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Homo sapiens. The pinnacle of design. And incredibly, almost incomprehensibly complex. But even the fittest, most sophisticated models break down. And that’s in spite of all the mechanisms installed to help them function at optimum levels.

If you’re a homo sapiens, here’s one example you might find interesting.

(And by the way…if you’re reading this, you fall into this category. At least if you’re willing to go along with the people who came up with the species labels.)

Anyway…back to the reason why I brought it up.

Homocysteine.

It’s an amino acid that your body makes. And it uses another amino acid, methionine, to make it. But where does your body get methionine? Well, I read an article that said your body gets it from foods rich in protein. And they gave examples like sunflower seeds, eggs, and fish. But, for many, grass-fed beef is much better.

But…back to your insides. (ew…guts)

Deep down in your blood, Homocysteine is supposed to get converted into S-adenosyl (SAM-e) and glutathione. And they both promote good health. SAM-e can help prevent depression, arthritis, and even liver damage. And glutathione can help slow down your aging process. Because it’s a great antioxidant and detoxifier.

So, when your body is working efficiently, it does a good job of homocysteine conversion. Trouble is, most American diets don’t provide enough of the necessary nutrients for your body to do that. And those nutrients include folate, certain B vitamins, zinc, trimethylglycine, and magnesium.

Are you getting plenty of those?

Yeah, you don’t know, do you?

And what you don’t know could be hurting you more than you know. Like free radical oxidation that makes you age faster. Yikes! Or damage to the cholesterol inside your arteries. And that’s like running your car with bad oil or no oil. Damage is inevitable.

High homocysteine levels increase pain and inflammation. And we’re talkin’ about aching joints, dysfunctional nerves, and broken down arteries. None of those sound like any fun, right?

And here’s something of particular interest this year…

High levels of homocysteine can make your immune system weaker. Whoa! You certainly don’t want that with all this extra virus stuff floating around the world. But too much homocysteine basically means your body has less glutathione. And that means fewer antioxidants. And that means your immune system will have to work overtime, which it can’t do well for a long time.

But think about the little bit of information I just shared about what’s going on inside your body. Lots of processes and conversions. And I’ve only mentioned a few. There are so many others going on it boggles my mind how anyone could still think the homo sapiens design is an interesting result of time and chance.

How in the world could humans have evolved without an immune system in place from the very start? It couldn’t have evolved. And it’s silly, blind faith to believe otherwise.

You and I were designed by a thoughtful, living, loving Creator. The God who not only made us but also knows what our bodies need to be able to fight diseases and withstand the elements. It’s brilliantly simple.

For example, what if you find out your homocysteine is high? What can you do? OK, get ready, because this is gonna get complicated.

Eat a diet rich in healthy fats and oils. Get high quality proteins and vegetables. And do what you need to in order to reduce harmful stress in your life. You can also take some other precautions. Like, you can reduce your alcohol intake. And be aware of what’s in your coffee and how much you’re drinking. And don’t smoke.

So…it’s all so impossible. Right? Yeah, hardly.

Your Designer made it easy to maintain your complex systems. Eat better. And move around.

And remember, when you don’t live so well,
Your Creator put backups in place.
So, whether arteries shrink up or swell,
It’s not the end of the human race.

Stay tuned,

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Yeah, it only takes 23 chromosomes to create the person you know as “myself.” Well, to be more accurate, it takes 23 from your mother and 23 from your father. But who’s counting. I mean besides DNA specialists, biologists, and other people who dive into such microscopic things. But you know who’s not counting? God.

Why would God count to see if there are 23 chromosomes from each of your parents?

After all…He’s the one who developed the whole process. That’s right. It’s a created process.

Evolution ain’t the solution.

When you figure out how to evolve even one single eyeball, be sure and contact me. Because even if you lived a trillion years, you wouldn’t be able to do it. Not a working eyeball. And certainly not from scratch. I mean, c’mon, have you seen how incredibly complex it is? This ain’t no iPhone camera shutter we’re talkin’ about.

So, when you consider how much information is stored inside just 46 tiny little chromosomes, it boggles the mind. And I mean even the combined mind of every brilliant geneticist alive…or who ever lived.

And little by little more and more of those so-called “scientists,” who profess to know how life originated, are starting to figure out that time is not on their side. Because there has never been enough time…and certainly no chance…of evolving even just an eyeball.

So, thank God we didn’t have to wait for all that nonsense. Because he put all the information it would take to make you and me right there in those tiny strands of DNA.

And that’s why I say…

I got a little bit from my mom
I got a little bit from my dad
And I got my DNA from the great Yahweh
And it’s the only life I’ve had

Twenty-three plus twenty-three is one
Chromosomes were a mystery
But that mystery is gone.
Twenty-three plus twenty-three is one.
Until we learn to add it up…
The lesson isn’t quite done.

Stay tuned,

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Are you still eating Christmas leftovers? If they have anything to do with baked goodies, then, by all means, carry on. Nothing wrong with helping that Christmas spirit linger a little longer. But one thing you definitely should avoid. And that’s a Christmas hangover.

And if you’re wondering what a Christmas hangover is, then you don’t have one.

But apparently a lot of people suffer from it. And since the main age group of sufferers appears to be 8 years old to about 12 or 13, it doesn’t come from drinking too much spiked eggnog.

No, this hangover has to do with not wanting all those “joy to the world” feelings to go away. And not wanting the rush from opening presents to go away. And not wanting all the people who went away to go away.

Sure, I get it. Christmas can be a big bunch of fun.

But if and when you focus on the fun…the feelings…you’re the perfect candidate for a hangover.

And you’ll miss out on the lasting effects of why Christmas even exists.

Because Christmas didn’t start in a fancy department store in New York City. Or any other city. And it didn’t start in an ad agency. And it didn’t even start in Hollywood. Gasp! Can that be true? What would George Bailey or the bishop’s wife say? No, Christmas is based on the most important person who ever lived or ever will live.

And, no, that’s not you. Despite what your mother might have told you.

And it’s not some CEO, mayor, president, or king. Oh, wait a minute. Let’s go back to that last one. King. Yeah, the most important person who ever lived IS a king. No, wait. I should say is THE King.

But, on that first Christmas, that most important person was NOT a king. So, it’s sort of miraculous how wise men traveled long distances just to bring a little baby some gifts. And from what I’ve read about it, if anybody was gonna suffer from a Christmas hangover, it would surely have been them.

Because they experienced the in-person presence of God.

Can you imagine how you’d feel after that? I think I’d want that feeling to go on and on. But maybe that’s just me.

But those feelings associated with opening presents and eating lots of goodies? No, they’re just feelings. And if you’re suffering with that hangover, then you’re either a kid or an adult who hasn’t matured.

Either way, you need the only cure there is for such a hangover.

The King is the cure for this “present” age.
And the answer is clear for a seeker.
Logic, not feelings, can make you a sage.
And with Jesus, you’re stronger, not weaker.

Stay tuned,

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Well, it’s the big day. Christmas is here. And even in a challenging, lousy year like 2020 has been, it’s still awesome. But wouldn’t it be great if people could realize how much more it means? Because, if they could, they might understand how the whole reason for Christmas is the Gift that’s available every single day of every single year.

Christmas is here because God loves us.

And He’s willing to let the world keep spinning another day just in case you’re the one who hasn’t found Him yet. Yeah, YOU. His tender mercies are available to everyone even if only one person is willing to accept them.

Now, that’s an incomprehensible gift of love.

You and I don’t love like that. Oh sure, we might think we love our family and friends. And maybe we think we show them how much with all those presents under the tree. But that’s all rubbish when compared to the love of God.

Because do you even remotely think you could offer up your son to be mocked, ridiculed, and murdered…just so other people could live? Think about that a second. And notice how I didn’t ask if you could offer yourself. Because that would be much easier than offering your son. Right?

Yeah, that would be basically impossible.

And humans only interact with their offspring a few decades…at the most.

But God the Father has always been connected to His Son.

For endless time in the past. And forever in the future. But there were three days when they were separated. And you and I can’t imagine the heart-wrenching anguish that must have caused. Because we can only imagine forever as from now on. How could we possibly comprehend forever in the past?

And if you were connected to someone that long, don’t you think even one day’s separation would be like an eternity? Exactly. And the Bible says that “with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years.” So, those three days of separation between the Father and the Son were like three thousand years to Him.

Whoa!

That’s why Christmas is here every day of the year. Because Christmas is the gift of the Light of the world. The gift of eternal life to anyone who’s willing to accept it.

And that’s a present I unwrapped when I was thirteen. And I’ve been unwrapping it ever since.

I hope you find this gift this Christmas day
And you begin to understand the Way.
God’s gift is so complete, no other gifts compete.
So, open up your present…don’t delay.

Stay tuned,

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A Vist From Saint Nicholas is definitely a famous poem. Almost everybody can remember at least the first four lines. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through house…not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse. Remember? Yeah, it makes for rhythmic poetry. And it presents a great description of Santa Claus. But it’s as far removed from what Christmas is about as the East is from the West.

Because when it comes to Christmas, ’twas the night itself that holds the wonder.

And the night before that first Christmas was part of a struggle for some newlyweds. They had made a hard journey to a crowded town to obey some census rules of that time. And when they arrived, there were no available rooms. So, they actually slept in the same outbuilding where livestock were kept.

And on top of all that…the woman was pregnant. And when I say pregnant, I mean about to give birth. Matter of fact, the night they spent with the livestock was the night she gave birth.

Can you imagine?

Basically nine months pregnant, and you travel, by donkey, across harsh land. And you get to your destination only to find there’s no comfortable bed ready…much less a chocolate mint on your pillow.

Then, your husband tells you he’s arranged for you to sleep on a bed of hay. In a barn. With smelly animals.

And then…you go into labor.

Yeah, that’s an interesting way for a baby to be born, to say the least.

But we’re not talking about an ordinary baby. And we’re not talking about an ordinary night. Because ’twas the night when the Light of the world would be born. And no one would ever be the same again.

Sadly, many love the darkness
Instead of the loving Light.
But to those who choose to follow,
Jesus gives them His birthright.

Stay tuned,

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Imagine you’re a sheepherder. I know it’s a stretch. But go with me on this for a couple of minutes. OK, you’re a sheepherder out in a field at night. And all is calm. All is bright…clear sky, big stars. And you start to get a little sleepy and your mind starts to wander. Somewhere deep inside your thoughts is some sort of memory about something to do with shepherds and angels. But then you lean back on a tree and conk out.

Then, you start to dream about shepherds and angels.

And a deep voice…like a movie narrator’s voice…maybe it’s Liam Neeson or James Earl Jones…speaks these words:

“Now there were, in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Then, your head drops to your chest.

And you wake up as your whole body jerks. And you take a quick look around. All the sheep are fine. Just an occasional baa baa. Nothing to worry about. No sign of coyotes or other predators. But…

Over your shoulder you notice a bright light.
And that’s strange because this is a moonless night.
So, you turn and you stare, and there’s no bright light there.
But the words in your dream help you feel alright.

Stay tuned,

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DNA extraction. Sounds like something straight outta Jurassic Park, right? But it’s not science fiction anymore. And it’s another one of the millions of examples of how we’re not just carbon based lifeforms.

DNA extraction has been done in impossible places.

But before I share a few of those, I’d like to share some steps to the extraction process. Because it’s important to know this isn’t a simple process with just a hypodermic needle and a microscope. Despite what you might have seen in the movies.

First, cells have to be “broken” in order to release DNA. Then the DNA has to be separated from proteins and other “cellular debris.” And I read how, after that, the DNA is “precipitated” with some type of alcohol. According to the dictionary, “precipitated” just means “cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution.”

Of course, when you pour alcohol on a substance (in this case, DNA) you gotta clean it up. And once that’s done, then it’s a matter of confirming the presence and quality of DNA.

But there’s a catch.

You can’t extract DNA from anything older than 10,000 years. And that’s because so-called “scientists” measured the DNA disintegration rates in well-preserved specimens (like Egyptian mummies) and came up with this limit.

But…wait a second…is that true?

Because DNA has been extracted from a 400,000-year-old hominin femur from Spain.

Not impressed?

OK, what if I told you DNA has also been found in magnolia leaves, salt crystals, and fish scales that are all claimed to be millions of years old? And what would you say if I told you DNA has been found in dinosaur bones? Lots of them.

They’ve even found DNA inside plants and insects that are inside amber (a hard, translucent, fossilized resin produced by extinct coniferous trees of the Tertiary period, typically yellowish in color). And the amber is supposed to be somewhere between 25 and 120 million years old.

So, what’s an evolutionist to do about that 10,000 years limit?

Well, come up with another silly claim to add to their almost never-ending list of mostly debunked claims, of course. So, they now say that DNA can be preserved longer under the right “conditions.” Like if the surroundings were colder and dryer. And if there was less oxygen and bacteria and radiation.

But according to a distinguished Ph.D. from M.I.T. (and former evolutionist) “measured disintegration rates of DNA, under these more ideal conditions, do not support this claim.”

You don’t have to believe this is true.
You can believe in the accidental you.
But I hope you really think it through
And do what your Creator wants you to do.

Stay tuned,

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People talk about the journey Joseph and Mary took when they went to Bethlehem just before Jesus was born. And stories say it must’ve been a fairly grueling trip. Because they probably had to travel by donkey or some other slow form of transportation. Maybe they even walked a lot of the way. And of course, you know about how they had to sleep with the animals when they got there. Because there was no room to be had. But what I’ve never heard anyone else ever talk about are what Jesus’ earliest memories might have been.

And I was just thinking about that.

Maybe you don’t know this, and if you don’t, what cave have you been living in? But Jesus was God in the flesh. And that was a completely new thing. Because for endless eons past, He had always been one of the 3 persons in one God. As a Spirit being. So, no small thing.

And since Jesus was God in the flesh, even in Mary’s womb, my imagination came up with this idea. I think it might be possible that He was totally aware of the entire process as it unfolded. In other words…

Jesus’ earliest memories might have been from His earthly conception.

And I mean, of course, those memories He would begin to gather in as a flesh and bone human being.

Can you imagine?

I mean…He’s God. So His awareness might have been full even as a single cell human being. And then it continued as He entered the embryonic stage of pregnancy. That’s when His stem cells developed and multiplied. And since He’s the one who came up with the way it all works, I wonder if He looked around and thought, “Wow. So, this is what it’s like from the inside out.”

And those stem cells turned into the cells that would form His whole body. His major organs started forming. His brand new heart started beating. And I wonder if He was in awe of how that felt. Seems like He’d have to be.

And since Jesus is God, I wonder if He observed (and then remembered) how Mary’s placenta took nutrients and oxygen and water from her blood and passed it to Him through the umbilical cord. As the Creator of the process, it would have to be incredibly amazing to watch it from that perspective.

And then imagine how He might have watched the amniotic sac form. And then watch it fill up with amniotic fluid and surround Him. I wonder if He thought, “Yes, this IS the way to protect babies in their mothers’ wombs.” It certainly seems like that could be one of His earliest memories.

But those are just the first stages of development a baby goes through during pregnancy. If Jesus could see it all happening and remember it all, there was a lot more to come.

Like these other important steps in the embryonic stage…

The creation of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. And we certainly can’t leave out the heart. It starts out as a tiny tube. And somehow, without the help of anything or anyone, it starts beating.

So, Jesus might have remembered how that felt. And then He might recall how His face started to form. Eyes and ears started out on the side of His head and then moved around to the front. Then eyelids formed to protect His eyes. And tissue bonded together to form His forehead, nose, cheeks, lips, and all the way down to His jaw.

I can imagine Him saying, “Well, well…look at me. My human life is really taking shape now.”

And there were still so many other steps He’d go through. And we’re talking about just the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. An enormous amount of change. But it must have all felt infinitesimally small compared to the infinite and eternal change Jesus went through just to get there.

Then, He went through the second trimester, and entered the third. And that’s when things might have gotten seriously interesting. Because at some point during that stage of His development, Joseph and Mary “went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife…” That trip would have been bumpy to say the least.

Now, I’m willing to say maybe Jesus’ earliest memories weren’t all that pregnancy from the inside out stuff. And maybe He just wanted to go through the process like all the rest of us.

But it’s cool to imagine.

Because I think of what an awesome journey it would be for Him to see.

Yeah, I know…it’s an odd direction that I go
When I say…what if Jesus planned it all that way?
So, I’ll just…leave it here as something I discussed.
But one day…I’ll ask Him if it really went that way.

Stay tuned,

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“It’s all about giving.” If I’ve heard that once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. Maybe thousands. And I’ll bet you’ve heard it, too. On Christmas commercials. And billboards. In stores. So, it got me thinking. If it’s really all about the giving, then the first Christmas was actually on the 6th day of creation.

That 6th day was all about giving life.

As you might have heard, Adam and Eve were created on the 6th, and final, day of creation. (side note: by “final” I don’t mean God isn’t gonna ever created anything again…or that He can’t)

Anyway…

What better or more precious gift can anyone give than life? And that’s exactly what God did for His first two human creations. I know, if you don’t believe in God, that it just sounds like a fairy tale to you. But when you compare the story of creation, how God created everything, to the story of evolution, how everything came from nothing, which one sound more like a fairy tale?

So, back to the first Christmas. Here’s a little bit of what that day was like.

“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

So, Adam and Eve were given life.

But guess who else received a gift that day. Your Creator.

Yeah, God gave Himself the gift of companions. Friends who could not only listen, but also converse with Him.

And since I’ve never had kids, I can only imagine how awesome that must have been for Him. Because, think about it. For eternity past, God had communed with Himself, the three persons of the Trinity. But after He created Adam and Eve, He had other persons to talk to and with. And He must’ve been thrilled to see what they could do.

That 6th day of creation changed everything for God.

Because from that day on, He’s been all about giving.

Every day of life is a gift. So, every day of life is Christmas.

So, remember just how truly blessed you are
To be here and to know that you exist.
Your whole life is a gift from your Creator.
And He offers it forever. Don’t resist.

Stay tuned,

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In the early eighties I shared a townhome, in Houston, Texas, with my buddy, Jack. And it was a nice, secluded spot on the West side of the city suburbs. Jack worked days, and I worked nights. So, we typically only saw each other as we passed in and out. But I remember it was a great place for me to set up and work on my music. Plenty of space. And I could turn up the volume quite a bit without getting in trouble with the neighbors.

And I remember, one day I got home from some errands and was about to set up to rehearse. But Jack called down from upstairs and asked me to come up and listen to something. I went up, and he had a new device in his sound system. He said, “Check this out.” And he hit a play button. For a split second I thought, “Uh-oh, it’s not working.” But then…

Jack made sure to turn up the volume before he hit the button.

And within a split second or two, pow! Drums, bass, and synthesizers crashed through. And what made it so surprising was a complete lack of hiss. Something we were totally used to from listening to cassettes for years.

Yeah, CD’s had just come on the scene. And Jack, who enjoyed staying on top of technology, jumped on that bandwagon with a brand new player and several disks. As I recall, that first one I heard was Chicago 17. And the sound quality was so clear. It’s still amazing to me how much digital recording increased the quality of songs.

And I found out, yesterday, that ABBA was one of the first bands to record digitally and manufacture on CD. They did that with their last studio album called “The Visitors.” And as history would have it, that CD became their seventh number one album. In fact, it went to number one on this date, December 19th, in 1981.

Just a little before Jack was able to surprise my ears with his new CD player.

Of course, these days, you don’t need special, shiny disks anymore. Because we’re so fancy schmancy now, that we can send and receive songs right on our phones. Which is pretty darn cool.

But I just had a customer order almost a hundred printed CD’s from me this past week. And I gotta say…I still like the ability to own physical copies of music. Because that way software and hardware companies can’t simply remove them from you with the touch of a button.

And yeah, that has happened to me. So, I know it happens.

Anyway…just felt like sharing that little digital walk down the musical memory lane.

You may return to your regularly scheduled programming…uh, program…and turn up the volume.

Stay tuned,

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In 1982 I played a couple of times, for about a month each time, at a once famous barbecue restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. It was just me and my Helpinstill Roadmaster piano, my microphone, and a small sound system. And I hadn’t done the solo thing in a while, so I was nervous. But, as it turned out, the managers and staff really liked me. So, I had a short, but successful run. And one thing I remember is how Hall and Oates were big back then. And somebody made sure their current hit, Maneater, played during my breaks.

Oh, oh there she goes. Watch out boy, she’s a maneater.

Yeah, that was a number 1 song for Hall and Oates for four weeks. And they had a string of number ones. Five in a row at that point.

But that song was just one of the random and odd memories I have from my days at Jilly’s Barbecue. Because, as it turns out (and I definitely didn’t know then) Jilly’s was apparently a place for some, shall we say, less than legitimate bidness activities.

In fact, I just read an old article that said the “restaurant’s principals, who were franchising it, were later investigated for trafficking in marijuana and cocaine.” And the article also said, “Over the next decade and several apparently execution-style murders” the “feds” took the main owner to court and won a conviction.

And actually, I don’t doubt it.

Because I remember one incident, with a pretty young woman asking me to follow her to another room during one of my breaks. She said “everybody wants to meet you.” And as we arrived in the other room, she asked me if I’d like to “powder my nose.” I started to laugh, because, whether you believe this or not, I didn’t do cocaine. Never did drugs. I was just too darn boring for all that.

Anyway…suddenly I felt like I was in a video for the Maneater song.

I politely refused the “free buzz.” And quickly went back to the safety of my Helpinstill. For me, it was nothing short of bizarre.

But this was back in a time when Atlanta also had “To-Go” cups for your drinks. And not just fountain drinks. I mean your margaritas, martinis, and manhattans, too. My favorite was the MelonBall. But that’s another story.

So, the moral of this story is this…

Stay on the straight and the narrow.
Be a good chick or good dude
‘Cause you’ll save mucho dinero,
And you won’t get barbecued.

Stay tuned,

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I just read an article on Don Gibson, a songwriter from the 50’s and 60’s. And it said he sat down one hot, summer day, in 1958, and wrote two songs. “Oh Lonesome Me” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” And would you believe it? Those two very different love songs both became hits. In fact, Ray Charles recorded a version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You” that became the number 10 love song of all time. At least according to Billboard charts.

How about the other 9 of the top 10 love songs of all time?

Well, since you brought it up…OK. I’ll count ’em down like Dave Letterman’s top 10.

#9. This one’s a little hard for me to believe. But my taste doesn’t often sync up with mainstream. Anyway…you might remember a little group called Earth, Wind, and Fire. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter. Because this isn’t a song by them. Well sort of. But not completely. It’s a song co-written by Maurice White and Al McKay from EWF. And they wrote it specifically for the Hutchinson sisters.

Wait…who?

Yeah, the Hutchinson sisters. Better known as The Emotions. And their hit song was “Best of My Love.” And even if you weren’t born then, you’ve probably heard it. Because it’s been in movies. So, it’s too legit to quit.

#8. This is another surprise for me. It’s a song called “Because I Love You” by Stevie B. Apparently it was number 1 on the Hot 100 chart for 4 weeks back in 1990. And an interesting note…the songwriter, Warren Allen Brooks, said it’s actually a “spiritual song.” Of course, most listeners would never guess that. But he said “It’s really about me and God having a personal relationship.” Pretty cool that it was a hit for him.

#7. So, this one’s the third surprise in a row for me. “Let Me Love You” was a number 1 song for Mario for 9 weeks back in 2005. And I listened to a short clip. Yeesh. It’s one of those songs I call a crybaby boy song. But what do I know. It ain’t like any of my songs ever made the top 10.

#6. OK, now this one makes sense again. “I Will Always Love You.” And as far as I’m concerned, the Whitney Houston version is the only one we need. Nothing against Dolly Parton’s version. After all she had a hit with the song twice. But I’m not a country music fan. And Whitney’s powerful voice on this song is Grrrrreat!

We’re halfway…

#5. This one is a personal favorite. Because it was a tongue-in-cheek poke at love songs. “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney. And it’s a toe-tapping earworm I can hear even as I write this.

#4. You might have heard of a little movie from back in the 70’s that put John Travolta’s dance moves on the map. Saturday Night Fever. And the Bee Gees recorded 6 of the 17 songs for the movie soundtrack. “How Deep Is Your Love” ended up in the number 1 spot for 7 weeks in 1977.

#3. “We Found Love” by Rihanna is a robotic, electronic dance song. So, it’s weird, to me, that it’s this high up in the love songs category. But again, who am I to say? (just a guy who prefers a better quality music)

#2. Even though “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men was on the Hot 100 at No. 1 for 14 weeks, back in 1994, I still don’t like that it’s in the top 10 love songs of all time. Because it’s just another crybaby boy song. Dud.

And #1. I can’t believe I have to tell you this. But it’s “Endless Love” sung by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross. Now, I don’t have anything against either one of them. But there are so many other love songs out there that should have been…or could have been in the number 1 spot. And pretty much all the other spots for that matter.

Ok, I didn’t share all this chart topping music trivia just so I could be the next Casey Kasem (look it up).

No. I wanted to share something all these songs help prove.

Time.

Ever moving, never stopping, time.

Not timelessness. Because without time, none of those love songs would have any meaning. Especially when they refer to the passing of time just about all of the…well…time.

Particularly the number 1 song, Endless Love. Love couldn’t be endless if time didn’t exist. So, it would be a silly, even stupid, thing to write and sing about.

And you couldn’t put one note after another, which is what sheet music does by the way, if we existed in a constant state of timelessness. Matter of fact, sheet music even sets up a time signature. Three quarter. Four Four. Even Five Four when you’re in a band and you gotta take a break.

And because we exist in a constant flow of time, so does our Creator. Because in order for him to create us, He had to think one thought AFTER another. And He had to put one word AFTER another. And you can can’t put one thought or word or deed AFTER another if another thought or word or deed had not come BEFORE it.

Before and after. First and last. Beginning and ending.

Time moves on. And it waits for no one.
Days pass by. In the blink of an eye.
And before you can ask for some more
Start, today, looking for the one Way.

Stay tuned,

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In 1981 I joined a popular trio, in Atlanta, Georgia. They added me as their drummer, and all four of us sang. So, we had some nice 4 part harmonies. And I remember how their fans enjoyed our rendition of a song called “Leader of the Band.” Because the bass player, lead guitarist, and I played recorders, and sang backup, while the rhythm guitarist strummed guitar and sang lead. It was one of the quietest songs in our repertoire. And yet, it got some of the best audience response of any song in our list.

Since Leader of the Band was a hit for us, we added a couple more like it.

“Longer” and “A Place in the World for a Gambler” were other fan favorites. And I think it’s on his album where the songwriter described how he wrote “Longer.” He said, he was “lounging in a hammock one night and looking up at the stars. It just seems this song was drifting around the universe, saw me, and decided I’d give it a good home.”

My brother and I included it in our repertoire, when we were a full-time duo. And our audiences loved it, too. Yeah, a lot of people like that song. Many have had it played at their weddings. I know because I sang it in some.

But, here’s the thing…none of us wrote that song. (too bad)

The songwriter was Dan Fogelberg. And I’m a fan of a lot of his songs. But he’s not writing anymore because he died on this date, December 16, 2007 at the age of 56. Apparently he had been experiencing some health problems and, in 2004, he discovered he had advanced prostate cancer.

Dan’s story is yet another one that shows why it’s so important to know what’s important in life. Because no matter how successful you are…no matter how much money you make…no matter how …you’re still a temporary fixture here on good ol’ planet Earth.

But you’re not just a temporary minstrel.

You’re an eternal being from your birth onward. Created by the One whose past AND future are eternal. And He put that life in you. But here’s the key difference. God is the Creator. You and I are creations.

But the Creator loves His creation. And He wants you to live forever. Not just exist.

So, if you wanna live Longer than your current body will last, I suggest you follow the quintessential Leader of the Band. If you’re already following THE Leader, I look forward to some harmonious jam sessions.

Singin’ harmony through eternity
In a choir of voices God designed,
I hope you and I, in that endless sky,
Join the song of praise for the Mastermind.

Stay tuned,

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In the middle of the 1970’s I went to college. And like countless other freshmen, I went to orientation, found my dorm, and explored the campus. It was academically exciting to me. For a little while at least. But the idyllic luster faded pretty fast. And I needed an outlet for my frustration with “higher learning.” Fortunately, that outlet took the form of study room in the basement of my dorm. Or to be more precise, it was the upright piano in that room.

An upright piano, a spiral notebook, and some words and chord progressions

At that time, I was still a total newbie on the piano. And I had a long way to go before I’d be proficient enough to get paid to play. But I didn’t care about a music career. I was just in love with with music and my new-found way to express myself.

So, I’d take every free time opportunity I had to get the key to the basement room. And I’d head down there with my Bic pen and spiral notebook and songwriting ideas.

And for an hour (or more if no one else wanted the room) I’d tickle those ivories (and ebonies) to see what kind of musical laughter I could coax out of that upright piano. It was the beginning of a life-long love affair.

Speaking of love…

Like so many other aspiring songwriters, love played a big part in my song ideas. But I wasn’t down there writing love songs to a girlfriend. No, I wanted to write about all those things I saw in my head. Songs for the girl in the fog of a daydream. Songs about places I visited in my imagination. And songs about totally fictitious characters.

And, oh yeah, the minor keys.

I love the minor keys. Especially when they can be resolved into major…and back into minor again. I think that might come from my love for Beethoven’s music. But my favorite kind of song to write is one based in a minor key with an uplifting, positive message. And for anyone not familiar, music typically uses minor keys and chords to illustrate or signify the darker side of life. Major keys are usually for the upbeat parts.

But, I’m fine with going the traditional route, too. After all, I don’t wanna get locked into something. No artiste would ever allow that to happen.

Anyway…

Just in case you might get a kick out of seeing some of my work from those basement sessions, here’s…

Ann

The nights are long.
The skies are dark.
But I find my way…to her heart.
Her bedroom light
Is shining out
Onto my face…onto the ground.

Ann, Ann, Ann…dark and dreary.
Ann, Ann, Ann…sad and somber.
Why, why, why must you never see me?
Has someone else stolen you away?

Her shadow moves
Behind the window.
I fall to my knees…and I weep.
For I’m so close,
And yet so far.
Without her love…I’m so far.

Where would I be now,
If I had never loved?
If I had lived my life alone…
Where would I be now?

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. And I’m starting out with that sentence because, believe it or not, lots of Americans don’t know that. And a lot of other Americans must’ve forgotten about him. Because I’ve heard another, more recent name, mentioned as “the greatest president ever.” To that, I can only say, “Hardly.” And I’m writing about him, today, because he died 221 years ago on this date. 12/14/1799

George Washington was never on TV, radio, or internet.

But he still managed, somehow to become known as the “father of our country.”

So, he must’ve done something impressive. Right?

Well, he was a soldier in the colonial militia during the French and Indian War. And the Second Continental Congress made him Commander-in-Chief for the war of American independence from England. And that was a yuge responsibility, considering how this new army went up against the dominating armed force in the world.

After America gained independence from England, George was chosen to lead the Constitutional Convention to figure out what form of government to install. And, lo and behold, he was elected the first President. And he served two terms, which could have been three if he wanted. But he didn’t.

So, pretty impressive so far, yes?

But imagine starting out a brand new country. Those guys had to start out everything from scratch, so to speak. Because it was a brand new country. And they were working in a totally new government system. So, it wasn’t like they had a blueprint to follow.

And when you dig deeper into George Washington’s life, you discover the kind of man who would probably have no chance at all of getting elected President these days.

I’ll bet you didn’t know how young George, at the age of 14, transcribed a set of moral precepts, known as “Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation.” He didn’t make up the rules. But, by most accounts, he lived by the moral principles found in them.

And he learned to farm, tend to and raise livestock, and even survey well enough to be paid for it.

I doubt many, if any, politicians have such down-to-earth skills.

From what I’ve read, George was a Christian. But not necessarily a devout one. Even though he gave credit to God for his achievements in life. And when you consider how horses were shot out from under him and his uniforms had bullet holes, his survival might have had some divine intervention.

I’m no expert on President Washington’s life. But I CAN say, he’s one impressive example of how no modern day elected official can lay claim to “best President ever.”

Rest in peace Mr. Washington.
You helped give us a rising sun.
But now lies have been said and done,
And liberty is in its last run.

Stay tuned,

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Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be selfish? And how difficult it is to be merciful, kind, patient, and humble? And it all starts when you’re a little kid. Don’t believe me? Then, I’d say you either don’t have kids or you’ve never seen them together in a room full of toys. You’re more likely to see them pitch a fit than put on love. And that’s because selfishness is the most natural thing in the world.

In fact, I saw yet another example, in an almost endless parade of examples, of childish selfishness in a store yesterday. See if this sounds familiar…

Little kid, maybe 3 or 4, a young mom, and a shopping cart. Mom rolls the cart and the kid around the store. And there’s almost constant complaining and whining. And it the volume increases every few minutes. But the mom keeps quietly pleading with or bargaining with the little kid to stop.

Promises of treats. Promises of the fun things the kid will be able to do when they leave. But all the promises seem to make the little kid more determined to get his way.

And I’ll leave out the rest of the story. Because I’ll bet you can fill in the blanks since you’ve probably seen the same scene play out many times. Right? And yeah, it didn’t end well. For the mom or the kid.

You have to learn how to put on love.

Weird, right? But as awesome as love is, it doesn’t come to you naturally.

No, love has to be earned and learned. Because it’s like any other emotional gift. It goes against the grain of your flesh. Because your flesh wants what it wants. And it never gets enough.

So…thank God you’re not in this world alone. Or at least you don’t have to be. And even if you didn’t earn and learn love from your parents or other guardians, you can still put on love. You can still show mercy, kindness, humility, and forgiveness.

And you can learn how to do all that with wisdom, which you’ll need, in order to love without hypocrisy.

I know most of the people who read my articles and/or listen to my The Power of God’s Love Podcast already know most of this. But I also know some people tune in who never heard of Jesus. And His name just sounds like something “Bible thumpers” spout off to make people feel guilty.

But here’s the thing about guilt.

It can do wonders for your future when you acknowledge it. Because your future happiness can extend forever when you ask God to help you put on love and throw off selfishness. Don’t delay. Start today.

And I know most people don’t want this kind of love
From a God who can’t be seen from up above.
But I know you’ll change your mind when you decide
To trust the One who’ll heal your heart and live inside.

Stay tuned,

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When I was a kid, there was a saying…you might even call it sort of a motto. Cheaters Never Win and Winners Never Cheat. And if you got caught cheating, whether it was in sports, academics, or even snagging somebody’s #2 pencil, there was punishment. And even ridicule in front of the class sometimes.

Cheaters never win because they don’t achieve on their own merit or skills.

But, for some reason, that’s never stopped humans from cheating. And these days, adults do it in broad daylight. And they practically dare others to call them out on it. How did it get so bad?

Because these days, there’s no punishment. And certainly no shaming in public. Of course, even if a little public ridicule happens, cheaters don’t care. Because they know most of the public won’t care one way or the other.

For example, just this week, a man returned to a local grocery store, after he’d just left. And he reported to a manager that someone had busted out the window of his car. And it was parked right in front of the store. During the noon hour lunch time. Broad daylight.

(Side note: has anyone ever seen narrow daylight? And if so, could that ever be used for any examples?)

Anyway…

Of course, cheating is like a giant video game now. Because adults, especially adults in so-called positions of authority, play politics (to act for political or personal gain rather than from principle) in life. And they know if and when they’re caught, they know there’s a get out of jail free card waiting somewhere. Or a “new life” to help them start the game over.

But the game WILL be over one day. And scores will be added up.

And the scorekeeper won’t be some other cheater or committee of cheaters. Plus, the scorekeeper won’t be bribed, fooled, or manipulated in any way, shape, or form.

Because the scorekeeper will be the Creator of the game board.

And He’s able to see every move you make. Every breath you take. Yeah, He’s watching you.

So, whether you’re a worker bee in a small, local business…or even a so-called presidential candidate in America…you won’t win by cheating. In fact, you could lose much more than a popularity contest.

I know I don’t have to tell YOU this. But maybe you know somebody you should tell. Here’s a rhyme for them.

Well, if you’re fine with cheating, go ahead.
Just know that it will find you when you’re dead.
There’ll be a calculation that will add up to damnation
And you’ll hear these words, forever, in your head.

Stay tuned,

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You don’t need radiometric dating to discover the first rock-n-roll song to top the Billboard charts was written by a guy from the 1800’s. But you DO need to know how that’s even possible. And I’m here to share a little bit about it. Plus, I’ll show you how timing is everything.

But what’s radiometric dating got to do with rock-n-roll?

Well, patience my good bandmate. And I’ll clue you in.

First, let’s get back to that guy from the 1800’s who wrote the first Rock-n-Roll hit song. A little obscure tune called “Rock Around the Clock.” Ever heard of it? (Yeah, I’m too young, too…Greg)

Anyway…

But how could a Rock-n-Roll song be written by a guy from the 1800’s? Well, it was actually co-wrote…uh…written. By a guy named Max Freedman. And apparently he was a Philadelphia songwriter who was almost 60 years old when the song was written. That was in 1953. So, do the math. And Max would have been born somewhere around 1897-98.

Whoa…that’s like, crazy…man.

Yeah it is. But that’s got nuthin’ to do with radiometric dating. Or does it?

Well, the way my eccentric mind works, the two topics connect. Because radiometric dating is based on a clock that some so-called scientists conclockted…I mean concocted. And their clock is based on assumptions. Like they assume they know its initial settings. And they believe it has “operated at a known rate” and hasn’t ever changed.

And that last assumption is based on radioactive decay rates observed over the past hundred years or so. But to see that and then say decay rates for the past four and half billion years have been constant the same way is quite a stretch. But that’s what a lot of so-called scientists say. And many others never even bother to question it.

So, I recommend looking into what’s been going on in rock, around the clock (see what I did there?) for a few thousand years. And if you do, you’ll discover how our little blue planet’s radioactivity is a result of too much loud music played by garage bands all across America.

No, wait a minute.

I meant to say all that radioactivity is a result of strong electrical activity caused by a flood. But not just any flood. I’m talking about the flood they had to devise to make the Ten Commandments movie. No, wait. Go back further.

It was actually the flood that happened about 5000 years ago. Just a few days of hard rain that covered the entire planet. No big deal.

Unless you’re basing your whole dating system, to determine the age of the Earth, on uniformity. Then, it’s kind of a big deal.

So, to sum up…

The guy who wrote the first Rock-n-Roll hit song was old. But the Earth is not.

Is this a crazy world or what?
Some things are old and some are not.
But what still is true is God will love you,
If you accept the gift He bought.

Stay tuned,

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Apparently the idea of good vibrations dates all the way back to ancient Greece. A few years back I got on a whole body vibration machine. And I think those Greeks were on to something. Because, even though I didn’t try to count and see if my muscles contracted and relaxed 30 times each second, it sure felt like it. And that’s supposed to be really good for you.

And apparently there are other good vibrations, too.

I have it on very good authority that you and I give off vibrations. No, you don’t have to take my word for it. Because Brian Wilson’s mom told him about it many years ago. And since moms don’t lie…well, there you go.

Yeah, Mother Wilson told Brian that dogs could pick up on vibrations from people. And that’s why dogs bark a lot more at some people. Because they give off bad vibrations. So, you know what Brian did…right?

Uh-huh, he wrote the song, Good Vibrations, and it was a number 1 hit in 1966. In fact, it went to number 1 on December 10, 1966. Hey…that’s today (as I write this).

OK, I know it sounds like I’m poking fun. But can whole body vibration actually help build stronger muscles? Or increase bone mass, blood flow, and flexibility? And can that sort of therapy stimulate your lymphatic system? And how about decreasing cortisol levels? That would be a great thing. But does whole body vibration actually help?

Well, if you can believe what the Russians say about it, the answer is yes.

Because they noticed how astronauts (or would it be cosmonauts?) lost muscle tissue and bone density while they lived in the zero-gravity atmosphere of space. So, the Russian space program devised a way to use whole body vibration to simulate the weight of gravity.

After all, when you’re spying on American elections from several miles above Earth, you need strong bones and muscles.

Just kidding. (Or am I?)

Either way, keep this in mind as you go your own way, today.

If your body really does vibrate
In such a way that dogs and people know,
Make sure your vibrations go out good,
Connected to God’s loving afterglow.

Stay tuned,

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Journey with me, back to a time when masks weren’t required to…well…just about anything. Except maybe to rob a bank of convenience store. Back to a time when music and fire fused together for a hit song. And I didn’t care about it nearly as much as a particular objet du désir; or objeto del deseo. Or for those of you still wandering around in the world of English…object of desire.

Maybe Billy didn’t start the music and fire, but it still started.

And even though I’ve referenced it multiple times already, you still don’t know what in the world I’m talking about. Right? Exactly. Because I’m one of only two people in the world who would understand what I’m saying. But I’ll clear it up for you now. And tie it all together so you can say…what? I waited around for this?!

OK, back to the start. Journey with me back in time. All the way back to 1989.

Listen closely. Do you hear that hit song about music and fire? It’s playing on the radio, and the words are coming at you rapid fire. So, you gotta pay attention. And I’ll bet you still won’t get all the historical references flying past.

For example, here’s the first verse…if you wanna call it that.

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, “The King and I” and “The Catcher in the Rye”
Eisenhower, vaccine, England’s got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye

See what I mean?

And would you believe I was in a band that covered that song? Well, sort of. And for a little while. Because there are a ton of words in Billy Joel’s number 1 hit song from 1989, We Didn’t Start The Fire. So many, in fact, that we had to keep them in front of us on stage. I can’t imagine a song with that many words having even a remote chance of being a hit these days.

And rap doesn’t count. Because those aren’t lyrics.

Anyway…

Supposedly there are references to over a hundred headline events in that song. And they all took place between 1949, the year Billy Joel was born, and 1989. But I’m not gonna count to see. You can, if you want. But not me.

Because there was something else much more important, to me, about 1989. And it didn’t have anything to do with Mr. Joel. But it sort of relates because there was a fire of another color started.

And the fire of another color is more of the perpetual type. You can probably guess why I say so. But I’m gonna tell you anyway. That’s right. Because it’s the fire of love.

That fire was started all those years ago. And it still burns brightly. (Yeah, I used the adverb instead of adjective) It’s the kind of fire I don’t mind taking credit for helping to start. And it’s the kind of fire I can take with me wherever I go for now and forever.

And wherever you are today,
I hope you have your own fire,
A love that lingers far beyond
Just an object of desire.

Stay tuned,

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