Category: Life

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God Holidays Life Music

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

On this Independence Day we celebrate Freedom here in the free nation. But Freedom exists in more ways than you may think. Are you really truly free ? 

In Galatians Chapter 4 – Verses 1 to 12 – The Bible Says:

1  Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
2  They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.
3  And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
4  But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
5  God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.
6  And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.
8  Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
9  So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world ?
10  You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
11  I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
12 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles — free from those laws.

I ask again. Are you really truly free ?  Do you do what the world tells you to do, and say what the world tells you to say ?  Are you a slave to the world around you ?  Is this the same world that accepted you – then rejected you ?

That’s something that God will never do – reject you. Whether you believe it or not – he will always accept you. He will always rescue you and save you from the uncaring and disappearing world around you. He will pull you out of the evil and the darkness that you are consumed by. He will lead you with His arms wide open onto a fantastic journey that He has created and molded especially for You. He will guide you and lead you into the everlasting daylight that is His Great Glory. If you would just let Him. If you would just surrender yourself to Him. Talk about freedom. Now that’s real true freedom. Take it from me. I was a slave to this world for 39 years, but now I am free. I am free to run. I am free to dance. I am free to live for You. I am free. YES – I am free !

It’s in the lyrics:

Categories
God Life Music

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

Ephesians 4:21-32 (NLT, 2ND Ed.)
21  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned The Truth that comes from Him,
22  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
23  Instead, let The Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24  Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.
25  So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors The Truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
26  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27  for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28  If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
29  Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
32  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Are you living a Christ-filled Life ?  Don’t answer. The world around you should be able to see and hear for themselves if you are truly following God on the fantastic journey that He created especially for you. If you stick out as a radical in a disappearing world – a radical that spreads God’s Great Word everywhere he or she goes while using actual words only when necessary – then that looks and sounds like the Jesus Christ that I yearn to know more about.

I’m sorry for the person I became
I’m sorry that it took so long for me to change
I’m ready to be sure I never become that way again
‘Cause who I am hates who I’ve been
Who I am hates who I’ve been

It’s in the lyrics:

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History Life Music People Travel

Saturday Night Retro

The weekend blogging tradition that is my ‘Saturday Night Retro’ CONTINUES into its 22ND month of memories. And the hits just keep on comin’ !

24 years ago this weekend on the 28TH of June of 1986 (a Saturday) a young and crazy 19-year-old version of me was among over 75,000 rambunctious fans in attendance at London England’s historic (and original) Wembley Stadium. It was an unusually hot and sticky day in London Town, and what made it even more sweatier was the fact that over 75,000 of us were dancing and screaming in unison to all of the stars that were performing all of the hits during the all-day final farewell concert of the pop supergroup Wham ! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley and friends). I didn’t realize how much energy I actually had in myself until that jumpin’ and jivin’ day. It was the very first concert of my entire life, and it turned out to be the first of 17 concerts in all during the remainder of my wonderful life in the U.K. 24 years later I look fondly back at that memorable event as the moment that I finally arrived on the British scene.

Here’s the farewell worldwide smash from Wham ! – “The Edge Of Heaven”:

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Blogging Career Driving Food History Holidays Life Music Philosophy Shopping Travel Weather

The Major’s Weekend Blast-Off

PREFACE:
It’s the dawn of a brand new weekly series here on my personal web log. Following in the storied tradition of the surprisingly successful and long-running ‘Friday Night Blogroll Review’ (81 editions) and ‘The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party’ (36 editions) I proudly present to you my newest creation – the sensational summer series debut of ‘The Major’s Weekend Blast-Off’. This fresh new weekly series brings blogging back to Fridays – where it belongs. It also serves as the de facto replacement series for two now defunct weekly series – ‘Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts’ and ‘Thursday Night Mini Thoughts’. I’ve ended the run of both series after a combined 200+ weekly editions dating back to this blog’s infancy in 2007.

THE FORTUNE COOKIE MESSAGE OF THE WEEK CLUB:
“The best angle from which to approach any problem is the TRYangle.”

BEST LUNCH OF THE WEEK AWARD:
Red Lobster – Caesar Salad, Cheddar Bay Biscuits (4 of them), Wood-Fire Grilled Grouper, Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Broccoli, Sprite

15 WEEKEND MINI THOUGHTS:
– It may be Friday night, but it’s NOT the end of the work week for me.
– I actually have to work tomorrow for much of the day.
– I took the morning off today, and I got my car serviced at Firestone.
– They did the oil and filter change, tire rotation, wheel alignment, and A.C.
– I was in and out in just about two hours flat.
– After that I ventured up to Target in the Cutler Bay area.
– I went on a spontaneous shopping spree.
– Target is my favourite place to buy clothes.
– Tomorrow is actually the 7TH anniversary of the purchase of my current car.
– It’s my 2ND longest-owned car.
– I drove a 1989 Geo Spectrum for over 8 years before I bought my first Saturn.
– Next weekend I’ll be hanging out in Texas with my family.
– That’s become an annual 4TH Of July Weekend tradition.
– I’ll be prepping for 100°F heat next weekend.
– But it’s a dry heat (compared to South Florida anyway).

BLATANT PROMOTION:
TOMORROW on the ‘Retro’ I’ll be remembering the first rock concert that I ever attended in my life. It was exactly 24 years ago this weekend in London England. Coming up in 5 weeks on the ‘Retro’ it’s the ‘Awesome ’80s In August HI-NRG Dance Party’ – a month-long celebration of the decade that was. Be sure not to miss that my friends. You won’t regret it pal !