POWERFUL GIFT OF MUSIC

I practiced with my band last Monday. Yup! Believe it or not, I have a band. We play popsy-folksy-Christian-classic rock. To be honest, we aren’t good. We’re tolerable. Our common love for music brought us together. Despite our lack of talent, we’re very ambitious. We take on difficult songs from popular performers like Chicago, The Eagles, Rondstat, James Taylor, Carole King — and after all our practicing, we get to perform at the local Art Gallery whenever they have a big event. No sane person would pay good money to hear us so this is our sneaky way of getting an audience. Suckers!

Music. What a wonderful, powerful creation of God that swells up colorful emotions that remind us what it is to be alive. It brings tears to the country music lovers; joy during Christmas and birthdays; anger to the neighbors of a teenage rock band. It gets feet dancing and hearts pounding. It even returns memories to the lonely prisoners of dementia. Like many of God’s gifts, it can be a blessing or a curse.

One beautiful example of how music unites people across cultures and political divides is a Russian band called “Leonid & Friends.” In the heart of the impoverished communist regime, Leonid grew up with American music of the 70s. His parents discouraged a career in music but Leonid never lost his passion and kept in touch with like-minded musicians. He transcribed the notes and the arrangement of his favorite band – Chicago. Just picture this: in a freezing and tiny room during the cold war, in the middle of winter, this young Russian is listening to a U.S. band from his hard-earned expensive record player. His thoughts aren’t about the enemy but of the enemy’s music.

In his retirement years he decides to form the band he had always dreamed of. Go to Youtube.com and search for Leonid & Friends to listen to his band perform Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire favorites. Many say his band sounds even better than the original. They’re amazing. Tens of millions of people all over the world think they’re amazing. Today they have concert tours all over the world. Tickets at $80 a pop isn’t cheap.

At the very end of most of their videos you see them rejoice knowing they accomplished something amazing. What an inspiration to the free world. It reminds us that dreams can come true no matter what age and that, even amidst a world tainted with political disparity, God’s gift can still unite us in a language we all understand.

TGIF people!

Raoul

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Tina of Whittier, CA

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

DeepFake Tom Cruise

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

I found these

The Traveling Boy

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

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Recorded Miracle

I pondered about what to share this Friday before Christmas. I wanted it to be special. So, how about a miracle? Do you want to literally hear one?

Duane Miller was a pastor in Texas. He lost his voice after a bout with a virus that attacked his vocal chords. It took a lot of effort for him to speak and his raspy voice caused him to lose his leadership position in church. They say he went to 63 medical specialists but the sad prognosis was that he would no longer be able to speak in a normal voice again.

One Sunday, (over 3 years after he lost his voice) the regular Sunday school teacher was unavailable and Miller was asked to step in. The church fitted him with a microphone to help pick up his squeaky voice. He was to teach on Psalm 103 (about God’s forgiveness of sin and miracles). And then it happened — in front of 200 people, a miracle was recorded for all to hear.

CLICK HERE to listen to Miller’s voice before and after the miracle. Listen to him in mid-speech wonder what was happening and the crowd applauding in the background.

Isn’t it wonderful that our loving God is still in the business of granting miracles? There is no formula. There is no guarantee. There is only God who gifts our needs. In all miracles, the glory goes to God alone.

It’s the season of joy and miracles. This Christmas, there’s no harm in praying for the gift you’ve always wanted. I’m sure God already knows what it is. I believe He will grant you what you need … not according to your standards but His. He knows you better than you know yourself. And that’s a very good thing.

Be safe, be healthy, and remember: A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. TGIF people!

Raoul

“My soul, praise the Lord
and never forget how kind he is!
He forgives all our sins
and heals all our sicknesses.
He saves us from the grave,
and he gives us love and compassion.”
— Psalm 103: 2 – 5

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA  for sharing this joke.

Video: Another Kind of YMCA

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Video: Tom Cruise Impersonator

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Video: Mixing Fun and Exercise

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, BC who sent this pun

Parting Shots

Thanks to Debbie of Moreno Valley, CA
Sensitive:

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.
Funny:

Thanks to Sang of North Dakota
Funny:

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA
Funny:

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

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My wife and I just got back from a week-long vacation in Vancouver, Washington.

When you say Vancouver, most people think of Canada so I thought it might be good to share bullet points about Portland/Vancouver (I use the names interchangeably):

• Although our destination was Washington state, our plane landed in Portland airport because Portland is the Northernmost tip of Oregon and Vancouver is the Southernmost tip of Washington state. They are divided by the Columbia river. Many locals commute over the bridge everyday.
• Portland is more expensive to live in than Vancouver. Both are undergoing major development. Residential homes and apartment buildings have increased in the last 7 years.
• Real estate is cheaper by at least 100K than California with Portland being one of the fastest growing city in America.
• Gas per gallon is twenty cents cheaper than California.
• This is timber country. Green foliage all around even during the heat of summer. Christmas trees are grown here. Trains, barges and trucks are the most common mode of delivering the raw timber.
• They say it rains a lot.
• Polite and friendly people. Did not hear a single car horn. Seems to be less stressful.
• 4 seasons – with winter only lasting a week at the most — then all the snow disappears leaving just the cold.
• Lots of people move here from California. A melting pot of cultures. Our Uber and Lyft drivers were from California, Ethiopia and Texas. A growing Asian population.
• Lots of fresh lakes and rivers filled with Salmon, trout, and other fresh water fishes. Lots of private boats and yachts.
• No sales tax in Portland. I repeat : NO SALES TAX!
• Breweries are  sprouting all over in Portland. It’s the craft beer center of America.
• Tech companies are a major industry. Of course 300 miles north is the headquarters of Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks and Zillow.
• It is a “sprawling” community so you need a car to move around. Not a lot of public transportation.
• Very “progressive” politically
• It has better climate and overall cost of living than California. Wouldn’t mind moving there.
• Go to Mount Ranier where the snow never melts — even during the hottest days of the year. It’s about a 2 hour drive north. Enjoy waterfalls, thousand year old sequoias, clear rivers and an assortment of plants and trees.
• Visit the Japanese garden and the Rose Garden then promenade along 23rd Street for quaint shops.
• The highlight of our trip was nature tripping. God has indeed blessed this country with His glory.

“Portland is where young people go to retire.” 
— (One of the more famous quotes of Portland) Fred Armisen

TGIF people!

Talking Pet

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Here’s a cute joke. Sharing this for the sake of the new subscribers.

Tom Cruise Forces James Corden to Skydive
Sent by Charlie of New Jersey

A fun video of Tom Cruise, the “stunt actor” and James Corden, the overweight Late Night Talk Show host. It’s pretty long but entertaining.

WATCH VIDEO

Fergie’s Bad Lip Reading of  “Nobody Wants My Bread”
Sent by Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

This has been around but if you haven’t seen this, you’re bound to crack up. Well done. It’s like she is really singing this.

WATCH VIDEO

Global Super Tanker
Sent by Don of Kelowna. B.C.

California and neighboring coastal states are currently beset with disastrous forest fires. These flying fire trucks are our best line of defense.

Despite all these, I still think someone can come up with a cheaper, more effective solution. If you figure this out, you’ll be a millionaire for sure.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this photo

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