dual personalities

Tag: music

June 2, 2022

June, she’ll change her tune

by chuckofish

Well, here we are–a new month and the year almost half over! It is also the start of the festivities celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

We wish her well. Here are some thoughts on a long monarchy and what comes next for the church. “Queen Elizabeth is a devout Christian and has increasingly made this clear through her annual Christmas broadcasts. At the same time, she is the representative of a sort of national folk-Christianity; a symbol of a time when Britain was a Christian nation. As such, she has allowed us to fool ourselves that things are not as bad as they could be. The nation still has a Christian heart.”

And, boy, this rings true:

“Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires, athletes, or film-stars instead: even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison.”
― C.S. Lewis, Present Concerns

Do you think he was talking about us?

Anyway, it is feeling decidedly like summer around here. Here’s a summery snapshot of my grandmother (Catherine) and her beau/future husband (Bunker Cameron) circa 1919 with some great-aunt in between.

Bunker is, of course, goofing around wearing someone else’s hat. Catherine thinks it’s hilarious. Who knows what the old lady thinks–but she was probably amused by Bunker too.

I went to the dances at Chandlerville,
And played snap-out at Winchester.

One time we changed partners,
Driving home in the midnight of middle June,
And then I found Davis.
We were married and lived together for seventy years,
Enjoying, working, raising the twelve children,
Eight of whom we lost
Ere I had reached the age of sixty.
I spun, I wove, I kept the house, I nursed the sick,
I made the garden, and for holiday
Rambled over the fields where sang the larks,
And by Spoon River gathering many a shell,
And many a flower and medicinal weed–
Shouting to the wooded hills, singing to the green valleys.
At ninety-six I had lived enough, that is all,
And passed to a sweet repose.
What is this I hear of sorrow and weariness,
Anger, discontent and drooping hopes?
Degenerate sons and daughters,
Life is too strong for you–
It takes life to love Life.

–Edgar Lee Master, “Lucinda Matlock–Spoon River Anthology”
3 Comments
March 1, 2022

Crashing and burning with dignity

by chuckofish

A new month is starting and spring is on the horizon. Let us rejoice and sing! We still have a little ice and snow around, but Mother Nature is undeterred.

If you are in need of a mood lightener (and who isn’t?), I recommend this article. You also have to watch the embedded video which is pure gold. “You see, in a world plagued by sin and evil, in which churches increasingly have no room for church musicians without commercial appeal, Jon Daker represents hope, joy, and faith. Here is a regular guy who has managed to lift the spirits of millions thanks to his love of singing and a willingness to crash and burn with dignity.”

I also cannot express how much I love these daily updates that the daycare sends to daughter #2 and that she in turn sends to me from Maryland.

This is Life from the frontlines of daycare.

In case you forgot, today is the birthday of David Niven (1910-1983) so we’ll have to watch one of his movies tonight to celebrate! Maybe Separate Tables (1958) for which Niven won the Best Actor Oscar. Hard to believe, but it was the only time he was nominated and I can think of other roles for which he was more deserving. With 23 minutes and 39 seconds of screen time, his performance in this movie is the shortest ever to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Here he is winning his Oscar. (Note how tiny Jerry Lewis appears to be next to John Wayne.)

It’s nice to see someone win who is so clearly pleased but has no ax to grind beyond saying thank you. But then, he had some class.

And since you enjoyed yesterday’s video, here’s Iron Horse with another Metallica cover–bluegrass style. Personally, I can’t get enough of this.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
Praise Him, all creatures here below; 
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host: 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

4 Comments
February 7, 2022

“Though great our sins and sore our woes/ His grace much more aboundeth”*

by chuckofish

Well, we got about 6-7 inches of snow last week in our neck of the woods. It took us awhile to dig out–we had to get our driveway plowed–and so I was home until Saturday.

In the meantime I managed to shovel the front walk and felt pretty darn good about it.

No one lost their electricity and we had plenty of food and the house wine, so I kind of enjoyed it. Here’s a couple of pictures my friend Don took of the Frank Lloyd Wright house in his neighborhood in our flyover town.

Look at that unbroken stretch of white–just some deer tracks. So beautiful.

On Sunday the OM and I officially joined our new church along with fifteen or so other new members. We attended both morning services so people could get a look at us as we said our “I do’s” in response to the five vows in front of the church body (Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?…). I like this old hymn by Martin Luther we sang (even with piano, guitar and drums), but the boy was offended that someone had turned it into a “praise song” with a new tune.

Well, you can’t please all the people all the time. Anyway, we are Presbyterians now! Our Scottish ancestors were all non-conforming Baptists, but our Irish ancestors were Presbyterians (until one married my namesake Catherine Rand, an Episcopalian.) We are back in the fold.

Recently I was reading something written by James Muilenburg, who taught at Union Theological Seminary back when Frederick Buechner was a student there in the 1950s (and back when it was a seminary worth going to.) It seems rather apropos to today and the misdirection of so many to the self.

This is a good interview with the Very Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl about the last third of life. “Where it becomes deeply Christian is, you get to a point when you realize that engagement with the world is sort of a joke, in that the world really is passing away. You can’t tell someone who’s in the midst of life at 35 years old, or 45 years old, that that’s true, because at that time it doesn’t feel like it is. This is why I’m speaking empirically, not prescriptively. But then they’ll get to a stage when they’ll see that a tremendous amount of what felt important simply is passing away.” Amen, brother.

I also liked this article, especially because I, too, am reading Job. “The thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.” (Job 3:25) We all deal with this one. “If atomic bombs or Chaldeans or tornados or illness or accidents or injury or our worst-case scenario finds us, let it find us living — not curled up in a ball in the corner.”

Amen, brother. Grace aboundeth.

*Martin Luther, Psalm 130

5 Comments
January 6, 2022

Hallelujah the earth replies

by chuckofish

The Star of Bethlehem by Burne-Jones

Today is Epiphany which marks the final celebratory day of Christmas. So let’s all sing “We Three Kings,” which was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA. He wrote it for a Christmas pageant. It was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America. (Bonus fun fact: Hopkins gave the eulogy at the funeral of President Ulysses Grant in 1885.)

We all learned this hymn as four-year olds for our first Christmas pageant, which back in the day, was in school. We thought it was very cool–so dramatic and kind of spooky with the gathering doom–and all that sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying. I think they turned off the lights and we turned on our little candle-looking flashlights for a special effect. There was no misunderstanding the end of the story for the baby in the manger. Here’s the BYU men’s chorus singing it:

Meanwhile I have packed up all of my Christmas decorations and taken them to the basement. However, I keep finding strays…

This always happens. C’est la vie.

If you are in need of a spiritual pick-me-up, I recommend watching The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) which tells the story of the real-life Gladys Aylward (1902-70), a former English domestic who became a Christian missionary in China in the 1930s.

In 1940 she shepherded more than 100 children over the mountains to safety at the height of the Sino-Japanese war. Ingrid Bergman is 100% believable as the missionary and her relationship with Curt Jergens as the Chinese Colonel, although embellished, is very romantic. Robert Donat, in his final role, is terrific. What can I say, when I watched it last night, I cried through the whole movie. (Some time ago I read the book by Alan Burgess, The Small Woman, on which the film is based, and it is very good too.)

This weekend we will celebrate daughter #3’s birthday which is actually today–bonne anniversaire!–thus wrapping up all the family birthday’s between November 28 and today.

I pray for the day ahead and that I might bring Glory to God, in word, thought and deed. I thank God that his mercies are new to me every morning. I thank God that his grace is sufficient for all situations that I may encounter.

4 Comments
December 21, 2021

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

by chuckofish

Four days til Christmas! I am re-reading Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon, the Mitford Advent/Christmas book, to help put me in the mood. It’s the one where Father Tim is fixing up the old nativity set. Standard stuff but always comforting.

I also got out some of my mother’s old Christmas books, including Happy Christmas, published in 1968, which includes selections from a wide variety of books.

This one reminds us that nothing changes that much–at least peoples’ view that times are never as good as the good ol’ days…

Anne is right on target as usual. “In the face of all this searching desire on the part of God, you can keep backing up, like Israel always did, hoping he will get bored and hassle someone else. Or you can be like Mary. You can magnify him—that is, praise his holy Name. You can let your soul rejoice in him. You can revel in the contrast between his great mercy and strength, and your own foolish weakness.”

Here is part two of Paul Zahl’s TCM picks for December. I have to say, I really disagree with him about King of Kings (1961) which he still really likes. I loved it as a child (Jeffrey Hunter is dreamy) and the music is great, but it is unbiblical and really pretty bad.

And here’s the Charlie Brown Christmas Medley (with all the parts played by Josh Turner) to put you solidly in the mood for mistletoe and presents for pretty girls…

And this made me laugh.

7 Comments
December 14, 2021

Daily walking close to Thee

by chuckofish

Calvinist humor

Well, how are you doing nine days before Christmas? Organized and ready to go?

My bedroom is a disaster area, but I’m “getting there” and that’s the best I can do. But getting there is half the fun!

This is an interesting article by a birdwatcher. I know some birdwatchers and I doubt if they would agree with it. “Brother and sisters, God has placed birds in your life…for you to enjoy, to praise God for, to care for and to teach you to be confident and remember that God will look after you.” I like to watch birds because they remind me how obvious it is that God did indeed create the heavens and the earth and that on the fifth day He “let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky…every winged bird according to its kind.” I saw a Bald Eagle when we were driving in mid-MO a few weekends ago and that was very exciting, but seeing a Flicker in the backyard is just as exciting to me! Quel oiseau!

@gatewaygardener

But wait, birds aren’t real, right? Not surprisingly, the New York Times did a front page story on these idiots, but I can’t link to it because I don’t have a subscription. Tant pis.

On a higher plain, here’s a classic Christmas episode of the The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to put you in a yuletide frame of mind.

And here’s a great old hymn. I remember it from Cool Hand Luke (1967). Harry Dean Stanton sang it.

Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.

Hang in there! Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.  (Isaiah 52: 1)

4 Comments
October 11, 2021

Come ye weary, heavy laden

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? The weather here is still balmy and summery and I have no complaints. Daughter #1 came home on Friday and we had a lovely time sitting outside at Club Taco listening to the musical stylings of Dusty Rhoades. On Saturday we got the OM to drive us to Hillsboro where we hung out at our favorite winery. Lots of people had the same idea and the line for wine was very long and slow, but once we got our bottle and spread out our picnic, we relaxed and enjoyed the musical stylings of Brian Tobin, whose playlist was all our favorite 1970s tunes. Among the others enjoying the beautiful day and rolling hills of Jefferson County was a 60th birthday party, a gathering of overweight ‘witches’ in black pointy hats and suggestive outfits and a group of rainbow-attired Megan Rapinoe lookalikes. Everyone had fun.

Sunday morning we headed to church. Even the OM came along and so did the boy and the wee twins. It made me so happy to be all together, that I’m afraid I cried through all the hymns. C’est la vie.

We sang this hymn which I was unacquainted with and I really like it.

Words: Joseph Hart, 1759; chorus, Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835
Music: Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835

The wee twins and their parents came over Sunday night for one more October barbecue. We had more fun. They went on a hunt for my newest estate sale find yard ornament.

The wee laddie also asked me to go dig around a bit for cool stuff (i.e. bugs) and we found this guy, which he identified correctly as a praying mantis.

I was impressed. He pays attention.

Meanwhile I have been reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, which my DP has previously reported is excellent. (I concur.) I also remembered that a year ago when I advised my students at my flyover institute to read A Gentleman in Moscow, one of them emailed me to tell me he had gone to school with Amor’s father, right here in St. Louis at the same school my brother attended. He was, indeed, his best friend.

The world is more than we know.

4 Comments
September 30, 2021

“If it’s a horse, ride it, if it hurts, hide it/Dust yourself off and get back on again”*

by chuckofish

One of the highlights of our recent adventure in southeastern Colorado was attending the Michael Martin Murphey concert in the Koshare Kiva, which boasts the largest self-supporting log roof in the world.

President Dwight Eisenhower visited the Koshare Kiva back in the 1950s and acknowledged that the ceiling was truly amazing. It is a fascinating place, built by Boy Scouts interested in Indian lore. They raised the money to build the Kiva and also started collecting the art that is housed in the museum. Quite a testament to what young people can accomplish when they are inspired and supported in their efforts.

Anyway, it is a pretty cool place to attend a concert. I’m not sure how many people it holds, but it was full. We were in the third row, center and so had a clear view of Murphey.

The acoustics were excellent. We are not particular fans of MMM, but we have certainly been aware of his career through the years and daughter #1 and I remembered seeing him at the Grand Old Opry back in the late 1990s during his cowboy songs period. He was the honorary chairman of the Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial Symposium so we thought we should support the concert. I’m glad we did.

He is now 76 years old. A native Texan and descendant of Roger Williams (1603-1689), founder of the First Baptist Church in America, he is a student of history and a lover of all things western. It is in his blood he says, and I hear him. He has a good take on the pioneers, believing that they were not looking for money and power (as so many today believe) but a home and the freedom to live there. At the same time, he is a lifelong advocate for Native American rights. He talked at length during his concert about his various interests, and to be truthful, I could have done with less talking/lecturing. He rambled on for over 3 hours and how he stood there for that length of time, I do not know. (It was a long 3+ hours on my metal folding chair!) But he is an engaging old man now, who can still play like a virtuoso and his singing voice is strong and impressive.

So it was certainly worth staying up long after my bedtime to go to this concert, and I’ll admit that it’s a good idea to get out of one’s comfort zone every once in awhile.

It is supposed to rain all weekend, which is okay as I plan to stay home and get organized. And I’ll go to church–I haven’t been in two weeks while out of town!

Blessed Lord, who putteth down the mighty from their seat and exaltest those of low degree: Save us, we beseech thee, from pride and vainglory, from self-seeking and false ambition. Give us a humble and contrite spirit, that we may think less of ourselves, more of others, and most of all of thee, who art our mighty God and Saviour; to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit we ascribe all praise and glory, now and for evermore.

–Frank Colquhoun, evangelical priest and popular author in the Church of England

*Cowboy Logic by Michael Martin Murphey

4 Comments
September 16, 2021

“Speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world”*

by chuckofish

We have had some great weather this week. Sunny, warm and breezy, with low humidity–just great and much appreciated.

Our house has been in total disarray because we had some built-ins installed in our den this week. We had to take apart the audio/visual system so the guys could do it (2 days) and now we have to put it all back. The boy is coming over this morning before work to assist the OM. So. Many. Wires. Remember back in the day when you just plugged in the old television set? Now there is so much more to deal with. Surround sound. Oy.

This is a really good article contrasting two people who died this week (John Shelby Spong and comedian Norm MacDonald) and their different takes on Christianity.

I watched a movie recently (on Amazon Prime) which I can recommend: Mr. Church (2016) starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Bruce Beresford. It’s kind of a tear-jerker, but I enjoyed it.

The really amazing thing about this movie is the fact that, even though it’s about a black man bringing up a white girl, there is no racial conflict in the story. Never once does a white person sneer, look down on or insult Mr. Church. This probably explains why the film didn’t get good reviews. But Eddie Murphy plays it straight and the cast is excellent. (BTW, the trailer includes spoilers.)

And here’s another really good song from Mac Powell’s upcoming album:

Can’t wait til it drops on October 15.

One more thing: I could watch this amazing 3-year old 100 times:

Just a reminder:

The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.

–Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

*Billy Collins, “Litany”

4 Comments
September 7, 2021

With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

by chuckofish

After daughter #1 headed back to mid-MO yesterday, I sat down to do some “desk work.” I got nothing much accomplished and I came up with very little to blog about.

The OM and I went to Ted Drewes for some frozen custard and later we watched a really worthless movie. I mean, I like Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Idris Elba, but Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbes and Shaw (2019) went beyond ridiculous to just plain stupid.

Who does non-stop computer-generated violence appeal to anyway? Fourteen-year old boys? Good God Almighty, I need a mental cleansing after that whatever you call it.

So here are Josh and Carson covering one of my favorite songs from the olden days.

P.S. Sweet Baby James was released as the first single from the James Taylor’s second album but it did not chart. Typical.

3 Comments