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Edinburgh Scotland

#TravelThursday continues, and in this edition we visit Edinburgh Scotland – a place that I’ve actually visited a couple of times back in the mid-1980s while I was living in England. My family visited me from stateside, and we went on a week-long coach tour out of London that circled much of the United Kingdom – England, Scotland, and Wales. I forget which direction it went (clockwise or counter-clockwise). My Dad took all of the pictures of the experience, and those pictures are (hopefully) located in an album or shoebox somewhere in North Texas today. Eventually they may be uncovered, and me and my brother will have fun reminiscing on that trip again – from back when we were 20 and 12 respectively.

I also visited Edinburgh with friends on a road-trip. We took some great road-trips back then !

Edinburgh Scotland stands-out for me as the northern-most point I’ve ever set foot on in my life. It straddles the 56TH parallel north. For 2 years (1985-1987) I lived just below the 52ND parallel north in Gloucestershire England. Other than those 2 years I’ve never ventured too far above the 43RD parallel (Milwaukee, Niagara Falls, and Syracuse – all future ideas for #TravelThursday).

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, but it’s not the largest city of Scotland. (That’s Glasgow.) Both cities include over a half-million residents. They are the two population centers of the “Central Belt” of Scotland near both coasts – about 45 miles away from each other along the M8.

Scotland’s population is near 5.5 million, and more than half of the residents live in Glasgow, Edinburgh, or near or in-between the two cities.

On a future trip back to the United Kingdom – it won’t be complete without a visit to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

One of the greatest music acts to come out of Edinburgh Scotland are none other than The Bay City Rollers. They were one of the hottest teeny-bopper acts of the 1970s – not just in Scotland and the United Kingdom, but all around the world. Here in the U.S. they scored with 8 hits at Top 40 radio – including their biggest of them all – “Saturday Night” – the first # 1 smash of 1976. It remains in heavy rotation on my iPod Shuffles. It’s one of my favorite songs of all-time !

https://youtu.be/FrkNoWIho_M

Join me next #TravelThursday as we visit another location on the face of this earth.

They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear. You will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. (Proverbs 3:23-26 NLT)

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

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Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 238

Every Monday I post my all-new Top 10 Christian hit music chart based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from the previous week. It’s the continuation of a weekly hobby that goes back 40+ years. Here’s this week’s chart:

COUNTUP MINISTRIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 05TH 2021 WEEK 238
TW LW WKS SONG TITLE ARTIST / SITE
1 1 8 Into The Wild
[2ND week @ # 1]
Josh Baldwin
2 6 4 Thank You Lord Chris Tomlin Ft. Thomas Rhett & Florida Georgia Line
3 4 18 Yes He Can Cain
4 3 6 House Of The Lord Phil Wickham
5 8 8 What If Matthew West
6 5 6 Brand New Coby James
7 7 22 Gospel Song Rhett Walker
8 2 15 When We Fall Apart Ryan Stevenson Ft. Vince Gill & Amy Grant
9 9 6 Sunday Morning Feeling Apollo LTD Ft. Ryan Stevenson
10 10 2 Promises Maverick City Music

# 1 This Week In:
2020 – “Miracles” – Colton Dixon
2019 – “Nobody (But Jesus)” – Casting Crowns Ft. Matthew West
2018 – “Who You Say I Am” – Hillsong Worship
2017 – “Broken Things” – Matthew West

TOMLIN & FRIENDS @ 2 – My # 3 artist over the past 4½ years scores his 6TH Top 3 hit on my chart (out of 7). It got off to a slow start last month, but it’s really grown on me over the past week. It’s certainly not your typical Chris Tomlin song. It’s not even your typical Chris Tomlin song with country musician friends. This one is pure country; yet it’s all about our Lord. #ThankYouLord

CHART BUSTING just outside of my Top 10 this week is the latest track from Newsboys. Their “Magnetic” is the lead-off single off their next album – “Stand” – which will be released on Friday October 01ST. “Magnetic” would be Newsboys’ 3RD hit on my chart.

This week’s chart is the 15TH and final chart of the Summer Of 2021 – from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S.A. 22 songs were on my chart over these past 15 weeks, and I’ll #CountUp the Top 10 hits of the summer on a special chart – 2 weeks from today on Monday September 20TH 2021.

This blog is # 34 worldwide on the Top 80 Christian Music Blogs and Websites in 2021 chart. Thank You for including us Feedspot !

This concludes another weekend of blog posts. I’ll do it again this upcoming weekend – with 4 new entries on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday. I don’t blog on Saturdays. That’s my day of rest.

Your likes, follows, and comments are always appreciated. Thank You for being part of my online ministry to share God’s Good News and win souls for Christ through His music. I’m also on Twitter and Flickr.

Be blessed my friends !  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture Weather

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday September 05TH 2021, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

I’m looking forward to another great morning of praise, worship, and celebration of our God with my brothers and sisters of my small church family. It’s the first Sunday of a brand new month, and so I’ll lead my church family in observance and celebration of Communion. We do so every first Sunday of the month; although, we missed 11 out of 12 months during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Communion this morning is based on the upcoming Jewish observances of Rosh Hashanah (starts at sundown tomorrow), Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

Here’s an excerpt:

On the last day – the climax of the festival – Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me !  Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink !  For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’”

That’s Verses 37 and 38 from John Chapter 7, and the next verse – 39 – does something very unique. It actually explains the previous two verses. Verse 39 reads:

(When He said “living water” He was speaking of the Spirit – who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given – because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.)

Jesus was preaching in Jerusalem at the Festival Of Shelters – the 7-day Fall harvest festival – also known as the Feast Of Tabernacles – or Sukkot.

The Fall festival occurs right at the end of the 6-month dry season for the region. Because of their geography – and our geography here in South Florida – their dry season each year is our rainy season, and their rainy season is our dry season. Water is precious during the dry season. Jesus stepped forth and proclaimed that anyone looking for fresh moving water – living water – should come to Him and drink. He is the source of living water. Water that renews.

On each day of the Fall festival the believers prayed for rain – living water. On the last day of the festival – “The Great Day” – they prayed for rain – 7 times.

Let’s be renewed on this great day. Let’s be renewed with each new day.

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
2000s Bible Blogging Christian God Music Radio Scripture

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2006

Every Friday I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 15, 25, 30, or 35 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 1ST Friday of the month, so I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday September 03RD 2006:

  1. “SexyBack” – Justin Timberlake Ft. Timbaland
  2. “Ain’t No Other Man” – Christina Aguilera
  3. “Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley
  4. “Desensitized” – Jonah33
  5. “Far Away” – Nickelback

Introducing my first Top 5 Christian hit post-salvation – the hard-rockin’ “Desensitized” by Jonah33. It’s one of the first distinct songs that I remember hearing on the radio for the first time after Christ rescued and saved me during the 3RD week of August of 2006.

The song inspired me to look-up the word “Desensitized”, and do research on it, and discern what it means in relation to me believing and following God. It led me to God’s Word. It led me to Scripture online.

Jonah33 was formed in 2001 in Fayetteville Arkansas – home of the University Of Arkansas Razorbacks. They were active for 7 years, and this was their biggest hit at Christian Top 40 radio.

♫ I’m growing numb !
But what is wrong, and what is right
When did I start to lose this fight ?
Somehow I lost track of who you are
I’m so amazed at what sin’s become
I’m so ashamed that I’ve grown so numb
Somehow I became desensitized
I don’t want to be desensitized ♫

Next Friday on RETRO I’ll go back 25 years ago to September 1996.

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday and Monday with 2 more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries