Matthew Perry

 Matthew Perry, actor on the hit show "Friends", died this weekend.  Now I was not a Friends watcher, but my son and daughter-in-law were.  As such I know my son held him as a hero of sorts, not for the show as much as the problems that come with fame, addictions, and illnesses he had overcome- seemingly.  As I reflected on this, I see a pattern- and without digging deep into that pattern, I can share with you the one truth that comes through this:

Sometimes, the damage you did is too much.

You don't need to have a relapse for this to be true- all you need is a body or mind that just isn't resilient enough anymore.  We like to think of heroes as crossing the finish line of self-struggle with laurels of being just as good, as strong, as smart as they were before.  And that just isn't how it goes.

But that isn't the only problem.  I don't know if this man had faith, in what, how deep.  But I do know this:  

Psa 127:1  A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

Self-improvement, self-rescue, only goes so far.  And this doesn't just apply to celebrities, or even unbelievers.  At least three times in the last few years I have seen grieving churches mourning pastors who took there own lives.  Even in the Bible, this rule holds.  Look at Solomon.  God gave him several great gifts:

2Ch 1:11  God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 

2Ch 1:12  wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like." 

But with these riches came the idea that he should rely on THE LORD, not on the gifts.  Relying on the Lord would have meant that he would have studied His Word.  And he would have seen in what we call Deuteronomy 17:

Deu 17:14  "When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,' 

Deu 17:15  you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 

Deu 17:16  Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' 

Deu 17:17  And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 

Deu 17:18  "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 

Deu 17:19  And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 

Deu 17:20  that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. 

You notice four commands a king needed to keep in the eyes of God.  What is obvious is that the third and fourth ones he paid not near enough attention to, because he broke the first two right off the bat:

2Ch 1:16  And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price. 

2Ch 1:17  They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. 

First chapter of his story, there he was going TO Egypt FOR horses- literally the first thing Moses warned against.  And starting with Pharaoh's daughter, he totally obliterated the second rule...

1Ki 11:1  Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 

1Ki 11:2  from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 

1Ki 11:3  He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 

And this takes us back to Psalm 127.  This grand "house", or "dynasty" that Solomon built soon cracked apart.  It cracked when God sent enemies like Jereboam to harass and distract him.  It widened when his son Rehoboam ignored his 'wise instruction' (Most of the Book of Proverbs) and followed instead his example (Most of the Book of Ecclesiastes).  Within months of his passing, the kingdom was ripped asunder (I Kings 12:16), and the Temple he so elegantly and wisely built was looted (I Kings 14:25-6).

In the end, all of Solomon's labor was in vain, because he he put his foundation on his wisdom, and not on the Lord who gave the gift.  If we can take one lesson from tragedy, let it be this one- no one is immune- unless you walk with God all your days.  And even then...

M10 show week #92

 So this week, I have two new songs in the M10- one is off a new lp but has been hanging out in the "bottom 5" I never show you; the other is from a 2017 unplugged lp and it bypasses the "bottom five" entirely!  Also, just two more years left until our feature returns to the 70's, and this year is packed full of great hits!  Let me kick things off with that first song, at #10 after a 5-week tour of the lower end.  (Which, by the by, is likely a record, but since you never see it, why would you care?)  It's by a young man named Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known world wide as Hozier.  Now he had a big alt hit in 2014 with Take Me To Church, which hit big everywhere (well, except for Romania, where it tanked).  This year he put out 2 albums, the second featuring more of his Irish roots, called UnReal UnEarth. From that disc comes this song, in which he is helped by Brandi Carlile ( who has made a habit of being a guest-star on M10 hits).  

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Our feature year is 1956, and this week the US and Canada both had the Every Brothers on top with Wake Up Little Susie.  Australia was in what I call a "Cashbox situation", as their top song was a combination of the sales of two acts doing the same tune- which is ironic, because it is on the Cashbox charts here this week (at #42 and dropping) by two completely different acts!  The two sharing credit here are the orchestras of Mantovani and of Victor Young; but the two sharing kudos for the song Around The World in Australia are Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole!  Apparently, Bing got it to #25 here at some point, but Nat didn't chart here...  and the fact that he did in Australia frankly surprises me.  Black artists didn't seem to translate as well from here to there, and the 2 soul acts what were in my Song I Wouldn't Turn Off list this week- The Rays doing Silhouettes, and Sam Cooke doing You Send Me- didn't chart there at all!  Combine that with our earlier story of Johnny O'Keefe having to do boomerang exhibitions to get a listen over here, and music was a bit messy back then.  Thank God for Spotify nowadays!

Anyway, that list of Songs I Wouldn't Turn Off this week started with six, which for your convenience I whittle down to 3; and then pick the top.  That top 3:

The aforementioned Sam Cooke and You Send Me is my #3- an eventual #1 in both Canada and the US that was #16 this week.

#2 is Debbie Reynolds and Tammy- one of my top 3 all time favorite songs from the 50's, #1 here but peaking at #2 in both our friendly musical neighbors.  It was #11 on this week's CB chart.

And at #1 on my list- another of my top 3 1950's songs as it turns out; Canada put it at the top at some point, Australia #6, But CB peaked it at 8 in a couple of weeks, it sits at #17 this week...

...Bobby Helms and My Special Angel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(If anyone wants to think up what that 3rd song from the 50's was... it was topping the charts in May of 1958, the act has already been mentioned in this post, and Elvis won't let me have them on the show anymore...)

Debut #2 I discovered on a post on Best Classic Bands discussing it.  I never knew about it till last week, and I found it amazing.  From an MTV Unplugged lp from 2017... here is our #9 song this week...

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And without further ado, the remaining top 10...

8- one more week for Whitney and Kansas, down 3.

7- Holding at the spot, Dan + Shay and Neon Cowgirl.

6- Up 3 for Duran Duran and Black Moonlight.

5- Down one for Buck Meek and Didn't Know You Then.

4- Her chart performance the opposite of the song, Amira Elfeky up 4 with Coming Down.

3- The rest is going to sound familiar:  Holding, Aiden Bissett's Ultraviolet.

2- Holding, Jason Isbell's Save The World.

...and a second week at the top for...

...Talk, and Wasteland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's it for this week!

Elvis... Psst!  Is he gone?  Lissen, I need some help here... I got ta get some ideas for that Christmas show I big mouthed my way inta doin'... I promise ah'll consider any suggestions!  Okay... I'm outta here....

Wednesday Bible Study: God in Proverbs part V

 

For me, the best way to show the Holy Spirit in Proverbs is right there in chapter 8 and the first six verses of 9.  If you look at the Spirit as Wisdom, then this passage moves Him from the most mysterious Person of the Trinity to the most well-explained.  So what do we need to learn about the Holy Spirit?

He first of all CALLS us to an encounter with Him (v1).  And it isn't a hidden call, as you might expect- But in the places most designed to be heard.  The author writing for Him lists 

Pro 8:2  She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the path. 

Pro 8:3  She cries in the gates, before the entrance of the city, at the doors. 

Where you can't miss, where you must cross, where you go to, and where you go home.  So why do so many miss?  Look from where we start out:

Pro 8:5  O simple ones, understand wisdom; and, fools, be of an understanding heart. 

You have to want to UNDERSTAND.  Which means it starts with Jesus. The simple, who know nothing, have to be reached through the mind; the fool, who says in their heart there is no God, has to be reached through the heart.  Note that the Scoffer isn't mentioned; they've hardened both heart and mind, and the call doesn't go out to them.  Now I'm going to back up and point out something else....

Pro 8:4  To you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

The word for "men" is not just a plural of the word for "man".  The first is to an individual; the second, chased down to its roots, is for the species, 'man'.  The Spirit calls to nations, to races, as well as to individuals.  Which is why when a nation- like Israel back in the day, or the US now- rejects Him, consequences are to follow.

Our next topic, what kinds of things does the Spirit call out? He lists them in vv 6-9:

Pro 8:6  Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 

First two.  Excellent things- referring to the "chief", or most important things.  Right things- straightforward, and bringing prosperity are the meanings behind this word.

Pro 8:7  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is hateful to my lips. 

Next two.  Truth- the core means to build up.  Wickedness, which He will NOT speak, things that disturb morality.

Pro 8:8  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; nothing twisted or perverse is in them. 

Next two.  Righteousness is right, true.  The two things He won't speak here are twisted (morally warped) and perverse (distorted). 

Pro 8:9  They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 

Final word is plain, meaning straightforward- but once again, only to those who have Understanding/Jesus, and have found that God/Knowledge is real.  See how it all fits together!

VV 10-11 again hit the theme that you have to VALUE God in all His persons to receive the tremendous value in Him.  

Now He goes on to describe Himself, after a fashion:

Pro 8:12  "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 

This is the Spirit being part and parcel to the plan God has had from the beginning (remember our look at Ephesians?)  Next, He explains to us His facet of what 'Fear of the Lord' is:

Pro 8:13  The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 

For Him, Fear of the Lord is hatred of sin, pure and simple.  How it must grieve Him to live inside us, watching us sin, calling out in a very obvious way to get us to cease!

Pro 8:14  Counsel and sound wisdom are mine; I am understanding; I have strength. 

You don't truly grasp Jesus without the Spirit's involvement.  The core word for strength is an intensifier- This is where Jesus explains it...

Mat 17:19  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 

Mat 17:20  He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." 

This is a passage I misunderstood until recently.  You see, it is not that the Apostles had a faith any greater than my own.  Faith is a gift from the Spirit.  It has a range of strength depending on how we use and access it.  The Apostles could have done anything Jesus did, miracle-wise- He told them that:

Joh 14:12  "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 

Joh 14:13  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

Because faith is access to the power of the Spirit- it's all up to how we access it!  I would say moving a mountain would take a near total access- but with that much access to Wisdom, I'd venture to guess that moving an actual mountain is just showing off (see last week's episode).

One last thing, and it is the why and the way of how we should pray for our leaders:

Pro 8:15  By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 

Pro 8:16  by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 

So the Spirit not only guides the fates of men who are called to service, but if perchance they get something right, that's the Spirit moving in them, too!  So pray for our leaders, that the Spirit might guide them to the benefit of the ruled, and that they might hear the leading of the Spirit.  I'll finish some more of this next week, if God is willing and The Holy Spirit doesn't guide me into another rabbit hole...

Pictures....

 Starting with Tuesday...

Bright sunny afternoon- certainly not the theme of the week

Hunting varmints

Can you find our way through again?

Good start...

...good finish.

Duck pond from the back

River dip # 1

When we came up, all 4 heads were dunked

And, someone's actually playing cricket!

Pause to let doggie and family go by

I thought it was odd to see him perched...

...till I saw his crew

River dip #2

Moving on to Thursday morning (yes Thursday morning- lack of work day)

Crew chopping up the tree that fell in our parking lot last Saturday

Already misting

Hmmm... two new piles of dirt...

All set up for a cross country meet

By the time we got to the woods, it was still just a good mist, but in the woods sounded like a downpour.  Walk cut short.

Friday was a rainout, but we made it Saturday...

Cool and a bit foggy...

...make that a bunch foggy, but burning off fast

The cross country event might be a tad bigger than I was anticipating- no woods today!

If porta pots were tanks, we could clear out Gaza in 15 minutes

You would think this meant Concordia was hosting.  As it turned out, I found it was the "New Haven Regional", just 10 miles away from New Haven

Wasn't sure what that was for a minute

At this point, I was realizing how big the event was

Cops everywhere

Buses FROM everywhere

Turning into a great day for it

I later learned it was indeed the regional. 25 teams- 247 boys and 246 girls.  Concordia got a measure of revenge for not being the host on their own track- they won both team competitions, won the boy's individual and placed three in the girl's top ten.  New Haven apparently didn't make it out of sectional.  The fastest runner covered the course in 15 Min 44.7 seconds; the last, a pair of sisters from Blue River Valley HS (some 90 miles south of us), limping across at 32:34.0 and 33:29.7.