TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [On YouTube]

What It’s Like
Everlast
We’ve all seen the man
At the liquor store
Beggin’ for your change
The hair on his face is dirty
Dreadlocked
And full of mange
He ask the man
For what he could spare
With shame in his eyes
Get a job you f#$%in’ slob’s
All he replied

God forbid you ever had to walk
A mile in his shoes
‘Cause then you really might know
What it’s like to sing the blues
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like

Mary got pregnant
By a kid named Tom
Who said he was in love
He said
Don’t worry about a thing baby doll
I’m the man
You’ve been dreamin’ of
But three months later
He said he won’t date her
Or return her call
And sweared God d@#$
If I find that man
I’m cuttin’ off his balls
And then she heads for the clinic
And she gets some static
Walkin’ through the doors
They call her a killer
And they call her a sinner
And they call her a whore

God forbid you ever had to walk
A mile in her shoes
‘Cause then you really might know
What it’s like to have to choose
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like

I’ve seen a rich man beg
I’ve seen a good man sin
I’ve seen a tough man cry
I’ve seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I’ve hard an honest man lie
I’ve seen the good side of bad
And the down side of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup
Smoked the finest green
I stroked the baddest dimes
At least a couple of times
Before I broke her heart
You know where it ends
Yo
It usually depends
On where you start

I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks
Out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out
Late at night
Liked to get s#$%-faced
And keep pace with thugs
Until late one night
There was a big gun fight
Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45
Talked some s@#$
And wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught
In the midst of all of his pain
You know it crumbles that way
At least that’s what they say
When you play the game

God forbid you ever had to wake up
To hear the news
‘Cause then you really might know
What it’s like to have to lose
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like
What it’s like
Then you really might know
What it’s like


Link: [On YouTube]

Saving Grace
Everlast
One time
Around the block
Two times
Around the clock
Three times
Don’t cross
The little lady
Lady

So pretty
And oh so bold
Got a heart full of gold
On a lonely road
She said
I don’t even think
That God can save me
Save me

Am I
Gainin’ ground
Am I
Losin’ face
Have I lost and found
My saving grace
Thankful for the gift
My angels gave me

Born alone
We die alone
‘N’ I’m just sittin’ here
By the phone
Waitin’ for the Lord
To send my callin’

Street-wise
From the boulevard
Jesus only knows
That she tries too hard
She’s only tryin’ to keep
The sky from fallin’

Any man
Who says it’s Heaven and Hell
Prob’ly got
Somethin’ useless to sell
You ask me if I’m saved
But what’s it to ya

Blow a quarter
Cop another eight
You’re runnin’ out of high
You’re losin’ your faith
Throw your hands up and scream
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Amen

One time
Around the sun
Another year older
And my work ain’t done
It’s time for me to write
The final chapter
Chapter

Deal the cards
And roll the dice
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll
Are my only vice
Tryin’ to figure out
Just what’s here after
Here after

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Amen

Link: [Everlast]

Lyrics From: [A-Z Lyrics Universe]

Come Monday...Black and Blue

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Several weeks ago, I received a friend request from those responsible for the [Black and Blue Movie MySpace page]. After going to see if this was a legitimate page or just another redirect to a “Wild Cougars Hunting Kittens” porn site, I was delighted to find that this was indeed a legitimate page that captured my full attention almost immediately. For it was dedicated to a new movie project, starring [Christine Evans], and I promised to post a review as soon as I was given the time to do so.

Well, the time must have gotten away from me. For I feel like this review should have been completed long before now.

Making matters even worse, I feel like I have not done due diligence to even post a review of the movie. For the most that I could find about the movie, which appears to be stalled in production at this time, is from a synopsis on [IMDB] that says that it is about a 17 year old homeless girl who strives to rise above her current circumstances through her music with the help of a kindly stranger.

Okay, I was allowed and enabled to find an embeddable trailer for the movie, which can also be viewed on the MySpace page. It was this trailer that helped to capture my attention so thoroughly, and I hope it does the same for you.

If you view the movie trailer and participate in the short survey that they want you to, they will give you a download of the theme song, which has been included here. I really love this song in all respects, and I have fallen in love with many of Christine Evan’s songs.

Yeah, I should naturally be most envious. Perhaps even consumed with a jealous rage. For not only has our Heavenly Father blessed her with great physical beauty, He has also given her an enormous amount of both musical and theatrical talents while not doing the same for me.

No, life in this world is not fair in our own sight. Be assured that it is not meant to be as such. Thankfully, a life beyond compare awaits those who will but want to live it.

Link: [On YouTube]


MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Black and Blue
Christine Evans
Yeah
Yeah

This isn’t the first time
And probably will not be the last time
My heart has been broken
So many words I haven’t spoken
Echo inside

Am I okay
Tell me if it’s normal
Am I crazy
Feelin’ like I do
There’s an answer
But you expect no action
Sometimes I think I am black and white
It’s black and blue

I know we’ve all been here
I scream is anybody out there
I can’t keep pretending
I’m healed when I’m not even mending
Broken inside
So much to hide

Am I okay
Tell me if it’s normal
Am I crazy
Feelin’ like I do
There’s an answer
But you expect no action
Sometimes I think I’m black and white
It’s black and blue

No matter what I’m going through
I’m giving up
I’m giving into you
Because no one knows me like you do

Am I okay
Or am I crazy

Am I okay
Tell me if it’s normal
Am I crazy
Feelin’ like I do
There’s an answer
But you expect no action
Sometimes I think I’m black and white
No
Sometimes I think I’m black and white
It’s black and blue

Yeah
Yeah
Black and blue
Tell me
Tell me
Am I crazy
Black and blue
Oh
Black and blue
Yeah

Link: [Christine Evans on MySpace]

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leasurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.

Link: [Pixel Eyed]

Link: [RobinLynne.org]

Link: [Ordinary thingZ]


Link: [Fermented Fur]

Link: [Hidden Missives]

Link: [META-DAD]

Link: [Dallas Miao'd]

Link: [Art With A Bark]

Link: [New York Traveler]

Link: [Tiggyblog]

Bittersweet Refinements: XI

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.

Chapter XI
The Words Of The Word

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.

[Romans 10:8 KJV]

Again, let us not make it harder for the lost and confused to fully accept what our Heavenly Father actually says is absolutely true, but how can anyone do this if they are lost or confused themselves? For how can the blind lead the blind anywhere but to where they know not[1]?

Proof of just how blind far too many are can be found in the fact that most in the Christian community consider “The Word” to be our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible. For the absolute truth of the matter truly is that “The Word[2]” is the Lord Jesus Christ[3]—not the sum-total of the words that He had placed into written form[4] in order to serve as written confirmation[5] of what He Himself wants to personally reveal, albeit through the efforts of His Holy Spirit[6], to each and every one of us, on an individual basis and without exception[7].

Yes, our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible is often referred to as being the written word of God, but this does not change a thing. For instead of teaching that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God[8] means that faith comes from Christ Jesus Himself, it is taught that faith comes from hearing the Bible being preached.

Yes, preceding verses in the related passage certainly seem to support their convictions—especially in regards to there being a need to preach the Gospel far and wide in order to fulfill The Great Commission[9]. For it is written: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! [Romans 10:14-15 KJV]

On the other hand, how can any of us come to have faith in what is so unnatural to us[10] without the true Word of God being there ahead of any effort made on His behalf[11]? Therefore, is it not really by His efforts, first and foremost[12], that anyone comes to have faith in Him[13]?

No, this is not just another futile exercise in semantics, nor the splitting of theological hairs, in an effort to make some ridiculous point. For it is written: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” [John 5:39-40 NIV]

To get the full magnitude of what is being addressed, the entire related passage should be considered. For it is written: “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” [John 5:31-47 NIV]

Simply put, we are talking about a matter of eternal spiritual life and death here[14]. For the faith of far too many is based upon what is contained in our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible instead of upon it’s Author, which is to make it an idol[15].

No, this is not to say that what is contained in our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible is of little value. For it is written: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17 NAS]

Nonetheless, it would do us all well to obtain a proper perspective. For it is written: Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV]

In other words, Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible was never meant to be employed as a book of instruction—certainly not in the same way as an educational textbook about science, mathematics, nor even history normally would be. For it is truly a book full of spiritual truths that only the spiritually-minded can correctly discern[16].

Yes, it would be different if we really were as much on our own as we appear to be in our own sight[17], but since we are not[18], would it not be better to have the Author to teach us instead of relying upon just the book by itself? For it is written: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30 NIV]

No, it should not be assumed that it is the same for everyone. For it all depends upon what our Heavenly Father wants to accomplish in and through someone that determines when, and to what extent, He will allow and enable them to come into the knowledge and understanding of His absolute truth[19].

A good example of what I have been given to say about no one being able to truly understand what our Heavenly Father’s Holy Scriptures are really saying without Him allowing and enabling them to can be found in Luke 24:13-49, with the optimum verse of the passage being the 45th one. For it is written: Then He (thoroughly) opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures. [Luke 24:45 AMP]

Yes, there is something to say for tradition. For it naturally makes a great deal of sense to us that a belief system would not last very long unless it was based upon something tangible, and our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible is something that we can literally grab a hold of[20].

Therein lies a problem—does it not? For who could really be sure that what is contained in our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible is any more true than any of the other texts that are held to be sacred by millions upon millions of others of other beliefs if it was not for the witness of His Holy Spirit[21]?

Alas, woe be it to us all if there is really no way to be absolutely sure. For who can leave this world in peace without such knowledge and understanding[22]?

Since there are still some (quite a few, actually) who insist that the King James 1611 Authorized Version (KJV) is the only true and accurate English-language translation of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible there is, it would be good to address this before proceeding any further. For it is pure folly to believe in such a way as this[23].

No, this is not to say that the venerable KJV should not be held in high esteem. For it is as fine of a translation as we have been given, but it is no better than many others.

Yes, there are some versions of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible that are really not versions at all. For they have been rewritten to fit a particular set of doctrines adhered to by the followers of certain denominations.

Be assured that the same thing is required to tell the difference between what is truly of our Heavenly Father and what is not—regardless of what version you may be reading. For the worshippers of the King James 1611 Authorized Version base their claims about its superiority upon the fact that it was compiled from completely accurate copies of the earliest known copies of the original manuscripts in their native language, but how can they be so sure that those copies of the earliest known copies of the original manuscripts really do contain the very words that were given to be placed into written form without the witness of the One who first gave them[24]? After all, were they not actually copies of earlier copies of earlier copies of even earlier copies, and have not many other versions of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible been compiled from the very same texts?

{1}1 Timothy 1:5-11; {2}John 1:1-18; {3}Revelation 19:13; {4}Ecclesiastes 12:11-12; {5}Romans 15:4; {6}John 16:13-15; {7}Hebrews 12:2-3; {8}Romans 10:17 KJV; {9}Matthew 28:18-20; {10}Job 11:7-9; {11}John 15:5; {12}John 16:8-11; {13}2 Peter 1:1-4; {14}1 John 5:9-12; {15}1 John 5:20-21; {16}1 Corinthians 2:14; {17}Isaiah 45:15; {18}Psalms 139:7-12; {19}Philippians 2:13; {20}Proverbs 14:12; {21}1 Corinthians 12:3; {22}Ephesians 1:13-14; {23}Isaiah 29:13; {24}Psalms 119:105.

Sites To See

This is the new version of FIVE FOR FRIDAY. As with the former, it is the SOLE purpose of this weekly series to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Please, go see for yourself.

Link: [Holy Experience]

Link: [A Casual Observer]

Link: [..BEAUTIFUL DAYS..]


Link: [Operation Morning Star]

Link: [A Different Street]

Link: [Famouspick]

Link: [WDPHOTOGRAFICS]

Link: [Beyond Just Mom]

Link: [The Virtual Dime Museum]

Link: [Brian Eppley Paintings]

Link: [Diary: Alone On Earth]

Link: [Loriann Signori's Painting-A-Day]

Link: [Deeper Life]

Link: [Photographer In Training]

Link: [My Second Trial]

Link: [Plein Air Painting Journal]

Link: [Stand To Reason]

Link: [This Artist's Journey]

Link: [Information Age Prayer]

Link: [Wayfarerjon's Photo Reflections]

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Emergency Broadcast]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Montana Sky
WhiteHeart
Gazing
From a lonely mountain top
Face to face
With a sky that never stops
Here
Where an empty soul can turn
To look for some reasons
The riddles of why

They happen
Things we just don’t understand
But there’s a peace
For what we cannot comprehend
Oh
We can climb higher than the pain
To find some comfort
When the answer isn’t plain

We don’t know why
But when the world is lost in shadows
There is a Light that will remain
The love He gave
That cared enough to die
Is as endless as the Montana sky

Flowing
On the mysteries of time
Are secrets
That are hidden from my mind
Oh
For all I cannot understand
My loving Father
Holds the answers in His hands

We don’t know why
But when the world is lost in shadows
There is a Light that will remain
The love He gave
That cared enough to die
Is as endless as the Motana sky

When there’s no why
There is a hope beyond the sorrow
It is the Truth that will not change
His love that gave
That cared enough to die
Is as endless as the Montana sky
Pure as the Montana sky
Endless as the Montana sky

Link: [WhiteHeart]

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [On YouTube]

Sunny Came Home
Shawn Colvin
Sunny came home to her favorite room
Sunny sat down in the kitchen
She opened a book and a box of tools
Sunny came home with a mission

She says
Days go by
I’m hypnotized
I’m walking on a wire
I close my eyes
And fly
Out of my mind
Into the fire

Sunny came home with a list of names
She didn’t believe in transcendence
It’s time for a few small repairs she said
Sunny came home with a vengeance

She says
Days go by
I don’t know why
I’m walking on a wire
I close my eyes
And fly
Out of my mind
Into the fire

Get the kids
And bring a sweater
Dry is good
And wind is better
Count the years
You always knew it
Stike a match
Go on and do it

Days go by
I’m hypnotized
I’m walking on a wire
I close my eyes
And fly
Out of my mind
Into the wire
Light the sky
And hold on tight
The world is burning down
She’s out there on her own
And she’s all right
Sunny came home

Sunny came home


Link: [On YouTube]

These Four Walls
Shawn Colvin
I’m gonna die in these four walls
I’ve had enough
And I’ve tried it all
I’ll watch the day break
And I’ll see the night fall
In these four walls

Show me trouble
I’ll take ‘em down
I drew a line on this patch of ground
Everything’s safe
And everything’s sound
In these four walls

Up on the rooftop
I can remember
Borders I had to break
But now I can see
I had this life to make
To make

I’m gonna miss your southern drawl
A baby’s footsteps
In an empty hall
And every little thing
I can ever recall
In these four walls
In these four walls

Up on the rooftop
Feel like you’re flyin’
Thinkin’ your heart could break
Oh can’t you see we had this love to make
To make

I’m gonna die in these four walls
I’ve had enough
And I’ve tried it all
I’ll watch the day break
And I’ll see the night fall
In these four walls
In these four walls
In these four walls

Link: [Shawn Colvin]

Lyrics From: [LyricsMode]

Coming Monday...League Bowling

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Obviously, there has been a fair amount of outrage over President Obama’s [off-color] remark about his [bowling] skills and the [Special Olympics]. If you happen to be one of the four people left in this country who has not seen a clip of it yet, this is for you:

Link: [On YouTube]

Yes, he shouldn’t have said what he did about the Special Olympics, but what I am wondering is where all of the outrage is from [League Bowlers]? After all, a 129 could not be all that of an uncommon score—especially when too much beer is involved.

So, was his remark really a shot at [Joe Sixpacks] in general, and maybe even [Joe the Plumber] in particular? For I seem to recall hearing something from somewhere that plumbers love to bowl because it proves that “stuff” doesn’t always run downhill, and if you have ever seen a ball you’ve thrown decide to veer off at a 90 degree angle for no apparent reason after going perfectly straight until just before striking the pocket between the one and three pins, you know what they mean.

Methinks that it may have actually been a diversion to distract our attention away from the trial balloon that was floated about having retired and wounded veterans start paying for at least a portion of their own healthcare. For the only thing that I have personally heard about it so far is just a short report on the [NBC Nightly News] a little over a week ago, and some mentions on a few blogs [here] and [there].

Yeah, it was a trial balloon, and it was [brought back down] very quickly after it became clear that there was virtually no support for the proposal in congress at this time. It still gives me another reason for great concern—as it should for us all.

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leasurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.

Link: [Revolutionizing The Rat Race]

Link: [In Case You Missed It]

Link: [Bike Drool]


Link: [Nardeeisms]

Link: [Emaged Photography]

Link: [Poesias & Reflexoes]

Link: [Stay Famous.Net]

Link: [The Porcupine Girdle]

Link: [Serena Lewis]

Link: [Inland Empire Live Music]

Bittersweet Refinements: X

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.

Chapter X
Creative Possibilities

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. [Proverbs 14:12 NIV]

No, it is not the intent of this book, nor that of my own desires, to unfairly demean, embarrass, nor insult anyone in any way, shape or form for whatever they may want to believe is the truth. For it would be to work against what our Heavenly Father wants to accomplish to do so[1].

Nonetheless, I cannot imagine why anyone in their right-mind would not want to have full and complete faith in the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ[2]. For in comparison to all of the other ways that are said to provide a viable means of obtaining eternal spiritual life, only the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ offers[3] to pay the price in full that is required to redeem all of us from having to pay for all of our own sins ourselves[4].

Yes, it is easier said than done. For in order to truly have full and complete faith in the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, it must be accepted that we are just plain not good enough to make it into our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven on our own[5], and this goes against everything that we naturally want to believe about ourselves[6].

Hence, the significance of being in one’s right-mind[7]. For it is written: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV]

Tragically, not everyone in the Christian community have full and complete faith in the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it has been widely taught that we must also earn our keep through the doing of various things[8], which naturally makes a lot of sense since this is the way of this world[9].

Alas, does that not make religions that teach reincarnation all the more attractive? For reincarnation promises many lives to get things right instead of just one[10].

Oh yes, it is a tempting thought. For there is much about my life that I am deeply ashamed of, and I would want to change some things if given an opportunity to do so. There are also many very good times (naturally-speaking) that I would not mind living all over again, of course.

However, that is not the way it is supposed to work—is it? For there is rarely any memory of past lives, and certainly no guarantee of being placed in the same circumstances with the same people as before. So, I cannot imagine why anyone in their right-mind would want spend much time thinking about the possibilities of doing anything all over again[11] when no judgment awaits them[12], and a world beyond wonder does[13].

Sadly, little of that holds much appeal for a growing number of this world’s population. In fact, it is infuriating to some. For they insist that our time would be better spent on searching for ways to improve and extend the lives that we now have instead of pursuing what cannot be confirmed (in their opinion).

Talk about taking “seeing is believing” plumb seriously. For their argument is based upon a lack of empirical evidence, and it extends all the way back to the very beginning of this world.

In other words, they demand scientific proof, which is proof that can be tested, and unless our Heavenly Father cooperates, no such proof will ever be found. For it is written: By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. [Hebrews 11:3 NAS]

No, this is not to say that He will eventually concede to their demands, but if He was willing to provide the Apostle Thomas[14] with the proof that he needed, would He not also go way above and beyond all reasonable expectations for everyone else? For it is written: For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! [Ezekiel 18:32 NIV]

Therefore, let us not make it harder for the lost and confused to fully accept what our Heavenly Father actually says is absolutely true, and the promotion of such things as the teaching of intelligent design in our public school is not helping. For it seeks to employ natural means to explain what can only be spiritually discerned[15].

No, this is not to deny the sincerity of their efforts, but the absolute truth of the matter truly is that proponents of intelligent design are as deceived as the proponents of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. For who is so blind as the one who does not want to see[16]?

Be assured that science poses no threat to our Heavenly Father. For what it is really doing is “discovering” what He has done and is still doing, and no one will be able to honestly say that they did not understand everything that He wanted them to[17], come Judgment Day[18], despite being taught that our earliest ancestors were amoebas swimming around in primordial ooze[19].

Speaking of science, there is another creative possibility that needs to be addressed—even though many will insist that it is really nothing more than science fiction. For there are some who want to believe that we are the descendants of colonists from a galaxy far, far away.

To be honest, I would like to believe that some of the alleged sightings of UFOs may have been a few distant cousins coming by for a look. For I find the idea of there being other worlds not so unlike our own absolutely fascinating.

Nothing has been revealed to me about such, however. For when I have asked our Heavenly Father about it, the only answer I have received is that whatever He may be doing somewhere else has nothing to do with the plans that He has made for us of this world[20].

Yes, it could be argued that the Lord God Almighty would never say such a thing. For it is written: And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. [Genesis 3:20 KJV]

The trouble with that line of reasoning, however, is that Eve is obviously not the mother of angels—not to mention plants and animals. Therefore, it must be that she is given credit for being the mother of all of mankind, and that leaves the door wide open for other possibilities.

Yes, it could also be argued that mankind being created in our Heavenly Father’s image[21] narrows down the possibilities considerably, but let us not ignore what the Apostle John saw in our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven. For it is written: Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.” [Revelation 4:5-8 NAS]

{1}2 Timothy 2:24-26; {2}Romans 1:16; {3}1 John 5:12; {4}Hebrews 10:1-18; {5}Ephesians 2:8-10; {6}Jeremiah 17:5-10; {7}1 Corinthians 12:3; {8}1 Timothy 4:1-3; {9}2 Corinthians 11:3-4; {10}Hebrew 9:27; {11}Isaiah 45:9-10; {12}Hebrews 9:28; {13}Romans 8:18; {14}John 20:24-28; {15}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {16}Psalms 14:1; {17}Romans 1:18-20; {18}Revelation 20:11-15; {19}Jeremiah 32:26; {20}John 21:18-25; {21}Genesis 1:27.

Sites To See

This is the new version of FIVE FOR FRIDAY. As with the former, it is the SOLE purpose of this weekly series to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Please, go see for yourself.

Link: [Life of Thomas]

Link: [An Apostate's Chapel]

Link: [Folk Art by Campbell Jane]


Link: [The Daily Puppy]

Link: [Denford Magora's Zimbabwe Blog]

Link: [David Duke]

Link: [DB Comix]

Link: [As Paul Sees It]

Link: [CAMPVILLE]

Link: [Let's Paint Nature!]

Link: [Poetic Cries Of Interpersonal Expression]

Link: [JHG Photography]

Link: [Preaching.com]

Link: [That Which Heals Me]

Link: [Anime Box]

Link: [The Laughing Yogini]

Link: [Rebellious Arab Girl]

Link: [The Midnight Garden]

Link: [The Art Rifle]

Link: [The Patriots Cave]

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Souvenirs]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Bye Bye Babylon
WhiteHeart
Walking back through history
To the mighty city
I put my feet on the streets of Babylon
The gold and glitter
Towering wonder
It’s all within the walls of Babylon
Strength and security
Comfort and safety
What could be better than living in Babylon
But their strength was just an illusion
Now this city lies in broken ruins

Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
This monument to pride is gone
Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
God was not your strength and song
Good bye Babylon

Rocket ride through time and space
It’s 3088
They’re diggin’ around in the dust of what we’ve done
Now people study me
I’m a part of history
Oh did we leave them another Babylon
Is there evidence of spiritual revival
Or did we leave a land of broken idols

Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
Is our monument the Holy One
Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
If God is not our strength and song
It’s good bye Babylon

Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
This monument to pride is gone
Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
Oh God was not your strength and song
Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
Is our monument the Holy One
Bye
Bye
Bye
Babylon
If God is not our strength and song
Good bye Babylon

Link: [WhiteHeart]

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [On YouTube]

Torn
Natalie Imbruglia
I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm
He came around
Like he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry

Well you couldn’t be that man I adored
You don’t seem to know
Don’t seem to care
What your heart is for
But I don’t know him anymore
There’s nothing where he used to lie
My conversation has run dry
That’s what’s going on
Nothing’s fine
I’m torn

I’m all out of faith
This is how I feel
I’m cold and I am ashamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I’m wide awake
And I can see the perfect sky is torn
You’re a little late
I’m already torn

So I guess the fortune teller’s right
Should have seen just what was there
And not some holy light
To crawl beneath my veins and now
I don’t care
I have no luck
I don’t miss it all that much
There’s just so many things
That I can’t touch
I’m torn

I’m all out of faith
This is how I feel
I’m cold and I am ashamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I’m wide awake
And I can see the perfect sky is torn
You’re a little late
I’m already torn

Torn

There’s nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That’s what’s going on
Nothing’s right
I’m torn

I’m all out of faith
This is how I feel
I’m cold and I am ashamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I’m awake
And I can see the perfect sky is torn
I’m all out of faith
This is how I feel
I’m cold and I am ashamed
Bound and broken on the floor
You’re a little late
I’m already torn

Torn


Link: [YouTube]

That Day
Natalie Imbruglia
That day
That day
What a mess
What a marvel
I walked into that cloud again
And I lost myself
And I’m sad
Sad
Sad
Small
Alone
Scared
Craving purity
A fragile mind
And a gentile spirit

That day
That day
What a marvelous mess
This is all that I can do
I’m done being me
Sad
Scared
Small
Alone
Beautiful
It’s supposed to be like this
I accept everything
It’s supposed to be like this

That day
That day
I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain
Sadness
Scared
Small
Climbing
Crawling
Towards the light
And it’s all that I see
And I’m tired
And I’m right
And I’m wrong
And it’s beautiful

That day
That day
What a mess
What a marvelous mess
We’re all the same
But no one thinks so
And it’s okay
And I’m small
And I’m divine
And it’s beautiful
And it’s coming
And it’s already here
And it’s absolutely perfect

That day
That day
When everything was a mess
And everything was in place
And there’s too much hurt
Sad
Small
Scared
Alone
And everyone’s a cynic
And it’s hard
And it’s sweet
But it’s supposed to be like this

That day
That day
When I sat in the sun
And I thought
And I cried
‘Cause I’m sad
Scared
Small
Alone
Strong
And I’m nothing
And I’m true
Only a brave man
Can break through
And it’s all okay
Yeah
It’s okay

That day
That day
I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain
Sadness
Scared
Small
Climbing
Crawling
Towards the light
And it’s all that I see
And I’m tired
And I’m right
And I’m wrong
And it’s beautiful

That day
That day
What a mess
What a marvelous mess
We’re all the same
But no one thinks so
And it’s okay
And I’m small
And I’m divine
And it’s beautiful
And it’s coming
And it’s already here
And it’s absolutely perfect

That day
That day
Umm
That day
That day

That day
That day
When I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain
Sadness
Scared
Small
Climbing
Crawling
Towards the light
And it’s all that I see
And I’m tired
And I’m right
And I’m wrong
And it’s beautiful

That day
That day
What a mess
What a marvelous mess
We’re all the same
But no one thinks so
And it’s okay
And I’m small
And I’m divine
And it’s beautiful
And it’s coming
And it’s already here
And it’s absolutely perfect

That day
That day
So sweet
Can you feel it
Umm
Are you
Are you with me
In the feeling
It’s beautiful

Link: [Natalie Imbruglia]

Lyrics From: [LyricsMode]

Come Monday...EIB

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

If you are not familiar with the [Rush Limbaugh Show], EIB stands for Excellence In Broadcasting. He uses the term a lot. In fact, [Maha Rushie] speaks into the golden EIB microphone from the EIB Southern Command to spread his “stuff” over the airwaves from sea to shining sea, Monday through Friday, high noon to 3 PM in the Eastern Time Zone, with rebroadcasts on weekends and late at night on most of the radio stations affiliated with the EIB Network.

Oh yeah, I am quite familiar with Rush Limbaugh and his radio show. Well, at least I used to be. For our Heavenly Father has ruined my natural enjoyment of many of my favorite things.

Before that happened, however, I would frequently show off my dittohead tattoo without much provocation at all. Use your imagination if He doesn’t give you a clue. For I’m certainly not going to paint you a picture—with words or otherwise. On the other hand, I do feel obligated to disclose that it was located on the right cheek since so many are confused about such things in a political sense these days.

In all fairness to my own personal pride, (yes, it still exists) listening to Rush Limbaugh was an acquired taste. For I found him to be one of the most obnoxious idiotic somebodies I had ever heard of when I first ran across his radio show back in the late 80’s.

I would also like to believe that it was not all my fault that he finally won me over. For I was forced to listen to him more often than I wanted to because of there being virtually nothing else on my AM/FM stereo radio receiver with a built-in cassette deck for three hours at a time almost everywhere I found myself at while I was still crisscrossing the country in a big truck, and since so many of the other truckers around would also be listening to him, finding someone to discuss what a wonderful life we were living with over the [CB radio] proved futile more times than not.

No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t have something else more important to do. For my eyes had a tendency to cross whenever I concentrated upon my driving too much, and I considered it a matter of public safety to make sure that I was at least somewhat distracted as much as possible.

Oh my, what a distraction Rush became. For I almost wrecked the truck the first time I heard him refer to hardcore feminists as being feminazis, and I would squeal with delight every time I would hear him explain that radical lesbians were just women filled with rage over being too ugly to get a man.

Frankly, I still find that part about the radical lesbians funny. Obviously, I am still far from being perfected.

Nonetheless, He has allowed and enabled me to see what was really going on with Rush, and this is what this post is really all about. For one can accuse him of being many things, with most of them not being very nice at all, but no one can rightly accuse El Rushbo of being a hypocrite when it comes to being unabashedly politically partisan.

No, this is not to say that this is a good thing. For one of the main reasons for why America is in the mess that it is now in is because of political partisanship on both sides of the aisle.

It is the current hypocrisy over a blatant display of partisanship that is the most appalling, however. For how can there be such outrage over [Rush hoping that President Obama will fail] when he is just being true to his political convictions? For if President Obama’s policies succeed—liberalism wins and conservativism loses. Therefore, how can someone like Rush honestly hope for this to happen unless they have undergone a radical change of heart?

Come on now, did not the [Democrats] do everything they could to make sure that the [Republican Contract With America] failed back in the 90’s, and wasn’t the [Republican Party] being partisan to the bone by issuing such a contract in the first place while a Democrat was serving as president? So, where is the outrage over the outrage?

Yes, much has been said about Rush actually hoping that President Obama fails instead of just his policies, but I fail to see a distinction between the two points myself. For party politics is about differences in governmental policies. Therefore, if the policies of the leader of a political party fails to deliver as promised, does that not make him or her a failure—albeit only in that respect? So, is not all that is being said about what Rush said just some more partisan posturing by other political pundits?

Now, it should be noted that Rush has not always been a strong supporter of the Republican Party. For he considers himself to be first and foremost a conservative, and he has been quite outspoken about how the Republican Party has drifted farther and farther away from ideals set by his hero, [President Ronald Reagan] .

Furthermore, he has been rather lackluster, and even downright hostile at times, in his support for some Republican presidential candidates. For he was not at all enthusiastic about [Senator John McCain] being the challenger the last time around, and the thought of [Senator Bob Dole] possibly becoming the President of the United States of America back in 1996 almost made him physically ill. For he considers the compromises that are needed to be made to get anything done in our form of a two-party governmental system to be giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and both Senators McCain and Dole sought to get something done—even if it could be detrimental to the Republican Party in the next round of elections, not to mention conservativism in general.

Alas, I love this country, but I hate the way it is run most of the time. For when someone says something about most politicians being unable to say a word about anything without lying about something, they are speaking the truth, and I do not see any honest people on the horizon willing and able to help free us from our malaise.

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leasurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.

Link: [Amazing Pictures From All Over The World]

Link: [History Rhymes]

Link: [Musings Of A Mad Celt]

Link: [Into The Eyes Of Love]

Link: [Life Inside The Fence]

Link: [Ox...After Dark]

Link: [LWGodsil's Jadis Jewelry]

Link: [Jafabrit's Art]

Link: [ClearlyEnlight's Travel Blog]

Link: [Mikiye Creations]

Bittersweet Refinements: IX

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.

Chapter IX
The Complete Message Of The Cross

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:6-8 NAS]

Be assured that the complete message of the cross has as much to do with our Heavenly Father proving Himself worthy of receiving all of our love and trust as it does with saving us from eternal damnation. For instead of just saying that He loves us enough to die for us, He went ahead and did it by sending a full and equal part of Himself to suffer and die upon a cruel, cruel Roman cross at Calvary so that all who would but believe in His only begotten Son, who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ, could spend all of eternity with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory[1].

No, this is not meant to encourage a departure from what has been so widely taught about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ[2]. MAY IT NEVER BE!!! For we are all[3] in need of a Savior[4], and it is only through Him that we can come to our Heavenly Father[5].

In fact, the entire passage associated with Romans 5:6-8 reinforces this. For it is written: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. [Romans 5:1-11 NAS]

Nonetheless, accepting Christ Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior is like getting married[6]. Then comes the marriage itself[7], and it is in respect to this that what far too many have been led to believe falls woefully short of being most satisfying to Him—to say the least. For it is written: “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” [Jeremiah 4:22 NIV]

No, this is not about what is good enough for us. For knowing that He paid the price the full that was required to redeem us from having to pay for all of our own sins ourselves[8], and that we have eternal Spiritual life in Him[9], should be more than enough for any from amongst us[10].

This is about what our Heavenly Father ultimately wants. For it is not until it can be fully accepted that He is fully responsible for ALL that happens in this world that the kind of love that we can give Him reaches the level of satisfaction that He has always desired[11].

No, that is not beyond our comprehension. For would it not take a very special kind of love to want to stay married to someone who just stood by and watched while you were being brutalized when they could have prevented it from happening in the first place?

What if the attack was upon one of your children, and how much more is our Heavenly Father able to keep us all free from harm[12]? Yet, it is widely taught that He has nothing to do with the pain and sufferings of this world[13].

No, it should not be thought that our Heavenly Father must be immune to suffering Himself. For He takes everything oh so very personally[14], and when Christ Jesus had to actually spiritually die in order to truly fulfill the requirement of His Law[15], thus separating Himself from His Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit[16], they were all in more agony than what we can even start to naturally comprehend[17]—albeit only for the brief amount of time that it was[18].

Yes, it certainly looks like a very bitter pill to swallow at first, but it should not stay that way[19]. For it should be of great comfort to know and understand that all of the bad in this world is for our ultimate good[20], and that our Heavenly Father will spend all of eternity pouring out His gratitude upon all who were willing to give Him the full benefit of their considerable doubts[21].

{1}John 3:16-21; {2}Ephesians 2:8-10; {3}Romans 3:23; {4}Romans 6:23; {5}John 14:6; {6}Ephesians 5:22-32; {7}Luke 9:23-26; {8}Hebrews 10:14-18; {9}John 6:37-40; {10}Psalms 103:8-18; {11}Isaiah 45:5-10; {12}Job 12:13-25; {13}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {14}John 11:1-44; {15}Leviticus 5:17-19; {16}Ezekiel 18:4; {17}Matthew 27:45-50; {18}Luke 23:44-46; {19}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {20}Romans 8:28-29; {21}Romans 8:18-25.

Sites To See

This is the new version of FIVE FOR FRIDAY. As with the former, it is the SOLE purpose of this weekly series to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Please, go see for yourself.

Link: [Terrierman.com]

Link: [Flowers of Life]

Link: [Real Liberal Christian Church]


Link: [Teen Suicide Talk]

Link: [The Occult Blogger]

Link: [Jim's Blog]

Link: [Bits n Pieces]

Link: [De Veritate]

Link: [Dom's Creations I]

Link: [Boyd Greene Fine Art]

Link: [All About Japan]

Link: [BIGPREY]

Link: [Party Girl]

Link: [Gracefull Things]

Link: [Jason In Hollywood]

Link: [My Thai Friend]

Link: [Your Holiday Tips]

Link: [Stop Screaming I'm Driving!]

Link: [Truckindog's Den]

Link: [Shepherd's Chapel]

Lifehouse: For Ettarose

No, this is not a sneak peak of a new greatest hits album by the Christian Rock band that has also enjoyed phenomenal more mainstream appeal—not to mention success. For this is just a collection of very special songs for a very special lady. May they help bring her some joy and comfort as she and her husband seek to traverse the stormy seas of this life.

Link: [On YouTube]

You And Me
Lifehouse
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can’t keep up
And I can’t back down
I’ve been losing so much time

‘Cause it’s You and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it’s You and me
And all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of You

All of the things
That I want to say
Just aren’t comin’ out right
I’m tripping on words
You’ve got my head spinnin’
I don’t know where to go from here

‘Cause it’s You and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it’s You and me
And all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of You

There’s something about You now
I can’t quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

‘Cause it’s You and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it’s You and me
And all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of
You and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it’s You and me
And all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of You

What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive


Link: [On YouTube]

Everything
Lifehouse
Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel You
I need to hear You
You are the Light
That’s leading me
To the place
Where I find peace again

You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the Light
To my soul
You are my purpose
You’re everything

And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

You calm the storms
And You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won’t let me fall
You steal my heart
When You take my breath away
Would You take me in
Take me deeper now

And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

‘Cause You’re all I want
You’re all I need
You’re everything
Everything
You’re all I want
You’re all I need
You’re everything
Everything
You’re all I want
You’re all I need
You’re everything
Everything
You’re all I want
You’re all I need
Everything
Everything

And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this
And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better
Any better than this

And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this
And how can I
Stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this


Link: [On YouTube]

Come Back Down

Lifehouse
Staring right back in your face
A memory can’t be erased
I know
Because I tried
Start to feel the emptiness
And everything I’m gonna miss
I know
That I can’t hide

All this time
Is passing by
I think it’s time
To just move on

When you come back down
If you land on your feet
I hope you find a way
To make it back to me
When you come around
I’ll be there for you
Don’t have to be alone
With what you’re going through

Start to breathe
And fake a smile
It’s all the same
After a while
I know
That you are tired
Carrying the ones you lost
A picture frame
With all the thoughts
I know
You hold inside

I hope that you can
Find your way back
To the place
Where you belong

When you come back down
If you land on your feet
I hope you find a way
To make it back to me
When you come around
I’ll be there for you
Don’t have to be alone
With what you’re going through

You’re coming back down
You say you feel lost
Can I help you find it
When you come around
From time to time
We all are blinded
You’re coming back down
You don’t have to tell me
What you’re feelin’
I know what
You’re going through
I won’t be the one
That lets go of you

I think it’s time to just move on

When you come back down
If you land on your feet
I hope you find a way
To make it back to me
When you come around
I’ll be there for you
Don’t have to be alone
With what you’re going through

When you come back down
If you land on your feet
I hope you find a way
To make it back to me
When you come around
I’ll be there for you
Don’t have to be alone
With what you’re going through


Link: [On YouTube]

Breathing
Lifehouse
I’m finding my way back to sanity again
Though I don’t really know
What I’m going to do
When I get there
Take a breath
And hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back
To the arms of Grace

‘Cause I am hanging
On every word You say and
Even if You don’t want to speak tonight
That’s all right
All right with me
“Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven’s door
And listen to You breathing
Is where I want to be
Yeah

Where I want to be

I’m looking past
The shadows in my mind
Into the truth
And I’m
Trying to identify
The voices in my head
God
Which one’s You
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel alive
And break these calluses off of me
One more time

‘Cause I am hanging
On every word You say and
Even if You don’t want to speak tonight
That’s all right
All right with me
“Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven’s door
And listen to You breathing
Is where I want to be
Yeah

I don’t want
A thing from You
Bet You’re tired of me
Waiting for the scraps
To fall off Your table
To the ground

‘Cause I just want to be here now

‘Cause I am hanging
On every word You say and
Even if You don’t want to speak tonight
That’s all right
All right with me
“Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven’s door
And listen to You breathing
Is where I want to be
Yeah

‘Cause I am hanging
On every word You say and
Even if You don’t want to speak tonight
That’s all right
All right with me
“Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven’s door
And listen to You breathing
Is where I want to be
Yeah

Where I want to be

Where I want to be


Link: [On YouTube]

From Where You Are
Lifehouse
So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah I miss you
So far away from where you are
Standing underneath the stars
And I wish you
Were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way
The sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that
They’d mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you
Were here

I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you
Were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way
The sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that
They’d mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you
Were here

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you
Were here


Link: [On YouTube]

Broken
Lifehouse
The broken clock is a comfort
It helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow
From stealin’ all my time
I am here still waitin’
Though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best
Like You’ve already figured out

I’m fallin’ apart
I’m barely breathin’
With a broken heart
That’s still beatin’
In the pain
There is healin’
In time
I found meanin’

The broken locks were a warnin’
You got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded
I’m an open book instead
And I still see Your reflection
Inside of my eyes
That are lookin’ for purpose
They’re still lookin’ for Life

I’m fallin’ apart
I’m barely breathin’
With a broken heart
That’s still beatin’
In the pain
In the pain
There’s the healin’
In Your name
In Your name
I find meanin’

So I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m barely
Holdin’ on to You

I’m hangin’ on
Another day
Just to see what
You will throw my way
And I’m hangin’ on
To the words You say
You said that I will
Will be okay

The broken lights on the freeway
Left me here alone
I may have lost my way now
Havin’ forgotten
My way home

I’m fallin’ apart
I’m barely breathin’
With a broken heart
That’s still beatin’
In the pain
In the pain
There is healin’
In Your name
In Your name
I find meanin’

So I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m barely
Holdin’ on to You

I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m holdin’ on
I’m still holdin’
I’m barely
Holdin’ on to You


Link: [On YouTube]

Hanging By A Moment
Lifehouse
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I’m closer to where I started
Chasing after You

I’m falling even more in love with You
Letting go of all I’ve held on to
I’m standing here until You make me move
I’m hanging by a moment here with You

Forgetting all I’m lacking
Completely incomplete
I’ll take Your invitation
You take all of me now

I’m falling even more in love with You
I’m letting go of all I’ve held on to
I’m standing here until You make me move
I’m hanging by moment here with You
I’m living for the only thing I know
I’m running and not quite sure where to go
And I don’t know what I’m diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

There’s nothing else to lose
There’s nothing else to find
There’s nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I’m closer to where I started
Chasing after you

I’m falling even more in love with You
I’m letting go of all I’ve held on to
I’m standing here until You make me move
I’m hanging by moment here with You
I’m living for the only thing I know
I’m running and not quite sure where to go
And I don’t know what I’m diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

Just hanging by a moment
Here with You
Hanging by a moment
Here with You
Hanging by a moment
Here with You
Hangin by a moment here with You

Link: [Lifehouse]

Lyrics From: [LyricsMode]

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Inside]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Living Sacrifice
WhiteHeart
You know
I’d almost given you up for dead
Sooner or later
Thought you’d put a gun to your head
Took a shot of this
A hit of that
Another wasted sacrifice
Dismissed the eternal
With a simple roll of the dice
Like a sheep with no shepherd
A dog without a bone
You dug up your own messiah
And tried to follow him home

Give your body
Give your mind
Give it all until you find
Zealot’s passion
An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

Too many idols just keep on crashing down
So many heroes are ten feet underground
Oh leave the flowers by their graves
Don’t you know the price is paid
The ultimate sacrifice has been made
You’re a sheep with no shepherd
The dog without a bone
Bury the dead messiah
Follow the living One home

Give you body
Give your mind
Give it all until you find
Zealot’s passion
An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

Give your body
Give your mind
Give it all until you find
Zealot’s passion
An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

Give your body
Give your mind
Give it all until you find
Zealot’s passion
An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

Give your body
Give your mind
Give it all until you find
Zealot’s passion
An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

An addict’s drive
Be a living sacrifice

Be a living sacrifice

Link: [WhiteHeart]

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [YouTube]

Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
Now there you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well who am I to keep you down
It’s only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat
Drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering
What you had
And what you lost
And what you had
Ooh what you lost

Thunder only happens when it’s rainin’
Players only love you when they’re playin’
They say
Women
They will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean you’ll know

Now here I go again
I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It’s only me who wants to wrap around your dreams
And have you any dreams you’d like to sell
Dreams of loneliness
Like a heartbeat
Drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering
What you had
And what you lost
And what you had
Ooh what you lost

Thunder only happens when it’s rainin’
Players only love you when they’re playin’
They say
Women
They will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean you’ll know

Oh thunder only happens when it’s rainin’
Players only love you when they’re playin’
They say
Women
They will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean you’ll know
You’ll know
You will know
Oh
Oh
Oh
You’ll know


Link: [On YouTube]

The Chain
Fleetwood Mac
Listen to the wind blow
Watch the sun rise

Run in the shadows
Damn your love
Damn your lies

And if you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin’
You would never break the chain
Never break the chain
And if you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin’
You would never break the chain
Never break the chain

Listen to the wind blow
Down comes the night

Run in the shadows
Damn your love
Damn your lies

Break the silence
Damn the dark
Damn the light

And if you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin’
You would never break the chain
Never break the chain
And if you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin’
You would never break the chain
Never break the chain
And if you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin’
You would never break the chain
Never break the chain

Chain
Keep us together
Run in the shadows
Chain
Keep us together
Run in the shadows
Chain
Keep us together
Run in the shadows
Chain
Keep us together
Run in the shadows

Link: [Fleetwood Mac]

Lyrics From: [LyricsMode]

Come Monday...American Healthcare

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Much is being said again about instituting a national healthcare program in the United States of America. For this is one of the things that President Obama [campaigned upon], and the [battle lines are being drawn] between those who support and oppose such a proposal.

Again, I am not quite sure what is being proposed. If it is something that would guarantee high quality healthcare to all in need without imposing a lot of restrictions upon personal behavior, I would be all for it, but I understand that this is probably more than can be reasonably hoped for. For even if it would be possible to avoid any restrictions upon personal behavior, the generally poor healthcare in this country would still remain.

No, this is not to deny that it is possible to obtain high quality healthcare in this country. For with the right kind of connections and enough money, you can find yourself in very good hands, but for the rest of us, woe be it.

Please allow me to use a hospital in the community where my wife and I reside for an example. For her sister just had a major operation, which went very well, but the care that she received afterward was nothing short of abominable. For no one on staff ever made any effort to clean her up after her procedure, and this was not the worst part. For the dressing applied at the closing of the incision in the operating room was not changed until the blood that had soaked through it had dried. Subsequently, when it was finally changed, a large patch of skin went with it, and the nurses involved did not even blink—let alone apologize profusely.

Oh no, I am not talking about a tiny community hospital way back in the boondocks. For the hospital that I am referring to has been consistently ranked amongst the top 100 hospitals in the entire country for years.

Yes, it would be different if this was just an isolated incident. For every institution suffers from bad employees from time to time, but this is not the first time that I know of such poor performance.

The first time I became aware of there being problems happened after the birth of my oldest daughter. For the nurses were just plain mean—bordering upon blatant cruelty.

The next time happened when I had an x-ray done on my right knee a few years ago. For I was told that there was nothing wrong with it at the hospital I am railing about, and when I had another x-ray done at the other major hospital here, they asked me if I had been in a car accident. For my right knee is blown-out in every sense of the word, and according to the orthopedist who examined me afterward, the only viable option is to have it replaced because it is too damaged to be repaired.

Three times being a charm not good enough for you? Well, I have heard some tales that would curl your hair, but since I do not have any personal experience with them, they will just have to remain untold by me.

Tragically, tales similar to mine about other hospitals can be heard everywhere. So, before instituting a national healthcare plan, should we not first take steps to make sure that the care is actually healthy for all concerned?

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leasurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.

Link: [Mind Sorbet]

Link: [My Interesting Files]

Link: [Historical Melungeons]


Link: [Pinklatex]

Link: [The Witty Ways of a Wayward Wife.]

Link: [Rethaw]

Link: [Ramblings from an English Garden]

Link: [High Country Archer]

Link: [Explore The Bitterroot]

Link: [The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog]

Bittersweet Refinements: VIII

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.

***HEAR YE! HEAR YE!***

There is a change to the opening notification, and I will be in the process of changing what has been already posted. Therefore, please note that numbered Scripture references in the text like this, [1], as opposed to this, {1}, have been linked. Please forgive me for not doing this sooner. I was told to do so at the very beginning, and I really do not have a good excuse for why I did not.

Chapter VIII
Mysterious Ways

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:6-9 NIV]

It is often said that the God works in mysterious ways, which is understandable. For if His ways truly are much higher than our own, how could we understand them without His help?

What is not understandable is why our Heavenly Father’s ways are still such a great mystery to such a great many. For if He really does want to have a very close and personal relationship with His children by faith, would He not want them to understand what He is doing to at least a certain extent[1]?

No, this is not to say that it is the same for all. For it all depends upon what our Heavenly Father wants to accomplish in and through someone that determines when, and to what extent, He will allow and enable them to enter into His absolute truth[2].

In other words, some are given a lot at a very early age, such as in the case of the Prophet Jeremiah[3]. Whereas others will have to wait until just before the end of their time as a part of this world before they are given very little in comparison, which is the way it was for “the thief on the cross[4].”

Tragically, the problem is not that our Heavenly Father has not been forthcoming. The problem is that far too many just do not want to hear what He has to say[5].

Take the greatest mystery of them all for an example. For theologians and philosophers have been wondering out loud for thousands of years about what the meaning of life (or the reason for our existence, to get more specific) could possibly be, and He has been giving them an answer too simple for most to accept. For we were created in order to give our Heavenly Father opportunities to freely receive a very special kind of love from us, and everything about this world is for that purpose.

Alas, there are not any Bible verses that say that. Well, at least not in so many words[6].

Nonetheless, this is not to say that we are not provided with written confirmation. For all of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Scriptures testify to who we were all created to be and why this world is as it is[7].

No, that is not good enough for far too many. For unless they have a Bible verse or passage that says just exactly this or that, they refuse to listen, and even when they are presented with such, if it does not match what they have been taught by others not so unlike themselves, the result remains the same[8].

Yes, it is written that we should not go beyond what is written[9], but then we are faced with those mysterious ways again[10]. For who can understand the ways of the Lord God Almighty without His help, and that means that there must be more than just a long, hard study of a book involved[11].

Thankfully, that is provided, and for those humble enough to learn from our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit[12], it should not be very hard to accept what He wants us to. For aside from His witness, our Heavenly Father also allows and enables us to have some hands-on experience from both sides of the matter [13].

You see, is it not relatively easy for most to love someone very attractive, in one way or another, and always does, or at least tries to do, what is desired of them? So, it is for this reason that our lives in this world are meant to be full of pain and suffering—even for those whom appear to be absolutely wonderful in our eyes. For in comparison to the worst of lives in His Kingdom of Heaven, the most wonderful of lives in this world is an excruciatingly slow and painful death. For it takes a very special kind of love to want to hang in there with someone who appears to be treating us very badly[14].

The reason for why our Heavenly Father partially hid Himself from our sight is also part of that. For our Heavenly Father has never wanted any of us professing their love for Him because of being either too afraid or too greedy not to[15].

Too afraid? This has to do with the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father’s glory, and the fact that many would want to bow down and worship Him just because of being too afraid not to[16].

Too greedy? This has to do with the indescribable splendor of our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom, and the fact that others would want to bow down and worship Him just because of what it could profit them[17].

No, there are not many amongst us (if any at all) who really care about why someone claims to love them, and generally seeks to do what is pleasing in their sight. For all we usually care about is that they keep on doing what we want them to do[18].

Woe be it to all who never really want to know the difference between what is real and what is coerced. For a love that is coerced[19] is really no love at all[20].

{1}Jeremiah 33:3; {2]1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {3}Jeremiah 1:4-10; {4}Luke 23:32-43; {5}Jeremiah 6:10; {6}Matthew 13:1-30; {7}Romans 8:18-25; {8}John 5:31-47; {9}1 Corinthians 4:6; {10}Job 11:7-9; {11}1 Corinthians 4:7; {12}John 14:26; {13}Romans 8:28; {14}Romans 11:32-36; {15}1 Corinthians 1:18-31; {16}Exodus 15:9-12; {17}Revelation 21:10-21; {18}Jeremiah 17:9; {19}Psalms 32:8-9; {20}1 Corinthians 13:4-13.

Sites To See

This is the new version of FIVE FOR FRIDAY. As with the former, it is the SOLE purpose of this weekly series to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Please, go see for yourself.

Link: [Daniel's Place]

Link: [Antithesis]

Link: [Borderfire Report]

Link: [VIVA CUBA]

Link: [Dear Kip...]

Link: [India's Colors]

Link: [Sanity On Edge]

Link: [Alien Dream]

Link: [Chaz's Blog Channels]

Link: [Borderline]

Link: [Art By Derek Jones]

Link: [Matt's Ministry]

Link: [Unique Baby Gear Ideas]

Link: [I Am A Boomer]

Link: [Ruby's Upcycle Designs]

Link: [Witch @ Heart]

Link: [Red Letter Believers]

Link: [Quantum Think Group]

Link: [PhatCatholic Apologetics]

Link: [Dawns bloggy blog]

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Don’t Wait For The Movie]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Fly Eagle Fly
WhiteHeart
You’ve lost the hope
You’ve lost the green
The fire has left your dream
Do you not know
Have you not heard
Faith is a bird
And it’s wings are His Holy Word

Fly eagle fly
Hold your head high
Soar upon the Spirit wind
Oh fly eagle fly
Up into the sky
Ride the golden wings of morning

And there is hope
That won’t pass away
It’s the power of the anti-grey
You may grow weak
Weary and worn
But He’ll make you strong
For He’s the Lord of the endless one

Fly eagle fly
Hold your head high
Soar upon the Spirit wind
Oh fly eagle fly
Up into the sky
Ride the golden wings of morning
Fly eagle fly

Fly eagle fly
Hold your head high
Soar upon the Spirit wind
Oh fly eagle fly
Up into the sky
Ride the golden wings of morning
Fly

Fly eagle fly
Hold your head high
Soar upon the Spirit wind
Oh fly eagle fly
Up into the sky
Ride the golden wings of morning
Fly eagle fly
Eagle fly

Link: [WhiteHeart]

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.

Link: [On YouTube]

Alone
Heart
I hear the ticking of the clock
I’m lying here the room’s pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won’t end though
Alone

‘Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

You don’t know how long I have wanted
To touch your lips and hold you tight
Oh
You don’t know how long I have waited
And I was going to tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
And my love for you is still unknown
Alone

‘Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
Alone
Alone


Link: [On YouTube]

What About Love
Heart
I’ve been lonely
I’ve been waiting for you
I’m pretending
And that’s all I can do
The love I’m sending
Ain’t making it through to your heart

You’ve been hiding
Never letting it show
Always trying
To keep it under control
You got it down
And you’re well on your way to the top
But there’s something that you forgot

What about love
Don’t you want someone to care about you
What about love
Don’t let it slip away
What about love
I only want to share it with you
You might need it someday

I can’t tell you
What you’re feeling inside
And I can’t sell you
What you don’t want to buy
Something’s missing
You got to look back on your life
You know something here just ain’t right

What about love
Don’t your want someone to care about you
What about love
Don’t let it slip away
What about love
I only want to share it with you

What about love
Don’t you want someone to care about you
What about love
Don’t let it slip away
What about love
I only want to share it with you

Oh
No
Oh
Oh
What about love
Love
What about love
Love
Love
Love
What about
What about
Love

Link: [Heart]

Lyrics From: [elyrics.net]

Come Monday...2009 Walk For Samuel

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

I was contacted by Dan King, of [BibleDude.net] and [Management By God], about the upcoming charity event for his son, Samuel, in particular, and the [Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation] in general. The event is to be held Saturday, March 21, 2009 in [Siesta Key Beach, FL], and the following videos express what it would mean to contribute whatever you can to the cause.

If you cannot participate in person, other kinds of donations are accepted [here]. Please give what you can.

Link: [On YouTube]


Link: [On YouTube]

Link: [On Facebook]

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leasurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.

Link: [Filed Fingers]

Link: [Make The Most Of Your Time...Poetry]

Link: [Naked In Eden Blog - Robin Easton]


Link: [Bonghi Vestiti]

Link: [DoRIon55 BloG]

Link: [Pet Monologues]

Link: [The Trout Underground]

Link: [Athena's Armoury]

Link: [No Day Without Art by Nancy Eckels]

Link: [Amy's Web Log]