This Week’s Must Watch Tv

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Brad
This week has some outstanding TV viewing opportunities for music lovers.
NBC-The Voice Finale

“The Voice” will air its final episode of the season Monday night. Results will be announced Tuesday. This season, two of the four finalists chose Christian songs for their semi final performance. As a fan of gospel music this was my personal favorite.

PBS-American Epic

The second episode of AMERICAN EPIC, a three-part historical documentary will air on PBS on Tuesday. May 23 at 8 p.m.

Go inside one of the greatest-ever untold stories: how the ordinary people of America were given the opportunity to make records for the first time.

In the 1920s, as radio took over the pop music business, record companies were forced to leave their studios in major cities in search of new styles and markets. Ranging the mountains, prairies, rural villages, and urban ghettos of America, they discovered a wealth of unexpected talent. The recordings they made of all the ethnic groups of America democratized the nation and gave a voice to everyone. Country singers in the Appalachians, Blues guitarists in the Mississippi Delta, Gospel preachers across the south, Cajun fiddlers in Louisiana, Tejano groups from the Texas Mexico border, Native American drummers in Arizona, and Hawaiian musicians were all recorded. For the first time, a woman picking cotton in Mississippi, a coal miner in Virginia or a tobacco farmer in Tennessee could have their thoughts and feelings heard on records played in living rooms across the country. It was the first time America heard itself.

Over three episodes, narrated by Robert Redford, AMERICAN EPIC rescues this history. The remarkable lives of these seminal musicians are revealed through previously unseen film footage and photographs, and exclusive interviews with music pioneers, their families and eyewitnesses to the era.

Part 2 of 3 travels to the rural South, where Elder Burch, Charley Patton and others record early Delta blues, gospel and protest songs. Also: the Great Flood of 1927 devastates Mississippi River communities, leading to northern migration and such Chicago bluesmen as Howlin’ Wolf.

Amazon Video-Florence Foster Jenkins

Based on the incredible true story, Meryl Streep delivers a hilarious and touching performance as a New York socialite who dreams of becoming a great opera singer, despite having a hilariously awful singing voice.

Posted in General | 3 Comments

德克萨斯山国家 Wedding, With 爱友谊国际聚会荣誉精神与传统

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Brad

Texas Hill Country Wedding   德克萨斯州乡村婚礼

This past weekend I attended a beautiful wedding in the Texas hill country. The occasion was memorable for several reasons. It began with the ceremony.

The officiant, (Lana) started by giving the emotional bride (Janet) and anxious groom (Andy) instructions. “I want you to face one another and look in each other’s eyes. Memorize the details of what you see and what you feel. Notice how your heart is skipping a beat. Can you feel the butterflies in your stomach?” Janet and Andy nodded at one another.

“Good. Now I want you to remember this moment when you have your first fight.”

Janet and Andy smiled and chuckled along with everyone in attendance.  It was a great way to start the ceremony.

Love 爱
Another powerful moment was the exchange of vows. Janet and Andy wrote their own vows, enlightening us about their eight year relationship, including how they met in high school (the teacher wrote their names on the board for talking in class), their first date (they agreed to be one another’s senior prom date, if no one better came along), and their promises to one another for the future. They were emotional and sincere and incredibly vulnerable. It was a privilege to witness.

Friendship 友谊  
By the end of the ceremony, Lana had charmed all of us with her infectious joy and her obvious love for the bride and groom.  How, we all wondered, did the three of them become friends?

It turns out Andy was managing a wireless store when Lana brought her phone in because she was having problems. Two hours later, her phone was fixed. She was so grateful she tried to give Andy money so he could take his girlfriend out to eat. When he declined, she insisted he bring his girlfriend out to her house so she could cook them dinner. He accepted the invitation and their friendship was born. Eventually, he proposed to Janet in Lana’s scenic backyard. When it came time to select someone to officiate their wedding, Janet and Andy felt Lana was the natural choice.  Only one problem. Lana had never done this before and was not a minister. The soon-to-be bride and groom walked her through an internet ordination process and she helped them design a personalized ceremony that they will remember for a lifetime.

International Gathering 国际聚会
Another memorable aspect of the wedding was the international diversity of the wedding guests. Many of Janet’s family traveled from around the globe to attend the celebration. Several guests came from China. Others came from as far away as Sweden and New Zealand. Friends and family from both sides came from all over the United States to join in the festivities.  The bride’s father offered words of welcome and a toast in English and Mandarin.

Honor, Spirit and Tradition 荣誉，精神与传统

The reception included an adaptation of a Chinese tea ceremony where the bride and groom pay honor and respect to their elders. First Janet changed
into a Qipao, a traditional gown that was handmade for her in China. Six chairs were brought to the middle of the reception floor. The bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, and the groom’s grandparents were seated. While a narrator offered an explanation to the wedding guests, the married couple served a cup of tea to each family member, thanking them for their love and support.

A Fairy Tale Wedding  

Andy and Janet I want to personally thank you for letting me be part of your special day. It was the most inspirational wedding I have ever attended. One suited for the fairytale romance of your life. As with all fairytales may you live happily ever after.

The icing on the cake was the song chosen for your first dance.

“You’re the Inspiration“ is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals.

Posted in Inspiring Secular Music, Spiritual Journey | 4 Comments

Being Grateful for New Routines

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Brad

abi_full_disk_low_res_jan_15_2017As my MS progresses I find it more difficult each day to drive my wheelchair. My trunk strength has diminished to the point that riding in the van poses a safety issue. Finally, by the time my caregiver gets me ready each day, my energy level is such that leaving home is simply not appealing. Thus, our excursions are now limited to doctors appointments, essential trips and special occasions. Such is the life of a shut-in.

A few years ago I attended a class called Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, a course based on the best-selling book of the same name by Stephen R Covey. This class literally changed my life. The first of these habits is “Be Proactive,” Pro=positive active=action. God has given us free will which means we always have the choice on how to respond to anything that happens. Sometimes negative things happen. Choosing positive action usually leads to something good whenever I am faced with a new challenge.

Life After Religion

I have had to adjust to a life that no longer includes going to church. This means letting go of the rituals and routine of organized religion. Not an easy task. Saying goodbye to such an important part of my life was hard. A few years ago my dear friend and spiritual mentor Sue Gibson gave me a book, An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. This book taught  me that “church” can be anywhere. It doesn’t have to be a brick and mortar building.

Since we no longer go to church, Linda and I have developed a new Sunday morning routine. We watch CBS Sunday Morning and a show called Super Soul Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network. We have seen many inspiring episodes and it has given us an opportunity to discuss our faith with each other. Here is a sample of something we saw on one episode. Enjoy.

Posted in Spiritual Journey | 13 Comments