six of the remaining twelve groups perform tonight and they lead off with Somewhere Only We Know, which i’ve always found to be a haunting and enchanting melody… they did a solid job as they pretty much always do as a giant group… tonight they’ll sing two songs each – one current radio hit and one from the 60s… always fun… i might not type as much because i’m eating popcorn and my fingers are greasy…

now playing: Motownphilly by Boys II Men

Vocal Point kicks it all off with Never Say Never without their bass vocalist, sadly… they went with the green jackets and ties this week and they’re doing a great job… i’m honestly not familiar with the original version of this tune, but this version sounds pretty good… they’re a very cohesive group… Ben says that he enjoyed it, it was fun, and they sang the hell out of it, which is a lot to unpack, knowing they’re Mormons… Sara says they’re like wholesome Thundercats and despite some rough spots, it was really good… Shawn makes fun of them for singing Bieber, but tells them it was a really good performance…

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And this week we meet the rest of the contestants eight more groups square off to boot off the bottom two and leave us with twelve… before the cutthroat ruthlessness begins though, they’re all joining together as one to bring us a fresh new version of Sing by My Chemical Romance… Nick Lachey introduces the judges and they justify why they boot off who they boot off… and with all these “offs” in the opening paragraph… i’ll end it with… off we go…

now playing: Motownphilly by Boys II Men

the Dartmouth Aires lead off with a Stevie Wonder/Red Hot Chili Peppers jam, Higher Ground… i wonder if you have to special order shirts that bright… i like the background vocals a lot, but the lead singer shouts more than sings and it just made my dog start singing along in his sleep… Shawn says this is what he’s talking about… he was tapping along the whole time… Sara says they were spot on and they had her from hello… Ben says it was nice work, but the background was a little too loud, making Michael (the lead) work too hard to be heard (a.k.a. shout)… he liked it though…

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Thirty five years ago, The Muppet Show debuted and kicked things off with a sketch I’m sure made little sense to most viewers. And for years, I’ve just assumed it was a catchy tune with some silly puppets that was designed purely for light-hearted entertainment value. But, the other day (perhaps due to having a high fever or being overtired) a light came on and I realized this silly little video is a perfect illustration of the struggles associated with innovation.

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Well, today is the beginning of the new television season and, in the past, i’ve tried to talk about the new and returning shows… this year i’m going to do things a little differently and launch my latest “live blog commentary” for the show, The Sing Off… similar to what i’ve done in the past with American Idol and maybe even replacing my Idol commentary because, frankly, i like this show better… Anyway, they’ve kicked it off with Pink’s Less Than Perfect and it was absolutely phenomenal… i’m excited for this season…

now playing: Motownphilly by Boys II Men
The Yellow Jackets are singing Wavin’ Flag from the World Cup, or Copa as it’s often called… they really are wearing yellow jackets… i think it’s kind of an obscure song for this type of competition, but it is pretty catchy and the arrangement is pretty solid… the chorus is a little loud and crowded vocally, but they did a great job on the solos and getting the crowd into it… Shawn says it was ridiculous and powerful… Ben liked the group effort and the chorus, but the tempo fluctuated a little, and Sara sees a special and unique brotherhood, she enjoyed their spirit, but wanted a counterpoint to the arrangement… maybe… she’s new and unsure…

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To Be Perfectly Honest – Phil Callaway

I didn’t expect to like this book – especially when I realized that Phil Callaway is a “Christian comedian.” It’s not that I dislike Christian comedians, I actually respect the difficulty they must face in treading that fine line between funny and family friendly. There’s a lot of pressure to be profane and a wealth of people who only respond to risque subject matter or the occasional curse word. I don’t envy that walk and, in fact, I’m pretty impressed at the stubbornness and perseverance. The truth is that it’s rare to find a comedian whose humor translates well to the written word.

With that in mind, I expected pages filled with bad puns and a rather disengaging gimmicky storyline. Shockingly enough the book has its fair share of puns, but between random pot-shot lines here and there, the real story unveiled a gripping reality that all the fruits of the spirit are intertwined. In fact, there are parts of this book that aren’t funny at all – and they’re not trying to be. This book about honesty reveals a man coming to grips with love, death, and forgiveness.

I’m not sure I’d like a Phil Callaway stand-up show, but I do have a healthy respect for the man revealed in the pages of this book, To Be Perfectly Honest.

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J.R.R. Tolkien – Mark Horne

Confession time. I’ve never read The Lord of the Rings trilogy all the way through. I know, I know. It’s absolutely crazy. Everybody and their mother have read those books. (Well, I’m not sure if my mother has read them, either.) I have read The Hobbit and at least some of the first book of the trilogy. (And I have watched the movies). I have fond memories of reading The Fellowship of the Ring while holding my son for his evening nap. And I’ve always meant to go back and finish the books, but never have.

Along those same lines, I didn’t know much about J.R.R. Tolkien before reading this biography. I knew of his relationship with C.S. Lewis (whom I have read a lot) and I knew the four key books of his career. That was about it. Having read this, I have a greater appreciation for the struggles he faced in mustering the confidence needed to write and get published. And gaining a clearer understanding of the vision that drove him to write is uniquely inspiring as well.

I did feel like the book was somewhat thin on details and what was presented was often repeated. Be that as it may, I’m glad that I read it and I suppose I have a renewed interest in revisiting those books. . . after I get through the other stack of books waiting to be read.

peace… love… bdg…

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George Washington Carver – John Perry

When I was much younger, I had a biography of George Washington Carver and, for some reason, I was curiously drawn to it. I must have read it at least a dozen times, whether because I felt inspired by it, felt a strange kinship with the Carver of the pages, or simply because I had been told it was my great-grandfather’s book. I even remember there being a few genaric tickets “hidden” in the back pages for which I concocted a complicated story explaining how they got there. Unfortunately, I don’t know where that book is anymore, but I was quite excited to come across a new biography on this symbol of innovation.

This time around, I’m certain it’s something of a kinship that draws me to Dr. Carver’s life story. While I certainly didn’t have nearly as difficult circumstances from which to rise above, we all experience difficult times. Carver’s attitude and persistence, which I can only hope to attain, is a clear indication that he had eternity written on his heart throughout his life, providing a healthy perspective on anything life had to offer – including the Great Depression.

But what really drew me into this biography, was the insight into Dr. Carver’s frustration over daily tasks, mismanagement, and the struggle to maintain focus despite being charged to split his efforts across several different tasks. Despite this frustration, Dr. Carver managed to keep his research moving forward, maintain his integrity, and find time amidst the distractions to fulfill his duties (for the most part). He did have his shortcomings and it really wasn’t until later – when the administrative pressure was off – that he truly blossomed and realized the potential of his research, but in that frustrating period of time – what I’ve called in my life “the time for marking time” – he developed character, routine, and laid the groundwork for what was to come. That’s a lesson I hope really settled in for me.

peace… love… bdg…

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today i wore my David Crowder Band shirt… the one with the squirrel i couldn’t resist at a concert long ago… seems like long ago… this shirt prompted someone to ask me… “Is that a squirrel?”… i managed to not offer a kindergarten diploma for superior animal recognition skills long enough for her to continue… “we love David Crowder Band and we call my daughter ‘squirrel’ so we have to buy that shirt”…

i was glad i held my tongue… my son did not… “my dad has met David Crowder”… my son was proud and she looked with disbelief… i confirmed that i had indeed met David Crowder and she quickly replied “well, i’m good friends with all the guys from Hawk Nelson”… not sure what her point was, i simply agreed that the Hawk Nelson guys are pretty nice, too…

peace… love… bdg…

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Confession time. I know, or knew, very little about the most highly decorated soldier in American history. I knew of him – mostly from caricatures based on him – and assumed he was a brilliant military mind wrapped in a quirkiness that made him lovable and brave. As it turns out, he was just that. . . and so much more.

This man of conviction largely unknown to me was the American rockstar of the two generations ahead of me. MacArthur: America’s General reveals the allure, the mystique, and the majesty of the man who dominated headlines, captivated audiences wherever he went, and led the most powerful nation in war during his 52-year military career.

It’s a fascinating story – moreso that it’s true – and incredible to witness the importance of generational legacy that gets passed down from father to son. Gen. Douglas MacArthur was clearly a bi-product of his grandfather and father and the lessons he learned from them – both directly and indirectly – guided him through his own journey of becoming the man he was called to be.

This book is part of “The Generals” series from Thomas Nelson and, though I’ve only read two thus far, I’m quite enthusiastically looking forward to reading more from the series.

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I’m finding more and more that History class let me down. Who would’ve thought amidst all those dates and “Wah-Wah” sounds from behind the teacher’s desk were stories full of richness, intrigue, and applicable lessons for everyday life?

The more I read (or watch – thank you History Channel), the more amazed (and perturbed) at what wasn’t taught. As such, I jumped at the opportunity to read about the Father of our country – especially framed as a study on his leadership qualities. Washington: A Legacy of Leadership discusses the how Washington developed as a leader – warts and all. It’s a well-written book that sheds light on the nation’s reluctant, but willing founder.

Sprinkled throughout the stories of America’s history, we the readers see the lessons Washington learned first hand from his failures and successes. As a military leader, a political figure, an ambitious landowner, and loyal citizen,Washington put others first in humility, remained faithful to the cause, honored “Providence” in all his actions, and reaped the fruits of persistance, innovation, and determination. Recognizing the significance of his roles in life, Washington pursued them with caution, ever mindful of the implications his every action might have on the future of the country he loved before its birth.

This book reveals Washington, a flawed individual struggling to fulfill his purpose in life and learning that it’s the in the struggle that find our life. I enjoyed if from several perspectives – historical, inspirational, and biographical.

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