Wedneday Bible Study: The end of all things- Revelation

 

Being as this is the very end of the Bible, I'd kind of like to save my take for the last of the series.  But fear not, for with his take on Revelation 22:11 and other related verses, here's substitute lead learner Johnny Cash:

"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder
One of the four beasts saying,
'Come and see.' and I saw, and behold a white horse"

 

There's a man goin' 'round takin' names
And he decides who to free and who to blame
Everybody won't be treated all the same
There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down
When the man comes around

The hairs on your arm will stand up
At the terror in each sip and in each sup
Will you partake of that last offered cup
Or disappear into the potter's ground?
When the man comes around

 

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers
One hundred million angels singin'
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettledrum
Voices callin', voices cryin'
Some are born and some are dyin'
It's alpha and omega's kingdom come
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree
The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks

 

Till armageddon no shalam, no shalom
Then the father hen will call his chickens home
The wise man will bow down before the throne
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
When the man comes around

 

Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still
Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still
Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still
Listen to the words long written down
When the man comes around

 

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers
One hundred million angels singin'
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettledrum
Voices callin', voices cryin'
Some are born and some are dyin'
It's alpha and omega's kingdom come
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree
The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn trees
It's hard for thee to kick against the prick
In measured hundredweight and penny pound
When the man comes around

 

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
And I looked, and behold a pale horse
And his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with him"

 

 

The Better part, two days late, week #6

 

This has been a really bad week of not getting things done as they should have been.  Not only did I miss one day of Better Part FB posts, I forgot to put them on here so I always have them!  Without further ado...

The Better part, Day #36:

"We couldn’t live as close to Rigel as we do to our sun. That’s because its surface temperature is much hotter, about 21,000 degrees Fahrenheit (11,600 degrees Celsius) in contrast to about 10,000 F (5,500 C) for the sun.

Counting all its radiation (not just visible light, but infrared, ultraviolet and so on), Rigel emits about 120,000 times more energy than the sun; this luminosity is calculated based on a distance of 863 light-years, a distance derived from data collected by the Hipparcos space telescope. With such enormous energy, you might be surprised to find that Rigel has only 21 times more mass, and is 79 times the diameter of our sun."

(From EarthSky)

You might be asking why you have an astronomy lesson here. Well, I got to thinking on what I said this weekend about God having an 'analogue' in our sun. Atenakhen thought so as well, so he changed the Egyptian pantheistic worship to one god- the sun. What he didn't have is this perspective- that as bright, as powerful as it is, our sun is a little bitty fish in an endless pond. And our God made it all. Mankind keeps looking for a god it can see touch, and use- But God is a lot more.

 

The Better part, Day #37:

Deu 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

Deu 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deu 6:8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

 

Today as I listened to a sermon going over another "to-do" list that I found I had several items checked off, I started to remind myself that 'not everyone is at my level of study, and these sermons are for them.' But then God added on no uncertain terms, "AND TO REMIND YOU." Re-learning is a very blessed form of humility.

 

 

The Better Part, Day #38:

Mar 4:37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

Mar 4:38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Mar 4:39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mar 4:40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Mar 4:41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" 

 

After one of those usual meltdowns at work, I was again bashing myself for my un-Christlike reaction. And the Lord calmed me down by spinning a story based on this passage, which included cussing, Matthew pitching the anchor over without a rope, and Jesus threatening to dump the sea into the Negev. And I realized, I'm not the only one who struggles with their knee-jerk reactions. Eve hid when she sinned (and so did David); Elijah ran away when overwhelmed; but God never threw them away, either. The only one of the reactions I found where God DID cast the react-or off was Saul, when he feared for the Phillistine advance and Samuel wasn't there to sacrifice. But here's the reason- Saul never got past the part where God was a "master" to be "appeased" with sacrifice, instead of a Savior to be beseached.

When I realized that God isn't gonna cast me off for my reaction, I felt better about being "in the same boat" with the Apostles. "Except," I told God, "for all the cussing".

And I felt God saying, "These men were fishermen and tax collectors. How do you THINK they responded?"

 

 

The Better part, day #39:

Mar 14:34 And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch."

Mar 14:35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

Mar 14:36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." 

 

A long time ago when I made a commitment to start every morning with prayer, I noticed it seemed to have a beneficial effect on my day. It can- and sometimes did- lead to an attitude of, "I better pray or my day will be messed up!" But you know, God isn't like that- and that attitude brings us back to King Saul yesterday. "Here's my daily prayer, in the slot, hit the button and get my blessing." No, God will bless heartfelt prayer- but as Jesus knew, even that blessing doesn't guarantee a good, happy, fun-filled day. I must focus on God's will- He'll take care of the day, good or bad.

 

 

The better part, day #40:

Act 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Act 8:40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. 

 

This last week, God's theme with me is trusting Him fully, that He won't leave or forsake me. I feel myself being hesitant when I think of how He is moving me- what if I have to leave home, family, life? This passage reminds me that He can safely and in His will move me in an instant. And, that this shouldn't be a fear for me. It tells me that, on the flip side, that I need not be afraid of missing my opportunities, He will put me where He wants me.

 

 

The Better part, Day # 41:

Mar 11:30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."

Mar 11:31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Mar 11:32 But shall we say, 'From man'?"--they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

Mar 11:33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." 

 

Sometimes we see the sin we commit, but we don't look at THE sin. For example- a repeating sin that you just haven't been able to lick. Now you see the sin, and what it does to you- but here's the thing: Would you confess it before the masses? Or are you afraid of the people, of letting them know? And yet, there is seemingly no problem in committing it BEFORE GOD. Afraid of people, unafraid of God. And the work of the Spirit is to instill in ME how backwards that is.

Time Machine co-ordinates VICLXVIII6622559

 

Today, we arrive on February 5th, 1959- two days after The Day The Music Died.  And that means that I have a very special surprise for you all- and it was a surprise for me, too, one that came without me realizing we'd be here this week.

Elvis:  Boss, I hope y'all didn't just confuse them as bad as ya did me...

 

Patience, my friends, all will soon be revealed.  But first, let's have a little fun with our 6D!

Ah, yes, Bonanza.  Was there ever a better theme song?  In 2015, it was voted #58 in the all-time country song category.  David Rose was the man in charge of it, as he was for several TV themes- as well as for his 1962 #1 hit, The Stripper.  What I never knew, though, was that 18 years before, he just missed the top with an instrumental called Holiday For Strings- which became the theme for the Red Skelton Show!  He also conducted the orchestra for our 6D victim, a revival of a 1948 classic which had several acts take it towards the top, including:

Jon and Sondra Steele, who had the big hit at #3 and I could find virtually nothing about;

The Pied Pipers, a supergroup fronted by soon to be solo star Jo Stafford, and playing with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey (on the same record, no less!)- they would take it to #4;

And Ella Fitzgerald, who needs no other hype, and took it to #8.

However, our 6D's hit came 11 years later, and was parked at #2 this week without a Panel vote.  That song was Connie Francis and My Happiness!

**************************************************

That don' sound like a very smart Panel...

Folks, let me introduce you to the POTM's baritone for the Silhouettes, the man I mentioned might look a tiny bit like Will Smith, Mr Earl Beal!

Thank you, nice to be here!

Earl, you are a true Hall of Famer- one of only two members, Rick Lewis the other, to remain with the original group until you broke up in 1968.

Shucks, didn't have much better to do...

I had to chuckle when I read that your home was the band's contact address, since you were the only one with a "stable address"...

Back then, things was lean.  If we was gonna get a job offer, or a royalty check, we needed to make sure we got it.  We was all livin' that damned song, ha ha!

So today, I have a couple of debuts on the M10- one very special one, as a matter of fact- and I want to play the first one before you get onto the Panel votes.  Considering your hit was, in my time, 62 years ago, and we have a 50th anniversary... something... coming up, this might not seem like AS much of a feat, but the debut at #10 is new stuff from a band that formed way back in 1975!  A bitter three way battle for this spot goes to... Crack The Sky:

 

*****************************************************

Now, I can get BEHIND that soul, Daddy!

Glad you liked it!  Now we have a 14 song, 25 station Panel, speaking of lean, and the votes are pretty spread out!  So we're going with a 3-song final.  Here's the list, Earl...

All right, let me see... choose from these fine songs, if you would...

The Crests and 16 Candles, at #3 on the Cashbox charts this week...

One of my favorites, Mr Lloyd Price with Stagger Lee at #4...

and of course, one of the boys that just lost their lives, Ritchie Valens and Donna at #5!

Thanks, Earl, and hang out for the Overseas If You Please, here in a bit!  First, let me tell you a story.  One of the rarest of M10 feats is debuting inside the top 4.  Out of now 554 M10 songs since the end of August 2015, only 7 songs prior to this week had managed it.  They were:

Phoenix and Lisztomania in October 2015;

Alvvays and Archie Marry Me in December that year;

Radiation City and Come And Go in November of '16, all at #4...

Lucius and Madness in March of 2016;

Beach House and Chariot in May of '17 (BTW, the only one NOT to hit #1);

and the last one to do it, Albert Hammond Jr.'s Set To Attack in April last year, all at #3...

And the same week that Lucius did it, The Joy Formidable debuted at #2 with Liana.

This week, we have an 8th entry into this exclusive club, coming in at #4.  The act is a country a cappella group called Home Free; the song, a 50th anniversary tribute featuring the original singer; and the topic, The Day The Music Died....

******************************************

Elvis:  Man, Earl's cryin'!

Earl:  Shut up, punk... you all are too...

Can't help it... anyway, here's the part where we get to see what's number one elsewhere in the English speaking world!  Earl, if you would...

All right, so we start with Canada, where Donna is #1 this week... in Australia, it's the Kingston Trio with Tom Dooley... and the punk over here is tops in England with One Night and I Got Stung...

Elvis:  YES!  Two weeks in a row!

Earl:  And the big mover this week was Duane Eddy with The Lonely One, and in keeping with the anniversary, it moves up 50 notches from 94 to 44!

Thanks, fellas!  That leaves me with the coda to the verse, the remaining M10 and the Panel winner.  For the M10...

9- Pale Waves with Easy, but not with ease, finally moving up after 2 weeks at 10.

8- Elton John tumbles from 3 with The Girl On Angel Pavement.

7- Middle Of The Road up 2 with Fate Strange Fate.

6- Firefall slips one with A New Mexico.

5- Dropping from the top spot, Molly Parden and Kitchen Table.

3- Moving up one, El Michels Affair and Piyat Malik and Murkit Gem.

2- a 4 notch climb for Saintseneca and Wait A Minute.  

And the new #1- while it lasts...

Lilly Hiatt and Brightest Star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as for the 3 finalists...

12% each for the Crests and Ritchie Valens...

so the winner, with 20 %, is....

Lloyd Price and Stagger Lee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join us next time as we Stagger into 1960!

Wednesday Bible Study: The end of all things- Proverbs

 

I'm going to look at Proverbs 31 from just a bit different angle this time.  I know we have earlier talked about the 'stairstep' method in study, and how the passage about a "virtuous wife" is a good example of how this applies.  But the thought was given to me- if the Church is the Bride of Christ, shouldn't this be a list of the characteristics we should have?  So let me first give you the text, and then point out the characteristic we should be developing as His Bride.

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Pro 31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Pro 31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Pro 31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Pro 31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Pro 31:22  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Pro 31:23  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Pro 31:25  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

And now, the character traits we should strive for:

V 11- Trustworthiness.

V12- Righteousness.

V13-14- Seeking out good works to do.

V 15- Rises early/avoids laziness.

V16- Doesn't act in haste, but considers.

V17- Strengthens herself daily (in the Word and prayer).

V 18- Is discerning.

V 19- Hard-working.

V 20- Generous.

V 21- Prepared in all occasions.

V 22-23-24- Has a good reputation, and makes sure her family has one.

V 25- Has hope in her heart, knowing her time to rejoice is coming.

Not a bad guide to go on!  And with this concept, it might be a little easier to understand what God is TRULY saying in the many Proverbs about 'a contentious woman', yes?

Martin World News

Here we go, spanning the globe in trying to find unusual, not-oft-repeated, and somewhat lighthearted events that you get rarely elsewhere, and never without the my precious pearls of wisdom accompanying them!

Story # 1: The funny sh... er, stuff- God created

 Headline: "Box seat: scientists solve the mystery of why wombats have cube-shaped poo", from London's The Guardian

 Frankly, I didn't even know the poor dears pooped cubes, but there it is...

Apparently scientists were baffled at how a non-cubic bu- er, you know- could produce poop briquettes, but after one enterprising vet opened up a wombat hit by a car, he found that the were cubes before reaching, shall we say, the light at the end of the tunnel.  Again apparently, the bugger's intestines have a 'some rigid, some flexible' quality that shapes the pooplet. I don't remember that functionality on my Play-Doh squeezer back in the day...

Story # 2:  In Russia, it is ALL Government

Headline: "Ex-PM Medvedev regrets his Twitter account is marked as a government one", from Tass

 Dmitry Medvedev had a personal twitter account- no, he hasn't dropped it over censorship or 'Cossack Lives Matter' or anything like that- with 4.6 MILLION followers.  His problem- he sits on Russia's Security Council, and since Twitter, according to him, considers Russia one of a group of  "countries with which relations are not very simple", it automatically gets shoved into a government account.  Which means, he's got a personal account which is government whether he likes it or not.  Which also means he can't just share that meme about Putin and the drunken Polar Bear without consequences...

Story # 3: This is a prize?  To each their own...

Headline: "Swedish Covid nurse to watch entire film festival alone in lighthouse", from BBC News

 And yes, Lisa Enroth won this as her prize which she applied for and beat out 12,000 other fans of the Goteborg Film Festival- alone (save for one security person to watch out for her) with a lighthouse and a 60 movie package that everyone else will have to pay to stream. " Ms Enroth, who said she has been "drained of energy" due to the pandemic, will spend a week living alone in the Pater Noster lighthouse on Hamneskar island, without a phone, computer, books or any other form of entertainment."

Me, I'd be drained of energy trying to watch all those movies.  No word on the popcorn concession...

 

Story # 4: Think, 'Hansel and Gretl'...

Headline:  "Russian Artist Brings Baba Yaga Lego Set to Life" from Moscow Times

Baba Yaga, the old grandmotherly type that consumes bad little boys and girls, is being pitched to become a Lego set.

(Artem) Bizyaev’s Lego design includes figures of Baba Yaga as well as her companions Vasilisa the Fair, Bayun the cat and Vova the frog — plus, of course, Baba Yaga’s hut on chicken legs.

The hut comes equipped with all the accessories an ancient witch of the forest might need, from cookware and dishes to the giant mortar she uses to fly around in her free time.

While Baba Yaga is notorious for her child-eating ways, she also occasionally helps other Slavic folk characters who happen to wander into her forest. But only occasionally. 

 Friday it was announced that Artem and BY had received the votes needed in the Lego design contest to be considered for commercial production.  I wonder when the Freddy Kruger set gets pitched...

Story # 5: Off again, on again, gone again, Harrigan

Headline: "Banned 1969 British royal family documentary leaked on YouTube swiftly taken down" from The South African

In 1969, a 110-minute film documenting a week in the life of England's Royal Family came out.  It was meant to "humanize" the Windsors, but in their opinion it did more to satirize them, with bits where Elizabeth compared the American ambassador to a gorilla, and other such bits to which critic Michael McCaffrey says:

“That premise doesn’t fare so well when the Queen goes through her stunning jewelry collection, marveling at the glorious history of pillaging that has bequeathed her such impressive accoutrements.” 

After it was originally shown, the BBC had it suggested to them it never see the light of day.  Which it wouldn't have, except for Netflix.  Their show, The Crown, apparently discussed the making of the show... which led an unknown someone to get ahold of the original and leak it to YouTube.

Story # 6: You could've at least bought me dinner...

Headline: "Man finds gold coins in Germany, but reward unlikely" from Deutsche Welle

So this guy was working a landscaping detail in a dink town called Dinklage (see what I did there?) in NW Germany, and stumbled onto several buried plastic containers that contained an estimated $600,000+ in gold and other cash.  He dutifully reported it to the police, expecting a reward.  However, the cache was, according to the court, neither lost (as it had been purposefully hidden) nor a 'lost treasure' (as several coins were minted 2016, so they couldn't really be considered under the treasure law).  Rub is, the cops haven't been able to locate an owner (can you say, 'inefficient laundering of money?').

Story # 7: More monkey see, monkey do

Headline: "Mysterious monoliths make multiple appearances in Finland" from Helsinki Times

Our final story is a familiar one to some of us- first, it was in Utah where the "monolith" thing occurred.  And now, it has spread at least to Finland-

The story says that "several" have appeared there, including this one in Nurmijärvi, so I looked the phenomenon up, and here's what I found:

Ahmenabad, India

Casablanca, Morocco

4 in Austria

3 in Belgium

Zlin district, Czech Republic

4 in Finland

4 in France

10 in Germany

A field near Budapest, Hungary

5 in Italy

4 in the Netherlands

Kristiansand, Norway

2 in Poland (one roped off for a possible increase in area radiation)

2 in Romania....

I was going to list them all, but got scrolling down the article and found I had well over 60 more to report, including one not far from here in Angola, Indiana, in Bird Song Park with the Roman numerals for '2020' marked on it.  And doesn't THAT just figure!

 

The Better Part, week #5

 

Here are this week's FB posts.  I pray they will touch you, as God touched me.

The Better part, Day #29:

Joh 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Joh 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

I had a short debate with an unbeliever- or should I say, a believer in a 'creator' that 'we can't know' but 'loves us all equally', but not a believer in 'God', 'Christianity', or 'religion'. I gave him some time since he seemed well thought, but in the end he had to say goodbye with one of Satan's oldest lies- questioning my faith by questioning my service. What he doesn't understand about the Holy Spirit (at least on page out of the book of things he didn't know) is that He gives each person a UNIQUE ministry that fits with the INDIVIDUAL gift He gives us. Don't let Satan and his truth-deprived followers convince you that you're no good because "you aren't helping the homeless" or any other such nonsense. As Pastor Jack Hibbs said today, the Holy Spirit will lead you to the ministry right for you.

 

 

The Better part, day #30:

Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things. (emphasis mine)

I have mentioned the comfort I have drawn from various recent sermons on serving where God put me. But contained in these lessons- most particularly in those of David Jeremiah- is the concept of FOCUSING your mind on service and obedience to God. Now, if you were in my head, you would realize that a preponderance of my brain cells are trained to be UNfocused. This, then, is a big problem for me- bigger when the comfort side of those lessons tempt me to a "see, you're okay right where you are" attitude. And indeed today, something happened at work that could have totally tempted me to give up this post b/c of my being unqualified to talk about focus. But that's what 'serving where you are' is all about- Only someone with a tendency to un-focus could be heartfelt about just how important focusing is. Nice try, Satan, but I'm posting it anyway!

 

 

The Better part, Day #31:

Psa 119:Resh

153

Consider my affliction, and deliver me,

for I do not forget Your law.

154

Plead my cause, and defend me;

revive me according to Your word.

155

Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek Your statutes.

156

Great are Your compassions, O Lord;

revive me according to Your judgments.

157

Many are my persecutors and my enemies,

yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.

158

I behold the transgressors with disgust,

because they have not kept Your word.

159

Consider how I love Your precepts;

revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

160

Your word is true from the beginning,

and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Today was one of those "wake up to the endless drudgery of work" mornings, and knowing how the Lord feels about that, I asked Him to refresh me. The first thing on my morning reading was this passage. Note vv 154, 156, and 159- the "revive me" parts. You want to see how quickly God can answer an earnest prayer? Well, 154 -"according to Your Word"- was answered in the reading. 156- "according to Your judgments"- came on the ride in as I listened to Michael Yousef preaching on Colossians 3:23- "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"- which covered that one. And finally, the lovingkindness part was delivered when a co-worker told me that her daughter in law was veeeeery close to making her a new grandma! All atheist arguments about "coincidences" and "chemical reactions" fall flat against this kind of love!

 

 

The Better part, Day #32:

Gen 16:2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

As Charles Stanley talked about this story and the motivations behind Abraham and Sarah's actions, I thought to myself how much this story tells us about GOD'S motivations.

- He's not motivated by time. He didn't care if the couple were 100 or 200, whether it happened today or 20 years from then.

- He's not motivated by societal norms. It made not one bit of difference to Him that Sarah's barrenness made people 'look down on her'.

- He's not motivated by our sin. He didn't throw the couple away because they decided to jump the gun.

- He's not motivated by impossibility. He makes the possible impossible and vice versa.

- He's not motivated by our plans, or our conception of His plan. Sarah thought He needed a "helping hand", but He didn't.

- He's not motivated by our doubt. When the two angels later came and told Abraham that the baby would arrive in one year, Sarah laughed- and then denied it. But guess when the baby arrived?

-He's not motivated by our pride. The Hagar/Sarah conflict that followed Ishmael's birth didn't change the timetable one bit.

He has a plan for our lives. And He'll accomplish it, right down to the second.

 

 

The Better part, day #33:

Just a simple quote, as best as I remember it:

"My heart breaks for those who look in the mirror in the morning and see only one person- instead of themselves and the person they COULD be through Jesus Christ."- Pastor Jack Hibbs

 

 

 

The Better Part, Day #34:

Another quote post...

"I wanted to be known as a 'friend of God', too... My logic was, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever... and with all the Old Testament people (who were special to God) and all the New Testament people- if I wasn't that close to God, there wasn't something wrong with God, there was something wrong with ME." -Anne Graham Lotz

Point being, we should all be seeking to know Him better. If we keep asking, seeking, knocking, we should be getting closer to Him. And if we aren't feeling Him as a friend, perhaps we're not SEEKING Him as a friend.

 

 

The Better part, Day #35:

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 

 

Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Two verses this time, because I have a nitpicky disagreement with Charles Stanley this morning. He was explaining the "conundrum" of the Trinity when it is not named AS SUCH in the Bible. One thing he said was, there's no philosophical A,B,C,D,E to explain it. I disagree. We are made IN GOD'S IMAGE- and if we have, in our imperfection, a mind to determine, a body to do, and a soul to inspire, why would God not be a much greater version of the same?

Then he said, "Is there an example in nature? No..." and I disagree there as well. Do we not have the sun, which we cannot look upon, but casts its light even through the clouds? Don't we have the earth, which we have physical connection with, which gives us all we need to live? And don't we have the atmosphere, which even Christ described the Spirit as 'like the wind'?

You ask me, the Trinity is evident anywhere you look!

Time Machine co-ordinates VICXLXVII66112958

 

Today we travel back to January 29th, 1958, the day a spree killer mentioned in Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire- 19 year old Charles Starkweather- was captured.  Mainly because he didn't know how to work a parking brake, and partly because he couldn't take what he enjoyed dishing out:

 A bullet fired by Sheriff Earl Heflin shattered the windshield and flying glass cut Starkweather deep enough to cause bleeding. He stopped and surrendered. Heflin said, "He thought he was bleeding to death. That's why he stopped. That's the kind of yellow son of a bitch he is."

Noteworthy:  He didn't get invited to the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward wedding that day...

"...and I don't care WHICH side of the family he's on!"

Welcome to Time Machine, back to 1958 and we're bringing Madonna with us!  Even though she's a shade under 200 days from being born- mama was about 12 weeks along.  But as we bring her from the 1980's- we DID get her from the 1980's, right?

Nardole:  Well, sir, it seems there was a little mix up... perhaps I should let her mother explain...

You brought her MOTHER?  Why would you bring her mother?

Mom:  Oh, you can't blame heem, eh?  He deen't know that I was planning on geeving my daughter the same name of mine...

Wait... YOUR name is Madonna, too?  And why do you have a French accent?

Yes, Madonna Louise, jus' like I'm gonna name this sweetie! (Pats belly.)  An' ze accent is because I am French Canadian.  I only married into Italy, see?

OKAY, then.  So let's back track a minute while I get my head straight here, and listen to this week's first M10 debut.  It's from a collection called Rarities 1970, so you know it's an old song I just now heard, but by an act I love!  Originally from their debut lp Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, here's Scotland's Middle Of The Road...

Sally Carr and mates come in at #10 this week.

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All right, Mrs Ciccone...

Mom:  Call me Madonna!

Um, that just wouldn't feel right.  How about Mom?

Mom:  That's fine.

Mom, you're all filled in here on what happens on the show. This week, the Panel mainly went with 2 songs- out of a 20 song, 43 vote list- which means we ended up with 15 one vote wonders and only five had more than one, so those five are the finalists.  Would you like to read them off?

Of course, mon ami. Ze songs to choose from are...

The Silhouettes, Get A Job, which was ze numbear sept, I mean seven, song on Cashbox magazine.

Then it eez Billy Vaughn with Shine On Silvery Moon at #13...

That darling Pat Boone with Apreel Love at # # 8...

(NOTE: Please don't curse me, I learned French accents on ze... er, on Gilligan's Island...)

What was that?

Never mind.  Please, go on!

Très bien! Danny and ze Juniors were #1 with At Ze Hop...

And Monsieur Presley, here, was at numbear 41 with I Beg Of You.

Elvis: Say, you did a fine job, didn't she?

Yes, she did!  Come back anytime!

Merci Bien!

In the meantime, we have a second debut- and this one comes in all the way up at #6!  With their third time on ze... er, the M10 chart, here's Saintseneca...

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So here's something new- we start the 6D with a song!  Peaking at #38 in 1969, here's  "Vik Venus, Alias: Your Main Moon Man"...

This is actually Jack Spector, one of the djs most responsible for Beatlemania in America, from radio station WMCA.  Jack had a daughter named Sherry, and that's why best bud Bob Gaudio chose Sherry for the name of the Four Seasons' first big hit, after they tried out Peri (daughter of producer Bob Crewe's boss), Terri, and Jackie (after the First Lady).  The Four Seasons were originally the Four Lovers, and their only hit was a #61 called You're The Apple Of My Eye- a song given to them after the songwriter took Don't Be Cruel from them to give it to Elvis!

Son, I just can't hear them doin' that song!

Me either!  Now that songwriter was Otis Blackwell, and among the songs Otis wrote or co-wrote was the 6D victim, at #2 without a Panel vote- Jerry Lee Lewis and Great Balls Of Fire!

***************************************************

Hey, Mom, you still here?

Right here, mon ami!

Well it's kind of become a tradition for the guest to do the segment where we name off the #1 songs in other English speaking countries- we call it, Overseas If You Please!

Zat eez very clevair!  I think, though, you should let my daughtair to do them...

Elvis:  That's right, son, we made up for the boo boo!  Right now, on Time Machine- here's Madonna!!!!!!!!!!!!

Madonna:  Hi, Chris!  And Momma, it's been so long... I was just a little girl...

Mom:  Oh, my, what a lovely lady you have become!

Elvis: (whispering) You wanna tell her about that 'lady' bit?

 (Chris, whispering) Bud, you died once already, do you really wanna do it again?

Madonna:  Boys, you wouldn't be misbehaving, would you?  Mama don't like boys that misbehave, do you?

Mom:  Not at all, Little Nonnie...

Not us!  Please, go right ahead!

Madonna:  Okay, so the #1 in England was Elvis and Jailhouse Rock...

Elvis:  Yes! Right in the Beatles' home town!

Madonna:  Now, Elvis...

E: Sorry, ma'am.

M:  That's better.  In Australia, it was Paul Anka's Diana.  Now, what's this say on Canada?  "Six choices?"

Well, Canada doesn't have a national chart yet, and six different songs got one vote each from our Canadian Panelists, so...

M:  Then figure out which ones didn't get mentioned on the rest of the show, and pick the one that charted highest!

Makes about as much sense as any, so... well, of the three that are still left, that leaves us with only one that actually charted here- and that would be Owen Bradley's Big Guitar, which made #46 on Billboard at some point, but I wasn't able to find out when...

Maybe you should look HARDER....

Okay, lemmee see... (Jeopardy theme plays through about four times)... it peaked at #32 on Cashbox on March 22nd...

E:  No wonder ya couldn't find it!

Mom:  Now dear, we need to go visit for a bit.  Let us leave these gentlemen to do their jobs.

M:  Okay, mama, don't preach!  It's all yours, guys!

See, even she does better song title gags than you do!

Shuddup an' give me the M10!

10- That's Pale Waves holdin' with Easy.

8- That's Jason Isbell making just the 13th song to hit 10 weeks or more, Dreamsicle dropping 3 spots.

7- Back ta back Saintseneca with Ladder Ta The Sun dropping from #2.

5- Firefall up one for A New Mexico.

4- 5 big notches up for El Michels an' Piyat Malik with Murkit Gem.

3- One more up for Elton John an' The Girl On Angel Pavement.

2- One more up for Lilly Hiatt an' Brightest Star.

An' the winnah and still champeen for a second week...

...Molly Parden an' Kitchen Table!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, bud, and as for the Panel Picks...

Billy Vaughn, Pat Boone, and you got 16.2% between the three of you...

OUCH!

Danny and the Juniors got 23.2%...

And the winner, with a narrow 25.8% win....

...the Silhouettes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Say, is that Will Smith on the end?

I don't think so, Chris...

Wait, what?  Al, what are you doing here???

Gotcha!  It's just me wearing one of the rubber faces Rodney left that time!

Mrs. Ciccone?  Elvis is being bad again!!!!!