Landmark: Blog

Congratulations, Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions!

What a month it has been - two Chicago trips, a convention, and a graduation. I still feel my head spinning but after three days back to work, I’m finally settling into “normal,” whatever that is! Anyway, if my little iPod hadn’t gotten me through so many long flights, I would have lost my mind!
I’d been hauling around my Bose and headphones forever. My sister had been telling me for years that I needed something tiny for travel but I couldn’t justify replacing a perfectly good Bose, albeit a little clumsy. So Nan gave me an iPod back in March. I have been having so much fun going through all my old cds and pulling out favorite songs.

Some cds are worthy of complete importation and I do have my favorite albums. Of course the early Beatles qualify, as well as, Fleetwood Mac and ABBA Gold. So many others have one or two fabulous songs, destined for immortality, like Del Shannon‘s, Runaway, and the Cyrcle‘s, Red Rubber Ball.
Long ago, one of the first covers I [...]

Nothing is as uplifting, inspiring and powerful as great music. I believe music is the gift of all gifts. That would make the musician gifted among all the gifted. Some musicians are more gifted than others and among the most gifted is the legend.
Take me, for example. I love music. I enjoy all aspects of it: singing, listening, playing, writing, arranging, and accompanying. Music gives my life such purpose and delight. It has also provided immeasurable therapy during the most difficult and troublesome times. As grateful as I am for my musical talents, they dwarf in comparison to the truly legendary musician.
The musical legend has the distinct privilege of not only benefiting from his own music but of infinitely blessing the lives of countless others. His love of music may have propelled him through the ups and downs of his own life, but his melodies, rhythms, and meaningful lyrics also touch the hearts and minds of listeners, strengthening them in their own personal [...]

Yesterday on a TV entertainment program, I saw reported a scandal, which surprised and saddened me. Of course, you never know at first the truth of what you read or see, but I was shocked because the scandal involved someone at my own Church. I play the organ the second and third Sundays in Los Angeles, where there are some high profile individuals in my congregation. Our Sunday School lesson just happened to be on the story of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. Talk about a twisted, dysfunctional so-called family, full of chaos and scandal! I guess I just have to remind myself to read the Bible in order to see that craziness has been going on since the beginning of time!
The entire story of the house of Israel is packed with deviancy. There’s deceit, trickery, adultery, infidelity, incest, illegitimacy, prostitution, kidnapping, murder (someone, please stop me anytime now) and the list goes on and on! And these people weren’t heathens, pagans or non-believers. They were those [...]