New Edition: First Time Dad ©, Part 3

1/14/11

The lyrics that I thought about for this edition was from the Stacy Q song “Two of Hearts.”  I am reminded daily of the enormous responsibility to my new family.  “Two of hearts; Two hearts that beat as one, Two of hearts; I need you, I need you” and oh yes how they need me.  My prayer life has changed.  My focus has changed.  My leadership has changed.  As a father, I welcome the responsibility that the Lord has entrusted to me.  As husband and wife it shows that we are ready.  I would be negative if I said nothing has prepared me for this, and positive if I said everything that has transpired in my life has.  Here’s the list: my parents, friends and family, my relationship with the Lord (early on thanks to my parents), 10 and our life together, and teaching.  For that I am grateful.  Fatherhood will now be “job one…”

So the other day I spoke to the baby as I always do and something special happened.  Voice recognition BABEEE!  Developing beautifully inside 10 the baby moved.  Not because of gravity or heartburn, but because of something that has become a regular practice—with my lips closely pressed against 10’s belly button saying “its daddy, mommy and daddy love you and we can’t wait to meet you.”  Yeah, I know I’m a marshmallow, but how cool is it to experience the direct effect of communication.  Why is this so important to me?  Why am I floored?  Because I have chosen to not allow a day go by without a verbal expression of love.  Why would I after it has created such a response?

We were able to record the heartbeat using the voice recorder on my iPhone and proud father doesn't begin to explain my joy.  These 26 seconds (listen below) have been a bright spot throughout the day.  26 seconds that have told the story of God's favor.

It seems these days that most of what we watch is family friendly entertainment.  For years now we have scrupulously been careful to screen what we watch.  Certain words or story plots have made their way to the bottle of the DVD pile in favor of “The Cosby Show”, 70’s sitcoms, and old movies (we really like Carey Grant, The Hepburn’s and Bing Crosby).  I made the comment the other day that our kids aren’t going to watch television, but I know that we will ration and screen what they watch, watch together and GET OUTSIDE! 

In the next installment, find out if it’s a boy or a girl…

Review of “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (2010) ©

Last weekend 10 and I popped WSMNS into the DVD player and enjoyed a fast paced, economically relevant piece for our time.  The movie begins with the development of a romantic relationship between the main character Jake Moore (played by Shia LaBeouf) and Winnie Gekko (played by Carey Mulligan).  Winnie is the seething daughter of the once famous and notorious rich and powerful Gordon Gekko (reprised by Michael Douglas).  That is where the roller coaster begins and moves along quickly with several subplots and tumultuous conversation about stocks, hedge funds, banking and the snarling standstill of the global economy.  Don’t worry, it’s still entertainment.   

What happened and why soon becomes apparent as Jake seeks to follow his convictions of a promising green clean energy, the falling of a mentor/rising of an enemy and keeping love close by.

After the plot begins to rear its head the business world fashion jumps on the screen.  From my former days as a shoe salesman I am intrigued with all things fashion and this is where the movie grabs you and pulls you in with its vibrato and crescendo.  To make my point even firmer pay close attention to the temper of Mr. Gekko’s jacket patterns and knots of his ties.

So with the newness of freedom and in a hurry to wash off the smell of incarceration, Gordon Gekko seeks to align his business luck and a family reunion at Jake’s expense.  Little does Jake know that “Bluestar likes Anacot Steel” and Mr. Gekko begins his mentorship of a seemingly suitable protagonist with ideals, but also possesses the flaw of blind trust.  A well deserved Academy Award for Douglas’ character Gekko in the 80’s thriller; he coined the phrase “when are you going to stop telling me information and start getting me some.”   This marked the inception of a business relationship between the big bad wolf and the little boy that wouldn’t cry wolf.  This is why Proverbs says not to desire the things of the wicked.  So like Bud Fox, Mr. Moore thinks he is in control, but you wonder will he have to make a choice of what’s most important to him. 

There are several similarities about Jake and Bud, and I loved that about the two.  Both had an idealist belief in benefiting from the “system”.  Neither was all bad and neither was all good.  Jake is on the up and up and wants to change the world, but seems unable to free himself of certain family matters.  One thing for sure is each main character stands for something.  Where both manage to be dynamic, one is for the better and one for the worst.   Bud was down on his luck, borrowed because he lived beyond his means and never seemed to get ahead until he sells out. 

To this I say Bud’s character represents the financial novices of the world, making a series of poor decisions and not seeing the big picture.  Jake juxtaposes this and exudes confidence even to by representing the financially savvy, ready for anything.  You see this over and over again in the film. 

Director Oliver Stone ties a neat little bow around this one and by the end answers all the questions.  The film is definitely worth the time and money.  Could you imagine a Gekko like person today writing a book and lecturing about their missteps?  Oh, and lastly pay close attention to the “bailout meeting” scene between the banks and the U.S. Treasury Secretary and try not to become nauseated.