Dr. J. Allen Blair — At home with the Lord
Dr. J. Allen Blair stepped from his home in Charlotte, NC into the presence of Jesus Christ on September 9, 2007. He was 94. Dr. Blair founded and directed the Glad Tidings Radio ministry, currently celebrating 50 years of a daily 15 minute program. He pastored churches for 27 years in Savannah IL, Peoria IL, LeRoy MN, Flushing NY, St. Louis Mo, and Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Blair has ministered in churches, conferences, and camps across the USA, and in Canada, Panama, Central America, and Bermuda.
Dr. Blair was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on August 10, 1913, the only child of George and Rena Allen Blair. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elva Blair, co-founder of Glad Tidings; three daughters and their husbands, Sherril and Hu Harrill, Judy and Gary Janes, and Cindy and Harry Adams; nine grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. Many local pastors in Charlotte remember him for his mentoring skills as they sat under his teaching in special sessions at the Glad Tidings offices formerly on Eastway Drive. Organization was his forte' and this was evident in his professional and personal life, which were, in fact, all in one. His chief aim in life was to Shine the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reflected in the title of his autobiography, Shining The Light. His family remembers him for his loving commitment to his wife and for his consistent testimony of what God can do in a life, even the life of a child raised in an abusive, alcoholic home. His life has been spent, not in self-pity, but rather in devotion to God and in teaching the principles of the Word of God to his family and others.
Believing that Scripture memory is vital to the Christian life, Dr. Blair memorized and quoted the Bible extensively and used no notes in public speaking. His frugal lifestyle was evident from his Saturday morning garage sale appointments, which also had a spiritual goal. Early in their married life, the Blairs committed to give 50% of all they received to missions. The “treasures” he found on Saturday mornings furnished their home and he enjoyed making minor repairs on his bargains. “New” was hardly in his vocabulary.
Dr. Blair graduated from Atlantic City High School, Moody Bible Institute, Bradley University, and The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. His doctoral degree was awarded by Wheaton College, Wheaton IL. He authored 12 books, 10 based on books of the Old and New Testament and one on a pattern for a healthy Christian life. As God continues to provide the resources, the ministry will continue to broadcast His unchanging gospel, introducing people to Jesus Christ as Savior, being the Son of God, the Creator of the universe in which we live, and to help Christians mature in their faith and relationship to God.
Memorial Service for Dr. J. Allen Blair
October 27, 2007 3:00 p.m. Visitation begins 1:00 p.m.
Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Broken for God
The God-Controlled Life
As believers in Christ, we are either controlled by self or God. Under God’s control, we seek not our will but God’s will; we follow no plan but His plan; we have no concerns but His concerns. This is known as the God-controlled life, which is the blessed life. It is the privilege of every true child of God to enjoy this kind of life. It is experienced by a full commitment to Jesus Christ.
In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul exhorts every true believer to follow the Lord in a life of full and complete surrender. Listen to his words: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Christians are either conformed to this world and wasting their lives building on wood, hay, and stubble; or they are transformed by the renewing of their mind and walking in the perfect will of God. The transformed life is a fruitful and a blessed life. It is a God-controlled life. Self having been crucified with Christ, the Lord Jesus has the preeminence. What a tremendous need there is for transformed Christians in our day; many are mastered by the flesh, not knowing the fullness of the power of God. Either our life is surrendered to the control of Jesus Christ completely or Christ is merely a convenience to us. Are you a Christian simply because of the advantages you receive from God? Such an experience is selfishness in its finality. We should be followers of the Lord for the supreme purpose of serving and honoring Him.
Blessing Means Breaking
Such a life is not without its costs. It means that our own selfish wills must be broken and His blessed will must be preeminent. Take note, as you read God’s word, how frequently there must be a breaking up process before there is blessing. We are told three times (concerning the five loaves which Jesus used to feed the 5,000) that He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes (Matthew 14:19). Blessed and brake. Blessing means breaking. God never smiles on a field as when it is plowed deep. God never reigns righteousness upon a life in fullness until it is broken up, broken deep.
In Hosea 10:12, we read, Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD. Would you be useful to God? Would you be usable by the Lord? Then let Him break your stubborn will. Let Him plow deep, that your life may be His possession wholly. For I say again, as long as we are filled with self-will and its fleshly ambitions, we shall be wholly ineffectual for God. We need to be broken.
God Uses Broken Things
The pitchers that Gideon used to free Israel from the Midianites were all broken. Whole pitchers would not let the light shine that was inside. If God wants the pitchers of our lives to be broken, then let’s offer them to Him completely that the light of the world may shine through us brightly.
Recall the sacrificial lambs of the Old Testament. Before they were sacrificed, they had to die. Only as they were killed were they able to fulfill their purpose. They, of course, represented the coming Lamb of God whose blood would take away our sins.
In order that God might work through Moses and use him as the deliverer of his people, Moses had to be broken. Even though he was well taught in all the knowledge of the Egyptians, he had to be stripped of himself and all that catered to the flesh. After God dealt with him, his wealth was gone, his honor was gone, his pride was gone, his friends were gone, his ambition was laid in the dust. Moses had been broken; and, in such a state, he became a mighty instrument in the hand of God.
God Transforms Broken Things
Then there was Elisha who had been a successful farmer, plowing his plantation with twelve yoke of oxen. But it was all broken when God called Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha killed the oxen for sacrifices, burned the plow and yoke for fuel, and left all. His past life was broken and gone. Why? – That he might be used of God. He was not conformed, but transformed by the mighty power of God.
The Lord Jesus broke up their fishing business when He called James, John, and Andrew to preach. It was goodbye to the nets, goodbye to profit, goodbye to father and the ship, in order that they might become fishermen for the souls of men.
Matthew was sitting at the receipt of customs. This rich publican was making money hand over fist; but when Jesus came by and said, Follow me, his income was broken up. He was broken away from friends and his greedy occupation.
The slave girl, healed of her demon, lost her power to tell fortunes. And God broke up the moneymaking business of her masters when He transformed the life of the slave girl.
When the legions of devils were cast out of the poor maniac of Gadarenes, our Lord just about broke up the hog business on that countryside. It cost two thousand hogs, drowned in the sea, to put the poor, deranged sinner back into his right mind. Because of the mighty miracle he was able to return, happy-hearted and glad, back to his kindred and friends.
Our Ease Must Be Broken
How foolish some of us are to think that we can experience the mighty power of God in any way without the breaking up process! It is impossible to have blessing and fruitfulness without sacrifice and cost. Our ease must be broken. We are too self-complacent. Most of us are satisfied with ourselves, our families, our churches. Little do we realize how backslidden we really are. We see a few results; perhaps, now and then, someone will come to Christ through our efforts. But oh what God could do; what He desires to do through us. He longs to produce a mighty work, but we must be broken. Child of God, be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God for your life. Yield your heart and life to the Lord’s control. Let Him be more than a Savior to you. Let Him be your Lord, your Master, directing in every area of your life.
Perhaps God has brought you to a time of suffering or sorrow, that you might realize that your help is in the name of the Lord—not in yourself. Let Him have His perfect way. And, should you not be a believer, I urge you to turn to Christ at this very moment. Repent of your sins and invite the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life. Let Him change your life and save you for all eternity. J. Allen Blair
Huge Milestone! Next Month!
Glad Tidings went on the air in November of 1957 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Next month, we celebrate a half century of broadcasting!
Sing praises to God, sing praises (Psalm 47:6)
Looking Forward
We will broadcast the messages by Dr. Blair as long as the Lord leads and supplies the resources through His people.