I CAN ONLY RECOMMEND THIS HIGHLY

My sister was visiting from Tennessee recently and the two of us went to the budget movie theater. We saw I Can Only Imagine. It is already out on DVD.  If you are a fan of the song of the same name it is fascinating to see the backstory. I knew much of it before the movie and still enjoyed it immensely. Dennis Quaid and Cloris Leachman are the big name actors in the film and they both do fine jobs. Country singer Trace Adkins has a major role. But the actor who plays the lead singer, J. Michael Finley, is fantastic. I hope this film catapults him to other opportunities. The backstory is violent but they do a respectful job of implying most of the violence without actually depicting it. The film is EXTREMELY family friendly and appropriate for all but perhaps the very young. It is intriguing to see the behind the scenes view of the music industry (how they got their band name, life on the broken down tour bus, trying to get an agent, etc.) and my favorite singer of all time, Amy Grant, plays an important role in the story so that was fun for me. It is an emotionally moving film so you may want to view it when you have time for a good cry. But I do highly recommend it. You will leave (or finish if you are watching it at home) singing the song at the top of your lungs and reaching for your Kleenex.

FAITH-BASED FAMILY FILMS

Last week I posted a partial list of Christian/faith-based films I had in my Netflix queue. Here is a new list of the remaining ones I have yet to watch but are on my list and coming to my home soon. This is a great season of life for faith-based family filmmaking.

A Vow to Cherish
Revelation
Beyond the Heavens
The Young Messiah
What If?
Son of God
God's Best Friend
God Bless the Broken Road
Beautifully Broken
Run the Race
Unplanned
Breakthrough
The Prayer Box

PARKER'S PROGRESS

As our son starts middle school today in Northern California, it reminds me of this memory from the start of 6th grade and all of the genuine progress he continues to make. Indeed, he blooms where he is planted.

We are marking the end of summer (Parker starts 6th grade tomorrow) by celebrating all the success he has made in home behavior therapy the last 3 months, such as:

1. Running his own bath water.

2. Dressing all by himself.

3. Brushing his teeth all by himself.

4. Getting his own snacks.

He is really excelling at some independent living skills and we are very proud of him. 

SOLID SPIRITUALLY?

“In a great big world, spinnin’ around, 
people walking on shaky ground,
My foundation’s solid.
Like a vessel getting’ tossed on the big blue sea, 
tryin’ to knock me off my feet
It’s you that keeps me solid.” – Solid, sung by Eric Church
I found this song by Eric Church via the Ram truck commercial on television. I like the lyrics. The chorus sounds like it could be a reference to a solid foundation through faith in Christ. But I don't know enough about the singer or lyricist to know if that was their intent.

Solid by Eric Church on YouTube

GET OUTTA MY DREAMS

(Click on link below, not photo.)

Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car by Billy Ocean has to be the best pop song of the 80s. It came out while I was in college and I loved it the first time I heard it. Now I hear it on the radio and I am instantaneously in a good mood. I crank up the stereo and start moving to the music. If I am in my car, I sing along at the top of my lungs. I am one of those strange people you see at stoplights who are totally spazzing out to the song. After a terribly depressing night of politics last night, I needed a Billy Ocean pick me up. And I got one tonight. The lyrics are so inane,

Get Outta My Dreams,
Get Into My Car.
Get Outta My Dreams,
Get In the Backseat Baby
Get Into My Car.

But you don't care because the song is so catchy and fun. I think we should all hear this song at least once a day. It always puts a smile on my face.

 

SWEET SWEET STORY FROM SWEET HOME, OREGON

This article from my hometown newspaper, The New Era, in Sweet Home Oregon, popped up again today on my social media memories. I appreciated the exposure for my book about my son and the friends from home who purchased it.

https://www.sweethomenews.com/story/2017/08/15/news/father-details-sons-struggles-accomplishments-in-book/19378.html

DIVINE DVDs

Yesterday I shared the list of Christian/faith-based films I had viewed through the DVD.com service, a Netflix company. Today I am providing a partial list of such films I have in my queue and cannot wait to view. There is a plethora of quality, family-friendly Christian films out there today. Praise God!

Raising Izzie
Sunday School Musical
The Genesis Code
No Greater Love
Last Ounce of Courage
Risen
Faith Like Potatoes
The Second Chance
Do You Believe?
Unconditional
Not Easily Broken
Ben-Hur (remake)
King's Faith
Faith of Our Fathers
Tribulation
Judgment
I'm Not Ashamed
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
Lukewarm
Angus Buchan's Ordinary People
The Grace Card
The Song
The Remaining
The Passion of the Christ
Rust
The Book of Esther
A Question of Faith
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Home Run

CHRISTIAN CINEMA

We are still old-fashioned in our house. We subscribe to Netflix, but to the older DVD set up, not the streaming system. I have been impressed with the number of  Christian or inspirational film options the DVD service has provided. Here is a list of the faith-based films I have seen in the last two years via DVD.com. I recommend them and many are top-notch films with quality production values, strong script writing and top-notch performances. Some include big name movie stars like Nicolas Cage and Jennifer Garner. Check them out for yourself. They are listed in order of viewing with the most recent at the top.

A Mother’s Love
Amazing Grace
A Matter of Faith
Christian Mingle
Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer (pro-life, not specifically faith-based)
Catching Faith
Where Hope Grows
God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness
Grace Unplugged
Flywheel
The Star
Something to Sing About
Let There Be Light
Forever My Girl
The Case for Christ
Boys Town (classic film with an inspirational story)
Resurrection of Gavin Stone
The Mighty Macs
Left Behind: World At War
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
To Save a Life
The Cross and the Switchblade
Left Behind: The Movie
God’s Not Dead 2
Left Behind (remake, newer version)
 Miracles from Heaven
The Last Sin Eater
90 Minutes in Heaven
War Room
Fireproof
Woodlawn
God’s Not Dead

TO POST OR NOT TO POST

Posting has not been what I expected. At first, I thought it would be a lot like journaling. I would process my thoughts on paper, and it would help me deal with anger or anxiety and the like. But journaling is highly personal, and it is written quickly and in shorthand. And it's meant for your eyes only, or perhaps you'll read it to your therapist someday. In order to journal I need to feel like my writing is safe and private. Posting is much different. It's much more laborious. You have to worry about accuracy, spelling, grammar. More eyes are intended to see it. And because of all of these demands, it has been difficult to post as often as I journal. It's hard to find the time. Whereas you don't intend for anyone to read your journal or diary, the very purpose of a post is to share your thoughts with others and hopefully persuade them. You need an audience. But if no one is reading your post, or it seems no one is reading your post, that can produce the very feelings that necessitate that you journal. So it is a vicious cycle. And as a result, I have found myself posting in fits and spurts. Consistency can be difficult. Discouragement creeps in all too often. And sometimes it just feels like I have nothing original to say. And then when I do feel like I have something to say it feels frustrating if no one is reading it. So there you have it. My cathartic explanation of how difficult and emotional posting can be. Having said all that, I really don't know that I have answered the question in my post's title. I guess the answer is still a work in progress.

SWEARING AND SHOPPING

@&)$!

Our family took a trip to the mall last weekend. Most of the shopping malls in our area are dying out but the largest one is still thriving. What I came away with from that trip was a picture of the coarsening of our nation. In the course of about 45 minutes of shopping I passed approximately 10 people who were wearing t-shirts with lewd, crude or just downright foul sayings. Even teens and preteens were sporting very questionable attire. I cannot reprint any of them here or my post would get deleted by Blogspot. And I don’t want to anyway. It used to be that there were swear words and inappropriate things you would never think of saying. Then it became well, you might say those things in private, but you would never say them in polite company. Now, apparently, not only will you say them anywhere and anytime you want, you’ll also wear them proudly for the whole world to see. Changing times, not always for the better.

If you’d like me to speak or teach on how to raise your kids to be media savvy Christians, contact me at 916-296-4647.

FOCUSED FRIENDS

We have the ability at work to send "Focused Recognition" cards to fellow employees. It is a company-centered way to thank and shower praise upon a coworker. In the seven months I have been working at my new position I have received three such cards. One from my manager and two from people I would have never expected them from. One individual is proudly making a lifestyle choice that biblical faith frowns upon. The other is an active member of a religion radically hostile toward mine. That has been eye opening for me. While we have our differences, God is still helping me treat these individuals with respect and kindness and that is apparently making an impact on them.

WILL YOU KISS YOUR FAITH GOODBYE?

My friend Steph Dixon helped led me to this article and I think the writer, unfortunately, is dead on. The church's appropriate and biblical stand on homosexuality is going to cause a lot more people, under pressure, to turn away from their faith.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye Author Says No Longer Christian

CHRISTIAN MUSIC MOVIES

I am so grateful to God that my son Parker LOVES Christian music. This song, Dead Man Walking is one of our new favorite tunes. I am excited for the biographical film about Jeremy Camp, I Still Believe, that is in production now, too. With the commercial success of the MercyMe inspired film I Can Only Imagine, my guess is that we will see more Christian songs and singers turned into biographical films. Perhaps Danny Gokey's dramatic story will be next.

Click the underlined text to watch the YouTube video.

#TBT FOR A GOOD CAUSE

#TBT When we were a March of Dimes Ambassador Family in 2017

ANN'S ENCOURAGEMENT

Writer Ann Voskamp has done more to encourage me in the last two years than anyone else on the planet. Her book, One Thousand Gifts is a treasure. Here are two of my favorite quotes from that work.

   1. “As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.” – Ann Voskamp

   2. “Stay calm, enter the moment, give thanks.” – author Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts

SOCIAL MEDIA MAYA

I love to collect quotes, especially from creative people like writers. Here are three quotes I love from a talented American writer and poet, Maya Angelou. Her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is so engaging. Which quote is your favorite?
ENCOURAGEMENT QUOTES – by Maya Angelou
   1.“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou 
   2. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou
   3. “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.” – Maya Angelou

IF TWAIN COULD TWEET

I love to collect quotes, especially from creative people like writers. Here are four quotes I love from one of our greatest American writers, Mark Twain. Which quote is your favorite?

ENCOURAGEMENT QUOTES – by Mark Twain
1. "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." - Mark Twain
2. “You’re never wrong when you do the right thing.” ~ Mark Twain
3. “Let us endeavor to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” – Mark Twain
4. “Action speaks louder than words, but not nearly as often.” – Mark Twain

REFRIGERATOR RADIO

If refrigerators ruled the radio industry, they would play an eclectic mix of music but the most popular artists of all time on K-Fridge (KFRG) would undoubtedly be Kool and the Gang and Coldplay. Here is the list of the current top ten songs on K-Fridge.

1      Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice

2     Cold-Hearted Snake by Paula Abdul

3     Baby It’s Cold Outside by Dean Martin

4     Cool Night by Paul Davis

5     Freeze Frame by J. Geils Band

6     Cold as Ice by Foreigner

7     She’s So Cold by the Rolling Stones

8     Cool It Now by New Edition

9     Winter Wonderland by Amy Grant

10.  Fire and Ice by Pat Benatar

If you'd like me to speak or write on the media, please contact me at 916-296-4647.

TAKE ME TO NIRVANA, SON

This is from my book Parker's Story: Essays on Autism and Awesometism.

On vacation last month I had a nirvana-like experience. And despite what the world or the travel industry might tell you, it had nothing to do with a rock band, a sexual escapade or a luxurious resort. Instead it happened at my dad's house in Sweet Home, Oregon. Yes there are really towns named Sweet Home. We make an annual trip to Oregon to see my family. My six year old son loves his Grandpa. So for a week he wears Grandpa ragged riding with him on his lawn mower, which my son calls his tractor. On one of those vacation days when we had no agenda -- no family to visit, no sights to see, we just hung around the house. It ended up being the best day of our trip. But we don't really have any great photos to prove it. I guess you had to be there. Luckily, I was. My son, who is autistic, loves repetition. He will do the same thing over and over and over. And over. He dragged me out to the garage and we pretended to drive every car on the property. First there was Grandpa's truck, parked in the garage. Then there was momma's van, our family car we had used for the drive to Oregon, sitting in the driveway. Plus there was Aunt Robin's car nestled on the side of the house. For about two hours we ran from car door to car door. My son would hop in the driver's seat and do the driving. He would push the buttons on the radio, turn the steering wheel and turn on the hazard lights. There would be a particularly broad smile of accomplishment on his face when he conquered the Cerebral Palsy in his hands and managed to buckle his own seat belt. My job was to sit on the passenger side and buckle my seat belt. He would occasionally ask me where we were going and I would make up something like "take me to my doctor's appointment" or "I need sunglasses from Walmart." After a few turns of the wheel we had magically arrived. He would bolt out of the car we were in and run toward the next ones saying "Come on Dad. We're driving." He was having so much fun. And of course like most 6 year olds he has boundless energy so it just kept going on and on. And on. But I didn't mind. In fact, about 90 minutes in I got my nirvana experience. My whole body got warm and fuzzy from head to toe. I felt relaxed and content. It was one of those moments where you know mentally, emotionally and physically that you are exactly where you need to be when you need to be there. My son was happy and having fun and I was helping him do it. That could be the peace that passes understanding.
Unless we are at Disneyland for the day, or watching one of his baseball games, I don't often get 120 minutes of consecutive time to devote to my son. Life is full of interruptions. This phone call or that pressing deadline. And honestly there are days where I don't have the patience for 2 hours of straight repetitive play. But not this day. It was all "Come on Dad. We're driving." Next time he asks me where we are going I am going to say "drive me back to nirvana, Son."

ALOHA ANSWERS

HAWAIIAN TRIVIA ANSWERS

1   In the famous Brady Bunch episodes set in Hawaii, what type of creature crawls on Peter in the hotel room? Tarantula.

2   Hawaii is the _______50_________th state to join the union?

3    Finish the lyrics to this famous Don Ho song:

Tiny bubbles in the wine ______make me feel happy, make me feel fine.

           

4   What is considered Barack Obama’s hometown neighborhood in Hawaii?

Makiki in Honolulu

5    How many islands make up the Hawaiian island chain? 13, 15 or 18 (circle one) 18.

6    How many tons of pineapple does Hawaii produce annually? (circle one) 350,000.

400,000 tons

619,000 tons

350,000 tons

7    What is the name of the starting quarterback for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, known as the “flyin’ Hawaiian?”

Marcus Mariota _______________________________________________

8   Which famous singer was born in Hawaii? (circle one) Bruno Mars.

Mary J. Blige

Bruno Mars

Vanilla Ice

9    How many tourists visit Hawaii each year? (circle one) 8 million.

Approximately 8 million

Approximately 11 million

Approximately 5 million

     What does the “5-0” mean in the classic TV title Hawaii Five-O?

slang for the police.

These are the answers to the trivia post from yesterday.