Posted on 05/15/2014 5:50:27 AM PDT by Phillyred
The father of the modern duck call and star of the A&E hit reality series “Duck Dynasty,” Phil Robertson, paid a visit to the Calvary Church in Hilltown May 10 to share some tales of fortune and faith as part of Plumstead Christian School’s speaker series. With him, he brought a bag full of duck calls, his eldest son, Al, and a few frank words.
After an introduction by Plumstead Headmaster Patrick Fitzpatrick and an ovation from the packed auditorium, Robertson dove into his bag, withdrawing the duck call that launched his family business, Duck Commander, into economic majesty.
“This is the mallard drake,” he told the crowd, humming a bass note into the call to create a low croaking sound. “No one in America had ever come up with this. Remember, Pennsylvania: if you can think of something that no one else has ever thought of on the planet, people will have to pay [you] $20 to get one. It’s called starting from nothing.”
Fitzpatrick then kicked off the night’s question-and-answer forum, asking Phil and Al to describe how they came to embrace Christianity.
For Al, it was hitting rock bottom as a teenager in New Orleans, La., having what he referred to as a “crowbar conversation” with the husband of the woman with whom he was sleeping. The beating he took sent him back to God, he said. Not long after that, he became a pastor at White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, La., where he remained for about 20 years before joining his brothers on the fourth season of “Duck Dynasty” in 2013.
Phil had a similar tale: “I’m a product of the 1960s in America,” he said. “Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Basically it was all sin. Get high, get drunk, get laid. I ran with the wicked for 26 years,” until, one day, he “turned to Jesus, made an about-face with a Bible under my arm.”
“You can leave this Earth alive,” Phil said regarding his spiritual awakening. “I make no apologies — I would like to get in on that action.”
During the student question-and-answer portion of the night, Plumstead senior Kendall Griffith asked the Robertsons what they enjoyed most about being on national television. Phil’s response surprised the audience.
“I’m telling you, I don’t like it,” he said. “Maybe I’m too old, but I just don’t like doing it. It’s [a film crew of] 35 people surrounding you, inside your living room. I mean, they just roll in, people you’ve never seen before in your life. Hour after hour after hour. I guarantee you, if most of you had to do that, you’d say, ‘No way.’”
“That’s what makes him so funny on the show,” Al said. “I laugh at dad’s part because I know how much he hates doing it.”
The next student question was a bit heavier. It came from senior Bill Leidy who asked Phil if he regretted the comments he made about homosexuals during a recent interview with GQ Magazine.
“Not at all,” Phil replied.
“It would take a complete fool to look, beginning at Sodom and Gomorrah and going throughout the Bible, and say, ‘Homosexual behavior is not a sin.’ We know better than that ... All those sins can be wiped away, Pennsylvania. But acknowledge whatever immoral conduct you’ve done.
“Look, there’s a thousand ways you can sin sexually. I’ve been a fornicator, an adulterer, are you kidding? I told you, the ‘60s — that’s sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. One’s not any worse than another. Little white lie, maybe sexual immorality, little stealing; it’s all just sin, and look at the price you pay for it. I’m one who just repented, but I can’t tell somebody with a straight face, ‘Well, dude, that’s your life.’ I love him enough to say, ‘Hey, dude, turn from that. Find your woman. She’s got more to offer anyway.’”
“I’m worried about their souls,” he said, finally.
The last question of the night was posed by Fitzpatrick, who asked his guests to name their personal heroes.
After a beat, Phil said, simply, “Clint Eastwood, going across the west, wackin’ ’em and stackin’ ’em.”
“My heroes are the ones who stand up for Christ and do what they’re called to do,” Al said.
The headmaster then asked Phil if he had a final message to end the night.
“If you’re in the audience and you don’t know Jesus, love him,” the southern millionaire said. “If you’re an atheist and you say, ‘I hate your guts,’ I don’t mind.”
bump!
Thank you, Phil.
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