Categories
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
History Holidays People

Saturday Night Retro

On this 4TH Of July holiday weekend we celebrate this great nation of ours – this free nation that we call The United States Of America. We are free today because of our forefathers – great Americans like John Hancock, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Let us never forget all of those great Americans who fought – and who continue to fight to this day – for the independence and the freedom that we continue to enjoy today.

Here’s American Music Legend Neil Leslie Diamond. His storied career has spanned over 50 years (and still going today), and he’s one of the biggest-selling music artists in the entire world. This is his 1981 smash that’s a proud salute to ‘We The People’ of this great free nation that is “America”.

Categories
Animals Blogging Driving Food Holidays Humor Travel Weather

The Major’s Weekend Blast-Off

WEEKEND GRAB BAG O’ THOUGHT:
It’s Friday July 02ND, and it’s the long extended 4TH Of July holiday weekend here in the U.S.A. Go out and make it an enjoyable one, but always play it safe in everything that you do. I’m 1,400+ miles away from home within the vast northeastern suburbia of Dallas Texas. I’m here visiting my little brother, his lovely wife, their adorable 10-week-old daughter (my niece), their old dog, our parents, and later on this weekend our favourite Aunt and Uncle who I haven’t seen in about 7 years. It’s my 2ND visit here in exactly 7 weeks. When I return back home again I’ll be less than 10 days away from my next big weekend vacation getaway. I’ll have more on that next weekend on the ‘Blast-Off”.

BEST LUNCH OF THE WEEK AWARD:
Longhorn Steakhouse – 12-ounce (NOT 12-inch) Renegade Top Sirloin, Loaded Baked Potato, Bread, Coke.

15 WEEKEND MINI THOUGHTS:
– My American Airlines flight from Miami to Dallas was rather uneventful.
– Due to severe weather in Central FL we took an unusual route out of Miami.
– We traced the entire Florida Keys from Key Biscayne to past Key West !
– We essentially flew directly over the Homestead area.
– I waved down at all of my friends back home and on Key Largo and Tavernier.
– I even saw Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson from way up there.
– We crossed right over the middle of the Gulf Of Mexico into Louisiana.
– The entire trek from north of the Keys into Texas was above layers of clouds.
– It was the leftover counter-clockwise circulation of former Hurricane Alex.
– This afternoon the remnant moisture of Alex has turned Texas into the tropics.
– We’re getting occasional showers this afternoon here in Northeast Texas.
– Everything is lush and green here, as it’s been a rather wet month here.
– Meanwhile the grass is dying and becoming crunchy back home in Homestead.
– Today for Lunch we picked up fast food from Sonic.
– It was pretty good, and maybe by Christmas our Homestead Sonic will be open.

THOSE CRAZY CRAZY CATS:

BLATANT PROMOTION:
TOMORROW on the blog we’ll celebrate America’s Birthday with a classic jam that’s all about “America”. It’s from an American music legend who is still gettin’ it done today. Catch it right here on my ‘Saturday Night Retro’. Then on Sunday on an all-new ‘My Fantastic Journey’ I’ll tell you what freedom means to me on this 4TH Of July. It’s all right here this weekend. Go forth and enjoy your weekend, and check back here later on. You won’t regret it pal.

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: