Sentimental Journey

Today I heard the music for the song Sentimental Journey, and as I sang the words in my head (more brain sludge, which is where your brain decides to remember things that you never made any effort to remember - like - two all-beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun - which has a place in my mind regardless of the eviction notices I have served upon it ~ but AGAIN I digress ~ who's surprised?). I realized how much the words express how I feel about Jesus Christ. Feeling as though I'd been separated by some action that I had no idea would have such consequence, He suddenly decided to forgive me. For no reason other than His own goodness. Which in turn makes me want my actions to prove the gratitude I have for such grace. It's NOT because of my actions that I've been forgiven. It's because of His forgiveness that my actions can now be a testament to His mercy.

Many times secular music seems to me to be much more true than hymns. I think that is because man is made in God's image, and whether he chooses to acknowledge this fact or not, he KNOWS there is a void in him, and he tries to fill it with whatever comes along. His need is for God, but he will not go to Him, so God has to come and take him, kicking and screaming, into the light.



OK, here's the prep work before you read the lyrics and see why I say what I've said.



From the 1868 dictionary. And please note that even though there is a more 'negative' definition to sentimental, it's not the one my spirit was lifted by as I sang the words.

SENTIMENT'AL

1. Abounding with sentiment, or just opinions or reflections; as a sentimental discourse

2. Expressing quick intellectual feeling

3. Affecting sensibility; in a contemptuous sense

The number Seven: Throughout the bible, numbers are used consistently, and repetitively with strong emphasis on the number seven. The frequent use of seven is obvious even to an occasional reader of the Scriptures. Seven is in the bible more than any other number. This phenomena is technically referred to as the Hepatic Structure of the Bible (hepta is the Greek word for seven) or Biblical Numerology. The number seven in the bible is associated with "completeness".

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey,

Gonna set my heart at ease.

Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,

To renew old memories.

Got my bags, got my reservation,

Spent each dime I could afford.

Like a child in wild anticipation,

I long to heart that, "All Aboard!"

Seven.....that's the time we leave, at seven,

I'll be waitin' up at heaven.

Countin' every mile of railroad track,

That takes me back.

Never thought my heart could be so yearny.

Why did I decide to roam?

Gotta take that Sentimental Journey.

Sentimental Journey home.

BWAHAHAHALARIOUS

If Paul's Epistle to the Galatians was published in Chrisianity Today.

This article was published back in February, and I missed it somehow. I found it so funny I wanted to put a link to it here so that you don't miss it. Even if you already read it, it was probably back in February, and a re-read will still more than likely make you laugh at a place or two.

It takes humility and meekness to find most satire funny. It takes the same to find sarcasm funny, especially when the sacasm is directed at you! Satire is usually funny when we can see ourselves within. Tears of laughter are a blessing, and show that which is most beneficial in a satirical piece, knowing that but for the grace of God, go I.

Anyway, this article is BWAHAHAHALARIOUS....ENJOY.

Been Awhile ~ Or ~ A While

Since it had been some time since my last post I thought today I would take the time to enter a short thought or two. Just entering a title for the post I thought about how I wasn't sure if it had been 'awhile' since I posted or had it been 'a while'? I started looking for the definition of each and came upon a post by someone titled 'Awhile vs A While', and came to the conclusion that it has been awhile since my last post, but I suppose if your definition of awhile is for a shorter period than my definition, it may have been a while. Then I said to myself, self, I wonder if I just used the words 'than' and 'then' in their proper context. I do recall in the past that I had thought I could remember the difference by using 'then' in the context of time, and the word time ends with an e, so the word with the e, then, would be the proper word to use. The other word, than, would then be used to contrast items, like, rather this, 'than' that. Then (properly used) I said to myself, self, how blessed is my life that God would have me born in a place and time where I would learn the English language as I grew. I cannot imagine having to learn this language having been brought up with another. How would you ever be able to learn the difference between words, or the differences between voice inflections, which could totally change the meaning of the spoken words. Like you could say, 'That's a lovely dress' and mean it, or you could say the same words in a sarcastic tone, and totally change the meaning of those words to be the opposite. Then I thought about how I've had the audacity to make fun of a person's accent when they've obviously gone through much pain to learn our language, and to use it properly. God forbid I should ever do such and thing again, and God forgive my having done such a thing in the past. I tried to learn Spanish once, a language that many of our commonly used words are based upon, and I was never able to remember much more than 'where's the bathroom', although, I must admit, that is a very useful question if you ever visit Mexico.

Ah yes, again I ramble on and on. Some people like to call their similiar posts, a rant, but I am more of a rambler than (proper usage) a ranter. To me, ranting has more of a connotation of complaining. I'm sure that's a wrong impression of a rant, but that's the way it is in my mind, and I don't expect it will change. After you reach a 'certain age' it is most difficult to train yourself to think differently about things. I spend my efforts and energy in unlearning wrong doctrine, and replacing it with correct. Lord willing, that will be enough for me to accomplish at such an old age. God allowed a miracle to occur. An old undeserving wretch was given light. Next this wretch was given ability to unlearn and then learn proper doctrine. It would be too selfish to expect to be given an entire new ability to rethink every word learned, so 'rant' will just have to continue to mean 'complain' to me. (now THAT was one bodacious ramble)

So, maybe I should have titled this post 'Rant or Ramble' or 'Then or That', but 'Been Awhile or A While' it is. And then I thought, "Is it proper to start a sentence with the word 'and' or end it with the word 'is'?"

I gotta go, I feel another ramble coming on, and you're already bored enough. Or - is it all ready? Never mind.

May God grant you grace, and proper understanding, better known as wisdom, through Christ Jesus.

Amen

The pope decides to do a tribute to Michael Jackson's final tour

Oooo Oooo Oooo



In a take-off of the Sacred Sandwich I thought we could all have a little fun by writing our own caption for the above picture. I went first, now it's your turn, go.

Thanks Be To God

You know what would be really great? It would be really great if this country suddenly stopped and realized that the word Thanksgiving implies that there is someone who exists, and is deserving of their thanks. Someone to whom they owe thanks, not only for all their special dinners and family visits, but for their next breath. Thanks that runs deeper than a cursory 'grace' said prior to their meal, but thanks for the grace to live another second. Thanks for the grace to receive thought and opportunity to have another second, whereby they might gain eternal life byway of a second birth.

We thank, and praise God in their stead, thanks for His longsuffering usward that all who are His will come unto Him.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pet:8,9)

Of course we know that this 'all' does not mean that everybody everywhere will eventually come to repentace. This 'all' is all those the Father has given to the Son.

I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (John 17:9, 10)

So, yes I am thankful for the physical graces afforded me, but most grateful to be counted amoung those the Father gave to the Son, that He is glorified thusly.

Now that's a Thanksgiving. True Thanks Be To God!

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Whenever I read the Sacred Sandwich I think it's funny, but it's funny because it's so close to reality. So put on your best radio announcer voice and read along with me as we explore the New New Gospel Of Hugs For Everyone!



Going deep into The Word of Promise Next Generation . . . the audio Bible for the "wired generation!"

You've heard the dramatized New Testament featuring the voice talents of many of today's top young Hollywood stars. Now dig deeper and embrace the truths and knowledge of the Bible like never before. This new devotional study guide series is available in four volumes. Each volume includes an MP3 CD, a devotional guide, and journaling section. The devotional guide is presented in 13 lessons with topical articles, exciting and fun 2-color graphic design, and creative interactive games and activities for youth to enjoy! Also included is a journaling section at the end of each lesson of the each book.

Volume One - the "Who" focuses on the person, purpose and promises of Jesus and is based on the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Features include: GET-IT (help to understand difficult concepts); GRAB-IT (how does this look in your own life); HOLD-IT (how to maintain in everyday life); GIVE-IT (how does this affect others in your life); DEFINE-IT (in-depth look at key words); and LIVE-IT (presentation of ideas, questions, challenges to support each session's content).

The Sacred Sandwich has nothing of the reality of the mainstream churchy generation. You just can't make this stuff up.

What A Fathead

We've been too prosperous, too coddled, to comfortable, and now we're fat and lazy. Even the super skinny model types. Just because you're skinny doesn't mean you're not fat and lazy. You ever heard of someone being called a 'fathead'? Well, you don't think of a person with a literally fat head, do you? I must say that if you do, you're probably a fathead. (oooo I feel a bout of Jeff Foxworthy coming on.....you might be a fathead if you think the government is here to help you. OK, it's over.)


It's not just you, it's me too. I thought of myself as 'poor' when we were growing up. I have pictures where I have the same pair of shorts on from sixth grade through tenth grade. Safety pins were a wardrobe accessory in my world. I was poor, just didn't realize that it was poor in spiritual guidance. I'm sure if someone were to tell me that then, I would have looked at them like they were from another planet. Sort of like people look at me now when I tell them they are being lied to by not only their government, but by their supposed 'church'. Most however, do not want you to shine any light upon their crooked path, because then they would be required to change something about themselves. The reality is though, that even though; in a literal sense, they could change, they really couldn't change without God's inspiring grace. This is so in order that they are responsible for their actions, and yet God is in control of their actions. Thus, fatheads are unable to see, tending toward trampling the pearls under their feet. Like walking on marbles, the pearls cause their feet fly out from underneath them, and they fall with a thud.

It's all been about gaining comfort, and feeding the flesh. We, as a society, are now really good at it, and we will not..... cannot..... and won't......do anything about it until it all comes crashing down like a house of cards.

I'm just as bad, actually, worse, because I've been given light to see, and I'm moving in slow-mo

What a fathead.