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THE MAN
FROM TENNESSEE
A BOOK BY THE WORLD FAMOUS ANONYMOUS AUTHOR

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Copyright © 2007 by The World Famous Anonymous Author

THE MAN FROM TENNESSEE
A Book By The World Famous Anonymous Author

Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 9781604774801

All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author. The views expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from the King James Version. Copyright © 1981 by Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Inc.

Published by Xulon Press

Copies of this book can be purchased at your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Target
or online at: www.themanfromtennessee.com & www.xulonpress.com/bookstore.php & www.amazon.com

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Introduction: Readers of this book will realize that a limited vocabulary and a particular writing style is evident. Rather than focusing on the style of the writing, it might be more helpful if the substance of information presented is accepted without bias. You will become aware of a wide spectrum of perspectives in how this book is received once it has been publicly discussed. Depending on how people are preconditioned by innate thinking processes, there will be noticeable differences of opinion.

Prediction: Readers who are earthly minded will relate more strongly to part one. Those who are heavenly minded will have a greater appreciation for part four. Please remember that everyone who reads this book has a connection with both good and evil, but only the Holy Spirit can open eyes to Truth!

I am happy to provide people of all nations this inspirational, thought provoking, mind-boggling, intellectually challenging, informative and controversial book. It was very carefully written just for people like you!

Sincerely with best wishes,
The World Famous Anonymous Author

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PART ONE for the earthly minded

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The Man Was Once A Baby!

Beginning with his birth in Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada, this person who later became known as "The Man From Tennessee" was never a normal person. It was November 2, 1938, when his father, James Brower Reesor, and mother, Mary Becker Reesor, placed him on the open door of a hot oven to keep their newly born infant warm during a very cold winter night. Some people have been known to wonder if heat from burning wood baked his brain during that first day on Planet Earth.

The new baby was the son of a handsome young man who had grown up on a ranch near Consul. His mother was a beautiful coal miner's daughter from Beaulah, North Dakota. Thanks to a unique marriage between the 23-year-old farmer and a fifteen-year-old small-town girl, James Edward Peter Reesor popped into their world nine months after conception. He was officially presented with a dual citizenship, making both Canada and America equally legal as his place of origin.

Crossing the border between friendly nations whenever visiting grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and other life forms through the years was a regular part of the family routine. In Canada, the Reesor R9 Ranch was like an oasis surrounded by trees in the middle of a flat prairie. It had grown from nothing but a dream into a place with sheep, cattle, horses, chickens, bee hives, large gardens, a root cellar for food, huge barns, bunk houses, work shops filled with tools and a log house where a growing family could feel at home.

A large pond where frogs played in Summer was a great place to skate in Winter. Snow would be scooped off, piled around the edges, and a wood fire burned brightly enough for night parties. Friends from church and various neighbors from the area were regular visitors no matter what the season. People were always having fun on the pond, playing baseball at an annual picnic, playing tennis on a grass court, and riding horses.

Peter, Bessie, Margaret, Merle, Joe, Bob, Ronnie, James – and visitors – kept tummies full with freshly baked pastries, fresh milk and eggs, and vegetables grown in gardens that had been plowed by Grandpa using a strong horse. Kids did the weeding. When Grandma set the table for meals in the dining room, large portions of baked lamb, beef or chicken was on the menu. The "R9 Ranch" was a wonderful place for hungry folks to eat, play games, tell silly jokes, carry on serious conversations and learn the true meaning of hard work. It was a Pennsylvania Dutch and Mennonite heritage, combined with Christian values, that made their self-sustaining community more appealing than paying taxes.

The Reesor family has an ancestry filled with notable persons, some who were in possession of letters written by the Apostle Paul until moving to Italy, and others who were forced to move from continent to continent because of religious persecution. Peter and his brothers Urich, Jacob, Johanns and Philip accepted sanctuary from the William Penn American Settlement Program, back before Thanksgiving was a day to celebrate.

The Canadian branch of the family tree sprouted a new leaf named Jimmy, and he has a direct link with Christian Reesor, the son of Peter Rieser (Reesor) (1713-1804) and Elizabeth Hershey. Christian was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1747 after his parents had arrived on a ship known as "Robert and Alice" in Philadelphia (1739). They had sailed from across the ocean with older children Esther, John, and Elizabeth's parents, Christian and Esther Hershey. Elizabeth's brother Milton became an American icon as founder of the Hershey candy company. Connections between a few Hershey and Reesor ancestors led to the popular "Reese's" peanut butter cup brand – that probably explains why Jimmy is genetically inclined to crave chocolate.

On the other side of the border in America, the home of Edward, Katie, Opal and Mary Becker in Beaulah, North Dakota was a comfortable, happy place where loving affection ruled behavior. Descending from a judge in Berlin, Germany, the man Jimmy knew as "Grandpa" had muscular arms the size of a "stove pipe." He had grown up on a farm where he learned that being strong was vital to survival. Edward supported his family by dragging coal out of a mine most of his life – when he wasn't getting odd jobs as a blacksmith or winning prize money by winning boxing and wrestling contests at county fairs.

Grandma "Huber" Becker had come from a wealthy Russian landowner in German occupied Russia after "Bolsheviks" made living there too dangerous. She was always the neat freak in the family, a masterful gardener, and a magnificent cook. Of all the people in the world, she seemed to love Jimmy more than anyone else. Next in the love line was his mother's sister Opal – the aunt who was beautiful like Doris Day, who could play the piano like Liberace, and who could sing like Dinah Shore. Years after she died at an early age from cancer, Adam, the husband of Opal, came to rescue Jimmy many times whenever keeping body and soul together was more than he could afford.

The Man Was Once A Little Boy

Jimmy, as he was known for many years, was given his first sister at the age of two. Jeanette Marie was the compassionate friend of underdogs, the inquisitive invader of privacy, and unselfish giver of advice that grew up without knowing the difference between good and bad people. She is still alive in Tennessee at the time this book is being written. Jeanette lived many years with Louie Dunn after being divorced from Michael Bolte, a preacher with an eye for women. He became a carpet salesman when money from offerings ran low. Louie worked as a drummer for Marty Robbins, the singer of songs: "A White Sports Coat" and "Devil Woman." He got the job of being Marty's manager during the latter part of his career. Louie and Jeanette often relaxed at Center Hill Lake on fishing trips with Dolly Parton's friend Porter Wagoner. They hung out at the Waffle House eating too much scrambled, diced and spiced eggs, hash browns and sausage. By the time Louie died, Jeanette knew the menu better than most waitresses. She got a job there to keep her cupboards from going bare. It was the only place close to home where she could stay in touch with Country Music lovers, night owls, dreamers and schemers. Her infatuation with oddball people earned her more friends than she could handle. If not for her pet dogs that she treated better than most mothers treat their children, she would probably have lived alone by choice. Even though Jeanette seldom had time to visit her brother in his home or in public places through the years, she always ended phone conversations with, "I love you," to which Jimmy always responded, "I love you, too."

Many stories have been told about little Jimmy during the early years by those who thought they knew him. As a baby, it was said that he died during a winter trip. After breathing had stopped, and after turning blue, his father prayed. His premature demise turned into a miraculous recovery. At the age of three, his mother was heard to say that he would cleverly sneak away from home to walk down a dirt road over railroad tracks when going to visit a blind man. Luckily for him, trains were seldom running when he was walking. His adult friend and role model worked in a basement repairing broken clocks. Light streaming through a small window made visual observations easy for the kid even though his neighbor kept his eyes closed. This might be the reason Jimmy developed a tendency to dismantle, then try to reassemble toys – and everything else he got his hands on.

Jimmy was given his second sister at age four. He can remember when they brought her home from the hospital and laid her on the bed. Beatrice Yvonne was the baby sister who was spoiled, the bashful one who wore pigtails that all the boys could pull when she got older, the sweet girl everyone said was pretty, and the best friend that Jimmy and Jeanette could hope to have. Yvonne is still alive in Tennessee at the time this book is being written. She became the lovely wife of Robert Sharp, and the mother of a lovely daughter named Michele. Thanks to years of employment followed by retirement from BellSouth, and a genius husband with technical and real estate investment skills, she has always been able to afford birthday cards and Christmas gifts. It was Yvonne who made family gatherings at her home during special holidays a pleasure to experience through the years. She was always there to lend a helping hand to her brother, sister, mother and father. Now that she has grandchildren to play with, moving from one house to another every other year has become more of a burden than a blessing. Even though she seldom took time to visit her brother in his home or in public places, they still talk on the phone several times each year.

Jimmy was always more adventuresome than his two sisters. He was always the go-getter when they were busy growing up. Using a rain barrel to climb, he had his own domain where he played on the roof of the family garage in Lignite, North Dakota. Jimmy once claimed he saw a drunk man throwing children high through the air when peering around his surroundings from that vantage point. It was that kind of story-telling about real or imagined experiences which earned him a reputation as a "crazy boy" at an early age.

Four-year-old Jimmy was frequently found walking the downtown streets without adult supervision whenever he felt a compulsion to search for companionship. Back in those years before racial riots and political demonstrations, it is said that he would occasionally get together with black soldiers from a nearby army camp. They would sing songs together, much to his delight, after filling him up with triple-dip ice cream cones. Because of gratitude for unselfish generosity and toe-tapping music that put a smile on his face, he proudly named his dog "Nigger" to show respect for those men
he admired. The honor he showed them was appreciated. The sickness of "racism" spawned by skin color had not yet become an epidemic among stupid people with superficial values.

Jimmy was given a brother at age five. Donald died a year later. His sensitivity as a child of five resulted in tears when hearing the sad news. He was too sorrowful to attend the funeral, but trips to the burial site at the graveyard kept the brothers in touch off and on. It is a picture showing them together that is valued most.

The early years for this innocent soul sent from Heaven was spent in the home of his rancher-turned-minister father – which would have been unbearably restrictive if not for his protective, my son is special and deserves-his-freedom mother. Both sisters learned not to compete for parental attention, learning very early to condone their talented brother. He was asserting independence long before rivalry between siblings had become a common practice. They wisely kept to themselves, instinctively avoiding competitive or confrontational activities that might have hindered his pursuit of happiness when pretending to be their boss. Seeing him driving a Ford tractor on the farm of his Sunday school teacher at the age of five is only one reason they started thinking he was some kind of hero who deserved obedience. Watching him milk a cow, walk on stilts, climb a tree, make funny clicking sounds with his mouth closed, paint trim on the edge of a barn roof, and stealing apples off a neighbor's tree were a few reasons they felt he was destined for greatness.

Jeanette and Yvonne gave no indication of being jealous when he was allowed to keep a flock of baby Easter chicks in his walk-in-closet bedroom. They never complained when he ate more than his share of homemade fudge, cookies or ice cream. Not once did Jeanette cry when getting a scissor hair cut from Jimmy, making her the first bald girl to live under a bed. Not once did Yvonne get embarrassed or laugh when her immodest brother walked around the house wearing nothing but naked skin after taking a bath. His sisters will probably be writing books of their own once this book you are reading reaches a million in sales. Stories they could tell would make them rich if they decided to tell the world everything they know about their strange brother from outer space.

Going to church several times a week for most of his life made a big impact on James, Jimmy, Jim – or whatever name was being used to set him apart from other humans on the planet. As a child of six and seven, he was being trained to make an audience take notice when singing his favorite song, "I Don't Have To Wait Until I'm Grownup To Be What Jesus Wants Me To Be." He was often seen performing in churches, at Holy Ghost revival meetings, and even on the radio. Being skinny with a shiny, high forehead and bigger nose than most kids had always made him believe he was superior. Having to stand on a footstool to get his lips next to a microphone at a radio station made him feel short and inferior for the first time. The grinning face of an announcer behind the glass made the situation even worse for the talented child who was trying to be entertaining. In spite of abnormal physical attributes, personality deficiencies and attention-seeking mannerisms that plagued Jimmy, he always did his best to please the fans.

Never being told that cultural "rules" had put certain restrictions on "physical attractions" between little boys and older women, the free-spirited boy made more than one babysitter blush. One time Jimmy sat at a piano, thought up some words to memorize, and then sang an original song titled: "I'm A Lonesome Cowboy." The older girl taking care of him seemed impressed, not realizing that he even knew how to read and write. This started him thinking that he could achieve popularity among cowgirls encountered during visits to local farms. Singing while slopping hogs, bringing in the cows, tossing grain at chickens, and while cuddled in hay at the barn gave more than one girl a reason to believe he was on his way to becoming another Hank Williams.

Later, when attending school as a third grader at International Bible College near Estevan in Canada – the remodeled airport where his father served as president – Jimmy eagerly flirted with opposite-sex students who attended classes. Driving the family car around a paved runway was a popular pastime. His antics behind the wheel of a Chevrolet – on that road once used by airplanes – made older girls nervous when he took them for fast rides on ice during the winter. Admiration for their young escort grew when seeing how easily he could shift gears. They were amazed when he put the car in reverse and drove backwards with his eyes shut, laughing louder than they were screaming.

Days slowly rolled into years as the Reesor family moved from one modest home to another modest home. Strange stories were always being told about Jimmy getting lost in Canada or Jimmy getting lost in America. Getting lost for this growing boy in North Dakota was not much different than getting lost in South Dakota, West Virginia, Missouri, the Philippines, Texas or Tennessee.

Jimmy was once living with his family in Bradley, West Virginia, where they were doing their best to survive from church offerings. It was hard for his traveling evangelist father to afford the luxury
of a lawnmower back in those days, so his "neat freak" son cut a huge part of the backyard grass with a hand clipper. It became a favorite place to play marbles with tobacco chewing fifth-grade buddies.

Reverend Reesor held many revivals in that state, preaching long sermons and praying for the sick in the style of Oral Roberts. It was during one of those revivals that legendary singer Molly O'Day and her husband Lynn Davis repented of sin. They became close friends of the family while remaining musically active in churches. Their inspirational songs were always popular with Christian audiences, but it was Molly's solos that made the biggest impact. Her reputation as a famous recording star on Columbia Records and her friendship with Hank Williams really impressed Jimmy. She once had a hit record written by Hank titled, "Tramp On The Street." Most music historians agree that Molly was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, female singer
in country music!

Even though the Reesor home was far from boring, Jimmy was fond of getting lost just to get away. Jimmy had a reputation for hiding in culverts under roads as a child when doing serious thinking, swinging on vines like Tarzan over ravines to prove he was brave, running barefoot through the woods faster than Copperhead snakes could crawl and stealing cup cakes for school lunches when cash was running low.

It might take a brain doctor to explain why Jimmy habitually conjured up reasons for hiding out, avoided monotonous conversations by going incognito, and did facial contortions when teasing girls. Only God could possibly explain why he was always trying to get drunk by sipping drops of beer from empty beer bottles found on the ground, making himself dizzy when twirling a basketball on one finger, and cleverly crawling into the attic to get out of doing chores. Back in the James Dean 50's, Jimmy became menacing when flipping a switchblade knife to intimidate mean teens, and acting like a thief when taking coins out of his father's pockets to buy candy or sneak off to the movies – even though it was a sin.

The Man Was Once A Teenager

The longer he evolved as a human, the more Jimmy dreamed about doing things he was told not to do. He was almost addicted to puffing on cigar butts found in a ditches to see if he would get sick enough to vomit. He figured out it was smart to intentionally act irrational, convincing bullies to leave him alone. He avoided hair cuts to save money, and got drunk once in a blue moon to escape the pain of timidity. Jimmy was habitually repenting of sin and then sinning again, getting angry when gossiping church members told lies that got him in trouble, begging for cash from relatives and friends to fund get-rich-quick schemes, cussing Satan for problems and then cussing God for allowing Satan to make his life miserable. Jimmy laughed hilariously when he saw people reacting to his obscene behavior – such as poking his finger up a nostril or scratching himself in all the wrong places. He stopped laughing and started crying when finally realizing that a few people thought he might be stupid or mentally handicapped.

Living in the Philippines with his parents and sisters at the age of seventeen was a culture shock that broadened his appreciation for America. During his brief time in Manila, some of the guys in the neighborhood became friends. Poverty was not a reason for shame among those people who had grown accustomed to surviving on dried fish, rice, and all kinds of fruit. Like most folks in Asian nations, they knew how to make the most out of very little, and seemed to be content. The many who were surrounded by a few wealthy neighbors had learned to cope without begging.

There were always street vendors calling out "balut, balut." They were selling boiled, nearly hatched duck eggs just waiting to be cracked open and consumed by Filipino's with hearty appetites. It's a food equal in popularity to hot dogs in the United States.

Getting around Manila was exciting and fun! Filipinos have a real talent for improvising. They can use old stuff to make new stuff without raising a sweat. When the spoils of war left thousands of army jeeps, they went to work doing some fast welding, adding chrome, putting in extra seats, and painting the vehicles with colorful designs. A few pesos allowed twenty or more passengers to hang on for their lives as the Jeepney went weaving in and out of traffic during wild rides on congested streets.

A young man by the name of Jesse Santa Maria became a good friend of Jimmy during his stay in Manila. Even though he came from a wealthy family, owners of Pepsi Cola and San Miguel Beer, Jesse never displayed an elitist attitude or showed disrespect for the missionary patents of his friend. Those were the days when President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower and Vice President Dick Nixon promoted preservation of the American reputation. Jim, Jesse and a band of locals soon became good buddies – driving around Manila in a long limousine or riding double-decker buses along the bay during girl watching adventures. Listening to the newest singing sensation named "Elvis" was another favorite activity for that gang of rebels with a cause. Learning to play rock ‘n roll music on a ukulele to sing songs was the fun part.

Jesse once made arrangements to escort Jimmy and his friends to see entertainers Frankie Laine and the Platters. Frankie did songs like "Mule Train" and "Jezebel." The Platters did their hits, including "Only You" and "The Great Pretender." Jesse was very generous in many other ways, such as buying snacks and drinks, having afternoon basketball sessions at his mansion compound, going to the home of Jimmy to do school homework, and cleverly sharing extra hours to play games with Jeanette and Yvonne. It was one of the few times the girls were glad to have a brother.

There were many highlights during that year for Jimmy. He took a trip with his father to visit Bible students, learned how to improve his chess game enough to win matches with Filipino businessmen at the YMCA, got to know military people at Sangley Point and Clark Air Force Base, and went for meals at the home of Floyd and Louise Hearst. They were Assembly of God missionaries from Texas who had devoted their lives to reaching lost souls.

One time Jimmy had been invited by his friend James Sessions to join him at the Hearst home to fly a model airplane. Navy man James never showed up to pick up Jimmy as promised. He either forgot or decided to fly his plane alone that day. A tragic mishap took his life when the wire attached to the toy took a nosedive and became entangled in a power line. The electrocution of James was a reminder of how easy it is to be a victim of circumstances. Jimmy was feeling like a protected soul when coincidence beyond his control saved him from danger. After doing some deductive reasoning, he knew it could have been him instead of James, had the invitation been carried out as intended.

During that year in the Philippines, the best thing that happened for Jimmy was meeting Crispin V. Lopez, a famous artist with a studio on A. Mabini Street. That small Spanish/Filipino man with
a cigarette dangling from his lips became a friend who refused to accept money for his help. When he was told that a lack of funds made buying Christmas gifts a problem, and that's why spending a few dollars to do oil paintings for those he loved was the plan, Crispin was glad to help. Jimmy had believed, transforming a little bit of nothing into a lot of something seemed like a better solution than acting like a cheapskate Scrooge.

Both Crispin and his wife gladly gave permission, opening their doors so Jimmy could watch art being created. There were many questions about how to prepare canvas for wooden stretchers, how to do basic design, how to mix colors, and how to actually do a painting. Encouraging comments from Crispin turned Jimmy into an artistic fanatic.

A different artist named Serna had a studio about a block away from where Crispin worked. Jimmy went over there to get more advice. It seems there is much to be learned about the twists and turns needed to make brush strokes effective. It was while putting the finishing touches on the portrait of a Filipino man lighting a cigarette that three members of the "Platters" walked in. They liked the wet oil painting on the easel of the art student. Even though Jimmy had been sitting in an audience listening to their music the night before, meeting them personally and having them buy the first painting he ever sold was even more exciting.

Jimmy had became so obsessed when developing his new skills that stopping for sleep was not an option. His father became so impressed with the attention his son was getting, he decided to start dabbling in oils when he wasn't preaching. In addition to finishing the paintings needed for Christmas gifts, Jimmy sold eight landscapes at bargain prices – and ended up with more cash in his pocket than he had when he started.

When it came time for Jimmy to leave Manila, since funding was stopped for Church of God missionaries when their children reach the age of eighteen, Crispin said goodbye as though the kid he had turned into an artist was a son. His parting words were, "You learned more in one year than I did in twenty years. You are very talented. Now go and help others like I helped you!"

Waving at his parents and sisters on the dock while the ship was slowly moving away from shore was not easy. Leaving his family in that way was a traumatic ending to what had been complete dependency on others. Crossing the ocean would be like ripping an invisible umbilical cord loose from those he loved most. It was a long way from Manila back to Mandan where his grandparents were waiting. With less than three hundred dollars for the journey tucked inside his suitcase, there would be no way to finish high school or go to college without getting a job first. Thoughts about the future were making Jimmy feel a little scared. Regardless of his circumstances, regardless of his uncertainties about his ability to take care of himself, there was nothing he could do that made sense except toughen up and grow up.

The Man Was Once A Student Of Life

"Jimmy" soon became "Jim" when introducing himself to others on the ship. His cabin mate was an American sailor who had the job of taking care of a jet anchored to the top deck. Manila was left far behind, out of sight and out of mind when they were easing into the harbor at Mindanao. It is the second largest island in the Philippines, and known to be a popular port for ocean travelers. Talk of getting a beer on the beach seemed like the sociable thing to do. They no sooner entered the small bar when an attractive lady caught their attention. She motioned them over to her corner table. About half way through a couple bottles of beer, going to the nearby home of the self-described "mother" so Jimmy could meet her daughter seemed like a nice way to be neighborly. That turned out to be the first time he had ever had sexual intercourse. She was a young, beautiful girl with tanned skin who reminded him of Brigitte Bardot – the famous actress who gave men a reason to forget about Marilyn Monroe.

That exciting experience, lasting only a few seconds, was retained in a secret bank of memories for years. Jim wondered if there had been a baby born, and if their merging souls had resulted in anything spiritual happening? "Fornication" for him had become easier to understand after starting to feel like a man. Even though he had been taught to believe some impulsive behavior can be wrong, equating it to breaking a law of God seemed far fetched. "How could something feeling so good be bad?" he wondered after leaving that pretty girl behind. In case there are readers of this book who are self-righteous or judgmental, God knows what Jim did long before repenting of sin, and now you know.

The money his father had given him for the trip was used to pay expenses in Yokahama and Otaru, Japan, when women with loose morals enticed Jim to hire them as sexual partners. Some of his cash went for wicked pleasures and souvenirs, but most of it went to the sailor – who had promised to pay the loan back as soon as they returned to the ship. After getting back to their cabin, his payment of debt promise was postponed. After reaching Los Angeles, Jim lost track of his mate. He marched up to the captain's office, telling him what had happened. Trying to get his money back became one of many events, teaching him about the real world. The bottom line during that particular step leading to maturity was, unfortunately, trusting a tourist with your money in Japan is a big mistake. The sailor was gone and could not be found.

Dewitt and Janet Payne were among other non-native friends of the Reesor family that Jim had met while in Manila. They had been neighbors after being sent from San Francisco to manage the construction of a paint factory. Appreciation for art and chess was the main reason for their friendship with the son of Reverend Reesor. After finishing a six-month assignment and returning to stateside, they were there to meet Jimmy when his ship arrived in California right on schedule. He was taken into their home as a guest for a few days and given a tour of the city by the bay. When it was time for him to leave, they paid the $50 bus fare needed to get him on the road to North Dakota. It was their way to show gratitude for an oil painting he had given them – and because he was flat broke after the sailor had conned him out of his money.

The Man Was Once A Dreamer

Sharing a tiny upstairs apartment with his grandparents, who gladly spoiled him with love and all the food he could eat, became a turning point in the unstable existence of Jim. He managed to finish his studies, proudly getting a high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago. He managed to find a job at the Bismarck Hospital where he worked as an orderly, and then managed to find another job at Northwest Mapping Company.

Grandfather Becker gave him $75 to buy his first car. It was a black, two-door Studebaker convertible. Holding down two jobs kept him busy. He was working like an eager Beaver over sixteen hours a day for nearly three years. Driving that slick car back and forth between Mandan and Bismarck was a real challenge. Extremes in weather conditions provided frigid, below freezing temperatures during winter snow storms – along with sleet, hail, rain, wind and sunshine – all of which taught him how to be adaptable and determined. His craving for success and desire to avoid poverty kept him plowing through snow, wading through water, forging his way through rain and keeping cool during heat to stay employed.

Earning money made trading for better cars, buying nice clothes, taking girls to movies, and investing in his first reel-to-reel tape recorder possible. Jimmy took time in his stressful schedule to record conversations and songs with his aunt Opal. They found a piano at a local Assembly of God church where old fashioned songs were sung and recorded. Jimmy did his version of Pat Boone singing "Love Letters In The Sand" during those days when he was dreaming of becoming a star someday. Many of those 1950's tunes were put on tape and sent with letters to his family in Manila, keeping them informed and entertained.

There had never been a consistent "father figure" to keep track of what Jim was thinking or doing up to that point in his life, because his father had always been busy being a minister. There had been behavioral abnormalities in the past when he fell in love with older females, and when he paraded naked without shame around his sisters, but the root cause for his sexual nature was a "demon"
he had trouble conquering. He had grown up in a home where his mother ripped pictures of women in bathing suits from magazines to keep her children from losing innocence. He quietly occupied church pews for years, hearing sermons about every conceivable sin. He learned that Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden. That made him curious. He learned that naked people do things that bring babies into the world. That really started him asking questions from adults who were ashamed to answer.

Curiosity remained through all kinds of interactions with people who he knew were "naked" under their clothes. The chance for a meaningful learning experience seldom came his way without
a little effort on his part. Starting in childhood, he tried to sneak a peek by looking at art, staring at pictures, glancing around in restrooms, accidentally entering bedrooms on purpose, spying through holes in walls, peering up cracks in floors, looking through windows, gazing under dresses, and in other ways was doing everything he could to understand human anatomy.

He remembered a sketch drawn by an older boy. It showed the general layout of a female body. That was helpful, but it only led to more confusion. He couldn't make sense out of the dots on two circles or those scribbles where legs came together. One time he stepped inside an outhouse with a neighbor girl to compare their nakedness. It seemed like a normal thing to be doing at the age
of four or five, but he wasn't very impressed when looking at her "pee pee" hole – especially after detecting a bad smell. He recalls a short buddy named Bert who showed his long "thing" to people on a crowded street, causing everyone to admire the size of his bravery. It all seemed harmless and hilarious in those olden days before getting bad reputations started ruining careers.

As most children do while growing and learning, Jimmy tried to satisfy his sense of curiosity. After he learned what "it" looked like, it naturally became important to know what "it" felt like. In these days when sexual perversions have risen to epidemic proportions, and when people have become paranoid about the safety of children and women, it might be wise to openly discuss reasons why normal boys, girls, men and women are capable of doing abnormal things. The sacred rules of God as explained in the Ten Commandments are not widely known or obeyed. If humans had the ability to resist evil temptations leading to lust, molestation, exhibitionism, fornication, adultery, homosexuality and rape, maybe we would have less bad news. For the sake of honesty, we need to admit, no "body" is perfect. Every "body" is guilty of making mistakes!

Among assorted "sins" that made James Reesor ashamed of himself were memories about his "urge" to use his penis as a communication tool. Learning how to strut his stuff from Bert led to showing "it" to females of all ages in public places. It was fun making "body language" statements such as, "Hi! Look at me! I have nothing to hide." "Have you ever seen one of these before?" "Hey, how does this make you feel? I'm just a wild and crazy guy with nothing better to do than shock you!" "Take a quick peek if you want something to tell your mother." "Look, but don't touch!" "Does looking at this make you laugh? Do you think I'm cute or an idiot?"

Thousands of innocent women and little girls were surprised to see what should never have been shown. Getting arrested for indecent exposure a few times was a minor annoyance that did nothing to stop his neanderthal-like behavior for most of his life. In spite of mistakes made while in rebellion against God, this person who was destined to become the vessel for "Elijah" never knew the real reason for his sexual expressions. It was just a cheap way to have fun when escaping boredom. He finally realized after a trip to the library to read up on the subject one time, being a "textbook" exhibitionist was not his problem. His "condition" had more to do with being a classical good guy who mistakenly did things to make others feel superior. Acting like a "nut" got more laughs than frowns from his unsuspecting audiences.

It might be a good idea for Christians to explain a few things about nakedness to the heathen. Is it really a sin, or is shame of being naked a result of sin? Did God create Adam and Eve with clothes, or did their desire to wear "coverings" result from guilt after sins had been committed? It might be helpful to explain a few other Bible events relevant to this subject before jumping to irrational conclusions based on current morals and laws. We can find many verses in the Bible worthy of debate.

"At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt." Isaiah 20:2-4

People of all ages need to wonder if being "barefoot" is equally shameful in the eyes of God as exposing the rest of a "naked" body? Which is worse, Isaiah walking naked and barefoot or James showing his penis while wearing shoes? Which is worse, being naked or looking at someone else who is naked? Should medical personnel be allowed to observe naked patients if being naked is a sin? Should mothers be allowed to breast feed their hungry babies in public? Should pornography, nudist colonies or nude swimming be allowed next door to churches?

The Man Was Once Old Enough To Get Married

Somewhere along the way from birth to older age, marriage to Sharon Lee O'Brien seemed like a good idea after she became pregnant. She was the blond daughter of a plumber and a student nurse in the same hospital where the two of them had met. It would be ludicrous to rationalize their relationship as anything other than immaturity running rampant. Not one day went by without an argument about sex or money. Since Jim had paid the bills during the last year of her student nursing endeavors, she had promised to put him through college after graduation. It seemed like a good plan at the time, but other things became more important when she actually found a job.

His cheap high school diploma failed to get him into Bismarck Junior College back in those days, so he took the exam needed to get a GED certificate. His percentile ratings were higher than average, but a lack of funds kept him out of class.

After moving to Texas, Jim enrolled as a student at Crozier Tech High School in Dallas. He eagerly started night classes to further his education in art. During days, he was working as an attendant at the Fina gas station. During his spare time on weekends, he kept love for music alive by organizing a musical group. While all of that was going on, Sharon was a busy registered nurse at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Vicky Lynn, their first child, had the distinction of being born at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas, January 6,1960. Parkland later became more widely known as the place where President John F. Kennedy died after being shot on November 22, 1963. In fact, Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby were also added to a list of notorious villains who entered eternity from that location.

Sharon slowly became hostile when Jim attempted to make music his top priority in life. The name of his group was "The Abstracts," a name she detested. Not one of their songs was worthy of her applause. She would get angry when hearing them rehearsing "too loudly" in the living room. It was a constant source of irritation. The thought of putting up with that ungodly noise was driving her crazy. The worse part for that mother of his first child was watching pretty girls asking for autographs. Her husband had a silly way of grinning when being told he was a good singer.

Jim was invited to the home of a Christian lady after church one Sunday afternoon. She was related to a famous musician, She thought introducing them was a good idea. Carl McVoy was a cousin of legendary "Great Balls Of Fire" Jerry Lee Lewis and renowned Pentecostal evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. He had gone to Dallas to play piano with the Bill Black Combo at the Silver Spur while on the way to do an Ed Sullivan TV show. Since Jim knew the popular group had backed Elvis during the early part of his career, meeting the piano player was a real thrill.

They had lunch, they talked, Carl played a few tunes, and then he listened to an acetate Jim had brought. It had two songs recorded a few weeks earlier. One was "Don't Be Cruel" and the other was "All The Way." There was a positive reaction from a few people in the room when listening to the sound of Jim singing. It prompted Carl to make an offer that no aspiring singer could refuse, saying, "If you come to Memphis, we'll make a record."

Jim went home feeling like he was floating on air that day. He was thinking fate was about to transform him into a singing star. It was a big surprise to see how Sharon reacted when hearing the good news. Jealousy was written all over her pouting face. To think that a piano player with the Bill Black Combo would actually ask Jim to take a trip to Tennessee was beyond her ability to imagine. Even though Carl was part owner of High Records in Memphis, it didn't impress that woman who suddenly returned to North Dakota with their daughter without a word of warning. Jim discovered they were gone after returning home from work one night.

Two weeks later, the decision was made to follow her to Minot instead of going to Memphis to take Carl up on his promise. Jim enrolled as a student at Northwest Bible College to give marriage another chance. He knew that Vicky needed a father just as much as he needed an education. Once they were back together, more problems because of her jealousy led to another separation. She moved off campus to an apartment up the street before the end of the first semester. Jim followed shortly after she reconsidered and invited him to move in so he could take care of Vicky while she was gone working. Patience, persistence, and a part-time job hauling water allowed Jim to finish his freshman year as an unhappily married student.

Becoming a sophomore at Minot State Teachers College was a big step up from the small school where Dr. James Brandt, the professor of psychology, had once said, "James Reesor is the smartest student I've ever had in one of my classes." As it turned out before Jim had even obtained results from his first exams, more problems led to another separation. This time he was the one to move away. He was given permission to sleep in a storage building next door to the home of Reverend Paul Walker. He was given five dollars for cutting the preacher's grass, and it was used to buy a bus ticket to Bismarck. Moving about a hundred miles away to live with his parents and sisters again seemed like a good thing to do under the circumstances.

His former boss at Northwest Mapping Company, Tom Levi, helped him find a job at the Dybdal Advertising Agency as a graphic artist. In a few, short weeks, new musically inclined friends were found that eventually resulted in fulfilling his "making a record" dream. A millionaire client of the agency, oil tycoon Kye Trout, loaded "Jay Rees and the Monarks" into his Cadillac for a trip to a Minneapolis recording studio. Two songs written and sung by "Jay" were put on the SOMA label, and the rest is history. The reason for changing his name from "Jim" to "Jay" was to avoid problems from the minister father who had a "Christian" reputation to preserve.

That night in Minnesota was a fun evening for all of them. After finishing with the recording session, they went to see Bill Haley and the Comets performing "Rock Around The Clock" in a packed night club. After listening to the rock ‘n roll legend, they went down the street to hear Peter Nero tickling ivories on a piano. Kye was all smiles with a pocket full of money, making sure his potential hit record makers had everything they wanted. Of course, that was the start of many more experiences to never be forgotten, but to be left out of this book.

Getting radio stations to play "Streak of Lightning" and "Little Mo Min" in North Dakota was easy. Many people were calling a radio station in Bismarck, asking to have the record played. One bad sport D.J. started complaining, thinking the calls were coming from "Jay" and relatives of the "Monarks." It was his listeners that made his job difficult, but that didn't stop him from taking his delusions to Kye Trout – who had second thoughts about doing more recording with Jay in the future. While trying to sort out that mess, good things were happening on the other side of town. A music shop owner decided to replace all of his display records he had on shelves with the one "Jay" made. Dozens of fans were keeping his cash register jingling for a week or two. Regardless
of a few local successes, the record bombed nationally.

Weeks later, manager of the group, Roger Hardy, took Jay for a short trip to Minot where popular singers Jimmy Dean, Patsy Cline and George Hamilton IV were doing a show. Roger happened to be a professional photographer with enough film to take pictures. Flash bulbs were flashing and his camera shutter was snapping. He got a few candid shots of "Jay" standing with those Country Music stars during conversations about "Big Bad John," "I Fall To Pieces," and "A Rose And A Baby Ruth."

It was a warm and friendly Patsy that put the idea of "Tennessee" into the hard noggin of her nervous fan. After that encounter, Jay could think about nothing other than going to Nashville. He was broke, but ready to start hitch-hiking when, coincidentally, he got a call from a former classmate. Larry Heil had joined the Air Force and wanted to know if "Jimmy" wanted to go along for the ride. They arrived in Music City USA on July 31, 1962.

During that trip south in one car instead of the many most hitch-hikers ride, Jay earned some money. A restaurant manager put "Streak of Lightning" on the jukebox, and customers gave Jay cash for his records when they heard him singing along with himself. Thanks to his generous fans, he could afford to rent a boarding house room for one week after being dropped off. He had nothing but thirteen dollars, one suitcase, a guitar and a microphone on a chrome stand. The small bed was in a hot room next to a window. It was kept open to avoid suffocation. His first morning meal from the elderly landlady consisted of scrambled eggs, sliced tomatoes, ham, grits, toast with jelly, and coffee.
Jim, or "Jay" as he was known back in those days, started selling more of his short supply of records. He went to bars in Printer's Alley to find customers on that very first day after arriving. Some folks might have thought of it as begging, but he needed survival money more than pride. Two weeks later, he had succeeded in forming a new group named "Jay Rees and the Playboys." They got a gig working at the Wagon Wheel for ten bucks a night when it was next door to the world famous Tootsies. It was an ideal place to hang out if you wanted to rub shoulders with people like Pete Drake, Faron Young, Boots Walker, Roger Miller, Hank Cockran, and dozens of song writers and singers with more plans than money.

The night of March 5, 1963, when Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copus, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughs died in a fatal plane crash, Jay started thinking about a "Hall of Fame" idea. Nashville was in need of something like the Baseball Hall of Fame or Hollywood Wax Museum. Since he had met Patsy and had made Tennessee his home because of her advice, he was motivated to do oil portraits to honor her and other stars.

Pete Drake had invited Jay and others to take a ride to help his friends at Starday Records. They got busy packing Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copus albums, getting them ready for shipping. The plan was to rush stuff to radio stations to "capitalize" on publicity being generated by the tragedy. It was an all night, no payment privilege for those who were trying to be helpful. Jay found time to tell Pete about his Hall of Fame idea. A few days later, Pete recommended getting in touch with Jo Walker on Music Row. Her office was upstairs in the Owen Bradley house. Interestingly, Pete and Jo had reacted like it was a wonderful, new idea. Other people during the following weeks had also reacted in positive ways to Jay's enthusiasm. Of course, that was the start of more experiences to never be forgotten when history was rewritten.

This time it was Sharon and Vicky who followed Jim to his chosen place of residence. Sharon went to work at Vanderbilt Hospital as a nurse, and "Jim" left "Jay" behind when finding a job as graphic designer at the Southern Methodist Publishing House. Two years later, he was employed as an advertising manager at Nashville Products Company. After doing three catalogs, he resigned and found something else to do. His son James Brien was born on April 8, 1968, at the very place where his mother was employed. He was a great baby who smiled the first day he was taken home. It was the same month that Jim opened the door of his new business. ADPRO PRODUCTIONS, Inc, was located in a small office in the Capital Records building on Music Row. Jim had rented it from one of his first clients Hubert Long. He was a talent manager, booking agent, owner of music publishing companies and president of the Country Music Association.

Those were the good old days when Jim promoted his "Ho Hum" satirical TV show ideas before Hee Haw existed. Those were the weeks when he got a state trademark on "MUSIC CITY USA" and created a coloring book – which was the first product ever sold at the new Country Music Hall of Fame. Jim found time to record his "REESOR COMMUNICATES" album and start writing songs for his "Easy Coffee Cup" album. Those were the days when he devoted a year trying his best to convince local politicians and business leaders to think about his "Music City USA" tourist attraction concepts. Somehow, someone was inspired to start "Opryland USA." Of course, Jim had nothing to do with that? Those were the days of many more experiences to never be forgotten, or to be revealed in this book.

It was after too many years of dreaming and coming up with ideas that made other people rich, after writing songs that made other writers famous, after singing on records that nobody wanted to buy, after struggling too long without success in any profession, and after realizing prior failures had made him a bonafide loser, Jim became exhausted. It added insult to injury when several out of about fifty ADPRO clients refused to pay for services rendered, almost like it was a conspiracy to railroad him out of town. That left him with no alternative but to lock the door and head for the hills to get away from debt collectors!

His wife Sharon had left Vanderbilt and was working at Parkview Hospital with Dr. Thomas Frist, one of the founders of Hospital Corporation of America. Shon JeVon was born on March 11, 1971. She was a sweet baby who lit up the planet upon arrival from Heaven. She was a wonderful gift for both Vicky and "Jamie." Having a baby sister for them was better than getting new toys. Even though the happiness of his children was a reason for satisfaction, Jim had been floating through the twilight zone for two years, trying to get over his disappoints and sorrow after losing ADPRO and most of his friends.

Getting an invitation to the office of a leading talent manager and booking agent had seemed like a golden opportunity. His "Easy Coffee Cup" album with four original songs he had written was one reason for interest and the other was his talent as a singer. There was a room full of smiles when the contract was signed with Buddy Lee Attractions. Danny Davis of Nashville Brass fame and Tommy Cash, the brother of Johnny Cash, were cheering for Jim from the sidelines. The "Reesor" guy also had a song writing contract with the House of Cash at that time, thanks to Johnny's sister Reba Hancock. "Bright Side Of The Sun" was one tune they liked most. "Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife," a song written by Jim's friend Chris Gantry, was another song on the album that showed a certain singing style they all seemed to admire. As it turned out after that brief brush with destiny – nothing but silence was heard from Buddy Lee.

Jim scurried off to California, trading records for gas and food, and was on the verge of starting a new life. He got in touch with Bud Reesor, a third cousin who owned an insurance company in Inglewood. Bud bought a dozen albums and started handing them out to people who might be able to help. Fans of Glen Campbell probably never heard of the man who wrote it, but Jim knew it was Jimmy Web. So, meeting his father was an honor. Bob Web of MGM Records said he would sign Jim to a contract, but he never did. On the other side of L.A., Randy Wood said Dean Martin was going to record a song Jim wrote, "Shame Prissy Shame," but he never did. Somewhere down in the boondocks, Mickey Solomon, reputed to have been in good standing with the mafia, politely made arrangements for Jim to audition at the "Horn" in Santa Monica. Jim got nervous when noticing a dark figure by the stage curtains out of the corner of his eye, and suddenly forgot what he was singing. He apologized to the piano player, Horn manager and a famous record producer, saying he had to go. A few days later, Jim was on his way back to Tennessee.

The Man Was Once A Politician

It was 1973 when Jim had an urge" to seek public office during a late night drive in Kentucky. It came like a flash of light from out of the sky, striking his heart with a loud thump. Even though he had never won a trophy, had never been given an award to put on a shelf, and had never earned a college degree, circumstances beyond his control transformed him into a legal candidate for the governorship of Tennessee. He was convinced by people who were signing his petition that, conceivably, his brilliant ambition could evolve into a learning on-the-job opportunity. He knew that getting votes would be feasible if he threw his hat into the ring. With a little luck, Jim knew it would be something to brag about.

It was at his Bristol, Tennessee, campaign kickoff on the Virginia Main Street border that James told reporters about his intention to walk all the way to Memphis. Not many days after taking his first few steps, James noticed he was getting very little attention. His journey on foot resulted in more blisters than news. He got mad when almost being struck by the open door of a passing car. Fear made him jump in a ditch when bullets from the gun of a distant "hunter" struck gravel near his feet. Sleeping in the woods when leaning against a tree made him grumpy. Escaping rain by hunkering down in a cave gave him time to reconsider his plans. He bravely walked into Crossville and asked the Sheriff for permission to spend a safe, dry evening in his jail. He decided that life was too precious to lose while in the pursuit of happiness. Walking across the state came to an abrupt end after about 240 miles. His two-week, half-done, eager attempt to invent an adventure designed to reach out to potential voters had proven to be too dangerous.

Everyone watching TV, listening to radio or reading newspapers knew about the man who was being compared to other cowboys. Controversy over his Canadian birth made the campaign trail a difficult place for the "outsider" with long hair. Prejudicial Civil War descendants were constantly doing their best to remind him that he was not a genuine Tennessean. James Reesor had no right to seek public office in their part of the South without a proper birth certificate, according to what some redneck folks were saying. There were, of course, many references made about "the man from Canada." On the other hand, nice folks who had been taught how to be polite, unceremoniously changed the degrading phrase to "the man from Tennessee" to make James feel welcome. He was the only candidate wearing faded jeans, a blue work shirt, a leather cowboy hat and cowboy boots instead of a suit. It was one of many reasons why the natives frowned when he was around.

There was constant speculation about "the man from Tennessee" back in 1973 and 1974. James was intrigued when the phrase was heard in the song "Please Come To Boston." Whatever might have been the connection, be it imitation or coincidence, being known as "the man" became a private claim to fame.

According to rumors started by James, he was the first candidate in the history of Tennessee to visit all 95 counties. He was proud to be talking and walking in the state made famous by bear hunter Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson, Hank Williams, Roy Acuff and Elvis Presley. Regardless of his unique candidacy, he was only getting token publicity from media people in the beginning. They seemed to think only serious contenders deserved scrutiny. It was only after being robbed by prostitutes in Memphis that they finally started taking an interest in his viewpoints on political issues. He learned that sharing honest opinions with fun-loving reporters was easier than being treated like a foreigner by idiots who never understood his rambling remarks. James had a knack for uttering poetic phrases, using satirical humor to make analogies, sharing solemn, buggy-eyed prophetic warnings, and using reverse psychology to make an impact on pseudo-intellects.

Demeaning, humorous remarks directed against opponents by James were being noticed by a few pot-smoking college students, radical fanatics in trailer parks, and senile seniors he visited in nursing homes. Unfortunately, they refused to put bumper stickers on their cars or promise to vote for him. After Ray "the ray of sunshine" Blanton won the election – just as predicted by those who admired his dignity and charm, Republican Lamar Alexander went back home where he could start wearing plaid shirts again. Other men who had fought the good fight dropped out of sight. As for James, "the man from Tennessee," he found solace in places where he could stay out of trouble. During unemployment, nobody but God cared enough to listen when he was talking.

The Man Was Once In The Presence Of God

Getting approximately 2,000 votes was not an ego booster for a "cowboy" who had been yearning for something good to happen. When looking back at all of the newspaper articles, and radio/TV interviews, one event stood out above all others. In spite of his defeat, there had been a supernatural visitation at the Holiday Inn motel one night when he was in Cleveland. It had been the last county to be visited during his campaign. A local newspaper did an article, showing a picture of him standing by a landmark sign, not knowing the full extent of his purpose for being in that place on that day. When everything else was fading from his mind, memories of those mysterious hours in a motel stuck with him.

Whether it was some form of delusion, self-deception, a fantasy or insanity, for James it was a real happening! He believed he had witnessed the invisible presence of God Himself, the Holy Spirit or an angel sent down from Heaven to literally take possession of his body. People might wonder why God would do something so profound in a motel, but James assumed that being told he was Elijah required privacy. He had laid there on that bed, listening to every word being spoken out loud, right out of his own mouth. The surprising way James was given information about his inner self was done in a way that made him feel outside of his body. There were emotions and thoughts during that experience which made it impossible for him to explain in a rational way. His recollection of that esoteric night made a tremendous impact on how he tried to explain himself, and how he begin to regard his existence. When being asked his "name" during introductions to other people after that miraculous event in Cleveland, he didn't know if he should say "James" or "Elijah."

He had become convinced, beyond any self doubt, the "Spirit of Elijah" was in him. He started to realize that having an ancient Spirit from Heaven dwelling in his body was probably why his unexpected "urge" to get into politics had not been an accident. There must have been an important reason for "Elijah" to get involved in politics, even though "James" had lacked conventional qualifications. Drastic changes in how he started thinking about himself was now giving him new reasons for being born. There was now a special purpose for being alive.

Even though losing a political race would further his reputation for failure, there was no obvious way to determine if he would gain success as a prophet. Even James knew his mission for God in places dominated by wicked people would not be easy. He knew that the average person would rather vote for a retarded ring-tailed monkey than give respect to a nonconformist with messages coming down from Heaven.

After that motel awakening, rather than trying to explain his rare experience to people who would simply conclude that he had lost his sanity, it seemed wiser to keep everything about that night a secret. He tried to suppress memories about things he had heard while listening to himself talk. His behavior slowly went from bad to worse. Family members and friends were realizing that he had become "too heavenly minded to be any earthly good" after being rejected by voters of Tennessee. Instead of engaging in typical song writing, typical oil painting or typical singing activities, James was now reading the Bible when he wasn't wandering around at the mall or sleeping. When things were getting hectic at home, he would make a quick retreat to the highway, traveling to escape personal problems by picking destinations on impulse. With no job or income, his nomadic way of life was maintained by bartering his record albums for gas and food.

There were many acts of kindness from strangers he met during journeys that resulted in making survival on the road tolerable. He was grateful to strangers who offered free food and invitations to spend nights in their homes – because God put compassion in hearts to make it happen. He explained how he had been able to drive over a hundred miles in Florida on an empty tank of gas – because God did a miracle to make it happen. Lack of cash, flat tires, and assorted distractions made life difficult. When despair or hopelessness became overwhelming, good Samaritans gave help without being asked. Somehow, because of relatives, friends and strangers who were compelled to do good deeds when help was needed most, James was able to survive. Many volunteer acts of kindness and charity led to stronger faith when he realized that God was somehow involved in keeping him moving forward.

He went to work for a few months at Longhorn Rodeo when it was owned by Mooney and Country Music star Loretta Lynn. He quit that job and went back later for a few more months after Bruce and Sheila Lehrke bought the company. Some of his "family entertainment" concepts and logo designs are still being used by Longhorn World Championship Rodeo during their performances around America – such as the "Super Sport."

It was 20/20 hindsight that finally put a bitter divorce and a slew of adulterous affairs into proper focus. James bravely admitted to himself one day that he had been thinking and acting like a dumb, irresponsible kid most of his life. He had learned why running away from God is much harder than walking hand-in-hand with Him! He had only "rebellion" to blame. He had almost destroyed himself because of lust, ignorance, pride, and worldly ambitions. After making his way through more than his share of life-changing revelations, and after learning lessons the hard way when making masterful mistakes on impulse, the immature boy had finally been transformed into a full-grown immature man.

As clocks continued to tick during the first year leading to ten years of self-imposed celibacy, James experienced a second supernatural visitation. He sat quietly in front of a typewriter and watched his fingers hitting the keys in rapid succession. He could see words forming on white paper, somehow appearing without need for conscious thought. It made him feel like he had felt in Cleveland, like he was once again on the outside of his body, watching another "force" using his fingers without conscious participation. When the burst of "energy" left him feeling normal again, he figured out while reading that "THE MESSAGE FROM GOD" was not his creation. He had never had thoughts like that before. When it was finished, he had sat there reading verses from the Bible that he had never memorized. It was a breakthrough moment when he knew without any doubt that it was time to stop stifling himself when thoughts came streaming through his mind. James decided it was best to open himself up to what be believed was the "River of Life." That was the day he started allowing ideas to flow through him uninterrupted.

While calendars were marking changing dates, he proceeded to labor day and night until over 300 pages of a new manuscript was laying on the table. "MIDNIGHT SUNLIGHT" had been written to put the original "message" into perspective for skeptics who were unable to believe that God still talks. His distinctive writing style included grammatical errors that made prophetic symbolism in a maze of fictional circumstances boring to read. Naturally, unedited versions of his manuscript were rejected by dozens of publishers. He learned quickly that an uneducated artist trying to get a book published was more frustrating than being a Canadian-born American Tennessean. Without a professional team to assist him with his dreams, dozens of manuscript copies were given away to people in an attempt to get "the message from God" into circulation.

After months of experiencing a lack of interest from those who were virtually ignoring the information sent from Heaven, James decided to sell his car to get cash needed for a radio program. The "message" along with sermon-like comments about the Ten Commandments were recorded for broadcast over Nashville's WNAH Radio. 1982 was the year Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit Spain. Former actress Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, died as the result of a car accident in 1982. The first CD player was sold in Japan, and the first issue of USA Today was published in 1982. Michael Jackson released his album "Thriller" and "Chariots of Fire" was a popular film, but "Elijah" announcing his presence on Planet Earth over radio in 1982 was ignored by most Christian listeners and the news media. Only one good soul bothered to get in touch, requesting a free cassette.

James often awoke from sleep with a sense of urgency, knowing that going to a typewriter or computer would lead to the writing of a new message. Once it had been completed, he felt impressed to share the information with others as soon as possible. Words formed on paper that were inspired by thoughts coming from somewhere outside of his dimension of reality was becoming a regular part of the routine. It was his desire as a "servant of the Lord" to remain a willing instrument for the sake of accomplishing his duties without seeking materialistic or financial rewards. There was nothing more important for "the man" than doing his best to share promises and warnings from God.

There are no limitations to the good that can be done when Words from the Father are shared by His full-time and part-time servants. Christians should be able to understand that with just a little discernment, it is easy to recognize the difference between outward appearances and inward motivations. Even though children of God are frequently tainted by evil, we know that "greater is He in us" than any power being brought against the Body of Christ by the Evil One. Christians have been victimized by turmoil, poverty, persecution and sorrow through the centuries – yet most of us have continued reaching out to lost souls in spite of resistance. We know in our hearts that the gospel of the Kingdom is the only hope for lost souls who have been corrupted by sin. So, then, we need to wonder why have the messages of Elijah been kept a secret from people who need them most? What might have happened in this world over the years if Elijah had been accepted and respected?

The End Of Part One