Letters From Grandpa #266

LETTERS FROM GRANDPA

• 266

Today’s letter will feature the late Paul Harvey. Granny and I feel a special bond with him as he was born in our town of Tulsa (Sept. 4, 1918). He went to Tulsa Central High School where we also attended. He got his start in radio on KVOO which we listened to while growing up. A more important reason for mentioning him, however, is the positive role model he provides for everyone.

Paul’s policeman father was murdered by criminals when Paul was only three. His godly mother, Anna, wisely chose to add a rental room to their small home rather than leave Paul with a baby sitter. When Paul was 14 a teacher named Isabel Ronan walked him from Tulsa Central to radio station KVOO. She told them that he needed to be on the radio. Without her, his career in radio might never have happened. Years later, when Paul was famous, he returned to Tulsa for a speaking engagement. Miss Ronan sat beside him, leaned over and said: “Now remember, Paul, stand tall and breathe from the diaphragm.” Miss Ronan retired from teaching in 1955, the year after Granny and I graduated.

An interesting bit of trivia involves Paul’s first real radio job. It was with KGVO in Missoula, Montana. After only a year he was fired. His boss Mosby called him into his office, said that he had a silly sounding delivery, fired him, and recommended that he go into sales. Fortunately, Paul listened to God and not Mosby.

Paul had always been a deeply religious man, but for some reason he had never been baptized. In 1972 he went on a much needed vacation with his family to Cave Creek, Arizona. On Sunday morning, they drove on a dirt road to a little country church. Paul said: “The little steeple pierced an azure sky, and white clapboard siding reflected the morning sun." The “city slickers” from Chicago sat down on wooden folding chairs with a dozen or so other worshipers. The message that day was on Bible baptism. When the invitation song was sung the famous radio personality stepped into the aisle and walked forward to obey the command of Christ. When he came up out of the watery grave of baptism Paul said: "I cried like a baby, a kind of release I suppose. I remember looking at Angel and her eyes were shining. She knew well what this meant to me, for she had been blessed with the same experience as a girl." A new joy invaded Paul’s daily routine coupled with a new courage to be more vocal about his faith.

Paul’s work day began at 3:30 a.m. His routine never varied. He brushed his teeth, showered, shaved, got dressed, ate his oatmeal, and drove to the studio. This took approximately 45 minutes. Since he was on the radio, Paul knew he could make those broadcasts in his pajamas, but he didn’t. Paul always dressed formally in a coat, and tie as if he were being seen by everyone. He considered it a matter of discipline. He was convinced that such total preparation helped keep him from mediocrity.

Paul read the news feeds by himself, wrote his own scripts, and even answered the phone. When he stepped to the mike, however, he spoke to over 24 million people every week. He was also syndicated on over 1,300 radio stations, heard on 400 Armed Forces Networks, and his articles appeared in 300 newspapers. His many honors are too numerous to mention in this brief letter.

FYI, Paul’s full name was Paul Harvey Aurandt. He shortened his name for professional reasons. Yes! Paul is a good example, but not the best. It is Christ Himself Who left us the best example that we should follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21). John the Baptist preached a “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mk. 1:4). Jesus, of course, did not sin and therefore did not need

to repent. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John didn’t want to do it. Jesus said, however: “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15).

The baptism of Jesus involved all three members of the Godhead. Jesus, of course, was the one being baptized. Then “At that moment heaven was opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said: ‘This is my beloved Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased’” (Matt. 3:16, 17).

Please note also that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit want everybody to be baptized. Jesus said to His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).

Surely you can’t go wrong doing what the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit command you to do!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce