Chuck Spinner
A Book of Prayers: To the Heavens from the Stars
Author Chuck Spinner has very successfully
compiled a book of favorite prayers from over 100 well known
celebrities. Included among these famous people are Oscar
winners; Heisman Trophy recipients; Olympic Gold Medalists; Four-star
Generals; a Nobel Peace Prize recipient; and even a Monarch and three
former Miss Americas. Prayers have come from the only pitcher to
ever record a perfect World Series game; from the player who hit "the
shot heard round the world"; from the only two time Heisman trophy
winner; and from the only undefeated four time NCAA wrestling
champion. Former Cleveland Browns All-Pro lineman, Doug Dieken
writes the Foreword and Spinner writes a chapter on the qualities and
power of prayer along with engaging introductions to each of the
celebrities.
To the Heavens from the Stars
concludes with quotes from famous historical figures on the
significance and power of prayer. The book highlights both
religion and history and illustrates that athletes, entertainers, and
governmental officials can and do provide models for prayer in one's
life. Former Detroit Tiger pitcher Virgil Trucks wrote Spinner
that he thinks the author's book of prayers will be the greatest book
ever written. The author is more comforted by the words of former
U.S. Open winner, Scott Simpson, who wrote him that he hoped that "God
honors you for honoring Him."
Chuck was born in 1946 and raised in Naperville,
Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He graduated from Conception
Seminary College in 1968, but left his seminary studies at that point
and began a 33-year teaching career in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.
Spinner taught high school Social Studies classes for twenty-one years
in the Parma City School District and for twelve years for the Shaker
Heights City schools.
Chuck and his wife, Patrice, have been married 37
years. Their son Scott and his wife, Ellen, have two boys, Caleb
and Joshua, who are the apples of their grandparents' eyes!
Spinner was named a Jennings Scholar and a Jennings
Master Teacher Award recipient in 1979 and has also been designated as
a Kent State Read Scholar and a John D. Rockefeller Scholar.
Since their marriage in 1970 Chuck and Patrice have
vacationed each summer at Lake Chautauqua in southwestern New
York. In 1998 they realized a life long dream by buying a cottage
on the lake.
Spinner has always enjoyed writing and since
retirement has enjoyed creating articles in the program for the local
single A Jamestown baseball team. He also has composed a
religious song "My God has been good to me".
"Dear Father, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can
hear me, show me the way. I'm at the end of my rope. Show
me the way, oh God." - George Bailey (as played by Jimmy Stewart)
in
It's a Wonderful Life.
Karolyn Grimes - Actress
"Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn."
Most film buffs immediately can associate this movie line with Clark
Gable in the classic movie,
Gone With the Wind. But few people can identify the actress credited with the following lines from an equally famous movie
It's a Wonderful Life:
"Each time a bell rings, an angel get his wings!" Those lines
were spoken in 1946 by a little six year old actress, Karolyn Grimes,
who was playing the part of
Zuzu in the film.
Up to the point when Karolyn played that part in the
movie she herself had lived a wonderful life. To that point in
her young life she had been in four films and would ultimately end up
with roles in sixteen movies featuring the likes of movie greats John
Wayne, Betty Grable, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Loretta Young.
However, Karolyn, unlike Shirley Temple to whom she
was sometimes compared, would have her movie career cut short by
tragedy. Karolyn's mother died of early-onset Alzheimer's and her
father was killed in a car crash. Subsequently Karolyn, an only
child, was sent by the courts to live with a family in Osceola,
Missouri, far from the lights of Hollywood.
Her first marriage ended in divorce. Her
ex-husband was killed two years later in a hunting accident. Her
second husband died of lung cancer. The youngest child of her
blended family of seven children committed suicide. Still
thinking you're having a bad day?
I contacted Karolyn and asked her if she knew the origins of the name
Zuzu, the
famous character she played who recited those memorable lines in that
epic Christmas tale. Little did I know what a wonderful anecdotal
response I would receive from Karolyn:
"The original story of IAWL came from a Christmas
card written by Philip Van Dorenstern. Eventually it became a
book titled
The Greatest Gift. When Frank Capra got this
project, he got some other screenwriters involved and had them write
screen adaptations. One of the people he used was a man named
Clifford Odette. He is the man who came up with the name.
Capra ended up using the three different scripts along with his own
ideas to come up with his final version.
Around the early 1900's, there was a product called
Zuzu's Ginger Snaps made by the National Biscuit Company. Today
that company is Nabisco. It featured a little clown called Zuzu
on all its advertising. George Bailey comes home after he finds
that he is alive again and he runs upstairs to see his children.
I run out the door and he exclaims 'Zuzu, my little Gingersnap'!"
****************************************************
Karolyn sent a beautiful response that
explained the reason she selected the 23rd Psalm as her favorite
prayer. Obviously, Karolyn is looking beyond a wonderful life to
a wonderful eternity. "The prayer that has sustained me
throughout the years of my life is simply the 23rd Psalm. I first
heard the prayer when Cary Grant recited it to me during the movie
The Bishop's Wife.
It has become my mantra since those early days of my life. He
talked about the meaning of the verse and little did I know the
adversity that I would face throughout my life and still do. 'The
Lord is my sheperd I shall not want' has encouraged me to ask for help
when needed and to give thanks when needed as well. He guides me
through 'still waters' and when crisis hits he guides me through 'the
valley of death'. He gives me strength to fear no evil and gives
me the promise of a wonderful eternity."
The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil; for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
