Tuesday's Musical Notes - "True" (Spandau Ballet)

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Here we are!!!  Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year!!!  Anyone telling you to be of good cheer yet?  No?  Well let us be the first to wish you the best during this time of seeming continual celebrations!  Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

If you have ever enrolled in a Philosophy course or ever made an extended study of the way the mind works, you are sure to have encountered the question (or one of its derivatives)...what is true?  Is truth a relative term or is it static?  Does my truth always have to be your truth?  Is there even anything that is an absolute or universal truth?  

Folks have been asking these questions since God breathed into man and gave him life.  It seems that we rarely are satisfied with our conditions and thus feel the need to inquire about things that rarely do we have the propensity to understand.  The subject of truth, or something being true, is one of those posits that are outside of our realm to understand in many ways.  An ocean of books have been written on how we can determine what is true.  In 1983, however, we did know this much was true...

"True" by Spandau Ballet from the eponymous 1983 album

Written by guitar player Gary Kemp, "True" became the biggest hit for the '80s New Wave band Spandau Ballet. In autumn of 1983 it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.   It's constant use in a variety of media has enabled "True" to be so easily recognized as to almost achieve iconic status. 

Spandau Ballet is like many bands from the '80s in that they continue to tour and produce new music.   While suffering a breakup during the 90's, the band reformed in 2009 to sold out concerts and throngs of adoring fans waiting for new music.  What was true for Spandau Ballet in the '80s must have translated pretty well into the next millennia of music fans.  

Do you every find it easy to "stretch the truth"?  Every told a "little white lie"?  For some crazy reason, the season that is supposed to celebrate the Lord of the truth is filled with so many inconsistencies, deceptions, and outright lies that it boggles the mind.  Christians succumb to the trap of telling "fibs" by not wanting to disappoint a loved one or spoil surprises during the Christmas season.  Yes, I confess, I have been known to tell a few whoppers for the sake of Christmas secrets during the time period of November 26th - December 31st.  Why do we do this though?

The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Roman church that there is nobody who is righteous (filled with right living in a matter of speaking).  The Apostle Paul's Letter to the Roman Church, chapter 3 - New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel  This "none" would include the apostle himself.  Paul goes on to say that God (the Father) set things right in the days of Moses.  God made the sins of the Israelites go away due to the sacrificial system He had set up.  God (the Father) was the source of absolute truth during the Mosaic period.  Paul then tells the Roman church that in the new "church" age, Jesus (God, the Son) was the arbiter of what was true.  Because of Jesus setting things right by sacrificing Himself, absolute truth could be discovered through His personage.  

Jesus made this proclamation regarding how we can be assured of things being true when He proclaimed himself THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.  The Gospel of Jesus According to the Apostle John, chapter 14 - NKJV/The Message  In essence, if we want to know whether or not something is true, we can filter it through the saving grace of Jesus Christ and discover it's level of integrity.  

In case you haven't noticed, the season of celebration is upon us.  Let us be examples of truth during this Christmas time.  The apostle Peter, a contemporary of Paul's and one of Jesus inner circle, made a good suggestion for every day living that is especially applicable during this Christmastime...1 Peter 2 - NKJV/The Message

Why can't Christmas just be about Jesus?  Why can't sharing gifts be a reminder of the gifts that were brought to our Savior?  Why can't the lights, ornaments, and trees, just be examples of the Light of the world, the beauty and splendor of a King, and the eternity that awaits those who believe the truth...  Be challenged friend to not allow the influence of this world's culture to keep you from boldly proclaiming...I know this much is TRUE...

"I Believe" by Wes King from the 1993 album The Robe

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Try A Little Kindness" (Glen Campbell)

Hello!  Hi there!  How ya doin'?  How's it goin'?  Wazzzup?  Regardless of your preferred greeting or salutation, Welcome to Tuesday!!!  Tuesday's Musical Notes comin' atcha with the sounds of the time and soul searchin' from the temple.  If it's peace that ya diggin' brother, this is the place for you!!!  This is the blog that don't have time for bringin' ya down.  We are here to lift ya up and show you the way!  So let's get started with a platter from our country brother GC, Glen Campbell that is, as he elucidates and educates on the way thing should be...drop the needle bro!!!

  "Try A Little Kindness", title track from the 1970 album by Glen Campbell

If you hang around the music industry long enough, you get the opportunity to see the change from one decade to another. Change agents are sometimes difficult to recognize.  But sometimes they come in a instantly recognizable form.   Enter Glen Campbell.  Since 1960, Glen Campbell has seen the decades change from a musician/entertainer's perspective.  All the while, honing his craft into 70 albums which have sold over 45 million copies combined.  Of the 70, Campbell has seen 12 Gold, 4 Platinum, and 1 Double-Platinum albums making him one of the most popular artists of the 60's and 70's.  He made musical history in 1967 by winning 4 Grammy Awards in 2 different categories (2 for "Gentle On My Mind" in Country & Western, and 2 for "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" in the Pop category).  He also received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1969 for his role in the John Wayne classic movie, True Grit.  But he is best known as a universal ambassador for folks treating each other with kindness. Must be something he learned from being raised in Southwest Arkansas.  

With the tumult of the VietNam War raging, and the controversy of the United States involvement growing, a song was introduced that took its theme from the Golden Rule, which comes from the teachings of Jesus in The Gospel of Matthew 7  New King James Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible parallel.  While this is an important ideology for everyday, it seems that a strong emphasis is needed every 20 or so years.  Perhaps for today's generation now more than ever.

We have talked about the confusion behind the word racism (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Black And White").  This word seems to be touted about anytime we have a disagreement with someone from another culture.  Most recently, it has come into play in our political dialogue.  But ultimately, our disagreements have very little to do with the culture in which we happen to be raised, but much about the positioning of our lives with those we are surrounded.  Allow me to explain...

We are given, on any given day, any number of people with whom we have contact.  Whether we intend to or not, we communicate with them.  Some of the communication take the more overt form of speaking and engaging in a conversation, usually intelligent.  Other times, our body language is the only method we choose to relate to others.  Please understand that not saying anything communicates to others around us as well as being the proverbial gregarious Gary of the crowd.  

All communication is taken in either a positive or negative way.  We get to chose how we communicate, unfortunately we have no control on how that is received.  We can however make an impact on perception if we employ Glen Campbell's advice.  Just try a little kindness...yes, even with those who voted for the other candidate.

Organized religion has historically made it abundantly clear what it considers are the bad things currently going on in our society.  I'm not exactly sure that this is the approach however, with which we should be engaged.  As an example, in 1979 the pioneering Christian musical group The Imperials, produced a single called "Oh Buddha".  It went to #1 on the Christian charts which was not surprising.  What may be surprising is the fact that most of the song is speaking about the other gods that the world religions are worshiping.  Jesus is not even mentioned until the 3rd verse!  In fact, Jesus name is only invoked 2 times!!!  While I totally get the message The Imperials were trying to say and the time period in which they were trying to say it, I wonder, as Christians, if this is the message in which we should focus.  This song is emblematic of the way many religious folks want to be.  They would much rather spend time discussing the wrongs with society or why you should vote for their particular candidate instead of that particular candidate, than redeeming the time by telling the story of how Jesus changed their life by dying on the cross. It is a much kinder action to tell the world how He continues to transform them into His likeness as they learn from the mistakes that they make, rather than criticizing them for not learning from the mistakes they make.    

The religious leaders of the time attempted to trick Jesus by asking Him to prioritize the 10 commandments.  They thought that if He would identify which one was better than all the others, they could accuse Him of blasphemy, a Jewish crime punishable by death.  Jesus answer caught them off guard...read about it in Matthew 22:34-40  Matthew 22 NKJV/The Message

What Jesus says about these commandments are the tenants for any follower of His to live by.  Love God above anything else.  Yup, ANYTHING.  Then love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.  I don't know about you, but I tend to like myself a little bit.  So logically, I am commanded by Jesus to love those that I encounter on a daily basis.  How do we show love to those we don't know.  Let's go back to what we communicate when we come into contact with them.  What would happen if you said "hello" with a smile on your face to all those you encountered.  What would happen if you thanked the folks who were cleaning the restroom or the movie theater you just occupied?  What would happen if you waved to everyone you encountered on the streets where you live? (With safety first being your motto!)  What would happen in the relationship with those you have disagreements if you spent more time telling them about Jesus, than you spent arguing with them about who their candidate was?  What would happen in the church if we spent less time condemning the sinner, and more time telling them about a Savior?

What would happen...

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, you're going the wrong way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Songwriters: BOBBY AUSTIN, CURT SAPAUGH
© EMI Music Publishing
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: LyricFind

"Live Out Loud" by Steven Curtis Chapman from the 2001 album Declaration

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Couldn't Get It Right" (The Climax Blues Band)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  Do you know where you are?  You have googled, bing-ed, or stumbled upon the blog that incorporates the greatest music of all time with the greatest Message of all time!!!  Perhaps you were searching for a different site, you or your computer didn't quite get the inquiry right.  Well, please let us encourage you to park it here for just a moment and learn something new about the music you may love and The Messiah you should consider.  That's us in a nutshell...Tuesday's Musical Notes starts right now!!!

 "Couldn't Get It Right" by The Climax Blues Band from the 1976 album Gold Plated

The Climax Blues Band began in 1968 with 6 members.  48 years, 20 albums and 22 band members later, they continue to tour although the current lineup does not include any original members..  Under pressure from the band Chicago, they had to change their name which was originally, The Chicago Climax Blues Band.  Funny thing was, none of them were even from Chicago.  Each of the original band members were from the United Kingdom where their music had a very respectful following.  

In 1976, The Climax Blues Band went viral before viral was something other than sickness.   Thanks in part to a TV show in England called Top of the Pops (January 1, 1964-July 30, 2006) the band's music became overnight hits.  This TV show was the British version of American Bandstand complete with a countdown of the most popular hits in England.  Climax Blues Band appeared 2 different times, each time playing their top ten single in the UK, "Couldn't Get It Right".  Their performance on Top of the Pops garnered the attention of Sire Records, who produced a single for "Couldn't Get It Right" in the United States that soared up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #3.  

"Couldn't Get It Right" joins the ranks of "Rock-N-Roll Road Songs" (for example:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Turn The Page") as it speaks to the band's touring of the United States and the frustration they experienced at their seeming inability to find a good hotel to stay in while on that tour.   It was one of only 2 top 20 hits for the band, but it would be enough to propel their album Gold Plated (derived from their guitar player's gold plated guitar) to #27 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

Perhaps that is a feeling you have experienced.  No matter how hard you work on a project or task, it seems that you just can't get it exactly the way you want it or the way the directions indicate it should be.  I have finally got to the point in my life where I swallow my pride and realize, putting things together with my hands is not one my expert skill sets.  But working with your hands is not the only situation that requires the necessity to get things right.  How are the relationships in your immediate circle?  Do you have those which you desire to be friends with, but no matter how you try, it never seems to happen?  Maybe you've kept on waiting for a sign in the middle of the night?  

There are countless stories in the Bible where folks just like you and me had this incredible tension in their lives due to the inability to resolve life's situations.  No matter what they did...they couldn't get it right.  These people weren't losers, in fact, some were royalty for the nation of Israel.  I think however, the 2 instances that show this to be the most prolific are the narrative of the children of Israel immediately following their emancipation from Egypt and the actions of the 12 disciples the night before the crucifixion of Jesus.

Moses led the children of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, out of slavery in Egypt. The Egyptians were so glad to see them leave, due to the catastrophic events that had just occurred, that they even allowed Israel to loot the land on their way out.  No more did they get Egypt in the rear view mirror, they began questioning Moses and God about the directions they were receiving.  They had seen the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the Cloud by day and Fire by night, and yet they continued to make the same mistakes over and over again.  "Restless feeling, really got a hold, they started searching for a better way." They allowed their lack of faith in God and their fear of the unknown to be the reason God initiated their aimless wanderings in the desert for 40 years.  Because of their disobedience, that entire generation of folks died in that desert before God allowed them to move on, yet He sustained them the entire time despite their wrong doing.  Exodus 20 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel

Under the leadership of Jesus, the 12 disciples had purposefully roamed around central Israel for 3 years.  They had listened to Jesus teaching and wondered at the miracles that He performed.  Yet when called upon to have great courage and faith, they succumbed to their fear and fled, in the vernacular of today's feature song...they split, man.  They allowed the fear of the moment to divert their minds from the Father who was willing to direct their paths.  After Jesus death and burial, they could have had these sentiments:  "Getting down, so deep I could have drowned Now, I can't get back the way I used to be."  The Gospel of John 14-21 NKJV/The Message

Both of these stories are incredible examples to us.  They are stories of folks just like you and me.  The take away from these stories is that no matter how hard they tried, when the pressure was placed on them, they couldn't get it right.

Fortunately, that is not the end of the story.  With the crucifixion of Jesus, we are not seen by God as the failures that we may think we are. With the death of Jesus, we are no longer shackled to our lack of skill or inabilities.  The choice is ours to make.  As we surrender to Holy Spirit's drawing, we see what Jesus has done for us.  With the burial of Jesus, we are no longer threatened by the fear of death. With the resurrection of Jesus, we are no longer children of this world, but adopted heirs to His kingdom.  With the return of Jesus, we are no longer weary of a future that is uncertain, but can boldly stand and proclaim Jesus Saves!!! 

You don't need a sign in the middle of the night, there is only One Light that you need to see.  You don't need any other way to take you through the night, there is no fear in a life lived for Jesus.  So what do you chose today friend?  It's time to get it right...

"Jesus Saves" by the Prestonwood Choir and orchestra, originally written by Travis Cottrell and David Moffitt

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

Randy    

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Only Sleeping" (The Beatles)

It is election day in the United States of America!!!  What an incredible privilege we have as Americans. Regardless of where you may be in the ideological, political spectrum, Tuesday's Musical Notes urges you to cast your ballot!  This Public Service Announcement brought to you by Tuesday's Musical Notes where you can go any day of the week and get something a little bit different than your normal musical blog fare. Enjoy!!!

Good Tuesday to ya friend!!! Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Each week, folks just like you gather from all over the globe to read about their favorite bands and songs.  We try to bring an interpretation to this music that is unique in its perspective, unlike anything you've ever read, and unabashed in its delivery of truth.  So, since the weather has become fall like, grab your favorite warm coffee blend, a throw or favorite blanket, your phone or ipad, and let's visit awhile about one of the biggest bands ever put together.  Don't get too warm though..you might...start...to become...very...zzzz...zzzz...zzzz...

"I'm Only Sleeping" by The Beatles from the 1966 album Revolver (UK), and the 1966 album Yesterday and Today (USA) 

WAKE UP!!!!!  Wow, that's as annoying now as it is in the morning!  Sleep is a necessity.  Some require a specific amount each night to function at optimum, others can fluctuate and still maintain their operational status during the day.  Infants require 14-15 hours, teenagers require 8.5-9.5 hours, and most adults need from 7-9 hours a day.  ("Are You Getting Enough Sleep?" webmd.com)  As I get older, I find my need for sleep increases...maybe that's just an afternoon nap calling...

Ever had that afternoon meeting where the one leading the meeting seems to go on and on and on.  Your lunch is settled and the room may be warm.  All of a sudden you find yourself called upon for an opinion and you have to be reminded the topic because you had fallen asleep?  This scenario has the potential to be job ending, and at the very least is embarrassing.  

An entire industry of "energy" boosting supplements has in the last decade popped up in stores to get you through those long afternoons.  Many folks attest to their reviving characteristics and seem to not suffer the "crash" that previous generation's "no sleep" aids cause.  Perhaps however, we are looking at the wrong solution.  Instead of waiting until you get sleepy, maybe the fault lies in your preparation for the day.

1 Peter 1:13-21 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel

The apostle Peter, yes the one who walked on water, cut off the servant's ear, and swore to Jesus that he would NEVER deny him, is writing to the burgeoning church in Asia Minor (south west portion of Asia, comprising most of modern day Turkey) to provide encouragement at a time of persecution they were experiencing.  Peter attempts to galvanize their courage by telling them:  "So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives."  Considering the current climate in the world that we find ourselves, this seems to be pretty good advice for Christians as we navigate a culture that will increasingly become negative toward our world view.  

What experience in Peter's life would have prepared him to elucidate such advise?  Peter had one of those "wake up in the middle of a meeting" moments on a very important night.  The Gospel of Luke chapter 22 NKJV/The Message  Here we see the episode from the apostle Peter's life that provides him with the experience to be able to encourage those in Asia Minor.  Unfortunately for Peter, his wisdom was gained experientially from the mistakes that he made.  

The disciples had just had the last meal they would have with Jesus before He was taken to be crucified.  It was a lively evening as the disciples did not fully comprehend the meaning behind the moment.  Judas leaves and the disciples have a discussion about who would be the greatest among them.  Jesus continues to compassionately teach and lead the disciples as He knows what lays in store for the remainder of the evening.  While Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemene, His disciples, weary from the days events and full of Passover supper, succumb to sleep.  At His greatest time of need, Jesus was alone.  Peter and the disciples were not alert, nor were they aware of the arriving mob coming into the Garden.  When Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered and hid to avoid potential prosecution as well.  It was not a good night for the men who would later begin the Church in Jerusalem.  It is a good thing that God is forgiving.

But before we beat up on Peter and the disciples, we must evaluate our own service to Jesus.  Are we alert when opportunities arrive for us to be "light" in this present darkness?  Are we "sober" as we make decisions that affect others around us and aware of the implications those decisions may have on the testimony of Jesus in our lives?  Or when we are called upon to do a great work for the kingdom, is our reply...

"Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping"

"Wake Up" by All Sons and Daughters from the 2012 album Season One

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Stop" (Fleetwood Mac)

Welcome to Tuesday, November 1st!!!  Are you ready to gain some sleep?  

Don't forget that this weekend is the time change!   We've stated it on numerous 

occasions...why can't we just leave it alone?  While there is much bigger things

 that they should be focusing on, the first major political party that adopts 

repealing Daylight Savings Time gets my vote!!!  Speaking of voting, don't forget 

to go and do it.  Nope, we don't have great candidates in the top spot, however, 

when you look behind the curtain, there are some good people trying to make a 

difference.  Study God's Word about leadership and about Who should be our 

King and then go vote!!!  

Alas, we are for the time being stuck with the time change.  Time to fall back 

and get a redo on an hour of our lives.  Speaking of redo's, here is another 

Tuesday's Musical Note email flasback to September 6, 2011, before Tuesday's 

Musical Notes, the blog.  And you don't even have to lose or gain any sleep!!!

What a beautiful morning!!!  The Summer's grip of heat seems to be broken and

 Fall is right around the corner.  This is one of my favorite times of the year.  We 

truly are blessed to live in Arkansas, because we get a complete seasonal shift 

most years.  Tammy and I lived in Florida for a time and the change of the 

seasons was not nearly as pronounced as they are here.  Sure we fuss about the 

heat and humidity and occasionally about the cold and snow, but we wonder at 

the beauty that is Spring and Fall.  To me, enduring the Summer and Winter are 

usually worth it to have Spring and Fall, the seasons  which I look forward to the 

most.  With the Fall you get football, and in the Spring March Madness.    With 

the Fall you get God's paintbrush among the foliage and with the Spring, new life 

in the form of a multitude of "greens", as well as the wonderful celebration of 

Easter.  What more could anyone want?  There is something better.  Something 

that as Christians we will attain that is vastly superior to Spring or Fall.  A place 

in which our imaginations can only scratch the surface of the beauty we are to 

behold.  A place for which we long.  A place that causes us to ponder a  future 

tomorrow.  There are people who would tell you to not dream about tomorrow.  

They say that you should live for today.  Jesus even told us that we should not 

worry about tomorrow.  I agree.  We shouldn't WORRY about tomorrow, but when 

it comes to thinking about tomorrow......"Don't Stop".

July 6, 1977 was an ordinary day.  In fact, there are few history making facts 

about that day.  It was a year after the United States had celebrated the 

Bicentennial.  It was a couple of days after a holiday.  Pink Floyd had a huge 

concert in Montreal, Canada and France was doing nuclear testing.  Some of us 

had graduated 6th grade and were excited and scared about the prospects of 

high school might be for us.  But the release of a record from a 5 person band 

would change the musical landscape as well as the lives of each of the band 

members.  Heard any "Rumours" lately?  You could be one of over 40 million 

people worldwide to have purchased Fleetwood Mac's July 6, 1977 release.  The 

album has been certified 20x platinum in the United States by selling over 

20 million copies, making it the 6th best selling album of all time.    This is 

amazing considering the environment in which it was recorded.  Christine and 

John McVie had just divorced and weren't speaking, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay 

Buckingham were fighting over their relationship, and Mick Fleetwood had just 

discovered his wife was having an affair with his best friend.  One top of that, 

the band recorded in California amidst the excess of the drug culture.  Out of all 

of that turmoil came "Rumours".

      A critic said that one of the reasons for "Rumours" success is that it is 

completely full of likable songs. One of the most likable is written by keyboardist 

Christine McVie, keyboard player and the only classically trained musician in the 

band.  It evokes an enthusiasm for, and positive attitude towards the future.  

Time to get your smile on......

 "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac from the 1977 album Rumours

"If you wake up and don't want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You'll see things in a different way

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone"


     Does this contradict what Christ said in regards to thinking about tomorrow?  

Please remember the context in which Jesus was speaking.  He was talking about

 how our lives can get consumed by worry.  Jesus was reminding us that God is in 

control and we can't add anything to our lives by worrying about it.  I think Jesus 

was pointing us to what Paul would say about our future.

2 Corinthians 5

Awaiting the New Body

 ¹ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building 

from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we 

groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when 

we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we 

groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed 

instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by 

life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has 

given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in

 the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are 

confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the 

Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body 

or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so 

that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, 

whether good or bad. 

     Notice that Paul says we would "prefer to be away from the body and at home

 with the Lord".  That is a state of  being that awaits us in the future.  I once heard 

a speaker say, "Everybody has eternal life, the decision we have to make is where 

that eternity will be spent."  Friend, would you prefer to be away from the body and 

at home with the Lord?  We don't know the hour or the day when our eternity will 

begin.  Are you prepared to spend it in that indescribable place of beauty where the

Lord will reign forever?  If so, you can proclaim with confidence 

"Don't stop thinkin' about tomorrow, don't stop, it'll soon be here".......

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy