If you’re a big fan of CCM (Contemporary Christian Music), which I’m not, you may readily recognize the song behind this movie. So far it is the best-selling single in Christian music of all time. You may even have some knowledge of Bart Millard’s story and the true events that shaped his life and inspired him to write the song “I Can Only Imagine.” Though I had heard the song, I knew nothing about Bart’s story when I watched the movie. This was probably an advantage because I had no idea how the story would unfold. The movie explores a very familiar theme: forgiveness. Bart grew up listening to Amy Grant and other CCM artists, whose music helped him escape the reality of an abusive father. We see Bart’s dad burn Bart’s homemade helmet. Later, we hear his parents arguing. Bart lies in bed and braces himself when his bedroom door…
Note: From time to time, I plan to feature a handy gadget I enjoy using on my computer, since I spend so much time there anyhow. When possible, I will tie the gadget into my love of fiction writing. I’m sure someone’s thought of it, but so far, I haven’t seen anything burst on the scene for books like Spotify is for music. Oh wait. Some of you may not even know what Spotify, one my favorites free services, is or how it works. Here’s a quick description (minus the gobbledygook), thanks to Wikipedia: Spotify is a commercial music streaming service…Music can be browsed by artist, album, record label, genre or playlist as well as by direct searches. In short, one can listen to basically any music available in Spotify’s gargantuan library. And yes, it’s legal and free. The only drawback of the free service, of which I’m a subscriber, is the…
It’s hard to sum up a life in only a few words. And this offering certainly doesn’t do this amazing worker, provider, father, husband, and grandfather justice. Exactly one year ago today, my father, Larry, only 71, said good-bye to this life and stepped into a much better one after a two-and-half-year struggle with brain cancer. He left behind a wife, a daughter, three sons, a son-in-law, three daughters-in-law, and eleven grandkids. Beyond a few mementos and clothes that didn’t fit my brothers but fit me perfectly, all I have left of Dad, a GM retiree, are scriptural values and beliefs he instilled in my life. And of course precious memories—and what a treasure trove I have to draw from. Not only for my writing but just to remember Dad for who he was. Lest I ever forget. I’ll never forget the beautiful Revolutionary War-style muzzleloader Dad built from a…
