Give Me a Lion's Heart

Is Mark the "Best in the Business"? Stay Tuned.

2011-07-10T08:45:00.004-05:00

Blogger's Note: The video and Q&A below are my audition materials for "Best in the Business", a new reality TV show produced by Powderhouse for Discovery Channel.

Who are you and where are you from? 

I am a husband of more than 21 years who is tired of stressing out his wife about money.

I am a father of four children trying to cast a vision for the future.

I am a “gainfully unemployed” man who has worked in Georgia, Colorado, Arkansas, and Tennessee trying to slug out a career.

I am a published author fighting to get another title in the marketplace.

I’m one of those weird guys who—until I lost my job—worked in the same field as he majored in during college—journalism.

I a former competitive distance runner who is trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon on time and knows he needs to drop another 50 pounds to do it.

I am a Christian who wonders like the writer of Psalms, “How long will you wait, o Lord?”

What is your job title, what do you do, and how long have you been doing it?

I am a valet/doorman for second shift at Renaissance Nashville Hotel. I was hired in February of this year.

My job description includes opening doors for guests, being a point of information outside the hotel, calling cabs, making dinner and entertainment recommendations, greeting guests at their cars, unloading luggage, writing valet tickets, parking, and retrieving cars. I’m also a shift supervisor from time to time.

What out-of-the-box "mad skills" or special “tricks" do you have? What sets you apart from other people in your profession?

My mad skill is service. For 20 years, I have traveled with my family and for business. I know the difference between good and bad experiences at a hotel. I’m the only guy on our team who has actually been on the other side of the valet equation. Therefore I work my tail off to serve our guests.

I see my job like a decathalon. Decathletes aren’t necessarily the fastest or strongest, but they can be fast and strong enough in a number of tasks to win the signature event of the Olympics. That’s me—well-rounded, very strong in a lot of areas, going all out to help our guests.

Don’t worry. I can drive and park with the best of them.

(I wrote an essay about my experiences.)

What is your most unusual and memorable story about your job?

The Nashville Predators had a tremendous season and made it deep into the playoffs. From time to time, NHL referees stay with us. After the games, they shower at Bridgestone Arena, dress in suits, pack their rolling duffel bags, and walk three blocks back to our hotel. It’s a privilege to have them stay with us.

It was a busy night in downtown Nashville. Thousands of people were walking around visiting the honkytonks. Fans who went to the game joined the throngs downtown.

About 10pm, we heard a commotion about 100 yards down the sidewalk. One referee stopped me and said, “You might need to call security.” There was a drunk man harassing one of the other referees. The ref kept walking but the drunk man kept cutting him off. I stepped into the lobby and called for security.

The drunk man tried to block the ref from entering the hotel. I stepped between the drunk man and the referee allowing the ref to walk around me and into the hotel.

The drunk man started trying to follow. He got through the first set of doors, but I put my back against the second set of doors and grabbed hold of both handles. He was going no farther. Security still wasn’t there.

The drunk man looked like he was giving up and going to leave. He turned a little as if to walk away, then turned around and rammed his head and shoulder against me trying to knock me away from the doors. My head bounced off the glass door but I stayed put.

He pushed and pulled on me trying to get past me when security arrived. He wrestled with them and wouldn’t leave. We called Nashville police. This agitated the drunk man. He put his shoulder into one of our security guards. This guard decided to subdue the drunk man and essentially tackled him and stayed on top of him until the police arrived.

What do you do for fun when NOT on the job?

The most fun I have is spending time with my family. I love going on dates with my wife. After dinner or a movie, we’ll drive around and talk. Those conversations in the dark with soft music on the radio are treasures. Our four kids are very busy and we take great delight in watching and participating with them. We’ve been to enough dance recitals and competitions to qualify as judges on “So You Think You Can Dance.” We’ve volunteered behind stage for dozens plays, musicals, and vocal performances. I’ve held boards for my son as he grew to be a black belt in taekwondo.

I train for marathons. The running helps me keep my sanity and stay in better shape than I would otherwise.

If I had more free time, I’d go to more live music events—there are so many in Nashville that I’d love to attend. I’d also play more golf. I haven’t played in two years.

When you sponsor a child

2010-08-10T21:20:00.004-05:00

GrandVista Kids "Joy of Christmas"

2009-12-26T23:09:00.005-06:00

During December, my daughter Lauren was a part of GrandVista Kids,the children's ensemble at GrandVista Entertainment directed by Sarah Valley Rose and co-directed by Constance Florance. It's comprised of Emily Adams, Katie Chance, Rachel Dales, Connor Danos, Thea Danos, La'Yazmin Fitts, Charity Overstreet, Zuri Lyles, Zyann Taylor, Lauren Whitlock, Olivia Wright, and Meredity Binkley. GV Kids was initially created for in-studio work and partnered with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to make the holiday album Joy of Christmas (a portion of the proceeds go to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center). After numerous positive reactions at local non-profit functions, they're being developed into a national touring act.

This home video was recorded at The Blakeford at Green Hills on 12/22/09.

This Blog is a Movin'

2009-12-18T15:52:00.004-06:00

On January 4, I'll be blogging at http://wmarkwhitlock.wordpress.com.

You can still reach me at my domain, http://www.wmarkwhitlock.com.

Please subscribe to my new RSS feed.

Hold That Tiger

2009-12-09T09:14:00.003-06:00

Tiger Woods’ career as he knows it is over.

Before the car accident, golf commentators always speculated about his ability to win. They took scalpels to his swing and his putting, quoted statistics like poetry, and marveled at his game—whether good or bad.

Now, David Feherty (twitter) will have digs and punch lines galore for the red-clad one. Gary McCord might actually be funny. And Jim Lampley might actually have nothing good to say.

When Tiger plays well, they will postulate, “He’s trying to overcome his bad PR.” When he plays poorly, they will offer, “He’s still being haunted by the events of November 2009.” If he loses a sponsor, they’ll talk about chinks in the armor. If he goes without a major tournament win in 2010, Sports Illustrated will probably run a headline like, “Will Tiger Catch Nicklaus?” The cover will be a picture like this one.

The wild card in Tiger’s long-term recovery is his mental toughness. Despite the wins, the statistics, the money list, and the endorsements, Tiger’s best asset is his ability to fight against the odds to come back or just keep grinding away. Can he bring that same mental toughness to his personal life and his game? I messed up in 2003 and got fired from a job. I didn’t cheat on my wife or murder anyone, but I broke a serious company policy and found myself being escorted to the door. Not a day goes when I don’t have regrets or play a game of “What if?” I have longed for the grit and determination that Tiger shows on the course.

I fear for Tiger’s marriage. I am worried that he will choose golf over his marriage vows, choose money over commitment and covenant, and choose the title of playboy over husband. Elin’s parents are divorced. Tiger’s dad was previously married and divorced. He doesn’t have the model of life-long marriage from experience.

He also doesn’t gain the model from his religious convictions. Tiger told Slate, “I believe in Buddhism. Not every aspect, but most of it. So I take bits and pieces. I don't believe that human beings can achieve ultimate enlightenment, because humans have flaws.” Buddhism treats divorce as a civil-matter and it is not prohibited. (However, based on what I’ve read, Tiger sounds like he holds no religion.)

A few years ago, a leader I respect filed for divorce. Several men I know flew to his hometown to urge him to reconsider. One man challenged him to give up everything to save his marriage. He asked, “Isn’t your marriage worth so much more than your success, your position, your publishing deal, your television appearances, and your radio program?” Others close to the leader behaved like John Stuart Mill or Mr. Spock:

Spock: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk: ...the needs of the few...
Spock: ...Or the one.
(See the scene here)

I’m sure Nike, AT&T, Gatorade, Accenture, Gillette, EA Sports, and Tag Heuer all want him to continue to play. I’m sure the PGA and the television networks want him to continue to play. Golf as a whole will suffer if Tiger pulls away. However, I want to challenge Tiger to take a year off to concentrate on being a husband and father plus find something more important than golf.

As for me, Tiger’s challenges are pushing me to take my own advice. I hope in 2010 I can borrow some of his mental toughness to turn my back on my past failings and concentrate with new fervor on my marriage. I celebrate 20 years in May. I want my next 20 years with my “most beloved among women” to be as rich as Tiger’s bank account.

Sex Doesn't Sell

2009-12-08T13:37:00.002-06:00

From WORLD Magazine.

Most films with sexual content perform worse at the box office than films with little or no sexual content. That's the conclusion of a new study published in November in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. Using data from 914 films released between 2001 and 2005, researchers Dean Keith Simonton from the University of California-Davis, and independent Vancouver-based researcher Anemone Cerridwen discovered that explicit sex and nudity actually hurt a film's performance: On average, gross sales were 31 percent lower than films without the content.

Write the authors: "It is manifest that anyone who argues that sex sells or impresses must be put on notice. At present, no filmmaker should introduce such content under the assumption that it guarantees a big box office, earns critical acclaim, or wins movie awards. On the contrary, other forms of strong film content appear far more potent, either commercially or aesthetically."

How $1 Per Day Changes a Life

2009-12-04T08:30:00.001-06:00

Celebrate Christmas with Us

2009-12-02T08:12:00.002-06:00

Our daughter Lauren is a part of GV Kids. Join us at TPAC for an evening of Christmas spirit.

Bob Rivers - a World Vision Champion

2009-10-21T16:29:00.004-05:00

Bob Rivers is a Seattle institution. He's a one-of-a-kind radio host -- a talk show on a classic rock music station. He's also a one-of-a-kind World Vision champion.

Check out his trip to Senegal. You'll laugh. And you'll want to sponsor a child.

Rick and Bubba are the two Sexiest Philantropists Alive

2009-10-16T05:43:00.002-05:00

I wonder what it's like in Heaven when children are sponsored. The Rick and Bubba army has sponsored 697 children...so far (as of 12:08am CT 10/16/09). Amazing!

If you didn't get a chance to listen, check out yesterday's broadcast:

Hour 1
Hour 2
Hour 3
Hour 4

Don't Discount Today

2009-10-06T14:50:00.002-05:00

This quote has encouraged me so much, I have printed it out to place on my desk. What quotes have inspired you lately?

"If you are trusting in Jesus Christ this morning, the roots of your life were planted in the eternal counsels of God, and the branches of your life are growing into an absolutely sure and glorious future with God. There are no unimportant days in your life. You don't ever have to go to bed at night feeling that your life is going nowhere. You don't ever have to give in to the lie that you are not connected to an awesome purpose."

-John Piper

Winston Churchill

2009-10-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of The Art of Manliness.

World Vision Sponsorship Packet - Unpacking

2009-09-29T14:46:00.002-05:00

Allow me to unpack the World Vision sponsorship packet you will receive when you choose to rescue a child from poverty and injustice.

Sponsor a child.

The mailing envelope.

The backside of the mailing envelope.

The sponsorship packet.

Sponsor a child.

The back of the sponsorship packet

When you first open the sponsorship packet, you'll see the photo of your child and a DVD.

Sponsor a child.

This DVD gives you a look at sponsorship through a child's eyes and quickly answers your questions about how your sponsorship dollars are used.

Watch one of the short videos from the DVD here.

The three sections of the sponsorship packet—child information, sponsorship Q&A, and country information.

Here is information at your child, her village, her family, her chores, her favorite activities, here education, and the challenges that face her community.

The magnet snaps apart for two magnets — a magnet frame for a photograph and a magnet with the information phone number.

Sponsor a child.

You'll receive three photographs—a bookmark for your Bible or your current novel, a wallet photo, and a photo for the magnet frame.

Assemble the photograph and the magnet frame for an attractive prayer reminder for your refrigerator at home or your cubicle at work.

This pamphlet outlines the work of World Vision in your child's country.

To read a sample, click here.

Sponsor a child.

The Power of Fasting

2009-06-04T15:51:00.002-05:00

Text copyright 2009 GRQ, Inc.

Before Jesus took his ministry public, he spent 40 days without food and drink. This elongated fast was a time of spiritual preparation for his three years of ministry, healing, teaching, and ultimately his sacrificial death on the cross.

Since Old Testament times, fasting has been a method chosen by God’s people to grow closer to God or to walk through a difficult spiritual season.

In this chapter, you’ll walk through the spiritual implications and practical considerations for fasting.

Note: Please consult with your medical professional before beginning a fast of any length. Children should not fast from food.

What Does Fasting Accomplish?
Fasting is a physical parable. When you grow hungry or thirsty for physical sustenance, your body is reminding your soul that you should hunger and thirst for spiritual food and water. Fasting is a method of focusing your attention on the God of the universe.

Why Should I Fast?
You should not fast for the sake of fasting. Fasting in the Bible is always in response to a specific issue, problem, or opportunity:

• Fast to overcome a recurring sin like gossip or laziness
• Fast on behalf of a friend facing severe illness
• Fast before beginning a new job
• Fast about an important decision like buying a house or choosing a spouse
• Fast for government leaders or military operations

How Long Should I Fast?
If you have never fasted before, abstain from food for only one meal. Over the next few years, increase the length and frequency of your fasting. Some fast once a year while others try to fast once a quarter. Only attempt a 40-day fast after building a routine of fasting in your life.

When Should I Start my Fast?
When starting with one meal, fast from lunch. If you are employed, reserve the time on your calendar. Sit in your car or drive to a nearby quiet spot for your prayer time. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you might have to feed your children then involve them in a task or naptime before you can spend time in prayer. Every situation is different and requires creativity and planning. Think ahead about how you will fast, when you will fast, and where you will fast.

If you are fasting for a day or longer, begin your fast with dinner. Practically speaking, you will not grow as hungry in the evening and then can sleep through six or more hours of the worst hunger pangs. Starting with dinner gives you the best opportunity for a longer fast.

What Do I Do when I Fast?
During meal time
Fasting without prayer is just a diet. Instead of eating, take your Bible, a notebook, and a pen to a quiet spot—close your office or bedroom door, drive to a local park, or just sit in your car. Instead of eating food, feast on the Bible and prayer. Study passages related to the purpose of your fast.

The Rest of the Time
Go about life as normally as possible.

When You Feel Hungry
When you feel acute hunger and catch yourself reaching for money for the vending machine, you’ve just received a signal to pray again. Wherever you are, bow your head and pray for a few seconds, then go back to the task at hand.

How Do I Break My Fast?
In the same way that you should begin your fast with the evening meal, you should also break your fast with the evening meal. After going without food for a while, your body’s digestive system will kick in to high gear and you will feel very sleepy. Consume a small meal at dinner then relax before going to sleep.

As a rule of thumb, the longer you fast the softer your foods should be. If you have fasted for a week or longer, break your fast with clear broth and maybe a few crackers. The next morning, eat oatmeal or an egg. Avoid dairy products like milk on dry cereal or yogurt until the second day.

Jesus’s Instructions to Those Who Fast
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, he shared with them the model prayer—The Lord’s Prayer—then gave instructions about fasting. He urged them to not fast publicly. Fasting isn’t a spiritual merit badge to be worn, it is a private communion with God. Maintain your normal hygiene and standards of dress. When others invite you to join them for a meal or trip to Starbucks, politely decline.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:2–3 NIV

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6 NIV

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 4:16–18 NKJV

Something to Ponder
Do I Have to Fast from Food?

No. Food is a constant in our lives. For some, coffee, soft drinks, television, video games, or internet may feel as required as breathing. These daily indulgences and distractions can be just as difficult to go without as food. If fasting from food is medically prohibited or seems too daunting, fast from something like television. Use the same principle: when you would normally watch TV, pray.

Points to Remember
• Do not strenuously exercise—such as train for a marathon—while fasting.
• Drink some clear broth or clear fruit juice during family meals. Use your fast as an opportunity to teach your children about this spiritual discipline.
• When the urge to chew distracts you from prayers or daily life, chew a piece of sugarless gum.
• Limit your water intake to 64 ounces a day so you don’t overwhelm your kidneys.

Digging Deeper
The Old Testament tells about the fasting journeys of several men and women. Look over these passages to learn more about fasting:
Moses: Exodus 34:27–28
The prophet, Samuel: 1 Samuel 7:5–6
King David: 2 Samuel 12:16
The prophet, Elijah: 1 Kings 19:2–8
Queen Esther: Esther 4:16
Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:4

How Will You Celebrate Memorial Day?

2009-05-22T20:37:00.006-05:00

This weekend, we celebrate Memorial Day. Originally known as Decoration Day, the last Monday in May honors those men and women who died while serving in the military.

Some years, I have let this holiday pass without even a private observance. I don't want to do that this year. I hope you won't either. At the bottom of this post, I've listed a few ideas for making the most of Memorial Day for your family.

A friend sent these editorial cartoons to me. I love editorial cartoons because the artist communicates so much in a few square inches. I hope these inspire, convict, and bring a smile.

Easy Ideas for Celebrating Memorial Day with Your Family

Bow in prayer before your Memorial Day cookout and include thanks to God for those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Gather around the computer and watch a great YouTube video like this, this, and this:

Invite a relative or family friend who served in the military to share a story of a friend who died in the course of his or her duties. If you can't do this in person, call on the phone and gather around the speaker phone.
Participate in a flag retirement ceremony.
Ask your neighborhood property owners association to lower your neighborhood's flag to half-mast.
Watch the movie, Taking Chance. (Appropriate for children over age eight. Of course, use your discretion.)
Buy a book like The American Patriot's Almanac and read the story behind and the text of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Post an American flag on your blog.
Buy a simple, ready-made bouquet of flowers from a local grocery store and visit a local cemetery. Find a simple, white headstone of one who died in the military and decorate the grave in the great tradition of Decoration Day. It doesn't matter if you know the person's family or story.

Please use the comments below to tell me how your family honored our soldiers.

Total Axxess with Wally - Catching a World Vision

2009-05-11T14:21:00.010-05:00

I've been blown away by the amazing job Wally, the host of Total Axxess, does every night.

He's one of World Vision's biggest champions. Check out his videos.

Day One

Segment Two

Segment Three

Segment Four

Segment Five

Fast and Furious Used Car for Sale

2009-05-09T18:36:00.005-05:00

THIS CAR HAS BEEN SOLD.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.

Pictures below description. Newly added (5/14/09) close-ups of fabric upholstery.

1997 Honda Prelude VTEC
2 door
5-speed transmission
khaki cloth interior
Eucalyptus Green exterior
Motorized sunroof
Power seat
AM/FM/CD
Cruise control
Clean title
Clean CarFax
147,000 miles
$5000 or best offer

Extras:
Owner's manual
Original valet key still in package

I'm the second owner. The first owner was an Air Force jet mechanic and kept the car in perfect order. I bought the car in December, but need to sell.

Contact Mark Whitlock
615-715-1105
wmarkwhitlock@comcast.net

The Noticer Project: The Five People Who've Had the Biggest Influence on My Life

2009-04-24T08:46:00.008-05:00

In his new book, The Noticer, Andy Andrews pays tribute to a man* who impacted his life. Plus, he invites his readers to "notice" those that have changed their lives. It's my pleasure to introduce you to five of the many people have impacted my life.

William Bert Whitlock
Those who know me are not surprised to see my dad, Bill Whitlock, at the top of the list. My dad was my hero, my teacher, my personal coach, and the best mentor anybody could have. I never questioned his love for me. I could always trust him.

The most powerful lesson I learned from him about fatherhood, was "Let your son tag along behind the scenes of your life." James Dobson is fond of saying that life's lessons are caught and not taught. Dad gave me ample opportunities to catch his life. I'm grateful for all of the private moments that many many others never saw. Like kneeling with his players to say Lord's Prayer before basketball games. My dad never prayed aloud in our family or in meetings. He was shy that way. But I know he was a man of prayer because of many private moments. It didn't surprise me after my mom's successful cancer surgery, that dad bowed in silent prayer with me to give thanks for what the doctors—-and God--did on that day. I invite you to read about my dad by clicking here and here. It's just a son's perspective, but I'll do everything I can not to let his memory die.

I give tribute also to Keith Naylor. Keith was a local pastor at a small church in Clarkston, Georgia. He reached out to high school students in the area. He had played pro basketball but an injury sidelined him. He played with Athletes in Action for a while before getting more education and moving to Clarkston to help start the church. Keith spoke at our Fellowship of Christian Athletes Thanksgiving banquet about “what it is, what it was, and what it shall be.” For the first time in my life, I understood the gospel clearly and plainly. That night, I couldn’t sleep so I slipped out of my bed, knelt in the darkness, and prayed, “Whatever this thing called a Christian is, I want to be one.” Keith was also instrumental in my early Christian growth. I attended a small Bible study with him on Friday mornings at 6:00 a.m. My mom never understood what would get a teenage boy up and out of the house by 5:45 a.m. Keith, and his fellow pastors Bill Jones and Barry St. Clair, were at the right place at the right time. Tragedy struck our school when a track athlete with a rare heart condition died during a workout. Keith was there when our student body hurt and needed answers. God brought many fellow students to Christ during that season.

Donnie Bixler was my best friend in high school. Even though Donnie was two years older than me, we hit it off and connected on many fronts. We went to concerts together and listened to music. We were in Scouts together. More than anything else, Donnie was a voice of encouragement to me as a new Christian. He didn’t let me get away with much. He had the courage to call a spade a spade. He also let me see into his family. I’m an only child so the idea of brothers and sisters was alien to me. I saw the love and care that he had for his siblings and they had for him. When I found out the Donnie had a brain tumor, my heart sank. I couldn’t understand why God would want to take him away in such a painful way. He was such a faithful servant. He loved his wife. He loved his boys. His boys were very young when God took him home. I think of him often. I also pray for his wife and his sons.

Bob Lepine is a Reformation Man. I use that phrase in contrast to a renaissance man. If there are people who are “jacks of all trades but masters of none” then Bob is Aces all around. Elvis impersonator. Theology scholar. Standup comic. Music trivia savant. Mellifluous-throated radio man. Relationship master. Creative Merlin. When I went to work for Bob, I was a young 23-year-old. Bob was generous to let me pick his brain. To be honest, he probably spent way too much time letting me pick his brain, but I'm grateful for the wisdom that I gleaned from those hours together. I'm grateful for his belief in me. I'm grateful for the wisdom I continue to carry with me that I learned from him. Bob quotes Philippians 2:3-4 so often that I memorized it just being around him. “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Bob live lives his life this way I think that's why he has so many friends and is so influential on so many fronts.

Besides my father, the person who has had the biggest influence on my life is my wife, Kaye. She has seen my best and she has seen my worst. No matter what, she loves me and believes in me. Kaye has an uncanny ability to give others the benefit of the doubt. I'll feel cheated, angered, belittled, or wronged, and yet she will be able to give me perspective and ask questions that I haven't. That is a powerful gift. Kaye is a walking example of endurance. She deals with severe joint pain hour by hour. How she accomplishes everything she does every day boggles my mind. She overcomes for the sake of our children and me. I wish others could see all that she does in private to make our family work. Kaye is also responsible for my career success. Early in our marriage, I learned to love reading because of her influence. She's also taught me about what's important to a daughter. Her observations about her own dad and femininity in general have made me a better dad to our three girls. We will celebrate 19 years of wedded bliss on May 5. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her.

I also keep a list of unofficial mentors. There are authors I’ll never meet and regular folks you’ll never meet. Like every award winner, making a list is always dangerous. There will be dozens left off, I'm sure.

Dennis Rainey
Paul McCusker
Gary Blunier
Tim Downs
Kurt Bruner
Dave Samuel
Greg Stutts
Jim Davis
Scott Rosenthal
Todd Murray
Robert Louis
Jerry Wunder
Allan Mesko
Bill Spurling
Mike Schatz
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Ray Blackston
Jonathan Clements
Scotty Smith
Tony Wood
Wayne Kinde
Mike Hyatt

I “notice” them as well and am grateful for their influence in my life. I challenge you to notice five people today. Link back to this blog or facebook page. Don’t forget to notice them at http://thenoticerproject.com.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

2009-04-24T08:44:00.004-05:00

A Review
The Noticer
Andy Andrews
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Releasing Tuesday, April 28, 2009, A.D.
Four lions out of five

In the Disney movie, The Lion King, Rafiki, the medicine monkey confronts the prince of the jungle, Simba. Simba has been living in the past and blaming himself for his father's death and his uncle's rise to corruption. They argue for a while then have this classic exchange:

Adult Simba: I know what I have to do. But going back will mean facing my past. I've been running from it for so long.
[Rafiki hits Simba on the head with his stick]
Adult Simba: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.
[laughs]
Adult Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.
[swings his stick at Simba again who ducks out of the way]

Rafiki gave Simba a lesson in ... perspective

Andy Andrews' new modern fable, The Noticer, is all about perspective.

Andy Andrews loves people. You can tell that in the way he blogs, in the way he greets audiences after live engagements, and in the way he describes people in his books. In The Traveler's Gift, Andrews describes famous characters from history with care and aplomb. While a fictional tale, we see Abraham Lincoln, Joshua Chamberlain, and Christopher Columbus in ways that cinema and history don't often show us. He brings that same care and love for people to his neighbors and friends on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

As I read through The Noticer, I kept Google handy. Every time he introduced a new guest or a new place along Orange Beach, I Googled it. All of the places he mentions in the book are genuine. The proprietors of those places are living breathing humans. What a tribute to the place that has nurtured your soul. What a tribute to the people that you've woven your life together with.

As you read The Noticer, you've got to remember that it's a fable. You've got to remember that change does not happen instantaneously.

The Noticer begins with a painful glance into Andy's life. We meet Andy underneath the dock. He's in tears mourning the loss of his parents. That's when Jones shows up. Andrews credits Jones with introducing him to great biographies——and changing his perspective. The rest of the book travels with Jones as he helps others all over the Gulf Coast change their perspectives.

The cynic in me didn't like the rehash of Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages material. While I love the content and research behind the five love languages, I did not like Andrews recitation of it. I'm probably over-thinking this since there are thousands of people who will be exposed to this book that would never be exposed to Chapman's work. So, I will appreciate the homage.

Like most modern fables (like The One-Minute Manager), everything seems to happen too quickly and too perfectly. His characters don't resist change as much as those of us with flesh on.

Intrigue built as I continued to read. Jones is a curious man and I wanted to know more about him. Who is he going to talk to next? How is he going to confront them? As you read the book, don't speed read. Read as you would if you were enjoying an early summer day along the Gulf Coast. Don't miss yourself along the streets and sand.

I almost missed myself. But Jones showed up in my bedroom when I read chapter seven. He delivered a Rafiki-sized whack upside my head. Once I was "noticed", I was hooked.

As the book builds to the climax, I felt a part of the community. When everyone gathers at the diner, if you've been "noticed", you'll be there, too, wondering what is in Jones' suitcase.

Even the most causal readers will care about the end of the book and most readers, like me, will want to change perspective in their lives.

In my day to day life, I am tasked with writing persuasive copy. I realize that my job is about changing someone's perspective. I feel more equipped to do so after reading The Noticer. But the bigger benefit to my daily career has been the fact that I understand someone else's perspective a little better. Or at least I ask the question, "What is their perspective?"

The Noticer is a very quick read. I know that this book will sell very well. I believe that the social network strategy that Nelson has employed will be like kerosene onto an already well-built fire complete with kindling and well-seasoned fuel.

Have You Ever Heard this Story?

2009-04-21T08:07:00.002-05:00

Blogger's Note: I am researching for a new project. I can't find a source for one of the best stories to open the work. I don't even know "the rest of the story." Have you heard a story like the one below? I cannot remember if this artist was a sculptor, a painter, a Renaissance man, or a composer. If so, could you leave a comment about WHO you think the artist was? If you know a source, would you please link me to it or give me a title and author? Thanks so much.

He was dead.

The odor emanating from his apartment alerted his neighbors. The man was a hermit and aloof, but he was also famous. Everyone in the city knew who he was. They knew his work. And they wanted to see more of it.

He was an artist who thrilled his audiences with every completed work. When they pried open the door to his home and found his body, they also found hundreds of unfinished pieces. Those who knew him and do his work, commented that there were many masterpieces awaiting his touch. But alas, he would never touch them again.

The Future of Radio

2009-04-08T08:29:00.003-05:00

Blogger's Note: I love radio. I wanted to be a songwriter, but majored in journalism with a concentration in radio for a bunch of reasons. It didn't take long for me to fall in love. I discovered "Adventures in Odyssey" and "A Prairie Home Companion." I met Himam Brown, the man who coined the phrase, "The theatre of the mind".

Jeff Brown with WAY-FM posted a great blog post today. I invite you to respond on his site. He asked four questions about the future of radio. I put my responses on his blog and here.

As long as we drive our own cars, we will love radio. As soon as cars ride on rails like in I Robot, radio may fade.

How do you prefer to interact with radio? Phone? Text? Twitter? Not at all/Passive listener?
Radio needs to get ahead of the curve. With all the studies on distracted drivers and laws being passed, the NAB and NRB need to join together to create a new radio dashboard interface. More stations need to push song data to the screen of the radio. I'm not opposed to advertiser information there as well.

There should be a series of buttons on the radio interface (and maybe the steering wheel) that allow a listener to respond directly to the station. This would allow the station to take immediate polls or contests. Furthermore, if you heard an ad you liked and wanted more information for, push the "ad" button and an email will come to you. In a new technologies class in 1988, we discussed a car thermal printer that would print radio coupons. I think you could create the same thing with an email generated (or a text).

Does the idea of live, streaming video as it relates to radio intrigue you at all?

If I have a relationship with the on air talent, it might be fun to watch them. But businesses are placing bandwidth restrictions on office computers, etc.

Do you like the idea of being able to take your favorite radio show with you wherever you go to listen to whenever you want? Minus the music?
I subscribe to many podcasts of Christian talk ("FamilyLife Today", "In the Studio with Michael Card", and "Insight for Living"). I can't hear them when they air, so I listen on my schedule.

I believe this will grow as education increases.

Would you welcome the opportunity to interact with other like-minded listeners live and in real time while listening to your favorite show?

Isn't this already happening on Twitter for TV? Radio may never be in that space because of the role of the vehicle.

What I would really love to see is a renaissance of radio. We've got music and talk. In the Christian space, we have teaching. But what if somebody embraced "drama" again?

What if Brian Singer brought "Captain America" to radio instead of TV or the big screen? We might have a phenomenon on our hands and a return to radio.

What if we had a live stream on radio from an imbedded reporter in Iraq. The mic was always on (Truman Show), but he didn't always talk. We heard the shots fired, the grunts, the distant explosions, etc. I think we would be riveted.

What if an author serialized the reading of his new book BEFORE it was available in stores? John Grisham or Stephen King on air for 30 minutes every morning or during afternoon drive. They would read the first 1/3 of the book or so before release date. Book sales would skyrocket (and audio book sales would, too.)

What if "Nashville Star" gave up on trying to be American Idol Country and went to radio instead. It could become the new Grand Ole Opry with a live audience and lots of internet interactivity, but the performances were only available on radio (Citadel radio presents...)

Extreme Weather

2009-03-28T17:47:00.004-05:00

Hail is falling now.

Here's what the sky looked like a few minutes ago.

How Far Do You Have to Go for Clean Water?

2009-03-26T23:22:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Brady and Rose at Soft Rock 98.9 in Fresno, California.

Through their efforts, the lives of many children were changed forever.

Look Up

2009-03-25T07:04:00.002-05:00

Blogger's Note: The other day, my daughter Elisa went out for a walk around the neighborhood. It was a breathtaking spring day when the air reminds you of winter but the trees are previewing spring. When she returned, she handed me the following observations. She had written them while she was out enjoying creation. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I hope you are challenged by them as much as I am.

When you take leaps of faith, don't look down, look up. If you look down you'll fall, but if you look up you'll soar. Look up to the clouds, the sky, that expanse, which hugs us close like a warm blanket, but is far beyond our reach. Far beyond that expanse, though closer than the sky's blanket, is the One who can lift us up to heights we thought impossible.

If you look to Him, He'll eventually pull you so high, so close that you can see, touch, and smell Him. And in His presence you will find something more wonderful and rich than you ever hoped to achieve. For though you were worthless, He counts you as priceless. Though all have abandoned you, He will never leave your side. Though you were ugly and unable to be loved, in His eyes you are the most beautiful and the most deserving of His love. His love is the kind in which all things are possible, even those things from your wildest dreams that no one else dares to dream, but does anyway.

If you look to Him, you'll never fall, though you think you are. He's just lifting you higher while you're upside down.

Look up.

"I've Been Every Where, Man" (Kind of)

2009-03-17T20:20:00.004-05:00

My friend Steve Laube posted this meme on Facebook.

My father had a dream to visit all 48 contiguous United States. He didn't make that goal, but we sure had a lot of fun trying. I've taken on this goal on as my own. This meme made me want to update my "Where I've Been" on Facebook.

Would love for you to participate, too.

Post on your own blog or Facebook page. Put the link in the comments.

Here are the instructions:

Copy this list into your Facebook note or blog.
Put a V by states you've visited
Put a L by states you've lived in

Alabama L
Alaska V
Arizona V
Arkansas L
California V
Colorado L
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida V
Georgia L
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois V
Indiana V
Iowa
Kansas V
Kentucky V
Louisiana V
Maine
Maryland V
Massachusetts V
Michigan V
Minnesota V
Mississippi V
Missouri V
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada V
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico V
New York V
North Carolina V
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma V
Oregon V
Pennsylvania V
Rhode Island
South Carolina V
South Dakota
Tennessee L
Texas V
Utah
Vermont
Virginia V
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin V
Wyoming

Radio Station Heroes

2009-03-16T10:46:00.003-05:00

I'm so grateful for our radio station partners as they help us recruit sponsors for World Vision.

If you don't sponsor a child, would you consider it?

I'm a Very Strange Person (meme)

2009-03-14T16:26:00.002-05:00

RULES:
1. Put your MP3 player, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag at least 10 friends (make me #11 so I can see your results).
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
Cut and paste this entire document into a Note. Delete my answers and type in your own.

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Two Sets of Joneses (Big Tent Revival)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Bye Bye (Phil Vassar)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Be Good to Yourself (Journey)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Let's Make it Last (Brandon Heath)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Attempting the Impossible-Score (Facing the Giants Soundtrack)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Down in the Lowlands (Russ Taff)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
In Christ Alone (Natalie Grant) - Oh how I wish

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Free to Be Me (Francesca Battistelli)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Stand Up (Petra)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
The Wheat (Lisa Gerrard - from The Gladiator Soundtrack)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
You Didn't Even Get Wet (James Newton Howard - from The Water Horse Soundtrack)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Let My Words Be Few (Phillips, Craig, and Dean) - yeah right!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Can't Take the Pain (Third Day)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Godpleaser (Petra)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Guilt by Association (Steve Taylor)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Touch of the Master's Hand (Wayne Watson)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Murron's Burial (Braveheart Soundtrack)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Message (4HIM)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
O Sifuni Mungu (First Call)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Ann Recruits the Parishioners (from The Patriot Soundtrack)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
You Are (Sammy Ward) - don't know how this song got on my iPod. Freaky.

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Turn Your Heart Around (Bill Baumgart)

WMAG and the Flip Camera

2009-03-13T15:39:00.003-05:00

Bill and Lora at WMAG in Greensboro, North Carolina launch their campaign on behalf of World Vision children dark and early Monday morning.

I was impressed. To keep in touch with his audience, Bill uses a Flip Camera to shoot short videos and post to his website.

He cut together this short one about the campaign. It didn't take him very long and he got the faces and voices in front of his audience. He also made his first ask on behalf of the children.

Thanks Bill. May you exceed your goals.

Embracing the Power of One

2009-03-04T19:18:00.002-06:00

Blogger's Note: World Vision is launching a push, email newsletter for our radio station partners. Each month, I will contribute some observations about how to best communicate about World Vision and the children on air. Here's the first installment.

Jim Hutto was (and still is) my radio mentor. This 50-year broadcasting veteran taught me how to build my Rolodex, brand a station, and most importantly, how to connect with my audience. One morning after my shift, we met in his office. He told me to bring a photograph of my wife to work with me the next day. He said, “Tape it to your copy stand in front of your mic. When you open the mic, talk to her and her alone.”

This was my first lesson in the “power of one.”

You know as well as I do that radio is the most intimate of the communication media. Your listeners wake up with you, take showers with you, invite you to lunch, pull up a chair for you in their cubicles, and sit with you in traffic. You are their friend. You make the day shorter.

When you engage your listeners for World Vision, embrace “the power of one.” You're talking to just one person at a time—even if you have a weekly cume of three-million.

I've worded “the power of one” like this:

One person can change the world.
You are that one person.
One person can make one call or one click.
For one dollar per day, you can change the life of one child for a lifetime.
All it takes is one decision.

If you can harness “the power of one”, you’ll recruit thousands of sponsors for World Vision children.

World Vision: But What about the U.S.?

2009-02-28T09:26:00.003-06:00

I love facebook. I've been able to connect with many old friends from high school. When I first started playing saxophone in the jazz band, I met fellow player Mark Wedge. He was a cool and funny young man. He loved to have fun, drove a great car, and made me laugh. He was a few years older than me and made teenageville look so cool.

Since Mark and I have re-connected on facebook, I've remembered something else I love about this guy: he makes me think.

As I reported on the great work of World Vision, Mark used facebook to ask one of the most probing questions—a question that should make all of us think.

Question: World Vision charity is noble. Why fund charity money outside this nation when we all can drive 30 minutes and find horrid poverty here at home? I challenge my own Priests on this issue; Missions sound exotic, but why not take the money and resources and drive into a housing project in Philly and do good works here is the US? So many here in this nation need the help too....

Here is my response:

Mark,

I hear your question often: why should I give to missions or look at ministry internationally when there are so many problems here in the U.S.?

It’s a valid question. I have three responses.

Response #1: What are YOU doing? If you’re not doing something, why not?
You say that you challenge your priests on this issue. Fantastic! What’s it like in Philly? What have you seen? What have you felt? What has God done?

I love this story about Philly. This is genuine, person-to-person ministry.

Response #2: World Vision has work in the U.S. They work with the poorest of the poor in places like Appalachia. While Child Sponsorship isn’t available in the U.S., you can contribute single donations—or your time and talents—to working in World Vision’s projects here at home.

Response #3: There are over 200 Scripture references about giving to the poor. Caring for those who need help is very close to the heart of God. In fact, when Jesus first began teaching, he stood up in the synagogue, opened the scrolls from Isaiah and proclaimed:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
Luke 4:18

The poor are close to Jesus’s heart. World Vision seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus and follow his example.

Mark, World Vision started because a nun challenged an American soldier, “What are you going to do?” His life answered the question. He refused to do nothing.

What about you? What are you going to do? Are you going to refuse to do nothing?

I can’t wait to hear your stories. I'd love to see ten of you share your stories by commenting on my blog or writing on my facebook profile.

One Word

2009-02-05T21:26:00.002-06:00

My wife tagged me, so I feel obliged to answer.

Where is your cell phone? Bed

Your hair? Missing

Your father? Heaven

Your favorite thing? Peace

Your dream last night? Absent

Your favorite drink? Coca-Cola

Your dream/goal? Novelist

The room you are in? Bedroom

Your fear? Rejection

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here

Muffins? Blueberry

One of your wish list items? Monitor

Where you grew up? Fatherhood

The last thing you did? email

What are you wearing? Eldredge

Your TV? HD

Your pets? Neglected

Your computer? Mac

Your life? fast-paced

Your mood? Expectant

Missing someone? Yes

Your car? Prelude

Favorite store? Apple

Your summer? Sticky

Your favorite color? Royalblue

When is the last time you laughed? @maurilio

Last time you cried? 2003

These require more than one word:
3 people who email me? Quant, Kaye, Spammers
3 of my favorite foods? Reese's, cheesecake, burgers
3 places I would rather be right now? Wife's arms, Dillard chalet, Dove awards
3 people I think will respond? Him, Her, Them

When the World has Fallen Out from under Me...

2009-01-16T08:48:00.004-06:00

There's a song that's haunted my waking moments on more than one occasion. The ethereal female voice and simple low piano chords enchant me. But when I hear the song on the radio, road noise and the noise in my mind prevent me from hearing more than the essence of the song. While the essence has moved me many times, listening to the song today with the lyrics in front of me encourages and lifts me.

I encourage you to download the song here. Lyrics alone can never communicate the entire majesty of a song.

Her video is amazing. (See window at bottom of blog post)

Shadowfeet
Words and Music by Brooke Fraser
Protected by copyright. Copyright holder unknown

Walking, stumbling
On these shadowfeet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen

I am changing
Less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along
Fast approaching is the day

[Chorus]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standin'
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction
Buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay

But I've heard rumours
Of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standin'
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standin'
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standin'
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

The 12 Movies of Christmas: #11 "Jack Frost"

2008-12-18T16:55:00.005-06:00

3.5 Lions out of 5
I recommend this film for ages 8 and up (4 and up if watching with a parent)
I believe both genders will enjoy this film

Michael Keaton plays a blues bandleader who loses his life on an icy road on his way home after a gig at Christmas. The following year, magic brings him back for a second chance as a husband and father. He transforms into a snowman in this modern and hip version of the “Frosty the Snowman” mini-legend.

I first saw pieces of “Jack Frost” on TBS and wrote the movie off as silly and insignificant. Call me a sucker for a father/son story. I finally watched the entire thing one Christmas Eve as I helped St. Nicholas prepare our home for the joys of Christmas morning. I suppose my lingering grief over the loss of my dad made me wish—like Charlie—for a few more days with my dad.

Jack’s widow, Gabby, and Charlie become a little hardened and distant after their tragedy. Director Troy Miller ("The Flight of the Conchords") adds the salt and pepper of real grief to the fantasy story. Amid special effects, physical comedy, and a few lame jokes, the audience feels genuine sorrow.

Pay Attention
Michael Keaton actually holds his own as a blues singer. Enjoy the two big numbers, “Frosty the Snowman” and “Have a Little Faith.” The soundtrack is only available from iTunes. The CD is discontinued. Amazon.com offers a few imports that include the entire song list.

Christmas
The “first holiday” following the death of a loved one is like walking down an icy road with a blindfold on—you have no idea when you’re going to slip and fall. There’s an empty place at the table. There’s a laugh missing from the get-together. There’s one less person in the group picture.

Do you know someone who has lost a close friend or loved one during the last few months? Lend your shoulder, your ear, and your handkerchief to them. (Well, maybe you can give the handkerchief.)

Widescreen Wisdom
“Jack Frost “ reminds us that everyone needs a second chance. Jonah got his after being inside a whale. Balaam got a second chance after a donkey jack-knifed after an angel sighting. Peter got a second chance after a bad night around a campfire. We are given our second chances, too.

Trivia
Bob Carlisle, the former lead singer of the Christian rock band The Allies, became famous for his song about a father and his daughter—“Butterfly Kisses”. As a follow-up, he recorded “A Father’s Love” about a father and his son. The song plays an important role in the movie and scored a minor hit for him. CCM mega group Jars of Clay also placed a track on the soundtrack.

The 12 Movies of Christmas: #12 "The Holiday"

2008-12-15T20:21:00.006-06:00

3.5 Lions out of 5
I recommend this film for ages 18 and up (16 and up if watching with a parent)
I believe men and women will equally like this film

Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star as two workaholic women who’ve won in their professions but lost at love. They trade houses—and continents—during the Christmas holidays to examine their lives and hope for healing.

When my wife and I cued up the DVD of “The Holiday,” I was about as excited as someone being patted down at airport security. However, Nancy Meyers (“Father of the Bride”, “What Women Want”) wove a story that moved me by the depth of love portrayed on the screen.

Iris (Winslet) learns to say “no” to a man that has used her like a car polish cloth. Her strengths, twisted for Jasper, are released to be an encouraging force in the lives of two very different Hollywood men. Through her belief in them, both find steel in their veins.

Amanda (Diaz) learns to say “yes” to feeling alive. Unfortunately, Meyers uses an extramarital sexual relationship to prove the point. Nevertheless, the emotions are authentic, the tears are hot, and the smiles start in the soul.

“The Holiday” is one of the great modern romantic comedies with plot intricacies instead of formulas.

Pay Attention
Eli Wallach plays Arthur Abbott, an octogenarian screenwriter who opens up his heart to Iris and the Hollywood community. Myers treats his story with perfect brushstrokes of humor, sadness, and hope. Abbott’s chivalry and courage steal the movie. Look for his early appearances before he enters the story.

Christmas
From November 15 – January 2, thousands of Americans deal with difficult relationships. Family members pick up emotional weapons dropped a year ago. Struggles between adult children and parents are renewed. Grief is more acute during the holidays as you look around the table and notice who is not there.

“The Holiday” takes a tiny sliver of this reality and puts it on the screen. We point, laugh, cry, nudge another with an elbow as we see ourselves and our own ghosts of Christmas past and present.

Nancy Meyers’ story and direction emit hope from the screen. If we will be so wise as to capture it.

Widescreen Wisdom
Iris and Amanda have defining vacations because they interact with real people living where they visit. Too often, our vacations are as plastic as the cards used to pay for them. Make a point of talking with another family in the lobby of your hotel, having dinner in the home of that long lost family friend, or engaging those in line with you. The people you meet and the stories they share will generate richer memories and more fun on your travels.

Quotable

Arthur Abbott:

Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.

Iris:

You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake! Arthur, I've been going to a therapist for three years, and she's never explained things to me that well. That was brilliant. Brutal, but brilliant.

Trivia
“The Holiday” features both Rufus Sewell and Shannyn Sossamon who appeared together in “A Knight’s Tale”.

Perhaps I've seen too many movies.

2008-12-11T11:14:00.002-06:00

My favorite movies are "hero stories." Most of the movies presented in this montage make my heart beat faster and my tear ducts swell.

He could have finished the piece with the speeches, but the closing seconds make this montage more than a smile generator.

T.L. Hines: The Unseen. You'll Never Look at Acoustic Ceiling Tiles the Same Way Again

2008-12-08T20:49:00.006-06:00

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008

3 of 5 Lions
I recommend it for ages 14 and up
I believe men will enjoy the book more than women 4:1

T. L. Hines writes the most creative tweets on Twitter. (http://www.twitter.com/tlhines) My favorites include:

Holding out for a Red Ryder BB gun. Have an extra eye to spare.
Wishing Halle Berry would reconcile with her estranged sisters Huckel and Razz.
Joe the Plumber has inspired a lot of cracks these last several days. Which is kind of fitting, when you think about it.
Is age 72, in Chinese Gymnast Years.
Dinner tonight: liver, fava beans, and a nice Chianti.

After more than four-dozen chuckles and groans reading his tweets, I took a chance reading his latest novel, The Unseen from Thomas Nelson Publishers. A potential tag line could be: Little Brother is Watching You … and Taking Notes.

Hines creates a fascinating hidden universe. He tells the story of Lucas, a young man with a remarkable talent: being able to get into any space to watch others. Lucas witnesses something that sucks him through his peephole into the action. His life depends on what he sees and remembers.

John Watson, associate professor of journalism at American University in Washington, commented on our culture’s love of horror films, "We like being frightened without being in actual peril." Others have called America a “Voyeur Culture” because we spend more time watching others live “reality” lives on TV than we do building relationships with our families or neighbors. Hines brings the voyeur culture into your home and office with The Unseen. You’ll never think about acoustic ceiling tiles the same way again. You’ll walk around your house looking at the nooks and crannies wondering, “Could anyone fit in there?”

Fans of Dean Koontz will enjoy Hines’ story.

The first two acts of The Unseen are riveting reading. The characters are genuine. The places and situations are painted with the careful brushstrokes of an artful storyteller.

By this point in my reading experience, I cared about Lucas and Leila. I had to know what happened to them. But the rest of the book felt a lot like “Hancock” or “The Long Kiss Goodnight.” Both movies took twists that made the audiences laugh, but not at the comic relief. They laughed at the implausibility of the rest of the story.

It’s hard to keep up with the body count—and who’s doing the shooting—in the second half of The Unseen. Most of the killings, including the offing of two police officers, seem convenient. They shoot and kill with little concern for the consequences or the morality of their actions. Everything is expedient. Perhaps that’s how it really is in our intelligence community.

In Hines’ acknowledgments, he notes that he battled and beat cancer during the creation of this, his third novel. I’m grateful that he beat cancer because I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Ding! Dong! The Munchkins Sang!

2008-12-08T19:38:00.003-06:00

Franklin-based Dance Studio will join National Traveling Company for “The Wizard of Oz”

Broadway visited Franklin, Tennessee Saturday when the traveling production of “The Wizard of Oz” conducted auditions. NETworks, a Theatrical Production Company, will bring “Oz” to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) January 13–18, 2009. In each city, producers search for local talent to fill the roles of The Munchkins, the beloved citizens of Munchkin Country who help Dorothy find The Yellow Brick Road.

Five Middle Tennessee groups sang and danced “Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is Dead!” on a performance stage at Cool Springs Galleria Mall. Hermitage was represented by Artistry in Motion’s N2Motion Dance Team. Smart Steps traveled from Hendersonville for the audition. Three groups are based in Franklin: Circle Kids, DC Dance Factory, and Ann Carroll School of Dance. Each group had to meet several requirements in order to audition. The group chosen in each city must be able to fit into the costumes that travel with the troupe.

The boys and girls each sang the song twice and then learned a dance combination. Next, each group performed the song with the new dance steps two times for the judges. After more than three hours of work, the Song and Dance Team from Ann Carroll School of Dance secured the roles. The newly dubbed Munchkins screamed and celebrated.

Annie Taylor sat nervously with 11 other performers and two alternates from Ann Carroll. While the judges deliberated, all she could think was, “Oh my gosh!”

“We worked on the song for about three weeks,” said Lauren Whitlock. “We had to practice it over and over again until we had it memorized. I’m so excited!”

The Munchkins spend about 30 minutes on stage during each performance according to Kim Riger, NETWorks’ coordinator of local auditions. She has conducted auditions recently in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Schnetady, NY. “I have the best job on the planet.” Riger was very impressed with the talent in Middle Tennessee. “I wish we could have a different group perform every night!”

These were the largest open community auditions a traveling company have held in Middle Tennessee according to Lori Ward, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations for TPAC. “This is a great opportunity for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, neighbors, and fellow students to see these young people in a Broadway production,” Ward said.

The Song and Dance Team only has five weeks to learn the rest of the music and choreography. “Our biggest challenge will be keeping them healthy from now until the performance,” said Robin Collins, mother of Emma and Gracie, two of the new Munchkins.

Ann Carroll School of Dance started in 1970. More than 300 students from age 3–21 take weekly classes in ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, and other forms of dance.

Official Production website is http://www.wizardofozontour.com

Ann Carroll School of Dance website: http://www.anncarrollschoolofdance.com

Amateur Video is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcRI_7mMNWc

Tennessee Performing Arts Center: http://tpac.org/

Tickets are available at the TPAC box office, at Ticketmaster locations, and at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas! A Survey

2008-12-08T15:12:00.000-06:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper.
My mom always had a few gifts left to wrap when we drove out of town for our Christmas in Alabama. So, we would ride down I-20 with paper and tape dominating the back seat. It's a great memory and I think of her with every gift I wrap.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
I've heard all the arguments. I don't care if the tree does cost more over a lifetime, irritate my allergies, and pose a fire hazard. If it ain't real, it ain't Christmas.

3. When do you put up the tree?
In a perfect world, we would do it on first Saturday of December every year. We don't always hit it. The tree is home and in the stand, but not decorated yet.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes!

I fell in love with the flavor thanks to the Egg Nog Shake at Arby's. Last year, Arby's didn't have it on the menu, but Jack in the Box did. Note: My Great Aunt Sue made tremendous warm custard. It was more fun and more delicious to drink than egg nog. I miss her.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
One year, my dad gave me a cassette recorder and two cassettes (similar to the one in the picture). He recorded a message on one of the cassettes. As cool as the gift was, my favorite part of that gift was time with my dad. We went into my Aunt Cathy's room and played her Elvis records. My dad and I took turns holding the cassette recorder up to the speaker to capture the music. One of us would make the floor squeak and we'd start laughing. I wish I had one of those recordings. We were so goofy that night.

Note: I think I'm going to start something this year: a journal of Christmas gifts. Sometimes, we can't remember what we received after the calendar turns. That's a shame.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My wife. My creativity wars with her list every year. I want every gift to be memorable and special.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My son Michael. He's got such extensive lists, but he always leaves off something obvious that he's been wanting all year. The list is great because it reminds me of what he really wants.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. Several. My favorite is my wife's Precious Moments Nativity. I think several of the pieces are retired now. We let time pass us by and never bought the matching wise men. The angel holds a flashlight. I love this set because it reminds me of all the Christmas pageants I acted in as a child. We added "The Little Drummer Boy" to the tableau. I'm probably going to get negative comments about that, BUT to me, he reminds me that we have a role to play. We must visit the stable as well.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I hope we actually mail some this year. I would love to mail 50. We'll see if it happens.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it might incriminate me. I need to be more thankful for all the gifts I'm given.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I'll answer this in three categories.

Black and White: "It's a Wonderful Life"
I discovered this movie before its revival. I was home from college for the weekend in the spring of 1988. My parents were out of town so I had the washer, dryer, and TV to myself. I was bored. I dug around under the TV through the videos. I found a VHS of the movie still in shrink wrap. At this time I HATED black and white movies. One of my best friends dragged me to "Casablanca" earlier in the school year, so I decided to give this movie a try. I had never heard of it, but knew the name Jimmy Stewart. Two hours later I was crying like George Bailey on the bridge and felt like a man who had struck gold. I'm grateful the rest of the world has embraced this great film.

Color: "Die Hard"
Look at the big picture of this movie for a second. A man fighting to save his marriage ends up rescuing his wife--and many others--from mortal danger while foiling an economy-shaking safe heist.

Christmas Movie I Most Want to See: "Joyeux Noel"
In WWI, soldiers from both sides of the line stopped fighting on Christmas Eve and shared music, stories, and Christmas cheer.

13. When do you start shopping?
Too late

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, especially white elephant gifts. I think the re-gifting makes them even more meaningful.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Pancakes on Christmas morning. Sure, we have them several times a year, but while I'm flipping flapjacks, the kids are bouncing off the walls enjoying their gifts. It's a blast.

16. Lights on the tree?
White lights are my favorite. I think they make a great background to the multi-colored ornaments hanging on the tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Hymn: "O Come All Ye Faithful"
Classic: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Bruce Springsteen
"Original": "Celebrate Me Home" by Kenny Loggins
Amy Grant: "Heirloom" (Yes, she's a category all to herself)
Song You've Probably Never Heard: "All for Love's Sake"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
In a perfect world, we'd stay home the entire season. We do stay home on Christmas Eve and Day.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Don't forget Chet!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
The angel we place on our tree was a wedding present. If you gave it to us, please tell us. Kaye and I have both forgotten the giver.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
PJs on Christmas Eve.
The kids discover what Santa left for them on Christmas morning.
We open family gifts around 11 a.m.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Salem Radio's sad rotation of Christmas music. Add more songs, please!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
We have an animated Hallmark keepsake ornament that celebrates our first Christmas together. It is a little house. The light inside the ornament projects a small silhouette of a couple sitting by the fire. The light goes out as if the couple clicked off the lamp. It's very sweet.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner?
Honey Baked Ham, not the imposters.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I would like to have a signed real estate contract on my parents' home by Christmas. Other than that, I'd like to have money to buy presents for my kids. May my invoices be paid!

God Went Postal Today

2008-12-03T18:27:00.005-06:00

My good friend Gregg Stutts tried an experiment this year. He decided he would believe God for 30 days. I've interacted with him about his journey and he has greatly encouraged me in mine. Gregg said the experiment forced him to:

to clarify and honestly express what I believe. This wasn't a time to sugar coat and put on a happy face. It was a time to get real with ourselves and each other about what we really believe about God. Is He big enough to handle our problems? Is He trustworthy? Is He good? What about when things don't go as I'd hoped or prayed? Then what?

I'll admit, there are days when I have trouble believing God for 30 minutes.

I remind myself that God is "seldom early but never late."
I believe that God answers prayers in four ways: yes, no, wait, and "I've got something better."
I try not to be like the Israelites. God protects them from plagues, passes over them, and sets them free. They get a few miles outside of camp and start believing that Moses led them out of Egypt so they could die in the desert (Exodus 14).

I've been praying for a check since I submitted an insurance claim on October 17. I've whined to God and yelled at Him. Mostly, I've not believed that He'll do anything about it.

I prayed this prayer with mustard salt faith—that's when you have less than a mustard seed. This morning, I asked God, "Will you please deliver the check today? Would you please put it in the mailbox today?"

I walked to the mailbox with no anticipation. I grabbed a big stack out of the box and flipped through the envelopes on my way back inside. Bills. College mail for my daughter. Christmas ads. And an envelope I didn't recognize.

I opened the bills and tried not to run my hands over my scalp too much. I've done it so often, I've rubbed the top of my head bald. I threw away some ads. And I set my daughter's mail aside.

Then I opened the strange envelope. It was a letter from the insurance company. There was a different name on the envelope. I bet they're a victim of the economic downturn.

There was no check. The letter explaining the delay and offered a new delivery date.

I threw the envelope on the table and walked three steps. I was on my way to the fridge to get another soft drink. Then it hit me.

God had answered my prayer.

God said, "Wait."

God put the answer in the mailbox like I'd asked.

I stood in the middle of my kitchen, lifted my arms, and looked at the ceiling wishing the ceiling and roof would part so I could see the sky. I thanked God for His answer. I confessed my disbelief and asked for more faith. I marveled afresh at how "God is previous." The letter was typed before Thanksgiving and postmarked Monday. It traveled from Pittsburgh to Nashville. Many people and machines handled the envelope. God was at work answering my prayer before I bowed my head to utter the request.

When I returned to the table, I looked at the envelopes my daughter's mail came in. These weren't college advertisements like the thousands she's received this year. These were official looking.

When my daughter got home, my wife and I watched as Elisa opened the mail. Her first college acceptance arrived along with a HUGE scholarship offer.

God went postal today. Thank You, Lord.

Are You in a Hole?

2008-12-03T15:00:00.002-06:00

I heard a great story today. You've probably heard it, too, but it bears repeating--especially at this time of year.

A man was walking along the street, and as he passed a construction zone, he fell in a deep hole. One with walls so steep he could not get out. He yelled for help.

The first passerby was a doctor, who asked if he was injured. After answering that nothing was broken but he hurt all over, he saw a prescription float into the hole and the doctor was gone.

The next passerby was a minister. The minister asked if the man was alright, and when the answer was a reluctant “yes,” a prayer on a slip of paper came floating into the hole.

The third passerby was the man's best friend, and the man in the hole was jubilant. Until his friend jumped into the hole with him. The startled man asked his friend, “Why did you do that? Now we're both in the hole.” The friend answered, “Yes, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.”

If you're in a hole, look around for your friends. They can help. I'm grateful for my friends who regularly point to the light in the tunnel. Oddly enough, there are times I don't want to walk to the light. They help me take the next step and sing for joy.

Houston, We Have a Comedy!

2008-12-02T19:08:00.004-06:00

I was born in 1969. This was the year of Woodstock. The Vietnam War was raging--and being televised. And Neil Armstrong uttered words that defined a century.

Every child is asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I only had one answer: astronaut. God changed my mind at 15, but I am still fascinated with outer space and the United States Space Program.

That's probably why I got such a kick out of the movie "Space Chimps" from 20th Century Fox. In the movie, the grandson of the famous Ham is drafted into action. He, and three highly-trained astrochimps, fight to rescue a satellite sucked through a black hole. They blunder and pun their way through hundreds of light years and laughs. I personally love all of the quotes from movies like "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13".

I recently completed the work on a new family fun Bible study for Fox Faith. I invite you to download the Discussion Guide and launch a mission for your family.

In the study guide, we help families choose a family mission project like:

Sponsoring a child through Compassion International or World Vision
Helping a family bring an orphan home by supporting Shaohannah's Hope or ABBA Fund
Bringing relief to a struggling nation by working with Blood:Water Mission
Reaching out to the patients at their local children's hospital

Spread the word. Perhaps families will do a lot more than buy or rent a movie this Christmas season.

View the trailer and discover more about "Space Chimps" at FoxFaith.com.

I Complained Today

2008-11-10T20:19:00.002-06:00

I complained today.

I complained a lot today.

I typed a list of all the mundane things I complained about. I deleted the list because it doesn't really matter what I complained about.

I complained.

I whined.

Was I thankful. Not at first. Not enough.

Then I saw the video below.

It wasn't the obvious that made me pause and thank God more for what He's doing. The opening five seconds hit me between the complaints. Then, when the camera pulls back, I nodded my head in agreement.

The blog on which I saw this video posed this verse to accompany it:
"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:3-6).

But as I watched the video, this verse came to my mind:
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Phil 4:11, 12)

Watch it. Then leave a comment about which verse came to your mind.

A Chemist and God

2008-10-21T14:12:00.002-05:00

Science: Henry Schaefer sees a natural nexus between faith and science
S. Joshua Swamidass and Shoba Spencer

Blogger's Note: I knew Dr. Schaefer while I attended UGA. He and his family attended the same church I did. I sat in on his Sunday school class occasionally. I admired him greatly. He and his wife had a personal ministry to expectant women who had nowhere else to turn. He is as genuine as he is brilliant. I hope you enjoy this article.

Which sounds more interesting: a technical talk on "Lesions in DNA Subunits" or one on "The Big Bang, Stephen Hawking and God"?

Henry Schaefer, 64, a long-time University of Georgia professor and a pioneer in theoretical chemistry—he's in the top 10 of all researchers cited in recent years in chemistry publications—gives both. But when organizers of Techfest 2008 asked him to speak at their major technology conference in Mumbai, India, they wanted the Big Bang speech, which Schaefer was happy to give.

People in every land want to hear about God, and Schaefer is willing to speak: He mentions that he has presented over 500 nontechnical talks on the compatibility of Christianity and science at over 300 universities around the world, in the process communicating with "perhaps 100,000 students who would not have been interested in a conventional presentation of the gospel." He's made 20 trips to India and China, "where the harvest is very rich." Typically, he presents a straight chemistry lecture at the same university where he gives these general interest lectures.
WORLD Special Offer

From teaching Molecular Quantum Mechanics at the University of Georgia to studying the Bible during mid-week church fellowships, Schaefer sees cohesion between "secular" science and his Christian faith. He became a Christian as a young professor at the University of California, Berkeley in 1973: He concluded that the historical evidence for belief in Jesus was too compelling to ignore, and that the physical resurrection of Jesus was the most rational way to understand the stories recorded in the Gospels and by ancient historians.

Schaefer never felt that Christianity and science were in opposition to one another, but after becoming a Christian he was surprised to find that many others found science and faith in conflict: "It was a problem for so many people that finally I decided to do a little research on whether it was true that scientists were not Christians. I discovered pretty quickly that essentially all the pioneers of the modern physical sciences were Christians. It was encouraging to me, and I think even more encouraging to others."

On a typical non-travel day earlier this year Schaefer was sitting at his computer at 6 a.m., scrolling through his packed inbox and emailing his students advice and support in their research. "Part of the success in science is to inspire the people around you," he says. "Almost everybody I work with is less than 25 years of age. They're the ones that are really doing the heavy lifting." He enjoys encouraging others: "The greatest professional satisfaction one gets in my business is to see former students doing outstanding science."

In Schaefer's view, a natural nexus exists between Christianity and science: "In many respects [Christians] are not different than anybody else in science, but we do have a deep-seated trust that God is a God of order and that by following rational methods we will find truth in the scientific sense." Those scientists who speak definitively about how the universe began, though, are going beyond science: "When you read or hear anything about the birth of the universe, someone is making it up—we are in the realm of philosophy. Only God knows what happened at the very beginning."

Schaefer has authored over 1,000 peer-reviewed journal articles, but his ultimate pursuit in life has more to do with his faith than it does with solving problems in the world of science: "My passion is to share Jesus with university students and professors. The main issue is Jesus, and what He accomplished."

—S. Joshua Swamidass is a scientist in bioinformatics; Shoba Spencer recently graduated from law school

Copyright © 2008 WORLD Magazine
October 18, 2008, Vol. 23, No. 21

Kristin Pass is Crowned Homecoming Queen. Why is there Controversy?

2008-10-16T13:02:00.003-05:00

Mindy Belz at World Magazine highlighted a great story from the Dallas metro area. 18-year-old Kristin Pass was crowned homecoming queen to the shouts and joys of a surprised crowd. Kristin has Down syndrome. Many in the stadium, at the school, and in the blogosphere are questioning her win. Is it prank, political correctness, or a young woman overcoming obstacles?

When I first read the summary on the blog, I flashed back to my high school experience when a mentally-challenged student was promoted through the football support ranks to "senior manager" or some title of that ilk. All of the whispers and snickers in the lunch room and locker room told me that the promotion wasn't genuine, but more akin to "vote for the worst" on American Idol or the mean trick played in the movie "Never Been Kissed."

Reading the article and the array of quotes gives me hope that Kristin Pass is more like my friend with cerebral palsy or Chris Burke from the TV show "Life Goes On." Both my friend and Burke have that amazing quality of helping everyone around them feel like the sun shines brighter and that there is more hope in the world. Their physical and other challenges pale in the light of their overwhelming personality and zest for life.

As the parent of a special needs child, I sometimes wonder how my little one will be treated someday. Will people see her firecracker spirit and sense of humor? Or will they hear slight imperfections in her spoken words or concentrate on her fading surgical scars?

Tommy Bowden out at Clemson. Can Christian Coaches Win?

2008-10-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

Sports news outlets are reporting that Tommy Bowden, head coach of Clemson, has stepped down.

A blogger I read asked, "Can Christian Coaches Cut It?"

I immediately thought of my dad. A coach who followed Christ and definitely cut it.

I wrote these thoughts on the blog:

My father finished his junior college basketball coaching career with a .750+ winning average. He was a generous man to his players in a world where scholarship dollars aren’t available. As I watched him, I observed something very powerful. Players perform out of fear or out of vision. The players under my dad knew what was at stake and worked hard. He had an uncanny way of motivating them to see the big picture and perform.

Other coaches seem to motivate out of fear. They get players to perform because something bad will happen if they don’t. They may work hard on the field or court, but there won’t be much of a team.

I believe a coach who follows Christ and chooses to cast a compelling vision for his/her team can be a champion.

There is so much more to coaching and winning NCAA football games than this simple equation. Recruiting. Good assistant coaches. Injuries. Scouting reports (or lack thereof). Sports medicine. The list goes on and on. Mark Richt said that being a coach of an NCAA team may be more like being a CEO than a coach.

I bet Bowden gets a job as a coordinator somewhere and another team grows off the charts. Perhaps he’s a better coach than he is CEO.

Dad died in 2003. I've been missing him a lot. The Dodgers, his favorite baseball team, are struggling. The Red Sox, by whom he was drafted in 1948, are facing elimination, too. One of the great things about my dad that I miss is that he "coached" me, too. He applied a lot of the lessons he learned over 40 years on the field/court to how he motivated me. And how he kicked my butt.

I hope I can pull on some of those lessons in the coming days.

Laminin

2008-09-02T10:55:00.001-05:00

This video rocked my world yesterday. If you get the chance, watch ALL of the "Great is Our God" video from Louie Giglio.

Talent, Rock 'n' Roll, and a Desert Island

2008-07-23T10:57:00.005-05:00

I have a berry special announcement for you today. 20th Century Fox is releasing three DVDs in the next three weeks.

On August 5, travel to an uncharted island and meet an enchanted young lady named Nim. Abigail Breslin brings a tale of adventure and courage to life in Nim's Island.

In the study guide I created, you'll investigate:

trying new things
courage
the provision of God

I enjoyed working on this project and discussing the issues brought to light with my kids.

Download the study guide from FoxFaith.com.

On the same day, that crazy cat Garfield defends his status as the king of the comic section of your Sunday paper. But he's loses his funny in the moments before Garfield's Fun Fest. Will Garfield defend his title?

This study guide takes a look at finding and growing your natural talents.

I invite you to download the study guide from FoxFaith.com.

A week later, on August 12, Strawberry Shortcake gathers her friends and starts a band. And, like every band in the history of rock and roll, the band has some relationship problems. Will the band get together in time for the show?

Find out in Strawberry's Rockaberry Roll.

This study guide creates a special time for moms and daughters to discuss:
how the body of Christ works together
why practice is important
how to make a joyful noise

Enjoy the study guide by downloading it here.

The Unreported Price of Freedom

2008-07-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

Blogger's Note: I was deeply moved by this column that appeared in today's Tennessean. Please remember the families of those that have lost their loved ones. The media often tries to make us feel like their sacrifice is meaningless. May it never be said of us.

Originally appeared in the Washington Post.

The Knock at the Door

"The curtains pull away. They come to the door. And they know. They always know."

-- Maj. Steve Beck, U.S. Marine Corps

Sometimes Beck would linger in his vehicle in front of an American home, like that of the parents of Lance Cpl. Kyle Burns in Laramie, Wyo. Beck knew that, as Jim Sheeler writes, every second he waited "was one more tick of his wristwatch that, for the family inside the house, everything remained the same."

Beck -- now Lt. Col. Beck -- was a CACO, a casualty assistance calls officer whose duty was to inform a spouse or parents that their Marine had been killed. He is the scarlet thread -- like the stripes on Marines' dress-blue trousers, symbolizing shed blood -- that connects the heart-rending stories in Sheeler's "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives." The book, which proves that the phrase "literary journalism" is not an oxymoron, expands the meticulous and marvelously modulated reporting that he did for the Rocky Mountain News and for which he received a Pulitzer Prize. His subject is how America honors fallen warriors.

More precisely, it is about how the military honors them. The nation, as Marine Sgt. Damon Cecil says, "has changed the channel." Still, Sheeler sees civilians getting glimpses of those who have sacrificed everything. The glimpses come as the fallen are escorted home. When an airline passenger, noting an escort's uniform, asked if the sergeant was going to or coming from the war, he repeated words the military had told him to say: "I'm escorting a fallen Marine home to his family from the situation in Iraq."

The situation. Sheeler:

"When the plane landed in Nevada, the sergeant was allowed to disembark alone. Outside, a procession walked toward the cargo hold. The airline passengers pressed their faces against the windows.

"From their seats in the plane they saw a hearse and a Marine extending a white-gloved hand into a limousine. In the plane's cargo hold, Marines readied the flag-draped casket and placed it on the luggage conveyor belt.

"Inside the plane, the passengers couldn't hear the screams."

The knock on the survivors' door is, Beck says, "not a period at the end of their lives. It's a semicolon." Deployed military personnel often leave behind, or write in the war zone, "just in case" letters. Army Pfc. Jesse Givens of Fountain, Colo.: "My angel, my wife, my love, my friend. If you're reading this, I won't be coming home. . . . Please find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you alone." To his son Dakota: "I will always be there in our park when you dream so we can still play together. . . . I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams, and joys of your life." To his unborn son: "You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love."

The manual for CACOs says, "It is helpful if the [next of kin] is seated prior to delivering the news. . . . Speak naturally and at a normal pace." Sometimes, however, things do not go by the book.

Doyla Lundstrom, a Lakota Sioux, was away from her house when she learned that men in uniform had been to her door. She called the father of her two sons -- each serving in Iraq; one as a Marine, one as a soldier -- and screamed into her cellphone, " Which one was it?" It was the Marine.

Sheeler says that troops in war zones often have e-mail and satellite telephones, so when someone is killed, communication from the area is stopped lest rumors reach loved ones before notification officers do. "As soon as we receive the call," Beck says, "we are racing the electron."

When the Army CACOs came to the Arlington door of Sarah Walton, my assistant, she was not there. She rarely forgot the rule that a spouse of a soldier in a combat zone is supposed to inform the Army when he or she will be away from home. This time Sarah forgot, so it took the Army awhile to locate her at her parents' home in Richmond.

Her husband, Lt. Col. Jim Walton, West Point Class of 1989, was killed in Afghanistan on June 21. This week he will be back in Arlington, among the remains of the more than 300,000 men and women who rest in the more than 600 acres where it is always Memorial Day. This is written in homage to him, and to Sarah, full sharer of his sacrifices.

Do You Dream the Impossible Dream?

2008-07-09T10:52:00.003-05:00

While stretching my back, I flipped on the television and found Man of La Mancha on retroplex. I tuned in right before Peter O'Toole launches into "Impossible Dream."

What a great song. Powerful lyrics. I especially love the last verse: And the world will be better for this | That one man, scorned and covered with scars | Still strove with his last ounce of courage ...

"The Impossible Dream"

from MAN OF LA MANCHA (1972)

music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

A Great Laugh for a Tuesday Morning

2008-07-08T10:37:00.001-05:00

I Pledge Allegiance Again

2008-07-04T18:26:00.003-05:00

Blogger's Note:
Happy Fourth of July! As you celebrate this Independence Day, remember the price of freedom. Our forefathers set us free from a tyrannical government and our men and women in uniform have kept us free for 232 years.

The following is a script for the disposal of an American flag. May these words--from the perspective of the flag herself--encourage you and fire your patriotism anew.

Flag Retirement Ceremony

Imagine with me for a second: What if this flag could speak? What would she say to you and me? Here’s what she might say:

"I am an American flag. I am mere cloth, thread, and grommet. But I also have a soul. It is the American Spirit that burns inside of you.

"I am red, and white, and blue. But I am also the colors of our country—the gold fields of wheat, the gray ribbons of highway, the green rolling hills and timberlines, and—yes—the purple mountain’s majesty.

"My sisters and I have flown for longer than 200 years. We have ridden on horseback during cavalry campaigns. We have been raised under gun fire on mountains in the Pacific. We have blanketed coffins vouchsafing the dignity of those that died protecting your freedom. We have whipped atop masts on aircraft carriers. We have mourned at half-mast. We have fluttered in the breeze on lonely cemetery hill tops. We have adorned the shoulders of scouts and soldiers, athletes and airmen. No matter where, we’ve flown under a sky created by Almighty God.

"I have many names. Old Glory. The stars and bars. Freedom’s flag. The stars and stripes. Democracy’s standard. The Star-Spangled Banner. No matter what you call me, I am the flag of the United States of America.

"Soon, I will be retired in the flames before me. A sister flag will take my place waving above a building or in front of a home. When you see her there, will you think of me? Will you remember our time together?

"Some believe that flags shouldn’t be burned, except in protest. I do burn tonight in protest—protest against all dictators and totalitarians who squeeze dignity and freedom from their people. I burn in protest against Marxism, Fascism, and Communism! I burn in protest against cowardly terrorists. I burn in protest against all those who hate freedom.

"So stand up Tigers and Wolves, Bears and Webelos. So stand up Scouts and Tenderfeet, First and Second Class! Rise to your feet, o, Star and Life. Salute, o, Eagle. You! Airmen, soldier, sailor, marine! Remember how you served—here or over there—Coast Guardsman, National Guardsman, and Merchant Marine. And you! Citizen! Rise to your feet as well in respect for the freedoms won by those who served this great land.

"I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. As I burn, may freedom’s light rekindle in you.

Song of the Day: "My Surrender" by Steven Curtis Chapman

2008-06-30T07:29:00.002-05:00

Download it here.

"My Surrender"
Words and Music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Matt Bronleewe
Protected under copyrights with Sparrow Song and Peach Hill Songs

Does it all sound the same?
Are my words getting through?
I've been trying so hard That I'm about to break

So here I am with all I have

And I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, I surrender
Yeah, I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, this is my surrender
Take it all

And what song can I sing
But the song that You give?
I have nothing to bring
That did not come from Your hands

So here I am with all I have

And I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, I surrender
Yeah, I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, this is my surrender

All my prayers and all my dreams
I'm giving it all to You
I lay it all down at Your feet, I'm Yours
So what song can I sing but this song?

I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, I surrender
I'm giving it all back to You
All back to You, this is my surrender
Take it all, take it all, Lord, take it all, take it all

Do you ever complain about your circumstances?

2008-06-29T17:50:00.002-05:00

I'd love to meet this boy's parents.

May we not complain.

Great commercial and question

2008-06-28T13:45:00.001-05:00

For Whom will You Fly a Flag?

2008-06-06T07:53:00.005-05:00

Will you fly a flag on your blog for our men and women at arms?

John Fuller got me thinking about it early this morning.

Mark Schultz touched my emotions about it.

A historical display of the front page of the June 6, 1944 Tennessean prompted me to action.

Today is the 64th anniversary of the largest coordinated invasion in the history of warfare. D-Day. Normandy. Omaha Beach. These words - and the stories behind them - became a part of our national fabric. Are they fading?

A tradition began during World War I and became more powerful during World War II. A families with a soldier (or soldiers) deployed displayed a Service Flag in their window. The blue star in the center of the flag proclaimed that the family was praying for the safety, wisdom, and return of their soldier. Some flags bore many stars--one for every son deployed. Many weeping mothers replaced the blue stars with gold stars when news arrived that their sons had given their last full measure of devotion.

I've wondered why we don't see more of these flags with so many of our nation's sons and daughters in harm's way.

I have two challenges for you:

1. Hang a Flag

Hang a Service flag (if you're family) or an American Flag in your blog (or your window, or your front yard, or your neighborhood, or your business). Tell others in a few words about the person it honors. Please tell me about it in my comments section. (If you fly a real flag, be sure to follow the rules.)

Today, I place an American flag on my blog in honor of Jack. Jack is serving as a First Lieutenant in the US Army. He is stationed at Camp Patriot on the Kuwaiti Gulf. He has a talented and gracious wife at home with their two small boys. He's been deployed for over a year.

I found my public domain image here. I also found an official website dedicated to Service Flags.

If you've forgotten the symbolism and emotion of our American flag, read this script. I wrote this for a flag retirement ceremony for our Scout troop.

2. Write a soldier

I was convicted today that I haven't written Jack enough. He has occasional access to email, and I haven't even dropped him a brief note from time to time. Who in your life is deployed? Have you written them lately? The video below from Mark Schultz reminds us of the power of our letters.

Wireless World

2008-06-05T10:09:00.003-05:00

I'm not a political activist by anyone's definition. I've never planted a yard sign, I have only boycotted once in my life (Levi's vs. Boy Scouts), and I don't ask my car to wear bumper stickers.

Today, however, this announcement struck a chord.

I long for the day that we use the radio spectrum for wireless internet connectivity with the same ease that we turn on a radio. Making that access clean for all audiences is important.

On May 23 FCC Chairman Kevin Martin outlined the agenda for the Commission's upcoming open meeting on June 12. Among the items to be considered for a vote will be Chairman Martin's proposal to auction unused airwaves to create a free (advertising-based), family-friendly nationwide wireless internet.

Take action if you like.

Random Quotes

2008-06-03T13:47:00.006-05:00

"I am so afraid. Give me the strength to die well"
William Wallace
as imagined by Randall Wallace, screenwriter of "Braveheart"
(chapter 20 of DVD)

"They fought like warrior poets...and won their freedom."
Robert the Bruce
as imagined by Randall Wallace, screenwriter of "Braveheart"
(final line of the movie)

"It's not what you are underneath. It's what you do that defines you."
Rachel Dawes to Bruce Wayne (Thanks to Scott Winter for correcting me)
as imagined by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer, screenwriters of "Batman Begins"

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."
Juma Ikangaa
Tanzanian marathon runner

Citius. Altius. Fortius.
(Swifter. Higher. Stronger.)
The Olympic Motto

"Where there is no emotion, there is no motion."
George Shehan
author of running books

"Life is not the number of breaths you take but the moments that take your breaths away."
Various places including Alex Hitchens in the movie "Hitch"
as imagined by Kevin Bisch, screenwriter

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

"The brick walls are there for a reason: to prove to us how badly we want something."
Randy Pausch
former professor at Carnegie Mellon University and author of Last Lecture

Every champion was once a challenger.
From an online ad for The Breeder's Cup
Backer Spielvogel Bates, agency

“When the Bible says that God sticks with us, the emphasis is on this dependable personal relationship, that he is always there for us…that he ‘sticks with us’ is the reason Christians can look back over a long life crisscrossed with cruelties, unannounced tragedies, unexpected setbacks, sufferings, disappointments, depressions—look back across all that and see it as a road of blessing, and make a song out of what we see. ..God sticks to his relationship. He establishes a personal relationship with us and stays with it. The central reality for Christians is the personal, unalterable, persevering commitment God makes to us. Perseverance is not the result of our determination, it is the result of God’s faithfulness. We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God sticks with us. Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God’s righteousness and less and less attention to our own.”
Eugene Peterson
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
Steve Prefontaine
Rock Star runner and Olympian

What Would You Do?

2008-05-23T16:56:00.002-05:00

Do I appreciate beauty? A friend said that, "we like what we know, not the other way around."

Pomp and Cookies

2008-05-22T08:04:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, our precious China Doll Meileah "graduated" from pre-kindergarten. (Don't get me started on the word graduation.)

We are very proud of all she's learned this year. We're grateful for the friends she made.

At the end of the party, her teacher showed a slide show. I invite you to return to the land of glue on fingertips and counting to five.

So Jesus Will Dance with Cinderella

2008-05-21T22:13:00.004-05:00

Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family tonight as they grieve the tragic loss of their five-year-old daughter, Maria.

Steven Curtis Chapman and his family mean much to me.

As a younger teenager, I marveled at a very talented guy on the stage of "Country Music USA" at Opryland. Steven spent a few summers buck dancing on the stages, imitating Hank Williams, and writing cool songs.

As a older teenager, I listened to songs like, "My Redeemer is Faithful and True" and appreciated the tenderness and turn of a phrase.

As a guy in my 20s, I met him while at FamilyLife. He was interviewed for the broadcast. I had the privilege of chatting briefly with him.

As a guy in my 30s, I was inspired when he and his wife adopted. As an adopted child, I know the value of adoption. Their story moved my wife and me "off the dime" to adopt ourselves.

His daughter Maria is part of the inspiration behind his smash hit, "Cinderella." My daughter, Elisa, and I are dancing to that song with 14 other dads and daughters. The "Father Daughter Dance" is always a hit at the end-of-the-year recital. Elisa's last dance recital is coming up in about 30 days. I've heard the song hundreds of times over the last few weeks and have looked into my daughter's eyes as she dances with me for many of them. With two more daughters at home I can't imagine what the Chapmans are feeling.

As we prayed as a family tonight, Elisa said, "You know Dad, I'm the same age as (the driver whose name is suppressed) and Meileah is the same age as Maria. That's scary."

It brought the tragedy into our den.

Here is the song...and the story behind the song.

Please pray for them.

The Best (Paid) Chef I Know

2008-05-07T11:32:00.002-05:00

Last night, my wife whipped up a dinner of porkchops, au gratin potatoes, and pineapple casserole. Yummy. She's a great cook and I love to eat her creations. She's my favorite chef.

My friend, Keith Snow, is paid to create amazing recipes and teach others how to fix them. His website www.harvesteating.com is full of fresh to table recipes that are easy to prepare and healthy for the body.

Keith is competing in the National Restaurant Association's YouTube contest.

Please watch the attached video and vote for Keith!

Strong as an Oke

2008-05-05T15:33:00.002-05:00

Jeanette Oke is one of Christian Fiction's most beloved authors. Her "Love Comes Softly" series of books has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide. Michael Landon, Jr. has taken on the film adaptations as a labor of love.

Hallmark Channel has boosted their ratings with every airing from the series.

I recently had the privilege of writing a Biblical discussion guide for the latest: Love's Unfolding Dream. I invite you to download the guide.

The movie is showing periodically on Hallmark Channel and will be available to buy or rent on May 6.

Ace of Hearts Entertains a Full House

2008-05-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Superman has a dog. Sort of.

Ace of Hearts is a new film from 20th Century Fox and Reader's Digest starring Dean Cain. Inspired by a popular true story from the pages of Reader's Digest, this movie has a heavy dose of Nancy Drew, and a few marriage lessons from the pages of 7th Heaven.

I had the privilege of creating a Junior Detectives Guide to help kids and families enjoy the movie and bring the message home.

I invite you to download the detectives guide. The movie is available for rent of sale beginning March 6.

Moondance Alexander NOW out on video

2008-05-05T15:12:00.005-05:00

In a recent post, I introduced you to Moondance Alexander, a new movie from 20th Century Fox. I had the privilege of creating a Biblical discussion guide. It's now available to download.

Moondance Alexander is now available to rent or purchase. Focus on the Family is promoting the film via their email news.

Enjoy:

Moondance Alexander is the story of how hope changes a girl with
no friends, a horse trainer with no clients, and a horse with no
pedigree. This new movie, distributed by Fox Faith, is inspired
by a true story.

In real life, co-producer and co-writer Janeen Damian struggled to find her place in the world. She befriended a German man who knew how to train horses. Together, they helped her pinto pony Checkers ride and jump to competition success.

This family adventure features an all-star cast, including Don Johnson, Olympic-skating silver medalist Sasha Cohen, Lori Loughlin and Kay Panabaker. Life is a rough ride for awkward, friendless, 15-year-old Moondance (Panabaker). But when a Pinto pony named Checkers leaps into her life, Moondance pursues a dream she never knew she had. Convinced that Checkers has champion potential, she enters him in the Bow Valley Classic, and in the process learns only perseverance lands you in the winner’s circle. Directed by Michael Damian, and featuring an irresistible soundtrack, Moondance Alexander is an uplifting story the whole family will enjoy.

Rekindled Dreams

2008-05-05T14:14:00.003-05:00

In 1995, my wife and I almost bought the historic theatre in downtown Augusta, Georgia. We were planning on selling our house to buy the soon-t0-be-auctioned property. I had already turned in my resignation.

But then the phone rang. Twice.

The first call was from our real estate agent in Augusta. He had walked through the property on our behalf. When he opened the door on the projection room, the sky greeted him. The roof had caved in. Ouch. What should we do now?

The second call was from our architect . I had hired a local firm to put together a restoration plan and budget. The city government and the historic council were chipping in $250,000. I was hoping our price tag would be around $250,000. Boy, was I wrong: $1.1 million to do what we wanted to do.

I begged for my job back and pulled our envelope from the auction.

Dream dead. Or at least postponed.

When the Franklin Cinema went on the market, several friends called me and urged me to buy it. "This was my dream," they'd say.

I'd reply, "But I don't have the money."

Soon, the papers announced the Historic Preservation Society's plans.

Dream dead. Or postponed again.

Two recent news stories have piqued my interest in this crazy dream.

I receive a newsletter from an organization in Alabama. They recently invested in Village Roadshow's new cinema venture coming to the United States. I love the sound of these theatres.

A few days ago, I heard NPR talk about the resurgence of drive-ins.

Oh dreams, stay with me long enough. Maybe in the next 20 years, I'll make it.

Fascinating thoughts

2008-04-30T16:23:00.000-05:00

Gotta love Seth Godin

Estate Sale Information

2008-04-22T12:40:00.002-05:00

When my dad was in his final weeks, we joked about/planned what to do with all of the items in the family home. My grandfather and father were both collectors (read pack rats). Yes, I come by it honestly.

When my mom passed suddenly, I was faced with much a more imminent situation. We made a decision to use an Estate Sale company to help us find new homes for many great antiques and possessions.

That estate sale is coming up soon. If you like antiques and are up to a nice drive, we'd love for you to come visit. You can find out more information about the sale here.

I hope to write soon about the lessons I've learned through this process. Stay tuned.

Boston Marathon Weekend

2008-04-22T11:47:00.002-05:00

I enjoyed watching the Women's Olympic Trials on Sunday morning and the Boston Marathon on Monday morning. I guess those that can't run, watch.

I have read many articles from the winners and wreath wearers, but this article by Kate O'Neill moved me.

Enjoy.

Of Girls and Horses

2008-04-17T09:21:00.002-05:00

Coming soon from Fox Faith: Moondance Alexander

My wife and I are busy raising three daughters (and a son). Every so often, a movie comes along that shows the unique connection between girls and horses. Moondance Alexander is based on a true story. I have had the privilege of screening this movie, writing an article about the production (below), and crafting an interactive study guide for families (coming soon).

If you like a good hero movie, you'll enjoy Moondance Alexander.

Moondance Alexander puts Respect in the Saddle

By W. Mark Whitlock

When Michael and Janeen Damian decided to make a movie, they didn’t know they were creating a cathartic experience for all involved. Moondance Alexander is the story of how hope changes a girl with no friends, a horse trainer with no clients, and a horse with no pedigree. This new movie, distributed by Fox Faith, is based on Janeen’s childhood adventures with her Pinto pony named Checkers.

Both writers shed tears during the process. “Michael was constantly asking me, ‘What did you do then?’ and ‘What did your trainer say?’” added Janeen, who co-wrote and co-produced the film. “He was helping me go down memory lane and tap into the emotions.”

Director and co-writer Michael Damian, best known for his 18-year-long appearance on The Young and the Restless, believes true stories inspire audiences because the emotions are genuine, not created in a laboratory. “This is the type of movie that an audience can connect to emotionally and walk away feeling good.”

The cast is full of family-friendly favorites. Kay Panabaker (Nancy Drew, Disney Channel) stars. “She was in every scene,” Michael said. “She’s a brilliant young actress.” She acts with abandon around the horse, awkwardness with peers, and transparency with her mother.

James Best (Dukes of Hazzard) is Janeen’s real-life father. He brought his six decades of experience to the role of Mr. McClancy, Moondance’s boss and mentor.

Lori Loughlin (Full House) plays Moondance’s mom. But this movie mother is not the source of conflict. “Michael and I are blessed with great relationships with our mothers,” Janeen said. “Michael pushed me to remember how my mother responded to my challenges in respect and love. We wanted to portray a respectful relationship. We wanted to show kids and families that they can work through problems in a positive way.”

Figure skater, Olympic Silver Medalist, Sasha Cohen plays the movie’s villain. “She only has one thing in common with her character—she is a fierce competitor,” said Janeen with a chuckle.

Even veteran tough guy Don Johnson got all in the family. “The role is a departure for him and a wonderful and unique surprise for us,” Michael said. Johnson plays Dante Longpré, a failure-ridden trainer looking for a comeback.

Michael and Janeen created an atmosphere on set that reflected the same values displayed in Moondance Alexander. “We tried to lead by example and treat the cast and crew with respect,” Michael said.

“Filmmaking is a very adult universe,” Janeen said. “You want to take special care when you’re working with these young actors.”

Moondance Alexander is available on DVD April 29th.

How Much Do You Know About the Loch Ness Monster?

2008-04-17T09:09:00.003-05:00

I know a lot more now after working on a discussion guide for the movie The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep.

I had the privilege of seeing a little behind the scenes as I wrote interactive questions for families for this new movie from Sony Home Entertainment.

You can download the study guide from here. The movie is available for rent or purchase everywhere, including here.

What Are You Saved FOR?

2008-04-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Lincoln's Inaguration

2008-02-18T09:24:00.003-06:00

NPR posted photographs and a story today that are enough to make us marvel.

How far we've come as a nation since 1865 when Abraham Lincoln swore to uphold the Constitution a second time. In 143 years, we've paved Pennsylvania Avenue (which was muddy in these photographs). We've integrated schools and then segregated them again by "white flight." We traded in the Mason-Dixon line for a civil war of values that rages out of control. 680,000 fathers, brothers, and sons were killed during the War Between the States. More than 28 million babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade.

We were a divided nation then. We are a divided nation now with TV analysts finding a visual cue (red and blue states) to make better video and to pigeon-hole and label us.

On President's Day, as we celebrate Lincoln and others, can we look at ourselves? I'm asking myself, "In what areas do I need to take personal responsibility to make my home, my street, my community, my metropolitan area, my state, my nation, and my world better?"

Will you ask yourself the same question? And will you take action on the answer?

No President--not even Lincoln, no cabinet, no legislature, no Roosevelt era organization can solve our problems. We must rely upon God to help us bring about change.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19094867

Hold Onto Your Hat

2008-02-14T13:55:00.001-06:00

A Powerful Quote

2008-02-08T12:34:00.000-06:00

Angela Hunt blogs today about a powerful quote. Check it out.

Dry Erase Wall

2008-02-07T17:30:00.000-06:00

When I worked for FamilyLife, I had a great office. Windows to the outside. Windows to the inside hallway. And, the best blessing of all: a door.

We used bathroom wallboard from Home Depot to create an entire wall for my brainstorming. They made a near perfect dry erase board. There were plastic caps over some screws and stripping to cover the gap between the boards.

The wall was hard to clean well and I went through many bottles of Windex and other cleaners to keep a sheen on the wall and keep a good surface for markers.

What I really wanted was this: Markee Paint.

I can't wait to cover a wall with this stuff.

Have You Voted Today?

2008-02-05T08:21:00.001-06:00

VOTE TODAY.

Please exercise your Constitutional Right.

If you're undecided, vote for this candidate.

Super Bowl Commercials

2008-02-01T19:00:00.001-06:00

"I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials." It's true. I tune in to the biggest night of television to be sold. My guess is: you enjoy the commercials, too. I've created this survey for a little fun. Not all of us are a part of USA TODAY's panel for AdMeter. So I figured we'd create our own.

Rate the commercials throughout the game according to four criteria: creativity, humor/heartstrings, memorability, and branding.

Creativity:
How much thought went into the commercial? How was the acting? How was the use of color, light, special effects? Did they say more with less?

Impact of Humor or Tug on Heartstrings:
Did the commercial pack an emotional punch or fall flat? Did you laugh out loud or shed a tear? Or did you cringe?

Memorable Message:
Too many commercials do a great job of making you laugh, but we can't remember the product or the brand. Was there a call to action? Can you remember without being prompted?

Branding:
Did the commercial support the distinctive of the brand or was it a disconnect?

Most of the commercials are scheduled during a particular quarter. Others are "wildcards". As you watch the game, if you see a commercial not on the list, make sure to check the wildcard question at the bottom of the survey.

Join us.

C.S. Lewis in Time Magazine (1947)

2008-01-30T13:17:00.000-06:00

Monday, Sep. 08, 1947
Don v. Devil

The lecturer, a short, thickset man with a ruddy face and a big voice, was coming to the end of his talk. Gathering up his notes and books, he tucked his hornrimmed spectacles into the pocket of his tweed jacket and picked up his mortarboard. Still talking—to the accompaniment of occasional appreciative laughs and squeals from his audience—he leaned over to return the watch he had borrowed from a student in the front row. As he ended his final sentence, he stepped off the platform.

The maneuver gained him a head start on the rush of students down the center aisle. Once in the street, he strode rapidly —his black gown billowing behind his grey flannel trousers—to the nearest pub for a pint of ale.

Clive Staples Lewis was engaged in his full-time and favorite job—the job of being an Oxford don in the Honour School of English Language & Literature, a Fellow and tutor of Magdalen College and the most popular lecturer in the University. To watch him downing his pint at the Eastgate (his favorite pub), or striding, pipe in mouth, across the deer park, a stranger would not be likely to guess that C. S. Lewis is also a best-selling author and one of the most influential spokesmen for Christianity in the English-speaking world.

Since 1941, when Lewis published a witty collection of infernal correspondence called The Screwtape Letters, this middle-aged (49) bachelor professor who lives a mildly humdrum life ("I like monotony") has sold something over a million copies of his 15 books. He has made 29 radio broadcasts on religious subjects, each to an average of 600,000 listeners. Any fully ordained minister or priest might envy this Christian layman his audience.

Something like Hell. That audience is the result of Lewis' special gift for dramatizing Christian dogma. He would be the last to claim that what he says is new; but, like another eloquent and witty popularizer of Christianity, the late G. K. Chesterton, he has a talent for putting old-fashioned truths into a modern idiom.

With erudition, good humor and skill, Lewis is writing about religion for a generation of religion-hungry readers brought up on a diet of "scientific" jargon and Freudian cliches. His readers are a part of the new surge of curiosity about Christianity which in Britain has floated, besides Lewis, a whole school of literary evangelists (T. S. Eliot, Graham Greene, Dorothy Sayers, et al.). Detective Story Writer Sayers has explained this new interest in Christianity as "spontaneous . . . and not a sort of 'Let's-get-together-and-pep-up-Christianity' stunt by excited missioners, than which nothing could be more detestable. . . . People have discovered by bitter experience that when man starts out on his own to build a society by his own power and knowledge, he succeeds in building something uncommonly like Hell; and they have seriously begun to ask why."

Something like a Father. C. S. Lewis' new book, to be published in the U.S. this month, is called Miracles, A Preliminary Study (Macmillan; $2.50). Its tightly constructed theological argument: that the miraculous ("interference with Nature by supernatural power") not only can exist but has existed in human history. "Naturalists," who see nature as "the whole show," with no room for a creative God in the picture, will be baffled or repelled. But those who accept the basic Christian concept of a Creator-God will be rewarded with a full measure of the quality Lewis' devotees have come to expect—a strictly unorthodox presentation of strict orthodoxy.

Lewis (like T. S. Eliot, W. H. Auden, et al.) is one of a growing band of heretics among modern intellectuals: an intellectual who believes in God. It is not a mild and vague belief, for he accepts "all the articles of the Christian faith"—which means that he also believes in sin and in the Devil. After sneezing, he was once heard to murmur that it was "because of the Fall." He was referring, not to the season, but to the Fall of Man, which Christian theology holds responsible for the major disorders of mankind. Lewis is scornful of many modern intellectual and moral fashions: he thinks a Christian can do worse than imagine God as a fatherly ancient with a white beard. He writes:

". . . When [people] try to get rid of manlike, or, as they are called, 'anthropomorphic,' images, they merely succeed in substituting images of some other kinds. 'I don't believe in a personal God,' says one, 'but I do believe in a great spiritual force.' What he has not noticed is that the word 'force' has let in all sorts of images about winds and tides and electricity and gravitation. 'I don't believe in a personal God,' says another, 'but I do believe we are all parts of one great Being which moves and works through us all'—not noticing that he has merely exchanged the image of a fatherly and royal-looking man for the image of some widely extended gas or fluid.

"A girl I knew was brought up by 'higher thinking' parents to regard God as perfect 'substance.' In later life she realized that this had actually led her to think of Him as something like a vast tapioca pudding. (To make matters worse, she disliked tapioca.) We may feel ourselves quite safe from this degree of absurdity, but we are mistaken. If a man watches his own mind, I believe he will find that what profess to be specially advanced or philosophic conceptions of God are, in his thinking, always accompanied by vague images which, if inspected, would turn out to be even more absurd than the manlike images aroused by Christian theology. For man, after all, is the highest of the things we meet in sensuous experience."

Heaven & Boiled Fish. Lewis sees no good reason to accept the modern dictum that "scientific" explanations are more authoritative than theological ones: "The old atomic theory is in physics what Pantheism is in religion—the normal, instinctive guess of the human mind, not utterly wrong, but needing correction. Christian theology, and quantum physics, are both, by comparison with the first guess, hard, complex, dry and repellent. The first shock of the object's real nature, breaking in on our spontaneous dreams of what that object ought to be, always has these characteristics. You must not expect Shrödinger to be as plausible as Democritus; he knows too much. You must not expect St. Athanasius to be as plausible as Mr. Bernard Shaw: he also knows too much."

Lewis' idea of Heaven is not the 20th Century's watered-down version of ineffable, gaseous ecstasy, but a state as real as Sunday morning breakfast. It's right there in the New Testament, says Lewis, referring to the resurrected Christ taking food with His disciples: "If the truth is that after death there comes a negatively spiritual life, an eternity of mystical experience, what more misleading way of communicating it could possibly be found than the appearance of a human form which eats boiled fish?"

Sex in Heaven? Bachelor Lewis is no man to be afraid of that one either: "The letter and spirit of Scripture, and of all Christianity, forbid us to suppose that life in the New Creation will be a sexual life; and this reduces our imagination to the withering alternative either of bodies which are hardly recognizable as human bodies at all or else of a perpetual fast. As regards the fast, I think our present outlook might be like that of a small boy who, on being told that the sexual act was the highest bodily pleasure, should immediately ask whether you ate chocolates at the same time. On receiving the answer no, he might regard absence of chocolates as the chief characteristic of sexuality. In vain would you tell him that the reason why lovers in their carnal raptures don't bother about chocolates is that they have something better to think of. The boy knows chocolate: he does not know the positive thing that excludes it. We are in the same position. We know the sexual life; we do not know, except in glimpses, the other thing which, in Heaven, will leave no room for it."

Steep Descent. The man who can put medieval scholasticism into such comfortable modern dress was born in Belfast, Ireland, where his grandfather, an itinerant Welsh boilermaker-turned-shipbuilder, had settled. At the age of twelve, young

Clive deserted the Church of Ireland (affiliated with the Anglican Church) for atheism. After a brief World War I career as a 2nd lieutenant in France, where he was wounded in the back by a British shell that fell short, Lewis graduated from Oxford with honors, tried a few years as a starveling poet, and in 1925 happily accepted his present post.

When he was about 18, Lewis bought a book called Phantasies, by George Macdonald, a Scottish Presbyterian best known for his Princess & Curdie and other children's fairy tales. In the introduction to his recent anthology of Macdonald's work (TIME, June 2), Lewis confesses the importance of that day's purchase: "I had already been waist-deep in Romanticism; and likely enough, at any moment, to flounder into its darker and more evil forms, slithering down the steep descent that leads from the love of strangeness to that of eccentricity and thence to that of perversity. Now Phantasies was romantic enough in all conscience; but there was a difference. . . . What it actually did to me was to convert, even to baptise . . . my imagination. It did nothing to my intellect nor (at that time) to my conscience. Their turn came far later and with the help of many other books and men."

These books and men effected in him what he considers an entirely intellectual conversion. Without any sudden awakening or "rebirth," Lewis found himself approaching the unexpected conclusion that Christianity is the simple truth. While groping for answers, he wrote to a friend: "The Absolute is beginning to look more and more like God." A short time later, his return to the Anglican Church was complete.

Brown Girl to Mother Kirk. Lewis has provided a lively and dramatic account of his spiritual safari "from popular realism to Philosophical Idealism; from Idealism to Pantheism; from Pantheism to Theism and from Theism to Christianity." In his first—and not initially successful—fantasy, The Pilgrim's Regress, he used Bunyan's device of a naive wayfarer beset by symbolic men and monsters.

Lewis records "John's" journey in quest of the beautiful island he glimpsed mysteriously in the stern, unfriendly land of Puritania, where he was born. Puritania was strictly administered by Stewards who issued complex rules of behavior and clapped forbidding masks over their faces whenever they mentioned the Landlord. Searching for his island vision, John one day found "in the grass beside him ... a laughing brown girl of about his own age, and she had no clothes on. 'It was me you wanted,' said the brown girl. 'I am better than your silly Islands.' And John rose and caught her, all in haste, and committed fornication with her in the wood."

But John soon found that the brown girl was not what he was looking for, and journeyed on. At last, after many adventures, John confronted the "aged, appalling . . . crumbling and chaotic" face of Death itself.

Said Death: "'Do not think you can call me Nothing. . . . The Landlord's Son who feared nothing, feared me. . . . Give in or struggle.'

" 'I would sooner do the first if I could.'

" 'Then I am your servant and no more your master. ... He who lays down his liberty in that act receives it back. Go down to Mother Kirk. . . .'

" 'You must dive into this water,' " said Mother Kirk. " 'You have only to let yourself go.' "

Satan's Scientists. After he had let himself go and plunged into the Church of England, Lewis found himself part of a small circle of Christian Oxonians who met informally each week or so to drink and talk.

Lewis' new-found Christianity also introduced him to Charles Williams, the author he says has influenced his writing more than any other, living or dead. Williams was a scholarly, self-educated, Cockney-accented Londoner who died last year, leaving an astonishing assortment of essays, poetry and fiction that delighted a small circle of Christian intellectuals. His first novel, War in Heaven, told of a cops-&-robbers chase through modern England which followed when somebody turned up with the Holy Grail. The Williams books inspired Lewis to write a trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength) dealing with the forces of Good and Evil at war on the planets of the solar system. One element common to all these stories: the villain of the piece is always a scientist.

The consistent identification of scientists with the forces of evil is characteristic of Lewis. To him, scientists seem, most nearly to embody the Christian sin of Pride—setting up the human will against the Divine. For this sin, Adam & Eve were expelled from the Garden and the heroes of Greek tragedy were punished by the gods. Lewis is a bitter academic opponent of Oxford's "progressive element" of scientists and "practical" faculty members who would lay more stress on "useful" courses than on Oxford's traditional concern with the humanities.

The Gentle Slope. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters largely as "a kind of penance," which his friends claim is his attitude toward all his Christian writings. He says he found it the easiest work he has ever done, but that it grew to be "a terrible bore." It was an immediate and phenomenal success on both sides of the Atlantic. Innumerable ministers quoted Screwtape in sermons and urged it on their congregations. Catholics enjoy it as much as Protestants. One clergyman makes a practice of presenting copies to his parishioners with passages marked for their special attention. To date, Screwtape has gone through 20 British and 14 U.S. printings.

The book is a series of admonitory letters from Screwtape, a fiendishly knowing member of Hell's "Lowerarchy," to his nephew Wormwood, a novice tempter who is grappling with the Enemy for one of his first souls. The irony with which Lewis catalogues all the trivia most likely to keep man from God has made Screwtape a modern classic. Samples:

¶"It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

¶"The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice . . . and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice. . . . Only today I have found a passage in a Christian writer where he recommends his own version of Christianity on the ground that 'only such a faith can outlast the death of old cultures and the birth of new civilizations.' You see the little rift? 'Believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason.' That's the game."

God's Unscrupulousness. With Screwtape's success, Lewis became a celebrity. A man who could talk theology without pulling a long face or being dull was just what a lot of people in war-beleaguered Britain wanted. The BBC put Lewis on the air and for three years his short, plain-spoken broadcasts on what Christians believe made him, for his listeners, almost as synonymous with religion as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The R.A.F. even chose him as a kind of Christian-at-large to visit air bases and discuss theology.

Lewis hated the work. Heavy theological argument with topflight minds is his greatest pleasure, but he is too much of an intellectual snob to enjoy answering not-very-bright questions. He doggedly stuck to this chore as part of his duty to Church and country, but he once wryly blamed his unpleasant war work on the "unscrupulousness of God." Said he: "I certainly never intended being a hot gospeler. If I had only known this when I became a Christian!"

Down the Garden Path. Outside his own Christian circle, Lewis is not particularly popular with his Oxford colleagues. Some resent his large student following. Others criticize his "cheap" performances on the BBC and sneer at him as a "popularizer." There are complaints about his rudeness (he is inclined to bellow "Nonsense !" in the heat of an argument when a conventionally polite 25-word circumlocution would be better form). But their most serious charge is that Lewis' theological pamphleteering is a kind of academic heresy.

On this score, one of Lewis' severest critics insists that his works of scholarship, The Allegory of Love (on Spenser), and A Preface to Paradise Lost, are "miles ahead" of any other literary criticism in England. But Lewis' Christianity, says his critic, has brought him more money than it ever brought Joan of Arc, and a lot more publicity than she enjoyed in her lifetime. In contrast to his tight scholarly writing (says this critic), Lewis' Christian propaganda is cheap sophism: having lured his reader onto the straight highway of logic, Lewis then inveigles him down the garden path of orthodox theology.

Perhaps some of those who would like Scholar Lewis to be quieter about his Christianity would be surprised to learn how quiet about it he really is. So rigidly private does he keep his private life that virtually none of his best friends have been invited even to tea at his twelve-room house in suburban Headington (as a Fellow of Magdalen, he has rooms in the college as well). Lewis sometimes refers vaguely to living with his "old mother," though his friends know that she has been dead since his childhood. One persistent rumor identifies the "mother" as a Mrs. Moore, mother of a friend killed in World War I, whom Lewis invited to keep house for him and who is pictured as an aged, bad-tempered old party. And there are said to be other dependents in the house, in addition to Mrs. Moore.

Wet Weather Ahead. Postwar Oxford's swollen enrollment is now giving Lewis too much to do to spare him time for extracurricular writing. During the "long vac" this summer he has been hard at work on his volume for "Oh-Hell," which is Oxford's name for the Oxford History of English Literature (still in preparation). During the college year ahead, in addition to his crowded lectures, he will also be busy "tooting" his 18-odd tutorial pupils. At regular intervals they will come, singly or in pairs, to read him their essays in his handsome, white-paneled college room overlooking the deer park, or (when there is not enough coal or wood to keep it warm) in his tiny, book-crammed inner study. Lewis has informed the BBC that he is through with radiorat-ing, for an indefinite period. He has no immediate plans for further "popular" books, fantastic or theological. But Lewis admirers may not have too long to wait.

Recently in Oxford's lively undergraduate magazine, Cherwell, he wrote: "Perhaps no one would deny that Christianity is now 'on the map' among the younger intelligentsia, as it was not, say, in 1920. Only freshmen now talk as if the anti-Christian position were self-evident. . . . [Yet] we must remember that widespread and lively interest in the subject is precisely what we call a fashion. . . . Whatever . . . mere fashion has given us, mere fashion will presently withdraw. The real conversions will remain, but nothing else will. In that sense we may be on the brink of a real, permanent Christian revival: but it will work slowly and obscurely in small groups. The present sunshine ... is certainly temporary. The grain must be got into the barn before the wet weather comes."

Quote for Wednesday

2008-01-30T12:31:00.000-06:00

There's nothing more I want than inspiration. I love this quote.

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
- Pablo Picasso

"Bear" Bryant, My Dad, and the Curse of Memory

2008-01-27T16:56:00.000-06:00

If you've ever poked around my blog, you've read about my dad. He died in November, 2003. The pain I feel missing him must be similar to how an amputee feels about his missing arm.

I miss him a little more than usual today. Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the passing of Paul "Bear" Bryant. Bear was one of my dad's heroes. I heard him talk often about the Bear, the way he coached, and the way he inspired his players.

I read a great story about the Bear today. He met pastor and author Robert Schuller on an airplane. The conversation is remembered here.

As I read, I reflected back on the story my dad told me about when he met Bear. The only problem is: I don't remember the entire story. I certainly don't remember the details, the sights, the sounds, the year, the breadth, the depth, or the length. All I remember is that Dad took a few players down to the pre-season camp in Tuscaloosa. The coaches got to meet with Bear and his staff and the players got to work out with the U of A players.

I would love to reach for the phone, call Dad, and have him tell me the story again. But the story is lost.

The only Dad/Bear story I have is Bear's funeral. Mom's father was in the hospital in Birmingham around the time Bear passed. Paul "Bear" Bryant is buried in Birmingham. When we visited my grandfather, we took a few minutes to drive through the cemetery. There were dozens of flower arrangements, hats, footballs, helmets, notes, and dead balloons lining the road into the cemetery and surrounding the grave. Dad walked up to the grave, spent a few minutes, and got back in the car. I've never known Dad to visit many tombs or make may pilgrimages. But he felt there was no way he could avoid this trip.

Even this trip is fuzzy. I was almost 14 when it occurred. I didn't care as much about the trip then as I do now.

Tell your stories, record them, videotape them, write them down. Don't let them die with you.

Dead Clay, Quantity of Work, and Masterpieces

2008-01-25T18:57:00.000-06:00

John Maxwell tells the following sotry in the book Failing Forward.

The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on the quantity of work they produced, all those on the right solely on its quality.

His procedure was simple: on the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work of the “quantity” group: fifty pound of pots rated an “A”, forty pounds a “B”, and so on. Those being graded on “quality”, however, needed to produce only one pot--albeit a perfect one--to get an “A”.

Well, came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity. It seems that while the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work--and learning from their mistakes. The “quality” group had sat theorizing about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay.

This story hit me between the eyes like a carefully aimed Nerf dart from my son's pump gun.

And as I began hitting myself thinking about how little I produced today, another pottery parable came to mind.

Go here to watch.

The truth lies somewhere between quantity, quality, and the lesson of the other potter.

Quote of the Day

2008-01-24T12:23:00.000-06:00

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."

Juma Ikangaa (born July 19, 1957) is a world-class marathon runner from Tanzania, a sentimental favorite in Boston after finishing second three years in a row at the Boston Marathon from 1988-1990.

Heath Ledger (1979 - 2008)

2008-01-22T22:34:00.001-06:00

Heath Ledger died today of an apparent drug overdose. The media hasn’t announced whether his tragic death occurred due to intent or mistake. We’ve lost a talented actor. Talk radio hosts—who sometimes seem to love the sounds of their own voices more than the content of rhetoric—poked fun and made puns with Brokeback Mountain in the punchlines.

I will always remember—and appreciate—Heath’s performances in The Patriot and A Knight’s Tale.

I, of course, owe debts of gratitude to the directors and screenwriters for these films. They are the true storytellers. But the actors, like the tails side of a coin, bring color, life, and soul to the words and blocking.

Heath’s character in The Patriot is named Gabriel Martin. Heath plays this patriotic role with great passion. I mourned with Gabriel as he grieved for his wife and lusted for revenge. And I always tear up when I see his legacy—a redeemed American flag—whipping in the breeze as his father joins up with the militia for a final stand.

I didn’t go see A Knight’s Tale in the theatre because it sounded stupid: classic rock songs and contemporary-inspired costumes in a medieval period story. The first time I saw it, I still didn’t like it. Not until I watched it once by myself (on TBS, who seems to play it every month), did I understand the power of the movie. I watched as Heath’s character William/Ulrich rides to Cheapside in search of a connection to his father.

In both movies, he plays a hero, a son. These sons have solid, healthy, relationships with their fathers. And they exceed their fathers’ wishes and stations in life.

I hope that as the calendar pages turn, he will be remembered more for these roles than for his Oscar-nominated role in Brokeback Mountain. I also hope the producer of the In Memoriam tribute montage for the Oscar telecast this year will choose a wry smile from one of these movies for his two seconds of screen time.

More Words Used by Lewis that I Don't Full Comprehend

2008-01-21T23:20:00.000-06:00

I have spoken--and even used for my own writing--a few of today's words. But in transparency, I include them here because I wanted to understand these words more fully.

(Didn't know Lewis ever made the cover of Time. Cool.)

lassitude: a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy

prosaic: having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

portentous: done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress

megalomaniac: a person who is obsessed with his or her own power

vivisection: the practice of performing operations on live animals for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research (used only by people who are opposed to such work)

alacrity: brisk and cheerful readiness

magnanimous: very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself

thither: to or toward that place

loquacious: talkative

Danaë: Danaë is an oil painting by Gustav Klimt, created in 1907. The canvas measures 77 x 83 cm, and the painting depicts the mythical Greek princess Danaë curled up in a fetal position, while Zeus, in the form of a shower of gold, streams between her legs. Apparent from the subject's face, she is very aroused by the golden stream. It is housed in a private collection in Vienna.

odious: revolting

bellicose: demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight

jerkins: a man's close-fitting jacket, typically made of leather.

Words I Learned Today

2008-01-20T16:45:00.000-06:00

I started a habit a number of years ago. When reading, I try to keep a pencil handy to underline words I don't know the definitions of. I then look up the words and expand my vocabulary. Normally, I don't have to do this when reading fiction. For Christmas, my beloved children purchased C. S. Lewis' space trilogy for me. Wisely, I grabbed a pencil before opening the cover today. Here are today's words:

malediction: a magical word or phrase uttered with the intention of bringing about evil or destruction; a curse.

sanguine: (in context) (in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated with the predominance of blood among the bodily humors, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition.

philologist: someone who studies the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages.

copse: a small group of trees.

Schrödinger: Schrödinger, Erwin (1887–1961), Austrian theoretical physicist, who founded the study of wave mechanics. His general works influenced scientists in many disciplines. Nobel Prize for Physics (1933).

Jespersen: (1860–1943), Danish philologist, grammarian, and educationist. He promoted the use of the “direct method” in language teaching. Notable works: How to Teach a Foreign Language (1904) and Modern English Grammar (1909–49).

Leicester fellowship: Leicester Fellowship For Psychical And Paranormal Studies

prise up: another term for pry: prizing open the door | he prized his left leg free. origin late 17th cent.: from dialect prise [lever,] from Old French prise ‘grasp, taking hold.’ Compare with pry.

Thingummy: British term for thingamajig.

Joyful, I Hope

2008-01-20T12:47:00.000-06:00

My favorite hymn is "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" by Henry Van Dyke. The lyrics hit me today like a dodge ball to the chest when you least expect it. I heard the lyrics today with the ears of a 38-year-old father of four nursing a running injury while taking care of two family members on crutches and scrambling for his next freelance project. When I fell in love with the song, I was an idealistic teenager with more dreams than zits (and I had acute acne). I liked the song then because it reflected how I felt about life - joyful. I like the song now because it calls me to lift my chin and open my eyes wide to what God is really all about.

Henry Van Dyke also wrote one of my favorite short stories, The Story of the Other Wise Man which follows Artaban through his near misses with the Christ.

If you, like me, are feeling the weight of your days and not the supporting arms of love of our Father, read the lyrics anew. Or better yet, listen to Michael W. Smith's version from My Utmost for His Highest - The Covenant or the Lauryn Hill version from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

University of Georgia Men's Glee Club

2008-01-19T12:38:00.001-06:00

Blogger's Note: I ran across a newsletter today and its contents got me thinking about Men's Glee Club at the University of Georgia -- the most fun I had at college and a major reason I met my wife. Here are two videos I found on YouTube. I'm not featured in either one, but the faces and songs bring back a lot of memories. At the beginning of the second video, the guy who runs up to the camera and says, "No cameras!" is my best friend from college, John McCullough.

Publix Philosophy

2008-01-19T11:29:00.000-06:00

I enjoy shopping at Publix. I've never had a bad experience. During my last trip, I found a brochure called "Lessons from Our Founder" which outlines seven beliefs that make Publix what it is. These are good thoughts for any business venture.

#1: Be There
George Jenkins traveled tirelessly, visiting stores, talking to store clerks, listening to cashiers, working alongside baggers. He continued these visits up until the very week he passed away. (Blogger's note: I wonder if his family would say that Mr. Jenkins was "there" for his family.)

#2: Giving is the Only Way to Get
It has been said of George Jenkins that he never forgot anyone who helped him. But no doubt, it is the opposite that is all the more true - that those whom he helped have never forgotten him. And their number is legion.

#3: Invest in Others
"One of the most important lessons I've learned in my business career is that no man puts together an organization on his own," George Jenkins generously acknowledged.

#4: Respect the Dignity of the Individual
"If you want people to respect you or your company, you must first show respect for them," believed George Jenkins. And he practiced it, too.

#5: The Customer is Queen (and King)
"My daddy taught me how to work, to be proud of a job well done," George Jenkins recalled. "I learned you had to provide the customer with what she really wanted and you had to treat her with respect."

#6: Prepare for Opportunity
"Publix is like a smörgåsbord, with opportunity spread out for you," George Jenkins would advise. "Prepare yourself. The opportunities are up for grabs."

#7: Do the Right Thing
If the genius and humanity of George Jenkins' philosophy could be summed up in one sentence, it might be this: "Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing."

Thoughts on Failure

2008-01-19T10:38:00.000-06:00

Stephen Pile has written a book titled The Book of Failures. It's got unbelievable stuff in it. Like that time back in 1978 during the firemen's strike in England. It made possible one of the greatest animal rescue attempts of all time. Valiantly, the British Army had taken over emergency firefighting. On January 14 they were called out by an elderly lady in South London to rescue her cat. They arrived with impressive haste, very cleverly and carefully rescued the cat, and started to drive away. But the lady was so grateful she invited the squad of heroes in for tea. Driving off later with fond farewells and warm waving of arms, they ran over her cat and killed it.

Chuck Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life

I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.

Woodrow Wilson

Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life, have been the consequence of action without thought.

Bernard Baruch, financier and adviser to Wilson and Roosevelt

I had a friend who used to call me on the phone on Monday mornings. I'd pick up the phone and this minister would say, "Hello, this is God. I have a gift for you today. I want to give you the gift of failing. Today you do not have to succeed. I grant that to you." Then he would hang up. I would sit there for ten minutes staring at the wall.

The first time I couldn't believe it. It was really the gospel. God's love means it's even okay to fail. You don't have to be the greatest thing in the world. You can just be you.

Robert Wise

C.S. Lewis, in The Screwtape Letters, vividly describes Satan's strategy: He gets Christians to become preoccupied with their failures; from then on, the battle is won.

Erwin Lutzer's observation

Mike Huckabee Runs (and not just for President)

2008-01-05T16:14:00.000-06:00

Former Arkansas Governor and current GOP frontrunner for President, Mike Huckabee, is a runner.

He was our governor for several years before we moved from Little Rock to Franklin.

In this article from Runners World (2005), the great writers investigate how this great communicator and leader lost weight, gained clarity, and improved his life.

Enjoy.

And if you haven't donated to his campaign, click on the box to the left and donate $26.20 . . . or any amount you see fit.

Was Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, afraid to go to sleep?

2008-01-03T07:45:00.000-06:00

Joseph had a lot of dreams.

I am listening to the New Testament of the Bible right now. The Word of Promise from Thomas Nelson is quite a production. As I listened to Matthew 1, 2, and 3, I was blown away by Joseph’s sleep apnea problems.

The day was turning out to be one of the worst in his life. His beloved Mary was expecting a baby. And it wasn’t his. Mary’s pregnancy was a personal insult. Plus, the news disrupted his trust in faithful followers of Jehovah. Then he fell asleep.

Matthew 1:20 - 21
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Some commentators imagine Joseph waking up after the dream and walking on air. Others see him run to Mary with the news. My guess is, Joseph woke up and stared at the ceiling for a while shaking his head. The news was good news, but it was also scary news

Throughout the rest of the pregnancy, I wonder if Joseph dreaded going to sleep. After an exhausting night of helping Mary give birth, I bet he didn’t have any trouble nodding off. Then a few days (or as some postulate, many months) later, another dream invades his shut eye.

Matthew 2:13
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

Great! Another life-disrupting nightmare. He can’t go home? He has to go to another country? They speak a strange language and worship strange gods. Plus, didn’t his people have to escape Egypt?

He probably didn’t sleep too well in Egypt. He was a new dad. I haven’t met a new dad yet who slept well for the first few months of life. He had to earn a living (unless the gold from the wise men lasted a while). But without a reputation, it must have been slow going for a foreigner. He was away from his synagogue and community. He must have felt alone and strange.

Then he has another dream.

Matthew 2:19 - 20
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

If I were Joseph, I would have gotten up in the middle of the night and packed for home. Finally, a good dream! But God didn’t let the feeling last.

Matthew 2:22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

Another strange city, but a little closer to home.

Did these dreams help Joseph feel closer to the God of all creation? Or did Joseph feel like God had it in for him?

I wish we knew more of the story of Joseph. He fades into the background and, some commentators believe, dies before Jesus’s ministry begins.

As scary as I think Joseph’s dreams were, I wish I had a few right now. I could use some direction that I knew was straight from the Lord, even if the news scared me to death.

I’m praying for direction this year. I bet you are, too. May our steps be guided.

Another Day in the Hospital

2007-12-28T16:05:00.000-06:00

Hospitals are as similar as they are different.

My beloved bride underwent foot surgery today at Williamson Medical Center. We arrived, Kaye changed, and was rolled away to surgery. I sat down in her day surgery room, grabbed my computer for a little work, and then it hit me.

I am in a hospital.

Mom spent more than three weeks at Huntsville Hospital. I became familiar with waiting rooms, faces, and nurses' personalities. I also became familiar with the odors and paint color palette.

Many memories returned. Some made me smile. Some made me cringe. All made me thankful for doctors, nurses, LPNs, cleaning crews, orderlies, office personnel, and everyone else who draws their salaries from a hospital.

For all the rhetoric about health care, for all the headlines about new research, for all the commercials about pharmaceuticals, we sometimes forget how amazing these people are.

If you find yourself in a hospital, look around and count the number of people who are involved in your care. Then thank God.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T21:26:00.000-06:00

Blogger's Note: It seems every Christmas, I hear an Advent hymn in a new light. Sunday morning, our worship pastor, David Hampton, pulled out a bright red and green highlighter and swiped the marker over this verse from "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." May you find as much comfort and hope in these words as I did.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

Words: Edmund H. Sears
Music: Richard S. Willis

Remembrances of Mom

2007-11-07T21:08:00.000-06:00

Blogger's Note: Thank you to all of you who came to visit with the family on Sunday night and attended Mom's funeral on Monday afternoon. Your presence made the events very special.

The funeral home put together a Ken Burns styled video of some photographs I provided. Our entire family was very moved. That video appears below. Underneath the video are some random remembrances I jotted down for Mom's pastor.

I was adopted at 3 1/2 months. Mom and Dad had to drive to Montgomery to take care of the last step in the long process of a state adoption. The court proceedings went smoothly. A social worker placed me in Mom’s arms with a bag of diapers and a couple bottles of formula. There was a note tucked in the bag as well. It didn’t say anything special—just feeding instructions. As the social worker walked away, they were parents. They were nearly giddy. They walked out of the courtroom and down the steps. They took pictures of each other holding me. Then they stopped a stranger and asked him to snap a picture of the new family.

Mom read to me frequently. My favorite book was Where the Wild Things Are. The evidence of her reading to me is displayed all over her house in the dozens of books that my kids now read when they visit. Unfortunately, at some point in elementary school, I decided I hated reading. Then, in sixth or seventh grade, the power was knocked out one cold winter day. I was bored. No music to listen to, no television to watch, and bored of my toys, Mom gave me a copy of The Yearling. I grabbed a few pillows and leaned against the wall next to the sliding glass door. The winter light illuminated the pages. I read the book in one sitting.

Leslie O’Brien and I shared the same birthday and lived in the same neighborhood. Our moms thought it was appropriate that we were guests at each other birthday parties when we turned ten. I was the only boy at her’s; she was the only girl at mine. I didn’t want to go to her party. Going felt like a Nazi at a bat mitzvah. Mom bought the gift—jewelry! What was she thinking?

There was a girl named Libby at my school. Libby was quite overweight and most of the boys sang the Libby canned foods’ jingle whenever she walked by. She always shrank back trying to blend into the walls or disappear in the lunchroom. She became very ill and missed several weeks of school. Mom heard the news and offered to take a meal to her family. She was probably the first. Mom made me go along. Again, what is it with her dragging a little boy to give something to a girl? Was she trained in torture by the Mossad? We walked up to the door. Mom carried the casserole. I carried—egads—the flowers. We didn’t go inside the house. Libby’s mother was tired and embarrassed by our presence. Our family moved from Decatur to Stone Mountain about a year later. About ten years following our meal delivery, I heard my name being shouted. I was walking across campus at the University of Georgia, and turned to see who wanted my attention. A tall young lady bounded up and said, “Are you Mark Whitlock?” It was Libby. She had a smile bigger than a New York neon display. We talked for a few minutes about old friends, our old elementary school, and how our lives had progressed. Libby had become a Christ-follower. Before we went to our next classes, she told me thank you for bringing her flowers all those years before. I told her, “It wasn’t me. It was my mom.”

Mom must have made dozens of costumes for the musicals and plays I was in.

My house was one of several hangouts for my friends. Mom always protested when they showed up, but welcomed them in anyway with an offer for a drink or snack.

My parents were committed to being at all of my sporting events and performances. I ran Cross Country and Track throughout high school. Mom and Dad came to all of our meets. One blustery fall day during Mom’s chemotherapy, my friend John sat with my parents on the cold aluminum bleachers. The course closed with a steep hill, a 90-degree turn, and a 200-meter straightaway to the finish line. I was charging up the hill in a tight finish. The stands came to their feet at the same time a gust of wind blew into their faces. The wind got under Mom’s wig and launched it like a Frisbee. Mom shrieked and my friend John jumped down from the stands and chased it like a cowboy after a tumbleweed. He snagged the wig and climbed back up in the stands. And in the way that only John could, he plopped the wig back on my Mom’s head. Of course, I didn’t know any of this until later that night when Dad told the story while Mom tried to keep him from telling it. What was one of her most embarrassing moments has turned into an oft repeated story.

Mom and I always had one shopping excursion before Christmas. We would go to the mall together to buy Dad’s gift. There were always a few more, too. We would eat at Chick-fil-A and talk long after the sandwiches were gone. It became a Christmas tradition. One year, I drove from Stone Mountain into Atlanta to shop at Lenox Square. The road was very narrow and there were some construction cones squeezing the street further. She became so nervous that she grabbed the steering wheel.

Mom sewed on all of my Boy Scout merit badges. I eventually achieved the Eagle rank. There were a lot of them.

When I taught conversational English for a summer in Korea (1988), Mom joked that she didn’t sleep for eight weeks.

Two weeks before I proposed to Kaye, Mom met me halfway between Stone Mountain and Athens. I wanted her to see the ring.

Mom got to be at the birth of her first three grandchildren. We’re grateful for the help she offered in the early days following each birth.

Mom loved Dad with an uncommon fervor. During the last days of his illness, after more than 51 years of marriage, Mom confided in one of her friends, “I just want to know that I loved Bill well . . . that I did everything I possibly could for him.”

We invited Mom to travel with us to China to adopt Meileah. She did, in a way, by watching everyday on the internet.

Ramona Whitlock - Obituary

2007-11-03T21:31:00.000-05:00

Ramona Farris Whitlock of Muscle Shoals died Friday, November 2, 2007. She completed a full life at the age of 74.

Friends are invited to visit with the family and attend a celebration of her life. Morrison Funeral Home, 825 Main Street, Tuscumbia, will be hosting a time of visitation on Sunday evening from 6:00 – 8:00. (www.morrisonfuneralhomes.com). (Directions) Rev. Carl Malm will officiate a worship service at Old Brick Presbyterian Church, 260 Mt. Pleasant Road, Muscle Shoals, on Monday afternoon at 2:00. (Directions) A short graveside service will follow at the church’s historic cemetery.

Ramona loved flowers and nurtured her garden with the same care, love, and skill as she did her family relationships and close friendships. Floral arrangements are welcome, (Recommended Florist) but the family also encourages you to consider giving live plants or monetary donations toward a Garden of Memories the family and church are planting on the grounds of Old Brick. This garden is a gift to the Women of the Church with whom she shared faithful service and deep friendship for so many years. It is dedicated to the glory of God in honor of Ramona’s life. Donations can be sent to the church or made at any branch of Bank Independent.

Ramona was preceded in death by her brother Steve Farris, and her husband, William Bert Whitlock. Steve’s laughter still echoes in the hearts of his family. Ramona loved Bill with an uncommon fervor for more than 51 years . . . and missed him every day until their reunion.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

She is survived by her only son, William Mark, his wife Kaye, and her four grandchildren: Elisa (16), Michael (13), Lauren (10), and Meileah (4) of Franklin, Tenn. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters: Gail Askew of Sheffield; Martha Dean of Muscle Shoals; Randy Farris of Bossier City, La.; Jim Farris of Tuscumbia; Doug Farris of Muscle Shoals; Linda Maples of East Ridge, Tenn.; and Cathy Farris of Chattanooga, Tenn. She loved them, her siblings-in-law, and her many nieces and nephews unconditionally.

Ramona’s life was marked by generosity, hospitality, service, and a fierce loyalty to those she knew and loved. May all those who remain honor her memory by carrying on her legacy of love in the lives we touch.

Internet wishes, greetings, and remembrances may be left below in the comments section.

The family wishes to thank the Surgery Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Huntsville Hospital for their world-class science and unsurpassed patient care during Ramona’s final days.

Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, directing.

Mark Whitlock's mom

2007-10-30T02:30:00.000-05:00

Friday, 11/2/07 9:11 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

After a sweet evening of stories over cafeteria food, tears together with Mom, and prayers united in love, Mom went from this world to the next adventure . . . heaven.

As soon as details are firmed up, I will let you all know.

Thank you for being with us in spirit and in prayer.

You'll never know how much the dozens of emails and phone calls mean to all of us.

Summary
My mother, Ramona Whitlock, was in a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon, 10/21/07. She had no head, neck, or spine injuries. However, she has multiple leg fractures. Her past health history is complicating her recovery. She has had three orthopedic surgeries and is now battling heart, lung, kidney, and liver issues.

In an earlier post, I asked a question, "We now sit in the audience to watch what God will do: will He conduct a symphony of miracles or will he rouse the chorus of heaven in a 'welcome home' song?"

It appears the Holy Lord of Heaven is assembling the chorus.

And I bet Dad is making his way to the doors for a sweet reunion.

At some point tonight, Mom will make the great transition.

Please watch for more details. I'll email/post everything you need to know as soon as we know it.

I can't begin to express how much your love and encouragement have meant to us all.

Thursday 11/1/07 2:55 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

There are no significant changes to Mom's condition at this time.

They have NOT completed the gall bladder drain at this time, but I have signed
the consent forms. They should be finished by the 4:30 p.m. visitation. They
stopped her blood thinner and will let her body adjust before the procedure.

Kaye is VERY ill (vomiting, etc.). Please pray for a fast recovery. She feels
awful. Plus, she feels awful, emotionally, that she is ill during these days.

We do not know when we are returning to Franklin. Mom's brothers and sisters are
making the drive to Huntsville right now, as well.

Thanks for your prayers.

Thursday 11/1/07 11:15 a.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

John is back this morning which inspires great comfort and trust.

Heart
She's taken baby steps forward overnight. Her BP is mostly stable. Doctors have reduced her levofed to a negligible amount. The epinephrine is still set at 20, where it's been since the beginning. She is throwing fewer PVCs. They've increased potassium in her dialysis regimen, so a few have cropped up in the last hour.

Lungs
Her ventilator settings continue to improve. She's down from 70% at 8:30 last night to 45%. Her rate was at 18 last night, went up to 26, but is back down to 20 this a.m.

Kidneys
Dialysis is continuing at the same rate. She ended the 24 hour period at 7:00 a.m. about 800cc ahead of schedule. She is about 100cc ahead right now, but will be given fluids with her next procedure which will slow the rate of fluid reduction.

Liver
Her liver is compromised. They will be inserting a gall bladder drain in a few hours in an interventionary attempt to prevent the liver from failing. Her liver enzymes are elevated and they are concerned.

Bilrubin
Her score this morning was 25, which is dreadful.

Wednesday 10/31/07 10:50 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

Chris is serving Mom overnight. She seems very sharp, professional, and focused.

Heart
Between 4:30 and 8:30, they were able to back down her Levofed (sp?) from 20 to 7, but due to complications, they've had to push it back up to 10 with more increases probable. As the bed rotates, her BP fluctuates. She is far from stable.

Lungs
Ventilator settings and blood gases are similar to the 4:30 report.

Kidneys
They are 625cc ahead of schedule.

Liver
She is jaundiced. Her bilirubin score is bad. I don't have a number, but they'll take another score in the morning before the 10:30 visitation.

Wednesday 10/31/07 6:05 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

Mom is making small inch-by-inch progress.

Heart
Blood pressure has been all over the place, but not dangerously high or dangerously low. Doctors have lowered her levofin but she is remaining constant on her epinepherine. (She's at about 50% of potential dosages on both.) This is an improvement.

Lungs
They have lowered her percentage of oxygen to 70% and her rate is down (from 22 to 18). This is a small improvement. Her blood gases are still "okay."

Kidneys
They are removing 75cc of fluid per hour. She is ahead of the game by a total of 175cc. She was ahead by 500cc, but they had to administer an antibiotic in 200cc of fluid which slowed her progress ahead of goal.

She may take a downturn quickly, but positive progress is going to be very slow. She could be in the ICU for weeks making this inch-by-inch progress.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Tuesday 10/30/07 10:35 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

Kidneys
Dr. Rahman started mom on dialysis about 8:10 p.m. The first two hours on the machine are to acclimate her body. After 2 hours, if she is responding, they will increase the work of the machine.

Lungs
The machines are still maxed out on breaths per minute and oxygenation. Her numbers need to improve overnight.

Heart
Her blood pressure is on the high side. As they've rotated her body in the RotoProne bed, her numbers have fluctuated. She is on two "presser" drugs--levofed and epinepherine. The levofed is "maxed out" but they have "more room" on the epi.

Overall Condition
Her condition could worsen quickly. Improvement will be very, very slow.

Thanks for your prayers, offers of love and support, cards, and emails. Mom is greatly loved.

Tuesday 10/30/07 4:25 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

Mom has taken another downward turn.

The move to the RotoProne bed did not result in enough fluid draining from her body. They have decided to start her on dialysis. Her dialysis is called CVVHD and is used for patients in ICU or who are struggling with blood pressure. The dialysis is continuous at a low rate.

Dr. Rahman wants to see fluid removed and see her lung function go up. If her breathing improves and fluid drains, then they will increase the rate of dialysis. If the numbers don't improve, they will try something else. I don't know what "something else" is.

In addition, she is not breathing on her own. 14 breaths per minute at 100% oxygen.

Her temperature has dropped to 94 degrees. They are using warming blankets to bring it up.

She is more than likely septic. They believe so and are drawing blood. They are concerned that she has fungal septicemia.

She has NOT been removed from the paralytic, even for a little while each day. They cannot guess at her brain function when they remove her. This is a concern.

One correction: they did not insert a heart catheter per se. They inserted a Swann (sp?) device for more accurate measurements of heart function. Her EKG looks the same as before . . . meaning no new heart attacks.

4:45 p.m. UPDATE
Dr. Kaytal informed me that her heart is slowing. They are using drugs to speed it up. But this is a great concern and a sign of the beginning of the end . . . without a rally.

Please pray.

Note: I will be staying in Alabama tonight. I might stay at the hospital or at mom's house. To be determined.

Tuesday, 1:30 pm UPDATE

Mom's condition is declining. Her kidneys are shutting down. They have inserted a kidney catheter but have not started her on dialysis yet. Because her kidneys are not processing liquid well, fluid is backing up into her lungs. She has pneumonia. Her lung function is not returning since her last surgery. The rate per minute and oxygen concentration are still high.

Because of the fluid issues, her swelling is very severe.

They have also inserted a heart catheter.

The doctors are moving her from bed #3 to bed #24 which is a roto-prone bed. She will be strapped in and the bed will rotate in an effort to help her body drain fluids.

She will be on the paralytic for the foreseeable future.

The doctor rates her as "very critical."

For her survival, she must rally in the next 24 - 48 hours, but these are long odds. If her numbers don't improve, her prognosis is very grave.

So . . . how do we pray? As I tried to pray beside Mom's bed this morning, I faltered. Throughout my life, I've struggled between praying for complete, total, and miraculous healing vs. praying for God's grace, peace, and mercy for the ill one and family. I stumbled around in my words. I'm grateful for the promise of Romans 8:26 which says:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26, 27 NIV)

What a promise. Paul tells us TWICE that the Spirit is interceding for us. First, He knows our hearts and interprets all of our thoughts and emotions into the language of heaven. And when He prays, he groans. To me, this means He feels our pain, He cries with us, and He mourns with us.

The second time Paul reminds us that the Spirit is praying on our behalf, he points to how the Spirit prays in accordance with God's will. Another way of thinking about "accordance" is "harmony."

So, in this we trust our prayers to the Holy Spirit.

It doesn't make it any easier. But would you pray anyway?

Like my friend, songwriter Tony Wood once wrote (and Scott Krippayne recorded), "Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child."

Monday, 10/29/07 8:00 p.m. update on Ramona Whitlock

Summary
My mother, Ramona Whitlock, was in a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon. She had no head, neck, or spine injuries. However, she has multiple leg fractures. Her past health history is complicating her recovery.

I spoke to Mom's nurse for the night, Andrea, a few minutes ago. Mom's had an easy day because she's been on the paralytic.

They have had to increase her ventilator settings. She's now being assisted to breathe 16 times per minute. The oxygen percentage is 90%. They hope to wean her back down to four at a much lower percentage by Saturday's trach surgery.

They performed a bronchostomy to clean out and examine her lungs. While this is a special procedure, doctors brought the equipment and performed it in her room.

Her BP has been fine, but did spike a little during the procedure, as you can imagine.

I am driving down to Huntsville for the day tomorrow (arrive by 10:30 and drive back late)

I plan on driving down early Saturday. I plan on spending Saturday night and may spend a few more nights if necessary.

Please continue to pray and visit. Several of you have asked about sending notes. Please do.

For the address and the entire story, please visit www.wmarkwhitlock.com and look for "Mark Whitlock's Mom".

Monday, 10/29/07 10:30 a.m. update on Ramona Whitlock

Mom is back in her room in ICU at Huntsville Hospital recovering from her right femur surgery

Please forgive me for the delay in updates. Mom's surgery ended near midnight on Saturday night. We wanted to make sure that family had been informed before we sent out the mass email.

Mom came through the surgery fine. Doctors expected to take around 6 hours to repair the crushed femur above the knee, but completed their work in about 3 - 4. She needed blood during surgery, as we expected, but had no problems breathing or with her blood pressure.

This is the last orthopedic surgery unless complications arise.

Dr. Griffin told us that this was by far the worst fracture of them all. The bone was crushed. They inserted a rod and many screws. Some of the pieces were too small to attach via screws. The leg is cast/splint now and the doctor hopes as the leg heals, that these pieces will bond together with the leg.

The blood supply is NOT good in this area. If it does not improve, Mom may need bone grafts in six - eight weeks.

She may also develop a post-operative infection (as any of us could). However, this infection might mean amputation of the right leg.

Please pray for the blood flow to increase to this area and for the infection to never come.

The heal bone is crushed. They will not do anything other than use a heavy-duty orthopedic boot. She may never develop feeling in this area again. The right lower leg bones will be cast/splint, but no surgery will be applied to this area.

It will take one to two years for mom to heal from her leg injuries.

She may never walk again. This is not a certainty, but a high probability.

Her overall condition will get worse before it gets better.

Her body is reacting to the latest round of surgery. She was fighting against the tubes, wires, and IVs. They have used a temporary paralytic on her to allow her to recover.

Surgeries for her trach tube, feeding tube, and blood filter are still scheduled for Saturday.

I spoke with Mom's nurse, Carrie, this morning. She had a good night, but that was expected because she's on the paralytic.

At this time, I don't know when I'm heading down to Huntsville. I will probably make a couple of day trips this week, then stay for the surgery over the weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Please continue to pray and visit mom if you can.

Saturday, 10/27/07 6:40 p.m. update on Ramona Whitlock

Mom's surgery is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ISH.

My Uncle Jim and Aunt Rhona are sitting vigil tonight.

Because I can't get there before surgery begins OR to meet with the doctor following surgery, I am going to take my wife's, my uncles', and my friends' advice and stay put.

My plans are as follows (subject to change . . . like everything else)
Saturday night: Franklin
Sunday: Franklin
Monday: Meetings in Franklin (perhaps a quick trip down to Huntsville)
Tuesday: Working in Franklin
Wednesday: Working in Franklin (take kids to a movie which is our All Hallow's Eve/Reformation Day tradition)
Thursday: Working in Franklin; drive to Huntsville Thursday night by 8:30
Friday: Huntsville (perhaps back to Franklin for an event with Michael)
Saturday: Huntsville for surgery
Sunday: Huntsville, drive home late

If you are willing and able, please make plans to visit Mom on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and/or Wednesday. I would hope she wouldn't have a day where she had no visitors.

Please pray for Dr. Griffin, the orthopedic surgeon, and the entire surgical team tonight.

Saturday, 10/27/07 3:40 update on Ramona Whitlock

Summary
My mother, Ramona Whitlock, was in a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon. She had no head, neck, or spine injuries. However, she has multiple leg fractures. Her past health history is complicating her recovery.

Mom did well overnight and has done well today.

After all the jockeying of schedules yesterday, the orthopedic surgeon decided she WOULD have surgery today on her right femur. That surgery is a "work in" at the end of the day.

She is still scheduled for surgery NEXT Saturday for the three procedures (trach, filter, and feeding tube).

I found out some answers to lingering questions:

Q: Why are they weaning her off the ventilator yet still scheduling her for a tracheostomy?
A: She still needs the ventilator, but she needs to do the hard work of clearing her lungs. She's down to 4 assisted breaths per minute, but will be back up to 12 assisted breaths afterward.

Q: If she needs these surgeries (trach, filter, and feeding tube), why are they waiting a week to do them?
A: Because they have to schedule (1) OR, (2) anesthesia, (3) heart doc, (4) ENT doc, (5) general surgeon. The earliest someone from each was available was Saturday, 11/3

Special thanks to Lucy (Uncle Randy/Aunt Cindy, please send me her email address) for making the trip over. I'm sorry I missed you. Thanks, too, to all of you--especially Uncle Doug--who let me get home for at least a few hours and a night in my own bed.

My plans are as follows (subject to change . . . like everything else)
Saturday night: Drive from Franklin to Huntsville to be there for surgery. Spend the night.
Sunday: Spend the day in Huntsville, return to Franklin in the evening.
Monday: Meetings in Franklin
Tuesday: Working in Franklin
Wednesday: Working in Franklin (take kids to a movie which is our All Hallow's Eve/Reformation Day tradition)
Thursday: Working in Franklin; drive to Huntsville Thursday night by 8:30
Friday: Huntsville
Saturday: Huntsville for surgery
Sunday: Huntsville, drive home late

If you are willing and able, please make plans to visit Mom on Monday, Tuesday, and/or Wednesday. I would hope she wouldn't have a day where she had no visitors.

Please pray for Dr. Griffin, the orthopedic surgeon, and the entire surgical team tonight.

Friday, 10/26/07 5:10 p.m. UPDATE on Ramona Whitlock

Friday 10/27/07 1:30 p.m. UPDATE
Mom was awake, but quite drowsy when Carl Malm, Mom's pastor, and I visited with her at 4:30 p.m. The right lung is almost fully drained. They'll leave the machine attached to her for two more days with a small amount of suction just for caution's sake.

Still no word on surgery. The doctor did come by and told the nurse that there was still a chance. He has NOT looked at her latest numbers and X-rays. II will get a phone call before 8:30 p.m. IF surgery is on.

Please pray for traveling mercies for my Uncle Doug driving over from the Shoals. He's going to spend the night here in Huntsville. Please offer up prayers, as well, for my cousin Lucy who is flying in tonight from Dallas.

Mom is not on the surgery calendar at this time. Her blood pressure is up due to the moving of her IV.

They planned to move it from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, but it didn't work. It is now in her right jugular and can remain there for 30 days if needed.

They X-rayed her chest to ensure the IV was in the right spot. When they did, they discovered that her right lung was filling with fluid. They inserted a port to drain it.

Mom was sedated for these procedures so I didn't get a chance to talk with her or pass on your greetings. Please feel free to reply to this email with a message for her. I will be happy to read it to her at visitation times.

Thanks for your prayers.

Friday, 10/26/07, 11:40 a.m. UPDATE
Mom had another good night last night. Her blood pressure remained stable.

Dr. Moran has cleared Mom for surgery on the right femur. She will be worked into the orthopedic surgery schedule for late today. I will update you as soon as she's on the schedule.

Dr. Moran informed me of some other decisions this morning. Next Saturday, November 3, she is scheduled to have three procedures.
Tracheotomy
Feeding Tube
Blood Filter

Tracheotomy
Mom is not breathing as well as they want and need her to. They will remove the breathing tube from her mouth and insert one through an opening in her trachea. She will NOT be able to talk, but she will be able to move her lips, make facial expressions, etc.

At the point where the doctors feel they can remove this tube, the incision and hole in the cartilage will heal very quickly. It may be as many as six weeks.

Feeding Tube
Her current tube is snaked down her nose. That can't be comfortable. The new tube will be inserted through her belly button (or nearby).

Blood Filter
Mom is not a candidate for blood thinners which can reduce the risk of clots. Therefore, Dr. Moran will insert a filter into her blood stream to prevent clots from injuring her brain, heart, lungs, etc.

This entire surgery is expected to last about 90 minutes. They may not use general anesthesia.

These are more baby steps in Mom's recovery.

Please continue to pray for her.

Two other quick prayer requests/updates:
San Diego: It looks like my friend's house has been missed. If you go here and find the intersection of the 15 interstate and Ted Williams Highway (56), you'll see that his neighborhood, which is just north of this intersection, has not been affected. Continue to pray that the fires stay away.

One of my best friends called last night to say that his mom was being rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke. Please pray for the Enlows.

Thursday, 10/25/07, 4:30 p.m. UPDATE
Mom was still mostly asleep. Her pastor, Carl Malm, came by to pray.

Her numbers are holding great--both breathing and heart.

Her next surgery--right femur--will be tomorrow or Saturday or later. They have to (1) decide that she's ready for surgery, (2) stop her feeding line, (3) wait at least six hours, (4) and get her on the schedule.

Keep praying for her patience with all the tubes.

Some of you have asked for her address. She is receiving mail. I enjoyed reading a card from someone who knows her brother Randy. (Patti Moss) Feel free to comment on the blog page or reply to this email and write your greetings to her. I will be sure to pass them on to her during one of the visitation times.

Address:

Ramona Whitlock, patient
Huntsville Hospital
101 Sivley Road
Huntsville, AL 35801

Someone suggested a good idea: Put mom's address in the return address field. In case something happens and the letter doesn't go to the right place, it will get returned AND STILL get to Mom.

That address is:

7965 Second Street
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661

Of course, you can read the rest of the story on the blog. (Still editing it, but read away.)

Thursday, 10/25/07, 1:30 p.m. UPDATE

We visited with mom only briefly this afternoon. They sedated her in order to insert the feeding tube. She was sleeping peacefully.

Her ventilator settings were back to the desired level (10 per min; 50% O2). Her BP was back within the normal range and stable without medication.

We met Dr. Samotowka. They want to make sure she gets plenty of nutrition. They may delay surgery until Saturday so that she can "eat" all day today, then "fast" before surgery.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. We are buoyed by them.

(Note: we have pictures of the car. They are not for the squeamish. Scroll to the bottom of the email.)

Thursday, 10:30 a.m. UPDATE

Mom had a good night. The ventilator settings are better, but not where they need to be.

Her blood pressure is stable, but higher than it needs to be--still a residual issue from surgery.

The swelling in her hands is still present, but they are not concerned. Circulation is still good. I'm sure she'd feel better if it went down.

She has a mouth guard to keep her from chewing on her tubes. The tubes can't be harmed by her teeth, but she was cutting off her oxygen and she was becoming distressed.

They plan on putting in a feeding tube later today. In the nurse's words, "You have to eat to heal." I guess eating is relative.

Dr. Samatowka is the trauma doc in house today.

Wednesday, 9:30 pm UPDATE

We're bedding down for the night. Mom's blood pressure is high tonight as would
be expected after surgery. According to Betty, tonight's nurse, her number one goal for the night is stabilizing her breathing. Right now, they've increased the percentage of oxygen and the rate of breathing on the ventilator. They hope
to get it back down again to pre-surgery rates.

I don't expect that they will do her right leg surgery tomorrow, but they might.

I DO expect them to insert the feeding tube. It may be in by the time we see her
at 10:30 tomorrow morning. That's not going to go over well. Please pray that
she will get used to (whatever that means) all the tubes in her mouth and nose.

Mom is making great progress. Thank you for your prayers.
ether surgery or just a cast is needed.

The great news is that her BP remained stable through the procedure.

When she wakes up, she'll be in some pain.

The most pressing prayer request, I'd say, is for her patience and rest with her tubes. They will add a feeding tube to her existing breathing and stomach tubes. That one goes through the nose. She already feels, from time to time, like she's choking. I can't imagine how hard it is for a woman who talks all the time to stay silent.

We appreciate your prayers so much. It's hard to say thanks enough.

Mark

Wednesday, mid-surgery update

All,

Dr. Ginger Bryant will be coming out in a few minutes to speak with family. She only repaired the left hip/femur. We'll find out why.

Thanks for your prayers.

Mark

If you're new to the list, please read from the bottom up to get the full chronological story. We're so grateful that so many of you are praying for Ramona Whitlock.

John, Mom's nurse for the day, called me at 9:45 to let me know Mom was on the surgery schedule for 11 a.m. She JUST got started at around 3:00 p.m. The surgery is expected to last between 3 and 5 hours. They are planning to repair the left hip and left femur, then reposition Mom to repair the right femur.

Mom was the most responsive yet this morning. I even had her laughing at one point. Stupid move, because it made her cough--which is difficult when your intubated. Mom's sister, Martha, got to spend some time with her for the first time today. Other beloved family has been here. Kaye's cousin Lisa (and her husband Jim) and Kaye's uncle Ralph (and his wife Lila) spent some time with Kaye today. We're so grateful for the phone calls, emails, messages, and other expressions of love.

Depending on how the day goes, I'll try to update everyone as we receive updates from the OR, but I PROMISE to send you a detailed update tonight when she's recovering.

One new piece of information today: The trauma doc, Dr. Moran, informed me that due to the extent of mom's injuries, it may be two to three months before she can stand and bear weight. That means mom will need a skilled nursing facility at first and, as she progresses, and then an intensive rehabilitation facility.

I will begin looking at options in the next few days. She, of course, has a long road ahead of her to go from STICU to a regular room before we look at external options.

Mark

NEXT UPDATE:

Surgery has been moved to 11am today. Could last as long as 5 hours.
More later. Gotta run!

Kaye

10/24/07, 7:49 AM

Kids & I are headed to Huntsville for the day in a little while. Please pray for safe travel in this wet weather.

Surgery scheduled for last night was canceled. Her blood pressure dropped and became unstable again. Please pray that the ICU will do a better job communicating with Mark. Last night, they didn't let him know about
the decision to cancel surgery, til he asked what was going on. The night before, they took her early to surgery, without letting Mark know--they didn't get a chance to see her beforehand, and the surgery was almost over before anyone knew she was in there.

Sorry so short, but I¹m on the run.

Thank you!
Kaye

On 10/23/07, 5:11 PM

I've added several new names to this list. If this is the first update you've received, please read from the bottom up.

I would like to add a prayer request to this email. My friend Wayne Kinde lives in San Diego and has been evacuated from his home as wildfires rage in San Diego. Please pray for his family. They're living at his office right now waiting anxiously for news. It's hard to imagine what it would be like wonder if everything you own is going to go up in smoke. Pray for Wayne.

Mom came through the night well. Her blood pressure has stabilized and they have removed her from all of the "pressers" she's been on since the ER.

We spent a few sweet minutes this morning. I read Psalm 70 and talked to her about friends and relatives who have called. She must have been feeling okay (compared to later today) because she didn't fight the tubes, IVs, and restraints. She nodded her head and squeezed my hand during our talk.

The doctor considers this a "window of opportunity" to accomplish the rest of the surgeries. The trauma doctor gave the green light to the orthopedic team to do THE REST OF the surgeries (Left and right femurs, right tib/fib).

As of a few minutes ago, she's prepped and ready, BUT she is NOT on the schedule. They do not know if they are behind or if she has been bumped. They just took more blood to do final labs before surgery.

I will receive a call at some point in the next two hours to let me know if
it's going to happen.

This is nerve-racking, as you can imagine.

Brother Carl, mom's pastor came by again. He's a great man and a gentle man. He recited Psalm 23 and prayed for us both . . . and thanked God for all of you who are praying.

Thank you. For all that you're doing for us. For holding my mom up to the throne of grace. For loving on us.

I'll update again after surgery OR after they cancel it.

Mark

P.S. The STICU waiting room is a hard place to be. As I signed this email, the family behind me in the breakroom received news that their loved one passed away.

NEXT UPDATE
> > > > >>> > She came through the surgery great! Everything was ³textbook². Her
> > blood
> > > > >>> > pressure and heart rate held fine throughout. They want to see how
> she
> > > > >>> > recovers from this operation for a while before doing another one.
> The
> > > > >>> next
> > > > >>> > surgery will be an ³unconventional² hip replacement. It¹s not just
> the
> > > > >>> ball
> > > > >>> > & socket joint that has to be replaced, but more work to be done
on
> > the
> > > > >>> > femur around the joint. The knee appears to have only ligament
> damage;
> > > no
> > > > >>> > breaks.
> > > > >>> >
> > > > >>> > Thanks for praying.....please continue!
> > > > >>> >
> > > > >>> > Kaye
> > > > >>> >
> > > > >>> > On 10/22/07 5:30 PM, "wmarkwhitlock@comcast.net"
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> > wrote:
> > > > >>> >
> > > > >>>> > > Mark here.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > I just got off the phone with mom's anesthesiologist and her
> > > orthopedic
> > > > >>>> > > surgeon.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > The surgery orders have changed. Tonight, they will ONLY work
on
> > the
> > > > >>>> LEFT
> > > > >>>> > > TIBIA. This is a compound fracture. They will debride the area,
> > then
> > > > put
> > > > >>>> > > screws and pins (as needed) in the tibia. Mom has so many
> fractures
> > > > >>>> that the
> > > > >>>> > > doc misspoke when he called in the original orders.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > Her blood pressure has dropped again. They are rapid-infusing
> four
> > > > >>>> units of
> > > > >>>> > > blood and one unit of albutimon (excuse my spelling). They are
> > going
> > > > >>>> ahead
> > > > >>>> > > with the surgery because of the real chance for a blood-borne
> > > infection
> > > > >>>> which
> > > > >>>> > > could impact her entire system.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > The orthopedic surgeon made it clear to me that she has a long,
> > > uphill
> > > > >>>> battle
> > > > >>>> > > to regain mobility.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > I understand from the ICU team that this surgery will set the
bar
> > for
> > > > >>>> future
> > > > >>>> > > surgeries. If her heart does not handle this surgery well, we may
> > > have
> > > > >>>> a tough
> > > > >>>> > > time fixing the rest of her leg wounds.
> > > > >>>> > >
> > > > >>>> > > On a less-serious note, the purse was secured by the ER and
> > security
> > > > >>>> teams.
> > > > >>>> > > They made a careful inventory of the contents and the purse is
> > locked

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 5:15pm Update

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 3:50pm Update

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 3:30pm Update

Wed. 24 Oct 2007, 10:00am

Surgery has been moved to 11am today. Could last as long as 5 hours. More later. Gotta run!

Kaye

10/24/07 7:49 AM

Kids & I are headed to Huntsville for the day in a little while. Please pray for safe travel in this wet weather.

Surgery scheduled for last night was cancelled. Her blood pressure dropped and became unstable again. Please pray that the ICU will do a better job communicating with Mark. Last night, they didn’t let him know about the decision to cancel surgery, til he asked what was going on. The night before, they took her early to surgery, without letting Mark know---they didn’t get a chance to see her beforehand, and the surgery was almost over before anyone knew she was in there.

Sorry so short, but I’m on the run.

Thank you!
Kaye

10/23/07, 5:11 PM

I've added several new names to this list. If this is the first update you've received, please read from the bottom up.

I would like to add a prayer request to this email. My friend Wayne Kinde lives in San Diego and has been evacuated from his home as wildfires rage in San Diego. Please pray for his family. They're living at his office right now waiting anxiously for news. It's hard to imagine what it would be like wonder if everything you own is going to go up in smoke. Pray for Wayne.

Mom came through the night well. Her blood pressure has stabilized and they have removed her from all of the "pressers" she's been on since the ER.

We spent a few sweet minutes this morning. I read Psalm 70 and talked to her about friends and relatives who have called. She must have been feeling okay (compared to later today) because she didn't fight the tubes, IVs, and restraints. She nodded her head and squeezed my hand during our talk.

The doctor considers this a "window of opportunity" to accomplish the rest of the surgeries. The trauma doctor gave the green light to the orthopedic team to do THE REST OF the surgeries (Left and right femurs, right tib/fib).

As of a few minutes ago, she's prepped and ready, BUT she is NOT on the schedule. They do not know if they are behind or if she has been bumped. They just took more blood to do final labs before surgery.

I will receive a call at some point in the next two hours to let me know if it's going to happen.

This is nerve-racking, as you can imagine.

Brother Carl, mom's pastor came by again. He's a great man and a gentle man. He recited Psalm 23 and prayed for us both . . . and thanked God for all of you who are praying.

Thank you. For all that you're doing for us. For holding my mom up to the throne of grace. For loving on us.

I'll update again after surgery OR after they cancel it.

Mark

P.S. The STICU waiting room is a hard place to be. As I signed this email, the family behind me in the breakroom received news that their loved one passed away.

NEXT MESSAGE:

She came through the surgery great! Everything was “textbook”. Her blood pressure and heart rate held fine throughout. They want to see how she recovers from this operation for a while before doing another one. The next surgery will be an “unconventional” hip replacement. It’s not just the ball & socket joint that has to be replaced, but more work to be done on the femur around the joint. The knee appears to have only ligament damage; no breaks.

Thanks for praying.....please continue!

Kaye

10/22/07 5:30 PM

Mark here.

I just got off the phone with mom's anesthesiologist and her orthopedic surgeon.

The surgery orders have changed. Tonight, they will ONLY work on the LEFT TIBIA. This is a compound fracture. They will debride the area, then put screws and pins (as needed) in the tibia. Mom has so many fractures that the doc misspoke when he called in the original orders.

Her blood pressure has dropped again. They are rapid-infusing four units of blood and one unit of albutimon (excuse my spelling). They are going ahead with the surgery because of the real chance for a blood-borne infection which could impact her entire system.

The orthopedic surgeon made it clear to me that she has a long, uphill battle to regain mobility.

I understand from the ICU team that this surgery will set the bar for future surgeries. If her heart does not handle this surgery well, we may have a tough time fixing the rest of her leg wounds.

On a less-serious note, the purse was secured by the ER and security teams. They made a careful inventory of the contents and the purse is locked in the safe. We're relieved.

Mom's State Farm agent is taking care of all the hoops related to the car.

Thank you for praying and for all of your greetings and gifts of love.

Mark

NEXT MESSAGE:

Just got another message from Mark.

His Mom’s blood pressure is up some---not great, but enough that they want to try one of the surgeries. The surgery time is set for 6:45pm tonight.

Dr. Leberte will debride the open wound below the knee on the right side (the biggest concern due to risk for infection) and put rods in the femur break on that side. Bottom line, they’re trying to get the right leg fixed tonight. The left leg is more involved but doesn’t have the nasty wound that the right leg has. (I hope I’ve said all that right.)

Please lift her up to the Father tonight, as He brings her to mind.

Right now, the kids and I are planning to go visit on Wednesday, unless Mark wants us to do otherwise.

We are so touched by the prayers, food, & support you’ve already shown us.

We feel very loved and blessed! Thank you so very much.

Keep Praying!
Kaye

10/22/07 12:12 PM

Mark’s Mom isn’t improving. Her blood pressure is still too low, and isn’t stable even where it’s at (95 over 40), so they can’t do the surgery yet. She is on a morphine drip for pain in addition to the meds to try to raise her blood pressure. They have to do something about getting the open wound on her leg thoroughly cleaned up today. The risk for infection is becoming a greater concern than trying to wait til the surgery.

The orthopedic surgeon has said she will need “many, many orthopedic surgeries”. They would normally do them all at once, but her heart is too sick to take that. It’s also not great on her heart to have the multiple surgeries, but it’s better than trying to get it all done at once.

Where the head of the left femur was broken, it has also involved the hip in some way. That knee is messed up, too. (Maybe because of the breaks above and below the knee???) The hip & knee aren’t broken, but “involved”. On the right leg, her heel is broken, in addition to the femur and fibula.

Sounds like there’s a long, painful road ahead for her. Please keep praying!

Uncle Ralph and Jim, thanks for checking in on Mark. That means a lot to me.

Thanks,
Kaye

10/21/07 10:38 PM

Okay....we have a better update now. Some of the other info was wrong.

Mark’s Mom has broken BOTH legs, not just one. Both femurs are broken---one of them it’s the head of the femur, and there’s a break in each leg in the tibia/fibula area---in one leg that’s a compound fracture.

The main issue right now is her blood pressure. They have been trying to raise her blood pressure and get it stabilized, but with the medications used so far have been unable to do so. They have put her on a drip and the blood pressure has come up some, but needs to come up more and stay there for several hours before they can do the surgery needed on her legs (preferably 12 hours, but they may not wait that long).

Due to having to wait for the surgery, they will probably put her in traction sometime tonight. They haven’t done a follow-up CT scan yet (the first one was OK, but they needed to do further testing), but she is her toes & fingers on the correct sides on demand, so that’s a good sign. They have been able to stabilize her blood sugar now as well.

Her heart is enlarged, but they have determined that doesn’t seem to be from any blunt trauma from the wreck, but due to her medical history of heart attacks, bypass surgery, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, etc.

Please keep praying for the family. Several of her brothers & sisters (she has 7 living siblings) are there now, so Mark’s not there by himself, but as the son he’s the one in charge.

Thanks for praying,
Kaye

On 10/21/07 7:02PM

I’m sending out a mass e-mail here, so if you weren’t copied on the original e-mail from Mark, please see it below this update on Mark’s Mom.

I’ve heard back from Mark. His Mom had multiple fractures to her right leg, and will be going into surgery for that some time tonight. She is intubated, breathing with a respirator right now, plus under heavy medication for pain.

She lost a lot of blood and fluids, so they had to rapid-infuse blood & fluids to her to get her stable. Her blood sugar was only 50 (very low!) when she was brought in, so they’re guessing that she passed out behind the wheel.

Mark said she just didn’t look good, even compared to when she had cancer surgery or her triple-bypass surgery. Please be in prayer for the surgery to go well. No matter what, sounds like she’s got a long road ahead of her.

Thanks,
Kaye & Mark Whitlock

On 10/21/07 2:22 PM

My uncle just called.

My mother, Ramona Whitlock, was in a single vehicle car accident.

She was cut out of the car by rescue crews and air-evacuated to Huntsville Hospital.

According to the police officer who called, she was coherent and was able to give the staff on site my uncle's phone number. They told my uncle that the injuries did not appear life threatening, but they wanted to take extra precautions.

As many of you know, my mom is a cancer survivor, has diabetes, has thyroid issues, and has had a triple heart bypass. Her health has been a great concern for many years, yet she has been able to live alone since my dad's death in 2004.

In a few minutes, I will be leaving to drive to Huntsville. I will update you as soon as I can.

Please pray for my mom's recovery
Pray for safety for all family that will be traveling to Huntsville
Pray for peace--there will probably be many changes that will have to take place in mom's life due to this accident
Pray for me--As her only son, it's my honor and responsibility to care for her (replacing her car, etc.)

I appreciate your friendship and love in my life
Mark

The World Series

2007-10-29T10:33:00.000-05:00

Colorado should be proud. Now they can fight and scratch their way back to an NL West Division Win, NL Pennant, and then World Series championship. You haven't heard the last from this team.

Never fear, I'm still a Braves and Dodgers fan. We'll see what next season holds.

Go Rockies

2007-10-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

If the streak wasn't enough, here's why I'm cheering for the Rockies to take the World Series. In four games.

Read.

When Backstory Can Kill a Good Thing

2007-10-20T14:15:00.001-05:00

As an aspiring fiction writer, I have learned the value of backstory. My current novel, The Ledgers, is built on the backstory of characters who die (or were already dead) in the first act. I can't possibly tell their entire stories.

Like most authors, I've fallen in love with the heroes and get spooked by the bad guys.

I greatly respect the care and craft that Joanne Rowling brought to the Harry Potter series. I do hope she continues to write and perhaps introduces us to other characters as rich as the ones in Potter.

She's on a landmark tour right now and spent last evening reading and answering questions at venerable Carnegie Hall.

Today's news, however, should ruffle some feathers, wrinkle some brows, and wreak havoc on some websites. I leave the news for you to read and react to on your own.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7053982.stm

Personally, I can't wait to see what Robert McGee, Ted Baher, and PluggedIn have to say about this revelation. I guess I like to watch controversy unfold.

Please Click

2007-10-20T13:05:00.001-05:00

Friends,
I'm amazed. According to SiteMeter, more than 300 of you visited my site during the last seven days. According to ClusterMaps, you are coming from ALL over the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I recently became a writer for Suite101. My first article appeared there this morning. Please click on the link at the top of the page to read my article on The Marathon Training Mileage Ramp. I earn pennies and nickels through my writing there when you click. No purchase necessary.

Let me know what you think.

Mark