It Might Get Loud coming to iTunes, DVD

It Might Get Loud coming to iTunes, DVD

A movie that should not be missed by any music or movie fan. The music is fantastic and the documentary is expertly filmed.

Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland truly is a place our family really enjoys and tries to sneak a trip to whenever we can. We have our favorite rides and places to eat like most people. However, what I've found about our trips there is that the trip has become an excercise in family problem solving. Now, I mean that is a positive way. Group decisions about the rides, attractions and food choices provide fantastic insight into each our kids personalities. Sue and I also delight in the way each child takes in the park and sees Disneyland so differently. All three of our children notice new things each time and at times show both Sue and myself new aspects of the park. Peace.



Above: Sue and the Kids with Gloria:
Walt Disney/Mickey Statue Plaza. Oct. 2009

Below:
Sue and the kids with Halloween Goofy: Main Street Entrance
Disneyland, CA. October 2009

A Rare View

Picture by Edge of U2 Check out 360FromTheEdge for more from the true Guitar Hero.

The Edge has become a Twitter junkie and gives us a rare picture, although maybe unintentionally, of Bono without his shades. Peace

Legacy

In my bio for this blog I wrote that I am a Christian, father-husband, teacher, coach and friend. In each of those roles of life I have often wondered about what "Legacy" I'm leaving. Of course I understand by the mere fact of being a father that alone is a legacy. The inner search of what mark I've left on the greater circle of people I've been given the opportunity to influence, for positive or negative, is where my question truly evolves. Now, the picture I've chosen for this piece may give you a hint of the direction I'm leaning. Over the past few months my passion for U2 has exploded not only this blog but in my personal life. I've made my trek to Dublin to see the band play three hometown gigs and collected more memorabilia than my wife can handle. But, what is happening now is the arguably the best part of my U2 life. Former students, soccer players and long time friends (some new as well) are preparing for U2 shows on the West Coast in October. ('09) Plans include: road trips, stadium camp outs for up close viewing of shows, plane flights and side trips. (all of this will take place over five glorious days). This group of "formers" have converted into ongoing fans of group. Many have followed the band on previous tours and we've met, shared the experiences and discussed performances, etc. With this tour, I'll be with these friends in the stadiums doing what I've always done at U2 shows: go nuts!! It is a visceral reaction for me from the opening to closing notes. I completely understand that more of my past or even current circles of contact have dismissed my love of U2 but it is amazing and wonderful to see that so many have at least come to see what it's all about. Significantly, a great deal of those once curious of the hype I made of the gigs and music, have stayed the course and make a U2 tour, albums and appearances part of yearly planning. Consequently, what does it mean? The band have done all the heavy listing and I've only given free advertising. Maybe I have another career in commercials, nah-I think I found what I was looking for-Peace.

U2: Local Act, Global Horizons (Part II) by Justin Kavanagh - The Globalist

The second part of a U2 retrospective of the career both on and off stage. THe article comes from an online magazine called "The Globalist".  Peace.

Click the link: U2: Local Act, Global Horizons (Part II) by Justin Kavanagh - The Globalist

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U2: Local Act, Global Horizons (Part 1)

U2: Local Act, Global Horizons (Part 1)

As the boys prepare to "play Rock n Roll" and embark on their North American leg of their massive 360˚ Tour, I've found this excellent article detailing the bands past and present. When Part II is published I'll share that as well. Click the Title of the article above the picture of U2's stage set up. Peace.

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The Speech

Controversy is part and parcel of politics. The speech that President Obama will give tomorrow has, of course, raised controversy. I'm asking, "Why?" The President hasn't given the speech yet. As of about 1:00 PM PST you could read the speech to be given tomorrow. Has anyone taken the time to read the speech posted today? I ask anyone that can find a slant of any kind in this speech to come forward. The speech puts the responsibility of education square on the shoulders of each student and their family. He will encourage students to work hard and not quit when things don't go exactly as planned, to overcome hardship and press on. Why in the world would anyone not want these positive messages given to young people today? All this challenge to words not spoken yet and only released a few hours ago is unbelievable to me. Why not listen with respect to the leader of our country, whether you voted for him or not-debate later. Both sides of the aisle want to vilify the other that we've almost become ungovernable. The problems our country faces and the world as a whole face will not be solved with the level of distrust we share of others that do not share our point of view, culture, or religion. These problems are difficult ones and will take years to overcome. I'm not saying we all holds hands and start singing around a campfire. However, I am saying that the greed for power from both sides of the majority parties in the US has our country in a strangle hold that has paralyzed our society from taking care of people from all walks of life.  I will only add to go find the speech, read it or listen, please and then tell me there is not messages contained in it that any parent wouldn't tell the children. Go on . . . Peace.

North America to be taken 360 Degrees

Image from U2.com

With just a week to go until U2 land in America for their 360 Degrees Tour, I wanted to share an article I wrote for a magazine my church publishes for the community.

Joyous Noise

Many prayers contain the phrase, “May we have eyes to see and ears to hear”, as we attempt to see and hear God in our everyday life.  The same application comes on the unpacking a U2 album as you trek through it that  maybe not looking for God’s words but listening to the band’s lyrics in

their (U2) attempt to hear God’s words.  

U2’s 12^th studio album, No Line on the Horizon, provides both secular and religious pictures to our world.  As many in society face a horizon-less journey, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton provide passages to the Spirit within their own questions and shortcomings.

The album’s second track, “Magnificent”, has Bono singing:

I was born to sing for you 
I didn't have a choice
 But to lift you up
 And sing whatever song you wanted me to 
I give you back my voice 
From the womb my first cry
 It was a joyful noise...
Justified until we die
 You and I will magnify 
Magnificent.

The band’s images of faith continue has Bono portrays a man struggling with his circumstance or even his own on “Moment of Surrender”:

My body's now a begging bowl
 That's begging to get back
 Begging to get back to my heart
 To the rhythm of my soul 
To the rhythm of my unconsciousness 
To the rhythm that yearns
 To be released from control.

Losing control and letting God, His Spirit, take control of our lives is a quest many people share, even members of the biggest band in the world.

On the track “Unknown Caller” we find; "3:33 when the numbers fell off the clock face."  If you go back and look at the cover art for the album All That You Can't Leave Behind and one can find a reference to Jeremiah 33:3,  which reads,  "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." 1. Bono told Rolling Stone, (click link to see article from atu2.com archives) "It's known as 'God's telephone number’” Bono adds referring to the Jeremiah verse.

Bono continues his quest with his lyrics, "God is love, and love is evolution's very best day," on "Stand Up Comedy."  (On which he also tells us “ . . . To be careful of small men with big ideas”

"I've found grace inside a sound, I found grace, it's all that I found," he sings on "Breathe." 

Followed by an emotional reference to a dying soldier’s final moments in Afghanistan on, “White as Snow” to the tune of “O Come O Come, Emmanuel”:

Once I knew there was a love divine
 Then came a time I thought it knew me not
 Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not 
Only the lamb as white as snow.

U2 are a Rock Band. But even with a rock band one can ask for eyes to see and ears to hear their joyous noise as they walk the same path in finding God.  

1.    1. Rolling Stone Magazine, Jan. 18, 2001 by Chris Heath and idea used here from atu2.com web site.