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

Cell Phone Killers

 It is not everyday that we as songwriters become social commentators.  But this day was my day!  I do not know where exactly I picked up this strange chord sequence, but a African American fellow came by my street performance in Cohoes one day and challenged me to come up with something soulfull in conjunction with what was emanating from his boombox, so I came up with this.  The song which I adapted to it was an idea about something in society pertaining to behavioral phenomena which I observed.   It that I surmised that an underground had formed of cell phone users who were attempting to manifest a cause of which I was not certain. I wrote this song about it entitled "Cell Phone Killers."  I hope you like it.    d

7-10-8-7     4 string bar

went to church one day

talked to a girl showed me the way

told me to be

a cell phone killer

Holy Spirit had its day

big sharp objects and some frays

today is gonna be the day

cell phone killers

God became a WU telegraph

searchin' for these epitaphs

fakin' all the charts and graphs

cell phone killers

reason was a friend of mine

now I sin and do my time

groupies and a pantomime

cell phone killers

ref:    17-9-7    four string bar

hadn't any church after that

got a great big brain attack

Turner and the great big facts

cell phone killers