the last stanza

July 4th nears. I am wondering what we as a people will really be celebrating in a few years. We watch from our comfortable Lazy-Boys as our independence is either surrendered to or taken by the state. What will come of July 4th in years to come?

There is a cost for freedom - a cost for our individual and collective independence. We for the most part have become a people who had rather trade our birthright for a "free" bowl of lukewarm stew today and worry about the bill later. Let's us give thanks and fill our bellies with that mediocre-institutional-goodness-in-a-can that only government can dish out. It might not taste good or be very filling - but guaranteed will feed everyone. Just add water and serve. It's now a good thing that we can depend on the United State government to take care of us. What's so independent about that? We'll give it all away today and moan about it later.

Let's turn back to Egypt brothers. Egypt might not be our promised land - but at least were fed there. At least we had a place to lay our head there. Let's turn back to Egypt brothers - forget about this freedom. Freedom is hard - with freedom you have to worry.

July 4th, let's try not to think about the sacrifice we are making and will have to make for all this governmental grace. For now let's enjoy our backyard barbecues with with family and friends. When the evening comes, look to the night sky for that brilliant display of fireworks - those bombs bursting in air, the rockets red glare...

happy dependence day.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
-Francis Scott Key

more

how do i worship you o Lord
for all your goodness
for all you are
how do i worship you
for each moment i have had breath
down every hard road
deliverer savior
all the blessings and answered prayers
through pain fear doubt
you have been there and always close
i will worship you
you are in my every day
i will proclaim you
throughout my years
you are in my song
because you are my only reason to sing
you are my song
you bring hope to every hopeless moment
you are the reason for all good things
my redeemer
i give you all of what little i am
what little lifespan i have
i will ever point to you
o Lord
i will speak of your goodness and mercy
your love
your light
i will burn it until i am ashes
give away and let go
until there is nothing more of me
o Lord
teach me show me
how to be less
so i may worship you more

lyric & rhythm

i am not a musician
but i'm a good faker
who started out some thirty odd years ago
with a few good lines
and three chords
on a second hand guitar
i hammered away at that box
until i found some rhythm
and some words for pain
during the time i worked to craft lyric
i threw away a forest of trees
until the lyric sang without me
then i joined in the chorus
trying to find my voice
amid lyric and rhythm
until i got it down
and got down
hammered that box, strings and lines
until songs came out with shouts
i played and play on
for anyone who showed a glimpse of interest
played and play on
hoping i'm never found out
an old kid on the stage
who really ought not be there
a faker
still just trying
still just trying
to get through to you

praying for a nation

"I invite the people of the United states to invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit... to guide the counsels of the government with wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and sieges have been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally to lead the whole nation through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine will back to the perfect enjoyment of union and internal peace."

- Abraham Lincoln July 15, 1863

political correctness

Our guys were killed and wounded by Viet Cong, by North Vietnamese Army soldiers, by Chinese Army advisors, by civilian sympathizers, by explosives hidden in the clothing of children, by soap bars with razor blades inside, by poisoned candy and foodstuffs, by multitudes of assorted booby traps, by our own troops, through bad artillery coordinates and defective munitions. We lost troops because we were commanded not to lock and load our weapons, and not to fire until we were fired upon. This came directly from Lyndon Johnson, POTUS, who tried to micro-manage a war from the White House, with left-wing idealistic ideology, and the technology of the 1960’s. After the initial deaths of fellow Marines because of this diabolical command, we disregarded the order, at possible pain of arrest and courts-martial. These were my comrades, and brothers-in-arms. We fought because Communism is a threat to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We weren’t political, we were patriotic.

Read Hebrews, Chapter 11, for accounts of martyrs for the Kingdom of God, which has been repeated throughout history by faithful saints who chose to die for Christ, rather than bow to the then current lassez -faire politically correct doctrines and fads.

My wife has had 10 miscarriages, a tubal pregnancy, a child born in the 2nd trimester who was only able to live for 20 minutes, 2 children with spina-bifida, one of whom died of complications at 8 months of age. We met many other families whose stories dwarfed ours. Every death is a loss and a heartbreak. Every one significant in the whole scheme of things, and every one a scar written on the heart of our Savior and Creator, who loves every soul he has made, and died to redeem us all. We will continue to choose to trust Him, and understand what we can, leaving the rest to His wisdom and sovereignty.

The recent deaths of some celebrities has brought forth the usual responses of shock, sadness and loss. These are ‘usual’ responses because that’s what the deaths of fellow human beings always elicit. It reminds us that we all will face such a day, and it pains us because we genuinely care about other people. The tragedy of the power of personality cults is that it can make us inordinately concerned with people who touch us with their art, talent and influence to the degree that we think we really ‘know’ them. They become ‘larger than life’, and when their lives end, we have been conditioned to have a ‘larger than normal’ reaction. If we don’t fall in line, say all the things expected of us, wear the correct color ribbon, etc., we can be looked upon as unfeeling, cruel, inhuman.

If, in an attempt to bring a larger context into view, we point out that celebrity deaths are just as painful, sad, and traumatic to their family, friends and loved ones, and yes, fans, but are no more tragic than other, less well known, or unknown people, there often
arises a firestorm of recriminations, accusations, etc. I’m sure there are a lot of reasons in hearts and minds for this, and I’m not smart enough to figure out the nuances of human motives, but the reactions are often more heated than seem appropriate for just trying to bring a balance to the situation.

I know this, I believe political correctness is a blight on humanity, and gives dark forces the leverage to divide people through the elimination of original thought and critical examination. Let’s grieve with those who grieve, and rejoice with those who rejoice as well as our consciences will allow. But, away from me, all who only give the ‘correct answer’, or the ‘expected response’. That type of ‘thinking’ cost the lives of many of my friends, and causes untold problems for human relationships, and society as a whole.

-Danny Daniels
http://www.danny-daniels.com

It's LGBT Month!

Say, how many people out there knew that this month is officially Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Trans-Gender Month? It's true - LGBT Month! I haven't seen many people out on the streets celebrating it though. Frankly, I haven't really heard much about it. Judge Roy Moore was over at my home a few weeks ago and told me about Obama's LGBT Month declaration. So this is change we can believe in?

By the way, I did the above graphic about this time last year during the presidential campaign. This image is still pretty darn relevant a year later. Maybe I should work on a banner graphic especially for this LGBT Month. Let's all celebrate this new great day in the anals of American history. Happy Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-Gender Month!!!!

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."
-Matthew 12:35

nothing but sugar

Obama, I believe, is a walking placebo - a big sugar pill. There seems to be a lot of people out there who think this walking sweet talking pill is the cure for all our woes. Obama I believe, believes in his own faux medicine.

No more shopping days til Moon Song!

I've looked forward toward tonight since Danny Moon booked us at Moon Song Songwriter's Cafe'. No rehearsal - no net - just three guise getting together to play songs they used to play together twenty years ago. We're going to throw in some new songs too. Much of tonight will be a jam session of sorts - letting the music have it's way with us.

When Michael, Brook, and I started playing together as The Guise, we talked about the kind of music we wanted to sing. We knew we were going to be singing each others songs, but we wanted to sing songs of friends of ours. Arnie Sanford for one. Arnie was still living at the time, suffering from M.S.. Arnie couldn't play and sing anymore. One of the last songs Arnie was able to pen was a song called 'With Your Help'. It's a beautiful and simple piece that was one of the first songs that The Guise added to our repertoire. You see, we wanted to sing songs that our friends wrote that we didn't want forgotten. We used to sing 'Jesus Knows All About It' that Barry Goss wrote. I have a blues version of that song that we may do - or we might just play it old school (or both). Dan Noojin once wrote a song called 'Insane Man' - another great song that The Guise took to a new level. There was always plenty of material - great old songs written by old friends.

It's not just the material that made The Guise - The Guise. We are friends that play well together. We are like chocolate, caramel and chewy nugget. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I've never been in a group before or since that had a chemistry. I have no idea what tonight will be like. I'm always curious as to what will happen when the individual elements are combined.

little shop of kelsey

A few weeks ago Kelsey (six) came to me in my studio and showed me a drawing. She asked me what it was and I laughed. The family sat down a few Saturdays ago and watched the original Roger Corman version of Little Shop of Horrors. The movie must have made an impression on her. I really like this piece of artwork.

The Little Shop of Horror (1960) was the fastest movie Roger Corman ever produced. He once claimed he made a bet that he could produce full length feature film in three days. He won his bet by shooting Little Shop in two days and one night. Well...at least that's Corman's story anyway. Little Shop of Horrors is a man-eating-plant story that crossed over onto stage as a macabre-comedy musical, and then back into film. I've seen both screen versions as well as the stage play. I wasn't disappointed by any of the productions. I am not one for musicals - but the stage and screen show is very fun - and the songs are most excellent. As for my youngest daughter. I am constantly amazed at her. Gina says that Kelsey will one day surpass me in creativity and in art. I believe so too. Kelsey is a very imaginative little creature. She's always keeping her little hands busy with crayons, scissors, tape, and any very important documents that are missing that later turn up as great works of six year old art.

brothers in arms

dire straits on all channels of my mind today - enjoy