Adam and Eve's Music Shop Heavenly music at sinfully low prices Musings of an old geezer

Let me take the time to acknowledge that I have been blessed such that all I have needed His hand hath provided. That is, I have been blessed with the necessities of life: food, clothing and shelter. Also, caring family members. How many folks in the world would be satisfied with just that? A vast majority, I would imagine, if you think about it. Thank you, Lord.

What this combined music venture / web site holds in store for me..God only knows!

Let me submit to you that all things happen for a reason and you are reading this page not by accident. Something to think about...

*** Initial Entry 2/7/05 ***Return to top
These are some song lyrics I heard this morning I thought would be appropriate for an initial entry:

Let the walls fall down
By His love let the walls fall down

One by one we're drawn together
One by One to Jesus side
One in Him to live forever
Strangers, we can reconcile

Let the walls fall down
By His love let the walls fall down

In His love we're drawn together
In His love a common ground,
Kneeling at the cross of Jesus
All our pride comes tumbling down

Let the walls fall down
By His love let the walls fall down

*** Bibles 2/8/05 ***Return to top
Good morning! It occurred to me this morning that many times I've wondered what it is exactly God wants of me, or perhaps what I should do.
Certainly, believing that Jesus is his Son who was sent to die for us and take away our sins is up at the top of the list. Maybe I feel a bit like Joan of Arcadia in that she wonders what is God's will. One need not look very far to see people in need -- widows, the poor, the homeless. I would highly encourage you to get involved in your local community helping those groups I've just named.
You know, God does talk to us in a variety of ways I'm sure, but one concrete way is through His Word. You can find that in the #1 selling book of all time -- the Bible! Seriously, I heard that statistic a few years ago that the Bible has sold more copies of any other book in history. If you don't have a Bible already, I would highly recommend you get your hands on a copy and begin reading, as little as a chapter a day, to get some spiritual insight. Set aside 5 min. a day and get your spiritual meal for the day. If you have a choice, try to get a Bible that has some commentary in it that helps explain some of the tougher topics. Certainly a Bible without commentary is better than no Bible at all.

I have read through several different Bibles in my lifetime, most at the rate of a chapter a day. The Bible I use right now (and recommend because it has helpful commentary) is "Today's Light Bible -- New International Version." Our church is reading through this as a group and it has a "Sharpen the Focus" section after each few chapters to kind of put things into perspective for today. The comments for today from Jeremiah 6 are along the lines maybe we think we hear every word God speaks or believe we haven't delayed in obeying Him. However, maybe we've ignored the needs of abandoned children or the poor in our own city. Some folks might accumulate things in the belief that will make them happy. It indicates we should take a walk today and talk with God about the path we're on and the path He would have us walk. We should listen to His words of comfort and encouragement through Jesus. In Him we can find rest for our soul. I would encourage you to take such a walk--today!

*** Movies 3/22/05 ***Return to top
Good morning. I felt compelled to share with you today a movie our congregation watched last Sunday evening, The Gospel of John. Definitely an appropriate selection given this is Holy Week. I think sometimes we tend to forget just what miraculous things the Lord performed because these happened so long ago (2000 years). And, perhaps, we also tend to forget what pain Jesus endured for us by death on the cross. Many of you have probably seen The Passion of the Christ and were reminded of this suffering. How small our problems may seem in comparison to those the Lord endured. Maybe we need to put our problems into perspective, because it is very easy for us to become so weighted down by the things of this world we forget what really matters in our short life here on Earth. Certainly, we have problems to deal with on a daily basis. Once you've dealt with them, try to move on and not keep remembering bad things from the past. You may have heard in the past about "the power of positive thinking". I would call to your attention Philippians 4:8, this from the NIV: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things."
God bless your each and every day.

*** Nahum 5/14/05 ***Return to top
The thoughts for today come from the Old Testament prophet Nahum. Nahum had warned the Assyrians, in particular the citizens of Nineveh to repent. Nineveh's citizens lived behind walls 100 feet high. A moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep ringed the city. The rulers had designed their capitol to be able to withstand a 20-year siege. By refusing to come to the Lord in repentance and faith, Nineveh rejected mercy. Only justice remained. By the way, it didn't turn out very well for them.
For those of us who are in Christ Jesus by faith, the day of justice has passed. In Jesus, we know "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble." We know that "He cares for those who trust in him" (Nahum 1:7). Take refuge in Him today. He cares for you.

*** Luke 7/07/05 ***Return to top
I was moved today to share with you from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verse 37. "...For nothing is impossible with God." These are words spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary after he informs her of her upcoming pregnancy as well as the pregnancy of her very old relative, Elizabeth. How often we forget what God can do. Our Lord has promised never to leave or forsake us. He's promised to provide for all our needs. He's promised to hear our prayers and to keep us safe in troubles until He brings us through troubles. But like Zechariah, we so often focus on our outward circumstances. We dare to question, "How can I be sure of this?" (Luke 1:18). Zechariah's unbelief couldn't stop God's holy purpose. Our own lack of faith can't derail God's love toward us either. Zechariah's son, John, would one day point people toward the Lamb of God, come to take away the sin of the world. Zechariah's sin. Your sin. And mine.

*** Colossians 10/20/05 ***Return to top
Sometimes, when you want to know "HOW TO DO" ______ (you fill in the blank), you turn to a specialized reference on HOW TO ___. Has it ever crossed your mind how to put into practice your faith? You don't want to miss Colossians Chapters 3 and 4. This is definitely a HOW TO chapter. Here you will find instructions for holy living and instructions for Christian households, in particular, relationships between men and women. In Scripture, truth always has practical application. Wisdom involves putting into practice in everyday life the truths God has taught us. That's what Colossians 3-4 will help you do. Don't miss this reading...it could give you the new outlook on life you've been seeking. Here is a small sample:

Colossians 3: 12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity..."

The commentary in my Bible at the end of this section notes: "Religion always contradicts and undermines Christianity. The false teachers Paul warned the Colossians about made rules about what to eat, what to touch, what holy days to observe (Colossians 2:16-23). These rules provided an outward show of humility, of self-denial. But they had no power. They did no one any good!
Contrast these regulations and ceremonies with the change of heart and lifestyle Paul describes in chapters 3-4! By comparison, the religious rituals show themselves to be what they are-mere shells, empty shells.
The apostle James, concerned about Christians who had begun to drift spiritually wrote: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
In Christ, rules are transformed into relationships-a relationship with God and relationships with other believers. In Him we receive power for pure religion.

*** Missionaries 7/16/06 ***Return to top
This morning during Bible Study, I had the pleasure of listening to Gary Theis from Mission Central in Mapleton, Iowa. What a wonderful message he shares and it is moving to see the work the Lord is performing through him. Are you feeling the need on how to help do the Lord's work? I'd highly recommend you visit his web site: Mission Central

*** The Ten Commandments 10/22/09 ***Return to top
I really liked this, it came on the back of a recent Sunday morning Bible study, apparently posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro, TN :-)

1. Just one God
2. Put nothin' before God
3. Watch yer mouth
4. Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
5. Honor yer Ma & Pa
6. No killin'
7. No foolin' around with another fellow's gal
8. Don't take what ain't yers
9. No tellin' tales or gossipin'
10. Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

*** Abraham Lincoln 12/04/10 ***Return to top
The following recently appeared in our local newspaper and are the two Proclamations of Thanksgiving by President Abraham Lincoln. Clearly, Lincoln stands out as one of our greatest presidents. I found his words to be extremely profound and insightful. If only there were still presidents like this, I think the direction our country is headed would be righted.

Proclamations of Thanksgiving -- by President Abraham Lincoln, 1863:
"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people.

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us." A. Lincoln, March 1863.

"It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my Fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." A. Lincoln, October 1863.