Bringing Back Russ

I have never seen a Gaither Homecoming video in its entirety. I finally saw a tiny portion of one several months ago when someone sent a link to a short song segment posted on YouTube. As I clicked on related song titles and watched other video snippets, I began to recognize some of the names associated with Bill and Gloria Gaither.

There are so many uplifting and talented artists, but this post is about a specific one - Russ Taff. He spent three years as part of the Gaither Vocal Band before resuming his solo career, which is still going strong.

He is a dynamic singer, with a voice one can quickly learn to recognize. There is something about him that "speaks" to me -- I've lived a hard life, had many trials and taken any number of wrong roads, but God has corrected me, brought me back to my roots and made me whole.

While googling another subject, I came across a recent interview with Russ Taff published on the Today's Pentacostal Evangel website. I hope you will take a moment to read the entire article, in which he speaks about how he became caught up in "the business of Christianity and the business of doing the Lord's work" and how the Holy Spirit led him out of "the business" and into surrender.

Russ Taff came to a point of total surrender in his life. He made the decision to follow God, no matter where or what. It was not easy but it changed his priorities and his life. His career is doing great. His family life is better than ever. And best of all, his faith is stronger.

Unfortunately for folks who sing like I do, if you can't sing on key before you surrender, you most likely won't be able to sing on key afterwards. But surrender all, as Russ did, and God will raise you up in His way, in His time, and in His service.

You can read the TPE article here - "Remembering The Call"

And this is one of my favorite Russ Taff songs - "They Call It Gospel Music."

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Sam Adams for Mayor

This is my chuckle and tale of the ridiculous for the day.

City Commissioner Sam Adams is running for mayor in Portland, Oregon. Two radio personalities from KEX named Mark Mason and Dave Anderson purchased two domain names for Sam Adams to use - www.mayorsamadams.com (not active – he hasn’t been elected yet) and www.samadamsformayor.com.

Unexpectedly, they received a name infringement letter from the Boston Beer Company. Boston Beer uses the trademarks Sam Adams® and Samuel Adams®, so Sam Adams – the human being – was to immediately cease and desist using his own name on a website. The letter the company’s Intellectual Property Manager sent to David Anderson was so ridiculous (and now famous) that it sold for $1475.90 on E-Bay.

It seems we have come a long way into the realm of the ridiculous when a man can’t use his own name to run for public office without causing a furor and a potential lawsuit. I don’t know Sam Adams and I don’t live in Portland, so I won’t be able to vote for or against him for mayor. But I will cast my vote that he be allowed to keep and use his own name.

You can read about the infamous letter and the hullabaloo it caused by clicking here.

http://www.mercyandpercy.com/

Please Identify

Heaven forbid the day should ever come when I receive a questionnaire with my utility bill asking for my marital status, religion and sexual orientation. Honestly, would the answer to any of these questions help the sanitation company to roll away my trash can, empty it and replace it? Of course not!

So, imagine the surprise of ninety-one year old Bill Burrow and other residents of Leeds, England who did receive such a questionnaire in relation to their rubbish pick-up.

I sure hope the local city council or even the county commissioners never decide to try a ridiculous survey like that one. I doubt they would be reelected for another term if they did. And their ears would probably burn from the public comments about what exists between their ears.

I would suggest the Leeds city council should apologize to city residents for their unnecessary and invasive personal questions, but they undoubtedly wouldn't be heard over the laughter their survey has induced.

You can click here to read the story.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Christiantology

Yes, I know there is no such word as "Christiantology." So why am I using that for a title?

Because things are not confused enough in Christianity today, but evidently now there are some Christian ministers who are seeking help for their congregations through the teachings of Scientology. (You can read the article for yourself by clicking here.)

Excuse me, but Christianity was originally based on worship of God under the New Covenant. Too many today are stripping away worship of the true God by replacing Him with gods (little g here, folks) such as self-worship or greed. Scientology does not even recognize God, let alone worship Him.

Come on, folks, don't be sheep led to the slaughter by a wolf in sheep's clothing. Does your minister teach from the Bible or does he deviate into other religions and practices that are not Bible-based? No matter how innocent it might seem to incorporate non-Christian teachings into sermons, remember the devil is expert at making sin appear appealing and innocent!

And also remember that ultimately, you are responsible for what you listen to, believe and act upon. Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before God and God killed them both. Under the New Covenant, punishment might not be as dramatic and immediate, but the Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so mixing strange religions with Christianity is a very poor decision for minister or lay person to make.

Worship God and God alone!
www.mercyandpercy.com/

Music of Healing

Tonight, I was pleased to find a song I used to love listening to on the radio. It’s called “My Name Is Lazarus” by Greater Vision. The story of Jesus calling Lazarus forth from death to life after 3 days in the tomb is one of encouragement.

And so is the healing of a blind man. “He Saw It All” is by the Booth Brothers.

You can listen to either song just by clicking on the song title.
www.mercyandpercy.com/