Remembering The Past

I was doing a little snooping about a favorite television series of mine last weekend. Shocker. Anyways, in my detailed searching I became increasingly curious if a certain exterior set that was used in the series still existed. After some top notch private investigating, picture comparing, and video analyzing, I found the very street! Thanks to modern technology, I was able to use Google maps street view. That thing is awesome by the way. It's like being there and walking on the streets where the cars drive because you can't actually do that. Weird. But cool. Anywho... I clicked the ole street view and instantly felt my heart sink just a wee bit. The building was gone. Vamos! Goodbye! Not there! Without a trace. Not even a brick left behind to show that it was there. Well, there was the fire hydrant and telephone pole that helped me identify the right location. Needless to say I was shocked. I mean, its stupid really. It's just a building from a show. But it was real to me. And in its place is a parking lot. A parking lot of all things! Tell me how that's better for the economy, eh? Okay, yeah, I'm grasping at straws now. But I really didn't expect it to be gone. Well, it's been a couple decades and all. But don't people have any respect for sentimentality these days? I guess not.

I got over it of course. Especially once I solidified the difference between fiction and reality in my mind. Granted half of my brain space is reserved for the fictional world as a writer. I have no shame about it either. Haha. But really... After the fact, it got me to thinking... (shocker)

Time passes so quickly these days while ignorance flourishes. My generation was in danger of losing a grasp on the past. But dear Lord I fear for the generation coming after me! Gives me shivers just to think how ignorant of the past they will be if we don't step up and make sure they know about the past. Without a television show, no one would know that a building used to sit on a certain lot on that certain street to serve as a source of entertainment for tons of folks a couple decades ago. I bet people drive past that parking lot everyday and never know about what was produced there. Not that it's necessarily important for them or anyone to know. (Although I contest that statement heartily) But just the fact that one building played an important role in one show and now is gone for forever, never to be rebuilt there. It brings to mind how much actual important history took place on your street in 1903. What cabin sat just a block away from your house and burned to the ground in 1873 when a prairie fire swept over the 200 acres of rich farmland your lavish subdivision now sits on? Who stood underneath that oak tree you chopped down last week in your back yard and proposed to their sweetheart just to end up heartbroken when the draft came up during WWII? Did that patch of land you planted your mailbox in two days ago once play host to an Apache spear as it marked its territory among new settlers of the west two centuries ago? Did the property that freeway you traveled this morning once shelter a wagon train as it headed west?

In the name of progress, what used to be is no longer. Yet with a little work and use of our God-given intellect, perhaps we can remember the places and what happened at those places in our country so many years ago and give it the reverence and remembering it deserves.

Television Revivals

If you get to know me on any level, you'll find out very quickly how passionate I am about wholesome television series from past decades. A lot of my favorites came from the 90s and I could watch them over and over and over. And as a dedicated fan, a lot of times it is a given that if ever there was an announcement to bring the show back I would probably be a very happy camper...almost. Not quite. Okay, maybe a little happy. But I would not be ecstatic. Let me explain.

As many of you have seen and heard, Netflix recently announced the comeback of the 80s/90s hit sitcom Full House. I've never seen the show in full, but from what I have seen, it was a decent family drama containing little to no language or explicit visual content. While a few world views here or there could be an issue, overall it seemed like a decent product of 90s television that uplifted family values. Yet as the reunion series Fuller House dawned on television on-demand worldwide yesterday, I began seeing comments here and there from fans expressing their disappointment that the creators had perverted the series into something it shouldn't be. From some language, to sexual innuendo, very immodest dress, and other things I heard mentioned, it was confirmed that my biggest concern still exists.

I would love for Dr. Quinn, Road to Avonlea, and Walker Texas Ranger to come back. I would probably be ecstatic if they announced these shows were making a comeback. But at the same time, I have this slight fear that it will be modernized if they do. That it will loose the nostalgia in the process of revival. I would rather keep it as is and enjoy what I have of it incessantly instead of chancing that the creators will morph it into something "worthy of the modern audience." When in reality, the modern audience could use more of what we had back then and not the filth the secular world of today says is necessary. And that's my two cents for today.

Treasure

While everyone's raving about the latest in Christian music and worship trends and enjoying their modern 2015 dubstep sounds (see last post for deepened opinions about this), I'm over here in my little corner of the world with my Spotify, hitting repeat on such 80s and 90s hits--at least they're hits in my book--from artists like Amy Grant, Russ Taff, Cindy Morgan, Pam Thum, David Meece, Kim Boyce, Kathy Troccoli, Margaret Becker, okay I'll stop now. But needless to say, my musical repertoire is full of goodness from the last century. And I'm not ashamed of it whatsoever!

It's one of my favorite parts about my summer in 2015, my discovery of these gems from yesteryear. It all began with Amy Grant. Of course I've always heard and enjoyed her music. But I had not listened to all her music. About a hundred songs later, I was hooked. And gladly! And thus began my journey. Digging into the past. Unearthing hidden treasures. Soaking in the goodness of the past. And throughout my digging, unearthing, and soaking, I discovered my new favorite artist who is absolutely wonderful the best most talented Christian singer I've ever heard. Her music is quite rare to find. But I got ahold of three of her 80s and 90s CDs and love every chance I get to hear her music. Who am I talking about? Connie Scott. If you haven't heard her music, your missing out. Seriously. So to remedy that, here are a couple of my favorite songs of hers for you take a listen.

Filled with God's presence and an artistry that has seemed to fade with time, Connie Scott's music is one of a kind. From the soft notes of reflection to the invigorating 80s guitar solos, her songs paint a picture and write magnificent notes that tell of life, love, salvation, and healing to a depth that takes you away and to another place. I will treasure her music always. Because her music is truly a treasure in this day and time. Thank you, Connie Scott, for lending your talents to Christian music. I pray your music will continue to bless others for many years to come! For your music has truly been a blessing to me.

In my efforts to see that Connie Scott's music won't be soon forgotten, I started up a fan page on Facebook to support her and her wonderful music. If you'd like to view the page and give it a LIKE, you can visit it at www.facebook.com/conniescottfans