In a Lonely Place is one of Humphrey Bogart's most complex movies, this is no clean cut role for this dramatic actor. If anything it is a spell binding film where we do not know for sure where the truth lays and for that matter if for that matter if Dixon Steele (Bogart) knows what is true in his own life.
He goes from one extreme to another, one minute he is totally calm, compassionate and loving. The next he is filled with rage and anger, he is out of control. In todays world he could be diagnosed as bi polar or more classically multiple personality disorder.
He finds himself involved in a relationship with Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame) who begins her relationship as a script editor for a film that Hill is writing the screen play for. Over time they fall in love, but she is cautious because the police believe that Dixon Hill could be a murderer.
This false accusation causes every slight emotional reaction by Dixon Hill to convict him and cause everyone around him, including Laurel Gray who agrees to marry Dix just out of fear of how he would respond if she turned him down.
The ending is tragic and leaves you shaking your head and feeling pain in your heart. Keep an eye open for this on Movies TV Network.
STAR WARS The Clone Wars is a fast paced, computer animated series that in 22 minutes tells complex stories with great characterizations,story telling and rapid plot development. The special affects are stunning and you can not believe that an episode has ended.
The series was produced by Lucasfilm Animation and created by George Lucas, It premiered on the Cartoon Network in 2008. Disney obtained the rights and has produced The Final Season.
The series fills the void between The Rise of The Clones Episode 2 and what happens leading to Anikin's fall to the darkside in The Revenge of The Sith Episode 3.
We have the opportunity to see more deeply the struggle that was raging in Anakin,(Matt Lanter) how he was trying to train his Padawan Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) to be more in balance and yet she was learning some of Anakin's more dangerous habits.
We have the opportunity to see Anakin,Ahsoka,Obi Wan,Mace Windu and Senator Amadalla among others work independantly as well as mixed teams. Giving them a chance to develop much more deeply.
In an episode in season 3 Ahsoka and Padmae Anadaalla and Ahsoka go on a mission to meet with a friend of Padmae's who is a seperest,the enemy of the republic. Ahsoka sees first hand how similar the people of the Separiast are to those of the Republic. when they return at the end of this first part of a two part episode, Anakin warns Ahsoka she had gone too far and stepped over the line.
The episodes are complex and make one think about not just what is happening in the episode but how things in this world are not so black and white.
A Night in Casablanca came out in 1947, the film has Groucho Marx (Ronald Kornblow) is sent to take over the manager of the Hotel Casablanca where the previous three managers have all ended up being murdered mysteriously. Groucho (Kornblow) is unaware that one of his guests Count Pffermen is actually an ex Nazi war criminal Heinrich Stubel (played by Sig Rumen)
Stubel has been killing the managers of the hotel, so he can run it and find a way to take back the looted items he had hidden there. He plots Korblows death using his female aid Beatrice Reiner (Lisette Verea) to seduce Kornblow and arrange a manner for Kornblows death.
Kornblow survives and eventually he and Corbacho (Chico) and Rusty (Harpo) and Beatrice end up in Stubel's room where they steal the treasures from Stubel's luggage.
But this not the end. Instead there is still a dramatic chase and the final/// No you will have to see how this ends. View this movie at MOVIES TV Network.
This movie came out in 1959 and was an intense cliff hanger all the way through. Itarts when Vince Riker (played by Vince Edwards) breaks out of San Quentin prison, he has taken with him a canister he believes has Heroine in it that will make his wealthy when he sells it on the streets of Los Angeles.
In reality it contains a deadly radioactive substance that if opened could kill millions. Detective Mark Richards (I was so excited to find someone who had my name in a movie, the actor who played Detective Mark Richards was John Archer) begins a desperate search to bring Riker in before he endangers the city. Detective(Lieutenant) Richards has a limited amount of time to succeed.
This is an intense cat and mouse game, Riker had opened the canister and exposed himself and several others to the radioactive substance. so the clock is ticking, can Lieutenant Mark Richards find Vince Riker before time runs out? You will have to watch the movie to find out. Look for this on Movies Tv Network or on line.
Book Title: The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament by Debbie Johnson Category: Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +, 293 pages Genre: Memoir, Religious, Inspirational Publisher: Convenant Books Release date: 2019 Format available for review: print (USA & Canada) mobi (for Kindle) Tour dates: August 10 to August 28, 2020 Content Rating: G. No obscenity, violence, sexual content
“With the New Testament in one hand and Debbie’s guidebook in the other, you will experience the Christian journey to be an exciting venture–though not one for the fainthearted.”
I received a free copy of The Journey A Traveler's Companion by Debbie Johnson. This is my review.
Debbie Johnson takes us on a personal trek, for she has spent her life helping people to improve their lives through programs such as Denver Works and in mission work.
Over the past four years I have read a variety of inspirational texts by several authors; everyone from a variety of authors, each author has had their own unique style and means of presentation of the word or expressing their personal journey.
This book is one that the more I read, the more I got out of it. At first it felt sluggish and I struggled to read it. But I persevered and I am glad I did, for the more I read the more I gained.
The first thing I noticed was the way this book was put together. Debbie Johnson's technique is that of being on a hike through The New Testament. Like any good hiker her backpack has everything she needs including her Bible.
At the beginning of the section she will put the title of the Gospel/New Testament book . This will include the chapter and verses she is covering and a description of the focus in that chapter, and at the end she will state what the item in the backpack is. Each chapter and verse will give a different point to be meditated upon.
Johnson gives individual perspective on each book she covers, some points may be covered more than once, but each time a topic is covered it has a different aspect that is brought to life. Because of this I found out much more concerning the book I was reading and came to understand Jesus,or Paul or Peter in more depth than before.
An example of her technique follows. In Matthew Chapter 17, she discusses Mountain Top Experiences and Page 40 she describes this experience
"Real life is highs and lows, and boring times in between. A song by Jason Crabb says "You don't have to walk on water. It's how you walk on land." Sometimes we get Mountain Top Experiences , but most of the time we walk on the flatlands."
Debbie Johnson's closing statement to this chapter shows how she grounds what was the message of the chapter.
"Maybe our task is to keep the Mountain Vision alive in our daily walks through the flats and valleys."
Johnson uses powerful imagery to draw you into The New Testament and to get value from the books contained with in, by letting you see how this is relevant to us here and now.
Because of how Johnson wrote The Journey, A companion's guide to The New Testament and the impact that the book has had on my understanding of those in The New Testament, I give this book
4 Stars and can hardly wait to read Debbie Johnson's next book!
About the Author Debbie Johnson is the author of two previous books, A Pocketful of Seeds and Lessons Learned from the Bottom of the Stairs: A Story of Faith and Resilience with Randy Milliken. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University (BME, MME) and has done graduate work in social work at the University of Denver. In 1995, she founded DenverWorks to equip the unemployed in her community. She led the organization for ten years before engaging in international ministry, first as the vice president of Programs at the Dalit Freedom Network and then as executive director of India Transformed. She grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Today she and her husband live on a farm in Colorado with two dogs and a bunch of chickens.
The China Syndrome was a dramatic movie that came out in 1979. It was a film that was timely because twelve days prio to its premier the Three Mile incident in Pennsylvania took place.
In the movie Jack Lemon (Jack Godell) discovers that there are dangers at the nuclear power plant that are being ignored by those in power, he goes to the press to reveal this and Jane Fonda (reporter Kimberly Wells) and a bearded Michael Douglas (as cameraman Richard Adams) eventually come to the plant to interview Godell.
All the time the powers that control the station are working to keep the interview from happening.
The tension continues to mount and it comes to an ending that has to be seen, I will not give it away.
Jack Lemon is powerful as a man who is forced to take the action he does, he has found that their is a leak of nuclear waste at the base of a pump, he brings this evidence to the managers and they say that the issue was dealt with. Lemon trys to prove that the situation is current.
Fonda and Douglas confront Lemmon at his home, he speaks his concern and they tell him he should testify at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerning his concerns.
Before Lemon can do so he is pursued and he takes refuge at the plant where the final conflict takes place. As I said before I will not give away the ending .
I have had the opportunity to see one of the most amazing television series over the last two weeks.
The series is The Mandalorian a Disney Plus produced series, based on the STAR WARS legacy created by George Lucas.
This series is set in the time between The Return of the Jedi and before the time of The Force Awakens.
The Mandalorian is a bounty hunter who works for the guild, an agency through which people can contract the service for a bounty hunter with no questions asked.
His assignment is to capture a life form known only as the child.
He succeeds but soon after becomes protective of his quarry. Over 8 episodes we see the Mandalorian become involved in a variery of situations from dealing with hunter droids trying to reclaim the Child, a gun fighter out to make a name for himself, as well as conflicts with surviving elements of the Empire.
The Empire may have been defeated at Endor, but regiments remain and try to vie for power in areas of the galaxy.
The Mandalorian in the final episode discovers that his passenger aka the Child could be a Jedi, the sworn enemy of the Mandalorians.
What will happen, we will have to wait til October to find out, when the adventure continues...
For those unaware there is a free movie network called MOVIES tv network which airs a wide variety of movies from musicals,dramas to horror among its' wide variety. This past month I have had a chance to take in several of their movies and I thought I would share my reviews of these movies. First up is David and Lisa, a movie that starred a younger Keir Dullea as David and a young Janet Margolin as Lisa. The movie premiered December 26th 1962 and was a film about two troubled teens in a system that seemed distant and illusive in being able to understand them, much less be able to help treat them. David has a fear of being touched, he is convinced if he is touched that he will die, he also has a fear of time. He comes from a upper class family with a mother (played by Neva Patterson) who thinks his problem can be cured by more advanced teachers, she sees him as someone with great potential but really knows nothing of her son. His father (Richard McMurray) is a milktoast, a man who hardly knows himself and does not know how to really communicate with his son. He makes himself available to David but has really no idea how to reach his son. Because of this envinroment we understand why David feels so terrified to any sense of touch much less intimacy. Lisa Bowen on the other hand at first is silent, not willing to speak at all. She writes a note to David asking him to play. A complex and compelling relationship begins and we see two people trapped inside their walls beginning to come together. Lisa has an alternate personality, one who is appreciative of art (Melanie) and Lisa who when she communicates it is all in rhyme. David begins to rhyme with her and they begin to trust. I could easily give away the ending but I will not spoil it. The film was an independently produced film and was not a box office block buster, but it set a style that was different and saw people with mental issues in a very different manner. It was also a movie based on case records of people who inspired these characters. It is well worth watching and adding to your collection of movies
Well hello once again, I think I'm finally back on track again.
Today I'm only doing two letters because because I don't feel I need to do more than two right now because I am pretty much caught up for this week.
So let's begin today we start off with the letter M.
M is for.
Barry Manilow.
Barry Manilow released his first record in 1973, his music has been pop music soft rock with occasional big band music.
One of his first hit pieces of music what is was The Ballad Mandy, which which follows.
M is for
Glenn Miller.
Glenn Miller was a composer arranger ,and band leader.
He was born in 1904 and died in 1944 at the age of 40. He began his musical career in the 1920s as an arranger for other big band leaders.
He began his recording career in 1937 however his first band (s) were not successful but by 1938 he had finally put together a group of musicians that founded is big band that lasted until 1942.
In 1942 Glenn Miller join the United States Army Air corps and formed a band and in December of 1944 he was in transit to Europe to lead his band in a Christmas concert when when his plane vanished while crossing the English Channel.
In singles he had 63 top 10 recordings more more send Elvis Presley or the Beatles.
In the mood was one of his most popular recordings and follows.
M is for Montovani.
Mantovani was born in Italy by the time he was twelve he and his family moved to London
Eventually he formed his own Orchestra and created his own style of music. In 1959 he had 39 episodes all the television program that had been recorded recorded in England aired in the United States.
He was very successful with his orchestra and recordings through the 1970s.
He died in a care center in England it 1980.
What follows is one of mantovani Arrangements of a popular piece of the 1960s the song is titled simply More.
N is for
Rick(y) Nelson.
Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and was it popular rock singer he started his own career as a rock and roll country singer in 1957.
In the early 1960s he dropped the Y from his last name and just went by Rick Nelson.
His last successful song came out in 1973 called Garden Party
By 1973 his career was over he was not able to have a following because he was no longer able to draw an audience.
One piece more unique songs with one that came out in 1971 it was titled thank you Lord. See above for video.
N is for Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson began his professional career as a singer in 1958 in his early days he performed conventional country
In 1973 Willie Nelson joined up joined with other artists in outlaw country movement, these artists were performing music but was in many ways a form of protest of the standardization of conventional country music that was being mass-produced with a cookie cutter pattern and no true original format.
Here is one of Willie Nelson's veteran-known song
Let it be me
Nena. Outlaw
Nena is the stage name of a German singer who came to prominence is 1983 what's the song titled 99 Luft balloons.
He recorded the song in English with the title of 99 Red Balloons.
The song was a huge success both in Europe and in the United States.
Nena is still active at this time writing and singing.
I am back and today it's only been less than the day between my post so that's a good thing!
Today I'm doing I through L
I is for
Billy Idol was one of the most well-known pop rock singers who came out in the 1980s he had many number one hits including Rebel Yell Eyes Without a face and White Wedding.
Here is one of his lesser-known songs It's so cruel.
J is for Joel
Billy Joel has been one of the longest most successful Rock and pop singers since he began singing in the 1970s and has had several successful albums from the very beginning which include
Piano Man, Turn Style and later hits such as 52nd Street River of Dreams has kept him on the charts.
No one expected that he would still be performing and recording at in 2020.
One of his most beautiful and romantic songs he he ever wrote and continues to perform to this day is the standard
Just the Way You Are.
J is for George Jones
George Jones was a popular country music performer who started his career in 1953 and was still on the charts until his hospitalization in death in 2013.
One of his most popular songs was Kiss an Angel Good Morning.
K is for Kalapana
Kalapana is a group that was formed in 1973 and it still performing today in the Hawaiian Islands and other parts of the world.
They are a pop rock group whose music is definenned by their Hawaiian heritage.
One of their first major hits was their song titled What do I do which which follows
L is for Liszt.
Franz Liszt was a Pianist and composer who lived from 1811 until 1866, in 65 years he was able to write a variety of music. One of his most famoush composition were the Hungarian rhapsodies
So sorry for the delay in posting, but posting, but I've really been under the weather for the last week.
So here I am Sunday morning trying once again trying to get caught up.
So E is for Edward Kennedy Ellington AKA Duke.
Duke Ellington from 1922 was a composer a Pianist and leader of his own Orchestra.
He was tremendously successful with various composition such as Moon indigo It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing and take the age rating among others.
In 1971 he released an album titled afro-eurasian eclipse, the overall thought behind the title was that the the world was beginning to move towards more of an Asian mindset and that all of our individual aspects would end up being absorbed into more of an Asian Eurasian construct.
Ellington released the studio album of the same title afro-eurasian eclipse the reflected this belief through the tracks of music it was a a suite in 8 parts
One track off the album is called didgeridoo.
E is also for Enya
Enya is a Celtic singer who had been a member of the Celtic folk group Clannad
She wants solo and has produced 42 albums on her own.
Her music reflects both her Irish heritage and her ability to also sing in English as well, besides singing she also plays piano and also things without accompaniment.
One of the most beautiful songs that she has recorded is evening Falls. Hope you enjoy.
F is for
Pink Floyd Has been one of the most Progressive rock bands in England, with a combination of their stage performances that are anything but normal, the powerful music that they have done throughout the years each time challenging their listeners more and at the same time challenging the BBC in in regards to how much further they can push against the wall.
Although this song doesn't fit the alphabetical pattern but I've been using his perhaps one of pink Floyds most powerful songs of last several years the song is on the Turning Away and it cameand it came out on their album a momentary lapse of reason in 1987.
This song since the late 1990s and even more correctly from 2016 onward has become an Anthem for me because of my own personal experience having been homeless.
G is for...
Gateway music, Gateway music is a group who performs at Gateway Church in Dallas Texas.
They sing contemporary Christian music and have recorded and numerous albums under their title.
Dean contemporary Christian group gateway's music is always upbeat and positive.
here is one of the more recent songs titled greater than
I
H is for
George frideric Handel.
Handel was born in Germany in 1685. By 1705 he was living in Italy em had composed 3 operas.
By the time does Handel was 25 years old 1715 he living in London and was part of the Royal Academy of Music. In 1727 Handel broke away and formed his phone Academy which was the new Royal Academy of Music.
He composed several well-known pieces his most famous being that of the Messiah he also wrote The Royal the Royal fireworks music.
Hello my my name is Mark Paul Richards and it's been awhile since I've posted here on Blogger.
The last time I posted this was a couple years ago and I focused only on Christian music.
What I'm going to do this time for the A to Z challenge is to list some of my favorite music of all genres and all my favorite groups
Since I'm poor days behind I will combine a through d on this one page.
So let's begin
A is for
Abba: .This group from Sweden had a a series available rooms in the early 1970s and the music was featured in the motion picture Mamma Mia .
Abba had several songs that begin with the letter A, one I am choosing is the song titled as good as new oh, that one of their better known pieces
The group began in 1972 and broke up in 198.
There is good news however for the last 2 years the group has been reunited and is currently doing concert tours once again.
So keep your eyes open you may be able to see Abba in concert.
check your local Ticketmaster for more information on concert information for Abba.
B ia for
Ludwig van Beethoven
I have always loved classical music and Ludwig van Beethoven was always one of my favorite composers.
Beethoven was able to write nine symphonies in his life the last a witch the 9th Symphony the Ode to Joy he was deaf by the time he completed composing the peace and yet he completed it .
Beethoven Lives only fifty-seven years and yet besides riding the nine Symphonies he's best known for he wrote 38 to piano sonatas including his most famous the Moonlight Sonata, one Opera and several other works.
Beethoven's music influenced other composers of his time and has an impact on contemporary thematic pieces of Music in Motion Pictures today.
C is for
Casting Crowns contemporary Christian
Casting Crowns started off as a student worship band in Daytona Florida in 1999 its original leader Mark Hall was a youth pastor at the time.
Thei music is continue to evolve. Weather most recent popular songs is only Jesus.
One of the most powerful songs in in the past several years is one called courageous and this song will will get you up on your feet and you will get up on your feet and feel like dancing to the power of this song it is so remarkable
D is for
John Denver country and pop music
John Denver was the stage name a John Henry Dutchendorf Junior he was a military brat his father was in the Air Force and he began his singing career with many other groups including the new Christy minstrels, and the Starland Vocal Band among others
Altogether he recorded over 300 songs of which he wrote at least 200 of those.
He had many number one hits and he also was a poet laureate as well as a humanitarian and an an activist
The song I am listing here is titled Dreamland Express
Sources are from Wikipedia and from the official Casting crowns website.
In 1978 a TV series premiered starring Robert Urich in the series was titled Vegas.
The original cast included Judy Stevens as sergeant Bella Archer of the Metropolitan Police Department in the first Season her character was a major player in the stories and was always giving Dan Tanna (Utich) ,
him information concerning the case that Tanna was investigating.
After season 1 her character was played down tremendously and and she became a background character primarily.
Julie Landers played the character of Angie Turner this character was very much a ditz who ended up causing more problems then being able to help.
At times her character was Dan Tanna's secretary and sometimes she was a showgirl. Her character was phased out at the end of season one because you did not add anything to the series.
Tony Curtis was Philip Roth an an owner of the major casinos, again he was a major player in the series in the first season and he was once again made a background character or supporting character in The Following seasons.
Phyllis Davis play the part of Beatrice Travis who in the beginning other series was still a director of the show Girls at the Dunes Casino which was the primary setting for some of the action in the first season.
By season 2 Beatrice's character became Dan Tanna's secretary And her character became less intelligent and more of the background woman in danger character.
Greg Morris Lieutenant David Nelson, became the principal character at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Unlike Bella's character in season 1 David Nelson was more of a concerned friend and supervisor to some degree, in many ways he had a similar personality to the character Barney Cauler I'm Mission Impossible.
The storyline
In season 1 many of the episodes spoke to issues such as sex trafficking and rape among others.
The first season was so different from what Vegas became, after season 1 the series became a typical detective series, with the standard type of detective episodes it appeared on every other detective series such is Dan Tanna having to stop an assassination of someone to be killed at a secret conference concerning the impact of change at one of Roth's casino's.
When Vegas went off the air in 1981 the title was still there and some of the actors are still there but in all honesty it it wasn't the same series.
What started off as a interesting powerful and dramatic series it ended as just one more detective series on the air.
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. These two verses sum up the totality of the Gospels and in the simplest manner express that we are to "Do unto others as we would want them to do for us." Clearly we are meant to help each other with the burdens that we bear. Paul does warn us to be cautious when it comes to helping one who is struggling because we could be tempted into the issue that our brother or sister is struggling with. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
Verse 3 reminds us to be cautious not to believe that we are more than what and who we are. We may be called to helping those in need but if we elevate ourselves to the level of Jesus we are deceiving ourselves. We may be able to do healing greater than he, but we are not and never will be him. Illusions will lead us into false sense of power. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. Verse 7 and 8 are simple reminders that our actions determine our outcome. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Paul reminds us again in Verse 9 and 10 that we need to stay focused on doing good for all, including those who are part of the family [body/church] and not to be worn down by doing good. Verses 11 through 18 is a restatement of points Paul addressed in Chapter 4 in detail and again in Chapter 5. Like any teacher he is making a final statement about how we are to not allow those in the flesh, ways of the world to influence us and try to lead us away from the transformation of our baptism in Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross which set us free from the sins of the world.
In Chapter 4 Paul explains about how people by being under the law are in a manner being slaves and tied to the laws of Israel.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Paul once again is speaking to people who are torn between custom, tradition, ritual and obedience to the Law as they have known it.
There is a sense of fear by these new followers of Jesus, what if they offend God by not following through with a tradition that has been part of their lives forever. Paul explains that it is not the law that matters, it is the fact that one lives in the presence of Faith through God's grace, his eternal love that is more powerful than a ritual. Starting in Verse 13 Paul begins to speak on one of the most important aspects of living in the presence of Jesus. He talks of how we are to live through the Spirit and not by the Flest aka the ways of the world. Verses 13 and 14 give the example of how we are to live. 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b Paul then gives us a list we should memorize, this list illustrates what we should not do. The list is very interesting if you take the time to read it and consider it, I will come back to this after listing The Acts of the Flesh. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; C19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.orgies, and the like. If we pay attention to this list, all the things mentioned are what we consider in one for or another as normal and to some degree acceptable behavior in our society. hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, are aspects many of do not even think about, we act in these manners without consideration. These are part of our day to day existence in one form or another. We are raised in a society where selfish ambition is not even thought of as being wrong, it is as it is. We live in a society today where dissensions factions and hatred are normal behavior. We do not talk things through, we build barriers based on differences and form factions. Envy is common, I see a neighbor with a car or a spouse or house that is better than mine and I envy them for their possessions. Society is structured on these things. Tare each other down, do not trust, think only of my own needs and desires. Maintain things as they have been since the beginning of time. Here is what Paul states should be our guidelines in society.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Granted these are in no way simple things to do on a daily basis, but they are also in some cases completely different from what we may think they mean.
Love, is not Sex. Sex can be an expression of love but they are not the same thing.
Love in this regard is acceptance of people, no matter how different that they may be from us. Not judging one and other and being open to helping one and other in times of difficulty,
What is Joy? It is a sense of feeling good because of what we are doing, it is not based on a person or success in being wealthy. Joseph Campbell said it best when he was being interviewed by Bill Moyers back in the early 1980's.
Campbell said that Joy comes from "When we are following our bliss." He went onto explain that this comes from when we find contentment in what we are doing, not because we are paid a million dollars, but because what we do brings us joy it brings us a sense of peace.
Peace is a sense of calmness, the ability to be calm no matter how bad the circumstances around us may be.
Forbearance. To forgive one of a debt or action.
Kindness,Goodness and Gentleness are all related concepts.
Kindness instead of being rash and judgmental we are kind, we treat all people with tenderness and respect.
Goodness acting and thinking in a positive and uplifting manner, bringing out the best in ourselves and in others.
Gentleness again being kind, considerate, compassionate tender. Treating one and other as we would like to be treated.
Faithfulness not to betray a trust whenter in a personal or business relationship. To not give into temptation to abandon or harm another.
Self Control. Not allowing oneself to give into anger or rage or selfish desires. To be calm and to be focused on a positive result.
These are what we need to focus on, when we do we change the focus of others, who in turn do the same. Over time this collective process transforms us and our world to a place of endless possibilities and potential because we work toward the positive the uplifting of one and other and let go of the negative and destructive aspects we have allowed to control the world for over two thousand years.
