Stormy Weather

What a difference a day makes. And I ain't talking about Dinah Washington's hit song. Rather, I am in the mood of singing Lena Horne's "Stormy Weather."

A warm and sunny weekend has turned into a wet and stormy Monday. The wind is blowing over 40 MPH rain storm as of this writing. The electricity went out for about an hour. It just came back on few moments ago.

Chariot of Fire

Jerusalem

William Blake (poem)
Sir Charles Hubert H. Parry (setting)

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.


Today is Hubert Parry's birthday (1848-1918).
Click on the link below and listen to Parry's setting of William Blake's poem:

MP3 Selection Expired on 03-01-2006:

Parry and Blake: "Jerusalem"
This piece of music was of the soundtrack in the 1981 Best Picture Oscar, "Chariot of Fire", wherein the Olympian runner and pre-missionary to China, Eric Liddell, was featured.

The Question

Answer: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29, KJV).

Question: What is God's message to man and the theme of the New Testament?

Can You Handel It?

Today is George Frideric Handel's birthday.

MP3 Selection Expired on 02-27-2006:
Jacques Loussier Trio (Jazz): Largo (from Handel's Xerxes)

Almond Orchards in Bloom

There are fewer and fewer of these orchards along State Route 99 of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Valley. Farms and orchards are being sold for commercial developments and wireless trasmitters. These vanishing landmarks call to mind the similar demise at Seine-et-Marne countryside in Nancy Mitford's book, "Don't Tell Alfred (1960)":

"I love this country so much, but now it makes me feel sad to come here. We must look at it with all our eyes because in ten years' time it will be utterly different...no more stooks of corn or heaps of manure... no more horses and cart... Last time I came along this road it was bordered by apple trees--look, you can see the stumps. Some admirer of Bernard Buffet has put up these telegraph poles instead."

Younger Than Springtime - Peach Blossoms

Peach Blossoms, 20 February, 2006, 1249 hours PST
The flowers and trees know when spring is near, cold front or not.
These are young (early) peach blossoms in the sense they arrived before the impending spring.

MP3 Selection Expired on 02-23-2006:
Norman Luboff Choir: Younger Than Springtime (Rodgers & Hammerstein)

On This Presidents Day

"What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ."

--George Washington in a speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779.


"What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength of our gallant and disciplined army. These are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, every where. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors."

--Abraham Lincoln, From the September 11, 1858 Speech at Edwardsville

The Fat Lady Is Nowhere To Be Seen

I can see it now, Sgt. Preston rolls his eyes, and Yukon King gives a bark or two at us for whining about a Canadian cold front blew in this week. At this writing, the outdoor temperture is 47°F/8°C. It really puts a damper on things.

My prediction of a warming trend and short winter was greatly exaggerated. Now the fat lady is nowhere to be seen, let alone for her to sing to finale aria. No curtains for old man winter just yet.

The Nicene Creed

Pastor Steve has begun a sermon series on the Book of John. It's an introduction and refresher course for the new and old members of the congregation. For these past three Sunday worship service, we've been reciting The Nicene Creed before the proclamation of the message.

The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
      the Father, the Almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth,
      of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
      the only Son of God,
      eternally begotten of the Father,
      God from God, Light from Light,
      true God from true God,
      begotten, not made,
      of one Being with the Father;
      through Him all things were made.

For us and our salvation
      He came down from heaven,
      was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
      and became truly human.
      For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
      He suffered death and was buried.
      On the third day He rose again
      in accordance with the Scriptures;
      He ascended into heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
      He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
      and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
      Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
      Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
      Who has spoken through the prophets.
      We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
      We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
      We look for the resurrection of the dead,
      And the life of the world to come. 

Amen. 
 

Have Palm, Will Read

Mrs. Heacock received a Palm PDA as a birthday present from her husband. As a matter of course, I am making a bunch of e-books for her to read on the Palm.

She is a much disciplined reader than I. Mrs. Heacock will read and finish one book at a time, irrespective of the book form. I, on the other hand, has succumbed to the convenience of the PDA technology. I flit from one book to another. It's typical of my not finishing one book before starting another.

A CHP Officer Died in the Line of Duty

On Friday morning, a CHP (California Highway Patrol) officer was shot and killed when he made a routine traffic stop on State Route 99. The incident happened in the vicinity of the Ripon CHP office at around 0430 hours. The highway was closed for many hours.

Many commuters and I driving north on the state route were delayed for several hours. Many had to find alternate route. I had to make three different highway connections to get back to the agency. A sad day indeed.

This latest officer shooting made it five in five months. Madness. Senseless. More evidence of a disintegrating society in an increasingly Godless, anti-Christian culture.

My heart and prayer went out the young widow and child of the slain officer, and to the CHP community.

The suspect and a material witness were taken into custody on the same Friday afternoon.

Eternal Encouragement

Thank you for taking the time to write about your grandmother's mastectomy. It's very thoughtful of you to share this news. Give her a hug and a kiss for me. I have put her on the church prayer list.

Please also extend a warm hello to your grandfather, Gene. He likes unsalted pistachios. Ask him if he wants some more. I'll send some to him. And you, what would you like ans sundreis and snacks go?

I have slated to have some flowers delivered to Zula at the address at Unity Acres Lane on next Wednesday, 22 February. The on-line floral delivery said the suffiix should be "Road", not "Lane". Since grandma knows best, I decided to use what she wrote on the Chrstmas card return address. She wrote "Lane" as the suffix. Please send me the exact address for verification. If needed, I will inform the floral shop before the scheduled delivery.

As Christians, we are comforted knowing our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us, and by his grace, has given us eternal encouragement and good hope in all things.

Until next time.

Salut D'Amour

Passionnément

Je t'aime...passionnément
au delà de toutes limites,
au delà de l'absolu...
Mon coeur est devenu un volcan
qui s'embrase et ne brûle que pour toi
A tout l'univers
je voudrais clamer ton nom, et dire, et redire:
Je t'aime! Je t'aime! c'est fou!
Quand tu es pès de moi
la terre entière me paraît mille fois plus belle
les fleurs, le ruisseau, la couleur du ciel
mes yeux sont éblouis...tu es là!
Pour toi je construirai un paradis sur le terre
où tu seras reine, ù je serai roi
Pour toi, j'irai cueillir une fleur de lune
tout là-haut, chez mon ami Pierrot
et pour te faire rêver
je te raconterai le secret des étoiles.
Tu es la boussole de mon coeur
Sans toi, mon coeur se perd
Sans toi, j'ai tout perdu.

Auteur Inconnu

MP3 Selection Expired on 02-20-2006: Salut d'amour, Op. 12 (Elgar)

More Juicyfruiter Spammer Update

As of today, this phony park ranger has changed her/his M.O. No more park ranger stuff. Now (s)he is talking her breastfeeding??? a baby. AND (s)he has couple of porn site links.

Folks, you have been warned.

The Fat Lady is About to Sing

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, and apropos of the promised spring, Richard Strauss' "Woman Without A Shadow" comes to mind. It's time we put this winter's tale to rest.

Laura

MP3 Selection Expired on 02-14-2006: Dick Haymes (1944): Laura

LAURA
"Laura (1944)"

Artist:Dick Haymes (1944)
Words: Johnny Mercer
Music: David Raskin.

Laura is the face in the misty light
Footsteps that you hear down the hall
The laugh that floats on a summer's night
That you can never quite recall
And you see Laura on a train
That is passing through
Those eyes how familiar they seem
She gave your very first kiss to you
That was Laura but she's only a dream

(Interlude)

The laugh that floats on a summer's night
That you can never quite recall
And you see Laura on a train
That is passing through
Those eyes how familiar they seem
She gave your very first kiss to you
That was Laura but she's only a dream

Song of a Corpse

Moi: What are you mumbling about, Richard (...I sauntered into Special Services looking for some fresh brewed coffee)

Richard: I was singing Laura and making up the words to the tune.

Moi: Don't you know the words to the song? (...You are from the WWII era. How can you not know the songs from the 1940s. Bummer. There will be no coffee this afternoon.)

Richard: Really? There are words to this song? I know the tune but I don't know the words.

Moi: You have seen the 1940's movie, Laura, right? No? Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. Tierney played Laura. She was murdered. Andrews was the detective aiming to solved the homicide. All he had to go by was the portrait of Laura and her life as told by her friends and associates. (How could he not have seen the movie?)

Richard: You mean this song is about a corpse?

Moi: Well, yes. If you put it that way. Actually, the song was not sung in the movie.

Richard: I have to see the movie. You got me really interested. Thanks for telling me this.

Moi: You'd like the story and acting. A classic noir. Tell me what you think of the movie afterward.

Two days later, I was told he borrowed a video from the library. Richard liked the movie very much; he is going to get a DVD version to keep.

(Ideas and presuppositions have consequences.)

A Feather in the Cap

I watch the Superbowl more for the commercials than the game itself. This year was no difference. The funniest commercial shown at this year's bowl game was the FedEx cavemen segment. In this 45 second spot, a caveman shipped a package tied to the leg of a pterodactyl. Needless to say, the bird was snatched away by a T-Rex with one fell swoop. It was murder most fowl.

The Seahawks couldn't take flight either. The Steelers racked and roasted the sea birds for the supper bowl. Perhaps next year the Seahawks will rise from the ashes for another championship game.

During the the second half of the game I drifted away from the telly. I went to my desktop and started making some palm books. Before the game was over, I had four chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith coded for the Palm book reader.