Do you remember this?  I had a little record player with a lid for my 45’s.  I loved to listen to music when I was growing up.

My parents gave me a record player for 33 1/3 albums for my 16^th birthday (1966).  I still have some of the old 45’s, albums and a box set of classical music I used to listen to as I went to sleep.

Like many young men and women I wrote various journals (diaries), poetry, and essays of things on my mind. As a music lover I also wrote lyrics and composed and arranged music as well.

Most of the old letters, journals and writing is long past pitched in the trash.  Some arrangements and writing remain in my files as nostalgia for occasional memory of days past or as orphaned children never seen or heard by the audience for which they were created.

My favorite orphaned instrumental work is an orchestration of “Piano Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra” for symphonic band.  I could not convince my few friends directing bands with the ability level for the technique this work requires to give it a listen.  The only time I heard it in part was in draft stage by the Gainesville High School Band, but its director at the time was dying of cancer.  Another favorite is an orchestration for symphonic band of the Widor Organ Toccata.

My favorite orphaned lyric of my own is “Pray,” set to Erik Satie Gymnopedie No. 2, I first heard performed by Blood, Sweat, & Tears.  (Yes, I think I still have the album & a disconnected turntable backed away in boxes.)

The opening lyric is:

“Help me when I don’t know what to do…  Pray.

My favorite orphaned poem was “The Little Orange Man,” written about the AAA crossing guard.

“On a corner in Canton stands a little orange man,

With a little orange cap and a little orange vest…”

I don’t remember the rest.  This orphan is lost.

I write many short essays, commentaries and especially witness of Biblical exposition, most which receives little notice.  Earlier this year I wrote and read a serial short story of 14 episodes that I have had in mind for a serial post on my blog. (Stay tuned. It’s titled: A Picture of Heaven.)

I have not written anything of the magnitude of my current book manuscript.  God planted a story in my heart last year which must be retold. God willing, you will hear much more about it in 2014.

It seems that authors need a platform for marketing our books… therefore; this site of witness for Christ Jesus came about in the form of http://talkofJesus.com for a voice from the pew.

As part of my witness for Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, I include my personal blog with occasional thoughts; but it’s not about me, it’s about Jesus.  Look for most of my writing outside of my personal blog.

May the Lord bless you as a reader and follower. I embrace your comments and posts.  Pray also for me, especially for the salvation and return to Christ by many of my own beloved family.

Roger Harned, a voice from the pew