Biff Price's Blog

On that first morning of the world
it’s said we fell from grace
Since then our punishment is such
we cannot see His face

Down through the ages we have sought
to walk with Him again
We build great monuments of stone
for Him to dwell within

We’ve written hymns of ringing praise
for organ, pipe and voice
Raise high our hands to heaven’s height
and pray we are His choice

Great altars have been made with hands
the cups of purest gold
Such soaring windows of stained glass
with colors bright and bold

Marble, silver, onyx, sapphire
pews of richest wood
Linen, lace and incense burning
all beautiful and good

Then, in the midst of these great works
there stands a little child
He smiles at us in innocence
with His face, meek and mild


Copyright © 2001 – Biff Price

All Things New
If we say that all things are made new in this New Year, what do we mean?Will our faith, hope and love be new – re-born at the stroke of midnight? Are we new…in our resolve to love Him, to take up our cross and follow Him, to fight the good fight, and to move on in our journey to the prize – our citizenship in His Kingdom?
Are we, as it is said in the world of men, new and improved?Will our passage from one year to the next be a benchmark upon which we will look back and exclaim, “That was the moment I truly believed…the moment when I took up the mantle and stepped into a new life of love and service to Him and to others!”
Or, with the chime of the hour will we merely pass from one day into another without change or alteration…to continue as if there is no significance at all to this moment?Man has made sundials, clocks and calendars to track the swift movement of the sun and constellations across the heavens…to measure out the days of life.
Do we stand at a threshold of a new thing? Do we choose to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength and our mind…and to love our neighbors as ourselves?
Or…do we continue unchanged with business as usual?Here’s to the happiest of New Year’s…the choice is ours to make.

Copyright© 2012 – Biff Price

We continue our series of interviews with the characters in the forthcoming The Reconstructionists, sequel to The Revolutionists. This time, we have the great pleasure of speaking to the First Lady, Joan Stonebreaker.Biff: “Mrs. Stonebreaker, it is very gracious of you to take some of your time today to speak about your family and concerns as First Lady of the United States. I know that you keep a very busy schedule. I suppose the most obvious question everyone asks you is what it’s like to be married to the President of the United States?”First Lady: (laughing), Why, Biff…I didn’t realize that he was the President…I thought he was my husband…”Biff: “Now, you’re teasing me, Mrs. Stonebreaker…”First Lady: “Why, of course I am, Biff. He is the President, and I am very much aware of that fact every day. His days begin very early and end late, but we always have dinner together. We spend as much time as we can together. When we are in the White House we take our dinner break, no matter what…unless, of course, we are having a State dinner or entertaining others. Michael and I have an understanding…while the nation always comes first while he is serving as President, our relationship is important, as well.”Biff: “I know that the two of you are very close…”First Lady: “We’ve been nearly inseparable, at least in spirit, since we took our vows. His job took him off to war, the military posted us many places before we came to Washington, and when duty calls he answers. However, we are never far away from each other no matter what circumstances face us. I travel more now than I ever did before. As a former teacher it’s my concern that our nation improves our educational progress. Michael backs me up all the way on that issue. I’ve been addressing gatherings throughout the states. Some people were upset when we chose to close down the Department of Education, but we didn’t need to spend tax money on it. The states can handle their own educational needs. We’ve been seeing real increases in performance in test scores, and our state-run Inner City Education Initiative with school vouchers has opened doors for urban students that had been closed to them. It is a very exciting time.Biff: “There has been a lot of criticism because the federal department was closed…”First Lady: “Yes, Biff…I know that, but the results don’t lie. The media can rant and rave all they want to. It doesn’t change the fact that for the first time our ranking on the world education stage is rising again. Our kids are coming alive to the opportunities they see. Society is changing. The economic walls that locked people in ghettos are being pulled down all over America. Welfare is going the way of the dinosaur. Jobs are coming back. Real hope is growing. It’s an exciting time in our nation!”Biff: “I can’t disagree with you there. However, there is a question I’d like to ask you that people would like to know about, if it’s all right?”First Lady: “Of course, Biff. Ask away…”Biff: “What do you and the President consider most important in your marriage?”First Lady: “Faith, family and friendships. We attend church every Sunday, and we’ve made it a practice to go to a different church each week whenever possible. Our faith allows us to trust in the Lord, who is far greater than ourselves. We spend time praying for this nation and all our people every day. The President and I are grounded in the truth, and we don’t make decisions without relying on God. I realize that there are millions of people who don’t believe in anything but their own needs and desires, and that must be a truly terrifying way to live. Life without hope and faith would be frightening!“Family is second on our list. We make time for each other, as well as for our children when they are here. There is nothing more important than family relationships. I am fortunate to still have my parents and my brother and sister. Michael still has his Mom, and Henry, his brother, is my husband’s great counselor. Michael relies on his advice, and mine, too. We are blessed, and we know it. There are so many one-parent families in our nation today…and that is terribly sad. I wish for everyone what we are privileged to have. If there was a way to provide a Dad…or a Mom…to every kid who needs one, I would see to it immediately.  “Last, but not least, we have friendship. There are no greater friends that Vice President and Mrs. Dryden. They are two of the most extraordinary people on this planet. Beyond them there are many, many others who are what Michael and I call the 3:00 a.m. people. They’re the ones who always show up at 3:00 a.m. when you call for help because they love you…and you love them back. We are wealthy in friends!“When you have what we have, that is a rock solid way to live. Michael and I love each other as much as the day we were married. No, I must correct myself. That’s not true! What is true is that we love each other far more than the day we stood in the chapel and took our vows before God. Our loves grows each passing day. That’s what I wanted to say.” Biff: Thank you, Mrs. Stonebreaker. It sounds like your formula for a happy marriage works very well.First Lady: “Biff…you’re most welcomed. It’s too bad that so many people try to make it through life without God’s love and guidance. When you have Him, you have a solid foundation for success. The troubles in this world would be overwhelming to us if we did not have our faith. Now, I have to say goodbye. I have a dinner date that I don’t want to miss!”Biff: Thank you again. 

Music: Bringing People TogetherIn a recent post I stated that I thought music was a huge factor in bettering race relations in the USA. I stand by that statement. Let’s discuss a little history here. Prior to 1956, black singers and groups could not usually get their music played on white radio stations, so white groups and singers sometimes did “cover” versions of black songs, and these received air play.Things changed in 1956 when The Penguins released Earth Angel. It was a national hit, and the walls began to come down in regard to music by black singers and groups. In the early 60’s I was doing record hops where I played all kinds of music. It was not unusual to have 700 kids in the hall we used for such events. Music is music, and when people like it they dance to it, sing along with it, and try to emulate their favorite performers. Fans performed popular songs in high school musical shows decades before karaoke came along, and embraced their idols by buying their singles and albums. Their enjoyment of the musicianship and the lyrics swelled into a musical tidal wave that swept the world. Before the Beatles invaded America, America invaded the world with Rock ‘n Roll. There are many who will argue about who made the first Rock ‘n Roll record. As far as I am concerned, Bill Haley and the Comets did it in the summer of 1954 when they released Rock Around the Clock. Few knew how to dance to it, but people loved it. Then, the record was featured in a movie called Blackboard Jungle in 1955, starring Glenn Ford, Sidney Poitier, Anne Francis, and Vic Morrow. The movie tells the story of conflicts within a tough inner-city school where Glenn Ford plays a high school teacher confronting teenage angst, best displayed by Vic Morrow. Rock Around the Clock was used over the opening and closing credits, and thanks to the film’s notoriety the song spent eight weeks at the number one spot on the music charts in 1955. Thanks to Dick Clark and American Bandstand, the hits kept on coming, and the music world shifted again on its axis when a young African-American songwriter named Berry Gordy borrowed $800.00 from his family to found Motown Records in 1959. What happened? Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Jackson Five, Mary Wells, Michael Jackson, the Commodores, Jimmy Ruffin, the Isley Brothers, the Contours, Junior Walker, and many, many more. That’s what happened!When people love music they also love the performers. They can’t get enough of their favorites! Segregated society didn’t stand a chance against the caliber of these gifted artists! They broke down the barriers between people with every single and album they released. It was no contest. When the Beatles invaded in 1964, the debt they owed to the ones who had gone before them was duly noted. Music changed hairstyles and clothing, added  “cool” and “groovy” to our language, and changed attitudes and society itself. Rock would evolve into many forms as the years passed, but the catalyst was how people felt about the music, and how they came to view each other. A list of all the forces within society that contributed to tearing down the walls between blacks and whites would have to include Dr. King and the marches he led, landmark legislation, the Vietnam War, Woodstock in 1969, the moon landing, Kent State, and coming to understand why prejudice has no place to stand in America. We danced, sang, and dreamed to the music, and the music helped to set us free to respect and love each other. So, we close this blog with a smile and a nod to Sonny and Cher… because the beat really does go on! 

Get Down, Get Funky with Biff
There’s something I have not shared with my readers until now and there’s no way to hide it any longer. You see, well...it’s because…gee, do I really have to do this? Oh, all right, I guess there’s no way to avoid it. Here goes. “Hi…my name is Biff…and I was…a disc jockey. Yep, yes, yeah…a disc jockey. I played Rock ‘n Roll on the radio.To borrow a phrase from my youth, I was one of the ‘boss jocks playing the boss hits that the boss told me to play!’ Get down…get funky!”There…I’ve admitted it. I spent  ten years as a disc jockey. I played the great and the not-so-great. I played those who ended up with careers that never ended, and the one-hit wonders who were heard…and then heard no more! From Elvis to Motown, from the Beatles to Nashville, from Neil Diamond to the Righteous Brothers, from the Beach Boys to the Drifters, and on and on, I was privileged to play the hits. They were new when I played them, and now they’re called oldies. I have a host of favorites and listing them would take a long time, so, I won’t do that. However, I will tell a story...or two. One night, my girlfriend (now wife) and I went out for an evening of dancing at a roadside club. There was a group on the bandstand that night that I had never heard before. They were absolutely fantastic. Turned out to be a yet-to-be-known group called the Temptations! (My Girl, Get Ready, You’re my Everything, I Wish it Would Rain, etc., etc.)
A few years later, another disc jockey and I spent an evening with Davy, Peter, Micky and Michael, enjoying the debut of their new movie at a private theater in Philadelphia. You might have known them as The Monkees. Their TV show was a hit from 1965 to 1971.
The turbulent times of that era gave birth to many things, good and bad. I’ll leave other stories for other times. However, as the decade ended, I moved on to do other things in the broadcasting industry. While one’s preferences are always subjective, I believe the “best” Rock ‘n Roll song came out in 1971. The lyrics of the song tell a story, and I like stories. Perhaps that is why I am a writer. Don McLean did the song titled American Pie. This iconic hit sums up the hopes, dreams, and despair of an America that was going through many changes, not the least of which were the divisions caused by the Vietnam War, and the clash of generations between Woodstock and mainstream America. “The times were a changing”with a “Thank You” to Bob Dylan.
It is my personal belief that music was the single most powerful force that helped to heal the separation between the races in America. After all, it was impossible to love the songs and hate the singers. As the hits of Motown swept over America, kids danced, and understanding and acceptance followed. It is appropriate to end this with part of a lyric from one of the great hits by the late Marvin Gaye, “Right on!” As to where music has led us today, well, I’ll leave that judgment up to you.

President Stonebreaker on The ReconstructionistsTo celebrate the release of the sequel, The Reconstructionists, I have been asked to conduct a series of interviews with main characters that began their journey in the first book The Revolutionists. We continue with part two of our interview with Michael Stonebreaker, the President of the United States, who was chosen for the job by the mysterious and highly secretive organization called The Movement.
Biff: Mr. President, if you could spend the day with someone you admire - living or dead or imaginary - who would you pick?POTUS: That’s an easy question, Biff. My father. Every man, no matter how old they are, needs a father to talk to when life gets difficult. While my grandfather…we called him the Old Man...was smart, my Dad was like a rock in a storm. He wasn’t much of a talker, just like his father, but when he spoke other men stopped speaking. I’m named after him, and I’m proud to carry his name. There are days in this job when I feel very much alone. When those times come, I wish with all my heart that I could say, “Dad, what would you do?” He kept my brother Henry and I on the straight course when we were growing up. Both of us had the greatest respect for him. He never had to tell us to do something twice. I miss his insights…and even more than that...I miss his quiet presence.Biff:  It’s good that you feel that way about him. I guess not everyone had a dad like yours.POTUS: “Yes, I’m very lucky. That’s why I’m so grateful to still have my mom. Both of them are extraordinarily good people. Dad was the kind of person who helped when no one asked for it. He understood the role pride has in the lives of men. We had a neighbor who was a Vietnam vet, like Dad, and the man fell on hard times. He had lost his job, and he was drinking heavily. His children were grown with families of their own, and they lived far away. The man’s wife had died. He was too proud to ask the government for anything.     When Dad found out the bank was going to take his house from the man, he went there and talked to the loan officer. He took over the man’s payments, and he swore the banker to secrecy. Eventually, Dad told him about a job at the supermarket. He also invited him to come to church. His friend agreed to interview for the job, and he came to church that Sunday. He stopped drinking.     Dad had arranged for the job, too. The supermarket manager was another friend who was also sworn to secrecy. The vet took the job and be became responsible again. He tried to find out who was protecting him when he was down and out, but no one would tell him. He worked hard and ended up the supervisor of the maintenance crew. Dad’s pride had been preserved.    When Dad died, the vet spoke about him at the funeral. He had figured out what happened years before, and he told the story to everyone there. There wasn’t a dry eye to be seen. The man said, “Michael Stonebreaker understands what Jesus said…that we should do our good in secret, and give the credit to the Lord. I never had a brother of my own until I met him. He’s my brother. He carried me when I didn’t even know that he was doing it. I love him so much that I have no words to thank him properly. All I can say is that he was a man of God who never preached a sermon, but he touched my life forever.” That’s the kind of man my father was, Biff. Now you know why I miss him so much.Biff: That is very moving, Mr. President. Your Dad was an extraordinary man…POTUS: “At the risk of a correction, Biff, my Dad IS an extraordinary man. He’s in heaven and heaven waits for those who are like him. I can’t count all the people he touched in positive ways while he walked this earth. I look forward to the day when I will see him again.” Biff: Your correction is merited, Mr. President. Thank you. Now I’d like to move on to the attack on the United States. If I may, I would like to ask you how that made you feel, Sir?POTUS: At the risk of being sarcastic, Biff, I would answer that you ought to know exactly how it made me feel. After all, you wrote the story!Biff: I’m sorry, Mr. President. I didn’t mean to…POTUS: No, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that…as a military man, you can guess how I felt when it happened. As the Commander-in-Chief, it is my first responsibility to protect every American. I was angry beyond words. The people in the Situation Room knew how I felt when they saw my face. No one in the world should be stupid enough to attack our nation. Those who do are going to get a world of hurt in return. Those who read the new novel will discover what I chose to do about the attack.Biff:  Would you be able to give us just a hint about what you did?POTUS: Now you know I can’t do that, Biff! Give away the story after all the work you put into  it? That wouldn’t be fair. Besides, the book has a lot more in it than my solution to the problem. The man who loves the Gulf is back in this novel. His son, Rick, plays a big role in the events that take place. There are villains, Navy S.E.A.L.s, Marines, jihadists, Mexican cartels…even romance!Biff: Romance, Mr. President? Can you elaborate?POTUS: I can say that the story resolves every problem and issue we have ever had between Mexico and the United States! It’s totally plausible, and it’s too bad the people in Washington, D.C. never thought of it. I’m proud of the work we do to fix things. It may well be the most important novel published this year!Biff: That sounds fantastic. So, people will have to read The Reconstructionists to learn how we can solve all these problems…like drug cartels, and people coming over the border, and…POTUS: Yes, The Reconstructionists is a great book!  One of my favorite parts is when the Movement brings The Supremes to Iran…Biff: The supreme leader? Why would we do that?POTUS: No, I mean the singing group.Biff: You mean…with Diana Ross?”POTUS: Precisely! I laughed so hard I thought I would explode!Biff: Can’t you tell us what happens?POTUS: They’ll see in the book, Biff. It’s outrageously funny!Biff: Thank you, Mr. President!POTUS: You’re welcome…and tell everybody to read the book…especially those folks in Washington. Perhaps they’ll realize that a solution to the border problem actually exists. That would be a wonderful thing!

The Reconstructionists, sequel to The Revolutionists, arrives very soon. In anticipation, we’ve been asked to interview characters you may have met in the first book who return in the second story. Two years have passed and Michael Stonebreaker is back, mid-way through his first term as President of the United States. He has agreed to sit down with us and discuss the things that are on his mind.Biff:  Mr. President, if you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?POTUS: Well, Biff, there is no such thing as a free day in this job. Others may take a day off, but I don’t have that luxury. I guess that my favorite thing is hiking the hills around Clear Haven, my hometown, with Joan at my side. There are some absolutely beautiful vistas that I know about. If I had the time, that’s where I would be on any given day.Biff: On that note, what kind of impression do you make on people when they first meet you? POTUS: I’m a simple man, but I guess I come off as a little intense, at times. I like people, and I am ready to give them a chance to talk. Listen, this job isn’t about me. I want our people to be safe and secure. I respect those who love this country, and I tolerate those that don’t…up to a point. I admit that I’m a law and order kind of guy and that may be intimidating to some…but I believe you can’t have order without self-discipline. That’s the military in me. Biff: How about after they've known you for a while?POTUS: The media might disagree, but I am a good guy. I believe in having fun when I can. You can’t make everybody happy in this job. Trying to do that turns people into  politicians, and that’s something I’m never going to be.Biff: What are you most proud of in your life?POTUS: That might require a long answer. I’m proud of my family. They have served this nation in its uniforms and its wars. My grandfather was in the Army in a tank battalion in World War II. My father was a Marine who fought in Vietnam. I love West Point, and I was privileged to lead incredible soldiers in harm’s way. Not all of them made it back. They are the real heroes in this country. I love America with every fiber of my being and I want every citizen to be truly proud of our nation. We are a blessed people. Those who understand what patriotism is will understand me. As I said, I am a simple man. From a material standpoint, I need a roof over my head, a job to do with all my might, and three squares a day. No one will ever accuse me of being an Epicurean, an elitist, or power hungry. If you can’t look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day, you’d best stop what you’re doing and leave well enough alone.Biff: What are you most ashamed of in your life?POTUS: You do remember that I am the President of the United States, don’t you?Biff: Of course, Mr. President. I didn’t mean to offend you--POTUS: Relax, Biff. No one has ever asked me that question before. You have to have a sense of proportion when you sit in this chair. And a sense of humor helps, too. Truthfully, what comes to mind is an incident from my boyhood. My brother Henry and I were shooting our BB guns in the backyard when we hit a neighbor’s window. My mother was upset about what we did, and my father took us to the building behind our house to administer the belt! Instead of beating us, he beat an old saddle. Mom thought we’d gotten a real hide tanning for our crime, and she was weeping when we left the building feigning our “whipping.” No one ever told her the truth, least of all Dad. I guess…now that you’ve asked me… she’ll find out the truth. I’ve never told anyone about this in public. Boy, I guess I’m going to be in trouble with my Mom!Biff: Mr. President, if that is your most shameful act I think the nation is in very good hands. Do you want me to put in a good word with your mother?POTUS: I think it might be too late for that, Biff. Biff: (Laughing) Thank you, Mr. President. It will be all right, I’m sure!POTUS: That’s easy for you to say. You don’t know my Mom!Biff: One more thing, President Stonebreaker.  What's your idea of a good marriage? POTUS: The easiest answer I could give you, Biff, is my own marriage. I am so much in love with Joan that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night just to lie there in the darkness and be at peace because she is next to me. This job is stressful, and anyone who thinks it is easy doesn’t know much about it. Joan is like a force of nature in my life. She is the best person I know, or that I ever hope to meet. She’s the most centered person I know. As a teacher, she loves children. As a wife, she loves me, our children, and her extended family. She is the most wonderful friend I have, as well.     While I cannot speak to her about classified situations, I can sit down and talk to her about things that weigh on me without going into detail. Her insights are most often right. Her intuitive understanding comes from the goodness of her heart. When we were married at the chapel at West Point, I knew that it was a lifetime commitment. If we lived for a thousand years…or ten thousand, I would want her by my side. We don’t simply have a good marriage: our marriage was arranged by the One we pray to each day. You see, Joan and I are united in our faith, and marriages that are constituted before the Lord are marriages that are eternal. If people understood that they are taking a vow before God, they would not enter into marriages so lightly, or divorce so easily. A vow taken before God Himself is not to be broken.Biff: I don’t believe I have ever heard marriage described that way before. 
Check back to see the remainder of the interview with President Stonebreaker coming soon!