Underdog

I've had one song running through my head for days...wish I was still doing Monday Melodies.@AudioAdrenaline "This Is The Good Life"


Once upon a time, my blog wasn't Saturday only, and I posted something called "Monday Melody"

From Audio Adrenaline's best album ever (Underdog), "Good Life"

I've watched my dreams all fade away
And blister in the sun
Everything I've ever had is unraveled and undone
I've set upon a worthless stack
Of my ambitious plans
And the people that I've loved the most
Have turned their backs and ran
[CHORUS:]
This is the good life
I've lost everything
I could ever want
And ever dream of
This is the good life
I found everything
I could ever need
Here in Your arms


Loneliness has left me searching
For someone to love
Poverty has changed my view
Of what true riches are
Sorrow's opened up my eyes
To see what real joy is
Pain has been the catalyst
To my heart's happiness
[CHORUS]


What good would it be
If you had everything
But you wouldn't have
The only thing you need

The problem with prophets

So, we were talking about modern prophets. I, very diplomatically, said that Hagee (blood moons) and Cahn (shemitah / jubilee) have staked a lot on this September. And so, in six months, the church should either give them reverence for correctly hearing from God, or tell them that from here on out, they may do nothing but preach The Sermon on the Mount (just read Matt 5-7 , no commentary.)

Another recently deceased evangelist-prophet was mentioned in the same breath as Greece.

I googled him. Wow, that guy had a terrible batting average.  When he preaches the word, fine. When he predicts gloom and doom, schedule a picnic.

The only sign that I give credence to at this time is the restoration of a Jewish homeland in Israel. Everything else recently is screaming at mice when the rats weren't the harbinger of doom. Plague, famine, war, death are on the decline. Apostasy, love growing cold, etc... show me statistics over the centuries and not just anecdotes.

I think about what Christ told Peter in John 21. And if he (John) sees my return, so what...follow me.

I've given up mostly on sorting out a hundred freaked out fear peddling wanna be prophets.

It is time for the church to plan our estates and funerals, raise children and grandchildren (no, not me, not yet), and plant trees for our descendants to sit under.

I believe in God. I believe in Jesus and His return.

But the interpretations...I'm not convinced.

Irrational exuberance.

The failure to receive the full miracle leads to A Monday Morning Quarterback session. And for a person who believes that he has seen divine intervention in other points in his life and perhaps in other people's life its hard when a case screaming for divine intervention doesn't get it .

So everyone in the community suddenly goes into a defensive mode defending God defending interpretation of God defending their beliefs and how they can elicit miracles from the almighty even though this time it didn't work.

My friends know that a particular event in 2008 a friend dying young relatively was one of several simultaneous events that brought me into a deep depression in the beginning of what I've termed my personal tribulation.  Years of questioning my faith questioning everything and it brings me to a very simplistic and skeptical faith. I lost my innocence a long time ago. I have seen too many promises and declarations unfulfilled. And even as scary as it is...sometimes I still see this world as God's big ant farm.

So do these practices of faith believing God trusting God speaking faith... do they even tip the scales or even budge the scales? does it change any outcomes?

I know that we are told that "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
But how does He reward?

I have a hard time believing for miracles while I stroll through the graveyard.

Because of the Brave

My grandfather wore the uniform of our country's army, served for almost three decades, was deployed worldwide, most notably Vietnam, and is buried beside his brothers-in-arms at Leavenworth, having lived long enough to see four of his great-grandchildren.  He loved his country and gave his best years in service.

My father wore the guard's uniform of our state's prisons, serving for almost 25 years, dealing with some of the worst people in the state, suffering two minor injuries at the hands of the inmates.  He lived long enough to see six of his grandchildren, and his ashes are scattered at his favorite vacation spot.

I am honored to see my heritage of service. And although I have questions about current military and correctional/prison policy...I have great respect for the men in uniform.

Sorry, if you're looking for fireworks, check your local listings for time and place.

America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.