Celebrate & Embrace-----------Gatherings

Good Son-Day!!!

Wolves, Dragons, Mom, and Lemongrass

 

Celebrate & Embrace----Gatherings 

During the month of February while I am surfing, I will Jo interesting photos of people who have historical significance or who are currently creating historical significance.  We study history  to help us understand how events in the past made things the way they are today. With lessons from the past, we not only learn about ourselves and how we came to be, but also develop the ability to avoid mistakes and create better paths for our societies.

A part of our history that often underappreciated is gatherings with family and friends. There was a time when Sundays perfectly served this purpose.  Family heads would work hard during the week, purchase food on Fridays for the big dinner, prep it on Saturday, and  get together on Sunday.

On Sundays, everyone would sit down for the 2 PM dinner.  For some, this could be the only time during the week loved ones would sit at the table together.  After dinner, elders would regale stories of yore and the kids would be flying around the abode playing and bonding.

The precursor to the Sunday meal would be the Sunday service where we would embrace God first on His Holy and family, friends, and the gospel bird dinner thereafter.  For some 300 years,  the only way some Americans could gather was at church.  Those whose gathered under these circumstances had bedrock relationships with their creator and with each other.  These individuals were strong, centered, and heroic.

They passed on these attributes to their children and grandchildren without the aid of electronics, but through word of mouth. Their core became the children’s core. I have heard my son wax on occasion poetically about when our families did this back in the day.  If nothing else, he appreciated the connections to cousins.

It is not coincidence the LORD said in

Exodus 20:9-11, For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.   Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

A few key terms in the passage.  Sabbath is a Hebrew word that simply means a day of rest and observance.  Holy (German word) means something devoted to God.  Observance is actually an action word which means to respect, practice, recite, and declare-------- customs, stories, songs, and culture.

The Lord wants us to connect and pass on.

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

Psalm 78:4-6 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about HIS power and HIS mighty wonders.

5 For HE issued HIS WORD to Jacob; Jacob gave his instructions to Israel. HE commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,

6 so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.

I laugh as I note these scriptures, the 1969 Crosby, Stills, and Nash song comes to mind titled, “Teach Your Children”,  the song is a call for parents to teach their children about how to live a good life and co-exist with others. Additionally, to teach them how to avoid the parents’ pitfalls and turmoil.  But in doing so, parents are asked to instill into their children ways to change their reality, to improve their future, and the world reality, with healthy values. But after that, the children should pursue larger and stronger goals on their own--to be their own person, obtain even higher goals than previous generations.  A lyric that is repeated in the song. . . “TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL”.

My call to you next Sunday is to find family members, as in plural and especially your nieces and nephews, not in your immediate home, and connect with the Lord, and then them over a wonderfully cooked Sunday meal. This truly is embracing and celebrating our heritage.

SONG OF THE WEEK

“Beautiful”, 2022, Gene Moore & India Arie.  A sure wedding song for someone in the future.  The lyrics are in the song.  And, yes, I brought the beat back.  

 

The Grammy Awards show is tomorrow night.  No, I am not watching the show. I do not watch these shows anymore.  It is four hours I will never recover.  I have provided a sampling of nominated songs you can find here: https://www.grammy.com/news/recap-2023-producers-engineers-wing-grammy-week-event

 

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Category

37. Best Gospel Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.

 

• Positive

Erica Campbell; Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell & Juan Winans, songwriters

 

• When I Pray

DOE; Dominique Jones & Dewitt Jones, songwriters

 

• Kingdom

Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore & Jacob Poole, songwriters

 

• The Better Benediction

PJ Morton Featuring Zacardi Cortez, Gene Moore, Samoht, Tim Rogers & Darrel Walls; PJ Morton, songwriter

 

• Get Up

Tye Tribbett; Brandon Jones, Christopher Michael Stevens, Thaddaeus Tribbett & Tye Tribbett, songwriters

 

38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian music single or track, (including pop, rap/hip-hop, Latin, or rock.)

 

• God Really Loves Us (Radio Version)

Crowder Featuring Dante Bowe and Maverick City Music; Dante Bowe, David Crowder, Ben Glover & Jeff Sojka, songwriters

 

• So Good

DOE; Chuck Butler, Dominique Jones & Ethan Hulse, songwriters

 

• For God Is With Us

for KING & COUNTRY & Hillary Scott; Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Joel Smallbone & Luke Smallbone, songwriters

 

• Fear Is Not My Future

Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Brandon Lake & Hannah Shackelford, songwriters

 

Holy Forever

Chris Tomlin; Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Chris Tomlin & Phil Wickham, songwriters

 

• Hymn Of Heaven (Radio Version)

Phil Wickham; Chris Davenport, Bill Johnson, Brian Johnson & Phil Wickham, songwriters

 

39. Best Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 50% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.

 

• Die To Live

Maranda Curtis

 

• Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live)

Ricky Dillard

 

• Clarity

DOE

 

• One Deluxe

Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

 

• All Things New

Tye Tribbett

 

40. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

For albums containing greater than 50% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, Latin, or rock recordings.

 

• Lion

Elevation Worship

 

• Breathe

Maverick City Music

 

• Life After Death

TobyMac

 

• Always

Chris Tomlin

 

• My Jesus

Anne Wilson

 

41. Best Roots Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 50% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

 

• Let's Just Praise The Lord

Gaither Vocal Band

 

• Confessio - Irish American Roots

Keith & Kristyn Getty

 

• The Willie Nelson Family

Willie Nelson

 

• 2:22

Karen Peck & New River

 

• The Urban Hymnal

Tennessee State University Marching Band