Oh My Gracious

 Oh My Gracious

You know, my current situation tests my faith.  My apartment in the city of Cohoes, NY is in jeopardy.   Furthermore, I like to bowl and perform my music here, but that is in jeopardy, also.   I may at this time have to return to the DePaul Residence in Albany, which I do not wish to do.  Of course, I have the pastor praying for me!   It occurs to me that we think when bad things happen that we have offended the Lord or the current public authorities if you will and that is the reason for our plight.  But  the Lord assured me in my Spirit that this is not true.   The Lord (it seems!) always looks after us in a unique way.  This may seem hard for comfort, but try resting in Him when you feel so uniquely challenged in your faith walk.  Who knows, things may not be as bad as they seem or your prayers might be answered.  Try to remember and do not forget or rather ruminate that the Lord He is always good.  I'll try, too!

 

God Bless, 

d

Joel Osteen

 Joel Osteen

You know I was watching Joel's ministry this night. People generally have a misconception of successful people. They get intimidated by this positive talk, if you will.   But these people and their message and attempt to aid people are often mus-perceived.   Joel is not asking you to be Cain with your affairs, nor to totally negate your bad qualities.  In an attempt to motivate people, perhaps they seem excessively and intimidatingly positive, and you feel you can not measure up in your efforts.   But he is really saying for you to work with yourself in a realistic fashion, which is true positivity.  Do not go around thinking that embracing positivity is going to place you in the Lakewood Temple!   Being positive within the reality of your true situation is more what Joel is getting at with the message.  And remember, reinforce you efforts with prayer.

God Bless,

d

Aspects

 Aspects

 

People have so many aspects as believers.   There is faith.  There is sin.  There is integrity.   There is conflict.  Nobody is all of them all of the time.  You want certain goals in your life, but you are not always true to them.  You wish not to sin and have everyone think you're so sincere, but you are not.  The bible says, "but a faithful man, who can I find?"   It true in the real life experience sense.  It is one thing to have people tell you, reassure you, and comfort you in this, but it is better to experience it yourself in a way which relates to your actual life experience.  Too many times and I've seen it all too often that  people revel in this finding things that are better about them than others.   This is hard to realize and navigate, at least for me.    So many times I find fault with others.  I do it all the time.  It takes time to set your priorities, your talents, your personality, and your fulfillment in life in being a son or daughter of Christ, if you will, in perspective, or at least in greater, more peaceful , assuring, graceful living .   I sound rather like Jim Daly lol.  I am not! 

p.s. I had a boss once a woman named Pat.  She noticed by my mannerism in whatever I was doing at the time at work that I was trying to act out some biblical virtue.  She sarcastically commented, "he read it, and he did it, yes sir!" or something to that effect.  But I learned a great deal from this small incident.  We often think we are going to be these great, balanced, cogently wise Christians in less than a fortnight!  It never happens!   Mother always said life is a process, and don't worry about anyone finding you out. It is everyone.

 

God Bless,

 

d

Jennifer Aniston

 Have you ever had Church's Fried Chicken?  Well, if you haven't, you don't know what you're missing, boy!  Look, after witnessing to Jennifer Aniston, and I have let me tell you, you do not want to hit on her.  That is preaching to the choir and has got to do with some kind of humanistic perspective, as my good friend and colleague Dr. James Dobson would say.     Seriously, keep in the Lord.  You can  joke around and humor is good salve, but keep it real, as my real friend Ernest at McDonald's used to say, capisce?

God Bless,

d

The Rich Man

 The Rich Man

A lot is said pertaining to the faith concerning people of wealth.  Well, the Lord certainly says that it is especially hard for a numismatic ally blessed person to enter His eternal favor.  However, I imagine in my own interpretation, if you will, that it concerns not how he or she parts with their belongings, yet how they disburse their heart in the matter.   It seems more concerning each person the affairs of their heart, not the  transactions in their ledgers.

God Bless,

d

Bill Jacobs

 Bill Jacobs

Bill Jacobs was a member of a Baptist Church where I got saved in Clear Lake, Texas back in the late 80's with his lovely wife Donna.   They were in the Single's Outreach group before they got married.   He helped me move with his pick-up truck into my one bedroom apartment in the Braeswood section of Houston when my mother passed away.  We had gone on in the Single's but one day Bill said to us off-the-cuff, "watching a lot of movies, huh?"  Well, I perceived this as an accute observation.  Although there was nothing wrong with partaking and enjoying the "baby boomer" movies of the period,  he was pointing out that perhaps our focus was more on the films than our relationship to the Lord.    I always remember Bill and his admonishment.   I hope that this Thanksgiving Bill and Donna are well wherever they might be.

God Bless, and Happy Thanksgiving,

d

The nice clothes you wear

 The nice clothes you wear

A lot of believers put an emphasis on their appearance of Godliness.   It seems there is an emphasis on "looking good" these days.  I suppose this is not new.   I've seen some pretty dainty pictures of men and women in "rugged" past Christian times!  Of course, Savannah Guthrie can't come on the today show dressed like a rock star.  But if your emphasis is that by virtue of how you "appear" to people rather than who you really are in a heart-soul way then there could be a problem in your faith walk.  Jesus talked about the pharisees who had an outward appearance of Godliness, but were not cleansed of their filth.   Of course we all sin, mainly many people enjoy their sexuality, and for some this capitulation may not be a stumbling block to another.  There are men and women who enjoy sexual attention.   But you have to discern in a gift sense I suppose.  There are no set rules when it comes to people. Paul often addressed churches in a fashion which addressed a certain particular problem which may have not pertained to all people in other churches of his day.  People sin and it's a fact.   Certain situations are more harmful to some situations than others.  Single people may choose to engage in sexual activity, but this does not mean they are bad people.   It happens and it's silly Pollyanna thinking to pretend that it does not.   Single people have a lot of problems, too.  Mainly the majority of them wish to be "on the other side"  and may have a lot of anxiety in certain areas.  The bible says mercy is better than judgement.   Let's walk closer to the Lord in this way, if I may suggest.

God Bless,

d

In your anger do not sin

 In your anger do not sin

 

 

There are always, regardless of the virtue we purport to possess, things and events in our lives which make us angry.   Well, they come up sometimes, quite unexpectedly.   I once read a story from a Bible tract or such about a woman whose husband did something that made her so hopping mad that she did this very mean and irrational thing to him!   I do not recall, save myself, what it was!     The point of the related biblical passage I suppose is that you have to find some way to redeem yourself, regardless of the point of day of the occurrence because it is very bad albeit  it doesn't seem so to leave it "hanging", as they say.    So if your brother or sister offends you or perchance you offend yourself,  please make the proper amends for the good of your soul, which really is all that matters.

 

p.s.  I do not always do these things myself!

 

God Bless,

 

d

David Simmons

 David Simmons

When I first started in formal music, I had a Christian friend named David Simmons.  Now, I was in a Southern Baptist congregation.  First thing is, David was a southern guy who did not judge me "easterness". Actually, he found most of my New Yorkish reference and anecdotes and miens quite amusing and refreshing.  This made me feel quite at home in an atmosphere of which I was not accustomed.  I am humbled and ashamed to say that I did not reciprocate this respect at the time.  I had all sorts of things to say about "backwards" southern people and their ways and their faith!   David certainly showed me something.  What a true guy!  I miss him.  I miss them all.

d

Pastor Marty

 Pastor Marty

Marty is a pastor at Victory Church in Rotterdam, NY.   He said an interesting thing tonight on his message podcast.   You have to be in it in the love sense.  And this comes by obedience and reading the Word, known as the Bible to us laymen. Now, I certainly make mistakes, ask anyone who knows me.  But the Bible will explain that to you.   Paul, a converted apostle,  said that we all seek to do good.  But it is bad namely in us that makes us do bad.   The good we want to do, we  cannot, because of this evil which lurks within us.   But be of good cheer, He, namely Jesus, has overcome the world.   Now I have a couple of friends who need this Jesus, like we all do! Anonymously, please pray for them.    say this:

Lord, I am a sinner.

I am sorry for my sin.

I here and now repent of my sins.

I come to you now,  knowing that I can't do it on my own.

I need you in my heart.

Please come in me and dwell.

that's all you do

God Bless,

d

The First Thing

 The First Thing

The first thing is, as comes to my mind, is that to be a Christian, namely a follower of Christ, you have to stop and form obedience.  Now you are saying, " easier said than done."  Well, Christ wants to bless you so bad!  So, in order to receive this blessing, regardless of what it is, you have to play by His rules!   Sin has many forms.   Some seem quite obvious, but this actually is not true. You may be generally a good person in some ways, but perhaps you bad- mouth a former lover or have a gripe for some political figure.  Christ commands us, and I know this sounds harsh, but commands us to love people, all people, from the heart.   Now pride gets in the way, because our dreams and goals make us often proud and boisterous an so forth. This leads to error almost in all cases.  A mature Christian must learn to trust Christ even when bad things happen.    This is not playing hopscotch, for sure.   So hang in there, and walk in His blessings.

 

God Bless You,

d