Confessions of 349-18-5171 by Ken Nordine

This jazz poet certainly made some interesting spoken-word tunes. One of these was about the ease of going to the crowd. It’s hard to be a maverick and march against the tide of the world. But like he said in this piece, “Poof! There goes perspiration.” Check out his tune here:

As Christians, we’re called to follow Christ and not the world. What he said in Matthew 7:13 and 14 (Bible in Basic English) is his criterion for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. “Go in by the narrow door; for wide is the door and open is the way which goes to destruction, and great numbers go in by it. For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.”

We no longer belong to this world but are the property of Christ. Religious folks don’t have his word abiding in them as we do. As Jesus told the ultra-fastidious Pharisees in John 8:43 and 44 (BBE), “Why are my words not clear to you? It is because your ears are shut to my teaching. You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false.”

Neither do we wage jihad as do radical Islamists. As our Lord told Governor Pilate in John 18:36 (BBE) “Jesus said in answer, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom was of this world, my disciples would have made a good fight to keep me out of the hands of the Jews: but my kingdom is not here.'”

And of course Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 (BBE) how we must adopt the mind set of Christ toward worldly things. “And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.”

Owen Paul: “My Favorite Waste of Time” – Bruce Atchison

I loved this song when it came on the radio decades ago. Even the title made me laugh. It sounds a bit like an insult and yet it’s a complement from a man to his lady. Check it out here.

Though I don’t do much writing since I retired, my cat Delta is my favourite waste of time. She often rubs against my legs and politely meows for attention. If I’m working on something difficult and I ignore her, Delta will tap my arm with her paw. I feel I must stop and rub that cute head and brush her lovely coat.

Furry distractions are not much to worry about but spiritual ones are. As Paul warned his son in the faith in 2 Timothy 2:4 and 5 (Bible in Basic English), “A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army. And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.”

Being focused on proclaiming the gospel, Paul couldn’t always be with his siblings in Christ. We read in Ephesians 6:21 and 22 (BBE), “But so that you may have knowledge of my business, and how I am, Tychicus, the well-loved brother and tested servant in the Lord, will give you news of all things: Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, so that you may have knowledge of our position, and that he may give comfort to your hearts.”

Distractions from the gospel, and Christian living, also come from those we love. Solomon’s heart was turned away from the Lord by many pagan wives, as we read in 1 Kings 11:1 and 2 (BBE). “Now a number of strange women were loved by Solomon, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: The nations of which the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you; or they will certainly make you go after their gods:’ to these Solomon was united in love.”

In every endeavor, we need to keep our focus on what’s important. A family emergency must be attended to but not that incredible sale on Amazon.

Adults Must Be Responsible

Back in June of 1976, I felt torn between two desires. I needed my job at the CNIB smoke stand, located in a seedy hotel, but I also wanted to stay true to my faith in Christ. That shop sold pornographic magazines, something I wanted nothing to do with. Neither could I transfer to another shop as there were no openings left.

In no way did I want to be responsible for selling porn to people, thus contributing to their lustful satisfaction. Just handling those wicked publications made me feel defiled. Even so, I needed the money.

So I prayed and thought about my decision. Whether God gave me the answer, I can’t tell. This is what I concluded. Those adults who purchased those filthy magazines were doing it of their own volition. I was a Christian but I was a mere employee of the CNIB. So I would be excused from guilt as I wasn’t the owner of the shop.

And not being the owner, I had no say about what I couldn’t wear. A local Christian store sold badges with various sayings on them. Some of those were humourous, such as the one showing a little boy who lost the ice cream from his cone. As a dog licked the blob on the ground, he said, “Praise the Lord anyway.”

My manager wasn’t at all amused. I was told to take off my badges and not wear them at work. I could have them on my coat but not on my shirt.

There too, I was tempted to quit. But I realized that it wasn’t my shop and I was under the authority of the manager. Even so, I could talk to customers about the Lord since nobody from the CNIB was looking over my shoulder.

Our employers often ask us to do what we find morally troublesome. So we need to think long and hard, and pray as well, about what we should do. But if we’re asked to do something immoral, like Potiphar’s wife wanting to have sex with Joseph, that goes over the line.

What Makes My Heart Sing?

For me, there’s nothing more important than truth. Our arch enemy knows it sets people free. Like Christ said in John 8:31 and 32 (Bible in Basic English), “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had faith in him, ‘If you keep my word, then you are truly my disciples; And you will have knowledge of what is true, and that will make you free.'”

Being able to know the truth also helps us resist the Devil and cling to Christ. As Peter admonished his readers in 1 Peter 5:8 and 9, “Be serious and keep watch; the Evil One, who is against you, goes about like a lion with open mouth in search of food; Do not give way to him but be strong in your faith, in the knowledge that your brothers who are in the world undergo the same troubles.”

Old Testament worshippers also felt the wonder of God’s holy law. Psalm 119:165 exclaims, “Great peace have lovers of your law; they have no cause for falling.”

Falling is what causes people to turn from the truth. We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, “Now as to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our meeting with him, it is our desire, my brothers, That you may not be moved in mind or troubled by a spirit, or by a word, or by a letter as from us, with the suggestion that the day of the Lord is even now come; Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction, Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God.”

We can depend fully on what the Holy Spirit inspired the scripture writers to write. As Jesus said in John 17:17, “Make them holy by the true word: your word is the true word.”

So important is God’s word that Jesus quoted it when tempted by the Devil. Matthew 4:4 records, “But he made answer and said, ‘It is in the Writings, Bread is not man’s only need, but every word which comes out of the mouth of God.'”

May you always remain in the truth.

Rick Derringer: “It’s Raining”

This American guitarist had a few minor hits in the seventies. this album track is about a couple sheltering from a hurricane. Check it out here.

Whenever we end up unable to leave home, like we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, we can use the Apostle Paul’s idea to make the best of it. During Paul’s frequent imprisonments, he used his down time to write letters.

In Philippians 1:12-14, he noted that his jail time was in some ways advantageous. The Bible in Basic English renders it this way.

“Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ; And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear.”

When Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave, he made the best of that bad situation too. Genesis 39:5 and 6 (BBE) tells us, “And from the time when he made him overseer and gave him control of all his property, the blessing of the Lord was with the Egyptian, because of Joseph; the blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and in the field. And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him.

And when Potiphar’s wife got Joseph in trouble for not having an affair with him, Genesis 40:21-23 (BBE) tells us of yet another betrayal. “And he put the chief wine-servant back in his old place; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. But the chief bread-maker was put to death by hanging, as Joseph had said. But the wine-servant did not keep Joseph in mind or give a thought to him.

Now some folks will say that this was long ago. But Jesus promised he’d be with his people always. John 14:18 (BBE) reads, “I will not let you be without a friend: I am coming to you.”

One advantage we modern-day Christians have is the Internet. Through it, we can hear and see one another. It’s nowhere as nice as meeting in person but it’s better than the isolation experienced by biblical heroes.

XTC: “No Thugs in Our House”

This New Wave band from England weren’t very famous out of their own country but they did have a few North American hits. Some of them were quite thought provoking. Hear one of that kind here.

Unlike those parents in the song who figured their boy could do no wrong, God expects parents to be critically involved with their children. As Proverbs 22:6 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us, “If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.”

Teaching youngsters the ways of God must be a constant effort. As Deuteronomy 6:6 and 7 (BBE) also reminds us, “Keep these words, which I say to you this day, deep in your hearts; Teaching them to your children with all care, talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up.”

And unlike the prevailing attitude of people today, Psalm 127:3 and 4 (BBE) says, “See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward. Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.”

And to keep them from going astray, parents need to discipline children. As Proverbs 20:15 (BBE) says, “Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.”

To modern people, this sounds cruel. Even so, Proverbs 29:15 (BBE) tells us why children need correction. “The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who is not guided is a cause of shame to his mother.”

Likewise, spiritual children also need the example of godly parents, as 1 Timothy 3:14 and 15 (BBE) demonstrates. “But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher; And that from the time when you were a child, you have had knowledge of the holy Writings, which are able to make you wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.”

If Christ hasn’t come for us by New Year’s Eve, I hope to have a post published about the future and who is in charge of it.

William DeVaugn: “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got”

I found several versions of this song on YouTube but I believe this is the original version. Not only is this a great song but it’s excellent advice. Check it out here.

What a great motto this is. If only everybody on earth would learn this lesson. But advertisers cause us to covet things we didn’t know we needed or even wanted.

Luke 3:14 (Bible in Basic English) is one instance of how we should be thankful for what we’re paid. “And men of the army put questions to him, saying, ‘And what have we to do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do no violent acts to any man, and do not take anything without right, and let your payment be enough for you.'”

Furthermore, we’re happiest when we aren’t concerned with future successes or failures. As Paul learned in Philippians 4:11 (BBE), “But I will not say anything about my needs, for I am able, wherever I am, to be dependent on myself”.

Here’s another verse advertisers would hate people to take to heart. Hebrews 13:5 (BBE) reminds us, “Be free from the love of money and pleased with the things which you have; for he himself has said, I will be with you at all times.”

And because our heavenly Father is taking constant care of us, we need not worry about the future. As Christ said in Matthew 6:26 (BBE), “See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they?”

So if he in whom we yearn for hasn’t returned for us by

Weird Al: “Virus Alert”

Can a singer make a career out of singing novelty songs? Mr. Yankovic did. Many times, he took songs and changed the lyrics. At other times, he made up songs in the style of the bands and artists he spoofed. Listen to this example of his hilarity here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvfD5rnkTws

Sin is like that tempting e-mail attachment. Scammers know they can’t infiltrate your system unless you click on their attachment or link.

In the same way, Satan couldn’t force Eve to sin. Genesis 3:6 (Bible in Basic English) shows that sin is voluntary. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and gave it to her husband.”

And like the man in the song, we must forward the warning of sin’s danger to everybody. As God explained in Ezekiel 3:18 and 19 (BBE), When I say to the evil-doer, Death will certainly be your fate; and you give him no word of it and say nothing to make clear to the evil-doer the danger of his evil way, so that he may be safe; that same evil man will come to death in his evil-doing; but I will make you responsible for his blood. But if you give the evil-doer word of his danger, and he is not turned from his sin or from his evil way, death will overtake him in his evil-doing; but your life will be safe.”

Additionally, we’re required to, as the end of the song says, “Hit SEND right now.” Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 6:1 and 2 (BBE) that, “We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose. (For he says, ‘I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation):'”

We also know that computer viruses must be quarantined and destroyed. Likewise, James 4:7 (BBE) explains, “For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.”

If our commanding officer hasn’t returned to put the world right by Saturday, I hope my post about contentment with our possessions will make readers think.

Walter Egan: “Magnet and Steel”

This song by a one-hit-wonder artist was a refuge for us listeners who hated seventies disco. It’s about a man attracted irresistibly to a woman. Check the song out here.

As any child learns in science class, magnets only attract iron and nickel. Try picking up copper or aluminium and it just won’t work.

Because God chose certain people before the dawn of time to be his, we have an affinity to his rule in our lives. As Christ told his disciples, and us too, in John 15:16 (BBE), “You did not take me for yourselves, but I took you for myself; and I gave you the work of going about and producing fruit which will be for ever; so that whatever request you make to the Father in my name he may give it to you.”

Paul also pointed out how believers were chosen long before energy and matter were created. Ephesians 1:3 and 4 (BBE) reads, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us every blessing of the Spirit in the heavens in Christ: Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:”

And though Christ said this to his disciples, I believe he meant John 17:24 (BBE) to apply to us too. “Father, it is my desire that these whom you have given to me may be by my side where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me, because you had love for me before the world came into being.”

Jesus also said plainly why some people can’t come to faith in him while others can. He told the Pharisees in John 6:44 (BBE) that, “No man is able to come to me if the Father who sent me does not give him the desire to come: and I will take him up from the dead on the last day.”

Like predestination, those whom the Lord has chosen have iron or nickel properties of faith. Those with other metals, metaphorically speaking, can’t be attracted.

If Christ doesn’t pull us up like iron filings to a magnet by Christmas Eve, I hope to have a post featuring a virus alert spoof up for all to read.

Uriah Heep: “Easy Livin'”

Though this is a love song, it could easily be sung by us to Christ. It certainly meant a lot to me back in 1971, two years after Christ had taken his place in my heart. Check it out here.

Jesus himself likened salvation to having him come for dinner and lodging. Revelation 3:20 is rendered by The Bible in Basic English this way. “See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man’s ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me.”

Furthermore, we who surrender our lives to Christ become his friends. As he told his disciples, and by extension us, in John 15:15 (BBE), “No longer do I give you the name of servants; because a servant is without knowledge of what his master is doing: I give you the name of friends, because I have given you knowledge of all the things which my Father has said to me.”

Better still, we’re part of his family. Mark 3:32-34 (BBE) tells us, “And a great number were seated round him; and they said to him, ‘See, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.’ And he said in answer, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those who were seated about him, he said, ‘See, my mother and my brothers!'”

Additionally, our actions show that Christ lives in us. As we read about true children of Jesus in 1 John 2:24 (BBE), “But as for you, keep in your hearts the things which were made clear to you from the first. If you keep these things in your hearts you will be kept in the Father and the Son.”

Likewise, Romans 8:9 (BBE) warns us that, “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is in you. But if any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is not one of his.”

If Christ hasn’t come to take us up to him in the air by Monday, I hope the post about why some folks are saved while others aren’t is up for all to read.