Oh, My! A "When Swing Was King" Update

My, oh my; has it really been 16 years since we presented our first “When Swing Was King” program in a senior care facility?  Goodness. That first show was presented at Life Care Center where my Mom was then living. And it was intended to be an entertainment feature at a party we were throwing for Mom and some of the other residents who were her friends there. That’s right -- one simple party. So who could have ever guessed what would end up happening? For within 2 months of that party, and without any promotion on our part whatsoever, we were creating new shows and playing to audiences in a half dozen senior facilities. Before the year was out, we were at 12 facilities with brand new shows every month.

And doing it, as we do now, completely free of charge.

We have now presented...drum roll, please...over 1,900 shows with each always-unique presentation made up of 12 songs, a couple hundred striking photos, and an informative and fun commentary backing it all up. We are freshly amazed at what the Lord has done. And we absolutely love the ministry it involves: creating each show from month to month, entertaining each audience (average numbers ranging from 12-40), and, because we go to the same facilities every month, establishing lively and inspirational friendships with so many people. Lord, thank You so much for “When Swing Was King.”

By the way, “outsiders” are always welcome and so you too can come along and find out just how fun and uplifting these events are. Claire posts the schedule on the Vital Signs Ministries website every month and we (and the senior residents themselves) would love to have you be a part.

By the way, you might find of interest the songlist for our June shows:

1) “Moonlight Cocktail” (Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & the Modernnaires)

2) “The More I See You” (Al Martino)

3) “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (Harry James Orchestra with Helen Forrest)

4) “Nevertheless, I’m In Love with You” (The Mills Brothers)

5) “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” (The Andrews Sisters)

6) “Blue Skies” (Benny Goodman Orchestra with Art Lund)

7) “You’re Driving Me Crazy” (Guy Lombardo Orchestra with Kenny Gardner)

8) “Twilight Time” (The Platters)

9) “Sh-Boom” (The Crew-Cuts)

10) “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” (Mitzi Gaynor)

11) “Mr. Meadowlark” (Ted Weems Orchestra with Perry Como)

12) “Swingin’ on a Star” (John Scott Trotter Orchestra with Bing Crosby & the Williams Brothers)

What's A.I. Saying About Vital Signs Ministries?

After a conversation with a friend lately about the increasing presence and influence of A.I. on all aspects of our lives, we decided to try a couple of experiments. We thought you might find the results of interest also.

Here’s the deal -- we asked an A.I. program to “tell us about” 1) Vital Signs Ministries, 2) “When Swing Was King,” 3) my novel “The Christmas Room,” and finally 4) Vital Signs Blog. Here were the answers...

Vital Signs Ministries

Vital Signs Ministries is a Christian nonprofit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1982 by Denny and Claire Hartford. The ministry describes itself as “Christian activists in the service of ‘the least of these’” and operates with a core commitment to a comprehensive sanctity of life ethic. 

Here are the key aspects of their work:

Mission Focus: Their primary goals include preaching the gospel, making disciples, and serving others through education, direct action, intercession, advocacy, and fellowship. They are particularly known for their pro-life stance and efforts to promote a culture of life. 

Key Programs: Pregnancy Counseling: They established the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling to support women and families.

Sidewalk Counseling: They engage in prayerful, peaceful, and winsome sidewalk counseling at abortion facilities. 

Senior Outreach: They run the popular “When Swing Was King” ministry, which provides entertainment and companionship in senior care facilities. They also conduct Sunday services at local senior living communities like Aksarben Village. 

Media & Education: The ministry has produced radio broadcasts (“Vital Signs” and “Vital Signs Weekend”), maintains an active blog and social media presence, and hosts book discussions and film showings. Also, founders Denny and Claire Hartford have conducted thousands of speaking engagements across the U.S. and internationally. The organization remains active in 2026 continuing its long-standing work in Omaha and beyond through various outreach and educational initiatives.

“When Swing Was King”

“When Swing Was King” is a ministry program by Vital Signs Ministries designed to bring joy, memory stimulation, and social connection to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The program features a live presentation that combines big band music from the 1930s and 40s (featuring artists like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra) with a slideshow of 240–265 era-specific photographs depicting fashion, cars, military life, and daily life from that time.

Hosted by founders Denny and Claire Hartford, the show includes a DJ-style commentary that adds humor and historical context, followed by personal visits with residents to foster friendship. While primarily an entertainment outreach intended to combat boredom and lift spirits, it also serves as a winsome witness for the Christian faith, often opening doors for spiritual conversations and prayer. The program began in July 2010 as a single event for Denny’s mother but has grown to serve multiple facilities monthly.

“The Christmas Room”

Denny Hartford’s novel “The Christmas Room” is an inspirational Christian fiction story set within the walls of a nursing home, focusing on themes of faith, dignity, aging, and the enduring spirit of the elderly.

Plot Summary -- The story begins with Grace Trinisi, a woman in the ICU who is unaware that Christmas has passed. Her son, Tony, fulfills her wish to see a Christmas tree in her room, creating a small sanctuary of holiday cheer that becomes known as “The Christmas Room.” This space not only comforts Grace but also inspires the hospital staff. Grace survives her illness but is diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia, leading her son to move her to Villa Vista Care Community, an innovative nursing home. The Christmas Room travels with her, becoming a central, year-round fixture of the facility under the guidance of the visionary director, Carolyn Kovacs.

The narrative weaves together the lives of various residents and staff, exploring their struggles and triumphs. Key characters include: Clark Gritzner, the difficult son of a resident whose actions create a medical emergency for his wife, Mattie, and who hides a personal crisis; Carolyn Kovacs, the dedicated director who manages the facility's daily challenges, from lawsuits to expansion plans; Rita Costello: a nurse aide whose compassion leads to professional growth; and Ralph Yarborough, an elderly custodian whose heroic actions in a restaurant change the facility’s future.

The plot balances the day-to-day realities of long-term care with a mystery involving Clark Gritzner and a broader message about the value of every human life, regardless of age or ability 

Reception and Reviews -- The book has received a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon based on reader reviews. Readers and reviewers consistently praise the novel for its realistic and empathetic portrayal of nursing home life.

Emotional Impact: Many reviewers describe the book as “uplifting,” “heartwarming,” and “full of love.” It is noted for bringing tears and joy, resonating deeply with those who have cared for aging parents or worked in healthcare 

Educational Value: Several readers, including those working in senior care or studying for Clinical Pastoral Education, highlight the book’s ability to provide insight into the “blood, sweat, tears, and joy” of nursing homes. It is often recommended for training staff or helping families understand the aging process 

Spiritual Depth: As a work of Christian fiction, the story is praised for its exploration of faith, forgiveness, and the healing power of love. One reviewer noted it felt like “a bit of heaven in this cursed world.” 

Realism: While the setting is idealized, reviewers appreciate that it does not shy away from difficult topics like dementia, abuse, and family conflict, ultimately showing the potential for nursing homes to be places of dignity and community. One reviewer, a pastor, mentioned that while they initially wanted to deduct a star for the idealized nature of the facility, they awarded five stars because the book shows what nursing homes “can and should be.”

Vital Signs Blog

The Vital Signs Blog is the commentary platform for Vital Signs Ministries, a non-profit Christian organization based in Omaha, Nebraska. The blog is primarily written and curated by Denny Hartford, who co-founded the ministry with his wife, Claire, in 1982.

The blog and its content center around several core pillars:

1. Cultural and Political Commentary

Hartford writes extensively from a traditional Christian, conservative, and pro-life worldview. He frequently provides commentary on current events, local and national politics, and what he describes as the “culture wars.” This includes curating consistent roundups like “The Top 5 Plus,” where he highlights and critiques media articles on topics ranging from religious freedom to societal trends and geopolitics.

2. Pro-Life Advocacy

A major focus of both the ministry and the blog is anti-abortion advocacy. Hartford uses the blog to share insights on pro-life theology (such as analyzing biblical texts regarding the preborn), promote local activist events, and discuss political initiatives, particularly within Nebraska.

3. Literature and the Arts

Beyond politics and theology, Hartford frequently shares his personal reflections on classic literature, films, and history (he holds a master’s degree in history). He has a deep affinity for classic authors like Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, and G.K. Chesterton, often drawing moral or spiritual applications from their works. He also runs a closely related secondary blog called The Book Den, which is dedicated more strictly to literature and popular culture reviews.

4. Ministry Updates and Community Engagement

The blog serves as a ledger for the ministry’s practical outreach programs. This includes updates on their “When Swing Was King” program (a multimedia big band music show they present at senior living communities and nursing homes) and their regular “letter-writing parties” aimed at advocacy and encouragement.

You can read his updates and commentary directly through The Blog - Vital Signs Ministries or follow his personal, ongoing posts at the standalone Vital Signs Blogspot.

Flying Over the Rainbow?

Among the songs in our “When Swing Was King” performances that most strongly connects with our audiences is Judy Garland’s gorgeous rendition from 1939 of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  It is, as you well know, a hauntingly beautiful song, one that underscores the human yearning for home, beauty, innocence and wonder...for escape from a world of drudgery, loneliness, and pain.

“Birds fly over the rainbow; why then, oh why can’t I?”

Our audiences love the song. And so do we.

But, of course, it is all too clear that when the strains of the song fade away, the listener is left only with the yearning, a sweet wishful longing that there might somewhere be a place of safety and bliss instead of this dark, troublesome, and increasingly decadent world we live in now. But “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is only of the many songs that reflect this desire, songs that resonate with our intrinsically human longing for beauty, love, purity, and peace. “There’s a Place for Us” and “Somewhere, My Love” are examples. So too are “Rainbow Connection,” “A Summer Place,” “Up, Up and Away,” “Moon River,” “Bali Hai,” “There’s a New World Coming,” “Age of Aquarius,” and on and on. Plus, that’s not even beginning a list of the stories, movies, poems, and fairy tales that take our imaginations into pretty, idyllic pastures where we “live happily ever after.” 

What’s behind all this? Randy Alcorn is spot on with the answer in his marvelous book, Heaven. “We are homesick for Eden. We’re nostalgic for what is implanted in our hearts. It’s built into us.”...“Desire is a signpost pointing to heaven…I’ve never been to heaven, yet I miss it. Eden is in my blood. And the best things of earth are souvenirs of Eden, appetizers of the New Earth.”

Donald Bloesch in his Theological Notebook (1989) agrees. “Man’s greatest affliction is not anxiety, or even guilt, but rather homesickness -- a nostalgia or ineradicable yearning to be at home with God.” I couldn't agree more with these remarks. Indeed, two of my favorite authors C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton also speak of his matter eloquently and often, as do Joni Eareckson Tada and David Jeremiah in their excellent books about heaven. There’s no doubting the undeniable fact that man is created in the image of God and is wired for paradise. Alas, we lost Eden through our sin but God, in His great mercy and to glorify His Name, has offered mankind something far better than even Adam’s garden. Through the promise of the gospel, the Lord offers us the wholeness, security, love, and bliss which will be ours forever in the New Jerusalem. Wow. And wow again.

So, while I certainly don’t suggest you stop loving songs like “Moon River” or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “Moon River,” I do urge you to remind yourself often of the rock-solid reality that is our eternal inheritance, one that the apostle Peter describes as “imperishable and undefiled [which] will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” 

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’ And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’” (Revelation 21:1-5)

And, in celebration of that immeasurably wonderful home that awaits us (a home that our Lord Jesus is personally creating and customizing for us!), may I offer you a song full of confident, joyful expectations of that stronger, weightier, infinitely more beautiful home beyond. 

Check it out right here...

The January LifeSharer Is up!

Wow -- December was one of our busiest, most delightful, and most Christmassy ever!

 Read (and see) the action right here.

December's Goin' Just Fine!

With last Friday’s shows at Newport and Brookstone Meadows, Claire and I finished off an absolutely fantastic “When Swing Was King” Christmas season. And, in doing so, we tied a record -- 17 shows in all! Our presentations 2 two senior centers in Branson, 1 up in Tekemah, 1 at New Cassel, 1 “home show,” a special Saturday WSWK Brunch at our house, and then our regular schedule of 11 senior facilities. And, along the way, we enjoyed even more heartwarming conversations than usual with residents, family members, and facility staff. It was really tremendous. Thank You, Lord! 

And yet as beautiful and plentiful as were our “When Swing Was King” moments, there were many, many more highlights of the Christmas season in which we have been blessed beyond measure. Among those highlights -- listening to Andy Williams Christmas music while parked alongside Table Rock Lake outside of Branson with snow softly falling around us...Baking and decorating cookies and handing them out to friends and neighbors...In-person visits with my cousins and Claire’s brother besides our Tuesday Zoom conversations with my siblings...Profoundly Christmassy church services at Aksarben Village Senior Living...Giving away a lot of signed copies of The Christmas Room...Coffees and meals out with friends...Claire’s making our home a gorgeous Christmas atmosphere for reading, for music, for entertaining, for writing letters and cards, for living!...Cleaning snow off the drive and walks (our neighbor’s too)...Prayers and singing Christmas carols with fellow pro-life champions in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion business...And hosting (so far) a Brunch event and 3 dinner parties...with 7 more evening dinner parties and 1 big Christmas Day dinner to go! (That Christmas Day, by the way, will find 11 of us squeezed in here with a large and creative menu to meet our guests’ varied dietary restrictions based on health and/or religious background. (We have 4 internationals attending.)

So, you can see, because of these wonderful opportunities yet before us (and because we celebrate all 12 days of Christmas plus 12th Night and Epiphany, there remain for us plenty of Christmas blessings to come! Bring ‘em on!

"When Swing Was King" and the Christmas Season

Claire and I returned home from Branson Saturday night after enjoying what was actually the second week of our annual 2-week working vacation. The first week was back in October but severe back pain sent us home early and, thanks to Claire’s persuasive skills, the Spinnaker resort allowed us another week with no extra costs. We had a wonderful time -- writing, reading (me: Christmas stories, Claire: the war heroism of young Winston Churchill), having lunch a couple of times at the College of the Ozarks, replenishing our supply of infused oils and vinegars from a Branson Landing merchant, feeding the ducks at Lake Taneycomo, listening to Christmas music while overlooking Table Rock Lake, and watching an old Christmas movie as well as evaluating, planning, talking, and praying. 

Oh yes; there were two other really terrific highlights of the week. You see, when we realized our 2nd week of working vacation would be in December, Claire called a few senior living facilities in Branson and offered them our delightful and inspirational “When Swing Was King” show...and at our regular price -- Free!  Two of them made room in their schedule and our presentations there (and our personal visits with Terry, Natasha, Patricia, Shirley, Bryan, and many other residents) won absolutely rave reviews. Thank You so much, Lord. Also adding a special spice was that our first show saw my cousin Rev. Gary Ellsworth and his wife Martha drive all the way from Bolivar to attend. And, at our next show, it was my cousin Ervin Ellsworth and his wife Alice who dropped in to bless us. So neat.

But, of course, the Christmas “When Swing Was King” experience is just getting
started. Indeed, with 13 more already on the schedule (with 2 more probable’s), this December looks like we may tie our all-time record! 

And that brings me to this; namely, a reminder that one of these upcoming “When Swing Was King” Christmas extravaganzas is available for you this Saturday morning at 10 at our home. But to land one or two of the remaining seats, you'll have to give us a very quick RSVP. It’s a brunch party with delicious food, hearty holiday fellowship, and the always lovely, always heartwarming, always inspirational 45-minute “When Swing Was King” Christmas show. Interested? Contact us ASAP.

And Another Month of "When Swing Was King" Closes

There's always a hint of sadness when we present the last of each month's showings
of "When Swing Was King." We do, after all, really cherish the songs and the photographs and even the stories and trivia items I recount for our audiences...and so we know we will miss them. And today we closed September's schedule with shows #10 and #11 -- first at Newport this morning and then at Brookstone Village late this afternoon.

However, ending this month's show means we will soon get started on the next gathering of 12 terrific songs, the next collection of 220-250 photos, and the next batch of interesting and fun information to please our friends in the senior living facilities. What a rich blessing God gave us (and so many others) when he gave us "When Swing Was King.

August's "When Swing Was King" Show Is (Once Again!) A Winner!

It is a busy and blessing-filled week for the “When Swing Was King” part of our ministry with 7 of this month’s 12 shows being presented this week. But we don’t want to be stingy on those blessings. Therefore, we post the August “When Swing Was King” songlist below as a teaser that might encourage you to drop into one of our shows this week or next. We would love to have you...as would the residents of the senior facilities where our shows have won so many hearts over the years. 

Here's what’s playing -- accompanied, of course, by about 240 remarkable photographs from the same years. It makes for a profoundly enjoyable and moving “sentimental journey.”

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra: “String of Pearls” (1942) 

2) The Andrews Sisters: “Begin the Beguine” (1945)

3) Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra: “Can’t We Be Friends?” (1935)

4) Andy Williams: “The Days of Wine and Roses” (1963)

 5) Eydie Gorme: “Hello Young Lovers” (1959)

6) Nat King Cole (Backed by the Billy May Orchestra): “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” (1964) 

7) Connie Francis: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” (1960)

8) Perry Como (With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and Chorus): “Patricia” (1950)

9) Benny Goodman Orchestra: “Here’s Love In Your Eyes” (1936)

10) Robert Goulet: “Gigi” (1962) 

11) Guy Lombardo Orchestra (Kenny Gardner, vocals): “Getting to Know You” (1951)

12) Fred Astaire (With the Johnny Green Orchestra): “The Way You Look Tonight” (1936)

Change for the Better: A “When Swing Was King” Update

Adlai Stevenson once observed that “change is inevitable and yet change for the better is a full-time job.” That’s certainly a sage observation, one that emphasizes the need for wise and intentional planning to make the very best of our time, talents, and opportunities. And though change isn’t exactly a full-time job for our “When Swing Was King” ministry, it is always a very important part.

How so? Well, each of our “When Swing Was King” programs consist of 12 original songs and 220-240 photographs. But oh, no; they are not the same songs or photographs at all. They are ever changing in order to keep our audiences of seniors as esteemed, engaged, and entertained as possible. (By the way, our current schedule takes us to 11 facilities every month.) 

Here’s how it works. In creating these shows over the last 15 years, we have developed 24 “base” programs which revolve on a 2-year calendar. And when each “base” program comes round, I go in and change anywhere from 2 to 5 of the songs and up to a third of all of the photos. No kidding. We are thus able to honestly explain to our audiences (and the staff at the senior facilities) that we offer a new “When Swing Was King” show every time. And they all appreciate the efforts we invest to do so as “When Swing Was King” is as beloved a program as ever before.

There is one more aspect regarding change that I might mention regarding “When Swing Was King.” Remember, we have been doing this for 15 years now and, since we remain committed to providing our current audiences with the music of their youth, that means changes need to be applied in our song selections. For today’s residents of the senior facilities (now in their late 80s and 90s) remember and cherish the music that was popular, not just in the 1930s and 1940s which were our focus in the first years of “When Swing Was King,” but also in the 1950s and even 1960s. You can see then an extra motivation for Claire and I to take seriously Stevenson’s exhortation as we conscientiously, creatively pursue “change for the better” in our “When Swing Was King” outreach.

Want an example an example of just what I’m talking about? Below I give you a briefly annotated songlist of the July “When Swing Was King” show. You’ll see how we’re striving to keep the best mix of musical genres possible for our friends. Also, please keep in mind that each month’s “When Swing Was King” is on the Vital Signs Ministries website in case you would ever like to join us! 

“When Swing Was King (Volume 15: Series 7, July 2025) 

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra -- “American Patrol” (1942)

(With military-themed photos accompanying this classic hit, we use this song as a tribute and thank-you to veterans of the U.S. military.)

2) Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers) -- “Dolores” (1941) (One of the several number 1 hits coming from that great combination of Tommy Dorsey -- “The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing” -- and the youthful voice of Frank Sinatra.)

3) Artie Shaw Orchestra – “Frenesi” (1940)

(Also, a number one hit, this was one of Shaw’s “signature” songs.)

4) The Platters – “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” (1959)

(Yes, here’s one of the songs illustrating our entry into early pop music. This #1 song, featuring lead tenor, Tony Williams, was one of their most popular.)

5) Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass – “A Taste of Honey” (1965)

(After an injury, Herb Alpert, an outstanding high school gymnast had to fall back on his musical interests and business savvy. He ended up becoming one of the most popular and successful musicians, promoters, and music executives of his time.) 

6) Pat Boone – “Love Letters in the Sand” (1957)

(The only serious rival to the popularity of Elvis Presley back in the 1950s, Pat Boone scored a #1 hit with this song. The photo theme accompanying it is the year 1957.)

7) Doris Day -- “You Oughta’ Be in Pictures” (1951)

(Photo theme -- Several of the leading men from Hollywood’s Golden Age.)

8) Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians – “Embraceable You” (1950)

(Always a favorite with our “When Swing Was King” audiences, the Lombardo band was promoted as playing “the sweetest music this side of heaven.”)

9) McGuire Sisters -- “Something’s Gotta’ Give” (1955)

(This Johhny Mercer song reached #5 on the pop charts that year and is an excellent example of why Christine, Dorothy, and Phyllis were such a terrific act.)

10) Julie London -- “Misty” (1960)

(One of the all-time best torch singers, the lovely Julie London performs one of the classiest versions ever of this Erroll Garner standard.)

11) Mills Brothers -- “Standing on the Corner” (1956)

(Selling over 50 million records in their long career, this fun song is one of their most popular of all. And our audiences absolutely love singing along.)

12) Lawrence Welk Orchestra -- “Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Weidersehn” (1971)

(This George Cates, Jack Elliott song was the one that the Welk cast always sang at the closing of the television show. And members of that beloved cast are featured in the photos used here.)

“I Knew Every One of Those Songs!”

Here are some of the recent responses Claire and I have enjoyed from audience
members after our “When Swing Was King” shows that we present at senior care facilities. 

“Thank you so much. I absolutely loved it! You brought back so many memories and feelings. Please come back soon!”

“Oh, that was such wonderful music. And the pictures! Oh my; we always have such fun when you come. We are so grateful to you both.”

“What a blessing you two are to us. The music and the pictures and all the interesting things you tell us about the songs and musicians -- they’re all so nice. Thank you for putting so much work into these programs...and just for us!”

And we get to experience such kindness and appreciation several times every month. Neat, huh?

Of course, as you might guess, there are a lot of other things we hear too. We enjoy residents’ stories about families, careers, dancing and romancing, war, travels, changes, triumphs and loss, happiness and sorrow. It is a great blessing to us to connect.

Oh yes, let me not leave out another of the most common responses to “When Swing Was King” that we hear; namely, “I knew every one of those songs!” This confident assertion is usually delivered with a big grin, but sometimes it’s with a pensive gaze as they are looking back into their history. In either mood, it is a heartwarming thing for us to hear for we know it stands as a positive testimony to the significance of the lives they have lived. Yes, the world may have passed them by and it doesn’t rate highly the times they lived, the achievements they made, or the culture they built. But suddenly, when Helen Forrest or the Mills Brothers begin to sing or the orchestras of Glenn Miller or Harry James begin to play, they remember, “Yes, we were there. Life wasn't always easy and we worked hard. But we were once young and there were good times too. We appreciated them and we miss them. And, even if no one else is around with whom I shared those days, these songs (and the pictures too) help me to remember and cherish them anew.”

Therefore, it is no wonder they are so sincerely grateful for Claire’s and my efforts to keep the music and memories of earlier times vibrant, fun, and available to them. No wonder they so quickly become both fans of “When Swing Was King” and our friends. They know that, in bringing this program to them, we are sharing with them an abiding respect for the remarkable musical arts of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s -- and sometimes even the 1960s -- and that we’re showing our abiding respect for them too. 

“I knew every one of those songs” thus becomes the highest compliment they could bestow on “When Swing Was King.” It is their warmhearted acknowledgement that each song we selected was relevant and appreciated. But there is yet another angle relevant here. Consider how many residents of a senior living facility struggle with memory loss. Sure, that’s an inevitable part of physical aging and little can be done about that. However, some of the memory loss (along with problems of boredom, loss of self-esteem, depression) can also derive from isolation and other lifestyle changes that have reduced mental stimulation. And, in such cases, even something as simple as “When Swing Was King” can be of help, For the music, the visuals, the stories, and the personal interactions which make up this unique outreach provide seniors a variety of entertaining, effective memory stimulants.

Everyone finds satisfaction in remembering. Everyone likes to scratch the itch, to fill the hole, to put back in their mind that elusive item that’s just past their reach. But for seniors, those who live daily with various levels of the frustration of forgetfulness, how terrific it is to discover that, by golly, “I knew every one of those songs!” It’s a vindication, a proof that not everything has slid into the mist. It’s a nice scratch to the itch.

Would you like to join us in this pleasant process of stimulating, reminding, befriending seniors? The monthly schedule for "When Swing Was King" is always up at the Vital Signs website. We (and they!) would love to have you come along for a show now and again. And, even if you can’t join us in person, you can certainly keep “When Swing Was King” and all of the other services of Vital Signs Ministries in your frequent prayers. That makes a big difference too.

A Weekend of Import

It was a good weekend highlighted by a stimulating Vital Signs Book Brunch on Saturday morning and an inspiring Palm Sunday church service at Aksarben Village Senior Living on Sunday afternoon. The brunch event saw Diane, Mary and Christopher, Ruth, Karla, and Claire and I discussing Randy Alcorn’s terrific Lord Foulgrins’s Letters over coffee and tea -- and pumpkin muffins and cream puffs and lemon tarts and chocolate chip cookies! This book, following the approach taken by C.S. Lewis in his classic The Screwtape Letters, presents remarkably enlightening and challenging theological truths in a very practical, even entertaining way. And, even though the book was originally published in 2000, its applications are remarkably relevant to today’s culture and to an individual Christian’s spiritual pilgrimage.

Randy Alcorn is a Bible-centered teacher in both his nonfiction works (Heaven; Happiness; Money, Possessions, and Eternity; Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?; Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments; The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving; If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil) as well as his also bestselling  fiction (Deadline; Dominion; Deception; Edge of Eternity; The Ishbane Conspiracy; Safely Home) and I appreciate all of his work. Nevertheless, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters is special. Yes, like Randy Alcorn, I’m a big fan of C.S. Lewis and I have long cherished Screwtape. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate the great value of Lord Foulgrin’s Letters and I recommend it without reservation.

And then our church service at Aksarben deserves highlight status as well. Our YouTube music selections this week were quality plus -- Southern Raised doing an acappella rendering of “I Need Thee Every Hour,” The Isaacs singing “The Goodness of God,” and the Gracias Choir and Orchestra performing “Majesty.” My brief sermon covered Matthew 21: 8-15 (“The King Arrives in His City”) as we examined the difference between the expectations of the people for a "National Liberation Day” from Roman rule and what the Messiah actually offered; namely, a spiritual kingdom, forgiveness of sins, the cleansing of the Temple, and the healing of the blind and the lame. It’s an exciting passage of Scripture, indeed. And, as usual, our fellowship time afterwards was grand -- enjoying drinks and treats and visiting for 30-45 minutes or so. There were 15 residents yesterday at church and there were quite a few in the Vital Signs team to help: Allen, Ruth, Tom, Pat, and Mary. Like I said, a very good weekend.

And now this week? It is starting out fabulously also as the Lord allowed me to safely drive our seriously ailing Hyundai to the dealer to see if it can finally be fixed. Thank you, Father, for getting me here without serious trouble. And now I await Claire picking me up to head down to Lincoln for our “When Swing Was King” show at Legacy Terrace and then lunch at the Engine House with good friends Harold and Mary Dee Berry. 

What a Week!

As I reviewed my journal entries from last Friday evening through last night, I realized how very special a week it had been for Claire and me, one that was chock full of special blessings for us. Thank you, Lord!

Friday night (Jan. 31) was the Nebraska Right to Life Gala -- a fantastic banquet/fundraising banquet that featured an enlightening and stirring talk by acclaimed actor and Christian spokesman Jim Caviezel. Terrific. The program also included brief presentations by Governor Jim Pillen, NRL Director Sandy Danek, N.U. volleyball star Rebekah Allick, and an excellent promotional video for NRL with Sandy, State Senator Tanya Storer (District 43), State Auditor Mike Foley, and me. (You can watch that 3 minute video, by the way, at this link.) I was also honored to share a couple of items with the 1200 in attendance and then lead them in prayer. And yes, the inspiration of the night was increased all the more for Claire and me by the pro-life heroes we had with us at the Vital Signs table: Dr. Ralph Kramper, Mary Roberts, Dave & Chris Schlesiger, Jay & Amy VanKat, and Keith & Barb Huizenga from Fremont.

Yet as wonderful as the Gala was, the NRL-sponsored Walk for Life the following morning was also intensely important for moving the pro-life cause forward in our state. The crowd at the capitol was very large; the collection of political representatives addressing the crowd was very impressive and motivational; and the dramatic witness of thousands of peaceful, prayerful pro-lifers walking through the streets of Lincoln was a powerful witness indeed. And, as always, we very much enjoyed the conversations with pro-life Nebraskans as we passed out free literature from the Vital Signs table.

And then there was last night! (Friday, Feb. 7) Claire and I were thrilled to again serve at the Night To Shine, the Tim Tebow Foundation's unique and beautiful ministry that gives an extravagant “prom night” to special needs people. What a super cool event this is! We worked the Parent and Caregiver room last night -- greeting, directing, visiting, serving food and drinks, busing tables, and then cleaning up after our guests had enjoyed the meal, music bingo, raffle prizes, and big screen views of the Red Carpet greeting and Dance Party. There was no doubt; people were absolutely over-the-moon with the success of the Night To Shine! So, way to go Tim Tebow, King of Kings Church, and all the volunteers.

Okay, but what of the week in-between those two Friday night highs? Well, there was a great church service at Aksarben Village Senior Living where a group of junior high students joined us for fellowship with the residents after church...bundling up for a very cold morning of pro-life witness outside the Planned Parenthood abortion business... several excellent fellowship opportunities over meals and coffee this week with Gary and Dean, Larry and Deb, Ralph, Jim and Jean...an interview for a testimonial video honoring John and Mary Ann Kellogg's long and invaluable pro-life service over the years...a lot of correspondence and social media action, including the weekend’s Top Five...preparing the February “When Swing Was King” show... and doing quite a bit of research for an article I'm writing about the recent troubles being caused for the pro-life community by people calling themselves “abortion abolitionists.” That piece, by the way, will appear on Vital Signs Blog early next week. 

Anyhow, like I said, what a week! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for each and every person who blessed us, for each opportunity to serve, and for all the ways You continue, in Your abounding mercy, to bless and empower us.

Let Vital Signs Help Inspire Your Holidays

Remember Andy Williams singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Well, with Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approaching  -- and with the election results turning out the way they did -- we can join Mr. Williams in those sentiments with even greater gratitude and joy this season.

And to help inform, inspire, and elevate your appreciation of this “most wonderful time,” Vital Signs Ministries has four seasonal opportunities for you:

1) “A Thanksgiving Present.” Think of it as a kind of “starter pack” for your Thanksgiving season -- 27 pages of Scriptures and quotations, excerpts from Presidential Proclamations and other documents, poems, trivia, and historical reviews. It’s a nice resource that you can use in your own holiday reflections, as conversation starters, to pass along in correspondence and social media, and to enrich the Thanksgiving experience with your family.

2) “Making the Most of Christmas.” This very popular collection has helped our friends for over 3 decades now to more thoroughly enjoy their Christmas season. Poetry, brief devotions, stimulating and fun quizzes, and a lot more. 

Both the Thanksgiving and Christmas collections are available (completely free, of course) on the Vital Signs Ministries website. (Look in the Articles section.)

3) As many of you know, Claire and I host a couple of Vital Signs Ministries letter-writing parties every quarter. It’s just one of our outreach, advocacy, and encouragement ministries. But it’s an important one. These gatherings are always full of serious purpose; yet they are very pleasant and engaging activities whereby we shine the lights of love, truth, and justice using personal correspondence. We have done this with excellent effect for over 40 years and we always look forward to these action-oriented fellowship opportunities. But ah...the Christmas card party! That is something particularly fine and festive. And we most heartily invite you to join us on December 2 at either our morning party (10 o’clock) or the evening event (7 o’clock) for 90 minutes or so of “good and noble work” as we write political officials, business leaders, heroes of the faith, Christians under persecution, and media. 

Also, for those unable to attend in person, we do provide a set of “helps” in the form of letter targets, relevant information, addresses, even sample letters. Those “helps” can also be found at the Vital Signs Ministries (in the Taking Action section) and/or Vital Signs Blog and/or through direct request from us. If you are interested in attending or in obtaining the “helps” in order to write a few letters and Christmas cards on your own, please let us know.

And 4) The Christmas edition of “When Swing Was King” is a truly unique inspiration and entertainment. We encourage you to check our schedule -- yes, it’s on the website in the Seniors section -- to perhaps plan to be a part of one of the audiences when we present “When Swing Was King” in several area senior facilities during the month of December. We also ask you to consider it as a special nostalgic treat for your own church family. 

So, there you go. Why not let Vital Signs Ministries be of assistance to you in truly making this “the most wonderful time of the year” in some new and meaningful ways?

Weekend Vital Signs Activities...And So On

It was certainly a significant weekend for Claire and I and things seem to have started in the same spirit to begin this week. Thank You, Lord.  Saturday’s activities involved sermon preparations, shopping, and preparing salad, a rich and spicy bean and vegetable stew, and several desserts for our dinner guests Saturday night -- Kamal and Yogesh from India. We had a marvelous evening together that night and we were delighted to hear them ask if they could come again sometime soon!

Sunday morning found us at one of our favorite churches, Herman Community Church, where I did a Sunday school class on Thanksgiving (both the biblical virtue and the history of the American holiday) and then the sermon on Ephesians 1:1-8. Then, after Claire and I stopped briefly for London Fogs at the Scooters’ in Blair, we conducted our regular Sunday afternoon church service at Aksarben Village Senior Living. It went very well too with 18 residents and our team on hand for a terrific time of teaching, music, and visiting over cookies and coffee.

Our Monday involved writing letters of congratulations to President-elect Trump and other Republican winners -- letters which also reminded them all of four priorities we are asking them to immediately pursue: 

1) The de-funding of the mega-abortion business that is Planned Parenthood.

2) Increased military might in order to better protect America from her enemies.

3) Clean and efficient election procedures.

4) “Cleaning house” in the Deep State, with a special emphasis on considerably strengthening the rights of religion, speech, assembly, and conscience from government harassment.

We also sent thank-you letters to the heroic pro-life leaders at NRL, NFA, and NCC for leading the victorious campaign to defeat the extreme pro-abortion amendment proposal 439.

Later that morning we headed down to Lincoln to present our first “When Swing Was King” show of November. No surprise -- the residents loved it! We then drove a few blocks through the Havelock district to the Engine House restaurant where we enjoyed a terrific lunch and conversation with Harold and Mary Dee Berry. What treasured friends they are.

We finished Monday with thank-you notes to several of our friends who are U.S. military veterans and started in mulching up the leaves from the front yards of ours and the neighbors on both sides of us. My mower, which I’ve had considerable difficulty with all summer, has turned out to be an absolute marvel in mulching leaves into...well, into nothing! That has been a delightful and very helpful surprise.

The week ahead includes four more “When Swing Was King” shows, preparation for Sunday services at Aksarben Village and again at Herman Community Church, a lunch party with over a dozen friends coming to our house, Saturday morning’s pro-life witness outside the abortion business, finishing up a Thanksgiving package that will be on the Vital Signs Ministries website tomorrow,  and a few other important tasks. Prayers are always appreciated that we do our work in His power and with His abundant blessings upon it. 

Oh Monday, Monday

An engaging and memorable Monday began with an early morning coffee at Panera for plans, devotions and journal, and a bit of correspondence using our Colorado cards. Then Claire and I joined Mark and Keith for prayers and our pro-life witness outside the Planned Parenthood abortion business. I was able to speak to several of the workers and our large, winsome signs communicated the pro-life message to many, many people driving by. As we were getting ready to leave, Jim Bates and a few of his colleagues from his church in Columbus showed up for a time of public pro-life proclamation. What a faithful band of brothers they are to come so far.

Next Claire and I each took our vehicles out to the new Costco to gas up and we then stopped at Le Peeps for a late brunch. Claire had breakfast while I had a delicious chicken cranberry salad. We enjoyed both the meal and the break very much. One of the things we did while we were there was each share 10 “highlight entertainment events” from our lives. That was really fun. Claire’s list included a concert by Chicago when she was a teenager, several Omaha Symphony concerts, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap in London, a one-man show with Hal Holbrook portraying Mark Twain, a couple of Andy Williams’ Christmas shows in Branson, and a baseball game in Yankee Stadium. Mine included a performance of Chess on Broadway, performances of the Belarus Bolshoi Ballet in Minsk, Phantom of the Opera in the West End of London, Moses at the Sight & Sound Theater in Branson, and concerts with such stars as Frankie Valli, Harry James, and the Flying W Wranglers. Most of those, of course, were events we had shared and so it was fun to reminisce. 

And then, staying with an entertainment theme, we presented 2 “When Swing Was King” shows in the afternoon. One was at Sterling Ridge and then next at Pacific Springs and. Both went swell -- good attendance, great enthusiasm and appreciation, and some terrific visits with folks before and after. And the evening? After a light dinner, it was Claire doing some housework and me reading Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter. Thank you, Lord for each blessing and each opportunity to serve that we enjoyed yesterday. And so, we pray right now -- and in concert with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ reading this post -- please keep us all walking carefully, obediently, and joyfully in the course you have set for us. Amen.

Swinging with the July “When Swing Was King”

We had an especially delightful start to our July “When Swing Was King” schedule as Harold and Mary Dee Berry dropped into our first show of the month which was at Legacy Arbors in the Havelock area of north Lincoln. The Berrys then joined us for a late breakfast/early lunch at The Engine House just a few blocks away. As always, we had a super time with them -- what a terrific couple of God’s people!

And the “When Swing Was King” show? Well, I know I say this every month but…it is one of our very best! But don’t just take my word for it. You go through the song list below and see if you don’t agree. And, as you peruse these grand old songs, know that you too are always welcome to sit in on one of our shows. Just check out the Vital Signs Ministries website for each month’s schedule.

We always start the program with something from the Glenn Miller Orchestra and this month’s selection is a real honey; namely, the band’s theme song recorded in 1939, “Moonlight Serenade.” And then…

2) Benny Goodman Orchestra with Helen Ward as vocalist -- “You Turned the Tables on Me” (1936)

3) Lena Horne (backed by the Lou Bring Orchestra) -- “Where or When” (1948)

4) Frank Sinatra (backed by an Axel Stordahl studio band) -- “Begin the Beguine” (1945)

5) Russ Morgan Orchestra --“With the Wind and the Rain In Her Hair” (1940)

6) Artie Shaw Orchestra (Helen Forrest as vocalist) – “Deep Purple” (1938)

7) Lawrence Welk Orchestra (featuring Henry Cuesta on clarinet) -- “La Mer” (1976)

8) Vaughn Monroe Orchestra (with VM as vocalist too) -- “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” (1949)

9) Ray Anthony -- “This Love of Mine” (1956)

10) The Mills Brothers (featuring Tommy Dorsey on trombone!) --“Please Don’t Talk About Me (When I’m Gone)” (1951)

11) Harry James Orchestra -- “You’ll Never Know” (1943)

12) Roy Rogers -- “San Fernando Valley” (1944)

Like I said, the July “When Swing Was King” is one of our very song collections. And the photographs – absolutely terrific! So, we cordially invite you -- no, make that we enthusiastically invite you -- to see and hear for yourself the July “When Swing Was King.”

February's Fantastic Song List (WSWK)

February’s “When Swing Was King” shows are really going great. We have already presented shows at senior living facilities so far this month but, if you’d like, you can still catch one of the 4 shows next week (3 next week). You’ll find the schedule on the Vital Signs Ministries website.

And the song list? It’s superb!

1) “Blueberry Hill” -- Glenn Miller Orchestra (Ray Eberle, vocals) (1940)

2) “Secret Love” -- Doris Day (1954)

3) “Little White Lies” -- Count Basie Octet (1950)

4) “I Had the Craziest Dream” -- Harry James Orchestra (Helen Forrest, vocals) (1943)

5) “Blue Skies” -- Artie Shaw Orchestra (1937)

6) “Dear Heart” -- Andy Williams (1965)

7) “Singin’ In the Rain” -- Gene Kelly (1952)

8) “How Long Has This Been Goin’ On?” -- Lena Horne (Backed by the Phil Moore 4) (1945)

9) “I’m Stepping Out with a Memory” -- Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (Helen O’Connell, vocals) (1940)

10) “Here’s Love In Your Eyes” -- Benny Goodman Orchestra (1936)

11) “If Ever I Would Leave You?” -- Robert Goulet (1960)

12) “Glow Worm” -- The Mills Brothers (Backed by the Hal McIntyre Orchestra)

Still "Swinging" After 13 Years

Well, we are certainly into the “swing” this month as we begin our 14th year of “When Swing Was King” shows to area senior living facilities. We are blessed beyond description at the fact that the presentations are more popular than ever. And our comeback from the covid hysteria seems pretty well complete with our schedule now back to 12 (sometimes 13) every month. 

Of course, please remember that you can always join in the nostalgia, beauty, fascination, and fun of “When Swing Was King” simply by coming along to any of our shows. The schedule is always on the Vital Signs Ministries website.

And the January songlist? As always it's a very an impressive one:

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra (Ray Eberle, vocals) -- “The Nearness of You”
2) Bob Crosby & the Bobcats -- “Skater's Waltz in Swing Time”
3) Count Basie Orchestra (Helen Humes, vocals) -- “And the Angels Sing”
4) Benny Goodman Orchestra -- “Let’s Dance”
5) Chick Webb Orchestra --“There’s Frost on the Moon”
6) The Andrews Sisters -- “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”
7) Artie Shaw Orchestra (Helen Forrest, vocals) -- “All the Things You Are”
8) Les Brown Orchestra (Doris Day, vocals) -- “Sentimental Journey”
9) Bing Crosby -- “Moonlight Becomes You”
10) Harry James Orchestra -- “Deep Purple”
11) Gordon MacRae -- “Oklahoma”
12) The Four Lads -- “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing”

Exercising an Unstained Mind: A Yuletide Consideration

A couple of weeks back, an entry in Mission Possible: One-Year Devotional by Tim Tebow emphasized the need to exercise one’s mind…and to do so in a purposeful, careful way that keeps one from being influenced by the ungodly doctrines, temptations, and vanities of the world. What a critically-needed challenge this is for Christians. After all, such biblical admonitions as we read in James 1:27 (“keep oneself unstained by the world”) and Philippians 4:8 (dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute”) are to be closely, consistently obeyed.

Tebow’s entry recently brought to mind two illustrations of just how rare the “exercising of the mind” is nowadays.

1) A December tradition of longstanding is my re-reading old Christmas novels and story collections. Some of them are in actual books from my library but an awful lot of the stories are in a massive Kindle collection I purchased years ago for a single dollar -- The Ultimate Christmas Collection. Charles Dickens. Louisa May Alcott. Booth Tarkington. O Henry. Henry van Dyke. Washington Irving. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Bess Streeter Aldrich. Selma Lagerlof. Frank Stockton. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anthony Trollope. Kate Douglas Wiggin. And many, many more. Plus the collection includes a lot of old (and magnificent) Christmas poetry too. William Blake. Thomas Hardy. Christina Rossetti. Charles Wesley. Alfred Lord Tennyson. Robert Herrick. Ben Johnson. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. George MacDonald. And on and on. 

Here’s the point. The superior quality of that literature in artistic excellence, wholesomeness, and spiritual intentions compared to the schlock of a television movie from the Hallmark Channel or one of the modern “Christmas mysteries” set in a bookstore or a bakery is absolutely stunning. So why then do Christians (remember, Christians whose minds are supposed to be set on things pure, lovely, and of good repute) so easily, so lazily, so indiscriminately settle for poorer choices? Why do we ignore the immense amount of art and literature that is genuinely good, uplifting, and spiritually valuable while allowing the world to spoon-feed us its paltry (when not actually perverse) alternatives?

2) The beauty and comfort of our Christmas edition of “When Swing Was King” is tremendously appreciated by our audiences in all 12 of the senior citizen facilities where we present it. The residents tell us how wonderful the songs are, how encouraging are the opportunities to remember the lyrics and then sing along, how heartwarming are the Christmas photographs and artwork that is in the program. We, of course, are delighted that they so deeply appreciate the quality, wholesomeness, and personalized touch that marks the show. 

And yet what happens immediately after they’ve enjoyed this charming and meaningful 45-minutes of an old-time Christmas? Sad to say, as we pack up our gear and prepare to leave, we see the residents wheeled away and parked in front of a loud, big-screen television broadcasting an inane, slapstick, suggestive game show or maybe one of the lurid soap operas. And that’s not all. With our program over, the music programming is turned back on and over the intercom we hear “Santa Baby” by Madonna, “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney & Wings, or “Last Christmas” by WHAM! And, if we are disheartened and offended by such lousy sounds, you can imagine how these dear folks are reacting as the screeching of Cyndy Lauper and Boyz in the Hood replace the calm joy they had just enjoyed with Crosby, Sinatra, and the Lennon Sisters.

Exercising our mind? It’s a crucial responsibility. And leaning upon what the world serves up isn’t going to do the trick. So, take the effort to go find yourself some more wholesome Christmas literature and music…and art and movies…and conversations and hobbies…and service projects in which you share the beauty and bounty of this happy, holy season to others.

The Top 5 (September 23)

* "Post-Postmodern America, Meet Mao’s Cultural Revolution" (Victor Davis Hanson, Daily Signal)

* "'Disturbing' and 'Inarticulate': Pro-Life Leaders React to Trump’s Abortion Comments" (Ben Johnson, Washington Stand)

* "The Golden Years: The Sanctity of Senior Life" (This is a remarkable video clip made by Dr. Del Tackett at the James Dobson Family Institute, a clip that illustrates the profound importance to the Kingdom of what Vital Signs Ministries does through our "When Swing Was King" shows, our Aksarben Village church services, and our visitation and friendship outreaches.)

* "Canadian school library removes all books published prior to 2008" (Eric Utter, American Thinker)

* "It’s No Accident The Southern Border Is Collapsing, It’s Intentional" (John Daniel Davidson, Federalist)