Chicken Soup for the Country Soul Read online

  Richard Tripp is the founder and director of Care of Poor People (COPP) Inc. He is a man who has one main dedicated goal—to get the homeless and hurting brothers and sisters off the streets of America and back into housing and employment. He is a self-made man taking on the system by coming up with original ideas for housing and employment training—ideas that he got from living it himself. He has published a book, It’s Hip to Help the Home less: How to Give a Hand Up Instead of a Hand out. If you would like to support Richard and the work that he is doing or start you own organization, please contact him at 816-483-4081. 2432 Chelsea, Kansas City, MO 64127.

  Porter Wagoner is a veritable icon in the country music industry. He is widely acknowledged by new country performers as the epitome of showmanship. His career was launched in 1955 and just two years later, in 1957, he was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. He started the syndicated “Porter Wagoner Show” in 1960 and it remained on the air for twenty-one years. Porter has a big presence on TNN as one of the regular hosts of Opry Backstage on Saturday nights.

  Billy Walker is an Opry legend who was born in Ralls, Texas, and was one of eight children. At the age of fifteen, he gave his heart to the Lord. “If God does not guide your life, regardless of your field of endeavor, success is shallow. We are to let our lights shine to all the world. My desire is that God be glorified in everything I do.”

  Lari White began performing as a child with her brother and sister as the White Family Singers. She went to Miami University on a full academic scholarship majoring in music engineering, before winning first place on TNN’s You Can Be A Star show in 1988. She signed to RCA Records in 1992 and has charted several hits from her four albums. Married to songwriter Chuck Cannon she now has a new baby and a new label. She is the first artist on Disney’s fledgling record label, Lyric Street. Her new single and album entitled Stepping Stone s will be in stores this July.

  John and Audrey Wiggins are brother and sister from the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. They’ve been performing together for last nineteen years. In January of 1987, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue their love of music. After many ups and downs, they remain in Nashville writing and performing, finally living out their dream.

  Permissions

  We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are public domain or were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen or Ron Camacho are not included in this listing.)

  Giving. Reprinted by permission of Randy Travis. All rights reserved.

  Love Goes a Long Way, Mama Sang a Song and Just What the Doctor Ordered. Reprinted by permission of Whisperin’ Bill Anderson. ©1998 Whisperin’ Bill Anderson.

  Sir . . . My Waiting Room Angel. Reprinted by permission of Carla M. Fulcher. ©1998 Carla M. Fulcher.

  Bottom Dollar. Reprinted by permission of Robert J. Duncan and the June 1995 Re ad e r’s Dige st. ©1995 Robert J. Duncan.

  The Man in Black. Reprinted by permission of Richard Tripp. ©1998 Richard Tripp.

  O Holy Night. Reprinted by permission of Jean Calvert. ©1998 Jean Calvert.

  The Chain of Love. Reprinted by permission of Jonnie Barnett, Broadmoor Music (BMI) and Balmur Entertainment, Inc./Pugwash Music (BMI), and Rory Lee and Melanie Howard Music, Inc. (ASCAP). ©1998 Jonnie Barnett and Rory Lee.

  A Special Gift. Reprinted by permission of Marijoyce Porcelli. ©1998 Marijoyce Porcelli.

  The Trophy. Reprinted by permission of Billy Walker. ©1998 Billy Walker.

  Ole Charley. Reprinted by permission of Joe Pritchard. ©1998 Joe Pritchard.

  The y’re Waving at Me. Reprinted by permission of Robert Crum. ©1992 Robert Crum. This story originally appeared in The Christian Science Monitor.

  The Farm Horse That Be came a Champion. Reprinted by permission of Philip B. Kunhardt Jr. ©1959 Philip B. Kunhardt Jr.

  Great Love. Reprinted by permission of Michael Peterson. ©1998 Michael Peterson.

  Simpler Times. Reprinted by permission of Charles D. Williams, M.D. © 1998 Charles D. Williams, M.D.

  Introduction to A Christmas Guest. Reprinted by permission of Fred Foster. ©1998 Fred Foster.

  A Christmas Guest. Reprinted by permission of Loray El Marlee Publishing.

  Momma’s Christmas Magic. Reprinted by permission of Nova MacIsaac. ©1998 Nova MacIsaac.

  The Right Spirit and Bird Heaven. Reprinted by permission of Merilyn Gilliam. ©1998 Merilyn Gilliam.

  The Chain. Reprinted by permission of Gary Chapman. ©1998 Gary Chapman.

  Teddy Bear. Written by Dale Royal, Tommy Hill, Red Sovine and J. William Denny. Copyright ©1976 Cedarwood Publishing. Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

  Teddy Bear’s Last Ride. Written by Dale Royal and J. William Denny. Copyright ©1976 Cedarwood Publishing. Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

  I Meant to Do That. Reprinted by permission of Paul Brandt. ©1998 Paul Brandt.

  Raymond. Written by Phil Thomas and Luke Reed. Copyright ©1995 Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., and Feels Hunny Hole Music, and Golden Hook Music, a division of RS Entertainment, Inc. (BMI), and Songs of PolyGram International, Inc./Partner Music (BMI). Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

  Dadd y’s Little Girl. Reprinted by permission of Kippi Brannon. ©1998 Kippi Brannon.

  Grand father’s Clock. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Fasig. ©1998 Kathy Fasig.

  Angel Unaware. Reprinted with the permission Simon & Schuster from Happy Trails: Our Life Story by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jane and Michael Stern. ©1994 by Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Jane and Michael Stern. Permission also granted from Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Book House.

  A Handful of Blackberries. Reprinted by permission of W. W. Meade. ©1998 W. W. Meade.

  Fishing with Grand daddy. From No Shirt, No Shoes . . . No Problem by Jeff Foxworthy. Copyright ©1996 Jeff Foxworthy. Reprinted with permission by Hyperion.

  The Button Jar. Reprinted by permission of Susan Wells Pardue. ©1998 Susan Wells Pardue.

  My Father’s Hands. Reprinted by permission of Floanne Kersh. ©1998 Floanne Kersh.

  Virtuous Woman. Reprinted by permission of Jan Howard. ©1998 Jan Howard.

  Deck of Cards. Written by T. Texas Tyler. Copyright ©1948 Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., Trio Music Company, Inc., and Fort Knox Music, Inc. Copyright Renewed. Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

  Promises Kept. Reprinted by permission of Reverend Malcolm Patton. ©1998 Reverend Malcolm Patton.

  Too Broken to Be Fixed. Reprinted by permission of Victor Fried. ©1998 Victor Fried.

  Goin’ Fishin’. Reprinted by permission of T. J. Greaney. ©1998 T. J. Greaney.

  Angels Among Us. Reprinted by permission of Becky Hobbs. ©1998 Becky Hobbs.

  Nuns in the Country. Reprinted with permission by publisher Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Florida, from Puppies for Sale and Other Inspirational Tales by Dan Clark. ©1998 Dan Clark.

  When the Frog Got His Wings. Reprinted by permission of H. R. Ayers. ©1998 H. R. Ayers.

  What It Takes. Reprinted by permission of Merlin Littlefield. ©1998 Merlin Littlefield.

  In the Footsteps of a Good Man. Reprinted by permission of Country Music Magazine. Originally appeared in the November/December 1992 issue of Country Music Magazine. ©1992 Country Music Magazine. Published by