Chuck Wagon Gang

Winter Is Upon Us

The time of year most groups do not look forward to is the winter season. Several reasons come to mind. Most of the reasons revolve around the rough weather that plagues the midwest and the northern parts of the country. SNOW!! Being from Michigan, snow brings to me mixed emotions. It is beautiful, but certainly causes more than its share of problems for folks not used to it.

COLD!!! Now that is the part of winter that I especially don't care for. Cool is okay, but cold...you can have it! Many groups book southern states for the winter time. We enjoy at least two trips to Florida during January and February. It is a great opportunity for us to see some of our northern friends again as many migrate south as 'snowbirds'.

Stan, Penny, Julie and myself are looking forward to spending some 'home time' with our families over the holidays. We want to wish all of you a most blessed Christmas season. We also want you to know how much we love you and appreciate your prayers and support throughout the year. We look forward to seeing many of you again in 2008. Of course, as you can see by our schedule, we leave out again two days after Christmas for Louisiana, Missouri, and finally for New Year's in our favorite venue, the Blue Gate Restaurant and Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Right now, there is choice seating available for our second annual CWG Reunion Concert April 12, 2008, so if you want to attend, call Harold at 888-319-1021 and reserve your seats.

I want to say thanks to everyone who is sharing with us in the worthy cause of the Convoy of Hope. You may check the organization out at: http://convoyofhope.org/. Again, if you would like to contribute, call Harold at 888-319-1021.

We are delighted to welcome several newcomers to our discussion board at: http://www.chuckwagongangblog.com. You can learn a lot about the history of the CWG from several knowledgeable and longtime fans. If you have questions about the current or former CWG groups, our products, and future plans, Harold Timmons will be happy to take care of you. You can call him at 888-319-1021. Thanks and God bless,

Dave

A Biblical Perspective
"...we must be about the Father's business."

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been giving some thought to the concept of 'letting go'. Of course, the phrase can be applied to a lot of different aspects in life. It can refer to a tug-of-war between brothers who may fuss over the TV remote or a certain toy. It could refer to a boyfriend or a girlfriend finding it difficult to say good-bye when they are trying to break up. It certainly applies to the 'empty nest syndrome of a mother's difficulty in 'letting go' of her child when they leave home for the first time to go to college.

The phrase 'letting go', as applied to our thoughts today, refer to releasing of 'wrongs' in our lives that we have done or that have been inflicted upon us. It is interesting to read secular psychologists who admit much of their therapy revolves around helping people come to grips with 'letting go' of guilt, wrongful deeds, emotional wounds, remorse, etc... . I think sometimes we don't realize how much our 'past' experiences, bad or good, come to play on our present or future lives. We often use the term 'baggage' to pretty much describe this plight of humanity. While Christians have the wonderful reality of 'forgiveness' by God, and the fact that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus and cast into the sea of God's forgetfulness, we still have to deal with the forgiveness of others and of ourselves.

I am sure all of us could pretty quickly bring to mind something that we did or that was done to us that we regret or remorsefully remember. The apostle Paul sets the standard for us in Philippians 3:13 when he states "...forgetting those things which are behind,..." is the perspective that one must have in order to move forward in life. The analogy is that of a foot race, and the only way to win is to forget the success and progress, as well as the failures and lost time. We must only focus on the objective before us, and that is winning the race of life, fulfilling God's will and purpose for which he put us on this earth.

In Romans 12:1-3 we are given the process by which we can accomplish God's purpose for our lives and 'let go' of the past sins and failures that hound us, along with wounds that someone may have caused in our lives. We are to simply be 'transformed by the renewing of our minds'. This can be done only by doing two things: Reading our Bibles and having a diligent prayer life. By these two means, God has given us the psychological, emotional and spiritual exercise that we are to undertake on a daily basis 'in order to prove what is that good and perfect will of God'. If you try to short cut it or practice on a hit and miss basis, you can count on trouble.

When we read the Bible, we replace the carnal thoughts of our mind with the life giving spiritual thoughts of God. When we pray, we rejuvenate our spiritual life. It can be compared in a simplistic way to filling a glass of water (the carnal mind) with a heavier substance such as sand (the weightier truths of God), which eventually 'displaces' the water. The precepts and principles of God's Ways will become instilled into our moral fiber and thusly dictate our choices and conduct.

What we think most about will show up in our behavior. If we constantly think about our failures and remorsefully re-live the past, we can be assured that our progress in fulfilling God's purpose for us, will be stymied. Sometimes, we have to forgive ourselves and that can be more difficult than forgiving others. We must realize that if God forgives us, and he does, then it is the ultimate arrogance to not forgive ourselves.

Sometimes forgiveness is a process. When a trespass is committed against us, it often creates wounds that only time or divine intervention can heal. When the pain of the wound is recalled after we have forgiven someone, we need to re-iterate our forgiveness. I believe that is what Jesus was talking about when he said we are to forgive 7 times 70 in a day. One thing is sure and that is there can only be peace when their is total forgiveness which will allow us to 'let go' of the hindrances that impede the progress of our spiritual growth. I hope that during this Christmas season we may find it a time to reestablish any broken relationships with total forgiveness, both of ourselves and those who have trespassed against us. Then we can sing with the angels of old, 'Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men". God bless you all.

Dave

The Upcoming CWG Reunion...
Moves to Pigeon Forge!

We want to remind you that our Second Annual Reunion Concert will take place at the Music Road Inn Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN on Saturday, April 12th at 6:00 PM. Former members will again be invited to participate in this year's event. We hope to see many of you there.
TICKET INFORMATION:

RESERVED SEATS - $20.00 - We have a limited number of numbered reserved seats which are closer and more center. These are available on a first come, first served basis, and are not expected to last long.

GENERAL ADMISSION - $15.00 - GENERAL ADMISSION - Overall general admission - sit where you like in the larger general admission area.

CHILDREN - Free through age 12 - general admission only.

YOUTH - $5.00 Ages 13 through 18 - general admission only.

TO ORDER TICKETS: Tickets are currently available through the Nashville office. You may call me at 615- 885-8000; if there is no answer leave a message on 888-319-1021. You may also fax orders to 615-316- 0990. Tickets are now available and will be mailed to you. Tickets ordered after 10 days prior to the program will not be mailed, but will be held as a "will call" at the door. All ticket orders will be processed in the order received.

The Music Road Inn and Convention Center is located right off the parkway at 314 Henderson Chapel Rd. in Pigeon Forge, TN right behind the Smith Family Theater. We have reserved a block of 70 rooms at the hotel for this event, but only for the night of the event. The rate for a standard room with two queen sized beds is $99 plus 11.75% tax. If you wish to make a reservation, call 1-800-429-7700. You must mention "Chuck Wagon Gang Reunion" / Music Road Inn for April 12th in order to get the discounted rate. Guests will be issued a parking pass to place on their car at the hotel. Please note that the hotel does not have a restaurant, but there are many eating places nearby.

Other motels are in the area, including the Holiday Inn Express, which is the closest. The convention center has limited parking space, and urges all guests not staying at the Music Road Inn to ride the shuttle to and from the convention center.

Last Call For Christmas Orders

It is not too late to order our new CD, "Remembering the Old Songs" for Christmas. It is the first CD that includes Penny on the alto. You will certainly enjoy this CD as many of you have let us know. To order the new CD, simply click on the album cover.

The songs on the album include: I'm Gonna See Heaven | I'll Meet You By The River | I've Been With Jesus | The Old Country Church | There's A Little Pine Log Cabin | I Want To See My Jesus | Did You Ever Go Sailin'? | Suppertime | I Can Hear Them Singing Over There | When We Get To The Gloryland

"Reminiscing" our new DVD, is still not ready. We are most eager to make it available to you. I will send out a special notice when it is ready as well as postcards for those on the mailing list. It will be featured on an upcoming television program by Great American Gospel. Be watching for that program to begin some time early next year.

We continue to carry and you can order a variety of DVDs, namely, 'Clinging to a Saving Hand' , and 'Wagon Tracks', both recorded live in Pigeon Forge, TN as well as 'Live in Branson', 'The Farewell Tour' and now 'Live at the Grand Ole Gospel, Chocowinity, NC'. Be sure and check out the Original Gang recordings we have, like 'Looking for a City'. and 'I'll Fly Away'.

To order any of our products, including the new "Remembering the Old Songs" and "I Have A Prayer", simply click on the CWG Online Store link which will take you to our online store. BE SURE TO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE ORDERING FOR CHRISTMAS. If you don't want to use a credit card, you can always mail a check to P.O. Box 1459, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 or call 888- 319-1021 and Harold Timmons will help you.

The CWG Road Schedule
December 2007 through February 2008 Schedule

There are always some changes, so be sure to check the schedule online.
December 2007

December 15, 2007 Weber City Elementary School - 7:00 PM 322 Jenning St., Weber City, VA 423-293- 2507

December 16, 2007 Valley View Baptist Church - 6:00 PM Knoxville, TN

December 28, 2007 Hollis Seafood Buffet - 6:00 PM 113 hwy 3265, Spearsville, La. 318-778-0444

December 29, 2007 First United Methodist Church - 6:30 PM Main at McGaughey, Dyersburg, TN 731-285- 6454

December 31, 2007 Bluegate Restaurant - CFT Shipshewana, IN 888-447-4725

January 2008

January 10, 2008 Performing Arts Center - 7:30 PM Ormond Beach, FL

January 11, 2008 Central Christian Church (3010 NE 14th Street) - 7:30 PM, Ocala, Florida 941- 756-6942

January 12, 2008 Trinity Presbyterian Church - 7:00 PM Venice, FL 941-756-6942

January 26, 2008 Kings Mountain HS - 6:00 PM Kings Mountain, NC

February 2008

February 7, 2008 Manatee Civic Center - 7:00 PM One Haben Blvd, Palmetto, FL 941-756-6942

February 8, 2008 Nettles Auditorium ASC College - 7:00 PM Monroeville, AL 251-575-4774

February 9, 2008 Tusculum College Auditorium - 7:00 PM Greeneville, TN 423-638-3121

February 27, 2008 Randy Parton Theater - 2:00 PM Roanoke Rapids, NC

Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts. They don't go unnoticed as we see God's hand on us continually. It is our prayer that God blesses you and keeps each of you till we meet again. We welcome your comments and emails. If you wish to contact us, click on Contact Us on the web site.

Chuck Wagon Gang
http://www.chuckwagongang.net