I believe music can inspire, give hope, make you cry, make you think, and a million other things. I want to start posting some music that I really think speak to the times we are in. As you know, I listen to everything so tune in every day, never know what you will get.
For our 30th song, I chose a new song by Arie Camp and Alena Pitts called What We Need. These two young girls are very talented. Arie is Jeremy Camp’s young daughter and if you know me, and my wife, Jeremy is our favorite Christian singer. We have seen him in concert numerous times and met him the same.
lyrics:
With liberty and justice for all We need to stand up when others fall We’ll fight for each other, we’re one let’s stand together No matter what race we all need his grace
Can’t we have peace All I want what we need Can’t we have love We’re all made from the one above
Violence more hearts are silenced Excuses that don’t add up We’re all chosen and beloved So let love come down Let’s tear up this ground And the walls that we built
This world is broken all our tears have made oceans Lord come down we need You now
I was shivering. Strange, since when I went to bed I put an extra blanket on and set the thermostat to heat up the house at 6:00. I then realized I was also wet. I startled awake only to realize I wasn’t in my warm bed. I was in some type of… give me a minute to look around. I was in some type of maze. Confused, bewildered, baffled, were some of the words that came to mind. I had to be dreaming, but I wasn’t.
I yelled out, but no one answered. I did the only thing I could and started to walk. Around this bend, turn left here, turn right there, dead end, start again. I then saw a note up ahead. I read it: If you have ever lied turn left at the next turn. Well yeah I have lied, who hasn’t? I came to the turn and went left. After about 40 yards or so I found another note. If you have ever stolen anything, turn left again. Unfortunately, I had to turn left. I kept walking for another 30 yards and yet another note. If you have ever dishonored your mother or father turn left again. Well, to be honest I am sure I have but if I did maybe it was just something little like talking back or missing curfew. Guess my answer was already made for me because the only way I could turn was left.
I know I just walked in a square but yet I was someplace new. Hanging up at the end of this walkway was a mirror. As soon as I looked into it I heard the voices. You are ugly. You aren’t good enough. No one likes you. Your kids don’t even like you. Look at your body, what have you done to it. You are a disgrace. Why are you even alive?
I covered my face with my hands and ran. I ran as fast and as far as I could but I could not get the voices out of my head. I came to another intersection.
Have you ever committed adultery? Well. Not physically. Then another voice: that doesn’t matter. Have you or haven’t you? Okay, yes I have! Correct. Go right.
Have you ever murdered someone? Of course not, I said. Are you sure about that? Yes, I am positive on that one. Then the images came to me like it was yesterday. The girl I talked into sleeping with me. She was so young and innocent. I wanted her. She said no but eventually I wore her down and she gave in. I murdered a piece of her that night. I murdered a piece of the boy I used to make fun of because he wasn’t like me. Oh God! Make this stop. Good try! God isn’t here and he isn’t coming. This is my world and you are just a pawn in it. Go right.
Have you ever worshiped someone other than your so called God? Have you ever used your so called Gods name in vain? Have you ever …. GO RIGHT I SAID!
NO!! I screamed. I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to go where you want me to. I can break this. I can walk away. You are a liar.
No, you can’t. Remember you are a nobody. No one likes you, except me. You are what I need to change this world. YOU can follow me, YOU can rule the world with me. YOU can turn stones into bread. YOU can jump off a building and angels will catch you. I can make you into the most powerful person in this world. TURN RIGHT!!
No, that’s where you are wrong. I don’t want to be the most powerful person in the world. I don’t need to be liked by everyone because I know God loves me. I don’t need your lies. I just need to follow the truth. With that last word I sprinted as fast as I could, to the left, and ran and ran for what seemed like days. I didn’t realize that the maze was disappearing as I ran. I was breaking free from the chains that bind me. By the time I stopped it was all gone.
I fell to the ground. Exhausted. Sweating. Breathing hard. I didn’t hear the footsteps come up beside me. Maybe there wasn’t any. I heard his voice. The one I have heard many times throughout my life but ignored. I felt him kneel beside me. I felt his hand on mine. I heard him say well done. I heard him say I love you. I heard him say I want you. I heard him say you belong with me.
He picked me up and walked me back home. He said trust in me. Have faith in me. Love me. And just like that he was gone. But was he really?
I believe music can inspire, give hope, make you cry, make you think, and a million other things. I want to start posting some music that I really think speak to the times we are in. As you know, I listen to everything so tune in every day, never know what you will get.
For our 29th song, I chose a new song by John Rich called Earth To God. God, we need help.
Lyrics:
Earth to God… come in, God…
I know you’re there hearing our prayers wherever you are We need you now, to send your love down Take away the pain in your holy name We ask this now
We need your light, we need your love To heal the world you made And save us now in our darkest hour With your amazing grace Earth to God
We’re holding on, but not for long Can you pull us all close to the holy ghost And keep us strong
We need your light, we need your love To heal the world you made And save us now in our darkest hour With your amazing grace Earth to God…
Earth to God… come in, God…
We need your light, we need your love To heal the world you made And save us now in our darkest hour With your amazing grace Earth to God… come in, God… Earth to God… come in, God…
I believe music can inspire, give hope, make you cry, make you think, and a million other things. I want to start posting some music that I really think speak to the times we are in. As you know, I listen to everything so tune in every day, never know what you will get.
For our 28th song, I chose a new song by one of my favorite rock bands, One Less Reason’s Treason. It has been forever since they have had a new song but this one is all about the times we live in.
First, let me apologize for not writing last week. I had to mentally prepare for what was going to happen Thursday. When I was younger, the transformations were not easy, but easier. To get old is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in knowing that my time to die is coming soon, therefore I will have less transformations. A curse because each time gets worse and worse. The pain of transforming has become unbearable. Thus, why I did not write last week. I was trying to prepare myself, but it did not help.
This was the most painful transformation yet.
Secondly, I am not telling you this for your pity. I have accepted who, or should I say what, I am many moons and years ago. I only wanted to let you know that sometimes when I “disappear” from social media, there are reasons.
I have, for a long time, had my wife lock me in the basement cage I made to keep others safe from me. I also made her triple chain me to the cage to be extra safe. There was a time when I did not mind the freedom the transformations gave me. I could run the countryside totally free. I could kill and eat what I wanted. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, a bear if one crossed my way. Regrettably, I have had to kill a few humans. Not to eat, but in self-defense. I know they do not see it that way, that I am just a monster but, like all monsters/animals, we kill when we are threatened.
Take these words of advice when I say if you see one of us out in the wild, walk away. Do not threaten us. It will not go well for you.
Thankfully, this time is over.
However, I know there will be a next time.
Therefore, I will continue with my regular writings this week. I will also be able to read your writings again. I will also get back to posting songs for our times. There are so many to choose from.
At least until the end of October when I have to go through all this again. I have been dreading this month all year. Two full moons in one month. Please pray for me.
I believe music can inspire, give hope, make you cry, make you think, and a million other things. I want to start posting some music that I really think speak to the times we are in. As you know, I listen to everything so tune in every day, never know what you will get.
For our 27th song, I am doing a shameless, and maybe selfish, plug and doing a song I wrote the lyrics on called This Is Not My Hometown. I found Gregory McKenzie on a songwriting site and he agreed to do the music and sing on it. I made the video last night. I am an amateur video maker but I think it turned out alright.
I am pitching it to some publishing companies and hoping someone will think it is as good as I do. So if anyone out there knows someone who knows someone that maybe knows Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Creed Fisher, Colt Ford, Eric Church or Trace Adkins or anyone else you can think of that might sound good on this one, feel free to share it.
The more views and likes I can get, maybe that will help.
Sammy wasn’t like the other squirrels. While they were busy gathering nuts and seeds for the winter, Sammy would be exploring. Sammy liked traveling around the city and getting life experiences.
Sammy didn’t save for the future. Sammy lived in the here and now. Sammy thought all the other squirrels were missing out on life. Sammy didn’t understand why they worked all day storing nuts and seeds.
(I know what you are thinking. That you don’t have to read any further because Sammy is going to die because he isn’t prepared for winter. However that is an old story and this is a story for a new generation.)
Sammy traveled throughout the city and learned to not be afraid of people. Many people, especially the little ones, thought Sammy was cute and they fed him their food. Sammy ate french fries and potato chips. Sammy ate pizza and hamburgers. Sammy ate chicken fingers and tacos. Sammy loved human food.
It wasn’t long before Sammy was packing on the pounds. It wasn’t long before Sammy couldn’t travel as far as he once did. Sammy missed parts of the city but he was just too tired to go very far.
Winter was getting close and all the other squirrels were finishing storing all the food they had worked all fall to get. Sammy watched them from a distance. Sammy was miserable. All the human fast food was making him sick but he was so addicted to it. Sammy couldn’t stop eating it. The more he ate it, the more he didn’t feel like doing anything at all.
Some of Sammy’s friends finally stepped in and said he had to change his ways or he would not make it through the winter. Sammy asked them how. They said Sammy, you just have to start. Put one foot in front of the other. Then tomorrow you take a few more steps than today. Walk away from the bad choices of yesterday and walk into the better choices of tomorrow. You can do it Sammy and we will help you.
Sammy and his friends started walking each day. They shared their good food with him and Sammy made better choices. Sammy started to lose the weight and Sammy started to explore the city again. Sammy said no to the human food he was offered and Sammy started storing his own food for winter. Sammy’s friends even let him borrow some of their food and he made it through the winter.
Sammy lived a long and fruitful life. Sammy didn’t let his bad choices of yesterday rob him of his future. Sammy appreciated his friends and Sammy continued to make good choices. Most of all Sammy appreciated his friends and his life.
I believe music can inspire, give hope, make you cry, make you think, and a million other things. I want to start posting some music that I really think speak to the times we are in. As you know, I listen to everything so tune in every day, never know what you will get.
For our 26th song, I chose Better People by Robert Counts. This is a new country singer but I believe he is going to be a big star. We just need better people in this world. We need to do better.
lyrics:
Well, we’re right there every Sunday With a Bible in our hands We sing along to every song Bow our heads and say amen We give ten percent to Jesus And on a good month, a little more But to that panhandler down on Church Street We just nod and lock the door
The world don’t need another soapbox preacher Talkin’ ’bout streets of gold Just someone we can lean on And a steady hand to hold We don’t need bigger churches Oh, with higher steeples We need deeper love, softer hearts And better people, yeah yeah
I ain’t sayin’ I got it all figured out There’s still a lot that I don’t know I’m gonna ask St. Peter ’bout a million things If he lets me through that door We’ll sing Amazing Grace with smiling faces The last ones shall be first Well, if you ask me, brother what we need’s More heaven here on earth
The world don’t need another soapbox preacher Talkin’ ’bout streets of gold Just someone we can lean on And a steady hand to hold We don’t need bigger churches Oh, with higher steeples We need deeper love, softer hearts And better people, yeah yeah
The world don’t need another soapbox preacher Talkin’ ’bout streets of gold Just someone we can lean on And a steady hand to hold We don’t need bigger churches Oh, with higher steeples We need deeper love, softer hearts And better people, yeah yeah Oh, we need better people, yeah
My God, My Music, My Life 