His Only Son, My Only Son

On March 23, 2026March 24, 2026 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

My son Andrew is getting married two months from today. It’s been a joy having him live with us for the past couple years as he was rebooting his life from photojournalism to tech support for Christian musical theater. Not only is he enjoying his career at Sight & Sound, but he met his fiancé there as well. He also appeared in their second film, A Great Awakening. So, it’s a time of much joy as we celebrate God’s goodness to him and prepare for the big day.

Since Drew will be leaving us soon, I decided to do this year’s Easter opening entirely myself. I’ve been far too dependent on him over the years for video generation and editing. So, I forced myself to learn three new apps for making soundtracks, storyboards, and video compilations. This year’s production is based on the Akedah, the Binding of Isaac in Genesis 22. It’s a heartrending story that leads to Jesus, and my well of tears has been thoroughly drained during the preparations. Drew said, “Now you know how hard it is to edit through tears.” Exactly right.

Let’s just say I have a newfound respect for my son’s skills in this area. He really has a gift. The last two weeks have been nonstop and intense. Part of the challenge has been learning the software and then using it for editing video clips and audio tracks—something I’ve never done until now. I can usually craft a story and conceive the look I am aiming for, but Drew has always been the one to bring it to life. This time I flew solo.

So, I was eager to get his feedback on my first project. He loved it! He said I have some good editing instincts and conveyed the message well. Were he to give me a grade, he said it would be about a 92-95. Not bad for the first try! Since he has a Film and Media Arts degree from Temple University, I really value his feedback. He gave me a few ideas for tightening up the final edit, and I’ll be doing those over the next few days. I’ll post the final version here after the Easter Sunday worship service.

He’s still my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. That’s one of the reasons it’s been such an emotional month. As I’ve pondered Genesis 22 for the Good Friday service and Easter Sunday opening, I’ve been wrecked afresh by the deep and profound love that God has for his creation. For you. For me. For all of us. The hardest thing God could ever ask of us is the very thing he did for us—he gave us his only son. “I scarce can take it in.”

Drew promises to come back for our weekly movie night. (He’s only moving an hour away.) In fact, right now we’re watching Galaxy Quest because we wanted to watch something campy and fun. The cast is quite good—Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and Tony Shalhoub. But the company is better. Thanks for being my movie man, Drew. You will always be loved.

His Only Son

An Original Production by
Christ Community Church

Written by
Tim Valentino

Narrated by
Ken Hunkins

Produced and Edited by
Tim Valentino

Artwork by
Maureen Logan

Choir Directors
Sonya Valentino
Shirley Long

Processional
Christ Community Church
Easter Choir

—

Music by

“Adagio for Strings,” String Quartet, Op. 11 by Samuel Barber, performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein, Sony Music, 1971.

“Prelude” by Scott Brasher and J. A. C. Redford on Unveiled Hope by Michael Card, performed by the London Session Orchestra, featuring Hunter Lee, conducted by J. A. C. Redford, Myrrh, 1977.

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” lyrics by Henry Van Dyke, music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Ode to Joy: from Symphony No. 9, performed by the Grace Community Church Orchestra, Sun Valley, CA, 2024.

Video by

His Only Son, directed by David Helling, starring Nicolas Mouawad as Abraham, Sara Seyed as Sarah, Edaan Moskowitz as Isaac, and Dan da Silva as the Lord, Angel Studios, 2023.

Jesus of Nazareth, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Robert Powell as Jesus, Olivia Hussey as Mary, Yorgo Voyagis as Joseph, and Michael York as John the Baptist, ITC Entertainment, 1977.

The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Icon Productions/Newmarket Films, 2004.

Risen, directed by Kevin Reynolds, starring Joseph Fiennes as Clavius Aquila Valerius Niger, Antonio Gil as Joseph of Arimathea, and Victor Trapani as Nicodemus, Affirm Films/Columbia Pictures, 2016.

Licensed By

Christian Copyright Licensing International No. 21229380

Christian Video Licensing International No. 21-03851831

Post-Holiday Update

On January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

My apologies for such a long hiatus. Life has been full and meaningful since posting three weeks ago. I just needed that “long winter’s nap” to recover from everything. 🙂 But I’ve missed you! Anyway, our Christmas Eve candlelight service was rich and wonderful, not to mention well attended. Samuel and Levi practiced their parts (singing “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World” while standing next to me with lit candles), and they nailed it.

After worship, we watched—at Drew’s request—the first part of Jesus of Nazareth, focusing on the Gospel Infancy Narratives. Peter Ustinov hits it out of the park as Herod the Great. Olivia Hussey (what a name for someone playing the blessed virgin Mary!) is likewise stellar in her role as the mother of Christ. In fact, except for a few duds along the way, this epic film from the mid-80s is very well cast and perfectly set. I have the script almost memorized.

Our Christmas Day celebration was magical, too, especially with the boys growing in their awareness of what the fuss is really all about. After verifying that Jesus was in the manger, and singing “Happy Birthday” to him, we read together from Matthew 2 and then opened our gifts. Christmas dinner followed, and then the kids were off to their next stop.

The next day we traveled to Delaware and spent half a week with Sonya’s siblings and their families. The food and desserts we enjoyed were amazing, but my stomach (thankfully) can’t hold what it used to, and it (unthankfully) lets me know that in various ways! It’s great to be down 65 lbs., but I’d still like to go 15 more. That might require getting back in the pool. We’ll see.

On Sunday, January 4, we hosted an Epiphany party at our house for neighbors, friends, and church members. That, too, was well attended, and it was fun to connect with all who came. I get a little sad when all the festivities are over, but there’s much to look forward to in the coming year. Leading the list is Andrew’s wedding in May. In addition to planning on all the arrangements, he and An are looking for a house close to where they work.

Right now, Sight & Sound is in their “changeover” period, which means long and strange hours as they get ready for their new show (Joshua). It’s a massive effort to coordinate all aspects of a major theater production. The new cast rehearses during the day, which pushes the tech team to have to work second- and third-shift hours. But I’m already getting hints that it’s going to be amazing.

Additionally, their film, A Great Awakening, is set to release in theaters on Easter weekend. Andrew has a small role in it, and Sonya is an extra—a townsperson attending Whitefield’s revival service. With multiple takes for that scene, she says she got saved seven times during the filming. 🙂

Yesterday we celebrated Micah’s birthday here at our house, complete with a big dinner from Tosco’s. His boys love him to pieces, as do we. He’s such a good husband and father, and he just got elected (unanimously) to be a deacon at his church. He’s also a big cheese where he works, and they love the value he brings to the practice.

My own research and writing efforts have included a massive study on the Trinity, along with my doctoral dissertation on the torn veil in the temple. Both are going well, albeit slower than I would like. The outside teaching and speaking calendar is also coming into view, and it looks like the year ahead will be full and inspirational. I suppose my main prayer request would be for good health, energy, and focus to accomplish it all. There’s a lot of noise in the world right now, and it’s all too easy to be sucked into the vortex of its never-ending brokenness.

Until the warm weather returns, I’ll be inside the house building forts with Samuel and Levi. They recently discovered the magic of creating their little man caves, and I’m here for it.

Be well.

Less on the face means more in the belly!

I wonder where Andrew gets his silliness from.

Every year Micah defiles our Nativity scene. This year it was a Crystal Cave sign.

Getting ready for the kids to stop by on Christmas morning.

Lyrics we were singing to my mom when she went to be with Jesus.

Speaking of mid-80s, here’s a schmaltzy one from that period. Anyway, it’s nice to be back.

A Moment to Remember

On November 4, 2025November 4, 2025 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

As promised, here are some pictures from Andrew and An’s special day at Longwood Gardens last week. The custom ring is finally here, too. Since An is a Lord of the Rings aficionado, Drew put an Elvish twist on the presentation. She loved it, as well as the ring itself, which features her favorite gem stones and interlocking A’s from their first names. She also has Drew’s grandmother’s ring to wear. Wedding planning has begun, and we couldn’t be happier for the happy couple.

She Said, ‘Yes!’

On October 30, 2025 By Tim ValentinoIn General3 Comments

We are thrilled to announce that our son Andrew is engaged to be married! At around 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, he asked the love of his life, An Le, to be his wife. He proposed to her at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, using his grandmother’s wedding ring, which is loaded with meaning and sentimentality.

Drew actually designed and commissioned a uniquely tailored ring with An’s favorite gemstones in it, along with an interlocking configuration of A’s from their first names. Alas, that ring won’t be ready for another few days. While the delay was initially disappointing, the heirloom ring brought a sense of family history into this precious moment.

Drew’s Grandpa Keith worked for an entire summer painting army barracks at Fort Hood, Texas, so he could buy that diamond for his fiancé, the one who would eventually become my mother-in-law. Without him and Grandma Lorena, Sonya would not be here, and neither would Andrew. He was their first grandchild, and the newest joy of their lives—a thrill I understand a whole lot better these days. On bended knee in a beautiful garden, he brought his grandparents’ love and legacy into a sacred event the happy couple will never forget.

An wearing Grandma Lorena’s wedding ring.

More important than any ring, however, is the one wearing it. An is a lovely Christian woman with a deep personal faith and commitment to Jesus. She is gracious, kind, warm, and engaging. She’s also an exceptional piano player, and we love to hear her “go to town” on the ivories. She is able, even from memory, to play classical music as well as hymns and worship songs. She has a captivating smile, and she adores children, including Samuel and Levi, which means she has good taste. (And also because she’s crazy about Andrew!) We love her to pieces!

Drew and An met at Sight & Sound Theatre, near Lancaster, where they both work. Their encounter was made possible when Drew decided to leave the photojournalism business several years ago and reboot his life. It was an act of faith and courage on his part, and I’m exceedingly proud of him for taking such a bold step. The station where he worked would not give him Sunday mornings off to attend church, and they constantly asked him to signal-boost—not just report—events that were contrary to his Christian faith. Not only that, he had seen enough violence, crime, and human devastation covering the news to last a lifetime.

So, providentially, he made his way to Sight & Sound, where he could put his Film & Media Arts degree from Temple University to good use for the kingdom of Christ. Little did we realize at the time that God had a divine encounter awaiting him in the person of An (pronounced “Ahn”) Le (pronounced “Lay”), who works in the theatre’s Hospitality Department.

Her father Phil is a medical doctor who, at the age of 11, was rushed onto a plane during the fall of Saigon, Vietnam. The Communists were rounding up and killing Christians, and Phil’s neighborhood was scheduled for execution the next day. Blessedly, that emergency flight out of the country saved his life. More divine providence.

Knowing the proposal would be made Monday—and anticipating An’s joyful acceptance of it—Andrew, Sonya, and I gathered Sunday night for a time of prayer to thank God for his goodness to us. There were, of course, tears of delight as we remembered praying—even while standing by Drew’s crib when that first contraction hit and we knew it was time to go to the hospital—for our firstborn’s future spouse.

An, you are an answer to many prayers that go way back in time. Welcome to the family, dear one. We love you, and we pledge to pray for you into the future as well.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Engagement pictures (and snaps of the custom ring) forthcoming.

And Now They’re Teaching Us

On October 13, 2025October 14, 2025 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

Last Sunday night our son, Andrew, gave a stimulating presentation on star formation at our church’s Faith & Science Center’s first public event. It was a beautiful evening of Scripture, stargazing, prayer, worship, and discussion at the Myerstown Rod & Gun Club on Route 501. The weather was perfect, and the night sky was clear.

Drew’s knowledge of astronomy is light years ahead of my own, and it was a joy to hear him make connections between biblical truth and celestial realities. We talk often about the apparent expansion of the universe and its implications (e.g., heat death, entropy, the laws of thermodynamics, etc.).

One question that I particularly enjoy exploring with him: If the universe represents all known reality, what is it expanding into? It’s a scientific conundrum featuring inevitable intersections with theology. After all, Christians believe in the invisible/spiritual realm as much as we believe in the visible/natural realm. Drew explains it like a balloon being blown up, but he freely admits that the analogy breaks down because a balloon is always blown up in a room of some sort.

Pascal once said something to the effect that the purpose of rationality is to expose the limits of rationality. So, while it’s fun to watch Drew’s mind work, it’s even more gratifying to watch him take his place as a finite creature beneath the infinite Creator who gave him his wonderful mind in the first place. We share a common conviction that science, in the end, is really a study of God’s imagination.

This past Saturday afternoon, our daughter, Bethany, gave an engaging presentation on how to study the Bible at our church’s second annual Women’s Retreat. In her breakout session, she spoke to a packed room of ladies about a simple yet powerful method called “O-I-A,” which stands for Observe, Interpret, and Apply. She explained the method with joy, humor, clear explanations, and a specific example from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

She had handouts, PowerPoint slides, and a rolling Q&A time as she illustrated the method. I was delighted at how impactful it was. In fact, right now I’m teaching a Thursday night Growth Group at Ephrata Community Church called, “How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth,” and I sat there thinking to myself, “She could easily teach this method to my students, and they would benefit greatly by using it in their own lives.” (I need to ask her what she’s doing this Thursday night.)

I especially appreciated her emphasis on authorial intention, historical-cultural context, and the logical development of an apostolic assertion that can be uncovered with patient observation. (“Tracing the argument” is what we call it in seminary.) Particularly helpful was her encouragement to identify, where possible, the persons of the Trinity that may be at work in the passage.

On Friday night Bethany told me she had too much to say and not enough time to say it. It was more evidence she’s not adopted. Like father, like daughter. I encouraged her to do the best she could with the time she had, and she did. Though I’m surely biased, I think she hit it out of the park. And just like her father after every sermon is delivered or every lesson is given, she wasn’t totally convinced it was as good as it really was. (More evidence she’s genetically mine.) Bethany seriously needs to consider becoming a women’s retreat speaker herself. She has a lot to offer others, probably more than she realizes.

All that to say this: I’m immensely proud of my two kids. To sit under their teaching now and learn new things from them is a parent’s dream come true. They know Jesus, and they’re making him known. As the Apostle John put it, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4). Thank you, Lord, for your goodness to us.

Well, This Is Cool

On October 5, 2024October 5, 2024 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

Andrew and Sonya both received parts in Sight & Sound’s second film, A Great Awakening. (Their first film, I Heard the Bells, was a bigger success in the theaters than anticipated.) Drew will play the part of William Pierce, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was also a military officer during the Revolutionary War and member of the Continental Congress. It will be a non-speaking role but one with considerable action. Sonya will be one of the colonial townsfolk, an ensemble that will also have a musical number.

Now in production, A Great Awakening tells the true story of an unlikely friendship resulting in one of the most defining yet untold moments of American history. Known as our spiritual founding father, George Whitefield ignited a different kind of revolution, one now known as “The Great Awakening.” More to come, so stay tuned.

Unrelatedly, thanks to those who inquired about, and prayed for, our family members down south in the wake of Hurricane Helene. All are present and accounted for. Several are still without power and cell service, but they’re all safe. May God comfort those who have suffered great loss.

For the Glory of the Skies

On May 3, 2024May 6, 2024 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

– Folliett Sandford Pierpoint, 1864

Andrew finished editing his documentary on The Eclipse of April 8, 2024, as viewed from Ashtabula, Ohio. It’s well worth seeing and will likely plunge you into deep levels of worship. I cry every time I see it. Here is a link to the finished film:

2024 Eclipse by Andrew Valentino

He begins with a glimpse of the partial eclipse from August 21, 2017, and then moves to this year’s phenomenon. It was a social event as much as an astronomical one. After doing several interviews with the sky watchers who had gathered in his location—including one from The Netherlands who would go on to propose to his girlfriend during totality—he gets to the eclipse proper.

At that point, Drew overlays a soundtrack from Sight & Sound’s David production, where Israel’s king worships the God who made the sun, moon, and stars, and everything else in all creation. For believers, the effect is both rich and remarkable. Psalm 19 is still relevant 3,000 years after its composition.

Oh, and everyone was happy that “she said yes” to the proposal. As a father, I am happiest that my son fell to his knees in worship of the Creator at the high point of the cosmic spectacle. As the Apostle John put it:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4).

I stayed home and watched a partial occlusion from my perch here in Eastern Pennsylvania, surrounded by my stunning flowerbeds, which is a different kind of beauty than found in the skies, but no less glorious. Snaps of those gems are below. Also included are a few shots of our newly expanded garden box. I’ll take more pics when I install the critter fence later today.

Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Andrew (and Go See ‘Daniel’)

On April 17, 2024April 18, 2024 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

Our son had a birthday last week, and we celebrated his life by going to see Daniel at Sight & Sound in Lancaster where he works on the lighting team. We did the usual gifts, dinner, and cake thing with him, but the real fun this year was getting a tour of the backstage, substage, and catwalks where Andrew spends most of his time at work. It was kind of a take-your-parents-to-work day. Not only is the facility massive; it’s also a technological marvel. Broadway’s on-stage talent is phenomenal, but they’ve got nothing on Sight & Sound’s sets and tech operation. Backstage photos are forbidden, so I have just a few snaps below that comply with the rules.

The production itself was fantastic. While David was downright emotional, Daniel was quite cerebral. The former made me cry; the latter made me think. It surely had touching moments in it, too, but the real power of the script was its correspondence to today’s realities. America is just a modern-day Babylon, and God’s people are now in exile, much like the Israelites of old. So be it. God still has plans for us, so we live for the good of the city while we’re a part of it. I know the tickets are pricey, but if you can at all go see Daniel, you won’t regret it.

Drew asked his nerdy seminary prof of a dad if I had seen any historical inaccuracies. There were only two that I noticed—one major and one minor. The major error involved the Star of David Daniel had on his satchel. That symbol originated with the Jewish community in Prague in the 17th century AD. As such, it has neither biblical nor Talmudic authority, and Daniel surely wouldn’t have had it on any of his property in the 6th century B.C.

The minor error involved an incorrect vowel point in the handwriting on the wall scene. The Hebrew samech (“s” sound) in the last word of Daniel 5:25 should have had a chireq vowel (single dot) underneath it, not a tsere (double dot), such that it looks like this.

Actually, the vowel pointings were anachronistic, too, as those dots and dashes weren’t added until the middle ages by the Masoretic scholars. Moreover, the original handwriting on the wall likely appeared in cursive Aramaic (an international language at that time), not the Hebrew block script. But if the Hebrew block script is used, the vowel point they want under the samech is a chireq not a tsere. (My hunch is that that someone mistook a sublinear cantillation mark in the Hebrew Bible as a vowel point.)

Anyway, I shared those things with Drew only because he asked. We don’t go to such productions to find fault. I’m sure there were also fabrics, weapons, helmets, etc., that were likewise anachronistic, but that’s pretty common in these kinds of productions. You do the best you can with the budget you have. Still, I was impressed. And inspired. Daniel is possibly my favorite Old Testament book, right up there with Genesis, Exodus, and Ecclesiastes. I did a sermon series in it last year, and it was a blast.

I love that my son is having the time of his life working for such a wonderful Christian organization. His perseverance has paid off. On top of everything, he was just cast in a small part for Sight & Sound’s second film, which will be in production shortly. Their first film, I Heard the Bells, was the moving story behind the writing of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Christmas carol of the same name. Their second film has yet to be announced, so stay tuned!

One piece in the collection of stunning sets.

We got to see all the sets and props up close during our back-stage tour.

Somewhere up there in the ceiling is our son, harnessed in so he doesn’t land on us.

An authorized production photo of Daniel in ancient Babylon.

The only place where such a sign is not a joke.

Barns and other storage facilities for the stage animals.

The Boys and the Blossoms

On March 18, 2024March 19, 2024 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

There are so many reasons for joy in this neck of the woods right now. First, Andrew is thriving in his new role at Sight & Sound. He’s part of the lighting team for their newest production, Daniel, which premiered last week. From his description, theater lighting at that level is much more sophisticated than I had ever imagined, but he’s well suited and trained for it. (His undergrad studies were in film and media arts at Temple University.) Not many people get to say they work in professional music theater—let alone Christian musical theater. He says the show is not to be missed. I get to see it on April 11, which is his birthday.

Second, I got wonderful feedback on my latest dissertation chapter. I’m over the moon about it since this one had heavy doses of Sumerian and Akkadian in it, which I’m hardly an expert in but worked hard to get oriented to. It featured lots of Greek and Hebrew, too, along with a handful of other languages, but I was on edge about the Sumerian and Akkadian because the title of one of my readers is “Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Semitic Languages.” You can imagine the pressure a title like that conveys. It was, by far, the hardest chapter to write, so I really think I can pick up the pace now. Still, academic writing is awfully tedious, so we’ll see how it goes. I’m nerd enough to enjoy it.

Third, the boys continue to grow and delight everyone around them. How cool is it that we live just 10 minutes away from Samuel and Levi? We get to watch them almost every Wednesday and keep them overnight nearly every Friday, which is pizza night. Saturday mornings may involve some cartoons and pancakes. Oh, and the toy room. And yard time. Below are some pics and clips of these precious munchkins.

Fourth, the flower beds are starting to explode with signs of spring. My cherry tree is always stunning this time of year, and the daffs have really shot up, along with the hyacinths. I eagerly await the arrival of the tulips. Maybe they’ll get here by Easter, which just happens to be my birthday this year. But no one’s allowed to call attention to it. That day belongs to Christ alone.

Finally, below is an interesting tune by Coldplay, “Up with the Birds,” voted one of the top songs about springtime. I’m not sure I would have put it on the list, but a reviewer calls it “one of the most hopeful and optimistic things we’ve ever heard. The combination of cheerful lyrics and the enchanting string of instruments in the background has us feeling like we’re floating right into the warmer season.”

How ’bout we just stay in springtime?

Either way, enjoy!

No more pictures, Mommy. I’ve got things to do.

Micah gets a father-of-the-year award for this.

Double trouble at Home Depot.

Loving little Levi.

The flowering cherry is a gift I’ll always treasure.

And here. (I need to re-set the decorative rocks.)

The hyacinths await the arrival of the tulips.

The Bubster’s First Time under Water

On July 5, 2023July 16, 2023 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

Samuel got to hang out with some of his cousins at the pool on Independence Day. Below are some snaps from the great time he had on the bright, sunny day—including a slow-motion clip where he goes under water for the first time. What a cutie! 💙

Meanwhile, the crew on our side of the family yesterday went to see The Sound of Freedom, the incredible story of Tim Ballard, a federal agent who rescued a boy from child traffickers. After learning the boy’s sister was still a captive in the Colombian jungle, Ballard quit his job (because of bureaucratic red tape) and embarked on a dangerous mission to save the young girl from a fate worse than death.

It’s not uncommon for me to get choked up at poignant moments of a good flick, but this was different. I tried three times to stand up and walk out of the theater after it was over, and two times I had to sit back down and continue the blubbering. It was an ugly sight. As I seem to remember, the same thing happened after the last Jim Caveizel movie I saw in the theater.

Yes, everyone needs to see this movie. And, yes, we all need to be angry, sad, disgusted, and—above all—mobilized to action. I’m pondering how our family (and church family) might be able to contribute to the solution. Speaking of angry, Disney stood in the way of this movie’s release for five years. Walt would roll over in his grave if he know what a slimeball enterprise his company has become.

Unrelatedly, this coming weekend we’re headed to Cooperstown, NY for an anniversary trip. Friday will be a Puccini opera, Saturday will be the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Sunday is the art museum. So, we’re checking all the important boxes here—music, sports, and the arts. 😊

Our son took this picture from our front porch as the sun was setting on Independence Day 2023.

Do Yourself a Favor and Go See ‘Moses’

On March 11, 2023March 12, 2023 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

Thursday night we got to attend the “Family & Friends” production of Moses at the Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster. It was their final dress rehearsal before opening night on Friday. Our son Andrew works there full-time as part of their support staff (including the post-musical prayer team, among other responsibilities), so we’re happily on the receiving end of complimentary tickets for each play.

The entire production was marvelous, taking us on an adventure through the birth and exile of Moses, the burning bush theophany and revelation of God’s name, the plagues against Egypt and its false gods, Israel’s first Passover and their dramatic escape through the Red Sea, and the giving of the law at the top of Mount Sinai. Moses is portrayed as an unlikely and imperfect hero—the only kind God ever uses. Except for Jesus, who makes a cameo appearance at the end of the play.

I don’t think any show could exceed last year’s production of David in terms of musical composition and emotional impact, but this show was right up there when it comes to lead performances, special effects, and execution. I was thoroughly inspired.

Moses runs now through October 7. Do yourself a favor and go see it.

Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Memories

On June 21, 2022June 23, 2022 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

I know a few folks who have a bad case of fibromyalgia, and it doesn’t look fun. Recently, I’ve been suffering from a bad case of fibro-nostalgia. It’s certainly not as debilitating as chronic pain, but it sure can cause the mind to wander and the productivity to drop. I blame the latest flareup on my son.

Drew took me to see the new Top Gun movie on Father’s Day. It’s not a tear-jerker, but I found myself getting plenty choked up numerous times over the course of the film. Some of the feels were because I was, well, with my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Some were because of the constant allusions back to the original movie. Maybe I subconsciously thought of that era as my heyday. Or maybe I’m just a sniveling wuss. 🙂

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler had been out for a couple years and was still popular back then. “Amanda” by Boston could be heard everywhere, along with “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Richie. “Manic Monday” by the Bangles had just hit the radio, and I really liked that song because they included my name in it. 🙂 And, of course, “Highway to the Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins made its debut in Top Gun.

Other top artists back then included Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Robert Palmer, and a slew of others. I didn’t care too much for Boy George or Madonna, but I (mostly) enjoyed Rush, Journey, Phil Collins, and REO Speedwagon. The Doors had flashes of brilliance, but their corpus was generally too dark for my taste. After I met Jesus, I wanted to make some adjustments to my collection, anyway.

Kate Christensen was surely right: “Nostalgia is a powerful drug. Under its influence, ordinary songs take on dimensions and powers, like emotional superheroes.” That said, I’m still more interested in tomorrow. As Anne Shirley Cuthbert put it, “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…yet.”

Come to think of it. I could get pretty nostalgic about Anne of Green Gables, too. Bethany and her friends used to watch the Megan Follows version, which was adorable and extremely well done. (And—while it’s a completely different approach, not to mention earthy, dark, and raw—Anne with an E really should keep going, and the producers should finish what they started. We were all left hanging.)

Anyway, back to the present. The best days are ahead.

Toasting Samuel on Father’s Day 2022

On June 20, 2022June 22, 2022 By Tim ValentinoIn General1 Comment

I’ve written before about my adorably delicious Samuel Sandwich gig—a fun little game I play with SamJam every time he comes to my house. You might remember that two pillows serve as the top and bottom slices of “bread.” Together they encase the “Samuel meat” and the tickling “condiments” he receives (endures?) from me before I gobble him up.

Well, for Father’s Day this year, I received two pillows that look like bread to give our game a touch of authenticity—one from Micah and Bethany, and one from Sonya. They were the funniest gifts I think I’d ever received, and I couldn’t stop laughing after I opened them. Of course, I had to try them out right away:

Micah and Bethany also got me a whipped cream spoon (long story, maybe for another post), and two beautiful cards that got me seriously choked up. Sonya got me a few polo shirts and a Japanese maple tree, something I’ve always wanted to get but never did. Her card was excessively kind, too.

Andrew took me to see the new Top Gun movie, which was fantastic. He also sprang for snacks at the theater, so he might need to take out a loan to pay for them! 🙂 It was great for just the two of us to hang out for a while. He’s a wonderful young man.

All this was after a great morning at church and family lunch at our favorite local Italian restaurant. Best Father’s Day ever. I am supremely blessed.

Emerging from the Food Coma

On November 26, 2021November 27, 2021 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

1. Since my MIL doesn’t travel well anymore, most of the family came to our place for Thanksgiving this year. We have a perfectly sized family room to accommodate the whole crew, and we had a lovely day together. I smoked one of our turkeys (now my favorite way to prepare it), and the other one we baked and then crock-potted. Both were delectable.

2. All the menu items turned out great (especially the Polish potatoes) except my feeble attempt to replicate “Cope’s Corn,” a dried corn that happens to be a local holiday favorite. Our stores couldn’t get any in stock this year because of the economy. So, I got regular corn and dehydrated it, but something didn’t work right in the re-hydration process, and I had to throw it out. C’est la vie. Maybe next year the cans will be back on the shelf. (The corn isn’t that great; it’s just a delivery system for butter and brown sugar. It’s also a childhood memory, so it’s a necessity at Thanksgiving.)

3. I had my annual sob-fest in the parking lot a few days ago as I was loading Thanksgiving groceries into the car. I didn’t even see it coming this year. It just hit me, yet again, that I am blessed while too many people in this world are still hungry. I had an overwhelming sense that the Spirit was saying to me, “Remember the poor.” That’s a mega-theme in Scripture, so clearly it’s something perpetually on the heart of God. It should be perpetually on our hearts, too.

4. In between meals and family laughs, I was able to work through all the primary sources containing Greek, Hebrew, or Syriac words for “veil” or “curtain,” the cultic tapestry separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Jewish temple, which is the focus of my second dissertation. I successfully made it through the Babylonian Talmud, so ancient Jewish Apocalyptic is the last block of texts to consider. That’s where things get weird. It’s not unlike the book of Revelation, an odd (to us) genre of literature that has its own set of rules for interpretation.

5. Here’s a lament from this former newshound: The mainstream media has become the journalistic equivalent of professional wrestling—mildly entertaining in the campiest of ways, but only people with severe learning disabilities take it seriously. There’s no greater source of misinformation, disinformation, and polarization in this country than CNN and MSNBC. They’re both contemptible organizations that need to whither on the vine and become utterly irrelevant. ABC, CBS, and NBC are close behind. The NYT is beyond redemption. The View is hell on earth. FOX is less annoying to my taste, but they don’t cut it straight, either. I spent a couple decades lamenting the growing bias and spin of the media, but that turned out to be a big waste of time and energy. Now I just mock them whenever I can. The Babylon Bee has the right approach. Make fun of them every single day. They deserve it. (O.k., rant over.)

6. My daughter is two centimeters and counting. If Samuel doesn’t arrive in the next several days, she’ll be induced on Wednesday. Question: How am I supposed to read the Infancy Narrative on Christmas Day this year with a newborn in the room? That’s just a puddle waiting to happen.

7. My son is in final preparations for his appearance in the Reading Civic Theatre’s production of Grease (December 10-12). It’s a fun musical, and I may or may not have been an Olivia Newton-John fan as a teenager.

Have a great weekend, everyone. And welcome to Advent.

Munchkin Update

On October 9, 2021October 9, 2021 By Tim ValentinoIn GeneralLeave a comment

O.k., my kids aren’t exactly munchkins anymore, but they’re still my kids. And one of them is carrying a munchkin, so there’s that. 🙂

Andrew continues working on a variety of projects in his new media business, AVM. He’s doing audiobooks, voiceovers, real estate photography, special occasion videography, editing, etc. He lives about an hour away right now, so we get to see him weekly, which is wonderful. He has even been worshiping with us each week and will be providing some church tech support in the near future. I got to see him last night when we met at the Hamburg Area High School for the Hawks’ game against Conrad Weiser, where I got to see my niece and nephew in action (cheering and coaching).

One of our favorite things to do is watch movies and discuss them. We just finished binging season 2 of The Chosen. My favorite line of the series so far is where the keeper of a certain house says one of the rooms is haunted by his dead grandmother, and Jesus replies, “Oooo, I’ll take that one.” Drew is excited to be acting in the local community theater production of Grease with a good (and super talented) friend from high school.

Bethany became my part-time personal assistant this week, as well as a caretaker for her grandmother. She knocked it out of the park on both counts, and her administrative assistance will help me stay focused on writing my dissertation. (I had a wonderful meeting yesterday with my dissertation committee and was greenlighted for the next stage.) Her background in medical administration has given her some skills for charting the dynamics of my mother-in-law’s Alzheimer’s. That can only help in an already challenging situation.

Her new dress for the baby shower came yesterday, so she tried it on and then asked me to take a few pictures. The shower is next Saturday, and about 70 people are planning to attend. Many are coming in from out of state, so it will be a busy weekend. I’m thrilled that she and her husband live less than 15 minutes from our house.

Samuel had the hiccups for the first time this week, but I already told you that. 🙂 I struggled a bit with the news that I was becoming a grandpa because, as I like to say, “I’m too young to be this old,” and “I thought it would take longer to get this old.” But a slight graying of the temples has begun, so maybe it’s time. When I was a competitive swimmer, my hair was three or four shades lighter because of the chlorine. It also gets a bit lighter in the summer these days, too. Maybe the graying effect will help me lighten up—on the age thing, too. 🙂 Well, at least I still have hair! 🙂

O.k., four smiley faces are enough for one post, and I need to switch gears anyway. So, have a great weekend, everyone, and thanks for stopping by. Blessings to all.