Last of the fire....

You ask about my conscience, and I'll offer you my soul.

You ask if I'll grow to be a wise man, well I  ask if I'll grow old.

You ask me if I've known love 

and what it's like to sing songs in the rain ...

yes.

Something to believe in ...

In case you have not figured out I got another song in my head today, also if you are wondering I do listen to Christian music probably more often than not.  Remember the song Something to believe in by Poison?  Part of the chorus sticks with me ...

And give me something to believe in, if there's a Lord above

And give me something to believe in, oh Lord arise

I got online to look at the lyrics then took a chance and went to youtube and was actually able to see the video from way back when.  In the process I stumbled across some other videos and lyrics.  What strikes me most now and when the video first came out was part of the last verse...

I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street

like bodies in an open grave.

Underneath the broken old neon sign 

that used to read Jesus saves

 As I looked at various lyrics and some videos it kind of struck me that we live in a world that is searching and its not just the homeless that are like bodies in an open grave.  The  next part of the song is...

A mile away live the rich folk and I see how they're living it up

While the poor they eat from hand to mouth the rich drink from a golden cup

and it just makes me wonder why so many lose, so few win

In contrast there is a current song out....

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame

I'd even cut my hair and change my name

Cause we all just wanna be big rock stars, 

live in hilltop houses driving 15 cars.

So where am I going?  I think the bottom line is  we are a world that is starving, has been starving and will continue to starve.  We will either starve for the world or starve for Jesus.  Those who are starving for the world can get their fill almost anyplace, those who are starving for Jesus may not even know what they are hungry for. 

If we really want to feed the poor in spirit we got to get out of our houses, out of our churches and into the streets with the word of God and the love of Jesus.  

Are we gonna talk or we gonna fish?

Young Guns....

Stop scratching your head and read!  I got another song in my head today, who knows maybe that will be the focus of this blog.  In August of 1991 the Persian Gulf  War began, at least it did for me, and because of my job in the Air Force I watched literally thousands of people get on a plane heading of to the war.  

It was about this time the movie "Young Guns Two" came out.  I don't  think there was a soundtrack but the group Bon Jovi released a CD that was "inspired" by the movie.  One song that was extremely popular with those heading off to Iran was Blaze of Glory.  It was probably part of the  chorus that sort of resonated with many 

Shot down in a blaze of glory, take me now but know the truth. Cause I'm going down in a blaze of glory.  Lord I never drew first but I drew first blood, call me young gun.

Almost seemed like everyone wanted to be the hero,  you'd seemed to hear a lot of  talk about people wanting to get their "first confirmed kill" and I'd seen people with a round of ammo tucked into their helmet saying "this ones mine because they'll never take me alive"  I also got to see a lot of these same people and their attitude as they were getting on the plane that would take them off to war.

Another popular part of the song was 

Each night I go to bed I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  I ain't looking for forgiveness but before I'm 6 foot deep.  Lord I got to ask a favor and I hope you'll understand.  Cause I've lived life to its fullest, let this boy die like a man.  Staring down a bullet let me make my final stand.

For me when I think about the song and as I read the lyrics now it kind of puts me in a mood to reflect on life,  and mostly just how good God has been.  Like the song says "I was born in sin" but God gave his son to die on a cross so I could  have eternal life  -- something else that "I

 didn't have to steal or have to win"

Check out the complete lyrics here...

Roller Disco saved my life...

Today is my birthday and last night I was sharing with a friend about how "Roller Disco" saved my life and he said it sounded like a blog post coming up.  So here goes....

Just over 30 years ago in the fall of 1977 I went to a friends house (Paul) on a Saturday afternoon to see if he wanted to "go do something".  He told me that he was going to Columbus with his friend who I had not met before.  They were going roller skating at what was then USA Roller Skating, I spent my share of time roller skating as a kid and USA in Columbus was kind of like "the place" so I asked if I could go along, and Pauls friend said sure.    I knew it was a church outing but I also knew that I would have a good time, besides skating the had a game room and a place in the middle of the floor called the "inferno" it was like a teen disco, had the lights, music and all.  They also had a giant video screen and that night they showed a seen from the movie "Stripes", the one where the guys show up late for graduation.  It was a great time.

So how did Roller Disco save my life? Well it was this event that got me back in church and 30 years ago today I accepted Jesus as my savior.  I've had my ups and downs but Jesus has always been there for me.  So what next?  Wouldn't be an official post without some lyrics. This is not the complete song but some meaningful lines, and no i do not have the house by the ocean

Ralph

Randy Stonehill

Turning 30 Complete lyrics

I've got a house down by the ocean the rent is not to high

and I love to watch the ships come in and hear the seagulls cry

lately I've been taking stock of all that I've been through

Oh tomorrow is my birthday, feels funny but its true, I'm turning 30.

And I have friends who care about me, they're the best I've ever had.

And they always stood behind me whenever times got bad ....

Yesterdays wine....

Ever get a song running through your mind? I'm not talking one that keeps you up all night singing it but one that really gets the gears turning thinking about it. I've got one of those, Yesterdays Wine, by Willie Nelson.

I've always imagined this song taking place in an airport bar. Probably because one, I like airports and two because of the line "Sit down - let me buy you a beer". And the line "Your presance is welcome with me and my friend here", I find that interesting also, we should always welcome friends and its always great to see them no matter where or for how long.

Then there is that age old question (no pun intended) just what is yesterdays wine? I'd say its life, the good, bad, ugly, and lonely. Mostly its the friends, the good times, and they years. The years have been especially good to me and the friends have always been there for me and if thats yesterdays wine I'll take another drink.




YESTERDAY'S WINE
Willie Nelson

Miracles appear in the strangest of places
Fancy meeting you here
The last time I saw you was just out of Houston
Sit down - let me buy you a beer


Your presance is welcome with me and my friend here
And this is a hang-out of mine
We come here quite often and listen to music
Partaking of yesterday's wine


CHORUS:
Yesterday's wine, we're yesterday's wine
Aging with time, like yesterday's wine
Yesterday's wine, we're yesterday's wine
Aging with time, like yesterday's wine


You give the appearence of one widely travelled
I'll bet you've seen things in your time
So sit down beside me and tell me your story
If you think you'll like yesterday's wine