Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Rising" (Bruce Springsteen)

Welcome to Tuesday, the day of all days!  Why may you ask? Let me tell you the ways!   Way one is not the best nor is it the least.  Alas and alak, it however has ceased!  Music and video once came out on this day of the week!  It was the day that we longed for, our waiting, it peaked!  The newest of the new, available to us.  No clutter from the weekend, no need for the fuss.  Way two is so easy, we must stop and think.  Why, Tuesday's not Monday, the day we all sink. Way three is the best, no contest you'll see.  Way three is the blog, that you click on with glee.  It's Tuesday, dear friend, welcome you blokes!  It's time, for Tuesday's Musical Notes!  

Welcome to Tuesday!  We hope you enjoy today's installment of Tuesday's Musical Notes!  If you do, please tell a friend, or two, or for that matter a dozen or more about your Tuesday journey down the road of timeless tunes and insight from what may be a perspective you have never considered. We're glad that you joined us!  Let's get started with The Boss and his tribute song to 9/11...The Rising


Now, let's go live to London (well sort of live...at least it was live 5 years ago) with Mr. Springsteen and the E Street Band


Welcome to a new world.  A world where a Bruce Springsteen song becomes a focal point for Tuesday's Musical Notes.  I must confess that other than his solo in "We Are the World",  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We are the World") "Born to Run", "Thunder Road", and "Born in the U.S.A.", I'm not really big into Bruce...until today.  Today's song may be what takes me over the edge of casual listener,  "He's ok.  I can take him or leave him", to having a firm respect for his talent, "I really need to keep up with what Springsteen is doing!". 

It only made #52 on the Billboard Hot 100, but its impact continues to be felt as it has seen continual rotation in Springsteen concerts since its debut in 2002.  It won the Grammy categories of Best Rock Song, Best Male Performance, and Song of the Year in that same year.  Rolling Stone named it the 35th best song of the decade and VH1 (that would be MTV Classic now...yawn) listed it as #81 on its 100 Greatest songs of the '00s list.  It also made the cut at Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list coming in at #497. 
 
Ten months after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Star Spangled Banner"), Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band release the album The Rising.  Some took it as a rallying cry to avenge the 9/11 attacks, yet Springsteen and crew saw the record more as a reflection and tribute to those who bravely gave their lives by running into burning skyscrapers.  They willingly laid down their lives for their neighbors. (The Gospel of Jesus According to John, chapter 15, verses 9-17 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible) Today's feature song is one of 2 from The Rising that pays tribute to those who gave the final full measure of devotion. 

The religious overtones are unmistakable throughout the song, even to the point of hinting towards Easter.  In his book, The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen: Rock and Redemption, from Asbury Park to Magic, Jeffrey Symynkywicz comments on the songs intimation as being "an Easterlike anthem arising out of the darkness and despair of September 11, a national Good Friday experience if ever there was one." (Symynkywicz, Jeffery B. (2008). Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-23169-1. pp. 150–151.)  In this Easterlike anthemic spirit, we would like to offer this elucidation about THE Rising...

This coming Sunday, folks all around the world will celebrate One who was the ultimate example of laying down His life for His friends, however, He didn't stay entombed in a hillside in Israel.  That's the reason for the celebration!!!  Please consider the following:



You can read more about Lee Strobel's journey in the fascinating book The Case for Christ or watch the 2017 movie version on your favorite device. (The Case for Christ - trailer)

"I see you Mary in the garden, In the garden of a thousand sighs..."


The point of all of this...Jesus is alive!!! In an ultimate display of THE Rising, Jesus came to life and was seen by many of His followers, Paul's 1st Letter to the Corinthian church, chapter 15 - NIV/The Message/ESV, This very moment He Is Alive! 

There are those who want to discount this story as a fable and the Bible as just another religious book. The thought being that the Bible is revered by its adherents as truth in an equal way that Muslims consider the Quran to be truth, or that Hindus consider the four Vedas as founding principles of truth.  One big difference in these texts is that only One of the main characters in these respective books claimed to be The Way, The Truth and The Life. (The Gospel of Jesus According to John, chapter 14, verses 1-6 NIV/The Message/ESV

However, the historicity of the Bible has been seen time and again to be correct. Historians acknowledge the Bible as a historically accurate document. ("Is the Bible Historically Accurate?" - by Tony Mariot, Freelance Research Writer Biblical Antiquity at University of Oxford (2009-present), quora.com, October 24, 2017) Archeological digs continue to find evidence validating historical passages of the Bible.  ("Did Archaeologists Just Prove the Existence of Isaiah?" - Candida Moss, The Daily Beast, February 22, 2018) The evidence continues to grow that would support the accuracy of the Bible as a historical document.

For me, the Bible is much more than that.  "Come on up for The Rising..." It is not only a history book but the testimony of Jesus.  Everything in the Bible points to Him.  "Come on up, lay your hands in mine..."  Jesus is the plan from the beginning..."Let there be light".  Jesus is The final sacrifice.  "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed."  Isaiah 53: 5 (Isaiah 53 - NIV/The Message/ESV)  "Come on up for The Rising..."  He was tortured and then placed through the worst form of capital punishment ever contrived.  He was dead but is now alive!!! He sits next to God, asking the Creator of all things to grant forgiveness to those who ask. "Come on up for the Rising tonight!!!"

Dear friends, this Sunday, many things will be celebrated. Many will dress colorfully and have time with friends and relatives. Believers will go to sunrise services and celebrate their freedom in Jesus with church family.  They will celebrate the fact that He is not inhabiting a tomb in a hill outside of Jerusalem.  They celebrate their eventual eternity with Jesus in heaven.    

Ultimately, this Sunday, those who are forever forgiven will celebrate The Rising.  This Sunday, or even today, is that something you can do? Can you celebrate your eternity?

What do you celebrate at Easter?   

"Come on up for THE rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for THE rising
Come on up for THE rising tonight

Li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li"

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
 
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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin)

Welcome to Tuesday, the best day of the week!!!  It is time for your weekly dose of rhythm and revelation, affectionately called Tuesday's Musical Notes!  This is the place where your favorites from all genre and generations are celebrated as we discover interesting facts about our favorite songs, albums, artists, and occasionally ourselves!

One of our goals at Tuesday's Musical Notes is to remind folks that there is meaning in every lyric that has ever been put to the combination of melody, harmony, and rhythm.  This meaning is made even more special to us, here at the Notes, by the fact that in the 303 Tuesday's Musical Notes that exist, (you really should check out the archive, it's over there, you know, to the right of the screen, yup that's right, where all of the years are listed, go ahead click or search, have we made you wonder?), we have never attempted to monetize our blog in any way. That's not what the Notes are about.  

Another goal has always been communicating the joy of music and the reason for that joy.  This blog's opinion is that advertisements do nothing but detract from the joy of music and the meaning of the message we wish to convey.   Plus, including ads might give off the impression that we were making an attempt at buying a stairway to heaven...   



How do you write a song that by its 20th anniversary (1991) had been played almost 3,000,000 times according to radio sources?  How do you write a song that is the best selling piece of sheet music in rock history with an average of over 15,000 pieces being sold annually? ( Llewellyn, Sian (December 1998). "Stairway to Heaven". Total Guitar, p.61-62)  How do you write a song that tops print and radio lists for best song ever? Well, let's ask Jimmy Page, co-writer of "Stairway to Heaven"


"Stairway to Heaven" accomplished all of its accolades while never having been released as a single.  Add to this that it clocks in at over 8 minutes long. 

It continues to receive airplay at most good radio stations despite 1982 claims, by well-intentioned Christian entities, that backmasked phrases encouraging satan worship existed in the song.  This served to increased sales of Led Zeppelin IV as fans who didn't own the album purchased it just to see if they could hear the messages.  It also served to mess up many a good turntable.  The band mostly ignored the claims, however, Led Zeppelin's record label, Swan Song, issued a statement that the turntables their records play on only rotate in one direction.  For more on backmasking: "Backmasking" - wikipedia.com  

The meaning of "Stairway to Heaven" has been a topic for debate since Led Zeppelin IV's release in 1971.  Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have both made statements regarding the song's interpretation.  ("Greatest Rock Song - The Stairway to Heaven Story" by Eddie Deezen from todayifoundout.com, December 27, 2012)  But before you get a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now, lest you forget, The Notes plans to give our spin and prove that words have two meanings...

In the coming weeks, pastors all over the world will be ramping up to the celebration of Easter.  Congregants and guests will hear inspiring and heart wrenching messages regarding the brutality that was the crucifixion of Jesus.  Some pastors will use the passages of Jesus' last words, His "7 sayings from the cross" if you will, to explain Jesus love for mankind and what He was willing to do to restore the broken relationship between mankind and God. Our pastor did a really nice job of this yesterday in fact.  If you'd like to hear the audio, well you know what to do...("Road to the Resurrection - The Cross" - Pastor Tim Noel, March 18, 2018)

Speaking of church, do you have plans on Easter to attend a local church of your choosing?  The Notes encourages you to attend a church on Easter.  It may be a little more effort than your normal Sunday morning routine, or it may be your normal custom, either way, find a church that you can call your own.  Even if it has been awhile, there a new friends waiting to engage you.  And now back to your regularly scheduled programming already in progress...

We would also like to borrow from the "7 sayings" and explain where the "Stairway to Heaven" actually begins.  Ooh, it makes me wonder...

One of the Gospels of Jesus life was written by a physician named Luke. There is a new movie coming out about him this Friday: Paul, Apostle of Christ trailer  Dr. Luke was a believer who hung out with the apostle Paul and authored the Gospel that bears His name and many believe, the book of Acts.  His Gospel of Jesus' life was taken from the accounts of the 12 apostles and Paul.  His account of the crucifixion is an incredible perspective, as it came from a medical professional of his day.  Luke's account of Jesus death includes three of the aforementioned sayings from the cross in a brief number of verses.  Let's explore those for just a moment.  


In this passage, Jesus is dying on the cross with 2 criminals on either side of Him.  Jesus says, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing".  The group of people who would have been in earshot of Jesus had to wonder, "what is He talking about"?  Was He speaking of the crucifixion itself, or the mockery that the soldiers were perpetrating against Him?  Yes is the answer, but it goes so much deeper than that.  

You see, Jesus was in the middle of paying the price for our rebellion.  That's right.  Jesus was asking God to forgive the criminals on either side of Him, the centurions who had nailed Him to the cross, the guards who were mocking and ridiculing Him, and those who were watching it take place.  But He wasn't asking God to forgive them for killing Him.  He was asking God to forgive them of ALL of their sin, their rebellion, and wrongdoing against God.  He was asking God to forgive Adam and Eve of their sin.  He was asking God to forgive you and me of our sin.  If we only knew the ramifications of every wrong we have done, do you think we would have done them?  "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing"   

While the mocking continued at His feet, Jesus had a different conversation with the thieves who were being crucified with Him.  One disparaged Jesus, while the other cried out for forgiveness.   You see, Jesus offered His forgiveness to both but only one accepted.  "Today you will be with me in paradise"  Dear friend, Jesus' forgiveness awaits you to cry out to Him.  His love is waiting to take you home to be with Him.  His Spirit is drawing you to Him regardless of the situation you may find yourself in.  The one thief believed and went to heaven with Jesus.  What is your destination when this life is over?  And as we wind on down the road...

Finally, Jesus allows his body to succumb to the physical ramifications of the torture that He had endured.  He cries out "Father, into Your hands I commit my Spirit."  Jesus had asked God to provide forgiveness for every person ever born of their sins, insured a thief who accepted that forgiveness would enter paradise with Him and then rested in the arms of God the Father, assured that He had paid in full the price that it would take to provide God's forgiveness, restoration, and heaven as a home for of those who believe.  

In this passage from Dr. Luke, you no longer have to wonder.  Yes, there are two paths that you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on.  God has forgiven you, through Jesus death and resurrection.  But you have to accept that forgiveness.  You can have the confidence of going to heaven, restored in your relationship with God by accepting that forgiveness.  You can commit your spirit to the Spirit of God and rest assured.  And as we wind on down the road, there is no better time than now.  There is no stairway to heaven other than the one that starts at the foot of the cross and in the forgiveness that Jesus, only Jesus, can provide. Does your stairway lie on the whispering wind or in the sure foundation at the base of a cross on a hill far away?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy




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Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "People Are People" (Depeche Mode)

It's Tuesday!  The best day of the week!  If you are in the United States did you have any trouble on Sunday morning getting up?  Welcome to the ridiculousness that is daylight saving time in our generation.  The time of the year where we physically are time travelers without the benefit of a Delorean.  If you seem a bit lethargic today, there is a reason.  "As we get older", (a phrase my physician seems to be using more and more...sigh) that hour really can make a difference.  But all is not lost.  There is hope! Despite the fact that we're 1 hour older and didn't have the benefit of living that hour, it really is a great day!!! Today is an opportunity to encounter new folks and greet them with a smile, a handshake, or a hearty "hello".  So...HELLO!  Welcome to Tuesday!!!

In our world, greeting seems to be a lost art.  So many folks are looking down at cell phones, or won't meet your eye. That tends to make it difficult to engage them even if it is only for a brief moment to wish them well with the positive tones of a "good day" or a smile.  Those who will engage you are a mixed bag of reactions.  Some are astonished that you, as a stranger, would even speak to them.  Others will smile and greet you back.  Some will completely ignore you.  And in the extreme case, you get a vitriolic response.  I really don't get the anger that permeates underneath the surface of our society.  I can't understand, what makes a man hate another man.  I guess as Depeche Mode used to say..."People are People"


or perhaps you're an Air Force person:


maybe the 12"?


1984 was an outstanding year.  The NCAA announced that its end of the season basketball tournament would be expanded to 64 teams, exacerbating the term "March Madness". (By the way...Woo Pigs Sooie, beat Butler!!!) The most successful album by the rock band Van Halen, the aptly titled 1984, would be released, sending the band to the heights of royalty at MTV and in the charts.  "Where's the Beef?" gets asked by Clara Peller of a hamburger attendant for the first time in a Wendy's ad. Apple computer company releases its newest incarnation of their personal computer line, the Macintosh.   Michael Jackson really wishes he didn't have a Pepsi. Sarajevo, Yugoslavia was the site for the Winter Olympics.  And on March 12th, English band Depeche Mode released what will become one of their most popular singles.  

Hailing from Basildon, Essex in England, Depeche Mode formed as a quartet in 1980.  Their 14 albums have sold over 100 million records worldwide as well as receiving numerous accolades. Depeche Mode continues to record, (Spirit was released in 2017) and tour with 2 of its founding members, Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore. In fact, today's featured song was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Albums That Shaped Rock and Roll.  

They were part of the 2nd wave British Invasion that occurred in the 80's when the sound was electronic and the hair was...well very interesting.  Bands like Flock of Seagulls (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Ran (So Far Away)"), Howard Jones (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No One Is To Blame"), The Human League (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Human") and Duran, Duran would make the British sound appealing and because of MTV, the British band "look" was beamed all over the world via satellite to a massive throng of replicants.  It's been 34 years since Depeche Mode exploded onto the music scene, thus allowing for their nomination for inclusion in the 2018 class for the Hall of Fame.

Jesus understood people.  As God, the Son, Jesus was there when people were created, so He should understand them very well.  God knew that there would need to be boundaries by which man should live, so He gave us the 10 commandments.  Jesus said that the 2 greatest commandments of the 10 were to love God and love your neighbor.  (The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew, chapter 22, verses 36-40 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel)  A deeper investigation and pondering of the 10 commandments reveal how the first 4 detail our relationship with God, while the last 6 explain our relationship to other men and women.  (Exodus 20:1-17 NIV/The Message/ESV)  

In reality, we live in a world that would much rather promote hatred, division, and war, than love, unity, and peace.  For all the talk about bringing the cultures of the world together, there is a disproportionate amount of media, movie themes, and opinions that highlight the differences that we have.  This marketing of hate, given under the guise of good intent, exacerbates the problem.  Listen to the music of our day.  Look at the movies and video games that are being profligated towards us.  Watch ANY television news media and see what the lead may be. Those of the religious bend, who happen to have a TV network or following, sometimes add to the chaos by espousing personal opinion rather than preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.  In His day, Jesus called these charlatans out as heretics and hypocrites.   Finally, our elected officials at the federal level cry out for unity all while pointing out and highlighting our individualities.  Have you ever watched C-Span when the House of Representatives is in session?  The jockeying for political power, position, reelection, playing to the constituency and sometimes pure contempt by some "representatives" can be difficult to watch.  And we ponder with Depeche Mode, "what makes a man hate another man?"  

Please realize that there is a different Way.  Sometimes that Way is difficult to see or hear because of all of the aforementioned "noise" in our world, but The Way is there.  There are GOOD representatives, pastors, songs, journalists, movies and video games.  They promote the last 6 commandments in exemplary ways.  Jesus said of Himself that He was that different Way.  It mattered not to Jesus who He encountered, they were treated with respect, dignity, and love.  Jesus was sorrowful and compassionate for their lostness, healed their illness, and made a way for them to successfully navigate our world's wilderness.  He was relational and not condemning. (The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John 4:1-26 NIV/The Message/ESV)  He was straightforward,  brutally honest and could get angry without it being a sin.  (John 2:13-25 NIV/The Message/ESV )  Interestingly enough, these 2 incidents bookend one of the best known, well-loved passages in all of the Bible that exhibits His ultimate example of love for people:  John 3:13-21 NIV/The Message/ESV

So dear friend, understand this.  The God who created you and me created us to relate to each other. He created us to talk to each other with respect and dignity.  We were created to be friends and to be friendly to everyone we encounter.  Our relationships should be ones of edification, empathy, and encouragement, and not just to those who are the ones in which we have the most in common, but with everyone.  

How is this done?  First, you have to have your relationship with God restored.  You do this by believing that Jesus was Who He said He was, God's Son sent to redeem you and restore that relationship with God.  Anything else you do in your life is meaningless unless you have your association with God in order.  When you do this the first 4 commandments become meaningful to you and are a lifestyle rather than a list of commands.  Secondly,  You could start by opening doors for folks. If you know them call them by name.  Stop using pronouns when you can use someone's name.  Watch someone light up when you call them by name. Many folks have name tags at their place of employment.  If you can see it, try calling the clerk who is serving you by name and see how they respond.  Write down the person's name at the business with which you are on the phone and say their name to them as often as you can.  By doing this, you become relational and you have a better opportunity to show the love of Jesus.  Because as we read the Gospel's, it is evident that Jesus knew everyone by their name and loved them.  Sometimes this can be hard, but be diligent, because it's really the simplest things that can make a difference in one's life because let's face it...People are People...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy  
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "From Now On" (Hugh Jackman)

Ladies and Gentlemen!  Welcome to the grand finale of blogs inspired by the music of the movie The Greatest Showman.  Cast your eyes and ears on the center ring as we proudly present to you today a song that features our ringmaster, Hugh Jackman.  Before we begin, let us take this opportunity to remind you of all of our posts from this incredible soundtrack:

(Oscar nominee for Song of the Year, #neverwatchtheOscars,#thegreatestshowmangotjipped, #guessI'mnotartsyenoughtogetit)

(Who needs an Oscar when your movie is still in theaters and has the 3rd highest gross revenue in the Top Ten. (finished 8th for the weekend and 8th for the week ending March 1 at the box office, better than any of the Oscar nominees)) 

Like any Tuesday's Musical Note, you can always find The Greatest Showman blogs in the archives by month on the top right-hand side of the screen.  Or you can search the archives by artist or song anytime, it doesn't have to be a Tuesday!  And now, on with The Greatest Show!!!

In this humble blogger's opinion, today's featured song is the best on the soundtrack.  It is reflective and sentimental, all the while being celebratory and hopeful.  Ladies and Gents this is the moment you've waited for...


The DVD will be available for this must-have movie on April 10th.  One would anticipate many behind the scenes extras upon its release to DVD.  Some of the more powerful extras have already leaked onto YouTube.  Keala Settles "This Is Me" performance for the greenlight audition has been chronicled in the blog of the same name above and as of today, this behind the scenes video has received 13,151,163 views at YouTube.  Here is another example of one of the more compelling extras...


Still the #1 downloaded album at ITunes and #3 on Billboards Top 200 Albums list, The Greatest Showman soundtrack has produced song after song of hopeful and infectious music.  But none are quite as poignant as today's feature, for who hasn't had at least 1 time in their lives where they have wished for a new start?  What person hasn't wished for the opportunity to gain back trust for those who they have betrayed?  Who wouldn't love to have the chance to get back time lost with children who grow up way to fast? 

"Let this promise in me start, like an anthem in my heart, from now on..."  

 This song, while painfully expressing the regret of the past, paints the determination to no longer let the important things in our life be pushed to the side.  The priorities of this life will be love, relationships, and living life well.  Seems like that is a theme we have heard before...

In His earthly ministry, Jesus was fond of telling stories about the nature of God and the Kingdom that would relate to the group of folks He was with.  It isn't too far of a stretch to think that the parables of Jesus were more than just stories.  As Jesus was the perfect Son of the all-knowing God, He would have stories upon stories of real-life situations which He could utilize to promote understanding of the more difficult teachings He gave.  

"I saw the sun begin to dim and felt that winter wind blow cold..."  

"There was a man who had two sons..." begins the familiar tale of a young man who gained far too much, far too fast.  Jesus used this story to illustrate several important principles.  The most notable being the priority of restoring the broken relationship that mankind has with the Father and ultimately, that you can always come home.   

Many sermons have been preached about the story of the prodigal son.  It seems that each character has been put under a microscope and theologized to the point that the story should resonate with just about anyone, for, upon reflection, it is easy to find yourself as any one of the characters, or perhaps all of the characters at one point in your life or another.  I absolutely love to hear preaching with these types of messages, because they usually cause me to think of aspects of the story I never considered before.  But for today, let's focus on the main character, the prodigal.


This young man had taken his inheritance and wasted it on wine, women, and song.  With his money, he purchased the kind of friends who would tell him exactly what he wanted to hear.  In the society of his day, he had made it.  He had need for nothing, until...after he spent everything he had, the famine came.

It has been well said that everyone is in 1 of 3 life situations: 1)They are currently going into a storm/famine.  2)They are currently in the middle of a storm/famine.  or 3)They are coming out of a storm/famine.  This young man found himself in the first two of these three situations just at the time he had spent his last dime.  With his money gone, he had no friends.  With his resources spent, his societal status was revoked.  When he was tapped out, he was hungry.  He was so hungry in fact that he ate with the pigs, the lowest creature in Jewish society.  Having seen a few hog pens in my life, one can only imagine that, given conditions in the 1st century, the depravity and filth of this man's situation was unbearable. 

"I drank champagne with kings and queens the politicians praised my name. But those are someone else's dreams. The pitfalls of the man I became. For years and years, I chased their cheers.  The crazy speed of always needing more.
But when I stop and see you here I remember who all this was for..."


I love the way that the English Standard Version puts the beginning of verse 17 in this passage.  "And when he (the prodigal son) came to himself...Finally, the reality of his fall had begun to sink in and he remembered...

Have you ever been to this point in your life?  I confess to you dear friend, I think that I have had multiple times where I had to come to myself and then remember.  Remember that you have true friends and loving family members that will be there for you regardless of your resources and your societal status.  Even more, as a believer, You are reminded that you are loved and kept by a Father who is continually waiting for you to draw near to Him. He is constantly on the lookout for you.  Waiting to welcome you back home.  Waiting for you to remember who all this is for...The Apostle Paul's Letter to the Colossian Church, chapter 3, verse 23 NIV/The Message/ESV

Have you had that "from now on" moment?  Have you ever had that moment where you came to yourself?  Have you ever had that instant where you realized you were covered in filth and were eating trash?  Have you ever had that moment when you felt the drawing of Holy Spirit begging you to come home?  Would you like to have your "from now on" experience where everything becomes new and the Father is waiting to welcome you home?  

"And we will come back home, and we will come back home, home again..."

There are many blinding lights out in your world.  There are many situations that could wait until tomorrow, but really should start tonight...start them tonight!  It's time to allow the promise of the love from the Father to start an anthem of redemption in your heart that ignites your life to proclaim that "From now on" things will be different. He's pleading for you to come back home... 

It starts tonight!!!

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy

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