Blasphemy.... challenge?

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Today's word is Blasphemy. (blās'fə-mē)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun blasphemy as:
1. a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity.
2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.

Last night (Jan. 30, 2007) the ABC program 'Nightline' featured a story about a group of young people who have created a website which offers a so-called "Blasphemy Challenge".

To enter, you make a video of yourself blaspheming God - specifically the Holy Spirit. The first 1001 entries will receive a DVD.

Kind of reminds me of the lyrics - 'Would you like to swing on a star and carry moonbeams home in a jar.... or would you rather be a pig?' - a real no-brainer there! Are we truly so far gone that we feel compelled to tempt God? It speaks to the corrupt nature of the flesh that we would seek out the unpardonable sin.

True blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to deny His pleas to us to the very end of our lives. If we don't heed His call while there is blood running warm through our veins, then there is no help for us. We are eternally lost.

Many people say they don't believe this is true. God allows you that freedom of thought, but He tells you the consequence of your decision also - eternal damnation. Truly it's not our sins which will condemn us, it is our lack of faith. Through Jesus Christ we can receive forgiveness of sin, but without faith we can't receive Jesus Christ.

What is to be gained in blasphemy against God? Is it truly a badge of praise today to be counted among the God-less? Is ANY DVD that valuable? Is fifteen minutes of fame worth an eternity of damnation?

Friends, hold fast to the faith. Pray for the decieved. Live for Christ. We are God's testimony in the flesh:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Salvation.... ain't that an army?

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Today's word is Salvation.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun salvation as:

1. Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption.
2. The agent or means that brings about such deliverance.

As Christians, we believe that salvation is the gift of God to those who believe on His son Jesus Christ. It is our faith in Jesus that sets us free from sin and death.

Now, this faith is a progressive thing. It requires that I stay in it. I demonstrate my faith in Jesus by living the precepts He taught:
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Many people delude themselves that they have salvation - based on a passing knowledge of the reality of Christ. But true citizenship in the kingdom of God requires a true relationship with His Son.

Check yourself today, is your relationship strong? Is your faith sure? Do you really know Him?

Knowledge of Christ, without a Christian lifestyle is not a way to please God. Neither is a Christian lifestyle without a true relationship with Christ. In other words - they fail who claim to know Christ yet live as heathen. And they also fail who live as Christians but have no real relationship with Jesus.

Make no mistake your salvation hinges on faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ, all else is imaginary salvation.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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Affirmation.... Accentuate The Positive

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Today's word is Affirmation. (āf'ər-mā'shən)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun affirmation as:
Something declared to be true; a positive statement or judgment.

I changed the format of this blog to a word a day for a good reason. That reason is - the power of the words we use. The more negative words we use, the more negative we tend to become. Our vocabularies reflect our state of mind, and influence the state of mind of others.

Words are powerful tools, they can be useful to our up building (as in compliments) or destructive to our souls (as in cursings). Remember that scripture tells us that God spoke the world into existence!

A limited vocabulary can be very dangerous to our growth, if we have more negative words in our vocabulary than positive. But, it's also important that we know what the words that we use mean. Quite often misunderstandings happen simply because we don't really know what we've said, or what others are saying to us.

As we arm ourselves with both words and understanding, we can be a positive force to those around us. Choose your words carefully. Never stop learning new ones, and make sure you understand the words you use.

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

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'U Can't Touch This"

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Today's word is a phrase - 'U can't touch this'
It was popularized by M. C. Hammer in the 90's. but it holds a truth that goes far beyond what he intended.

When applied to our spirit, it helps us recognize who we really are. None of our true self can be touched. When we look in a mirror all that we see is an image of our bodies - not an image of our spirits.

This song, taken in a spiritual sense, reminds us to separate our flesh from our spirit. It reminds us that there is much more to us than the eye can see, or the hand can touch.

We provide for our flesh daily - and not just once a day, but continually all day long. If we are hungry - we eat, cold - we find heat, thirsty - we find drink, sleepy - we sleep, and on and on providing the things our flesh requires.

We provide for our souls daily - and not just once a day, but all day long. If we are bored - we find entertainment, ignorant - we gain knowledge, feeling creative - we seek the arts, and on and on providing the things our souls require.

Ah, but the spirit? This truest part of us (our spirits) many of us provide for only in bursts and spurts, not daily and hardly all day long. Sometimes our spirits are only fed for a couple of hours on Sunday morning.
And we wonder why we feel restless and weak!

Clothes will never clothe my spirit, an earthly mansion can never house it, physical food will never feed it, earthly pleasure will never give it joy.

My spirit?

'U can't touch this!'

We'll talk....

Oblivious.... ain't it bliss?

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Today's word is Oblivious. (ə-blĭv'ē-əs)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the adjective oblivious as:

1. Lacking all memory; forgetful.
2. Lacking conscious awareness; unmindful.

Do you attend church? Do you read your Bible? Do you have an active prayer life? Or are you oblivious to the need for these things?

One of my pet peeves is driving behind a vehicle when the police are around. When people don't know the traffic laws - and they see the police - they start making up laws. They do 25mph in a 40mph zone, they stand at yield signs as if they were stop signs, they turn on their turn signals blocks before they turn.
They can't help it, they just don't know the law.

Many of us live our spiritual lives this same way. We don't know what God requires of us, so we make up some personal laws to keep Him happy. We justify ourselves by our own standards, and feel that what we think is right God will think is right.
We are oblivious to God's truth.

We live like folks dancing on the deck of the Titantic - oblivious to our fate. We don't need God, we don't need church, we don't need prayer.... until the ship begins to sink.

Ah, what a fool believes....
Don't ignore the call of Christ, don't be oblivious to the gift of the cross.
I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

We'll talk....

(don't forget to visit my NEW Blog about music, news, and the internet at: Elegant Thoughts)

Tenacious.... I won't let go.

The soundtrack:


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Today's word is Tenacious. (tə-nā'shəs)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the adjective tenacious as:

1. Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view.
2. Holding together firmly; cohesive
   
3. Clinging to another object or surface; adhesive
   
4. Tending to retain; retentive

'Hold fast', 'Don't give up', these are phrases that call for tenacity or a tenacious spirit. The tenacious person won't let anything move them away from the principles they hold.

In this day and age it's hard to find people who hold fast to the principles of God. Oh, people are tenacious alright - but they tend to hold fast to their point of view, not God's.
There is a great need for tenacious Christians today. 'Go with the flow' often leads to a quick trip over a cliff. We have to learn to stand for what we believe.
The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hold fast.

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Empathy... I feel you.

The soundtrack



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Today's word is Empathy. (ěm'pə-thē)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun Empathy as:

1. Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.
   
2. The attribution of one's own feelings to an object.

One of the key benefits of friendship is empathy. A true friend feels what you feel, and tries to understand what you are going through. But you don't even have to know a person to empathize with them. In fact, empathy gains great strength when it is applied to people we don't know.

To extend our love and concern to those that we know is usually not that hard, the stretch comes in extending those same feelings to those we don't know - even those we don't like....
Scripture calls on us to treat our enemies and friends the same - Jesus said:
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Empathy requires us to "walk a mile" in the other person's shoes. It requires that we 'Do unto others, as we would have them do unto you'. In these modern times what a silly thought....
Yet, it is the way to a full life and one pleasing in God's sight.

Great changes occur when people have great concern. When we have little or no concern about what others are going through, we sit back and allow injustice to reign. I agree with the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whom I'll paraphrase here:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!"
But it takes more than just a knowing of injustice to make us move, it takes a feeling of injustice - as if it were actually happening to us to really get us moving.

Set your heart today to empathize with those who are 'going through'. Help where you can, pray because we must, love because He loved us.


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Apathy.... so who cares?

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Today's word is APATHY.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun Apathy as:

1. Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.
2. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness.

In this day and age it's very easy to fall into a state of apathy. So many things happen around us each day that we - sometimes without even knowing it - harden ourselves to our surroundings.
The news is full of tragedy, mayhem, and turmoil, and we tend to defend ourselves from all of this by not really taking things to heart.

When we take a "Be happy" approach to the realities of life, tyrants thrive. We often confuse feeling with worrying, they are not the same! While we should not "worry" we must feel. Wicked men reign when opposition is crushed and others just don't care, it's the perfect recipe for disaster.

We must not let ourselves become indifferent to the plight of others, Scripture enjoins us to share each other's joy and pain:
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Ready your heart today to share another's hurt. Ready yourself to enjoy another's good fortune.
Open your heart to life. Pray for the strength to feel!


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Praise.... Get yours on!

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Today's word is PRAISE.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines praise as -
1. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration.
2. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.

In our praise we show our approval, commendation, and admiration for God.
Not that He needs any of this from us, rather we need to participate in praise in order to feel the true joy of the Lord.

Worship and praise are the bread and butter of the Christian life. Without them we die.
As we express our adoration of God we feel His presence and receive the "joy of our salvation".
Praise is not an option. If you haven't been giving God the praise due to Him - don't even hesitate - Praise Him NOW!

Praise is not about how we feel. Too often we only want to give God praise when we feel He has done something great in our lives. But true praise of God is a recognition of who He is. It is a declaration that He is great, not just One who does great things.

So, find your quiet place. Shut out the cares of the world. Make your flesh get quiet. Open your spirit and adore the maker of Heaven and Earth, the sustainer of your soul, the captain of your salvation, Christ your passover, the way, the truth, and the life.

Give God some Praise!

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Joy.... it can be yours

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Today's word is JOY.
Dictionary.com defines the noun JOY as: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

Joy comes to us when we get excited about something good. Rehearsing the good things that have happened in our lives can be a source of joy.
When we remember blessings we have received, and the promises that we have it should bring us joy.

Scripture tells us that there was a time when the children of Israel had lost remembrance of the law. But it was found, and read aloud to all the people by Ezra the priest.
When they heard it, and understood it - they wept.
They were instructed by Nehemiah not to weep, but to rejoice:
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

This is the greatest joy - The Joy Of The Lord!
It is as we reflect on His goodness, think of His greatness, and meditate on His word, that we receive this great joy:
The Joy of the Lord is your strength!

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Faith.... hows yours?

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Today's word is FAITH.

Faith is the principle possessions of a spiritual life.
Scripture tells us that without it, it is impossible to please God.
Faith is unshakable. If it can be moved - it's not truly faith.

Faith is a surrender to those things that God has promised, it says "Let God be true, and every man a liar."
Once we establish what we have faith in, we can move confidently towards our goals.

We discover our faith when we face adversity. It is in those trying times that we find out what we really believe. Life is the 'proving ground' for faith - It will find you out. Life will surely challenge you and help you discover what you believe.

This testing is good, it shows us ourselves and grants us the opportunity to grow. Through this testing of our faith we discover who we really are, not who we - or others - think we are. Sometimes what we find in ourselves is heartbreaking, and sometimes what we find is joyful. But it's always our authentic self we find.

A young couple was having a discussion, the wife had heard some stories about her husband and was questioning him about them. Before he would give an answer he asked "Who are you going to believe, me or them?" It may seem a defensive question, but it really is the foundational question that God asks us - "Who are you going to believe?"

It truly doesn't matter WHAT God says - if we are unwilling to believe Him. Faith is our spirit's simple declaration - "Yes God, I believe YOU!"

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Has life tried YOUR faith?
In the comments link below, leave the name of something you trusted God in faith for and got!
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New Format!

Today I begin a New Format, each day I'll be highlighting a new word. It may be a single word, or it may be a phrase or quotation.

It is my hope that at the end of the year, you and I will have a learned something!

I'll keep the soundtrack:

The Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Cast Your Fate To The Winds"

now....

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Today's Word is a quotation:

"You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions." by Adlin Sinclair

Here is a great key to successful living. When we realize that who we are is determined not by what we wish we believe, but by what we actually believe - we move towards a greater understanding of ourselves.

So many failures occur in our lives because we don't really believe first, and then act. Rather, we act and then hope that the results will inspire belief. When the results come in negative, we assume that what ever it was we were looking for was just not for us. We are rarely honest enough to say - "I really just didn't believe it would happen."

Scripture speaks to this - there was a man whose son was possessed by a demon. This man had taken his son to the disciples of Jesus looking for a cure, but they couldn't drive the demon out.
Desperate, he searched out Jesus and pleaded for help. Jesus rebuked the demon and healed the boy. His disciples afterward questioned Jesus privately: "Why couldn't we drive out the demon?"
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Only believe....

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Where Is Thy Sting?

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On my way this morning to the funeral of a good man.

I once heard it said that the death of an elder is like burning down a library - So many good things get lost.

When I was young I took the company of good people for granted, but as the years go on I treasure their presence (the world isn't full of good people you know).

So today I ask you to join with me in prayer for the Mason family, and for all those who have lost a loved one.

I Corinthians 15:55 O Death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Michael Brecker.... Too Soon Gone....

The soundtrack:


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Just found out today that Jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker passed this past Saturday.

Together with his brother, trumpeter Randy in the early seventies they formed the group The Brecker Brothers. They were among my favorite groups back then and I still have great love and respect for their work.

The sountrack today, "Pick Up The Pieces" is from the 1974 album 'AWB' by the Average White Band. Michael and his brother played on this album and many others as sidemen.

'Back in the day', there were only a few horn sections that made a record worth listening to. If Tower Of Power horns were on a song, it was worth checkin' out. If the Brecker Brothers were on it, oh yeah, check it out. Likewise with James Browns' Horny Horns and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Those early years were just the start though. It was later on that Michael Brecker really began to exercise his chops. Listen to any of his solo CDs and you'll hear a serious musician at work.

Michael Brecker will surely be missed. He was an inspiration to me as a studio sideman, and then later in life he inspired me with his thoughtful phraseology and technique.

I remember seeing him on a PBS show working with young music students. I could feel the warmth of his personality even from that distance. And I admired his dedication to his craft, and the perpetuation of the jazz tradition.

Michael Brecker - 57 years.... too soon gone.

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Martin Luther King Jr.

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It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday today, and it's cold and rainy here in Detroit.

The soundtrack....








Just a day of reflection on the life of a truly great man....
Rest in peace Dr. King....

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Sunday, Sunday

Let's talk....

First the soundtrack....

It's party time in New Orleans. well not IN New Orleans, but FOR New Orleans. The Saints are one game away from going to the Super Bowl!

Last week there was a march in New Orleans to protest the rise in crime there, and now and then you may hear a report about the efforts to rebuild the city, but we in America have a short attention span. We tire of bad news and hunger for something that will make us - not them - feel good.

Don't get me wrong, it's great that this team is going to the NFC championship game for the first time in their franchise's history, but is this suppose to be vindication for the way we failed that city?

I get this picture in my head of President Bush surrounded by smiling members of the Saints, and that catch phrase of the champions - "I'm going to Disneyland!"

Now of course the Super Bowl will be held in South Florida on Feb. 4th, not in New Orleans no matter what the outcome and shouldn't we be happy about some good news for NOLA?

Remember a team is not a city, and a city that can celebrate the success of the rich while ignoring the plight of the poor is a city with confused priorities.

AP - that's the Associated Press put it this way on SI.com,
"Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl?" - well a lot of folks there didn't feel they needed Mardi Gras this past year, and I'm not sure that the Saints in the Super Bowl is a comfort to the many displaced and still struggling victims of Katrina....

On the other hand maybe that's whats wrong with our Iraq policy. Maybe we ought to start a football team in Baghdad. Yeah, that's the ticket.... I can see it now > Super Bowl XLII - the Detroit Lions against the Baghdad Bombers.... who needs a jihad when you're one game from the Super Bowl?

But hey, put on your rose colored glasses - What A Wonderful World....

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Stranger Danger

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Well, it's Saturday and time to relax with an old time radio story....
This story is a reminder that we don't always know who we're dealing with.

It struck home with me because in the late '70's I moved on the outer edge of some pretty dangerous characters here in Detroit. Some are dead now, some still in prison. Thank God I never got quite close enough to any of them to be involved in any of their schemes. Still, sometimes I wonder just what might have been on their minds....

The first 4 minutes of this piece are introduction, then the story starts. It's by a guy named Jack Hitt, and it's called "The Super" - it's about 20 or so minutes long. There are two stories in the broadcast, but it's the only the first one that I'm recommending. The voices might be kind of hard to take, but the story's worth it....

You can find the story here at This American Life. Just click on the link and look for the above picture on the page.

If you want to hear it streaming, just click the icon on that page.
If you want to download it free, just click the icon on that page.

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What's Going On?

First the soundtrack:



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Every now and then here in Detroit we get a kind of crazy crime wave. This has been one of those weeks. Just about every day there has been a cruelly sad story of man's inhumanity to man.

The first one I remember was about a body found behind an abandoned house on the east side. It seems the body had been there for a few days and yet none of the neighbors had called 911 or anybody to have the body removed. They said that they feared retribution. Now, that speaks to the value we place on human life, and the respect we have for the dead.

Then the true heartbreaker for me was the murder of a young man as he slept in his own bed, beside his wife. This young man was the father of a two year old daughter and four young sons. The authorities think that he was killed because he might have witnessed a double-homicide at a night club this past weekend....

I was listening to this song - "What's Going On", and I couldn't help but feel like it was written just yesterday. I looked for a newer song to play with this article, but none spoke more to the sadness of our present condition than this old song.

Trying not to preach here, but truly Love IS the answer. And the only answer, cure, and solution to our problems.

This record was released in 1971 - that's 35 years ago - and we're still dealing with the same old stuff! Now, that's truly a shame....

But, we have to lift our heads, dry our eyes and keep on moving. There is a brighter day promised....



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Bush Unveils New Plan For Iraq

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The soundtrack of the day.... (Please press play before reading further)




Remember the story of the Emperor's New Clothes? Sure you do, it's about two scoundrels - (we'll call them Cheney and Wolfowitz) who convince this vain emperor (we'll call him George) that they can spin gold so fine that it can only be seen by those of impeccable taste - they say the material will be invisible to the stupid, ignorant and incompetent.

Well, after fleecing the kingdom into trillions of dollars of debt (let's call this scheme Haiburton) they have the emperor parade around in front of his subjects in that invisible suit.

Now, no one wants to appear stupid, ignorant or incompetent so everyone raves about the beauty of his majesty's suit. Then one young boy (we'll call him John Q. Public) hollers out: "He's naked!"
It shocks the crowd - though it's what they were all already thinking. Soon voice after voice repeated the young boy's refrain - "He's naked!" but the emperor was unable to admit his error. He continued his parade all the way back to the palace....

The moral? Once your folly has been exposed, it's better to admit your mistake and find a real solution rather than increase the level of spin....

Well, now that that's out of my system.... I pray for the troops who are doing their duty. These young men and women, who are so full of potential and promise, are being subjected daily to horrors we here can not truly imagine.

No one should have to endure the fear, danger, and threat to life that these folks endure each and every day - unless the cause is truly just.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, in 2002 speaking about the planned invasion of Iraq warned President Bush: 'You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people,' he told the president. 'You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You'll own it all.' It was called the "you break it, you own it" or "Pottery Barn" policy (from Wikipedia). Well, it's broken.... Lets all pray for a fix that works....

Quick quiz - can you spell Escalate? It's an old phrase last used in connection with a place called Vietnam. It involves trying to put out a fire by applying more fuel. It didn't work then and guess what?....

Today - let the Java wait, no Slippers today, And That Comfortable Spot is kind of hard to find....




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Hath Charm To Soothe....

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We need a soundtrack for this conversation so:



This has been such a warm winter that I almost forgot what real winter was like. Usually, here in Detroit, we would have been through two or three deep snows by now. I was complaining about how unnaturally warm it was - until yesterday.

Suddenly the the real winter weather arrived, now sitting here with the sniffles, I'm reminiscing about a love of mine who has gone away for a season.... Summertime!

So, I thought I'd share some music with you today to help you and I get over these winter blues.

I'm really looking forward to this summer in Detroit. Seems we're finally getting the hang of doing great festivals. Downtown is coming back to life, and the River Walk from downtown to Belle Isle is supposed to be finished by then.

Since the countdown to summer has already begun, and there are only 5 months and a few days till summer's start - June 23, 2007. We might as well start getting ready.

The song we're listening to as we converse is "Summertime" by Herbie Hancock, with Joni Mitchell singing from his 1998 CD 'Gershwin's World'. (That's Wayne Shorter on the horn, and Stevie Wonder on the harmonica.)

Take a few minutes and listen to the whole track, escape the grayness of winter and let your mind go back to the days of short sleeves, shorts, flip-flops, and barbecue....

These songs are just a reminder of what is coming.... Enjoy....

You know the drill by now.... JSATCS!

The Beatles with "Here Comes The Sun"


Earl Klugh - "Once Upon A Summertime"



Michael Franks - "Lady Wants To Know" (a summer night song)



Earth, Wind and Fire - "Fantasy"



And of course, anything from 'Authentic'


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