Border radio stations, established just beyond the Mexican border, played a pivotal role in broadcasting powerful signals across the U.S. and beyond, circumventing U.S. regulations. These "border blaster" stations not only connected diverse audiences but also shaped cultural exchanges with their unique programming, reaching listeners as far as South America, Japan, and Western Europe. The book delves into the historical significance and impact of these stations on radio and communication.
Texas has been home to so many colorful characters, out-of-staters might wonder if any normal people live here. And it's true that the "Texian" desire to act out sometimes overcomes even the most sober citizens—which makes it a real challenge for the genuine eccentrics to distinguish themselves from the rest of us. Fortunately, though, many maverick Texans have risen to the test, and in this book, Gene Fowler introduces us to a gallery of Texas eccentrics from the worlds of oil, ranching, real estate, politics, rodeo, metaphysics, showbiz, art, and folklore. Mavericks rounds up dozens of Fowler's favorite Texas characters, folks like the Trinity River prophet Commodore Basil Muse Hatfield; the colorful poet-politician Cyclone Davis Jr.; Big Bend tourist attraction Bobcat Carter; and the dynamic chief executive of the East Texas Oil Field Governor Willie. Fowler persuasively argues that many of these characters should be viewed as folk performance artists who created "happenings" long before the modern art world took up that practice in the 1960s. Other featured mavericks run the demographic gamut from inspirational connoisseurs of the region's native quirkiness to creative con artists and carnival oddities. But, artist or poser, all of the eccentrics in Mavericks completely embody the style and spirit that makes Texas so interesting, entertaining, and culturally unique.
Focusing on the complexities of grief, Gene Fowler offers a fresh perspective on pastoral care for the bereaved, emphasizing the importance of lament in both biblical and contemporary contexts. He challenges traditional grief models, advocating for a more nuanced understanding that respects individual experiences within congregational settings. Through the integration of psychotherapeutic insights and theological reflections, Fowler equips caregivers with practical tools and compassionate approaches, illustrated by various cultural references, to support those navigating profound loss.
Focusing on the funeral process, this guidebook equips pastors with insights and practical advice from the initial call to post-funeral support. It emphasizes the importance of pastoral care during mourning, highlighting how funerals serve as crucial moments for churches to support grieving families. By addressing both the procedural and emotional aspects of funerals, it provides a comprehensive resource for pastors to effectively minister to the bereaved.
