Sometimes a song puts me in a place that causes my entire body to melt into the chair. memories of conversations with my "Paw Paw" and Daddy about simple things rise up and flood my soul.
simpler times. when things were not so complicated. when life seemed to be more than.
enjoy this as I did. think back to a time when life was not full of terrists and political ads. remember when family gatherings meant something special.
and don't forget to let your Soul Shine...
sing along here...
http://www.myspace.com/primalexperiment
When you can’t find the light
That guides you through a cloudy day
When the stars ain’t shinin’ bright
And you fill like you’ve lost you’re way
When the candle lights of home
Burn so very far away
Well you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say
He used to say soul shine
It’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Well now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine till the break of day
I grew up thinkin’ that I had it made
Gonna make it on my own
But life can take the strongest man
And make him feel so alone
Now sometimes I feel a cold wind
Blowin’ through my achin’ bones
I think back to what my daddy said
He said “Boy, in the darkness before the dawn”
Let your soul shine
It’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshne
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine till the break of day
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
A woman too, God knows, you feel like this (yes you can)
And when your world seems cold
You got to let your spirit take control
Let your soul shine
It’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshne
Damn sure better than rain
Lord now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Yeah, shine on and on and on
Oh, it’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshne
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Yeah, shine on and on and on
Shine till the break of day
Soulshine
by Gov't Mule
album:
Soulshine
10.31.2006
10.27.2006
weirdos, freaks and spider bites
I have never been acused of being an overly compassionate man. I guess it is for that reason that I tend to get the marginal mental cases sent my way. It is certainly not a cold hearted spirit that lies in me, but in certain settings, crazy folks seem to search me out.
we got a few freaks in my town. had a guy bring a shofar to service the other day. just as pretty as you please he blew it during a song. he is not really interested in being part of the faith community, he is more interested that you know how God speaks to him audibly. tries to tie up the Pastor each week in conversation that is both taxing and "extra biblical.' so I run interferance.
you know the drill. folks try and change who we are rather than trying to be part of the community.
today was a bit different.
"i just need a little help" is what I heard him tell the sec as I sat in my church office and waited for the day to be over. I got up, went out and saw the familiar sight.
Josh is a young guy who is about a half bubble off. we have talked before on Sunday during "invitation time". seems like a good kid, but is not ready to give up certain pleasures of the flesh. whan this is the case, it is seldom a good conversation. one cannot seek God if he is hammered or high all the time...he thinks he wants God...
but what he really wants is escape from a difficult life.
anyway. I talked to him about what seems to be a desire for medical help for a spider bite, did what we do than began to pray for him. after I said amen...he is balling his eyes out and hugs me like he has not been hugged since he was a child...if even then.
now. here is a kid who enjoys the things of the world. admits that he loves his girl friend and is worried about being alone.
but the heaviness of the hand of God on him is very clear.
"I know I can be a better person", he sobs, "I am intelligent and I know that I have the ability to have a better life...if only life would give me a chance. if only all these hard times would just take a break."
he walks out sobbing and off to work.
I watch him leave and my heart breaks. for him, for everyone who feels like the world is closing in on them.
my heart breaks becasue it is so easy to dodge the marginal. it breaks becasue there is genuine need and I walk by it. the feeling in my gut is real becasue the need and hurt of this kid was real. bubble or not.
it is friday night. chances are josh will spend his check getting loaded somehow. his own admission. and tommorrow he will wake to regret and sorrow becasue of bad choices.
I am hopeful God will use me in his life. somehow break through that cycle through the Holy Spirit and be a friend. some one who actually cares. or at least is trying to.
we got a few freaks in my town. had a guy bring a shofar to service the other day. just as pretty as you please he blew it during a song. he is not really interested in being part of the faith community, he is more interested that you know how God speaks to him audibly. tries to tie up the Pastor each week in conversation that is both taxing and "extra biblical.' so I run interferance.
you know the drill. folks try and change who we are rather than trying to be part of the community.
today was a bit different.
"i just need a little help" is what I heard him tell the sec as I sat in my church office and waited for the day to be over. I got up, went out and saw the familiar sight.
Josh is a young guy who is about a half bubble off. we have talked before on Sunday during "invitation time". seems like a good kid, but is not ready to give up certain pleasures of the flesh. whan this is the case, it is seldom a good conversation. one cannot seek God if he is hammered or high all the time...he thinks he wants God...
but what he really wants is escape from a difficult life.
anyway. I talked to him about what seems to be a desire for medical help for a spider bite, did what we do than began to pray for him. after I said amen...he is balling his eyes out and hugs me like he has not been hugged since he was a child...if even then.
now. here is a kid who enjoys the things of the world. admits that he loves his girl friend and is worried about being alone.
but the heaviness of the hand of God on him is very clear.
"I know I can be a better person", he sobs, "I am intelligent and I know that I have the ability to have a better life...if only life would give me a chance. if only all these hard times would just take a break."
he walks out sobbing and off to work.
I watch him leave and my heart breaks. for him, for everyone who feels like the world is closing in on them.
my heart breaks becasue it is so easy to dodge the marginal. it breaks becasue there is genuine need and I walk by it. the feeling in my gut is real becasue the need and hurt of this kid was real. bubble or not.
it is friday night. chances are josh will spend his check getting loaded somehow. his own admission. and tommorrow he will wake to regret and sorrow becasue of bad choices.
I am hopeful God will use me in his life. somehow break through that cycle through the Holy Spirit and be a friend. some one who actually cares. or at least is trying to.
10.17.2006
Christian Fruit Cakes and keeping with repentance
during our young adult Bible Study each monday night we have been eacsing through the book of luke. the opportunity to read one of the 4 is always refreshing to me. the word is such a treasure. few things in life bring out such passion. such longing.
chapter three intro's big bad john the baptizer.
picture this...try and loose thoughts of your pastor for a bit, what with all the khaki pants and dress slacks, maybe even a sweater vest...talk about you paradox. picture a grizzley sort of a man probably covered in BO and clothed in camel skin. hair all dishoveled and long gnarley beard. standing outside of town preaching, after he has spent the previous week or so handing out flyers for the preaching event.
he did not go to the city to preach. they came to him.
and when he spoke, he did not greet them with words of all is well, rather, he called the temple grazers a "brood of vipers" and told them to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
at the right time through an eternal God, this freak was sent to prepare the way for the king of heaven.
I can hear it now..."your best life now!" no, wait, that was sunday on tv.
what I can see and hear is God warning his people and telling them to live like they know him.
sounds kinda old fashioned huh?
let's get this straight...
after 400 years of silence from God, he sends this fruitcake from the wilderness and this is what he tells those who comes to hear him preach...
to the religuous he calls snakes and tells them to act like they know God...heritage is not enough.
to the crowd he tells them to meet the needs of those hurting around them.
to the crooked he tells them to be honest.
to the soldiers he tells them to stop shaking people down and be content.
now correct me if I am wrong, but did't Jesus say the same thing? didn't Jesus travel around Judea preaching "repentace" and treating people with respect, helping folks, being honest and bear fruit???? and aren't most religous people still kinda snakey? you do know that if Jesus showed up today, he would not come to the church 1st. if you do not know that, then you are reading a different Bible than me.
funny how after 2000 plus years, we find it really important to add the words prosperous and wealth to a line of fruit that does not come from the same tree. we are not peddeling jelly or preserves.
man I love this stuff.
here's a thought...the fruit John was talking about may not be "evangelism", it may not be what we think it is. maybe it is that grin that folks see and ask what the deal is. maybe fruit is what is given out to those who are hungry and see the tree in our lives.
maybe, just maybe, our lives do not bear fruit because there is no change. no interest, no passion, no...tree.
no fruit...no tree...axe is ready to cut and throw it in the fire.
chapter three intro's big bad john the baptizer.
picture this...try and loose thoughts of your pastor for a bit, what with all the khaki pants and dress slacks, maybe even a sweater vest...talk about you paradox. picture a grizzley sort of a man probably covered in BO and clothed in camel skin. hair all dishoveled and long gnarley beard. standing outside of town preaching, after he has spent the previous week or so handing out flyers for the preaching event.
he did not go to the city to preach. they came to him.
and when he spoke, he did not greet them with words of all is well, rather, he called the temple grazers a "brood of vipers" and told them to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
at the right time through an eternal God, this freak was sent to prepare the way for the king of heaven.
I can hear it now..."your best life now!" no, wait, that was sunday on tv.
what I can see and hear is God warning his people and telling them to live like they know him.
sounds kinda old fashioned huh?
let's get this straight...
after 400 years of silence from God, he sends this fruitcake from the wilderness and this is what he tells those who comes to hear him preach...
to the religuous he calls snakes and tells them to act like they know God...heritage is not enough.
to the crowd he tells them to meet the needs of those hurting around them.
to the crooked he tells them to be honest.
to the soldiers he tells them to stop shaking people down and be content.
now correct me if I am wrong, but did't Jesus say the same thing? didn't Jesus travel around Judea preaching "repentace" and treating people with respect, helping folks, being honest and bear fruit???? and aren't most religous people still kinda snakey? you do know that if Jesus showed up today, he would not come to the church 1st. if you do not know that, then you are reading a different Bible than me.
funny how after 2000 plus years, we find it really important to add the words prosperous and wealth to a line of fruit that does not come from the same tree. we are not peddeling jelly or preserves.
man I love this stuff.
here's a thought...the fruit John was talking about may not be "evangelism", it may not be what we think it is. maybe it is that grin that folks see and ask what the deal is. maybe fruit is what is given out to those who are hungry and see the tree in our lives.
maybe, just maybe, our lives do not bear fruit because there is no change. no interest, no passion, no...tree.
no fruit...no tree...axe is ready to cut and throw it in the fire.
10.14.2006
finally.
so how does one act when the one thing...the one item he has wanted since he was 12 is now resting quietly in his garage?
smile. and say a prayer of thanksgiving. and smile. and understand that it is Him who gives all things.
i know I know. it is just a Harley.
but now this one, a 2006 Dyna Wide Glide belongs to Jesus. He has entrusted me with keeping it clean and enjoying the journey.
wow.
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