Tag Archives: music

Interesting People and/or Good Music

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Let me introduce you to some interesting people I found in cyberspace after being told about them by others. Some of them have written many books, some of them lecture on You Tube, and some of them debate Stephen Hawking. If you haven’t heard of them perhaps these brief intros from the Internet will spark an interest in their teachings. As you can see, everything is at your discretion, even the music at the end.

Hugh Norman Ross (born July 24, 1945) is a Canadian astrophysicist, Christian apologist, and old Earth creationist.

Ross obtained his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Toronto[1][2][3] and his B.Sc. degree in physics from the University of British Columbia.[4] He is known for establishing his own ministry in 1986, called Reasons to Believe that promotes progressive and day-age forms of old Earth creationism. Ross accepts the scientific age of the earth and the scientific age of the universe, however he rejects unguided evolution andabiogenesis as explanations for the history and origin of life.[5][6][7]

Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., (born May 16, 1952) is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, and retired President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Many of Fr. Spitzer’s lectures can be found on You Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHCisnAVrWQAug 16, 2011 … This video is one I made from an MP3 download of Ravi Zacharias‘ talk called ” Ravi Answers Atheists”. He’s got his own channel at …

http://www.biography.com/people/stephen-hawking-9331710Follow the extraordinary life of Stephen Hawking on Biography.com. Learn more about his groundbreaking work and the effects of his affliction with ALS.

However, if these interesting people don’t interest you there is always good music.

 

Truth and Beauty in a Song

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Sometimes we have to truly seek out the truth of something in order to learn a lesson of great value. This holds true for the following song. There (in my opinion) is truth in every word and the words and truth paint a beautiful picture of life. This song was posted on Facebook this morning, followed by other fine words found in Ecclesiastes. Enjoy and learn.

From a Distance

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Okay, so I guess with the exception of those responsible for such an inhumane act as the recent chemical attack in Syria that killed over seventy people including children, the rest of the world is trying to digest this disgusting act of depravity. A recent Facebook comment was that someone would have to pay for this atrocity…and someone will. The victims died a horrible death…and for what?

In the meantime, here in our own country, people are killing each other daily with knives, guns, cars and stupidity if I may be so blunt as to say so…like the person seen driving and texting on the 401 highway a couple of weeks ago. I’m told that this is a common occurrence…a common occurrence? Why is that?

We, as a concerned people see these things going on and wonder what can be done about them. One thing we should not do is become complacent. When we see it we should act on it whether it is by writing a letter, making a phone call, or bringing awareness by other means…or stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for whatever infinitesimal part we may play in the unfolding of world chaos.

Whether we are witnessing and condoning by silence, or refusing to get involved, we are part of the problem if we continue to keep our distance.

Each time we turn our backs on family, ignore the helpless, pretend it’s okay to blame someone else for our own inadequacies, we are contributing to the atrocities of the world. You don’t think so? Just ask the One who is watching from a distance.

NGC 7293 The Helix Nebula (NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

https://youtu.be/LLPj2h0N3bU

 

When Will They Ever Learn?

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Peter, Paul, and Mary’s hit song of 1962, “Where Have all the Flowers Gone” came on my music channel today. It brought tears to my eyes realizing that in all these years we still haven’t learned.

We haven’t learned to stop the killing…killing of our fellow human and killing of our environment. We haven’t learned to forgive, or how not to carry a grudge. We haven’t learned to love unconditionally, to pray without ceasing. We haven’t learned to say “I’m sorry” and mean it, nor have we learned that doing nothing to reconcile a situation is the same as promoting war instead of peace.

Most people who write these kinds of songs are thinkers, and in their own way are reaching out to the world through their words. But is the world listening? When will we ever learn, oh, when will we ever learn?

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. Titus 3:1

On Top of the World

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Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola Admission Ticket, Whistler, null

A peak experience was experienced (really!) during my Christmas week in Whistler visiting family. It was the day we took the gondola peak to peak sight-seeing trip; the wonder of it all took my breath away…literally, at one point. There were twelve of us having lunch in a mountain-top restaurant. We enjoyed fabulous food, great fun, super scenery, and a wonderful togetherness before eight of our group went skiing down the mountainside and the other four, including yours truly, hopped the gondola for the peak experience of travelling from the top of Blackcomb mountain to the Whistler mountain peak. I had only soared above the clouds on airplanes up to that point. Words cannot describe the beauty of it all and it reminded me of the Carpenter’s 1972 hit “Top of the World” because it was my family’s love that put me there.

 

 

 

Beautiful People

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The world is full of beautiful people. Last Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to spend time with some of the most beautiful people I know. They are the epitome of caring, kindness, goodness, generosity, selflessness. Not a week goes by that these people are not expressing one or more of these attributes to someone, somewhere, at some time.

On that Wednesday evening, a friend and I were the recipients of this couple’s generosity. We were treated to dinner out and a concert featuring Handel’s “Messiah” which has been performed by many musical companies around the world. The only thing I really knew about the “Messiah” was the “Hallelujah” chorus, one of my favourite pieces of music.

In 1741 George Frideric Handel took something like fifty-two scriptures from the Holy Bible and put them to music, resulting in one of the most renowned musical compositions ever written. The work is breathtaking. Hallelujah!

Wednesday evening was bitterly cold and slippery but the warmth and concern of our benefactors made this a non-issue. I have never felt so warm and safe in such cold weather, despite the fact that I wore non-tread boots and no hat.

As I said, the world is full of beautiful people, and I am thankful to know these friends who inhabit my little corner of the world.

After experiencing the “Messiah” I have to include its composer George Frideric Handel in that group.

Life would be less beautiful without the composers of beautiful music and those who bless others with beautiful deeds. Thank you, God, for beautiful people.

 

 

 

Life and Times Trivia

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Life expectancy in 1937 was 59.7 years. A postage stamp was three cents, gasoline was ten cents a gallon and you could go to the movies for twenty-five cents. You could get a new car for $760.00 and a new house for $4,100.00.

Bread was nine cents a loaf, sugar was fifty-nine cents for ten pounds, and milk was fifty cents a gallon.

In sports, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup and Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup, and Ralph Guldahl was the U.S. Open Golf champion.

In the news LOOK magazine hit the newsstands, Amelia Earhart’s plane disappeared, Japan invaded China, and President Roosevelt outlawed marijuana.

Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey, and Bing Crosby were the music masters while in the movies A Star is Born and the Good Earth were hits and The Life of Emile Zola won an Academy Award.

Well, we all know what happened to the cost of living and the plight of marijuana. We also know that life expectancy is now eighty-plus years and I, for one, am happy about that. I was born in 1937.