Spiritual Revolution Day in Cincinnati Ohio

March 27, 1971 was Spiritual Revolution Day, at least in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Bearing the caption “Live Jesus Trip And Pop Concert”, this virtually unknown custom press documents some of the dialogue and musical performances of the event. An unidentified “special guest” gives the opening comments – I’m pretty sure it’s Randy Matthews. 

The group God’s Children provides two songs: ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Coming Home’, both in a piano-accompanied light rock style. 

They’re followed by a like-wow-man zoned-out Jesus freak who provides a few remarks on Christ’s imminent return and baptizing some converts from the concert in the river. He then introduces the band Maranatha. 

These guys are the highlight of the lLP, delivering two tracks of good basement electric-guitar-and-organ rock that includes some rough fuzz outbursts. One of the songs is Randy Matthews’ ‘Children Come Together’. It’s a low-fi sound like Wilson McKinley’s On Stage, but nevertheless quite cool. These guys were obviously quite excited, givin’ shouts of “if you love Jesus say amen!” and “one way!” between the songs. 

Side two continues with two more fine songs by Maranatha: ‘Country Boy’ and ‘God’s Creation’, both lengthy ballads with a rural feel. 

Lillie Knauls is next with a pair of contemporary black gospel numbers including Edwin Hawkins’ ‘Come & Go With Me’. 

Lastly, someone identified only as “a brother” (I’m quite certain it’s Randy Stonehill) does a brief a cappella song (a portion of ‘Baby Out Of Wedlock’) followed by closing in prayer. 

Back cover has a small pic of a flyer advertising the concert. Arthur Blessit, Glenn Schwartz and Larry Norman are listed but they’re not on the actual recording. 

Like Jesus Sound Explosion and Jesus People, this album definitely captures the spirit and enthusiasm of the times.    (The Archivist, 4th edition by Ken Scott)

I attended the event and most of the concert. So did my then girlfriend and future wife. I wish I could find a picture of the back cover. My Linny's picture graces it.

I am not certain why some of the names were omitted on the recording. The group called Maranata was comprised of a then unknown Randy Matthews, who was director of The Cincinnati Jesus House and a student at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Ted Baxendale, also a student at the Seminary. Both guys sang and played guitar. 

Their friend from California joined them on stage. His name was O.J. Petersen, a former biker from Los Angeles and friend of Arthur Blessit. O.J. played organ and sang on his song Country Boy. O.J. got his nickname because he became sober and his new drink of choice was...you guessed it; orange juice.

Rich Davis sang a song he wrote about creation. Randy Stonehill was the M.C. wearing his Superman T-Shirt and a top coat.

This poster is from Spiritual Revolution Day II

Lilly Knauls was a special lady. For the second Spiritual Revolution Day which occurred two years later I picked her up at her hotel and drove her to her rehearsal.

In late fall the recording was produced in the home of the fellow that did the live recording. I was there and helped my friends decide the order of the songs and how much crowd noise should be left on the soundtrack. This was back in the days when all recording was done on tape. The "producer" was handy with a razor blade and the tape which he spliced together.

It was a wonderful day and was the day that I and my girlfriend went to the Ohio River and were baptized.

The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways

                 

I had everything planned and had told my wife I would not be going to church with her on Sunday. My wife reminded me that Sunday was the Sabbath Day and hunting a trophy buck should not be part of the Sabbath.

1. I scouted the area all summer.

2. I searched out the best location for my tree-stand.

3. I set it all up a month ahead of time.

4. I trailed the herd.

5. I picked out a trophy buck.

6. Two days before opening day I rechecked every aspect of the hunt.

7. Everything was in place.

8. Sunday morning, I woke up at 2 am.

9. I put on my camo, loaded my pack, set out for my stand.

10. This was destined to be an epic hunt.

11. As I approached my deer stand.

I found this! I called my wife and told her I had decided not to hunt on the Sabbath and would meet her at church. 

The Sunday sermon was entitled "The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways".

The Hospital Story

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph 's Hospital. 

She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone Who can tell me how a patient is doing?"

The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?"

The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, "Norma Findlay, Room 302."

The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal, and her physician, Dr. Cores has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."

The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news."

The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"

The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me shit."

The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

- Author Unknown