Rubber Ducky...You're the One!

My youngest son has found something to collect. I'm not sure why or what made him want to collect this to begin with. But, he has begun collecting Rubber Ducks. He's using his own Amazon.com gift card money to corner the market on rubber ducks. He's got quite the collection already, as you can see from the photo. I took a shower with 25 little companions today. Many of them were replica ducks from the Harry Potter series. It's an odd sensation to have a Dumbledore duck staring at you while you lather up. I still don't know what possessed Gavin to start collecting rubber ducks, but it is nice that he has a "thing" now. He was the hardest kid to shop for. At least we have a "go to" gift for him. Until, that is, he decides to drop the ducks and start collecting something else. In the meantime, I can see these ducks multiplying like little rabbits. I may have to find a new place to take a shower.

The Mysterious Chother

I don't know what a chother is, but my kids talk about it a lot. We keep correcting them, but it keeps coming back up in conversation. Even last night, one of my sons brought it up. "They can hang out with their chother!"...or "We want to buy that for our chother." Who is this chother they keep speaking of? My wife and I know what they mean and we keep correcting them. "No...no, it's each other...each other...we want to buy that for each other!" we say over and over again. "You want to hang out with each other!" It cracks me up. But, it seems that no amount of correction keeps the chother from coming up in conversation again and again. We'll keep correcting them, in hopes that they can get the chother under control before they become adults and leave our home. If not, the chother might haunt them forever.

I do the Rock!

I don't have time to blog so far this week, but I wanted to take a moment to share a great song that might have existed under the radar for many of you. It's an old one. But, I think it deserves the limelight. It's a song by the infamous Tim Curry. It's just such a happy song. I learned the entire bass line a couple of years ago, because it just sounded like so much fun to play. Enjoy! Plus, if you listen to the lyrics, it's like a history lesson of the 70's.

Beards: Science Says I'm Unattractive, Old, and Scary

I was listening to news radio this morning on the bus and I heard about a new scientific study concerning beards. The study suggests that beards, while stylish, are not attractive to women. In fact, beards are a way of signaling social status, age, and aggressiveness to other males (alpha male style). The study says that if I want to attract women, I need to shave the beard. If I want to intimidate other men, I need to keep the beard. In actuality, my wife finds my beard attractive. And since she's the only woman whose opinion of my face matters...I'll keep it. I like it, too. Not because I like to be scary or aggressive, but because I like the way it looks and it keeps my face warm on a cold Colorado day. For those of you who know me, I am far from scary and aggressive. I am certainly not the "alpha male" type. I wear a beard because my wife likes it, I like it, and I'm enjoying the way it looks with a smattering of gray hair. Plus, it gives me something to play with them I'm thinking. My wife tells me that I'm going to look like Sean Connery when I get completely gray. There are certainly worse guys to look like. I'm definitely okay with that comparison. I'm guessing that the scientific study wasn't comprehensive enough. They certainly didn't ask my wife. Opinions?

Spiritual Mentors

As I was watching Pastor Bob Daily on Facebook this morning, I began to realize what an important part Pastor Bob played in my early Christian formation. I then began to think about the other "spiritual mentors" who played a part in my formation. This blog is dedicated to those people who gave a piece of themselves to help shape me spiritually...whether they knew it or not.

Leonard Plick - I was a Catholic when I met Leonard at Catholic School. I wouldn't say that I had a personal relationship with Jesus, though. But, of all the Catholic's I knew, Leonard definitely did. He and I became friends somewhere around 5th or 6th grade. He had a deep and personal relationship with Jesus that most children of that age do not have. He didn't curse and it became a game at school to try to get him to say a bad word. He read his bible and prayed. He was good at everything he tried and was definitely charismatic in that everyone liked him and wanted to be around him. My friendship with Len put my soul on the path of searching for what real Christianity meant. His parents were great Godly examples, too. His father was a strong Catholic who lead the choir. His mother was a charismatic evangelical. Definitely two ends of the spectrum, but it made for a nice medium. I remember asking Len's Mom what I should read in the bible if I wanted to be wise. She said "Definitely Proverbs!" and that was my first experience reading the bible outside of a Catholic missalette. Proverbs is still my favorite book of the bible.

Robert Campbell - My brother Robert was instrumental in my conversion to real Christianity. I grew up Catholic and left the church prior to my confirmation because I didn't agree with all of the tenants of Catholicism. I searched and explored many fruitless avenues for most of high school. Early in my senior year, my brother reestablished a connection with me and invited me to church. Seeing his conversion and dramatic transformation was enough to open my eyes to the reality of a life-changing God. Within a couple of months, I gave my life to Jesus. I am forever thankful to Robert for the time and energy that he invested in me. Robert would remain an important catalyst for my spiritual development through the years. He baptized me in 1990 and later officiated my wedding in 1999.

Scott Bruce - I've known Scott Bruce since I was a child. He used to work with the boy scout troop that I belonged to. As fate would have it, he was the Youth Pastor at the church that my brother Robert took me to in 1989-90. Scott made the bible come alive and opened my eyes to a spiritual/supernatural world that existed beyond my perception and comprehension. I gave my life to Jesus at a winter camp at Thousand Pines Christian Camp. Scott rocked my world at that camp and his sermons (along with the Holy Spirit and God's calling) caused me to leave a life of sin and give my life to Jesus. I still have the pocket bible that Scott gave me at that camp.

Joel Weldon - Joel Weldon is a Christian musician who happened to be leading worship and doing concerts at the winter camp I attended in 1990. His music was a HUGE part of what drew me to the Lord that weekend. His songs were simple and often involved heart-wrenching stories which opened my spirit to the Lord's calling. Later, as an early Christian, I often lead worship using many of Joel's songs like "For I am Convinced" and "Every Minute". When I formed my first band, Cry for Mercy, we used to perform some of Joel's songs for the youth group. His songs are a soundtrack to my early Christian walk.

Mel Brower - Mel was an elder at Covina First Baptist and a great man-of-God. At a church that was desperately divided between an established in their way older group and a youth who were going through revival, Mel was one of the few people who reached out to the youth. He asked me if I wanted to be mentored and meet him each week for a bible-study. I agreed and learned so much from that great man. I still know Proverbs 3:5-6 by heart because of Mel. It's been my life-verse ever since.

Bob "Pastor Bob" Beeman - Pastor Bob is a neat man. He started a church called "Sanctuary: The Rock and Roll Refuge" for those church-outcasts (long-hair, tattoos, piercings, etc) who were becoming Christians at Stryper concerts. I started attending Sanctuary in 1991 when I moved to Torrance to live with my brother and a few other "dirtbags", as we affectionately called ourselves. That home became the "Dung Gate Commune" and we often housed homeless teens and troubled people who needed some love and support. Pastor Bob is a big man, with big hair, a big smile, and an even bigger heart. He's instantly likeable and has a great voice....deep and resonant. I could listen to him and Garrison Keillor for hours just because their voices are so soothing. Anyway...Pastor Bob knew that it was important to get spiritually grounded so he put together a year-long study called "Intense Studies" that I started to attend in 1991. An amazing study. I still have all of my notes from that class. I read lots of books, memorized scripture, was introduced to apologetics, and grew in my faith in leaps and bounds. It was just what a growing Christian needed. I am thankful to Pastor Bob for all of his hard work and taking a chance on the outcasts. It made a big difference in my spiritual formation.

Dave Vincent - Dave was my step-father. He passed away in 2005, but he was an integral influence in what a Godly, humble man of God looks like. He had his quiet time every morning locked in the bathroom where he prayed and read his bible. He often talked to me about the importance of tithing (when I wasn't tithing) and he and I had debates about it until I realized that he was right and I was very wrong...which took me a few years. His death left a big hole in our family. He definitely left his mark on my spiritual life.

Joi Copeland - When I met Joi in 1997, I had given up on dating. I was done being hurt and I was done with the fruitless search. I told God that I would give my dating life to Him and if He wanted me to date someone, he would bring her to me. But, when and if that time came, I asked God for a spiritually strong woman who would stand by her morals and encourage me to be a stronger man of God. Joi was God's answer to that prayer. I never met another woman who was so disciplined in her devotional time. She prayed, read the bible, and was a spiritual inspiration to me. She is amazing. I instantly fell in love with her because of her deep, strong, and steadfast commitment to God first. She made me want to be a better man and a stronger Christian and I desperately needed that spiritual shot in my life. She continues to be an inspiration to me and helps keep me on track when I falter. I am blessed to have such a Godly woman in my life.

Russell and Steffanne Ferris - Russell and Steffanne became my brother-in-law and sister-in-law when I married Joi. They are a strong man and woman of God and a great example of a Godly marriage. Whether they knew it or not, they mentored Joi and I in our early marriage and early parenting. They continue to be a great example and mentor us by the life that they lead. I learned a lot from Russell about how to be a man of integrity. I am thankful for their continuing friendship and their great example.

An Ode to Robert Sherman

We lost a titan of music and Disney history yesterday. Robert Sherman has died. Robert along with his brother Richard penned many of the greatest Disney songs ever. Walt Disney called them "The boys". Among their accomplishments were writing songs like "It's a Small World", all of the songs from Mary Poppins (my favorite), "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room", "Winnie the Pooh", "I wanna be like you" and "Trust in Me" (from Jungle Book), and many, many others. If it's a Disney song and it sticks in your memory forever....chances are the Sherman brothers wrote it. Robert was the wordsmith in the pair, while Richard penned the music. The brothers' awards include 23 gold and platinum albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2005. They wrote over 150 songs at Disney, including the soundtracks for such films as "The Sword and the Stone," "The Parent Trap," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "The Jungle Book," "Mary Poppins", "The Aristocrats" and "The Tigger Movie." They came from a song writing family. Their father, Al Sherman, was a popular Tin-Pan-Alley song writer who wrote hits for Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. Their Grandfather was a court composer for Emperor Franz Joseph.

I actually had the great pleasure of meeting Robert and Richard Sherman while they were autographing copies of their book "Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond". I got to shake their hands as they signed two copies of the book for me and told them how much I enjoyed their music. They were very nice. Richard did most of the talking. Robert was fairly shy and quiet and had a gruff, aged voice. I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet them. "Feed the Birds" is probably my favorite Disney song ever. In fact, it was Walt's favorite, too. When he was having a hard day, he'd call for the brothers to come up to his office and he'd say "Play it!" They knew what that meant. They'd start playing "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins and Walt would stare wistfully out of his office window until the last note was played. The Sherman brothers music is ingrained into my memory and is an integral part of my childhood. I am forever grateful for their contribution to music. Robert will be greatly missed.

Letting Go

I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I'm overwhelmed. I've been trying so hard to accomplish things under my power. I'm getting nowhere fast. I'm almost at the end of my rope. I sat here...lamenting. I started wondering what it would be like to really let go and let God take over. It seems so freeing. It seems so carefree. Why worry if God's taking care of it? Why beat myself up with worry, concern, and drain all my power fighting for something that God can handle without me? I don't know. It makes sense. I pictured myself just floating on my back in an endless ocean. Relaxed. Letting the current take me where it wants. Without concern. Without worry. That's what I want. But, letting go is so hard for us humans. We think we can do it all without any help. We want control. Giving up control is probably the hardest thing that Christians have to learn. Perhaps God is using this experience to help me see that I need to relinquish control and let Him do what He does best. I don't know. All I know is...it's hard. But, I'm willing to learn.