I happened to stumble on your website and read your story! I am sure your talent and story is ministering to many.I hope you remember me from Vanguard. You played the organ in my wedding (Laguna Beach)and I was in your music history class (with Carter). Hey guess what? My husband is a pastor and I have been teaching music for 21 years. Isn't that amazing? Where are you now and what's going on? Debbie

Debbie (Herman) Hopkins, Silverton, Oregon
dhopkins1@verizon.net

Fred Swann's first faculty recital as University Organist, Artist in Residence and Artist Teacher will be this coming Sunday, September 9th. He will be doing three big pieces with brass ensemble as well as the organ solos. In Fred's words, "The chapel is beautiful, and the organ wonderful."

Redlands University Memorial Chapel

Sunday, September 9 - 3p.m.

FREE

University Ave. exit on the 10. Left at bottom of ramp. After a few blocks, turn Right at the Redlands University wall sign. Chapel is a short distance down on the left - set way back from the street by a green park-like area. Parking behind the chapel as well as limited space in front.

Paul Bandy, Pasadena, CA
paulMTFoundation@aol.com

Google "Lorin Whitney" ... you will be amazed! -- Mark

Memoirs of Lorin J. Whitney

Edited by Bob Kalal

My name is Lorin Whitney. I was born on September 11, 1914, in Madera, a little town about twenty miles from Fresno, California. My father's name was David. He lived a good, long life and died at the age of 92. My mother's name was Caroline. She was resting in her rocking chair after coming home from church when she had a heart attack. She died at the age of 80. I had a sister, Myrtle, and a brother named Harvey.

My father worked for Standard Oil Company as a teamster, delivering oil to the surrounding farms with a team of horses. Later, he was transferred to Fresno and delivered oil and gasoline to service stations by truck. We bought a modest house on the edge of town and though we were poor I didn't realize it. We had plenty of room to grow vegetables and chickens, and my dad was very fond of goats. One of our nannies had five kids at one time. That was very unusual, and we had a lot of visitors come to see the goats. I even had a goat cart and had a good time as the goats pulled me around. I had plenty of activities to keep me busy and carried the Fresno Bee for spending money. My sister Myrtle was attending the Southern California Bible College in Pasadena (now Vanguard Universty, Costa Mesa) training for the ministry. She was ordained as a minister after graduation.

We all attended a local church and were quite excited when we heard that Aimee Semple McPherson was going to have a citywide revival in the Armory Auditorium. We attended nightly and drove downtown in our old Ford. After the very successful crusade produced hundreds of converts, some local Christian men decided we needed a new church to take care of the new converts. Money was raised to build a tabernacle. The church was built with volunteer labor and could seat 1200 people. The name of the church was Full Gospel Tabernacle. It was affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination. I spent many years there with my parents. I accepted the Lord as my Savior at the age of 11 at one of the children's meetings.

My dad was very involved with the church, as Sunday school superintendent, deacon and elder and it was natural that I would be expected to participate. The church had homemade benches and, as a youth, I sprawled out and slept during some of the long services. We had many famous evangelists and some of them were very long-winded.

As I grew older I started dating some of the girls in the church. I never thought of dating outside of the church. I was dating one fairly attractive girl one time. Her uncle came up to me and told me that the Lord spoke to him in a dream that I should marry this girl. I told him that the Lord would have to talk to me personally.

We had a grand piano, but no organ in the church. We also had an orchestra of a few would-be musicians. Among the musicians, my dad played the drums, my brother Harvey played the clarinet and I played the trombone. My folks asked if I would like to play the piano. I reluctantly said yes. My sister helped me before she went off to Southern California Bible College and, after that, I found a local teacher and began to learn the rudiments of music.

My teacher, Mrs. Bannister, and her husband owned a Standard Service Station, and they invited me to work there, pumping gas and greasing cars. For some reason or other, Mrs. Bannister thought that I would enjoy playing the organ. I didn't think too much about it at the time because I had no place to practice.

My father thought I would enjoy going to a Christian boarding school for a year. I wasn't too thrilled with the idea, but thought I could stand it for one year so in 1929, at age 15, I was enrolled in the Monte Vista Christian School, near Watsonville. There were about 200 students at the campus, which was located on a large apple orchard where vegetables were also grown. I lived with another fellow in a tank house, but it leaked and we moved to an abandoned farm house with outdoor plumbing.

The school was in the process of putting up additional buildings using male students, assisted by part time workers from a local church, for most of the work. I handled a team of horses, hooked up to a Fresno Scraper, to dig a large hole for the basement that was to become the school dining hall. Later, those same horses would escape sometimes from their corral and because they knew me, I would be given permission to leave school and track them by foot, looking for their hoof prints. The last time I did this, I had to pursue them to the outskirts of Santa Cruz, about a ten mile hike. The horses were so glad to see me that I had no problem getting a rope around them and riding them back to the school.

The people who ran the school liked my work and had heard, from someplace, that I knew something about electricity, so they gave me the job of wiring the building that was to become the girls dormitory. I must have done OK because they were still using the building sixty years later.

Some of us were trying to put together an orchestra and once a week a Professor Andrews came out from Santa Cruz to give us music lessons. One day he came out with a beat up trombone and asked me if I would like to learn how to play it. I said yes and that decision played a significant part in my life later back in Fresno.

I returned to Fresno when I was 16. I probably would have stayed at Monte Vista a little longer but it was taking a drain on my father's finances. I took up piano again with Mrs. Bannister and she again brought up the matter of learning to play the organ.

One morning, while riding my bicycle to Fresno Tech High School, I passed a church that was unloading a small theatre organ. After a period of time I asked the pastor if I could practice on the organ. He agreed if I would pay a small sum for the electrical power used. I bought an organ book and, with the help of Mrs.Bannister, I began to catch on to the organ. My sister had some popular music of the day that I enjoyed playing and, after a period, the pastor asked me to play occasionally at the church.

I was quite active in sports at Fresno Tech, and was halfback on the varsity football team. I also played trombone in the school band, and was selected to play my trombone in a ten piece band that played for school dances. This was quite different than what I was used to and, after a lot of discussion and prayer with my folks, I dropped out of the worldly group. Dad did buy me a Ford coupe with a rumble seat, though. It was pretty neat and I didn't have any trouble getting dates with the local girls. I also learned quite a bit about cars by taking the engine apart and keeping it running.

One Sunday, we had a group of musicians from Southern California Bible College, the same school that my sister had attended, put on a program. They were on a summer deposition, deputation project, and were traveling along the Pacific Coast advertising the school. They were fine musicians and I decided that, if possible, I wanted to continue my schooling at SCBC. I had just finished my first year at Fresno State College. My dad managed the finances and I enrolled at Southern California Bible College for the fall semester.

The school, formerly a boys military school, had about two hundred students enrolled. I continued my study of the piano and organ and, for organ practice, used an old tracker organ in a nearby church.

Near the end of the semester, a couple of fellows driving an old Ford stopped at the school. They were forming a male quartet and were looking for a bass and a baritone to complete a foursome that would sing on a new radio program. Ernie Payne and Bob Bowman auditioned and were selected for the parts. It was mentioned that they would also need someone that played the organ. I just happened to be nearby and the fellows introduced me as the only organist at the school. We rehearsed together until we felt that we could perform satisfactorily and aired our first program in March of 1934 on KMPC, a 50,000 watt station in Beverly Hills. I was 20 years old.

The time for the half hour program was 3 p.m. every afternoon. The theme of the program was nautical and the first mate that did the speaking was Paul Myers. I played an organ solo in the middle of the program. The boat that we were supposed to be on was called the Good Ship Grace. The singers were called the Crew of the Good Ship Grace and the theme song was a chorus from an old hymn that started, I've anchored my soul in the "Haven of Rest."

It was the depression of the 1930s. We did not buy time on the radio, but were a sustaining program. Radio stations were not yet selling time to religious programs, but we drew a large audience, and that helped the station sell commercial time. As we became better known, we started getting invitations from churches to make personal appearances. This helped us financially as we were usually allowed to take an offering. One invitation we received was from Dr. Clare Brittain, pastor at Bethany Church of Alhambra. We performed for his church, but we didn't look much like a crew. Dr. Brittain offered to buy us uniforms, an offer we accepted, and our style of dress was established from that time on.

Radio KNX, another independent radio station, invited us to be on their station. They also were 50,000 watts of power in their outreach. Their studio was in downtown Hollywood on the second floor of the Otto K. Olsen Building. It was equipped with a small Robert Morton organ that had a great sound. After we were there for about a year, the station built new studios on Sunset Blvd., again equipping the studios with a Robert Morton pipe organ, this one a larger instrument. Charles Fuller and The Old Fashioned Revival Hour used the same studio and we got acquainted with them. When he moved to the Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, I was invited to play for some of the programs. KNX had a large following and covered most of California. This enabled us to have personal appearances in a lot of other cities. Most of the churches had organs and this gave me a chance to learn about different organs.

We changed stations about every two years. Radio KFI in Los Angeles was our next move. They also were a 50,000 watt station. They gave us a daily afternoon broadcast and one in the evening. They also sent us to the Blue Network (ABC) for a transcontinental broadcast.

One evening, we had a missionary speaker named Cuba Hall, and her husband, John. It turned out that Cuba had gone to school with my sister, Myrtle, back in the 1920s.They were missionaries from Africa, and had brought with them Cuba's sister, Aimee Hill, to watch over one of the younger children. I was very impressed with Aimee and managed to meet with her afterward. I had already checked out most of the other girls in the school. I found out where Aimee lived, in a little town called Brea, and decided to make a call on her. There were no freeways in those days so it took about an hour to get there.

I went to their home and was invited in. Her parents and the whole family were Christians and they were very friendly to me. I managed to have a date with Aimee a few days later. After a few dates, I had fallen in love with Aimee and knew she was the girl for me. We were married over Radio KFI at 10 p.m., March 17, 1937. The radio station covered half of the United States at night. We notified our relatives out of state and had them tune in. KFI had only a Hammond organ so they allowed us to use the facilities of a church that had a fine organ.

The next move was to the Don Lee Broadcasting Company radio station in Los Angeles. They had a large assortment of stations on the Pacific Coast. They offered us a daily program on the network and a transcontinental program on Sunday. KHJ was located on the second floor of a Cadillac dealer in downtown Los Angeles. The studio had a two-manual Estey pipe organ that wasn't too good. We asked the management if we could move the Estey out and bring in a Wurlitzer theatre organ. They agreed and the crew and I removed the Estey, which is now in the Church of the Recessional in Forest Lawn in Glendale.

A dear old lady who was a widow and a great fan of Haven of Rest gave us the money to buy a theatre organ and have it installed in the studio. This meant that we wouldn't have any organ but the Hammond for three months. A fellow by the name of Don Leslie had invented a new speaker for the Hammond organ. He loaned us the experimental model and we connected it to the Hammond. Wow! It sounded great. It became very popular and thousands have been sold over the years. We finally got the Wurlitzer installed and it had great sound; however, we only got to use it in this studio for one year.

We were informed by the Don Lee organization they were building new studios in Hollywood. They had made no provision for the organ. We contacted Aunt Mary again and told her our problem. She suggested that we build our own studio. We got a Christian contractor and built the Haven of Rest studio in East Hollywood. Provision was made for the pipe organ. The studio worked out very well and is still being used after 50 years.

I played the Hammond for ten years at Youth for Christ. Rudy Atwood and I were a team. We played marches and all kinds of music the young people liked. Christ for Greater Los Angeles was a group of men that sponsored revival meetings in L.A. They usually used large tents. I played for most of these events. I first met Billy Graham in 1945 (age 31) as he spoke for one of the YFC meetings. In 1949 they put up a large circus tent seating 5000 in downtown L.A. I was asked to provide a Hammond organ and be the organist for the crusade. It was planned to run three weeks, but went to eight weeks. I was then asked to travel with Billy and his crew, but decided against it. Later in 1956 (age 42), I did join the team for two years.

Broadcasting over the Don Lee Network let us have meetings all over the coast. Tape recording had not been invented yet, so we had to broadcast live from the little cities and theatres that had a pipe organ. I was asked by Dr. Tovey of Biola College if I would would consider teaching the Hammond organ. They had several students that wanted to learn the organ. I wound up with 15 students and went to the college once a week to give lessons.

During World War II I took a job at Lockheed Vega in Burbank, California. I specialized in hanging the large wings on the Hudson Bombers. In order to be at the Haven of Rest studio in the early morning, I had to work the graveyard shift. It was a tough shift and I was always sleepy during the day. I actually fell asleep once during the live radio program. It was while the narrator was speaking and I was only out for a few seconds. No one seemed to notice the difference. My draft board had put me in 1A and I fully thought I would have to go into military service. They evidently thought my job was more important and they never called me.

In the early days of television, George Beverly Shea and I made a film called Singing I Go. The studio was on top of Mount Lee and was the only studio in L.A. at that time. The studio was called W6AO and was only on for a few hours in the evening.

I had always wanted my own pipe organ in my home. My next-door neighbor was a builder and I had him design a home that could handle a pipe organ. I purchased a two-manual Wurlitzer from the Hollywood Theatre in Hollywood. The California Organ Company removed the organ and restored it in our home in Glendale.

I had a broadcast line to a radio station in Pasadena where, with a girls trio, we had an evening program. I also had a line to KGER in Long Beach and had regular broadcasts with Dr. Bob Pierce of World Vision fame. After the Billy Graham Crusade in L.A. closed, I made a series of records with George Beverly Shea, soloist with Billy Graham. They were made for ministers who wanted to get on the radio, but had no Christian music. We were using the organ for all kinds of singers. My wife had to be very careful about noise, as the microphones were very sensitive. She encouraged me to put up a commercial building with a large organ. This would give her the freedom of the house.

I thought about it and again went to my next-door neighbor who designed a studio with room for a large organ. We found a very nice piece of property about a mile from our house. There were no organs for sale in L.A. that we knew of. We went to the headquarters of 20th Century Fox and had a talk with the man in charge. They weren't sure they wanted to sell the organs, as