Recognizing Fruit

 Happy Son-Day!!!

I will start out with an expression of love to the Owens Family.  You have everyone who cares about you praying and supporting you.

To Will, there is a saying that goes something likes this . . . you can gauge how a man will be as a husband by the way he takes care of his mother.  On all fronts, Mr. Owens you have established yourself as a great son, husband, and father.  Additionally, you have pleased God.

1 Timothy 5:3-4

Take care of any mother without a husband and no one else to care for her. If she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

This Week's Video "Summer Pastime".

Recognizing Fruit 🍉 🍎 🍌 🍓 🍍 🍒 🍇 🍋 🍊 🍑 🍏 

Jo, myself, and some new friends attend a recent Twins game at Target Field.  At the beginning of the third inning, I venture up to the concession stand to get Jo and I something to snack on.  I see the Taco sign and “Bam!”, this is something both of us like.

The line of course is long, which gave me plenty of time to overcome sticker shock (i.e., a bottle of Aquafina water for $5.  When it came time for me to order, I chose the Nacho chips in a Minnesota Twins helmet.  I knew Jo would like the helmet bowl as a souvenir.  

I hunker back down in my seat and Jo and I start sharing the taco bowl.  As I take a closer look at the contents of the taco fixings which smothered in sour cream I discover it also contains fine pebbles of hamburger. I mumble, “Aw, man!”, Jo replies, “What is it?”  I lament how cannot  eat the taco bowl because it is ladened with meat.

I continue to watch the game.  But lo and behold, Mrs. Jackson begins to painstakingly separates meat from a pile of corn chips.  She looks at me and says, “Here, you can eat this”.  I gave up on the dish.  She gave the dish new hope.  She cared for me.  Love this woman.  She is my best friend.  

Incidentally, Mrs. Jackson has a birthday on Thursday, June 16.  Holler at her.

Caring, affection, and compassion are “Fruit” core attributes.  I pulled the passage below from a paraphrase Bible called the “Message”.  A paraphrase Bible captures the thought behind the words more so than a literal translation.  Here is the marvelous rendering of the Fruit of the Spirit.

 

Galatian 5:22-23 

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.  Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.”

Separating hamburger pebbles is one of those “Work out its implications in every detail of our lives” kind of thing Jo did for me.  Small, but amazingly powerful.  Recognize God’s work through others. Thank HIM when you see it and then thank His yielded vessel.

Songs of the Week with lyrics below

At 18, I bought the album, “Say My Friend” by the Rance Allen.  It was produced when Rance was contracted under Stax Records.  Several tracts from the album have aged quite well and here is one . . .

“Reason to Survive”, 1977 by Rance Allen Group,  R&B rhythm guitar is blissful & mesmerizing , Strings blend in to give Memphis Soul, vocal range incredible——Quintessential/signature Rance!!!  You will need your best headphones to really enjoy the production.

Don’t Worry About It (Holy Girl Summer), 2021, by Wande & Porshe Love, Hip Hop

“Sunday Sermons”, 2021, by Anne Wilson, Lively & fast, Rock-a-billy, Lyrics in video,

Reason to Survive

Reasons, so many reasons 

All things have a reason why 

Oh, reasons… And what's your reason? 

Is it fleeting? Or is it real? 

Open your eyes, open your eyes 

And realize…

The meaning we have lost sight of 

Existence…  Were we born to die 

Without a reason? 

There is no purpose without meaning 

It's all so worthless without Love 

There is no reason to survive

Reasons, so many reasons 

All things have a reason why

Without reason, there is no purpose 

Without meaning, It's all so worthless 

Without Love there is no reason to survive

Don’t Worry About It

Yeah, hold up, man, wait for it

I remember all night I used to pray for it

Me and 'De was on the grind like a skateboard

I look up to the sky, any day, Lord

We ain't even know, we was headed straight for it

Hold up, got a message, kinda rando

This one for the people from the 'burbs to the bando

Ain't no problem big enough that God couldn't handle

Came through, can't lose, fully loaded with the ammo

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard 'bout it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big

E'rybody 'bout to know about it (yeah)

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard about it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big

E'rybody 'bout to know about it

E'rybody 'bout to know

We was 'bout that action, but we glad we let it go (uh-huh)

He took me my highest when I kept my spirit low

They know we don't e'en care 'bout who doubt (nah)

I listen to God, now we gettin' flewed out (God)

I'm so glad I waited

Goin' Super Saiyan in His plans, I'm elated

Look fear in the face, say, "The top is for the takin'"

If the dude don't fast, don't pray, we ain't datin' (ew)

Went from nothin' into somethin', won't He do that? (Won't He do that?)

Now we leavin' an impression like a durag (durag)

Went from Angelica to angelic, look at how we developed (uh)

Porsha Love and Wande, yeah, Holy Girl the aesthetic (ayy)

Yeah, hold up, man, wait for it (ayy, wait)

I remember all night I used to pray for it (ayy, pray)

Me and P was on the grind like a skateboard (ayy)

I look up to the sky, any day, Lord (yeah)

We ain't even know, we was headed straight for it

Hold up, got a message, kinda rando (ayy)

This one for the people from the 'burbs to the bando (sheesh)

Ain't no problem big enough that God couldn't handle (ayy)

Came through, can't lose, fully loaded with the ammo (ayy, ayy, ayy)

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard 'bout it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big (sheesh)

E'rybody 'bout to know about it (yeah)

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard about it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big

E'rybody 'bout to know about it

Yeah, let me take you back so they get it (sheesh)

Talkin' 2013 if we're get into specifics (ayy)

Me and Porsha, we was linkin', tryna hit 'em with the Spirit (sheesh)

It was Wande on the beat, back then, they were 'sleep (ayy, yeah)

Now you know it's time to eat (yeah)

It's no division in the buildin', got the same goal (okay)

We on some different, we flowin' to save souls (sheesh)

They catfishin' to get a man

We reel 'em in with the hooks to show 'em a better plan, ayy

Lookin' fine, and he say, "Yeah, I like that" (sheesh)

Be online, see the hate, we don't type back (nah)

Nah, 'cause if He said it, then it's done

Called it "holy girl summer" 'cause we chillin' with the Son (ayy, yeah)

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard 'bout it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big

E'rybody 'bout to know about it (yeah)

So don't worry 'bout it

See a hater, do the swerve, know you heard about it

We been puttin' in this work

When you talk this big and you wins this big

E'rybody 'bout to know about it (sheesh)