Do You Face-Time

How much face-time do you have with your family?

I love my iPhone. I use it a lot. I like Words With Friends, I use the IMDB app when watching TV, I check Facebook and Twitter, and I post to Instagram. I'm as guilty as the next guy of reaching for my phone when I'm bored or have time to kill.

But I'm saddened at the trend I see around me lately; parents using their phone at dinner, at the restaurant.

A few months ago while having dinner at Panera, I noticed a woman in her mid-30s on her phone. Her back was to me, so I could see she was playing a Tetris-type game. Across the table from her were to beautiful little girls, I guess ages 9 and 11. They were quietly eating their dinner, not talking to each other, not talking to their mom.

Two weeks ago my husband and I went to Culver's. There was a family having dinner in a booth to my left. The entire time the dad had his eyes glued to his phone, while his wife and daughters (in the 4- to 6-year-old range) conversed quietly among themselves.

The worst was last week, when again we were at Culver's. One table had two young ladies in their early 20s who were each on their phone. I joked they were texting each other instead of talking.

One table had a group of teens, all glued to their phones. Another table had a young couple, each with a phone in their hand.

We looked round the restaurant and noticed at every. single. table. (probably 12 in all) somebody had a phone in their hand! Our table and one other had a phone sitting on it, but not being used.

Then there was one family - a mom, a dad and two young girls. What? No phone? No! They were talking, laughing and engaged with each other! The only table in the whole place with no phone in sight!

I was very proud of that couple who took the time to be a part of their children's lives, who made their girls a priority. I wanted to say something to them, but they left before I could - laughing and holding hands on the way out the door.

My son made the comment about how sad it is that parents aren't going to remember their children growing up because they were too busy looking at their phones. Truth!

And looking at what? Facebook? Twitter? Posting their cheeseburger on Instagram?

Parents, put your phones down and engage with your family. They need you! You're missing opportunities to have relationship with your family, you're allowing the trivial to take you away from time that will never come your way again. Your kids will grow up and you won't be able to get this time back.

You're missing it! Life is passing you by as you try to beat Candy Crush! Put your phone down and live in the moment.

I heard a pastor say that when he attends meetings they all put their phones face-down in the center of the table so they aren't distracted. Maybe your family can do the same...

And spend some real face-time together!

I saw this video posted today by Rhett and Link. It perfectly makes the point I've wanted to blog about these past few weeks. I think you'll like it!

Get Off the Phone

Read my previous post: Music Monday: Dylan Arms (American Idol Season 12)
Read my next post: Who's-Ever Next

WE WILL and Fresh Start

I saw a preview for this album WE WILL a few weeks ago through an ad on David Santistevan's blog. I kept the tab open on my browser so I didn't forget to check out the entire album on March 6 when it was released.

Wow! Awesome!

WE WILL is from The Life Church in Tennessee and it is fabulous! I love the sound, not the typical worship sound for some of the songs; but then there are a few that bring me back to the Vineyard Worship days. I also like the variety of lead worshipers, not the same voice all the way through.

The songs are very God-focused and I like that. I think sometimes we sing too many me-focused songs - songs about God blessing me and moving in me and not enough about Who He is and what He has done that we can thank Him for.

This song, Fresh Start, is by far my favorite. I cry every time I hear it. I could listen to this one over and over.



I am soaking this album in!

So if you're looking for something new, check it out!

Don't have iTunes? Order the CD here.

Read my previous post: Bearing Fruit

Ray Lewis - Leader

Leadership. Inspiration. Perspective. 

I've been a Ray Lewis fan since the Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. He's just a cool dude.

So two weeks ago when the Ravens played the New England Patriots for a chance to return to the Super Bowl, I was again cheering them on, hoping to see linebacker Ray Lewis in another Super Bowl battle.

Because of a missed field goal at the end of the game, the Ravens lost and didn't make the trip to Indianapolis as a team.

I love this locker room speech by Lewis after the Ravens' loss. I especially like when he says, "There's too much pain outside of this that people [are] really going through".

Ray Lewis knows how to keep a loss in perspective.

Ray Lewis knows how to inspire.

Ray Lewis is a leader.

(Play from :27 - 1:29)


What do you think of Ray Lewis' locker room speech? Does it inspire you in your leadership role?

You might also like Super Bowl and Indianapolis
You might also like "My Story" by Jacob Schemmel

Read my previous post: Dinner by Candlelight

This Is MUSIC?

I created an "80s" playlist on my iPod that currently has 62 songs on it. And being the freak that I am, I have them in chronological order. It's an interesting way to listen to them, to hear how the "sound" changes through the decade. (Although the biggest change happens on my "60s" playlist.)

Last night I was listening to my "80s" playlist while drying my hair. The first song is, "Give It All You Got" by Chuck Mangione. It made me miss playing my tenor sax, which I haven't touched in over a decade.

I also have some Billy Joel, Queen, and even Leo Sayer singing, "More Than I Can Say". All fairly musical in sound, yes? (Oh, my! That Leo Sayer video is worth the watch. Love that cheesy 80s stuff!)

As I began to use the flat-iron on my hair, "Whip It"  by Devo played and I danced to the techno-alternative sound.

Then it dawned on me.

This is music?

I like to pick on today's so-called music, because it is severely lacking in musical style. There are no melodious tunes to hum and get stuck in my head, no rockin' horn section with awesome harmonies and deep bari-sax parts, just.....noise. Repetitive phrases, beat boxes, hip-hop, and what's the new one...Dub Step? (I don't know...I'm too old.)

I'm so uncool, I don't even know what songs to give as examples. I don't argue that it takes ability to write the instrumentation for it and put rhyming lyrics out there; that is definitely a talent I don't have. But to call it music?

Flash back to my "Whip It". I have to believe my grandparents and their generation thought the same thing when they heard songs like that.

"You call this music?" (But I would argue it does have a tune to get stuck in your head.)

These amazing people came of age during the glamorous 1930s movie era and the swing sound of the 1940s, when music was real! Although, their parents didn't like that new sound either. All that jivey, jumpin' music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Harry James. Oh the horrors!

Eh, every generation has their thing they call music that the previous generations don't like. Except Classic Rock...that seems to stand the test of time. Even my son prefers Lynyrd Skynyrd over Lady Gaga! I'm so proud!

So, I leave you with "Whip It". It may not be musical, but it's fun.And I'll always have Andy Williams to keep me in balance!

Credit: American Public Television

Oops...they won't let me embed it, so follow this link!

I had a blast finding links for this post. Please watch 'em! Good stuff! Then leave a comment and tell me what your favorite link is! [Mine is the Glenn Miller link. It's a little lengthy, but ya just don't hear music or see dancing like that anymore! Wow!]

Read my previous post: "Charade"
Read my next post: Super Bowl and Indianapolis

"Charade"

Cary Grant (who would have been 108-years-old on January 18) is one of my all-time favorite actors. Besides his timeless good looks, I love his humor and the way he banters with his co-stars.

Audrey Hepburn (who passed away 19-years ago on January 20) is another favorite actress. So classy and beautiful with her own fabulous sense of humor.

"Charade" is one of my favorite movies because the two of them are paired together and they are perfect onscreen!

The plot of "Charade" is an interesting story with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Drama, suspense and humor make this a fun 113 minutes. I saw a reviewer on IMDB say that "Charade is the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made!" Yes, it's that good!

And "Charade" was filmed in Paris - can't get more romantic than that!

Walter Matthau and James Coburn also starred in this 1963 movie, directed by Stanley Donen. And music score by Henry Mancini? Awesome!

• From the DVD back-cover: After her husband is murdered, Regina Lambert (Audrey Hepburn) soon learns that he was involved in the theft of $250,000. She now finds herself on the run from crooks and double agents who want to get their hands on the money. With no one to turn to she must get to the bottom of things before they get to her.

Today I'm sharing the opening scene with you. Typical of the rest of the movie is this fabulous banter between Grant and Hepburn.

(Sadly, I'm not able to find an air-date for it, but do look for the DVD.)



Read my previous post: Battle With A Princess
Read my next post: This Is MUSIC?

"My Story" by Jacob Schemmel

I saw this video a few weeks ago and it brought me to tears. Tears-streaming-down-my-face kind of tears. It's touching. It's moving. And it's a beautiful testimony of how we WILL make it through the hard times. This young man is proof.

One month later, I still cannot get the images of this video out of my mind. Of course, it doesn't help that I purchased the song from iTunes and play it. (I've since bought more of their music. Nice instrumental group.)

Be sure to tell the people you love how much they mean to you. It could make a difference...for them and for you, because you never know when it might be too late.

Song: "Your Hand In Mine" by Explosions in the Sky



Read my previous post: Full Moon
Read my next post: Clothes on the Line

Jerry Lewis in "The Errand Boy"

Over Christmas break my son and I watched a Jerry Lewis special on Encore.

Kyle has been a Jerry Lewis fan since the first time he saw a Lewis movie when is was 7 or 8-years-old. He also does a really good impression of Lewis!

The special "Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis" was really good; we actually watched it three or four times. The man was a genius when it came to comedy. And watching him interact with people today, I was struck at what a genuinely nice man he is.

After watching the special, Kyle pulled out his collection of Lewis movies and we watched quite a few. Well, he watched them all, but I watched a few with him.

One of our favorites is "The Errand Boy". And one of our favorite scenes ever is this one from that movie.

The song is Count Basie's "Blues in Hoss' Flat". We love the song so I bought it for my iPod and play it often. As I listen (without the video portion) I'm struck at how Jerry Lewis put this song together with this scene. It fits so perfect, as if it was written just for the movie.

That's why he's a genius.



Read my previous post: My First Post
Read my next post: Full Moon