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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
So many days and nights they trudged to give a lasting place to stay to future fam'lies, friends, who judged the lives they lived in book display. They had a simple task to do, to shoot down foes or be shot down. The lives they took, they seldom knew, except when Christmas hopes abound. In 1914 truce was made 'tween soldiers known as "them and us." When over, arms they new displayed, and many lay in silent dust. In life they marched as rank and file, took orders from the ones, who led. In death their rows remain awhile 'neath stones, that mark the ones, who bled. The ones still standing mark each year. On Veterans Day we bless those lives. Memorial Day with sadness dear, supporting all that love survives. My granddad joined up very young. He was sent home with age found out. He ran away, 'twas soon among his soldier peers in strong redoubt. My dad in sub was Jonah's friend. He ran from God, Who called him, "Go." On floor of sea three days heart rend, he told God, "Yes," pulpit to know. The ones of us, who cherish all each freedom's bliss for many years, "Please, help us, God, to answer call to keep each footprint sown in tears." Though foreign fields I have not marched, my duty, "Vote, and jury serve." I pray I'm wise for they were parched. "God, stand me fast to never swerve." O, blessed soldiers, ever hailed are beacons in the growing night. Your lives held fast, though oft assailed. With tears for home, you stood to fight. by Jay O’Toole on July 29th, 2022 |
O, what's in a name? A person? A Place? A life or a wonderful day? A name may recall uniquely a face, or a friendship so easy to say. O, what's in a name? A long-cherished book? Or a wonderful holiday joy? A mountainous park, that would cause me to look with no words, I have left to employ? With her "face, that could launch a thousand ships," her name is remembered the best. This Helen of Troy, that graced all the lips. In honor most faced ev'ry test. O, what's in a name? Salvation from sin, and life everlasting in Bliss? Jesus Christ, wondrous Lord without equal among men. His Name I do bow down to kiss. by Jay O’Toole on July 28th, 2022 |
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Daniel 12:4, NKJV) ----------------------------------------------------------- The days of life were sweet and slow when I was "just a pup," but now we strive for things to know at screens, that won't shut up. Each summer was "a million days" of June, July, August, but now we have so many ways to squander time and rust. Each graduation seems a time to rest, reflect, and think, but when the summer seems sublime new running's on the brink. The Master of Eternity doth not a hurry know. His Timing's true. The end He sees. Humanity must grow. The ending time, that Daniel saw seems like our day-to-day. We learn our most, but hem and haw 'bout what God's Word doth say. We ate the fruit, know wrong from right, but miss the One we need. Our rushing keeps us in our plight from God because of greed. Please, help us stop with open ears to hear Your "still, small voice." Remove from us all dancing fears to wait with You by choice. The rest we need we ne'er can find by searching high and low. It lights upon each pate as kind, that waits to learn and grow. ----------------------------------------------------- "11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (I Kings 19:11-13, KJV) by Jay O’Toole on July 27th, 2022 |
sleeping through the day hunting through the starry night loving nearness shows by Jay O’Toole on July 26th, 2022 |
Childhood ends when the diploma comes. Summer ends when a dear carol hums. Lifetime ends when all the days are sums. Sadness sees ends, but Joy sees the new. Dad must now find some new thing to start. Winter attends Christmas from the heart. Live each day, 'til it's time to depart. Joy is the gift, that makes Hope now brew. by Jay O’Toole on July 25th, 2022 |
humid, hot, and bright breathing, sweating, moistened skin plants and trees enjoy by Jay O’Toole on July 22nd, 2022 |
The frantic pace of daily deeds can take our breath away. We meet demands and others' needs, until the face is gray. What gives the spark of living grace? What helps us hope, again? A moment's peace, that can displace the trauma felt within. But is it trauma, that we feel when nothing's really wrong? There's just too much of all that's real, that chokes our daily song. A breath we need to sense the Lord is with us where we are. A breath can help us speak the Word and see beyond each star. A breath, a pause, a time to rest, until SHALOM's restored. The breath of life from One, Who's Blest, the Living, Loving Lord. by Jay O’Toole on July 21st, 2022 |
| I have long been a fan of multigenre musical creations, like Barber's Adagio, which first received an updated orchestral treatment by William Orbit, and most recently the techno version created by Ferry Corsten in 1999 as a remix. This is a superb creation, marrying elements of upbeat dance tools with the original mellow, classical base. Of course, I am a teenager of the 1970s with the iconic pieces, "Rock-a-la-Bach," "A Fifth of Beethoven," and "Flight 76." The last two are renderings by the Walter Murphy Band of Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony's First Movement," and "The Flight of the Bumblebee" in that order. (Sadly, I could not find any info on the first piece, which leads me to believe it was created for marching band, only. That's where I found it when I was in high school in the marching and concert bands. Maybe no video renderings exist.) However, classical and rock crossover songs seemed to be a plethora back then...at least to my ears, and I liked that. The 1970s, also, saw the rise of Mannheim Steamroller, which mixed classical, rock, and new age. In the 1980s Mannheim Steamroller became known almost exclusively for their Christmas albums, which are, indeed, some of the best on the market. "Sonata" from Fresh Aire I gives you a taste of their stylings from 1975. As I said there are many renderings of classical music mixed with rock beats from my younger days. As yet, I haven't mentioned the Hooked on Classics series, which is a classic in its own right. I've displayed two videos in this piece, but the main focus should be the first one, Barber's "Adagio" as rendered by Ferry Corsten. I, also, like Christian hymns rendered in a techno beat. This would be a whole new entry, but I'll mention a few right now. Nitro Praise has a series of 7-8 albums, including a Christmas album, Disco Saints, The World-Wide Message Tribe, and Hypersonic were four bands and/or series I became familiar with in the early 2000s. The ability to mix and remix styles and genres is pretty special in my book. I hope somebody reading this enjoys this type of creativity, too. Enjoy. by Jay O’Toole on July 20th, 2022 |
thunder sounds its drum dribbling drops fall on the leaves time for all to rest by Jay O’Toole on July 19th, 2022 |
It seems a life well-lived may take a while, but when we turn around it seems so short. The pain of days may fill our souls with bile, but time in God becomes a lasting fort. The joy of friends, a daily gift until they've passed away to leave us all alone. If human or pet, it's all against our will. The pain we feel is like the love we've known. Familiar voice, or loving, knowing glance, the silent note, the visage no more seen begins to slow our hope, our strong advance, until we wade through gray, that seems so mean. Will days like this be filled with sun someday? Will nights so dark find Moon's so mellow crest? Will Hope be mine to jump, and dance, and play? Will better days remind me, that I'm blest? My faith is weak, Messiah is so strong. Can Heart be filled with hope in Him, most blest? His Word is sure. In Heaven, it's a song. Eternity can heal the greatest test. by Jay O’Toole on July 18th, 2022 |
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