MikeMooreMedia
336.932.1881 RoCo LIVE 09.25.24
Mike Moore Media. Hello and welcome to Rocco Live. I'm Mike Moore. It's Wednesday, 11 o'clock, and we set aside this 11 to 12 hour. Once a week, two have very special guests in our studio, and we've got a very special guest today for sure. We are taking your phone calls, if there's anything on your mind you'd like to talk about. Here's a number, 336-932-1881, but primarily today, we want to talk to our special guest from right here in Eden, singer, songwriter, Roger Denny, and then about halfway into the program. I'll be talking to Amy Tilly at Sandy Cross, General Merchandise in Readsville, our Rocco Live sponsor, and about 1145, Lisa Goldsworthy with friends of Eden Animal Rescue will be on the program. Tomorrow is remember me Thursday, so she spoke recently at the September meeting of Eden City Council, and then Lisa and I had some time on stage at Riverfest on Saturday, but I wanted her to be on the program today to share with you some very important stats about pets right here close to home in Rockingham County. But right now, I am delighted to welcome Roger Denny to our studios. Hey, Roger. Good morning, Mike, and the audience. How are you all doing? Oh, my goodness. It's so good to have you here, and I have delayed been my fault in getting you here in the studio for months and months, so I'm finally glad we connected. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Glad to be here. Give us a little background before we get to your music. Tell us who is Roger Denny, and what are you all about? I know, first off, I love you because of your strong faith and what that means to you and your life and your music, too. Yes, sir. I'm 65 years old now. We're having a birthday here October the 5th. I'll be turning the grade 66. But anyway, yes, as Mike said, I got saved born again at 14 years old and served in the military for four years. I married to a beautiful wife. Her name is Anne for 44 years. I have one daughter, Jessica Engel, with three grandchildren. They live in Fort Worth, Texas with my favorite son-in-law, Richard Engel. He works for riders, headquarters. But anyway, I didn't start writing songs until I come out, probably the military in '81. I say I started writing in '84. My mother gave me my grandpa's guitar, which is a J-50 guitar. And that's when my, I guess, my songwriting career started. I had no idea that I wanted to be a songwriter. But through the years after this point, God has given me different varieties of songs. Mainly right to gospel, bluegrass gospel, southern gospel. Even did, I went into the church, Osman Babbies with Jason Wilson. He, Jason and the worship team has got, I think, four songs now out there on the radio and YouTube and Spotify. Went to him and I said, "Jason, I've got this song that's called The Tomb is Now Empty. But I wanted to be contemporary worship style." And so he prayed about it. We prayed about it. He come back in about two months and said, "Okay, Roger, we'll do it." So he done it and sung it, and it turned out to be a great song. But I do the bluegrass gospel. I've even wrote some country. I do some, I've got a couple beat songs I've got out. And God's really been good to me. But this main song today that we'll be talking about is called Wake Up America. Before we play that, you know, over here in my CD Wall, I have that original CD that you gave me. How many years ago did you first record this? Did you do this? Well, the song come to me in 1999. '99. So that copy you gave me probably goes back to... At least 2000. I wrote the song in 1999. I think I recorded it in 2000 or 2001. Went into the studio first time. And that has gone through some changes through the years until it's in its form right now that's being played all across the United States. Yes, sir. I went to Nashville. I picked this song, believe it or not, hand delivered the song. I took COVID to the Oak Ridge Boys in Pigeon Forge. First time I ever seen him, the gentleman put it in his pocket. And I told him, I said, "If y'all take this song, I'm going to tell you. It's going to be a great song for you." Cause at the time, and I'm sure Michael will be talking about how the original song come about, I never did hear that one, which that's fine, you know. But in December this past year, I got a Facebook thing, you know, guy in Nashville, Rick Swinsberg, with Nashville Christian Country Radio, he was looking for original songs. So I sent him this song, "Wake Up America," and I sent him another song that's called "Christ Looking Down." When two days, not knowing the gentleman, the DJ, producer, he replied back, "I'm going to be pitching this song, 'Wake Up America' for you." Wow. Okay. So that, that just kind of happened in the last, within the last year then? Yes, sir. Last December. Yeah. Now, I want to go back just a minute talking about the, the, the Oaks, because you said you gave it, and you kind of made the gesture there, putting it in his pocket, like his shirt pocket, because that was a cassette tape probably then. Was it? It could have been. Yeah, probably. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, so this song got into his hand. Do we know how? Do we know how he ended up with this in December? How did he find that? Well, he, he, he shot out Facebook posting, you know, all this stuff comes on your iPhones and stuff, you know, you know, with me and the music. I'm always looking up, but it, it just come over Facebook posting, you know, saying, "I'm looking, this is Rick Swansberg with Nashville Christian Country Radio," and what they do, they promote artists with original Christian Country songs, and I suggest y'all going to Nashville Christian Country Radio and looking them up. Great songs I've never heard, you've never heard, and then you'll be wild, you know, and it's all for Christ. They do play the older songs, some George Jones, Earl Haggot too, along, but they mostly promote new Christian Country artists. So, I said, "Well, Lord, you know, I believe everything is God's timing." You know, like I said, I wrote this song in 1999. So, he, he pitched it for me. And five days later, he come back and said, "I've got an artist right now looking at it." He didn't tell me what artists, big artists, small artists, upcoming artists. Well, that went on for about a month, so I didn't bother him. And so, you know, I try to do everyone professionally. And so, I did text him, I said, "I'd love to talk to you about the original of the song Haggot come about." So, he called me up one Tuesday evening, and we talked about 30, 40 minutes like we're doing about the song. Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, do you want to kind of listen to this now? And this, this is the one that's out now that's getting the national air play. Right. Okay. You want to do it. Okay. Well, let's listen to that. Roger Denny, from here in Eden, he's in our studios. And you've been doing some, some national interviews, you know, you kind of gotten home with this one here, gotten close to home today, but you've done some, some, some interviews nationally and about this song and everything. Well, I have, he, I was coming out of Denny's office. I had to record it in March, and just touching bass again on when this song would be ready for the pitch to radio stations. And I told him a little experience what I had in Cropper, Akbaril. So, he, he did a radio interview with me about the song and about what I experienced. First time in Nashville, you know, and that was pretty great. You know, so I've actually got a friend now in Nashville. He, she actually lives beside golf Brooks. Is that right? And I will say this, she had delivered a CD on mine to golf Brooks. It had eight songs that I've written to golf Brooks. Cool. But you know, I told her, I said, when you had this CD to golf Brooks, tell him that I'm not asked in afternoon return, I only wanted to hear him to hear this guy from North Carolina songs that he'd written. And you know what he said to her? He said, still some good old guys in this world. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right, Roger Denny. He's sharing some personal experiences here about his music and those Nashville stories. First, first trip to Nashville. First trip to Nashville. Yeah. I've never been in Nashville, but, but that had to have really been an experience. It was, I mean, when she said she lived beside golf Brooks, you know, and I said, oh, no. And, you know, as an artist, you're thinking, well, I don't know how I can get a song to him, but she was real good. She, in fact, she, she does, uh, making cookies, everything she does, she does it, you know, community wise. But anyway, it was just honored to pitch my songs. I wasn't pitching it. I just wanted him to have some variety of songs. Like I said, I don't want nothing from golf Brooks, but it's just honor. I know she had talked to him and he, he drives a big tractor beside the small farm he's got out there and she said, he put it right beside his console, you know, and he said, thank you. You know, so anyway, thanks. Just to thank the guard Brooks listening to your music. Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, wow. And who knows? Maybe, maybe you'll, you'll be here one day in the future, Roger, telling us a story. Yeah. Yeah. I was, uh, went to a, went to a cookout with Garth Brooks the other day, you know, down on the farm. Wouldn't that be nice? Yeah. All right. So we're going to listen to Wake Up America, Roger Denny from here in Eden. And, uh, and they don't have some more things to, Roger will have some more things to tell us. Our children are faced with problems. They're hurting every day. Some wake up to hunger. Others will lead in different ways. Your hearts are being broken by the devil with his lies. Unaware of hidden dangers, tears fill their eyes. They need someone who will listen and share their troubles too. But no one seems to take the time. So what will they do? Reaching out to strangers who pretend to be their friends. Exposed to drugs and alcohol, their pain never ends. Wake up America while our children are near. Speak those words I love you, pray together, share their tears. Raise them up to be strong in truth. In God we trust we stand. Wake up America, their lives are in our hands. Let's teach our children the lessons of knowing right from wrong. Respect and forgiveness is how we get along. No matter how different that each of us may be. Sharing the love of Jesus is voting with you and me. Wake up America while our children are near. Speak those words I love you, pray together, share their tears. Raise them up to be strong in truth. In God we trust we stand. Wake up America, their lives are in our hands. Let's wake up America, their lives are in our hands. America, it's time to wake up. Wake up America, our children need us now. Well, Roger, that gives me chill bumps. Does it still do that to you when you hear that? It does, it really does. You know, I just want to say to the audience out there, if you do have children, you may even be grandparents raising your kids children. And you know, that's more and more, isn't it? Yes, sir. I'm finding out it is more and more. I'm trying to say it's a habit, but I'm trying to wake up every day and before one of the first things I pray for is our children going to schools, what they're facing and God's protection, you know, protection for the children, the teachers, the resource officers, Rockingham County, North Carolina, throughout the states, because we, you know, give them a hug. You know, it will probably shock them. I don't care how old they are, but before they leave tomorrow, I'll challenge everybody that's listening to this radio broadcast. Tomorrow, before those kids go to after school, just stop them in their tracks and say, I just want to hug you. I just want to tell you, I love you, and I want to pray for you today that God will give you safety, will give you health, and give you a happy day. You know, that right there, it will probably blow their mind, but it's something to that here and I love you and a good hug. We all need a good hug, don't we, Mike? Yeah, yeah, boy. Yeah, and I came from a hugging family. Yes, sir. You know, lots of people are not, they're not in a hugging family. That's right. Yeah, but yeah, a good hug is always good. Yeah, yeah, from anyone. Yeah, it's just appreciated and kindness and a kind word and, you know, it's just simple things like that, but they mean so much. Yes, sir. And, you know, in the third, third verse of that song, let's teach our children the lessons of knowing right from wrong, respect and forgiveness is how we get along. And that's, that's anybody. You know, we have to have the respect, regardless of skin color, regardless of where they come from, but also, you know, share the love of Jesus, you know, let them know that there's a love in this world called Jesus. Yeah, that's exactly right. Well, the song and the lyrics and the whole meaning behind this. Now, you wrote this 1999, it's gone through a couple of changes and you've changed a few words, I think, to get to this form we just heard today. And tell us a little bit about that, just kind of give us that perspective. Well, the beginning of the song was in 1999. It was when they had the first Columbine shootings. I was on the mail route. It's a lot of care. And I had a transition radio and I heard it come over the news. I had a daughter in Greensboro College at that time. I'm very attentive, hearted. You know, I always have been. And I was writing two or three songs a year, it seemed like. When I pulled over and I said, God, I just broke down the tears. I said, why didn't these young men have no one to turn to? The evils, the devil was putting thoughts in their mind. They had no one to turn to, Lord. And I asked God to give me a song that could reach the teenagers, young kids, and parents, grandparents across our nation. Well, before them, mail route was old, which I'm retired now. I had five verses to the song, of course, in the tune in my head. I would deliver three boxes and then another line was going to tell me. So once I got the song recorded, you know, God has changed it over the years. And you know, it just looked like someone would say, well, you don't need a line with guns in the song. So I went back and took the gun out, you know, with no parents wants to hear about their kids going to school and being shot. So I had some lines in it, you know, I just had so much God was giving me about the song, you know, about how do I reach families? Yeah, you know, so I will read the verse one of this original verse. It says, "Our children are fighting to survive the only way they know how. This world has become so evil getting darker by the hour. Many parents across our nations have let our children down when they can return home from school and find no one around. They need someone to talk with to tell their troubles to, but no one seems to take the time. So what must they do? They reach out to others who pretend to be their friends. They're taught about drugs and guns and death in the end." Wow. Thank you for sharing that with us, Roger. Yes, sir. You've got a line in this song we just heard it mentions bullying. Was that in the original? No, sir. Because bullying really wasn't a problem then in 1999. It was, but we didn't know it. We didn't have a label for it again. That's right. And that's the reason I went back and I went back probably three times and rewrote this song, you know, kind of, it's over the years I've tried to picture the different groups. But the bullying, like I said, I think everybody in families have someone that's been bullied, whether it's in school or where. But, you know, and I didn't know it was the problem of hunger was that major nieve until I saw a news article on TV. I said, wow, you know, hunger and bullying, you know. And it's right here in Rockingham County. Right here in Rockingham County. Yeah. I mean, kids go to school every day with no breakfast. Now, now we've got breakfast in schools and we've got, you know, the meals that are provided and all of that. But yeah, but it's, yeah, it's, it's hard for some, some kids. Yeah. So, but, you know, and talk about bullying just a moment because we're hearing more and more about that. And it doesn't end in a positive way. I mean, you know, people are, kids are dying, you know, because of that. And, you know, I think this is kind of a personal story, but I remember it. And I guess it was bullying, but we had a bully in high school, Johnny Miller, whatever happened to Johnny Miller. But, but he bullied me, you know, I was a little kid and he was bigger than me. And he was always picking on me and everybody else. But, but then again, like I said, we didn't have that label. But today it's so serious when, when our young people and they've already got some fragile things going on in their life anyway. And then this and then maybe there's, you know, a suicide because of it. What a terrible situation this is. Yeah. It's, it's, it's your heart breaks when you hear this, you know, you know, and another thing, you know, we just need to reach out to our teams, you know, even the elementary school kids are going through it too. You know, and my, my granddaughter in Fort Worth, Texas, she experienced something here last year, you know, I don't know what she experienced, but then she got kind of looking at her weight, you know, and she's not, she's not big, you know, she turns flips and everything, but just that one comment. And, you know, we have comments in school, you know, and I wouldn't call it bullying, you know, but that negative impact. And we just have to, I guess since I've got grandkids and had a daughter, we just have to pull all of his parents, grandparents to our children and uplift them and let them know in the eyes of Jesus, how precious they are, how beautiful they are. Sure. Yeah. And, you know, and words can hurt so deeply, so badly, you know, that, and some of them are intentional in kids today. You know, I have three granddaughters are all in school. And, you know, and they were here this summer and, you know, and they, they tell the stories, things going on in school. And, you know, it's, it's not all positive. You know, there's a lot of issues, a lot of challenges there. Yeah. But, but I think, like I said in Nashville, Christian Country Radio, Rick Swansberg, we can look him up. I thank him for reaching back out to me. And so what happened on the song, the artist that was going to record it, he, he had another come in, was a little upbeat, more what he wanted. So he didn't do it. But this artist actually was there at the time I recorded my song. Okay. And actually he, his name is Marty D. Rock. You can look him up on Facebook. Marty has about four or five songs out there now. And Marty was going to do a Christmas CD, a single sing song CD this year. So I reached out to him and he's a preacher. He's, he's a preacher also, but he goes from church to church. He's with Denmark Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. But when he reached out on Facebook that he was going to do this Christmas CD, I've got a song that I've written and Mitch Snow out of Thomasville, North Carolina. He, he did the recording of it, played all the music, but Mitch has passed on now. I think Mitch has been going about four years now. And Mitch did a lot of my recording. I asked God to give me a song about Christmas and Santa Claus with a gospel message. And he did and the song is called "Santa, Do You Believe?" So I mean, he's got all the bells and whistles. So I sent it to Marty and Marty and his wife listened to it that night. And I mean, within an hour they say, we're going to record that song. So they did record it this past week in Nashville at the Hilltop studio. I think that's where they recorded it out. But it will be out soon and hopefully around Christmas time you'll be hearing that "Santa, Do You Believe?" on National Radio. So not just mine. I'm hoping that'll be one he pitches the radio because he was really impressed by it. So, you know, it's not for my glory that the song, if once you hear it, is surrounded by the cross and the forgiveness of Christ and the gift of redemption. Yeah. Okay. That's what it's all about. Are you, it might be a little premature now. I don't want to put you on the spot, but is that a song that I know you got your guitar with you here today, Roger? Is that a song that you could play and sing today? Or do we need to do that another time? We're going to have you back at some point. Yeah. I'm waiting to do it later. Yeah, sir. Yeah. I'd rather hold off right now, you know. I know you have a big audience, so I don't want to overstep Neffin for Marty, you know. Right, sure. I understand that. Yeah. Professional wise. I appreciate that. I know I've got the rights to the song and all that. I just I understand completely. I respect that. Sure. Okay. I'm going to make a call out to Sandy Cross General merchandise in a moment. But I want to go ahead and play this other song that you've when you brought in a whole collection of songs. So we're going to talk about that. And if anybody needs a copy of this collection of yours, all this stuff you've written, 18 songs on here, we're going to tell them how to get that. But let's go ahead and play this other song that is right here on this CD and ready to go. Tell us about this first, though, Roger. Well, this song is I call it my life changing song. It's called, it's not about what I used to be, but it's all about now. You know, when God saves us, you know, he creates a new creation in Christ, like second Corinthians 5 17 says, you know, old things have passed away, behold, all things become new. And that's what happened to my life. You know, and this is what the song is about. So, got a good friend, Rocky Smith in Colonel'sville. Rocky just shout out his name. You can look him up, Rocky Smith, Colonel'sville. He's got a studio over there. And he he can play anything. And he is very, very reasonable on recording. He did the full band on it, the backup vocals, and harmonizing and very low price. And he what his ministry is, is to help other artists that are trying to get their songs out there at a low price. But anyway, he did this song and I'm singing it. It's not about what I used to be. I used to be long to say to my will, he controlled a life full of confusion, told me it would be my soul. My heart was so dark and covered by sin. Jesus came along my way and now I'm born again. It's not about what I used to be, but it's all about now. Since Jesus came into my heart, carry my life around. He came to seek and save the lost. Said this cat is free. My sins are cleansed by his blood. He did it all for me. All things are passed away. Now everything's brand new. Now the Holy Spirit has control. There's nothing I can do. All fear is turned to courage overcome by joy. My burdens and confusion are his forevermore. It's not about what I used to be, but it's all about now. Since Jesus came into my heart, turned my life around. He came to seek and save the lost. Said this cat is free. My sins are cleansed by his blood. He did it all for me. If you're out there searching and you're feeling down in love, travel seems to bother you everywhere you go. Just call upon the sacred. Believe up on his name. A brand new life. Jesus, if you'll never be the same. It's not about what I used to be, but it's all about now. Since Jesus gave me to my heart, turned my life around. He came to seek and save the lost. Said the cat is free. Our sins are cleansed by his blood. All for you and me. Yes, it's not about what I used to be. Since Jesus said me free. That's Roger Denny. He's right here in Eden, getting a lot of national airplay right now with that first song we just heard, Wake Up America, and Roger is going to stay with us a little bit longer. I will be talking to Lisa Goldsworthy with Friends of Eden Animal Rescue a little bit, but right now our sponsor is on the line, and that's Amy Tilly at Sandy Cross General Merchandise in Regal. Amy, how are you? I am good. I hope you all are well. We're doing fine here. Always good to have a talented musician in the studio, since I can't play a thing, but you've got your bluegrass pickers on the porch, and it's always nice to have those talented people around you kind of kind of motivate you kind of perch you up. That's right. And we always are happy to see our friends with instruments gathering together to play together. And we're working on trying to plan something a little bigger sometime very soon. We're just still working on some dates. But as soon as we've got that scheduled, we will certainly let everybody know. Okay, sure. Well, what's going on right now? Roger now just talking earlier about local honey, and I know you've got that right there at the law cabin store, and so many other local regional things too. We do. We do have some local honey, and we have some honey, soap with honey in it that's made locally, which is really great. So, so yes, come get that. We just got some and we'll probably have to get more things because it's flying out the door. Yeah, people love that. Anything like that, that's great. You know, absolutely. It's a busy day at the store today. The sparks old has just brought more pure gas. Of course, we got all for our diesel on-road diesel non ethanol regular and 93 premium non ethanol when we've got the cheapest price for the 93 non ethanol in the county. And we've got lots of freeze dry candy from Turtle Creek, including freeze dried milk balls, which we've not had those before. We don't have any brand this week because they have taken a much deserved week off, but we will have more bread next Wednesday. So, is that plenty of their candy ready for everybody to come try some? Yeah. My favorite is the freeze dry candy corn. Oh my goodness. Yeah, you know, you let me have a sample of something when I was there recently, but I'm kind of partial to candy corn this time of the year, but I haven't had the freeze dry. So, it's pretty good, huh? It is very good. Very good indeed. We've also got some new fall reeds that some Halloween reeds, lots of new fall stuff coming in for simply skits like placemats and things like that and hair bows for the kids and lots of gifts for those that are starting to do some Christmas shopping. Those are coming in every few days. We've got these stuff being added. We've got new hats and scarves that are crocheted, locally, and we've gotten a lot of ash candy cheese things since we talked last week and more coming hopefully by Friday. And the most popular new item is corn salsa. I have not tried it yet because it's flying out the door that fast. You better grab a jar. Yeah. You'd have a taste test in of that one. Yeah. And we've got hot, ghost chili, of course, the corn. And then the ones we already had was roasted reaper, peeps, medium, and my favorite pineapple salsa, which is really, really good. Oh my goodness. Oh, wow. Oh yeah. And then we've got some new cheeses from Ash County cheese, smoked ghost pepper, garlic, parsley, and chives. And then we already had garden vegetable, which is wonderful, hickory, smoked cheddar, my favorite pepper jack and mountain cheddar. We've got a new stock of bait that's just coming in. I know it's fishing time for a lot of people that the firewood ready for all the bonfires to hang out with your family. New Damascus knives have come in this week. We just got some last week that we're new and more is coming in Sunday. Just restocked the Dan River protein from Dan River old. New apple butter has come in. And we've got a whole new stock of ham products. And if you haven't tried the Pinto, Pinto beans and ham in the package, all you have to do is heat it up. You can eat it right out of the package. No, my goodness. How convenient is it? Simple dinner. Two minutes in the microwave and you're ready to go. And then we've got the ham biscuit slices, the center cut slices, the slice side meat and ham hawk and one of the nicest headquarters for the county. Of course, we've got plenty of that. Miss Marilyn has brought in some more $300 cake because it flew out of there last week. And she's brought some more haystack and sugar pecans and sweet and spicy pecans. And if you haven't tried any of that, that is a treat for sure. And yesterday we got in a huge order of beaded key chains and key chain bracelets. Then a lot of fall and space based things today. And that's made locally by a lady who lives a mile from the store. They're really, really cute and a great gift for somebody or for yourself. And of course, we've got 36 flavors of glass bottle drink. And we've been to add some more of that in another week or two. And then we've got a lot of upcoming events. Tomorrow's hotdog Thursday from 11 to 2. Bearded barbecue because of the hurricane may be tentative. So we'll see what's going on with the weather. But we are going to hope that it goes another direction. And they'll be there Friday from 11 to 2. Donuts will be with us Friday from 11 to 5 rain or shine. And then next Tuesday, West Coast Wanderer is coming back and they're kind of a Mexican-American food truck outstanding food. And they'll be with us from once on Tuesday from 11 to 2. And for dinner from 4 to 7. So if you don't get to try any of the food trucks at lunchtime, you can get a treat because next week they'll be there Tuesday night. And next Thursday night we have soulful plates, which is southern comfort soul food. And they'll be there from 5 to 8 30 next Thursday, as well as hotdog Thursday during lunch. So we've got a lot of food truck stuff going on in the next seven days. It's going to personally have something for everybody to come try. Mm-hmm. I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah. Bearded barbecue. I had that for the first time. As you know, Ned and I both when we were there at Sandy Cross General Merchandise recently. And all of the food people at Riverfest Saturday. And I gravitated right there to bearded barbecue, because I knew how good it was. And, you know, took a quick break actually and came home and and had a couple of sandwiches. Oh my goodness, that's so good. So they possibly will be there depending on the weather on Friday. But definitely donuts. You said rain or shine Friday. Guess 11 to 5 on Friday they'll be there. Okay. Next week you definitely want to come try by a face wander. If you missed them last time. Yeah. Really, really good food. And I've heard nothing but good about so full plate. So we're excited. They'll be there for dinner next Thursday night. Mm-hmm. Save you some cooking. Yeah, that's right. Come by and get some some good food. And we'll be posting more about them coming on our Facebook page, of course, having the next few days. Sure. Yeah. I'm on your Facebook page right now. And just looking at and that's just a great place to go to kind of oh, there's one of those barbecue sandwiches right now. Yeah, just to kind of keep up with what's happening and all of the events and specials and things like that you got going on. So yeah, follow them on Facebook folks. Sandy Cross, Jim, and merchandise. Absolutely. Absolutely. Because we try to place the pictures in a new stuff coming in. And as we start getting more Christmas stuff in, you definitely want to keep your eyes open. Because some of it I have a feeling is going to fly out the door as people start doing their Christmas shopping. And we also still have some cougar hats for Raffinham County Senior High. And we just got a restock of our hats that have our logo on them. And then we have some that they Sandy Cross and some that say Wentworth. So if you haven't been able to get one of those, you've got a lot of colors available all day. So definitely come by and get that and fill up your car with some pure gas and grab a drink and sit on the porch and talk to us as a spell. It's a great place for the community and friends to meet. It certainly is. Yep, the long cabin store and you're right there at the, tell us exactly where you are. I was going to say it, but you tell us how we can find you. We are at 164 Boyd Road and Reesville, which is really close to Wentworth. We are at the intersection of Sandy Cross Road, Boyd Road and Urban Farm Road. So right in the center of the county, easy to get to. And we're always open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. So always happy to see friends come visit and make new friends too. Sure. Yeah. Amy, always a delight to talk to you. Thanks for the update. You're very welcome. We'll talk again soon. All right. All right. You do too. Bye. That's our ROCO Live sponsor right there, ladies and gentlemen. That is Amy Tilly, Amy and Ira Tilly at Sandy Cross General Merchandise. Don't forget hot dog Thursday. That's the downtown dog house in Reesville. And that is tomorrow 11 to 2. Yeah, we're going to have to we're going to have to get there soon and have a hot dog or a barbecue sandwich there. That sounds good. Yeah. I know my wife will want to check it out. So yeah, we'll make that up. We'll be next week before we get over there. Amy, but we'll be over there. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And I'm going to play one more song and you tell me which one to play. And then I'm going to call our friends at Friends of Eden Animal Rescue and it won't talk some more. So tell us, tell me, and it's on the CD. So I can't tell me you probably know them by heart. So what song should I play here before I call her? Yeah. And it's on the label. So I don't I don't have in front of me. So yeah, do you you mean to pull it out and see? Yeah, I'm sorry. That's all right. Let me let me just back it out of the CD player here and I'll hand it across across the desk there, Roger. Okay. In case you're just tuning in, Roger Denny, a bluegrass gospel singer songwriter from right here in Rockingham County in Eden is in our studios today. Do number six since Amy was there with the bluegrass. This is a bluegrass song that I wrote. It's called Jesus's Calling. Okay. Let me get back in the player here. This is one I went in the studio at G and D recording here in Eden and recorded it with Tammy Martin and Bobby Holliday, I think, was his name back in the day. But anyway, Jesus is calling. I hope you enjoy it. Okay. So this was done right there on Washington Street of town Eden. Yes, Glenn Denny studio. Yeah, Glenn Denny. And I recommend him for recording. And if you got a CD copies, he's real reasonable making multiple copies. Yeah. Okay. All right. Let's listen to this. Okay. Here we go. I hope, Roger. I'll tell you a moment to load. As the fire don't laugh, your lamp won't dim. Can't see the sunshine cloud's rolling in. Are you feeling lonely? Don't know what to do. Jesus is calling, waiting on you. Are you getting weary of walking insane? Can you remember that peace within? We had a prayer and had a shout of, "You relied on Jesus without a doubt." Jesus is calling, calling you home. On your knees, you're not alone. Listen to the spirit. Let him take control. Jesus is calling to make you home. Now, brothers and sisters, boy, won't be long till Jesus comes to take us home. Don't let him find his bounty chain. Confess your sin, call on his name. Jesus is calling, calling you home. On your knees, you're not alone. Listen to the spirit. Let him take control. Jesus is calling to make you home. Now, sing a friend. Listen carefully. Jesus died a cavalry. He shed his blood upon that tree, sacrificed his life to set you free. Jesus is calling, calling you home. Follow on your knees, you're not alone. Listen to the spirit. Let him take control. Jesus is calling to make you home. Jesus is calling, calling you home. [Music] Singer songwriter Roger Denny from right here in Eden, and Roger telling us that was recorded at G&D studios, Glenn Denny studios, right up town, Eden on Washington Street, kind of a stone's throw from where Lisa Goldsworthy and I were talking at Riverfest on Saturday. Hey, Lisa, how are you? Well, I'm doing well, Mike. I hope you are. I'm doing just great. Yep. Well, I wanted to connect with you on this program today since tomorrow is remember me Thursday. So, I wanted you to kind of tell some of those numbers that you were sharing with us at Riverfest, please. Well, certainly. Well, thank you for the opportunity, too, by the way. So, a little history. The Remember Me Thursday is a worldwide event that started in 2013, and it's designed to shine a light on pet adoption from local shelters and rescues, such as ours, Friends of Eden animals rescue. And the statistics are pretty dreary, if you will. There is an expectation that over a million dogs and cats will be euthanized in 2024 alone, and that is simply because of the pet overpopulation that everyone is facing. And we are facing that right here in our own backyard at the City Council meeting about a week and a half ago. I did provide those statistics. There were over 1,800 dogs and cats euthanized in the Rockingham County shelter in 2023, which I believe the increase was somewhere in the neighborhood of 39 percent above the previous year. And it's just overwhelming. And we know that times are really tough. But again, the Remember Me Thursday is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of September. And we come together as a group that our organization comes together. And this year will be at Grogan Park at six o'clock tomorrow evening, just to light a candle and say a prayer and just do our part in reminding folks that there are some wonderful, wonderful dogs and cats available for adoption, if anyone is looking, considering, thinking about something I like to remind people who have maybe lost an animal and have said, oh, no more. I can't do it anymore. It just broke my heart. And I certainly understand that pain. And you probably do too, Mike. But, you know, the animals that are in our lives today, I like to believe that they were sent to us by our previous pets. So if there's opportunity, we want to do everything we can to get these animals into forever and ever and ever homes. Yeah. Thank you for that. Now, the event tomorrow night, six o'clock Grogan Park there at Eden City Hall on that campus, which is a really nice little park. So and that's open to anyone. It is absolutely open to anyone. Bring your, you know, well-behaved leash dog. If you like, we've had several folks that have come in the past and have brought their dogs and it's wonderful to see them as well. These are animals that have been adopted. And we like to see how they're living today. And we unfortunately sometimes have to think about all those that are not living that the way our pets are living. I have a handful of dogs and, you know, we had to buy a king-sized bed just so the dogs could sleep with us. We love them so much. Now, I know everybody doesn't do that. But, you know, we really want to do the very best that we can as an organization to reduce that number, reduce that euthanization number. And we do that in a variety of ways. And I'm just going to take a moment to share with you the things that we do offer. Yes. And that is we've partnered with the Humane Society of the Piedmont and we have a lower cost opportunity for spay neuter. We are afforded 20 slots a month and we managed to fill those pretty easily. 10 dogs and 10 cats and it's split between male and female. But we encourage you to watch our Facebook page, Friends of Eden Animal Rescue, to see when the clinics are coming up and get your animals scheduled for spay or neuter. That is the most important thing that we can do, not only for our community, but really for these animals. They, you know, they just need to stop producing. And then in addition to offering that low-cost opportunity for spay neuter, we offer a pet pantry where we assist individuals that are struggling to maybe feed their pets. We provide some pet food and cat litter and other supplies that might be needed in an effort we hope to prevent turnout of those animals to just fend for themselves or surrender to the shelter, which is already over capacity. And as a matter of fact, you can't just walk into the shelter these days and surrender your animal. You actually have to make an appointment because as I said, they're just over capacity and they don't have had the way in which they could take those animals in necessarily. And then we continue to offer the helping pets find their owners and owners find their pets. And we help the community members that are moving or moving into perhaps assisted living and that sort of thing that can't take their pets with them. We help find homes. Everything we can do to prevent the number of animals that are arriving into the shelter and potentially meeting their demise. Lisa, thank you and everyone there, friends of Eden Animal Rescue, for what you do all through the year. And we'll invite everyone to come and be a part of that event tomorrow night, six o'clock, Grogan Park, East Stadium Drive, and Eden for Remember Me Thursday. I'm on your Facebook page and I see you're planning a holiday craft fair coming up November 30th, Leaksville Masonic Lodge, nine to four. So we will talk again about that and make sure everyone knows what's going on with that as we get closer. Well, thank that's wonderful. Thank you so much, Mike. We really appreciate your commitment also to helping us in this head over population in our community. Yes, well, led to do whatever we can do, what little little part, but we've had rescue pets and we have a rescue cat right now, very dear to us. And yeah, so we know how special they are and how can we get involved. I know you need volunteers and things like that. So what's the best way to contact you? Well, certainly what you just said, you're on our Facebook page. That's a great way to see all of the different activities and events that we have coming up. But also reaching out to us via email friends of Eden Animal Shelter at gmail.com is a great way. Just reach out and tell us what you might be interested in doing to help us. We know that there are students that need community service hours and we can certainly put them to work in our cat sanctuary, which we have up on the boulevard as well. We currently have nine kittens in the environment in the sanctuary. One went to their forever home last week and then another one this past weekend found a family. So we still have nine that need homes and that means in the cat sanctuary we're feeding and cleaning and doing the basic litter scoop and socializing the cats and that sort of thing and getting them ready for their forever families. So students who need community service hours are just individuals that are animal lovers in general can certainly lend us a hand. But send us an email and tell us what they are really most interested in. Okay, great. Lisa, thank you. We'll talk again soon. Thanks so much. Bye now. Lisa Goldsworthy, she's one of the members of Friends of Eden Animal Rescue doing such a good work all the time. Okay, Roger Denny is in our studios here and we'll get back to Roger here a little bit and I've got another song from this CD ready to play Roger. But I'm thinking I'm going to be playing this some other times. But why you have your guitar here, can you grab that and maybe since we're getting close to finishing out the program here soon maybe we'll end with a song live here in the studio because you know if you've got your your guitar we're not going to and no need for you to unpack it and then pack it back up without getting at least one song from you here. Okay. Yes, sir. Yeah. So tell us what you wanted and before we get to the song we got a little bit over time if we need to but is there anything else you wanted to talk about before we finish up here shortly? Well, I do want to say I appreciate Mike Moore media for having me today and me and Mike's been friends I guess since 1999. Yeah, yeah. Got that first CD to me. Yes, sir. We have America. Yeah, I appreciate the job he's doing in Rockingham County and but I do want to do a pitch out me and my friend Carl Smith. We are called to for Christ. We'll be singing at Leaks for Christian Church this Saturday at four o'clock. That's the church right beside Dick's driving and they having the home come home come and community day. So hopefully we'll be outside if the rain holds off. If not, we'll be in the fellowship building and just come on out and fellowship Doug Moore's a new pastor. They're doing a great job for the community and reach out. But anyway, we just want to throw that out to you. I'm going to be singing this song I wrote about my daughter growing up leaving for college and finally getting married. It's called She Brought Tears to Myse. Okay, again before you get to that so homecoming and I had it right in front of me you told me and then I forgot to mention here. So it's two for Christ, you and Carl, Leaks for Christian Church, Washington Street beside Dick's driving and this Saturday, four o'clock. Four o'clock we'll be singing. Just come on out and fellowship. They just want to invite people and have a good fellowship in the Lord and see you there. Be some good food there too. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Okay. All right. Get a hand biscuit or something at least. All right. Well, we're going to end up with this song and then we're going to finish and I won't say anything else and just finish up with your music here. Anything else so we want to anybody need that contact information or something for you perhaps? Well, I do have, like I said, a CD out. It's got 18 of my original songs on it. I'm singing I think 16. Two other guys actually you may know him Rockingham County. Chris Rice is singing one and on it and he did a fantastic job and Mitch Snow is singing actually the sound across. Do you sound or do you believe song is on it? So Mitch Snow was singing that song. But for a $10 donation I'll be glad to get that CD to you. You can call me at 336-589-9388. If you're out of town, out of state, you can email me at Roger with a D Denny, D-E-N-Y-814@gmail.com and I will mail it to you and this $5 to add it on to mail it. So it's $15. But all I'm doing is trying to make enough to go back and record another song that I probably got 15 more songs I want to record before I leave this world. But anyway, that's all I'm doing. I'm trying to just pour it back into the songs and people hear it. If it brings a tear, if it brings a smile, I've accomplished what God wants me to do. Yeah, so those songs you mentioned 15 there, you probably got more than that knowing you, but those are written. They're ready to record at some point. They are. They are. It's just coming up with the funds. But anyway, I'm able to do like I said this 18. It's got gospel, bluegrass, southern gospel. It's got a couple of beach songs on it. So I think it'll be something you want to have. Yeah. Okay. Very good. Make a nice Christmas present perhaps. Christmas is three months away. We were talking about earlier. All right. It's so good to have Roger Denny from right here in Eden in our studios today and we'll finish out with this song that he wrote about his daughter. And this song she broke tears to my eyes is also on it with full band playing behind me. Okay. Thank you, Roger. She was only six years old when she fell in scrape her knee. She cried out to me that he helped me please as I gently took her to my home. She began to cry. I had a turn my head away. She brought tears to my eyes. That day my little girl. She brought tears to my eyes. Held her in my home so tight I said, honey, don't you cry. Tomorrow is a brand new day. This I know is true. God will take this hurt away. My promise I give to you. Already back for college. She's moving far away. I pray for strength and courage to make it through this day. I love you. We'll kiss a good bye for things that made her cry. I had a turn my head away. She brought tears to my eyes. That day my little girl. She brought tears to my eyes. Held her in my home so tight I said, honey, don't you cry. Tomorrow is a brand new day. This I know is true. God will take this hurt away. My promise I give to you. Today a bright dressed in white standing by her side. Not a little girl but a woman. Now these tears I can hide. She wraps her homes around me, whispers in my ear. Daddy I love you. These words I could hear. Tomorrow is a brand new day. This I know is true. God will take this hurt away. My promise I give to you. Tomorrow is a brand new day. Daddy please don't cry. I had a turn my head away. She brought tears to my eyes. I had a turn my head away. She brought tears to my eyes. [BLANK_AUDIO]