Blog | Chuck's Favorite Things | Inspiration & Motivation from Music, Movies, Memories and More

Soulful Sunday – Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Posted on May 31, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 28, 2015

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Today I wanted to have a Soulful Sunday and feature a song
my daughter, Rachel, and I wrote and recorded –
Breathe on Me, Breath of God.

Rachel Mosher – This Love

The original song was written by Edwin Hatch in 1878 [see lyrics below]
and the original tune was written by Robert Jackson, pub.1888.

Rachel Mosher was recording a new CD and was wanting hymns and she asked me to help her. So, the arrangement you hear is a collaboration. Remember, this version only
uses part of the original lyrics.

If you would like a copy of Rachel’s CD please contact me for details. Write me at chuck@chucksfavoritethings.com.

Vocals – Rachel Whetstone Mosher
Guitar/keys – Chuck Whetstone
Drums – Craig Mullens
Bass/keys/production – Leo Flores

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Saturday Night at the Movies

Posted on May 30, 2015 by cwhetstoneJune 1, 2015

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Many of us Baby Boomers will refer to our love for television
because we were part of the generation that had [for the first
time] Gilligan’s Island, Green Acres, Bewitched, Route 66,
I Dream of Jeannie, The Munsters, The Addams Family, The
Monkees, Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, Star Trek,
Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel The Green Hornet and Batman.
Now you can see most of these on syndication on many channels.

I personally also loved the variety shows, such as, The Red Skelton
Hour, The Dean Martin Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Glen
Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Flip Wilson Show, Laugh In, The
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and so many more. They all had
great comedy, dancing and music.

NBC began showing recently released theatrical movies in the early
60s with their series called Saturday Night at the Movies. The other
two networks quickly followed suit and had their own “Night at
the Movies.”

Some of the movies I remember watching were Cheaper By
The Dozen, With A Song in My Heart, The Day the Earth
Stood Still, Beneath the 12 Mile Reef, The Seven Year Itch,
The Diary of Anne Frank, A Man Called Peter, and others.

For a more complete list of movies that NBC aired for
Saturday Night at the Movies check out Wikipedia.

I remember vividly watching Susan Hayward sing to Robert
Wagner in “With A Song in My Heart.” [1952, IMDB]
My sister was off someplace for FHA [Future Homemakers
of America] and Mom & I were watching this movie together.

I got real emotional thinking about my sister and hoping
she wasn’t late because of a car crash [Ms Hayward’s character was crippled due to a plane crash]. I cried a bit. Hey, I was only 8.

As I continue with more podcasts in the future I will be sharing my memories of
my favorite films and actors. like Cary Grant, William Powell, Myrna Loy,
Humphrey Bogart and so many more. It’s going to be fun.
Chuck Whetstone

On the Road Again

Posted on May 29, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 29, 2015

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Today is awesome for three reasons:

I’m on vacation
I’m with Julie, the love of my life
We are traveling on the road again!

We start off our day with a train ride from
Van Buren, AR to Winslow, AR. It’s a 3 hour
trip [includes a boxed lunch and memory
photo] and we’ll be in the Dome car so we
can see a lot of nice Arkansas scenery.

We’ll be riding the Arkansas & Missouri
Railroad. I’ll be adding photos as I get them.

Then we’ll conclude this day by driving to
Eureka Springs, AR for a stay at a nice
cabin.

We just wanted to get away from the rain, storms
and tornadoes that we have been subject to in
OKC. In fact, a tornado siren went off this morning
about 6:15 or so. Woke me right up! Just saying.

So, enjoy my podcast and hear what all happened today.
See you tomorrow.
Chuck Whetstone

His Eye is On the Sparrow

Posted on May 28, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 28, 2015

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Today’s song, His Eye is on the Sparrow, was written in 1905
by Civilla D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel. This song has a
great association with African-American singers and churches,
but was written by two white songwriters. This shows me that
songs – music – is a universal language. It should have no color
attached.

When I was a youngster I was privileged to hear Ethel Waters
sing this song. She is one of the most loved and famous
African-American actress/singer in American history. In fact,
she loved the song so much she used it as the title for her
autobiography.

The message of the song is taken from the Gospel of Matthew
found in the Bible:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do
they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
6:26

Also, from Matthew 10:29-31:

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one
of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
³¹Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

His Eye is on the Sparrow has been recorded by many notable artists,
both Christian and secular:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Ethel Waters
Mahalia Jackson
Dottie West
Marvin Gaye
Jennifer Holliday
Lauryn Hill
Andy Griffith
Shirley Caesar
Jessica Simpson
Gladys Knight
Darlene Love
Whitney Houston

The chorus reflects the joy of the song:

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; 2X
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; 2X

3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; 2X

Welcome To [Adventures in Traveling]

Posted on May 27, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 27, 2015

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Mickey Gilley Christmas Show

Sight and Sound Theater

Leon Russell wrote

I’ve been so many places
In my life and time
“A Song For You” by Leon Russell

I love to travel. I enjoy going to new places, especially
nice hotels, and seeing the sights of a city or landscape
that I’ve not been to before.

How about you? Do you have the travel bug?

Today I’m giving you a testimonial about our stay
in Branson, MO. And then I’ll follow it up and
tell you about another trip that’s coming up real
soon. I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of that one!

SIX Christmas Show

Band at Branson Landing

Tremendous Tuesday [It can be yours if you want]

Posted on May 26, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 26, 2015

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Tremendous Tuesday [It can be yours if you want]

Yesterday we honored those who had fallen in military service
with our Memorial Day events, parades, thoughts and prayers.
And many of us grilled out with family and friends.

At our house I cooked Angus burgers, hot dogs and smoked
brats on the grill. I barely finished before more rains started
falling. This has been the wettest May on record and it’s been
devastating in loss of property and lives here in Oklahoma.

My wife did the rest by cooking baked beans, a chocolate
cake, and cutting up all the veggies for the burgers. Oh, I also
made our famous easy recipe of Homemade Sherbet Ice Cream.

It’s simple – 6 cans of orange soda
1 can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
Put it in your ice cream maker and let it run.
You’ll have wonderful tasting sherbet ice cream in less
than an hour. You can also use of flavors of soda.

Our house was a buzz! Our kids came over and brought
our grandchildren and it was on! The 3 year old kept
asking if the party had started yet. She was so eager to
enjoy cake and ice cream.

We had 4 children under the age of 9 and 6 adults. It
wasn’t long ago that it was just Julie and I and our two
children trying to make ends meet. Now we are blessed
with a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, four wonderful
grandchildren and one more on the way. This Christmas
will be really wild with 11 of us in the living room.

Tremendous Tuesday [It can be yours if you want]

Back to Memorial Day.
Many of us had the day off – a long weekend consisting of
Saturday, Sunday and Monday. But today is Tuesday.

For some it will seem like a Monday but to others it
will be one day closer to Friday afternoon at 5:00.

One thing is for sure – yesterday is gone. It’s over with.
All you have is today, and today is Tuesday. Oh, and
the weekend is still a ways off, so don’t celebrate your
next time off too early. You need to live today

I want to leave you with a quick 2 step strategy on
“How to Have a Tremendous Tuesday.”

Be Thankful – The Bible says to give thanks always.
I’m pretty sure that is good advice. Now, you don’t
have to love the current situation, like flooding in
Texas, tornadoes in Shreveport, etc. But you can
be thankful that you have a new day, that you can
still work a job [if you are working], that you have
pretty good health, and many other things. Find
at least one thing to be thankful for this morning.
Be Thoughtful – Dr. John Maxwell says that “People
don’t care how much you know until they know
how much you care.” It doesn’t take a lot of effort
to smile at someone, to be courteous, or to give
them praise. I challenge you to show someone
you care for them in a thoughtful way. Perhaps
you could buy them a cup of coffee, or pay for
their lunch. Or maybe you could just leave a nice
note on their desk. Be thoughtful today.

Make today the best Tuesday you’ve ever had. I have two
friends having surgery today and I’m sure they would
rather be going to work, or anything besides having these
surgeries, but they must be done. Keep them in your
thoughts and prayers.

Oh, and go have your own Tremendous Tuesday!
You deserve it.

Chuck Whetstone

Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day 2015

Posted on May 25, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 26, 2015

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Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day 2015

CL Whetstone at the Memphis Belle

WWII – so many young men and women were called into action. These were kids just out of high school who had to grow up really fast.

My dad was trying to find his way when Uncle Sam called his number. He joined the Army/Air Force, completed training, got married, and was shipped to England.

While in England and not on a bombing mission the soldiers could relax and have time to themselves on base. One day my dad was riding a bicycle and had a terrible wreck that
injured his knee. The doctors in the hospital would not let
him fly with his crew because he had to let his knee heal.

My dad told me that the crew that took off without
that day never came back. These were his friends, his
buddies, who flew in a B-17 together. They never
made it home.

Dad was able to survive the war even though he was
shot down during a mission and became a POW in
Germany. He was reported MIA and my Mom was
even given a Purple Heart as they held a Memorial
Service for him at Barksdale AFB.

He was finally liberated and returned to his wife
and was able to tell me these stories. He made it
home, but so many never did.

Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day 2015

As we enjoy our American holiday called Memorial Day,
let’s take a moment to remember those who died in battles,
conflicts, wars, who gave their all while serving their
country. We salute you men and women!

Memorial Day 2015

Chuck’s Favorite Things [Inspiration & Motivation]

Posted on May 24, 2015 by cwhetstoneMay 26, 2015

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Chuck’s Favorite Things [Inspiration & Motivation]

I was sitting in a Bible Class at church one night and my mind was
racing with some of my favorite things:

Music…Movies…Sports…Travel…Bible stories…Dreams…and More!

I jotted down a bunch of ideas that night and decided I needed to do a
Podcast on these subjects and share with others some of my Favorite Things.

One of my first thoughts was “Chuck, who really cares what your favorite things are?”

So, in the face of self-doubt I have finally [months later after the original inspiration]
begun recording my podcast called “Chuck’s Favorite Things.”

Chuck’s Favorite Things [Inspiration & Motivation]

You might be new to podcasting and wondering what I’m talking about. A podcast is
really an online radio show that you can listen to on your computer or download to
your iPad, iPod or smartphone and take with you to the gym, your car, or any
place you want. You’ll be able to keep up with the latest broadcasts with the RSS feed
on this web page. And you can go to iTunes and subscribe to keep them coming.

So, what are Chuck’s Favorite Things?

Chuck enjoying playing Easter Service, 2015

Well, I have to talk about all things Music – because music has been such a part of my life since I was a youngster singing in church. I’ll be sharing in the daily podcasts how I got my love for music, my favorite songs, instruments, bands, solo artists, instrumentals, genres and more. I’ll even pull out my guitar or keyboard and sing you some of my favorite hymns, folk songs, and originals for you to enjoy.

And the main thing I want to convey to you in these daily podcasts and blogs is to inspire you with some of the things that have blessed my life and motivate you to examine and remember some of your favorite things.

I’ll be sharing with you some memories of music, ministry, my favorite movies [I love old black & white films from the 30s – 60s], interesting places I have traveled to, and much, much more. I promise to deliver you quality entertainment that will make you smile, maybe make you cry, help you feel patriotic, and
hopefully give you insight into the mind and life of a musician
who has been on a wonderful journey.

Now, I just need you to SUBSCRIBE [look for the button], SHARE with others, leave me
a 5 Star Rating on iTunes, and keep listening. It’s gonna be fun. Let’s do it together.

Looking forward to launching Chuck’s Favorite Things today. Thank you for joining me.
Chuck Whetstone