my careless contagion

Warning! This is a long post but worth it. Before I begin, let me say a few words. No one knows who wrote this. I will explain what it means to me at the end.  Judge Gently  Pray don't find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road, unless you have worn the shoes he wears, or struggled beneath his load, there may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away from view, or the burden he bears, placed on your back, might cause you to stumble, too. Don't sneer at the man who's down today, unless you have felt the blow that caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know. You may be strong; but still the blows that were his, if dealt to you in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time, might cause you to stagger, too. Don't be too harsh with the man who sins, or pelt him with word or stone, unless you are sure, yea doubly sure, that you have no sins of your own; for you know, perhaps if the tempter's voice should whisper as softly to you as ...

Some big news is coming which I've been laboring over. Stay tuned. Hang onto your hats! I know, you wait with bated breath.  *** I knew a girl. She was made of something I had never seen. I wonder how many others knew her secret. Did they see what she was made of, or something else? Did they understand what they were looking at was rare and perfect and beautiful or did they see the package it came in, which was also quite compelling?  I knew she was made of something better. I always knew. I secretly admired her most of my life. The last few years it was out in the open. Maybe it scared her, knowing a man saw her that way, but it wasn't anything to fear. I was always the most harmless and gentle man, even more so with her. I never once meant her any harm. If she could have seen my heart, she would have known she could trust me.  She knew I saw her as precious and beautiful. I saw what God did in her heart. I loved her greatly. She cared how I saw her, and, unfortunately, ...

What's this, you say? Why, it is  Michael Card's The Ancient Faith Trilogy . Blogger won't let me post a video, so this is the best I can do. All the music I listened to in my life wasn't as satisfying as music about God. I like the old hymns the best, but this is good, too.  Each song tells a story. I love stories. I love the Word. Stories about the Word? Perfect. You realize after a while the greatest people in the Bible were just the same as you. Made of the same things. The only thing that set them apart was their obedience. That allowed God to do amazing things in their lives and the lives of others.  My life was hard. Harder than it should have been. I fought so many battles I lost count. The devil hates me, as he does all believers, but he seems to attack me relentlessly. There will be more battles. They will get worse. Eventually the enemy will kill me, but not before I get some good licks in. I'm not fighting my own battles. I do what God tells me. Though f...

Into the Unknown was released in 1983 as the band's second album. After a few seconds of listening, you'll notice something is wrong. This isn't the Bad Religion everyone knows. This album, which was seemingly recorded in one key, killed the band. Greg Hetson convinced the principal members to reunite and give it another go a few years after this album bombed. The band even took back all the copies. Even copies people made of the record. It was that embarrassing. No doubt all of those were trashed.  Why am I posting a full album of a doomed record? There is a lesson here. Listen to everything Bad Religion did after this and it's fairly cohesive. There isn't a lot of experimentation. This album taught the band that the audience dictates what a band plays. Even in punk rock where you can seemingly get away with anything. Hardcore music has rigorous standards, believe it or not.  No one has to listen to this. I have my own favorite songs. I think it's a fun album. ...

Let's go back to 1982 when I was 5 years old. Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran. This video is wild. Music videos were kind of a catastrophe back then, especially when they were trying to tell a story in less than 3 and a half minutes. But, this video got me thinking about something. Care to come along? Oh, you're hungry. Grab a bite to eat and then we'll start. First of all, when he says he smells like he sounds, what does that mean? Does he sound good? Does that mean he smells good? If he's a wolf, he may not smell good. Mouth is alive, with juices like wine? What? The lyrics are a dumpster fire. On the surface this song is about a man pursuing a woman for sex. But the lyrics don't really support that. It's like it's written in code we aren't meant to understand.  Since I'm sure everyone knows I'm crazy, I may as well be out with it. I'm reading a book called Monsters Among Us, and some of those monsters are canids, which are like werewol...

I wrote this to Cindy, and even though the context no longer exists, I made a public blunder so must apologize publicly. Thank you for letting me share in this space. It's very humbling to post this. A new post will be along shortly.  *** I wish to write you a better apology. My only request is you don't reply. Relax, I'm not asking to be in your life.  God pointed out specific times when I disrespected you. I apologize for those. God rebuked me thoroughly. I repent of my behavior. I think the worst were things God told both you and I that I tried to press through. It's one thing to chase a woman; quite another to disregard a clear boundary. This isn't the only thing God is dealing with me about. It was the thing that pushed me over the edge with a grotesque display of weakness. I am completely humbled. Humiliated, in fact. God is patient. I'm not asking for forgiveness from you. I don't deserve anything from you. I do not deserve to be your friend right now...