For the last few years, I have been posting watch review videos on my YouTube channel called The Humble Horologist. If you haven’t viewed any of the content on that channel, please go there right now. The world could end at any moment! Don’t miss what could be your last opportunity!
But only today did I think about including a link to this blog/website in the “details” sections of my videos. My most-viewed video has garnered over 30,000 views so far. What if I had had a link where people could have seen it?
What are the pros and cons of linking the two?
Losing Subscribers– a Con
A potential CON could be turning away subscribers. Will it happen? I really don’t know, but it is a possibility.
I mean, I’ve already lost subscribers due to having used spiritual language in a couple of my videos. So, I guess it could happen. My watch review channel is not meant to be overtly Christian, so many of my followers and subscribers are only there for the watch content.
In reality, what matters more? Are numbers the real definition of success? Well, from a monetary standpoint, yes. It takes subscribers and views to become and stay monetized. Even though I haven’t yet earned my first $100, I am still hopeful that one day my channel will make enough to buy the watches I review.
But it’s also a sad thing to read, “I’m unsubscribing and will never come here again!” It is not my desire to offend people. To be honest, I want to be liked! Who in the world really enjoys making people hate them?
Hopefully, the benefits will far outweigh the cost of one or two angry viewers. And what are the benefits?
Changing Lives – a BIG Pro
Let’s face it, collecting watches is a luxury. For that matter, collecting anything is a luxury in most of the world. Seriously, if you really have to own a watch to tell time, what more do you need than something simple, rugged, and inexpensive? If it does what it’s intended to do – accurately keep time – why do you need 10? Or 50? Or 150?!!
But a huge PRO in linking my blog to my YouTube channel is that lives can be changed! Even if only one person finds eternal hope through what is shared here, then talking about watches (or any hobby) can become life-changing!
Bait and Seed
Jesus told his disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He also compared the gospel to the sowing of seed in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.
I’m convinced that no matter what we do, we should be throwing out bait or planting seeds. Or both!
Whether working a job, doing traditional ministry, or sharing my affinity for watches with the world, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ should be my ultimate goal.
No tricks. No gimmicks. Just a “come and see” approach that leaves the looking up to the viewer.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think? Would you link a secular-minded YouTube channel to a religiously oriented blog? Let me know by leaving a comment.
If you are curious, take a look at my latest video below. And if you are a subscriber here, then go ahead and subscribe there, too! Why not? 🙂
You all know the old saying, “If it looks like a duck, etc…it is a duck,” don’t you? When we see something that looks and acts like another something with which we are already very familiar, the most logical explanation for the similarity is to initially assume is that the two somethings are, in fact, alike. They don’t have to be exactly alike to be of the same something, just like a ball is a ball regardless of the size, texture, or chemical makeup. Even my 2 year-old granddaughter, based on her short life experience, is not wrong when she notices a spherical object, points, and yells out, “Ball!”
We carry with us information and definitions acquired through experience, along with developed presuppositions When we observe a buzzing factory, we assume it to be a buzzing factory based on what we already know from experience about building or making things. To describe the factory, then, as something other than what is observable and recognizable as a place of production would require one of two things: either the observer has never seen or had any concept of manufacturing and assembly, or that he is being intellectually dishonest.
One would have to have never tied a shoe, prepared a meal, or completed any task requiring a process to not recognize a factory for what it is. At the very least the observer should be able to recognize the industrial process as being similar to other processes with which he is already familiar: the kind when going step-by-step makes a thing. Therefore, to observe a factory in operation and then declare that the factory, even the whole process of manufacturing, including subcontracting and logistics, is nothing more than an illusion of design and a product of chance is to throw out rationality in favor of a presumed belief.
It amazes me how that one can learn more and more about the complexities (yes, even irreducible complexities) of the human cell and still maintain random chance and time created and honed everything, from the machines down to the software in a factory which purpose is to make a thing.
It is easy to simply claim there is no Designer or Creator behind the unfathomable complexities of human existence. All one needs is the presupposition that no matter what one encounters, it is NOT what it may appear to be. If we first presuppose there is no God, then what may appear to be the result of vision and design can be waved off as only an illusion, a false equation, or the projection of a preconceived delusion acting as a coping mechanism.
However, living in a modern, industrial world, I find it hard to understand how anyone with any amount of intelligence can maintain “natural selection,” copious amounts of time, and blind chance are the architects of anything, much less the preliminary mechanisms and processes which bring about its construction.
I actually work in an automobile manufacturing plant. I have witnessed the entire process of building a Volkswagen Atlas. Even more, I have participated with my own hands in the making of these vehicles. I have been involved in the logistics of securing parts of all kinds and placing even the smallest in precise positions for robots to weld. In order for one functioning vehicle to roll off the assembly line, the things that must take place in the right way at the right moment and in the right amount are just staggering. And we are only talking about a car, not the human body and each cell!
2025 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition 
For just a moment, think about that 2025 VW Atlas with all the bells and whistles of a luxury SUV. Imagine it painted your favorite color as it is cranked and driven out the big bay doors toward the staging area where it will be shipped. Should you spend your $50,000 to buy one, you will expect it to perform at a certain level while maintaining its structural integrity. After all, the lives of your family and yourself will depend on it.
Now, imagine that SUV backing into the proving and detailing area once again. Then, imagine it backing up to the automated assembly line where it is once again placed on the moving floor. Keep reversing until the vehicle is completely disassembled, stripped of paint and sealer, even un-welded (if that was possible) and reduced to small stamped pieces of sheet metal that make up the body. Are we done? No.
Credit: plastonline.org
Look around at all the bins full of sheet metal parts, plastic spacers, barrels of sealant, bolts, nuts, and even the box of tiny copper tips for one of the thousand-plus $200,000-dollar robots spot-welding 24/7 according to software monitored 4,000 miles away. How did all that get there? If left alone, would a VW Atlas once again roll out the door? Even in a billion years?
Even more, consider all the things that must take place in the process of manufacturing the individual components. For every piece of that vehicle (about 5,000) there is a company, a business plan, a CEO, workers, machines that must be maintained, and materials which must be ordered and stocked. And then there are the truck drivers and the forklift drivers and the mechanics who keep those machines running and those parts on schedule.
Parts must be made according to specific tolerances. Parts must be assembled in a certain way. People have to do their assigned duties with quality, safety, and integrity. Everything must go a certain way, or else the very integrity of the vehicle could be compromised. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is unplanned and left to chance when literal lives could be at stake.
How long would it take for a brand new Volkswagen to roll off the assembly line on its own? Any answer other than “never” would be absurd. And why is that? Because nothing in the observable world testifies to this being possible. From experience and observation we have acquired enough wisdom to determine two things: first, a car doesn’t design and build itself; and second, an expertly built and functioning vehicle must not be the result of design-less, random chance.
Therefore, it is not irrational, when we observe what appears to be design and purpose, to assume there was a Designer with a plan for how the thing would function. Everywhere else in creation and everyday life we observe the natural rhythms of cause and effect. When we see a jet flying in the sky above us, we take for granted the craft was designed and built in a factory, it’s going somewhere, and that people are on it. Even when a rock hits our windshield, we know something caused the rock to leave the pavement.
It’s only the one who cannot, no matter the evidence, no matter the logic, accept that there’s a Watchmaker in the history of the watch on the shore. He asserts there is no evidence for the Watchmaker; there is nothing about the Watchmaker that he’d like should he exist; that not enough jewels were in the movement to signal true intelligence; and that though it may look like a watch and function like a watch, we don’t know for sure what we think a watch is, or whether it is actually represented in the thing on the shore.
For all we know, the supposed watch somehow came from the depths by some means not yet discovered.
“All we can know for sure,” he would say, “is that there appears to be a thing on the shore with interesting similarities to other observable things, but whatever it is, it is because it is and that’s it. To entertain any other conclusions might lead to inconvenient truths, and we can’t go there.”
All I know is that even though I’m not a biologist, I’m pretty certain I can recognize a duck when I see it.
As of this writing, there are only five days until Christmas. If I had only spoken out a few months ago, things might have been different today. But I didn’t say anything earlier because I didn’t want to hurt feelings or offend. I can only hope that by protesting now, something good can come of it.
You may recall that a few years ago I wrote a scathing critic of Dean Martin’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I wasn’t the first to point out the song’s sexually abusive lyrics. Nevertheless, my article did get attention. This wasn’t surprising since the #metoo movement was going strong at the time.
But here we are in yet another Christmas season and what do we have? More offensive lyrics in Christmas songs. What makes it worse is that they are part of worship services. These services are meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, not a sexual conquest.
It seems that all one must do these days is include the word hallelujah in a song, no matter the context of the borrowed lyric or tune, and it’s sure to be a hit at your next Christmas cantata.
“Hallelujah”
Let me be clear. It is not my wish to trash Leonard Cohan’s famous, beloved and oft-covered “Hallelujah.” Why would I want to? My complaints would just fall on deaf ears. Since the 1984 release of Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” near universal praise has been given for its lyrical, poetic, and harmonic beauty. But I’m not a fan. I can’t stand the song – not because of the tune, but the message.
But as with many things, even though I’m not a fan, if it stays within the bounds of its intended secular audience, I’m content to let rotting dogs lie.
It’s only when the putrid scent of death begins to taint the fragrant incense of worship that I get offended. My gag reflexes tempt me to puke.
Unfortunately, as of late, I’ve had to keep a barf bag close by. It seems that more and more Christians have gone odor blind and cannot detect even the slightest stench. Everywhere I turn, Cohen’s agnostic and broken Hallelujah” is being incorporated into holy worship.
A Little Background
With just a little digging, I found that the first time “Hallelujah” became linked to Christmas was in 2010. Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent included it on her Christmas album. It featured the original lyrics.
Then, early in December of 2012, Cloverton released the now popular Christmas version of “Hallelujah” which tells the story of Christ’s birth. Below is the first verse.
I’ve heard about this baby boy Who’s come to earth to bring us joy And I just want to sing this song to you It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift With every breath, I’m singing Hallelujah
In 2017 the group Anthem Lights released “Hallelujah Medley,” a mashup of two classic Christian songs with “Hallelujah” woven throughout. The other two songs were “Hallelujah, What a Savior” and Michael W. Smith’s “Agnus Dei.”
This year I heard both the Cloverton and the Anthem Lights versions in the same church Christmas cantata. However, as an instrumentalist in that church, I couldn’t bring myself to accompany either one.
Giving Grace
But I want to extend grace. I don’t want to disparage anyone who sings these covers or re-writes of “Hallelujah.” Their intention might be to glorify God. They may also encourage others to praise Him. Even Paul was hesitant to condemn those who, out of jealously, added to his suffering, for even then the Gospel was being preached (see Philippians 1:15-18). That was the main thing.
I’m compelled to show grace, too, because others may genuinely see things differently. They may consider what is being done with “Hallelujah” as an act of sanctification. They might argue that the tunes of some of the greatest and most beloved hymns were once big hits in the pubs and ale houses. Therefore, incorporating the tune or some of the lyrics into Christmas music is no different than how we sing “Amazing Grace” to the traditional tune of “New Britain.”
And, if nothing else, I must be careful to offer a lot of grace because I’m not perfect. I’ve had a bad cold, recently, and lots of things irritate me more when I feel sick.
What Are the Issues?
So, what is the issue (or issues)? What is there to complain about this time? What makes me cringe? What makes me nauseous?
Issue 1: The Lyrics
To begin with, it all goes back to Leonard Cohen’s original “Hallelujah” and its meaning. You see, I like music, but I also try to understand the lyrics. Just because a song has a happy tune, that doesn’t mean it’s worth listening to. I try to feed my soul with good stuff, not garbage.
Compared to many songs, though, “Hallelujah” is downright tame. It’s not a vulgar, pornographic jingle celebrating wet body parts (e.g., Cardi B). But it isn’t religious, nor is it wholesome for all ages, either. Actually, it is a song that draws loosely from the lives of biblical characters to describe dysfunctional, sexually-involved relationships that seek consolation through mutual brokenness.
But as a Christian, what bothers me most is the way Cohan distorts and contorts the word hallelujah. It offends me that such an intrinsically holy word (made up of two Hebrew words,hālal and yâ, which means “praise the Lord”) is used to describe a sexual release in the second verse.
Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you She tied you to a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
It may seem petty, but it also irritates me how Cohan (born a Jew, but a practicing Buddhist) not only mixes the stories of King David and Samson, but does so in a self-justifying, slanderous way. David needed proof for his faith? Whose throne got broken?
But who really cares about the verses of this song, right? I mean, all that people really care about are the melody and the haunting chorus that repeats the word erroneously attributed to a “baffled” king.
Hallelujah is the real money maker, after all.
Issue 2: The Fusion of the Holy and the Unholy
The other big issue I have is not only the willingness, but the ambivalence toward fusing holy, Christian works with unholy, secular, even blasphemous works in an attempt to be creative.
Here’s the thing. I can’t sing “Amazing Grace” without including the accompanying tune once connected to bar songs. However, when I or any other person hears “Amazing Grace,” the words of “New Britain” never enter our minds. The older song is totally disassociated from Newton’s “Amazing Grace” and the author of “New Britain” never gets any credit.
But “Hallelujah” is a different thing entirely. Whenever either the tune or the lyrics of “Hallelujah” are used in either a lyrical remake or a mashup with other Christian songs, some sort of attribution must be given to Leonard Cohan.
Issue 3: Ignorance is Blessed
I asked my wife for her thoughts on the rendition of Cloverton’s version of “Hallelujah” that our praise band did last week. Like everyone else, she thought it was beautiful. And from a purely musical perspective, even a worshipful one, it was moving.
But on the other hand, on hearing “It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor falls, the major lifts,” when does one wonder: “Why are the words of an agnostic Jewish Buddhist being used out of their context to praise the God and Savior he doesn’t even believe in?”
But that’s just it. Most people don’t know.
Most people aren’t aware of the source material. For that matter, most people never parse the lyrics to any of the songs they sing, even in church, and are usually content remaining ignorant, but blessed. Honestly, I can’t blame them. It’s easier that way.
And frankly, at least in this case, what you don’t know probably won’t hurt you, so worship away.
But I do know. That’s why I just had to say something.
This is going to sound wrong, but suicide is a fact of life. It’s not something that has to happen, but it does.
Odds are that each one of us knows a friend or relative who, by their own decision, exited life prematurely. I have known a couple.
But I want to know something. I want to know your thoughts. I want to know, if you knew someone, what you thought of that person after the thing was done.
One of the most common thoughts about those who commits suicide is that they were “cowards.” In other words, instead of facing their problems, they “took the easy way out.”
Was the person you knew a coward?
To be honest, for one thing, I think it takes a great amount of courage to put one’s theology to the ultimate test and risk eternal damnation. Then there’s the question of what method to use. Whatever the choice, does a coward take that fatal jump or pull the trigger without being forced?
What do you think of that person’s character? Obviously, taking one’s own life is not a good thing to do. So, do you now think of that person as bad or morally deficient? What about selfish? Prideful?
Did the person you knew abandon you or someone else?
What emotional attachment did you have? Did you love that person, or were you just an acquaintance? And what do you feel now, hate? Bitterness? Resentment?
Finally, did your opinion of the deceased change after their death? Did you at one point hold them in high regard? Did you lose all respect, or do you still recognize what had been their redeeming qualities?
If it is not too difficult, try to leave a comment below. Your input would be helpful.
The ghoulish day is here, so time for a rerun of a favorite, timely post. 🙂
Halloween
This time of year gets on my nerves, and one of the biggest reasons is the proliferation of horror movies. Horror movies don’t scare me that much; they tick me off! They are always full of idiots walking into the dark asking, “Buffy, is that you?”
And what’s worse, so many of today’s horror flicks involve ghostly, demonic hauntings by creepy dead kids. HINT: if a soaking-wet dead girl crawls out of a well and starts climbing through your TV, change the channel (preferably to a Christian station).
The Undead
But what I really don’t understand are the “undead”…zombies… Michael Jackson’s dance partners. Can someone help me understand the logic behind their supposed capabilities and actions?
English: A participant of a Zombie walk, Asbury Park NJ, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
All I know is that the walking dead make absolutely no sense. Consider the following:
Health. Why is it that when I have the flu I feel as good as dead, yet when a zombie is dead he feels more alive than me? If I break a bone I can’t function, but a zombie can have all his bones broken and break into an armored car!
Why is it that zombies can have more energy once their skin has rotted than while they were still exfoliating?
Appetite. Why is it that the walking dead never seem to recognize that their fellow walkers are also human – and edible? And why are humans the only meat worth eating?
Why don’t the walking dead break into grocery stores, butcher shops, and kennels? Seriously, don’t the dead understand that there is far more meat and brains in a cow?! Why eat the farmer???
Blood. I’ve had too much experience in funeral homes to buy the idea that zombies coming out of graves have bright, red, flowing blood. Ever heard of embalming fluid?
Speed. Why can’t healthy people, including clumsy women in high heels, outrun people with muscles falling off the bone? Bones need muscles to function, especially when the function is running.
Even if one tripped over every blade of grass in an attempt to flee a rotting granny, how fast could granny be when her anterior muscles, such as the quadriceps femoris, iliopsoas, and sartorius (not to mention her hamstrings and gluteus maximus) are nothing more than brittle beef jerky?
It’s a matter of simple mechanics.
Minor Practicalities. Speaking of grannies, if old people become zombies do they have to keep their false teeth in order to chew their neighbor? I mean, if one did bite/gum you, would you still be infected if no teeth were involved? For crying out loud, how long does Fixodent last?
Theoretically, if the dentures of a zombie did come flying out after the first bite, could a non-zombie then use them as a zombie-creating weapon?
What is the life expectancy of something that is already dead?
Oh, and when a zombie eats a human, where does the ingested material go? Do zombies have functioning digestive tracts? If not, then how much could a zombie eat before becoming bloated, impacted, and for all intents and purposes worthless as a killing machine?
Do zombies poop?
The Real Undead
To be very honest, I am more afraid of my own stinking flesh than the “walking dead.” I cause myself more problems than any zombie can.
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)
I can’t outrun my old nature; I must crucify it on a daily basis! If I live in the power of my own zombie-like self, I will die. The only way I can survive is live in the life of Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).
So, don’t worry about what’s already dead and buried; through the Spirit put to death the deeds of your own stinking flesh, and live (Romans 8:13).
Friends, let me be honest. The sermon I am sharing with you today is the best I’ve ever, EVER heard on this subject. It is absolutely spot on, biblical, and convicting.
This pastor does not endorse a candidate, but he makes it abundantly clear with Scripture what the God-given duty of an American Christian is. It’s your choice, but you have to actually make one.
To sit out this (or any) election is nothing less than passive disobedience to God. That’s what this pastor argues, and I believe he is correct.
Please allow me to share a LOT of words with you. That’s all they are, after all. Just words.
But words have meaning. Words are powerful. Words expose the heart. And sometimes, believe it or not, it takes more than a sound bite or meme to get the full picture.
So, at the risk of losing your attention, I want you to see my heart. I want to be transparent.
This morning a friend asked a legitimate question on Facebook. A friend of that friend gave an answer. To that answer I responded.
Read if you’re interested.
The Original Question
Is there a moral or a red line that Trump could cross that would turn you against him? He mentioned once that he could shoot somebody on 5th Avenue and he wouldn’t lose any supporters. I’m not being facetious, I am being very serious. Is there any one thing or more than one thing that would make you have second thoughts?
The First Response
You’ll never get an honest answer to this question but it’s probably no there’s nothing he could do to turn his supporters away.
My First Honest Answer
To begin with, teachers and professors often claim that “there is no stupid question.” However, there are questions that cannot be answered simply because of the flawed premise on which the question is based. For example, “Would you rather be eaten alive by a shark or an orange?”
Your question is not to the level of unanswerable, but it’s close. The problem is that it assumes that Harris has NOT already done something that would make us not vote for her. The fact is that, in order to not vote for Donald Trump, he would have to exceed the unacceptable level of Kamala Harris.
My vote is based on my love of country, along with my love of family and church. Both candidates have histories from which I can draw conclusions. Both make plenty of claims, but only one’s history supports his claims. Therefore, based on what is readily knowable, despite propaganda, Trump may or may not “make America great again,” but Harris will certainly cause it irreparable harm. Her radical support for abortion alone, not to mention everything else she would support, if not mandate, will only pollute the land even more with the blood of innocents.
Assuming all the accused evils of both candidates were blatantly observable and undeniable, I could not vote for Donald Trump if, and only if, he was a greater danger to the republic and the moral fabric of this country. But we are not comparing Hitler to Nero. Even if we were, only one of those set fire to his own kingdom. Which would you choose?
The Response to My Answer
I think I disagree – I think it is the hypocrisy that drives everyone crazy. He can do no harm no matter what and the other side it criticized for everything – that’s the bottom line. He’s just not a “good” person in any way, shape or form.
My Final Reply
But I have to ask… what harm has he done that is supposed to make me vote for Harris? Rape? Murder? Treason? If he did those things, then we’d have a problem. But is it just possible that the media, which is TOTALLY and unapologetically biased, done everything possible to deceive the public? Just think of how many things Trump claimed to be happening that was labeled as crazy. And how many of those things were proven true?
The Dems and the FBI did spy on Trump’s campaign.
China was responsible for Covid.
The Hunter Biden laptop was legit.
The Bidens were making money off of Ukraine and China.
All of the “crimes” he’s been convicted of…do you seriously believe that wasn’t a witch hunt?
[Let me add that several years and millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted on the Russia collusion hoax.]
You and others say unequivocally that he’s a “bad man.” There have been plenty of accusations, sure. But do you believe them? What about the credible accusations leveled against the Biden/Harris administration? What about the lying about Joe Biden’s health?
Think about this. I’m sure what Trump said about women is seared into your memory, that as a rich and famous man he could just walk up to any woman and grab her (privates) and nothing would happen. Was he lying? But did he do it? Was he just making a point?
Trump, like many men, including former presidents, have been unfaithful. Trump was even divorced. Yet, look at his family. How does he treat them? How do they love him? Is that a mark of a scoundrel? During the whole 4 years he was president, what immoral thing did he do? As much as he is hated, don’t you think it would have surfaced if he had been with an intern in the Oval Office? You see, it’s just too easy to claim he is evil with no impartial evidence.
Do you realize that not one soldier died over seas while Trump was president? No new wars. Not a bomb dropped. Three peace treaties were signed in the Middle East. We became energy independent. He moved the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He strengthened religious liberty by ditching the Johnson amendment which limited speech from church pulpits. And he ended Roe v Wade, just as promised. And he’s a bad man?
If you are still reading, let me describe what will happen should Harris be elected. For one, the weaponization of the DOJ against political opponents will be permanent. Based on what has already been done, further, more dramatic catering to LGBTQ causes will have a major impact on churches, Christian schools, Christian business, Christian or conservative media, parental rights, and free speech. Tax law, such as taxes on unrealized capital gains, will cripple our economy, bankrupt our farmers, and destroy investment. And make no mistake, there will be more war, particularly involving China [and Taiwan], Iran, and Russia.
I know I’ve written a lot. I’m sorry. But I truly believe that what you think of Trump is the result of years of corrupt media propaganda and lies told by the sexually deviant groups that hate God and Christians. It’s just too obvious.
To Wrap It Up
There an old proverb that says, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Donald J. Trump is not an angel. He may even be a bad person. Yet, he is the only candidate for the office of President of the United States who will take a pay cut to serve, willingly risks his life for this country, and cares more for the sovereignty of our borders than the feelings of hostile regimes.
We have enemies, but only one flawed human is the most qualified choice to confront them. I’m voting for him.
You are now reading what I’m thinking. I am writing as the thoughts percolate and bubble out of my brain. Thankfully my iPhone is water resistant!
Yes, I’m writing what you are reading on my old, cracked up iPhone 12 Pro Max while standing in a dimly-lit break room in the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TN. It’s a little chilly in here, too, especially when I’m not doing anything but standing.
An Update
You’re probably curious, so let me give you a thumbnail sketch of my reality. I used to be in full-time ministry, but now I’m working in the VW plant making Atlas SUVs. I’ve been here about a year and a half, during which time my neck started hurting. For the last 2 months I’ve been on restricted duty – in the break room.
To look at this another way, not only am I not doing what I love most (preaching), I’m not even doing what I’m supposed to be getting paid for. I am literally waiting for decisions from up above – the people in worker’s comp insurance.
Two Scenarios
It all reminds me of two possible scenarios. One is that of a prophet stuck out in the backside of the wilderness tending his father-in-law’s sheep. The other is that of a worthless, unusable vessel or tool put up on a shelf. I’ve often wondered which one is me.
Am I a Moses or a cracked pot? Maybe I’m both.
Forgive me for making this all about me, myself, and I. It is, after all, my story. However, the truth that I’m about to share is applicable to you just as much as me. Who knows, our stories may not be all that different.
Here is the great truth. Here is the fact that could change your life. Are you ready for it?
Listen carefully …..
There is no shelf.
You read that right. There is no shelf. There is no place where God places a useless vessel, and why is that? Because no one is useless. All of us are still capable of bringing glory and praise to our Maker. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.
Oh, I’ve heard it preached. I’ve even preached it. You may have heard it said that God takes those who’ve messed up and puts them “on a shelf” to sit. They sit there, gathering dust, accomplishing nothing, especially nothing like the purpose for which they were designed.
But, like I said, there is no shelf.
Read Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 4:8-10; and Psalm 138:8. In these passages we read nothing about uselessness. What we do see is that God has a plan, we are a part of it, and He will accomplish the work He started in us for His glory!
So, that leaves us with the other option. Are you and I stuck in a place we never thought we’d be, doing work we were never trained for? Does it feel like we are no longer of any use to God, so He has relegated us to taking care of other people’s stuff?
Moses must have felt that way, but God had greater things ahead for him and the time tending Jethro’s sheep was simply preparation.
Testimony Destroyed?
Someone once told me, “I destroyed my testimony.” But honestly, if the Lord is always faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13), how can we “destroy” a testimony? Sure, you may do something that might disqualify you for a particular work, such as being a pastor, but every breath you breath is a testimony to the faithful love, mercy, and grace of your Father!
Where you and I are may not be where we wanted to be, or even where we could have been, especially if we had made better decisions. But God is sovereign! We may roll the dice, but the Lord determines how it lands (Proverbs 16:33).
I am confident that I’ve not been set aside by Jesus, never again to use the gifts He has given me. “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29).
I’m just in the break room waiting on word from higher up.
A lot has been said about the debate on the 10th of August. Nearly all the Democrats believe their candidate for president won. It was a mixed bag in the Republican camp, on the other hand. That being said, I would like to offer my take, what I think happened.
At the end, I would like to make some predictions, should Kamala Harris become POTUS.
And the Winner Is…
Having won debates in school, I know a little about how to do it. That being said, from a stylistic standpoint, I believe Vice President Kamala Harris won her first debate with President Trump. She caught him like the Japanese did the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. She shocked those who underestimated her with a display of uncharacteristic verbal skill and acuity.
There were no “word salads,” only cutting, coherent sentences fired from the mouth of a seemingly seasoned trial lawyer.
Trump was a battleship and Harris was a nimble Mitsubishi Zero. He was only able to hit her a few times and found himself most often on the defense. This time the battle went to the Democrats.
She wants another debate, I hear, just like the Japanese wanted to wrap up their victory with a final battle at Midway. But let’s not forget how that turned out. It did not go well for Hirohito’s navy.
A Strategy Revealed
Another thing I witnessed was Harris continuing with a strategy previously used by her boss. Just like Biden did all the time, she brazenly applied Joseph Goebbles’ doctrine to her method of attack: if you tell a big enough lie, and you tell it often enough, it becomes truth.
She did this with her “no late-term abortion” lie; the Charlottesville “fine people” lie; the “inherited chaos” lie; the “anti-military” lie; the “Trump is a racist” lie; the “bloodbath” lie; the “first day dictator” lie; the “personal gain” lie; and the “he’s always lying” lie. And sadly, which is par for the course, the media never called her on it, for they have been doing the same thing.
My Prediction
If the American people continue to put 2 and 2 together, they will look past the polished rhetoric delivered during the debate and see the steaming pile of feces for what it is.
The economy IS in shambles; babies ARE aborted late term; she WAS the beneficiary of a soft coup; she DID lie about the health of the current sleeping president; she WILL push for mandatory gun buy backs; she WILL destroy private insurance; she WILL continue to use the legal and justice system to squash opponents; she WILL NOT fix the border she never visited; she WILL attack parental rights; she WILL NOT bring peace to any conflict; she WILL raise taxes on the middle class; she WILL push more industry out of the country; and she WILL bring us closer to global war through her continued nasally weakness. And don’t think for one moment that being the first “black woman” president will ease racial tensions – they WILL get worse.
Other than that, if I understand it correctly, should Harris win the next election, we will finally be unburdened from the past and there will be joy.
Hey, everyone. I just want to say two things about all the “did you hear?” stories that keep coming up.
The FIRST thing is: even trusted “sources” can relay bad information.
What you hear might actually be factual, but information can be true and false at the same time when context and interpretation are skewed. Remember, even your “sources” have world views and agendas. If you cannot go to the ORIGINAL source of the information and see for yourself what is being reported, be careful what you repeat.
But here’s the SECOND thing, and it’s really, really, important. Don’t be blind to the obvious while in search of the hidden.
We are so likely to jump on the bandwagons of juicy, new conspiracy theories that we will ride them off the cliff of insanity, ignoring the obvious street signs and billboards as we zip past.
I say all this because despite all the hidden agendas, secret societies, and billionaire evil donors out there, it DOES make a difference for whom you and I vote or support. OBJECTIVE MORALITY based on an Immutable Standard does exist, and it is our job as citizens to be the first to vocally and politically advocate for it.
Political parties and their candidates are always quick to tell us what we want to hear, but their track records are not secret. As long as we don’t erase history, all we have to do is look back to determine what kind of future will unfold. Therefore, more important than bringing to light dark agendas and conspiracies, we should not be silent when fundamental, foundational Truths are destroyed right before our eyes.
Ultimately, we are not responsible for the plots hatched around boiling cauldrons, but we will be held responsible for how we steward the obvious.
The Recovering Legalist 
Critique of ‘Hallelujah’ in Christmas Worship
As of this writing, there are only five days until Christmas. If I had only spoken out a few months ago, things might have been different today. But I didn’t say anything earlier because I didn’t want to hurt feelings or offend. I can only hope that by protesting now, something good can come of it.
You may recall that a few years ago I wrote a scathing critic of Dean Martin’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I wasn’t the first to point out the song’s sexually abusive lyrics. Nevertheless, my article did get attention. This wasn’t surprising since the #metoo movement was going strong at the time.
But here we are in yet another Christmas season and what do we have? More offensive lyrics in Christmas songs. What makes it worse is that they are part of worship services. These services are meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, not a sexual conquest.
It seems that all one must do these days is include the word hallelujah in a song, no matter the context of the borrowed lyric or tune, and it’s sure to be a hit at your next Christmas cantata.
“Hallelujah”
Let me be clear. It is not my wish to trash Leonard Cohan’s famous, beloved and oft-covered “Hallelujah.” Why would I want to? My complaints would just fall on deaf ears. Since the 1984 release of Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” near universal praise has been given for its lyrical, poetic, and harmonic beauty. But I’m not a fan. I can’t stand the song – not because of the tune, but the message.
But as with many things, even though I’m not a fan, if it stays within the bounds of its intended secular audience, I’m content to let rotting dogs lie.
It’s only when the putrid scent of death begins to taint the fragrant incense of worship that I get offended. My gag reflexes tempt me to puke.
Unfortunately, as of late, I’ve had to keep a barf bag close by. It seems that more and more Christians have gone odor blind and cannot detect even the slightest stench. Everywhere I turn, Cohen’s agnostic and broken Hallelujah” is being incorporated into holy worship.
A Little Background
With just a little digging, I found that the first time “Hallelujah” became linked to Christmas was in 2010. Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent included it on her Christmas album. It featured the original lyrics.
Then, early in December of 2012, Cloverton released the now popular Christmas version of “Hallelujah” which tells the story of Christ’s birth. Below is the first verse.
In 2017 the group Anthem Lights released “Hallelujah Medley,” a mashup of two classic Christian songs with “Hallelujah” woven throughout. The other two songs were “Hallelujah, What a Savior” and Michael W. Smith’s “Agnus Dei.”
This year I heard both the Cloverton and the Anthem Lights versions in the same church Christmas cantata. However, as an instrumentalist in that church, I couldn’t bring myself to accompany either one.
Giving Grace
But I want to extend grace. I don’t want to disparage anyone who sings these covers or re-writes of “Hallelujah.” Their intention might be to glorify God. They may also encourage others to praise Him. Even Paul was hesitant to condemn those who, out of jealously, added to his suffering, for even then the Gospel was being preached (see Philippians 1:15-18). That was the main thing.
I’m compelled to show grace, too, because others may genuinely see things differently. They may consider what is being done with “Hallelujah” as an act of sanctification. They might argue that the tunes of some of the greatest and most beloved hymns were once big hits in the pubs and ale houses. Therefore, incorporating the tune or some of the lyrics into Christmas music is no different than how we sing “Amazing Grace” to the traditional tune of “New Britain.”
And, if nothing else, I must be careful to offer a lot of grace because I’m not perfect. I’ve had a bad cold, recently, and lots of things irritate me more when I feel sick.
What Are the Issues?
So, what is the issue (or issues)? What is there to complain about this time? What makes me cringe? What makes me nauseous?
Issue 1: The Lyrics
To begin with, it all goes back to Leonard Cohen’s original “Hallelujah” and its meaning. You see, I like music, but I also try to understand the lyrics. Just because a song has a happy tune, that doesn’t mean it’s worth listening to. I try to feed my soul with good stuff, not garbage.
Compared to many songs, though, “Hallelujah” is downright tame. It’s not a vulgar, pornographic jingle celebrating wet body parts (e.g., Cardi B). But it isn’t religious, nor is it wholesome for all ages, either. Actually, it is a song that draws loosely from the lives of biblical characters to describe dysfunctional, sexually-involved relationships that seek consolation through mutual brokenness.
But as a Christian, what bothers me most is the way Cohan distorts and contorts the word hallelujah. It offends me that such an intrinsically holy word (made up of two Hebrew words, hālal and yâ, which means “praise the Lord”) is used to describe a sexual release in the second verse.
It may seem petty, but it also irritates me how Cohan (born a Jew, but a practicing Buddhist) not only mixes the stories of King David and Samson, but does so in a self-justifying, slanderous way. David needed proof for his faith? Whose throne got broken?
But who really cares about the verses of this song, right? I mean, all that people really care about are the melody and the haunting chorus that repeats the word erroneously attributed to a “baffled” king.
Hallelujah is the real money maker, after all.
Issue 2: The Fusion of the Holy and the Unholy
The other big issue I have is not only the willingness, but the ambivalence toward fusing holy, Christian works with unholy, secular, even blasphemous works in an attempt to be creative.
Here’s the thing. I can’t sing “Amazing Grace” without including the accompanying tune once connected to bar songs. However, when I or any other person hears “Amazing Grace,” the words of “New Britain” never enter our minds. The older song is totally disassociated from Newton’s “Amazing Grace” and the author of “New Britain” never gets any credit.
But “Hallelujah” is a different thing entirely. Whenever either the tune or the lyrics of “Hallelujah” are used in either a lyrical remake or a mashup with other Christian songs, some sort of attribution must be given to Leonard Cohan.
Issue 3: Ignorance is Blessed
I asked my wife for her thoughts on the rendition of Cloverton’s version of “Hallelujah” that our praise band did last week. Like everyone else, she thought it was beautiful. And from a purely musical perspective, even a worshipful one, it was moving.
But on the other hand, on hearing “It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor falls, the major lifts,” when does one wonder: “Why are the words of an agnostic Jewish Buddhist being used out of their context to praise the God and Savior he doesn’t even believe in?”
But that’s just it. Most people don’t know.
Most people aren’t aware of the source material. For that matter, most people never parse the lyrics to any of the songs they sing, even in church, and are usually content remaining ignorant, but blessed. Honestly, I can’t blame them. It’s easier that way.
And frankly, at least in this case, what you don’t know probably won’t hurt you, so worship away.
But I do know. That’s why I just had to say something.
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