Hope in a COVID-19 World

COVID-19 and doom and gloom are all around us. News sources make it worse instead of offering hope. How do we thrive when life is just hard? People disappoint us. by their words and actions. Our leaders fail us. We may not understand why God allows something to happen in our lives. We disappoint ourselves- which may be the hardest to deal with of all!

All this is nothing new! But God provides insightful truth and encouragement for us in His Word. The Apostle Paul had to address a struggling church in Corinth, a city known for immense wealth, unrestrained sex, and all other kinds of evil and debauchery. Paul's wise words of encouragement to that church is just as valid today for those who seek to follow Jesus with their whole hearts.

Take a look at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Here, the Apostle Paul is speaking to believers who were living in a world much like ours. Any and every sin was becoming acceptable. Evil was called good and good evil. People were living for the moment and forgetting eternity existed. Believers were persecuted and were a minority. It often seemed as if the world was winning the war, and the church was dying. 

But remember, God will always be on the side of those who seek Him- even if we do not understand what He allows.

Real followers of Christ have always suffered, along with the rest of the culture. There's no guarantee of safety from illness, loss, and death just because of belief in Jesus Christ. He is our example and look what He endured!

But because of what Christians believe, there's additional stress. Particularly in countries where they are in the minority. They endure shame and scorn for being different than their people. Some of them are outcasts within their own families for belonging to Jesus. Many have husbands or wives who are not believers, and they suffer because of that. Some of them give up important and lucrative jobs in order to travel and share the Good News of Jesus, living on faith, trusting God to provide in ways we cannot even imagine. Enduring beatings or being placed in jail because of what they believe, they continue on because of the amazing gift of life through their Lord. It's like reading the book of Acts, how the followers of Jesus lived after He was ascended into Heaven before He one day returns to judge the earth and reward those who have given their lives to Him.

These people are the overlooked, the ignored, the forgotten… but they are not overlooked by God.

Wherever you live on this earth, if you are one who calls yourself Christian and have devoted your life to pleasing Him, be assured you are not forgotten! Let's read that again:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

It's easy to say "Don't lose heart", and it's even easy to read it, but the question remains, how do we practically live it out?

The answer is actually found in the next few verses that follow:

“Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day."  What does this really mean? The Bible tells is two very important truths about who we are, just two chapters apart. In the same letter to the same church in Corinth, Paul tells followers of Jesus that 

1- We are a new creation in Him. God has washed away the past, forgiven us for our sin against Him, and He made us brand new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

2- God places his own Holy Spirit within us, and we are being transformed into the image of Jesus. This means we are becoming more like him the longer we continue to follow Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18) These two truths take place simultaneously.

What does this look like? What is the evidence of this happening in our lives? Our priorities change. We begin to love us He loves. We serve others. We take risks as He leads. In other words, we serve Him as not  only our Savior but as one who gives us direction in how He wants us to live. All this is a result of His great love for us and the sacrifice He made, dying on the cross for our sin, paying a price we could not pay.

How else can we not lose heart as we endure the struggles in this life? We can keep focused on the riches we have in Jesus now!

• Forgiveness for our sin and The Gift of Eternal Life
• Freedom in Christ- which no man can take away!
• Family in Christ   
• Hope and comfort while we live in this world- and promise for our future!

We also have all the fruit of God's Holy Spirit because He lives inside of each believer in Jesus. This means we have  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Not only do we have this fruit, we also have The Power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives us to do the work He's called us to do! (I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). We don't just get his comforting presence (which we all need- 2 Corinthians 1:1-4) but His Power working through us.

We are rich in faith as we watch God work right in front of our eyes!

There's one more way we can endure hard times, and it may be the most difficult one of our advantages, but it is the most powerful: We must stay focused on the end of the story.

If you’re older, you will understand what I’m about to say. If you’re younger, evaluate my words in the context of Scripture.

Our time on earth goes by so fast- especially when compared to eternity!  So, here's what I recommend as a practical application:

•    Be wise, and keep an eternal focus.
•      Please God at all costs before pleasing men. He is the One you must answer to.
•     Love deeply, and draw people to God. Continue to encourage one another.
•     Know that you are loved by God, and He will not fail you!

What will we have in the future? We look at the end of time and discover that God wins- and so do we!

Look at the Bible's Book of Revelation 21:1-5:

There's a new Heaven and a new Earth: The Apostle John's Vision

"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

No more tears, death, crying, mourning, or pain. He who overcomes the hardships of life will inherit all this.

We endure until the end- not just for our rewards but to please God!

Do you ever wonder if it's ok to ask God about your future? When reading Matthew 19:27-30, we discover that even Jesus' disciples, his future leaders, would question him about what would happen to them.

 

"Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

There you have it! Even though we face difficulties in this life, we don't have to lose heart. God is on our side! We are new in Christ Jesus- brand new! We are forgiven for our sin against God and each other. We have freedom and life. God's Spirit lives in us to bring comfort, joy, and power to live out life in victory in spite of what happens. And we have a hope for the future- an eternity with Jesus without tears, pain, or suffering. Isn't that alone worth considering His claims to be God in the flesh?

Aloha from Hawaii- and Those Spirit of Aloha Ribs!

Disney and Hawaii - or more specifically the many cultures of the people of Polynesia- are intertwined in various ways. It's not just the Enchanted Tiki Room!  The love of the cultures also brought about Disneyland's Tahitian Terrace, Walt Disney World's Polynesian Village Resort, The Spirit of Aloha dinner show, Trader Sams and Trader Sam's Grog Grotto watering holes, and perhaps the most beautiful of all, Disney's Aulani Resort on the island of Oahu. 

Last visit to Walt Disney World, we fell in love with the Spirit of Aloha's ribs! 

We discovered the recipe, and now we'll share it with those of you so inclined to try it at home. Aloha!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

------

Disney's Spirit of Aloha -Polynesian Resort

Island Barbecued Pork Ribs

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

Select 2 each slabs of Raw Pork Spare Ribs (total – 4 lbs.)

Dry Seasoning

1 cup Kosher Salt

1 tsp Celery Salt

2 TBSP Mesquite Seasoning

1 TBSP Onion Powder

1 TBSP Garlic Powder

3 TBSP Sugar

1 tsp Ground Black Pepper

Sauce

1 cup Tomato paste

1 TBSP Corn Syrup

1 TBSP Molasses

1 TBSP Dijon Mustard

2 TBSP Honey

1 cup Pineapple Juice

2 TBSP Rice Wine Vinegar

1 tsp Granulated Garlic

1 TBSP Onion Powder

1 TBSP Caramel

1/4 Tsp Smoked Liquid

Barbecue Sauce Preparation

1. In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and mix well

2. Keep refrigerated

Preparation

1. Mix all dry ingredients and season lightly the pork rib slabs on both sides; let marinate for 12 hours.

2. Cook the seasoned pork ribs at 325°F for 1 hour.

3. Cut slabs of ribs while hot into individual pieces (one bone each) and place in baking dish.

4. Heat the barbecue sauce to a simmer and pour over the entire pork ribs.

5. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in a warm oven at 200° for 30-45 minutes.

Give Honor

Thank you to those who gave their lives to defend us and help keep the freedoms we enjoy- even the freedom to disagree! Whatever side of the political spectrum you are on, it's important to remember these heroes and give them the honor they deserve. They fought for your rights!

Welcome to Insights and Sounds!

During the last few months and the mandated quarantine, many new friends have discovered the Insights and Sounds blog. Welcome! If you're new, you might take the time to read this article which will give you a brief overview of what's on the site after more than ten years and thousands of articles. 

That rare piece of concept art for Animal Kingdom by Imagineer Ben Tripp shown above? The blog's filled with artist renderings of various Disney park attractions both built and those projects tossed aside (like the infamous Dubai Disneyland, whose renderings I was the first to discover). If its unbuilt attractions that interest you, you'll find all kinds of discoveries here! 

You'll also find trip reports from the Disney resorts and extensive histories of Disney's Hollywood Studios, a million (it seems) posts on EPCOT Center, and an eight part and growing series on the evolution of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

If you love Disney Park Attraction Posters, you'll find one of the largest and most complete collections for Disneyland right here. (And I'm just starting to share my Walt Disney World collection.)

If music is what brings you here, you're probably discovered I'm a big fan of Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard. This beloved duo created a lasting legacy spanning 50 years. There's album reviews, some rare photos and stories, and my take on what it's like being part of Randy L. Schmidt's book, Carpenters: An Illustrated Discography. But there's more to my music tastes than this brother and sister, so look for music articles, album and concert reviews on everyone from Keith Urban, Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, Sting, Michael Bublé,  Olivia Newton-John and more.

If you're familiar with the concept of love languages, mine is without a doubt spelled "airline ticket". I love to travel! It's not only my job as a private tour guide, it's a joy! I've been blessed to go all over the world. Our beautiful world is so much more than just Disney theme parks! Lots a photos, trip reports, and even several of my favorite travel posters are here, too.

My family and friends mean a lot to me! So, as you look through the blog, you'll see a bit of my history in photos. My friend Len Yokoyama is also an author here. He's just an incredibly gifted man- a great photographer, and all around good guy. Len's from Hawaii and due to this, has great stories to share and gives us some of the most gorgeous photos of the islands I've ever seen.

So, welcome to the blog! Feel free to comment and contact me. I love making new friends!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

WESTCOT- A Missed Opportunity for Anaheim

Politics, politics, politics. The worst of human nature comes out all too often, and in this case, the city of Anaheim and the Walt Disney Company both missed out on a golden cash cow due to bickering and unwillingness to compromise: WESTCOT. 

What could have been built in place of California Adventure was elaborate, less based on Disney film properties, and a much more fitting sibling to Walt's Magic Kingdom. Disneyland deserved more than what it got. Here are just two pieces in my immense treasure trove of Imagineering concept art for the new EPCOT Center but improved park and the proposed expansion. 

Until the day comes that I'm ready to share more and write about what could have been, here's a look at one of many articles here to give you some insight on what we missed. There's sixteen pieces of art there to go along with the post. If you're new to the world of Disney's unbuilt projects, this one will give you pause to think about the direction things should have been going. Enjoy!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Two Beauties, No Beast

Character meet and greets are not high on my list, but for families with little ones, they can bring some of the most memorable vacation experiences. Enchanted Tales with Belle is one sweet little opportunity! Would I rather have a Mary Poppins meet and greet akin to this or a spinner? Absolutely! If it's half as charming as what you find in this Fantasyland attraction. Yes, please. (Should be an "E Ticket", but that's another story!)

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Notable and Quotable: Ed Stetzer

"Salvation is not coming on Air Force One. And Jesus will not come riding on a donkey or an elephant. Those who fail to see such things have been lost to the idolatry of the moment." 

Author and futurist Ed Stetzer

This quote is from his book, Christians in the Age of Outrage. I love what he has to say more than I can write here. Whether you're religious or not, political or not, this may be the must-read book of the last few years. 

No Responses Available

As of this afternoon, I am not able to respond to comments or publish them. In fact, it appears the Insights and Sounds blog may have been hacked. If something happens in the future that new posts do not seem in synch with what's been written in the past, you will understand why.

Dine or Ditch: Sci-Fi Dine-In at Disney's Hollywood Studios

In the Disney universe, there are a wealth of dining options. Some locations are good, some great, and some not worth your time or money. Particularly at Walt Disney World, where it is a pain to have to book reservations in advance, scheduling every bit of your trip.

Over a couple of decades of eating in the resorts and the parks, we've enjoyed fantastic meals and experiences even in locations not recommended by other people, websites, discussion boards, and planning guides. Was it good planning, good timing, or something more? Hard to say. Our experiences have varied greatly! We've been as couples, as a family, and as families traveling together with multiple generations. 

My plan for posts like these is to give you a snapshot of what's in store for you and your family if you choose a particular dining location. As you know, there's much more to selecting a place than the quality of food. The Disney Imagineers are experts at creating locations with unique atmosphere. They've perfected the art of turning a meal into a must-do experience. As they say at the Disney Food Blog: "Food IS a theme park". It certainly can be if dining is a big part of your Disney vacation. 

Suffice it to say, our insights on different opportunities all over the world could be quite valuable to you or just a fun read. But at the very least, do try to learn from our mistakes.

From our first visit in 1989 to our latest one just last year, Sci-Fi Dine-In has remained a go to for us. As you'll see, it doesn't mean the visits have been perfect, but they've sure been interesting. Then as now, the Disney-MGM Studios was short on places to eat. With a young family, it was clearly a choice between Sci-Fi and 50's Prime Time Cafe. We ended up doing both over the course of our 1989 trip, but the hands down winner was the drive in theater restaurant. 

What's not to love about sitting in vintage style convertibles while gazing at the starlit sky and a giant movie screen? With the continuing disappearance of this distinctively American cultural phenomena, a visit to the Studios to eat here is even more special. Between the snippets of classic flicks and short interviews with Walt Disney, the atmosphere is top notch. An instant home run with any kid!

Hey ya Walt!

Of all our visits, only the 1999 trip yielded very average food. Our most recent reservations delivered a lunchtime meal every bit as good as any location on the property. Our steaks were perfectly done, the sides terrific, and the drinks refreshing with just enough of an adult "bite" to take relaxation to a whole new level. The kids' meals were just as tasty, I'm told. As evidenced by the empty plates, I think the truth was spoken. That young elementary aged kids could sit still and stay focused for 1.5 hours when there were Star Wars rides waiting for them says quite a bit!

There are down sides to Sci-Fi. Not the service (which was great) and not the price (higher but doable on the Disney Dining Plan). Advance reservations are hard to get and sell out quickly. We couldn't get reservations in 2018, but we did in 2019 due to the timing of the hurricane scheduled during our visit. With so few seats and then so few restaurants in Disney's Hollywood Studios, you have to act fast. Other than Oga's Cantina, this may be the most difficult seating to secure. Dining options is one area in which this park reveals its shortcomings, but that's a whole different story for a different article.

Success in 2019!

Two Tips: First, choose a late lunch time. Get inside out of the sun and heat. Save your evening meal for something outdoors at a quick service location and enjoy the beautiful Florida evenings. Once inside (don't let the standard warehouse exterior through you off), the "evening sky" will feel refreshing and get you ready for another round of attractions in a park that's high on concrete and low on shade and vegetation. 

Secondly, if you are a party larger than six, you'll be seated in two cars or one with a standard table. Certainly not as much fun. Three smaller kids can fit in the front seat, so a party of seven is possible.

Dine or Ditch for Sci-Fi Dine-In? Dine! A true "E Ticket"!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Donna and Quincy

Commemorating the passing of a truly lovely lady. Sometimes the oddest of musical pairings can make for inspired performances, and the seemingly right "natural" ones end up with projects far less than wonderful. So, what do you get when you throw a superstar producer Quincy Jones together with the now gone mega-star Donna Summer? It's time to revisit such a project. Read A Donna Summer Story.  

(This rare photo of Quincy Jones and Donna Summer 1983 in NYC by Walter McBride.)

De Wind in Mijn Zeilen

'Want God had de wereld zo lief dat hij zijn enige Zoon gaf, opdat iedereen die in hem gelooft niet verloren gaat, maar eeuwig leven heeft. Want God heeft zijn Zoon niet naar de wereld gestuurd om de wereld te veroordelen, maar om de wereld door hem te redden. '

Deze woorden roeren mijn hart zoals maar weinig anderen doen, ze stuwen de wind in mijn zeilen! Uit het boek Johannes, derde hoofdstuk.

Rare Electrical Water Pageant Concept Art

One of the most delightful experiences at the opening of The Walt Disney World Resort took place late in the evening on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Electrical Water Pageant was the wet version of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade!  This elegant procession of sea life passing by the guests consisted of many floats, including jumping dolphins, a giant sea turtle, a whale, and King Triton being pulled by seahorses. As you can tell from the piece of concept art, thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights brought it all the life. The Imagineers once again pulled off a very successful evening event that is still a fan favorite almost 50 years later!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Oriental Disneyland Feasibility Study

A rose by any other name? Were the plans contained within this feasibility study really for a new Disney Resort in Asia to be named Oriental Disneyland? 

Clearly, the study was deemed a success as Tokyo Disneyland was an out of the box hit! Originally the Imagineers were given the direction to make the park as close to the original US kingdoms as possible. That meant a duplicate of Cinderella Castle from the Magic Kingdom, California's version of Pirates of the Caribbean, and an assortment of hand picked attractions that became a "best of" / greatest hits collection of the American parks. 

In the piece of concept art above, World Bazaar remains covered but the main entrance street inside the park bears more than a little resemblance to original and very different plans for Florida's World Showcase. That was once going to be a standalone park with Future World being its own as well. Of course, we all know EPCOT Center would eventually combine both. But is in interesting to think that at one point parts of the first act would in fact take guests into different areas around the globe, mini-pavilions if you will. Thankfully, smarter minds prevailed and the concept was saved for Walt Disney World's second and once groundbreaking theme park.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: Disneyland Paris Stained Glass Window

Variations on the Magic Kingdom come and go, and each has their own charms, their own strengths and weaknesses. Making each one unique can be a challenge- from the original big risk project of Walt's park, to the people eating massive scale of Shanghai Disneyland, to the intimate by necessity Hong Kong Disneyland, the Imagineers have done their best under stressful situations to produce destinations that sparkle with Disney magic.

In the City of Light, Paris, France, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant stands above all else for sheer elegance with its style and design coming straight from the animated masterpiece Sleeping Beauty. The artwork of Eyvind Earle comes to life- complete with a fire breathing Malificent dragon in the dungeon. 

Accessed by an understated entrance on the left side of the castle, La Taniere du Dragon (The Dragon's Dungeon) draws guests in by the thousands. 

 The secret passageway in Merlin's 

is directly beneath the airship.

The way back up to the shop from the dungeon

is easier to find.

Did you know the dragon's dungeon can also be reached by a secret entrance from the Merlin L'Enchanteur shop? Although the entire park is filled with great and thoughtful design for Disney theme park fans, this little touch may be one of my very favorites.

The stained glass window at the top of the article is another design detail well worth mentioning. If you access the railroad by the Main Street U.S.A. train station, you notice there is one window for each of the park's main themed lands. If you look closely at this window, you'll find that even the lower cavelike entrance to the dungeon was not a detail so small as to be overlooked. But such is the art of Disneyland Paris. 

Under the guidance of Tony Baxter, the park drew from the work of top notch Imagineers to make it a modern masterpiece. Credit Imagineers Eddie Sotto for his stunning take on Main Street U.S.A. and Tom Morris for adding even more charm and whimsy to Fantasyland. 

(Window photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company. Other photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Notable and Quotable: George Washington

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports . . . And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.  Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."  

George Washington, 1789 Farewell Address