Scripture

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world,and forfeit his soul?

~Mark 8:36, NLT

Quote

True joy cannot be found aside from Jesus Christ and His will for your life.

~Charles R. Erdman

I had the grave side Sunday of one of my sisters friends. They ran together some when they were teenagers. She was 78 and a huge Elvis fan. She had requested that they play Elvis singing I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE. I am not an Elvis fan nor the son of an Elvis fan, but the boy could sing gospel music. I sat there spell bound: it was the apex of the service. What an incredible gift he had in singing the old hymns. My daughter, a generation below, loves Elvis singing gospel. She wants them to play THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE VALLEY at her COLS.

What I want to share with you today is the thought I had as I listened to this tragic rock star sing last Sunday: he didn’t have to be a rock star. He wasted a life in pursuit of fame, which of course he acquired; I don’t know any celebrity more famous, but he could have made a fortune singing gospel music and would not have had to sell his soul to god of entertainment. You may be thinking, “He made more money quicker in the secular world of entertainment.” Of course, you are right but he was unhappy. I don’t think he had peace. In my opinion, his story is as sad as they come.

My oldest sister who has departed this world would not agree with me. She seen nothing wrong with anything Elvis did. He was a saint as far as she was concerned and a committed Christian. I am sorry folks, but singing gospel music doesn’t make us Christians. Elvis may have been a Christian but singing gospel music didn’t make him one. I am not passing judgment on Elvis or anyone else, but I can’t help but wonder what his life would have been like if he had turned his back on the world of entertainment and pursued a career in gospel music. He was very gifted folks, and I think he would have made it; plus I think he would have been happy doing it. All you Elvis fans, which songs do you listen to? The gospel song…right!

One aside before I close. June was always a Statler Brothers fan and we have a friend at Danville who was a fan: those two got together and planned a trip to a Statler concert in Huntsville. They didn’t tell me about it until they had it planned, but that is another story. I went reluctantly; the bribe was they carried me by Shoney’s where they had an all you can eat shrimp special. The concert was OK; I actually enjoyed it but was totally unprepared for what happened at the end. The leader said to the audience, “We cut our teeth on gospel music and we are going to close with a gospel song“…they did and the place went nuts. They got a standing O and folks would not stop clapping until they sang a couple more. I was thinking, “What on earth are you nuts doing, sing the gospel music, that is what your audience wants to hear.” I do like the one they sing that goes like this, “I’ll go to my grave saying ‘yes dear.'”

 

Extra

On the eve of 9/11 we have another tragedy: it is heart breaking to think that Charlie Kirk, one of the most beloved figures in our culture was maliciously gunned down in the public square while he was defending our faith and sharing Jesus with college students. We spend millions every year giving Bill Clinton security but Charlie Kirk had none. Who would want to kill Clinton, the left adores him and the right wouldn’t waste a bullet on the worthless bum. I hope they find the murderer today and I pray that he and the boy who murdered the girl on the subway train get justice speedily. Capital punishment is the only deterrent to violent crime. I also think the judge who released the violent young black man should be sentenced as an accessory to murder. Our prayers go out to the family and freinds of Charlie Kirk.

I know I am forgetting something but I am going to post since I am running late. Perry Smith did get to come home. Have not heard from Jan Fields. I think JD may be going down today. Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

In Memory of Charlie Kirk

{Seth, our grandson and Marine, sent this: I like it. All our grandsons were Charlie Kirk fans}

Give it a little time, it will grab you….