Billy Finch’s Weblog

I remember reading Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking” probably 25 years ago, I wasn’t saved at that time and going through some real valley experiences. That book helped me turn a lot of things around, and as I later found out “Reverend” Peale based his writings on scripture. I’ve had discussions with folks through the years about his writings being “self help”, etc… but really I thought it was a clever way to introduce biblical concepts to a world that doesn’t believe. I can honestly say it was one of many things that God used to prepare my heart to accept His Son Jesus Christ as my Savior.

 King Solomon was dead on with this observation: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” ~Ecc 1:9

 ”Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale

Billy

“Obstacles are necessary for success… as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better… or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.” ~ Og Mandino

 

“Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.”
~ Harriet Braiker

 

Billy

I’m in a little early today, but only because I have chores to do later.

This weekend was alot of fun, we went down to my twin niece and nephew’s birthday party at Bahia Honda State Park yesterday for a day of fun and snorkeling. I love the water and seem to be most at peace when I’ve got fins, mask, and snorkel on and swimmin’ wif da’ fishes.

This morning at the Life Pointe Church located at the Flagship Cinemas movie theater on Campbell Drive, behind the Chili’s, next to the Florida Turnpike, across from the new Homestead Pavillion mall, down the street from the exciting new Baptist health South Florida / Homestead Hospital, I had the honor of playing guitar today. My wife had to work so my daughter  came in early with me at about 7:30 am. Seemed like I owned all the technical difficulties today, but Zech was right on them and by the 2nd service had it straightened out. Mostly because I swithed from my 1978 Fender Stratocaster to the acoustic. One of my top favorite bass players Philly Cheese Steak Johnson was there boom-shackalackin’ like a mad man on the 6 string bass. First Service his Royal Ritziness was keeping the beats on the drums and did an excelent job, Reina and gang sounded awsome, meanwhile Jesse danced. Second service Michael Betancourt held down the beats for your listening and viewing pleasure, and Alex joined in to add a few notes on the guitar. 

We had a a change in the line up for the songs but we played: Better Days, Fiend Friend of God, Enough, and God of Wonders.

Travis continued his “Got Funk” message series and spoke about “Anxiety”. One of the many take aways for me was “JDWYSYWD” instead of “WWJD”. Just do what you said you would do, we already know what Jesus would do. Pretty clever but will it fit on an armband… Hmmm I can see a new T-shirt for sale in the lobby soon.  

We had Chinese food for lunch. My fortune said “you have an unsusual equipment for success, use it properly.” No really that’s what it said… boy I can hardly wait to tell my wife.

Ol’ Billy Barue

Every other week or so I have the distinct honor of getting to play bass with the Life Pointe Church praise band located at the Flagship Cinemas movie theater on Campbell Drive, behind the Chili’s, next to the Florida Turnpike, across from the new Homestead Pavillion mall, down the street from the exciting new Baptist health South Florida / Homestead Hospital (phhew). Anyway… I switch of between that and guitar and the problem with the bass is that most folks really don’t pay attention to what the bass player is doing because it’s not an “out in front” instrument like a guitar, keyboard, or sax, but the importanace of a really good bass player can make or break the sound of a band. It’s like the bridge between the percussion and the rest of the band.  

So I want to take time to honor some of those who I feel are the best and most influential. 

My Top 5 Favorite Bass Players:

5. The Citizen Cane himself Phillip Johnson, he’s taken a little time to show me some stuff but has a lot more to teach me.

4. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys

3. Mike Mills of R.E.M.

2. Terry Brown of The Messengers

1. The OX- John Entwistle of The Who

Billy

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!” ~ Herm Albright

At first reading that bit of wisdom I laughed out loud because it was so glib and so true, but it’s actually kind of biblical (most truly wise things are). I think I may have had the same reaction when I first read this. 

—

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” ~ Proverbs 25-21-22

Billy

The picture in the banner header above is of my folks house in Richmond Virginia and I put it there initially just to make the point of the blog when we came back from vacation. As I look at it though many thoughts come to my mind and I want to add those to the “takeaways” from our vacation.

-It’s the house my sister and I grew up in.

-We have the unique luxury of still being able to visit my Mom and Stepdad and stay in it.

-The double window near the end is where my bedroom was. 

-When we visit my daughter stays in that room. She loves it. It’s safe, and quiet. I used to feel that way about it too. We take things safe and quiet for granted.

-I ALWAYS forget till I visit how creaky the floors in the hallway are. They are real old fashioned hardwood, floors like those would cost a mint to put down these days. But the creaky floors are as individual as a fingerprint to me, if I hear that sound I’ll know it immediately.

-Where the big bay window is in the front is the living room. When we were kids we weren’t allowed in the living room much, it was for entertaining and had the “good furniture” in it. No there were not plastic slip covers on it. When we visit now we can do whatever we want in there, in fact my mom says “hey take some of this old furniture back to Florida with you”.

-Looking at that picture reminds me of a place I like to be. Still.

-Looking at it reminds me that sometime soon it will be up for sale because it’s getting to be too much house and yard for them to keep up with.

-They have almost an acre of land on a corner in an established upscale neighborhood. When I was a kid we never thought of ourselves as established or upscale.

There’s a ton of other thoughts that picture reminds me of and I really like it. Think I’ll keep it up there a while and share more stuff later.

Billy

“Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
~ John W. Gardner

Recently a talk show host Michael Savage made some pretty disparaging comments regarding children diagnosed with Autism, and some have asked how I feel about that. At first when reading the comments I was pretty upset at the narrow mindedness, but in fairness I sought to find out the context in which they were made and have tried to figure what brought on the comments.

I still don’t know…

What I do know is that when a struggling child (who could eventually become a dysfunctional adult) has a disorder that you can’t readily see or define with empirical evidence, like say blood tests or an MRI, we tend to think it’s a put on, or some kind plea for special attention. Unless a person displays the symptoms right away when you look at them we are quick to think there is nothing wrong and just chalk it up to bad parenting.

But unless you’ve had the experience of looking a child in the eyes and seeing the indefinable darkness that lies behind them, or if you’ve ever looked at your kid and thought “what’s really going on in your mind?”, you can never understand what an isolated place that is, for both of you. Look, it’s true that there are a lot of kids that are what Savage described “It’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.” , we see them all the time. And it’s just wrong for a parent to blame bratty bad behavior on their kid being “autistic”. Equally sad is when there is a kid that goes un-helped because the parent either believes or has been lead to believe their kid is Ok and there’s nothing wrong. Generally though a parent intuitively knows when something isn’t right, and what a shame if they couldn’t afford or is often the case just didn’t know that help is available.

The “autism” and “autism spectrum” issue is still undergoing a time of transition and being further defined. It has changed much in just a few short years as research and study have ramped up. I will charitably give Michael Savage the benefit that he is simply and woefully ill informed, but what I really find scary is that someone with such an influential voice can do such an amazing amount of harm and set the cause back.

Billy

“Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.” ~ Tom Blandi

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Va.

Big Bad Wolf – old and rickety but still pretty cool, first roller coaster in the U.S to hang from the top

Loch Ness Monster – ol’ Nessy, still a great ride, winds through the woods and over the water

Appolo’s Chariot – insane roller coaster, could be used in place of the “Vomit Comet” to train astronauts in zero gravity

The Griffon - more insanity, 205 foot vertical 90 degree drop where the buggy hangs suspended 5 seconds before dropping, truly exhilerating. Also my daughters fave!

Alpengeist – the mother of all rollercoasters, you twist, you turn, you fly upside down, and really fast.

Curse of the Darkastle - 3-D indoor ride, kind of like The Haunted Mansion at Disney on steroids.

The Oktoberfest bier hall – you can still do the chicken dance Mmmm… beer