Answer it?

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Sometimes in life we have a sense of foreboding, a phone rings and we know there is bad news on the other end of the receiver.
Do we pick it up and find out the feeling is true?
If we don’t, we will never know. If we do and it’s not what we expected, we are worried for nothing.
Perhaps there is the feeling at the pit of our stomach when we are speeding down the highway that makes us place our foot on the brake.
Have we averted a disaster, we wonder?
The answer may never be revealed or it can be bolstered in our mind when we find an accident just ahead of us.
We have been equipped with such feelings, some are innate, some are learned, some are simply inspired by God’s messengers speaking to our soul.
I know there was one night I was driving through the mountains on a road I knew like the back of my hand. Audibly in the cab of my truck I heard “Slow down!” There was no one to say it either in my vehicle or outside in the early morning hours in a sparsely inhabited area of the mountains.
As I rounded the next curve, just after slowing, there standing in the road were more deer than I had ever seen in one place in my life. I would have likely been killed at the speed I was going before, but the audible voice – changed the potential of my future.
Was it only in my head? Perhaps. Was it a woodsman whose voice cut through the speed, the radio, and the closed windows to be so audibly clear? Perhaps. I think it was one of God’s angels helping me thwart disaster.
There are many points in life an inner voice or an outer one could help us to steer clear of a place which will change the life we know in a negative way. I pray that we all hear it, heed it and hopefully make the appropriate choice.
Should you answer the phone? As Franklin Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear is simply – False Evidence Assumed Real. So, answer the phone, it may be good news.

Mountain Sounds from Ralph Stanley II

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Ralph Stanley II

The sounds of banjos and fiddles have kept my heart singing since childhood. From jam sessions to stage shows entertaining thousands, America’s music has charmed people around the world. One of the greatest stalwarts to forge the genre was the late Dr. Ralph Stanley, who I had the great honor to perform and record with. His son Ralph Stanley II continues the musical legacy with the Clinch Mountain Boys. He will welcome fans from around the world to the 50th Anniversary Dr. Ralph Stanley Hills of Home Festival in McClure, Va. May 25 through 28, 2022. I have been blessed to entertain there and it is a wonderful setting to hear bluegrass played the way it should be.
“The festival is always exciting because it’s held at the home place of the Stanley Brothers,” Ralph II said. “Being the 50th and having Ricky Skaggs returning makes it very special. He is the last of the original Clinch Mountain Boys that was there for the first festival appearing with dad, Jack Cook, Roy Lee Centers, Keith Whitley, and Curly Ray Cline.
“We want everybody to come out and enjoy the festival and help us keep it growing,” he said.
I spoke with the Grammy winning artist as he was doing performances in Florida. He is sharing songs from his latest albums “Lord Help Me Find the Way” and their self-titled album. Ralph has enjoyed three #1 songs in his career including “Beautiful Hills of Home”
“This is our 75th Anniversary Tour of the Clinch Mountain Boys and we are keeping it going on down the line,” he said. “We keep it true to where it began with the Stanley Brothers but I have more of a country feel to my vocals.”
He shared his vocal sound may reflect what the band might have had with his late uncle Carter at the helm without his dad.
In addition to Ralph, the Clinch Mountain Boys, currently includes banjoist Landon Fitzpatrick, fiddler Stanley Efaw, Caleb Shifflett on guitar and Randall Hibbitts on bass. To check out his latest music or other upcoming events, visit Ralph2.com .
“I think Bluegrass will always be around. I don’t think it will ever die,” he said. “As folks get older they go back to their roots and often that’s the music that they want hear.”
The week at McClure, Virginia features a who’s who in bluegrass with performances by Stanley, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Little Roy & Lizzy Show, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys, the Larry Stephenson Band, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers and many more. Weekly passes are $130. Most day tickets are $35 with Saturday being $40. Kids 12 and under are free. College students with college I.D. receive a 20% discount.
If you can make the trip to participate in this historic festival, visit drralphstanleyfestival.com to find out more. 

Strengthen the day

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Click, click, click, click, emanates from my sneakers as I walk along the hiking path ever hopeful that with each passing mile I am a little more fit and well on my way to losing the few pounds I am seeking to shed.

After opening boxes, and pulling jeans up only to find they will not close and a crowbar will be needed to get them back off. Read more

Are you the player or the pawn?

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Through out history people have often enjoyed classic games of thought and strategy such as chess.
It was one of the many games that fascinated me as a youth and how many hours were enjoyed with fellow enthusiasts in competition with each other.
It was a good training ground for many of the experiences which we face in life. These may include strategizing for success in life, business, relationships and of course in battles.
Prior to the presence of the internet, there were only a handful of players in most people’s lives – family, co-workers, bosses, and friends. On average the close circle for most were less that 20 with another 30 folks who might float in and out. This allowed most of us to keep a good handle upon the interactions and impact others might have upon us and on those we might affect.
With the advent of social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others we now extend our circle. The sky is the limit. However, many folks follow or friend us get the opportunity to cross our welcome mat and sit down with us metaphorically in our living room. They see what we want them to and we see what they want us to. We build relationships without ever actually shaking hands or being in the same room.
I want to pose a question for you. When looking at those that you regularly allow to engage with you in social media, are they folks you would bring into your home? Introduce to your family? Trust them to watch your children, or anything that you value in life?
Does your presence in social media allow you to be a pawn for others or is it allowing you to be the player using others as pawns? Neither situation is ultimately a good one. If other’s postings make you depressed or move you to an action or an emotion which you would have not otherwise experienced, you may be acting like a pawn in someone else’s game.
Do you spend your time creating posts with an attempt to move people to do something, react or say something outside their character? Then you may be a player helping move people on the social media board in a way that fuels the negative abyss often seen scrolling past in one’s feed.
There are people out there who gain joy by pitting other people against each other and simply watching the outcome. These are the players which we are inviting into our lives. Sadly, I know some of these people and often see through the cloaked attempts claiming good which ultimately creates something bad. So, sometimes I have fell victim becoming someone else’s pawn in a battle against someone I would have not otherwise impacted.
Don’t let yourself be a pawn for a person, a cause, or a debate without taking your blinders off. Choose carefully who you allow to become the players in your life and temper your choices on your movings in other’s lives. Don’t treat other as pawns in some mind game you are playing. The game of life is so much more fun when everyone knows that a game is underway and we are all playing knowing the rules.  So, shake hands, make the first move, hit the timer and love life.

I walk behind the mower, therefore I am

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When I began my working experience, I always looked forward to the arrival of warm weather.
I could hear my wallet growing exponentially with each inch rise of the green, green grass of home.
Well, maybe more like the neighbors’ grass since I didn’t get paid for mowing our yard.
When I was about 10, I saved enough money from my allowance to buy a second hand push mower and then set out to find willing partners in my desire to become a millionaire before age 11. Well, that is a slight exaggeration, I was mainly hoping for a few neighbors who would give me $10 every couple of weeks to mow their yards.
I amassed a pretty good list of clients which kept me busy as long as my allergies didn’t get the best of me.  Al Weidenmuller was the first I think agreeing to my business proposal, but I had to learn how to deal with raking magnolia leaves prior to each mowing; next was Ed Mikell – with more Magnolia leaves.
Then as I progressed down the street, I picked up the Neils, occasionally the Reeds, who had Zoysia and I learned to hate that type of grass because it was so hard to push. Also sometimes the Grosses.
The list grew overtime and eventually I had to enlist my father to help get me to and from in his truck as I press on beyond walking distance.
I found the time behind the push mower a time to think, dream, write songs along to the rhythm of the engine in harmony with hits hum.
As I look back, sometimes I wonder where that youthful exuberance went for the activity. I kept up the business until I finished college, even adding other landscaping tasks and working sometimes miles from my home. Eventually though, I slowly weened my customers off my services as I wanted to focus on finding my fit in the professional world after earning my degree.  Leaving me with just the task of mowing my own yard.
Through the years, I have liked the task less and less, giving me the understanding of why so many were willing to accept my eagerness to mow. My late mother use to draw great joy from hopping upon the riding mower and going full speed around the task as I weeded and pushed. She looked forward to it, possibly because it was something she could accomplish with her failing health and see a positive outcome.
Sometimes now I am even blessed by the kindness of a neighbor who will knock mine out with his. I am so happy when I see his kindness and as happy when I return the favor to him.
Sometimes I miss that young boy and young man who looked forward to the inch by inch progress of the green growth, as I sit on my back porch, I look more forward to the end of the growing season and often quip, I should do like Hollywood – just kill it and paint it green so it stays the same.
No matter where you are in your synergy with the mower and the grass, I hope you find your bliss with the endeavor and make joy in the fact that I walk behind (or ride upon) the mower, therefore I am.

When life hurts

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When life hurts, how do you find your way to around the pain?
I have communicated with numerous friends of late who have expressed that they were going through some painful moments in their life.
Some moments were personal emotional issues, some were related to career elements, some were relationship connected, and some were rooted in medical problems. No matter the source of the pain, it is very real to those who are experiencing it. Thus, we should never try to minimize to the speaker what one tells us about their own issues.
What do we do? How do we share comfort? Often times all we can do is just be there. We can hold a hand, lend an ear, share a word of encouragement.
Pain is sometimes a way of tempering our internal steel in hopes we can stand against the storms that are yet to come. We can only pray that when it hits us, we have the ability to weather the gale force winds of pain upon our soul or body.
It is those who share our lives, whether in passing or day-to-day who often provide the extra measure of hope needed to overcome the darkness that rise from within in various circumstances that confront us.
I would say most of us, no matter how much we have been blessed to do in following life’s dreams have thoughts and concerns that can cause us pain.
I know I do. The pain of what if’s can swallow time, happiness, and hope when we should be focusing on what will …
The only thing that gets beyond the bending of that weight is redirecting my thoughts: What will I do today to encourage some one? What will I do to find my path?
Obviously, we all have the same basic needs. Once we have the path in place that meets those needs then we can spend the rest of our time fulfilling the promise of the dreams that God provides us.
However, pursuing dreams does not equal achieving dreams. That is not in our hands, we simply must draw our satisfaction in the pursuit. Thus, the wisdom of our founders giving us the ability to live in a country where the pursuit of happiness is possible.
Use some hours to make the world a better place, if you are in pain, find someone who is suffering also and help uplift them and you will find your pain less severe.

A view from on high

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I slid around the edge of the roof of the house removing the gunk that had collected in the gutters. Being a musician my hands were such a vital part of my life, I always came away with them skinned up from the adventure.

Cleaning out gutters didn’t phase me at that time and I often hopped right up there no matter how high it was moving around easing the path for the rain water.

It had become a nice supplementary business to the lawns I mowed as a kid. I started those when I was around 10 and pretty much continued through college.

Even as I had achieved some notoriety performing for the Grand Ole Opry and major concert events around the country, I still mowed, raked and cleaned gutters for those long established clients I had built up through the years.

I once heard Tennessee Ernie Ford say as his career was developing, one of the criteria he looked at before moving on from something to bigger pastures, was to make sure that there was more cows in that field than the one he was already in.

I don’t think that is what kept me doing for those folks. Many of them were like family, some older and I knew it would be hard for them to find someone to replace me after so many years of my helping them. But eventually I did have to phase out of all those extra jobs and move on in life.

I even recall feeling a bit of guilt in leaving a couple in particular to find someone else to meet those needs.

While I think back fondly on those times sitting up on the roofs working with my thoughts about what I would do with my life flooding through my mind as I looked out around the neighborhood, unlike my younger self, I am no longer anxious to jump up on the roof to think.

However, I still spend time each day, thinking about what God has in store for me in life.

Dreams never seem to fade; there is always something new that is just over the horizon.

A new record, a new book, a new job, a new friendship, a new way to serve and accomplish something for someone else.

These days I still like to look out over the neighborhood as I think. Instead of sticking my hands down in the muck and filling up a bucket with it, now I find a high point on a mountainside, sit there with God’s word and take in the beauty all around me as I read, think and pray.

Perhaps it is something in the genes that I discovered as a kid looking out from those roofs, that there is an almost innate desire within me to be high up – in the mountains looking out and drinking deeply from God’s creation. It seems to renew my soul and provide a perfect backdrop to dream and ask for God’s guidance and His inspiration to know how to illuminate the path that He has in store.

Have you found your rooftop? Do you know where you can be inspired to make a difference?

If you do not have a place, I hope this week you will take some time and find a place to restore your soul as you dream for your future and what you can make happen in your family and community that will make our world a better place.

The American’s Creed

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Join us as we create the opportunity of bringing this project to film festivals and ultimately to viewers via the internet. Sponsors who will support our efforts are still welcome. Contact us for more info on how you may help. Send a check to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

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Also support the effort by ordering a T-Shirt (Small-2X) $30 and a DVD $25 including The American’s Creed, The Making of The American’s Creed and an hour of music from Randall Franks and the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree and solo performances too! Or get both for $50.

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The American’s Creed – Randall Franks


The American’s Creed and The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’

Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with a patriotic short film and documentary.


Awards and Recognitions

Spotlight Short Film Awards Bronze Award
Spotlight Short Film Bronze Award
Film Festival Recognition
Film Festival Recognition
High Tatras Film Festival Finalist
High Tatras Finalist
Castle Rock Film Festival Finalist
Castle Rock Finalist
Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards Official Selection
Hollywood Indie Selection
North Idaho Film Festival Recognition
North Idaho Recognition
Kalakari Film Festival Recognition
Kalakari Recognition
SATV Festival Recognition
SATV Recognition

About the Films

Poster for The Making of The American's Creed
The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’ Poster
Poster for The American's Creed
The American’s Creed Poster

Thank you to our sponsors:

Our films were entered in over 70 film festivals worldwide. The American’s Creed was a finalist and screened at the Tatras International Film Festival in Slovakia, the JEFF (Jinju English Film Festival) in South Korea, Castle Rock Film Festival in Colorado, and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival in Oklahoma, among others. It premiered in Ringgold at the Colonnade and debuted publicly online on April 1 on Randall Franks TV.

Watch on:
YouTube |
Brighteon |
X

The Making of The American’s Creed won the Bronze Award at the Spotlight Short Film Awards in January 2024, received an Honorable Mention at the Castle Rock Film Festival in Colorado, and screened at the Kalakari Film Festival in India and the Hollywood Best Indie Film Festival, among others.

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These projects are broadcasting on Randall Franks TV on Rumble, YouTube, X, and Brighteon, marking the beginning of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.

The American’s Creed (Instrumental)

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Production Details

Director Randall Franks, known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s In the Heat of the Night, wrote a screenplay inspired by the patriotic words of his kinsman William Tyler Page, penned in 1917 and adopted as The American’s Creed. Cinematographer Eric T. Jackson helped bring this historical drama set during the American Revolution to life.

Actors Randall Franks and Butch Culpepper on location in Chickamauga, Ga.
Randall Franks and Butch Culpepper in Chickamauga

In the storyline, American colonist Robert B. Shields of Virginia, played by Franks, responds to a request from his cousin George Washington to muster men from the western frontier for the revolution in the 1770s. The project was filmed in Chickamauga, Ga. at the historic Gordon Lee Mansion and surrounding locations.

Cinematographer Eric T. Jackson, Actor Evan A. Jackson, and Director Randall Franks
Eric T. Jackson, Evan A. Jackson, and Randall Franks

The cast includes Franks, Tina Brewer, Wesley Crider, Evan A. Jackson, Butch Culpepper, Ronald K. Melton Jr., Robert E. Jones, Maggie Suits, Donald Benkis, Elaine Benkis, Dennis L. Jones, Ashley Robillard, John Francis, Cassandra Group, Gabriel Group, and Colton Buckles. Actor/wrangler Butch Culpepper contributed his talents and his film horses, Charlie and Dollar.

Period costumer Tina Brewer supervised costumes, supported by Ronald K. Melton Jr. and Robert E. Jones. Special thanks to Kathy Graham of It’s Sew Time for donating a hair ribbon for “Capt. Shields.” Catering was provided by Choo Choo BBQ & Grill of Chickamauga.

Director Randall Franks guides actors Ronald Melton, Robert Jones, and Wesley Crider
Randall Franks directing Ronald Melton, Robert Jones, and Wesley Crider

Special thanks to the City of Chickamauga mayor, council, staff, and residents for their support during production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Recognition

Randall Franks presented Bronze Award Posters to the City of Chickamauga Mayor and City Council, Catoosa County Chairman and Board of Commissioners, and the Fort Oglethorpe Mayor and City Council in April and May of 2025.

Chickamauga Council with Randall Franks
From left: Chickamauga Councilmember Mathew Nave, City Manager Micheal Haney, Councilmember David Jones, Actor/Director Randall Franks, Mayor Trey Deck, Mayor Pro Tem Evitte Parrish, Councilmember Rhonda Jacks, and Councilmember Lee Miller.
Fort Oglethorpe Council with Randall Franks
Thanks to Mayor Earl L. Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Rhonda James, Councilmembers Paula G. Stinnett, Craig Crawford, Derek Rogers, Jim Childs, City Manager Molly Huhn, and City Attorney Robert Stultz.
Catoosa County Board of Commissioners with Randall Franks
Thanks to Chairman Steven Henry, Commissioners Charlie Stephens, Richard Tharpe, Chuck Harris, and Jeff Long for supporting this patriotic project.

Trivia

Trivia: Actor/director Randall Franks, who portrays a cousin of George Washington in the film, is a close cousin of founding fathers George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson.

Portrait of George Washington
George Washington

He is also a kinsman to John Adams and James Monroe.

Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, 48 were Randall’s family members.

Tina Brewer as Sister Sophie with Maggie Suits as Jamie Shields
Sister Sophie (Tina Brewer) and Jamie Shields (Maggie Suits)

Randall is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

William Tyler Page, author of The American's Creed
William Tyler Page, author of The American’s Creed

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Music and Soundtrack

Randall Franks released the music video “The American’s Creed – Recitation” in October 2024 and the instrumental version to enhance the film’s patriotic theme.

Watch on:
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Brighteon

Randall Franks and Wesley Crider recording at Tim Witt Studios
Randall Franks and Wesley Crider at Tim Witt Studios

The album The American’s Creed reached #7 on the AirPlay Direct Global Americana Albums chart and #40 on the TOP 50 Global Albums chart in April 2024. All tunes and songs charted in the top 40, with those related to the films landing in the top 20. The singles “The American’s Creed (Recitation)” reached #5 and “The American’s Creed Movement 2” reached #6 on the AirPlay Direct Americana Singles chart.

Streaming on:
Rumble |
YouTube |
Brighteon

Randall Franks Album Cover
Randall Franks Album Cover

Radio can find recordings at AirPlay Direct.

Included on the album are performances by Randall Franks and the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, two 40th Anniversary recordings with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, and a 70th Anniversary Tribute to Andy Griffith’s What It Was, Was Football. Learn more at our webpage.

Special thanks to Greg Jackson for creating the art for the album cover.

Purchase the album on:
iTunes |
Amazon Music

Support the Project

Join us in bringing this project to film festivals and viewers worldwide. Support our efforts by purchasing merchandise, donating, or becoming a sponsor. Send checks to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.


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Orders may also be sent via mail to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

The American's Creed T-Shirt
The American’s Creed T-Shirt

 

Northwest Georgia actor Randall Franks presents wrestling film memorabilia

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American TV actor Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” commemorates his participation 33 years ago in Hulk Hogan’s film “No Holds Barred,“ which debuted at #2 behind Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Franks (right) presents a special memorabilia donation to Paul Lee at the Turnbuckle Bar & Grill in Ringgold for display including photos from that set with Tiny Lister, Hogan, “In the Heat of the Night,“ as well as publicity stills. “I spent 10 days playing a wealthy wrestling enthusiast in one of my earliest film experiences, it was a great opportunity to meet many key people who would later open other doors for me.” The wrestling-themed restaurant is owned by wrestling celebrity Paul Lee, who is marking 40 years in the sport working with the WCW, USWA, AWF and WWA federations. He holds 35 titles for single and tag team wrestling. He hosts wrestling events regularly at his Circus Tent Arena, also in Ringgold.

Randall Franks and Wesley Crider set tempo for new film

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American Actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” recently joined internationally known finger-style guitarist Wesley Crider, both of Ringgold, Ga., for a recording session. The duo was creating original music for Randall’s short film “The American’s Creed” in Tim Witt Studios near LaFayette, Ga. “I am looking forward to folks hearing the four unique movements of music we have created to underscore the emotions of the actors,” Frank’s said. “Wesley brought an amazing sense of timing and style to enhance my ideas with the fiddle.” Expected for release later in 2022, the film set during the American Revolutionary War was shot on location at the Gordon Lee Mansion in Chickamauga. From left is engineer Witt, Crider and Franks. (Photo: Randall Franks Media)