If there's one thing I want you to do, especially for me
Then it's something that everybody needs...
Each night before you go to bed, my baby,
Whisper a little prayer for me, my baby,
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to th
Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
What's my answer to this question? I can parse every word...depends on what you mean by "times", by "forgive", by "brother"...(yeah, who's my brother?), depends on what you mean by "sins", by "against", by "seven".
Let the particulars go and find the principle. What am I going to do when I get hurt? I can hide, I can hit back, I can resist that and forgive. I can also repent later, after I've hidden, after I've hit back, and finally forgive. I can feel easy about forgiving myself only after I've forgiven the other guy. My brother...
All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray
I've been for a walk on a winter's day...
Stopped into a church I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
You know the preacher liked the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
John Phillips and his music fill my mind today. Music soars and fades and swells and falls and memories rush my ears. John Phillips' life was full of betrayals. He betrayed his wife and kids and left with Michelle. Once remarried and famous as the Mamas and the Papas, he was unfaithful to her, she to him. Musical contracts were cancelled, agreements not kept. Alcohol, heroin, cocaine all betrayed him too. It's a wonder he lived to the ripe age of 65. He died on Sunday morning...
Monday, Monday, can't trust that day
Monday, Monday,
sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday mornin' you gave me no warnin' of what was to be
Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah,
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
A-you can find me cryin' all of the time
After being arrested while using cocaine with his daughter MacKenzie, Papa John reformed. He became sober, he took the 12 steps to heart, began confessing and forgiving. No, not one. No, not seven. Seventy times seven, Jesus said. His rough edges smoothed, John Phillips learned to live well, allowed God to mold him, and took his place on the great mandala.
Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancin' in the streets...
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the streets
I'm very thankful for music that lifts me and fills my soul, for gospel music and folk music, and dancing music and crying music, and meditation music. I'm grateful for harmonies so rich and tender they make me shiver, for pianos and violins and guitars and French horns and conga drums and flutes and saxophones. Worship builds in the midst of music, sweet sweet surrender, the happy death of self come looking for and finding God.
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
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