The On The Bookshelf Podcast

Dr. Juan Sanchez introduces a powerful parenting book

Raising children can feel overwhelming as you try to navigate the many voices telling you what to do and not to do, but God has already given you everything you need to be faithful parents. In Reaching a Child’s Heart: A Practical Guide to Faithful Parenting (New Growth Press), Juan and Jeanine Sanchez encourage parents from their gospel-shaped perspective that children don’t need perfect parents—they need a perfect Savior.  “Parenting is hard. It’s the hardest and most humbling thing I’ve ever done. Quite often I felt like a failure. But my kids didn’t need me to be a perfect dad, and they didn’t need Jeanine to be a perfect mom. They need a perfect Savior, and they have that in Jesus,” Juan writes. “What they needed from us was an example of humility, faithfulness, patience, repentance, and love. They needed us to help them see the impact of the gos­pel in everyday situations. They needed us to be willing to teach them God’s Word and to show them the Father’s love.” After hearing from parents who are frustrated by their kids’ behavior and exhausted by the world’s wisdom, Juan and Jeanine wanted to sit down with parents and encourage them with God’s plan for raising children. As they share their own journey of parenting five children, the authors highlight the importance of a team-based approach to parenting. They emphasize focusing on children’s hearts, rather than behavior modification, and illustrate how daily faithfulness in the routine cares of life is never a waste of time. The authors start by sharing how a parent’s desire for their children should be the same as God’s: that they would reflect the image and glory of God. A parent’s job is to teach them God’s truths and hold them to God’s standard and when they fail, point them to Jesus, the One who gives a new heart and his empowering Spirit.  Reaching Your Child’s Heart provides a down-to-earth, practical guide for parents that will help them move from survival mode to joyful, Christ-dependent parenting. For every parent who may be exhausted and discouraged, they can take heart from the simple, biblical principles shared in Reaching Your Child’s Heart as the authors:    introduce a biblical and theological foundation for the role of parents, expose the dangers of child-centered parenting, offer practical guidance on establishing healthy patterns for children’s security and success, provide practical help for practicing gospel-based discipline,  guide parents in navigating the teenage years so that they may be enjoyed, include questions for reflection for individual use or group discussion.

Reaching Your Child's Heart: A Practical Guide to Faithful Parenting by Juan and Jeanine Sanchez (New Growth Press) Religion / Christian Living / Parenting

The True Story of the China-Burma-India Theater in WWII, its dangers & personal conflicts

"Skies of Thunder: The Deadly WWII Mission Over the Roof of the World" by Caroline Alexander (Viking)

During a research expedition for the National Geographic in Myanmar, Alexander discovered that the strange, jagged pieces of metal fencing off the villager’s gardens were made from pieces of fuselage from old WWII planes, and that the lush jungle that surrounded them was hiding a graveyard of over 600 crashed cargo planes. During the war, the northern region of the country had witnessed some of the most intense battles between the Allies and the Japanese and when the ground routes were cut off, the only way to get supplies into China was by air. The route, known as “the Hump” was the most hazardous air route in the world and hundreds of planes would meet their end along the path. In SKIES OF THUNDER, Alexander pieces together a comprehensive history of the circumstances surrounded this obscure campaign of WWII and the incredible feats of courage that these pilots displayed.

Untested Pilots: The best pilots were co-opted for combat missions, leaving the most undertrained and less skilled pilots, mostly lacking instrument training, to take on “the Hump”. The pilots assigned to fly the Hump had a challenging role as they essentially acted as test pilots for a risky and experimental operation. The aircrafts they flew, the navigation and communication systems they used, and even the weather reporting methods were all in the experimental stages. At that time, the existence of a weather phenomenon known as "the jet stream" was not even known. This highlights the uncertain and dangerous nature of their mission, as they had to navigate a terrain filled with the jagged peaks of the Himalayas with planes that barely cleared the minimum flight ceiling, ice-filled skies, and monstrous winds with limited information and resources. The path these brave pilots paved is known today as “the aluminum trail” due to the numerous crashed planes, totaling over 600, that remain scattered throughout the jungle.

Evolution of aviation: The evolution of the Hump operation provides a captivating insight into the transition from the pre-aviation era to the advancements of the 21st century. In 1939, when China was isolated from all seaports, the only viable option was to construct a basic overland road, known as the Burma Road, for supply purposes. However, by the end of the war, the Hump operation had revolutionized aviation infrastructure and transformed the way wars were fought. It brought about significant advancements in aviation technology and logistics, paving the way for modern aviation practices. This remarkable transformation highlights the impact and significance of the Hump operation in shaping the course of history.

Media-Created Heroes: During the war, there was a persistent pro-China lobby that propagated a false narrative of "heroes" to the American public. Prominent figures such as Henry Luce, the influential magazine magnate behind Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, utilized his media power to shape public opinion. Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of China's National Revolutionary Army, was portrayed as a heroic figure in his fight against Japan, despite controversies surrounding his leadership. General Stilwell, known as "Vinegar Joe," faced criticism for his mistreatment of troops. Even Claire Chennault, the renowned Flying Tiger pilot, was suspected by the FBI of involvement in smuggling activities.

 Building of the Ledo Road: The creation of the Ledo Road during World War II is considered a remarkable engineering achievement, despite its limited impact on the war against Japan. Interestingly, the majority of the men involved in its construction, estimated to be as high as 90%, were African American. This raises the question of why there are relatively few personal accounts of their experiences. There are no written memoirs, only fragments of memories in oral histories, and no organized veteran association like the "Ledo Road Association." However, Caroline has created a cohesive narrative of the soldiers' experiences by collecting and utilizing the limited available material from various sources.

Kenny Nolan, great songwriter & singer of I Like Dreamin'

Kenny Nolan's Debut Album Now Available for Streaming for the First Time Ever - Includes His Iconic Love Songs "I Like Dreamin'" and "Love's Grown Deep"

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kenny Nolan established himself as one of the key songwriters on the mid-'70s disco scene both at home and abroad, penning some of the most memorable hits of the era, often in tandem with writing partner Bob Crewe.

His promise was apparent from his teenage years -- at the age of 13 he won a scholarship to USC for composition, but dropped out after five or six months, bored with the conventional regime. Four years later, a scholarship to Chiounard went the same way, and Nolan decided to make on his own, simply sending songs in to any artist he thought might be suitable. It was a scattershot method, but it brought him to the attention of both veteran songwriter Bob Crewe and entrepreneur Wes Farrell, both of whom were quick to harness the youngster's prodigious talents.

As house producer at Farrell's Chelsea label, Nolan wrote and/or produced a string of successful singles for the label, including Jim Gilstrap's "Swing Your Daddy" and "Take Your Daddy for a Ride," Dee Clark's "Ride a White Horse," and Linda Carr's "High Wire." With Crewe, meanwhile, he penned some of the era's finest -- Disco Tex's "Get Dancin'," LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade," and Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You."

But as comfortable as he was behind the pen, Nolan also had strong ambitions to perform -- it was he who supplied the falsetto that dominates "Get Dancin'" -- and, after a short tenure with Firefly, he moved onto the studio group the Eleventh Hour. Produced, of course, by Crewe, the band scored two minor hits in the U.S. with "So Good" in 1974, "Hollywood Hot," the following year, and the minor hit album Hollywood Hot in 1976.

In 1976, Nolan decided to record his own version of a song he'd been commissioned to write by another artist, but which had lain untouched since then. "I Like Dreaming" was released by the Eleventh Hour's label, 20th Century, but did little for some six months. Slowly, however, airplay began to pick up -- DJs in Louisiana were apparently very fond of it -- and, in early November, it finally entered the U.S. chart, to begin a slow, three-month crawl to its peak at number three.

Nolan followed it the following spring with the Top 20 hit "Love's Grown Deep," taken from his self-titled album, and was named Number One New Pop Singles Artist of 1977 by Billboard magazine. "My Eyes Get Blurry" followed, priming the stage for Nolan's next album, 1978's A Song Between Us. Night Miracles followed two years later, bringing a new single, "Us and Love (We Go Together)," to the mid-reaches of the chart in early 1980, but failing to give Nolan any further, major success. He continued to record, however, signing to MCA and releasing Head to Toe in 1982. That album spun off two singles, "Love Song" and "Soft Rock Hard Love," but commercial success was not to be and the album quickly faded from sight.

Since that time, Nolan has returned to songwriting, authoring a lengthy catalog for a variety of soul and quiet storm artists.

 

Dean Butler of TV Classic "Little House on the Prairie" shares his life story

An iconic and heartwarming television show, Little House on the Prairie—and its cast—remains beloved by millions. Dean Butler considers the role Almanzo to be one of the greatest gifts of his life, and now, he’s ready to tell the story of his Prairie.

PRAIRIE MAN: My Little House Life & Beyond (on sale June 25, 2024; HC, $28.00) by Dean Butler shares the behind- the-scenes of Little House on the Prairie on a heartfelt journey of “good luck, good television, and the very good— if gloriously imperfect—people who made it so.” Cast as Almanzo, Laura Ingalls’ starring love interest, Butler captured the enduring affection of fans and co-stars alike. With a foreword from Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie), this uplifting memoir follows Butler’s journey from childhood to the Prairie and beyond.

Cast at twenty-two years old, Butler had no idea of the lasting impact being cast in Little House on the Prairie would have on him. Having previously starred in Judy Blume’s Forever with Stephanie Zimbalist, Butler was fresh- faced and naïve to Hollywood, eager to make his mark. He found his home in the Prairie and embraced his fellow cast members as family. Butler’s passion for honest-to-goodness entertainment began in the Prairie and followed him throughout his rich career of acting, producing, and directing.• Butler’s well-behaved childhood, struggles with bullying, and complicated relationship with his father, all connected to his deep passion for acting;

• The impact his first love, Tracy, had on how he approached his on-screen relationships;

• The launching of Butler’s career with his first major role as Michael Wagner in Forever;

• Being cast as Almanzo in Little House on the Prairie and his experiences getting to know his fellow cast members, including Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Karen Grassle, Katherine MacGregor, and more;

• Butler’s ancestral connections and parallels to the character Almanzo;

• The respectful relationship between Dean Butler and Melissa Gilbert and how they navigated their iconic on-screen kiss (Melissa Gilbert’s first real-life kiss!);

• Michael Landon’s life and how he worked with Butler both on- and off-set;

• Butler’s experience as Moondoggie in The New Gidget and Hank in Buffy the Vampire Slayer;

• The love story of Butler and his wife, Katherine;

• Butler’s foray into Broadway, in Into the Woods and West Side Story;

• Butler’s journey as a producer and director, most notably for NBC Golf’s Feherty; And much, much more…

Dean Butler is an actor, producer, and director best known for his role as Almanzo Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, based on the beloved Little House book series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. He was a producer for NBC Golf’s Emmy-nominated series Feherty for over ten seasons. Dean lives in California with his family.

Visit him at https://deanbutler.com/ or @officialdeanbutler on Instagram.

Bob Hope has an Official YouTube Channel--Jim Hardy gives details

The Bob Hope Legacy, the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation and the Hope family are proud to announce the new Bob Hope Channel on YouTube. The Bob Hope vaults have become things of legend, with an unparalleled collection of thousand hours of TV, radio and film in the archive, as well as tens of thousands of photographs. and every week, the family along with the help of Bob’s official archivist, Jim Hardy, they will make selections to add to the channel twice a week.

 

Jim Hardy, has for years handled the licensing of these materials, issues pertaining to copyright and maintaining the extensive archives. In 1986, Jim filled in for a summer job at Bob Hope Enterprises as a production assistant. He never returned to his old job and 38 years later he is still there. Jim has worked on 43 television shows with Bob or about Bob, and countless personal appearances.

 

Clips include USO Tours, Tributes to Vaudeville, Hopes Insult Reel, Monologues, Christmas Specials, PGA & Bob Hope Classics, as well as stars such as Brooke Shields, Jayne Mansfield, Lucille Ball, Norman Lear, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr, Jackie Gleason, Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, and even Big Bird and Lassie.

 

Sample Topics Jim Hardy will discuss:

 

*** Behind the scenes with Bob Hope

*** Working on a show with Danny Thomas, Milton Berle and George Burns all on the same show.

*** Many stories involving the USO and the stars that traveled with Bob, who could sleep anywhere.

*** Meeting the female stars that appeared on Bob’s shows including Lucille Ball, Dorothy Lamour, Joan Collins, Barbara Eden, Brooke Shields, Lynda Crater, Joan Van Ark, Donna Mills, Naomi and Wynonna Judd.

Bob Hope rose to the top of every medium he touched: headliner in Vaudeville, Broadway star, radio icon, movie idol and superstar on television. His persona reached audiences of every age in every decade of the 20th century. A popular star in Vaudeville, it was Broadway’s “Roberta” where Bob eventually caught the eyes of critics.  In 1938, NBC signed him for a radio show that became a fixture in American homes. It wasn’t long before Paramount called on Bob. He went on to make 50+ feature films, including the popular “Road Pictures” with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. In 1950, his TV career officially launched with “Star Spangled Revue.” An accomplished man, Bob’s greatest legacy was his commitment to American service personnel. For nearly 6 decades, at war or at peace, “G.I. Bob” crossed the globe with 57 USO tours for troops in WW II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. In the history of show business, no one traveled so far, so often, to entertain so many.

 

The Bob Hope Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@officialbobhope/videos

 

For more information about the legacy and foundation, please visit https://bobhope.org/