Announcements that "The War of the Worlds" is a dramatization of a work of fiction were made on the full CBS network at four points during the broadcast October 30, 1938: at the beginning, before the middle break, after the middle break, and at the end. The middle break was delayed 10 minutes to accommodate the dramatic content. (Wikipedia)

Good morning and welcome. I bring you greetings from The Home Office, on this Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Last week, on October 30th, the 80th anniversary was observed of the radio broadcast of Orson Welles' Mercury Theater production of the H. G. Wells novel, "War of the Worlds." That 1938 drama which depicted an invasion of earth by Martians caused a lot of panic across America. Here's what I wrote about it in one of my blogs a few years ago, ~"If you were in Chicago on October 31, 1938, you could have given 2 cents to the paper peddler and purchased The Chicago Herald and Examiner. In huge bold letters, it proclaimed, RADIO FAKE SCARES NATION. This headline reflected the panic and chaos surrounding the Orson Welles radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. The opening paragraph under the headline said this: 'Hysteria among radio listeners throughout the nation and actual panicky evacuations from sections of New York and New Jersey resulted from a too-realistic radio broadcast last night, describing a fictitious visitation of strange men from Mars.' I've listened to that broadcast myself a number of times. And, I can easily see how those who missed the disclaimers at the front would have thought it to be a live news broadcast." ~ The other day I watched an interview with Orson Welles by the BBC, done a few years after the program was aired. He talked about the impact. He said the Red Cross and one of the Quaker groups had sent folks into the mountains out in the Dakotas to try and convince the people who had fled there that it was safe for them to return to their homes. Media is powerful. That was radio. It had a huge impact. I've listened to it several times over the years. In our modern day media world where 'fake' has become a common term to describe some of what we see and hear, I thought it was good to consider this story, again. (Researchers say some 6 million people heard that 1938 broadcast and an estimated 1.7 million believed it to be an actual news bulletin about a real invasion.)

How did so many people miss the four strategically placed announced disclaimers? Researchers said many were doing the same thing we do today. We use a remote but they were spinning the dial during the commercial to find out what else was playing on radio that evening. Others may have come in after the special announcements had been made. It's pretty clear that some of the issues reported may also have been sensationalized At first, Orson Welles was defensive about the program, but, over time, he became proud of its highly publicized impact and even embellished the story more and more. Regardless, it does show that we can be manipulated even if we inadvertently do it to ourselves. People do take action based on what they believe to be true. We are aware of tragic consequences when wrong information leads to wrong conclusions. The example above, if true: People relocating to the mountains for refuge based on a fictitious radio drama. General George Custer was told that no more than 800 natives were in the area. That was wrong. Experts estimate more than 11,000 hostiles attacked Custer and his troops. We know the results. The medical field is saturated with these types of errors. I thought immediately of our first, beloved, President, George Washingon, as he lay deathly ill, and the best medical advice at the time was to drain blood from his body, which, many experts believe contributed to his demise. The list goes on and on. Knowing the facts is important. Knowing the truth is even more important. Knowing Jesus is the most important because He said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6, New King James Version, NKJV)

The wife and I attended a memorial service this past Monday. It was for a fellow in our local fellowship. This had to have been one of the most joyous home going services I've witnessed. The man became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ at age 55. From that moment until his passing at age 80 he became a one-man cheerleader for the Savior. Some of his folks got up and spoke and they testified that what people saw in public was who he was in private. By the time I had met him, only on my way to my pew, his illness had reduced him to riding a little scooter and his body was thin and weak. Yet, he had an exuberance even with his handshake and smile. While folks may not have known him personally, everyone who attended services knew his voice. He was one who could thunder an Amen and it would reverberate throughout the building. It never seemed intrusive and it always came at the appropriate time, but, when he trumpeted agreement, everyone could hear. Here's why I thought it was such a great service. The testimonies were real. He had made a difference. His time spent here on the planet had not been lived in vain. This was true for his family including his grandchildren. It was the testimony of those he served with in the local fellowship. It was echoed by those he worked with, and for any and all that happened to cross his path. The choir sang. Comments were made. The preacher preached. And, the 200 there left knowing that one life can make a difference. For time. And, for eternity. Amen. .....More later.