What a glorious Dallas day.  Easter weather is beginning to take an embryonic shape as the days get longer, the sun is out more frequently, and the squirrels are playing like circus performers as they dive from tree to tree.

Thanks for stopping by for our weekly after-church visit here in the park.

PRAYER.  I accidentally heard a radio commentator last evening as she told of a new study regarding marriage and prayer.  It found that when husband and wife pray out loud together on a daily basis, the chance of them divorcing diminishes from 50% to 20%. 

And it doesn't seem to matter when in their married life they begin this practice.

DALLAS PRAYER.  I noticed more than forty-years ago when I was a graduate student in the Dallas area, that oft times I saw people in restaurants and cafeterias holding hands and with their heads bowed as one of them said grace.  I wasn't accustomed to seeing that in Galveston-Houston where I was raised, or in New Orleans where I attended undergraduate school.

Now that I live in Dallas, it's comforting to note that, if anything, the frequency has increased over time. Dallas people are proud of their spirituality.  That's a good thing.

WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW? That's the title of an article in the March 2008 issue of "Texas Realtor."  It's an interview study that was commissioned to find out what clients want from their Realtor.  Here are some things of interest: 49% of the sellers picked their Realtor because of a referral.  Only 1% of the buyers selected their agent when visiting an open house.  Forty-six percent of the buyers found the home they purchased because of the selection shown them by a Realtor or a Realtor's yard sign.  And they said that the most useful sources of real estate information was the Internet (78%) and the Realtor (73%).

It remains nonsense that For Sale by Owner is a practical method of selling a home.

The Vocal Majority. The Vocal Majority (VM) is a Dallas, Texas-based chorus of over 150 male singers, billed as the premier pops chorus in America.  Under the direction of Jim Clancy, it has won an unequalled eleven International Chorus Championships, and it has recorded over a dozen albums and traveled extensively.  The most powerful song in their extensive book is "The Arms of Love."  I heard it the other evening as I was on my way to the gym.  I cranked up the radio volume, rolled down the car windows, and felt as I did when Victor, J.E. and I were riding in Victor's old Chevy -- our high school days -- and Rascal McCaskill would begin playing Lloyd Price's "Personality" on his "Night Train" program on KREL.  We handled that the same way.  Windows down, singing along in the same way -- loud and off key.

The Vocal Majority, founded in the early ‘70s will present a concert at the Eisemann Center in Richardson (a suburb of Dallas) on Friday, April 18^th and a matinee on Saturday, April 19^th.  Order tickets by phoning The Eisemann Center at 972-744-4650.  Patty and I will be at the Friday night performance.  You don't want to miss this.  You really don't.

VARIABLE ANNUITIES.  For years this product has been one of the darlings of life insurance salespeople.  Many life companies pay extraordinary upfront commissions to their salespeople when they write one of these policies.  I was born and raised in a life insurance family.  And while I believe that universal life policies, term policies and some forms of annuity policies, singularly or in tandem should be the foundation of everyone's personal financial program, more often than not, a variable annuity is not one that is appropriate. Always check with your CPA before you consider a specific variable annuity.

NETWORKING.  As a result of our meeting through Active Rain, Wells Fargo Mortgage man Ken Stampe, Northwestern Mutual's financial representative Paxton Kelso and I are going to have lunch this coming Wednesday to meet in person and see how we may help each other.  I'm looking forward to it. I'm inclined to think this second step is what ought to be the goal of Active Rain members. 

FRIDAY'S RADIO DAY. Old dudes like me who are members of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame meet every now and then for Dutch treat pizza and talk about our days in radio when radio was radio.  This Friday I'll be among many of the true legends.  What an honor.  In my early college days, I was the host of the famous "American Airlines Music 'til Dawn" in the New Orleans market. Believe me, I just fell into that one.  It had nothing whatsoever to do with any talent I might have had.  I've always been a champion of unbridled tenacity.

I'm always so appreciative when you drop by for our Sunday visit.  It's a way to get to know each other better, and to explore our passions.  I'll see you next Sunday after church.  Enjoy your week, and explore the joys of love.

GOD Blesses!

Pen and Ink Drawing of Bill in the Park by Carlotta Barker

Copyright 2008 - William S. Cherry

All rights reserved.